I thought I'd write a sequel to my OS: Destructive love but rather than making it intense, I though make it a little light hearted and correct a few wrongs- like jealousy track that we dreamed b4 we got Dakshđ¤˘
The premise is 3 months after the said OS, Tia is still Mrs SSO and Anika hates Shivaay but is living with him and they are to get divorced soon. She works as a receptionist in a hospital
Chapter One: At First Sight
Shivaay was going over a stack of documents that required his signature while he turned a deaf ear to Tia talking about her reiki sessions. His concentration was interrupted when he heard Tia mention Anika and the name had his head snapping up, giving Tia all his attention.
The fact didn't go unnoticed as far as Tia was concerned and she tried to hold on to her cool
"Shivaay baby, don't you think Anika should stop working as a receptionist in that cheap hospital? I mean there can be all kinds of speculations as to why this receptionist is living at the Oberoi mansion. The media might make a big issue. Why doesn't Anika just go to her house?"
Shivaay tried to take deep calming breaths. His patience with Tia was wearing thin and her voice had started grating on his nerves
"Tia, Anika and I aren't divorced yet. Dadi will not agree to her living in her house and if that job gives her happiness, I don't see any reason why she shouldn't do it. I have wrecked her life enough. I don't want to put imposition on her."
"I understand Shivaay baby but do you realize that she is having an affair with a doctor? Dadi has an issue if I enter your bedroom and there Anika is flaunting her boyfriend for the world to see---"
"ENOUGH TIA! That guy is just Anika's friend. Stop making a mountain of a molehill. And leave me alone for a while, I have work to do" replied Shivaay sharply
"If you think that's friendship, you haven't seen them together. But I guess if she is in a relationship, even dadi will stop hoping that you two will get together. So it works for me. Bye baby, I will call you in the evening."
Tia walked out, a cunning smile on her face. She had planted a seed of doubt in Shivaay's head and now he would realize how futile this pining for Anika was and divorce her.
Shivaay sat still as a statue. Ever since the time all the MUs had been cleared, Anika had treated him with polite indifference. She had a good relationship with dadi and his brothers and even badi maa. His mother left no stone unturned to taunt her despite of Shivaay pointing out that it wasn't Anika's fault.
His attempts to have a decent conversation with Anika met a dead end. She didn't want anything to do with him and he didn't blame her. He couldn't see love in those eyes anymore. His love that was once returned was now one sided. But he knew his deep love for her and his need to keep her beside him forever, were futile. He couldn't make Tia a laughing stock and his marriage with Tia was important for the business. Him rejecting Tia at this stage would mean destroying Tia's life, the Oberoi's public image and even chances of a good match for Priyanka. And he couldn't do it because of his own selfish need.
Anika had changed ever since she joined the hospital as a receptionist. She almost became like the old Anika. The smile that had disappeared after his brutal treatment started touching her lips. He caught her teasing Rudra, telling dadi and saumya about her day and even having a heart to heart with Omkara. Her happiness had filled him with a sense of profound relief till, one day Rudra told him about the person who was responsible for both her happiness and the receptionist job
Dr. Arhaan Mehra
He was Anika's childhood friend who had magically reappeared in her life. He hadn't met the doctor but he knew that, not just Anika but his brothers, dadi and badi maa shared a good rapport with the man.
He could never handle his jealousy when Anika was concerned and he had tried hard to tone down his temper, this time. His jealousy for Daksh had ruined Anika's life and he'd be damned if he repeated that mistake again.
But Tia's words were hard to forget. Had Anika fallen in love with the doctor? Why did that thought throw him into despair even when he knew there was no future for them? Why did it make him want to punch the doctor in the face? Why did it make him want to lock her away from the whole world?
***
Anika caught up with Arhaan at Worli sea face, where he was having his uncluttered view of the dying sun. As she quietly sat next to him, he pointed out to his watch showing that she was late. She kicked him in the shins.
"So what drama happened this time?" he asked dryly
"Why do you always think some or the other drama happens each time?" she said patting her hair
"Because it does. I gave up on Tv soaps ever since I started listening to your troubles. And, this time, I even got popcorn- want some?" he asked her handing out the packet of popcorn. Anika looked at him with a raised eyebrow but took the popcorn and popped one in her mouth
"Tia told Shivaay that we are having an affair. I overheard. I don't understand what problem she has with me. She herself is sticking to this D' naam ke prani and she is discussing my love life."
"Tia has everything to gain if you fall for someone else so why is she complaining- unless"
"Unless"? Anika asked
"She might have fallen in love with you.. Now that would be hilarious.. poor SSO... wo to dhobi ka kutta ban ke reh jayega- Na ghar ka na ghat ka" Arhaan said laughing so hard that some of the popcorn fell off.
"Shut up Arhaan. I really wanted to confront her but knowing SSO I'd be the one who'd be blamed" she replied bitterly
"What would you have said to Tia, Anika?" said Arhaan seriously " Dheere dheere se closet ke baahar aana.. Dheere dheere hai sabko batana. Tujse pyaar hame hai kitna jaane jaana..."
Anika grabbed his popcorn and dumped them over his head. She then stood up, turned around and marched off. She had almost hailed an auto when Arhaan caught her by the waist and bodily lifted her up
"Sorry Sorry.. This Tia is such a cartoon that I couldn't resist. And your situation is so serious that if we take it any more seriously, we will both have to consider alcoholism as the next career option."
Anika sighed as he lowered her to the ground.
"So you said you had to discuss something? What is it?" she asked him
He was quiet for a while and when he spoke, he couldn't have shocked Anika more
"I'm in love with Dr Nidhi" he replied seriously
There was an earth shattering silence for a minute and then Anika began to laugh and laugh and laugh. Tears spilled from her eyes. She laughed till her stomach hurt. She laughed till an exasperated Arhaan said, "Are you hysterical? Should I slap you or something?"
"You are in love with a girl who is simple, who wears salwars and never flirts, who is a dedicated doctor and who actually hates you- I never thought I'd see this day. Arhaan Mehra, the cool dude, who girls would kill to date is in love with a girl who hates the sight of him."
She resorted to a fresh bout of giggles and when he didn't laugh with her, she said
"Relax, Nidhi isn't getting married yet. You have all the time in the world." And with that she pulled him over to the sidewalk where they both stood with their arms around each other, watching the setting sun.
The two friends were so lost in their own world that neither realized Shivaay Singh Oberoi sitting in the car that was stuck in the traffic, right opposite, staring at them as if he had lost everything that mattered to him, in the space of minutes.
INDEX
Chapter Two: The Midnight Whispers
Chapter Three: The Laughter Therapy
Chapter Four: The Best Laid Plans
Chapter Five: The Change Of Heart
Chapter Six: The Deepest Bonds
Chapter Seven: The medical Ball
Chapter Eight: The Anxiety Attack
Chapter Nine: Rewind and Fast Forward
Last Chapter: The Journey to A Happily Ever After
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Sorry no PMs for this one so book mark the pageđ
Cricket
CID
