Shivika SS: 3 Months Later (Forced Marriage Track) Completed - Page 11

Chapter Four: The Best Laid Plans

Shivaay stood outside Life Beat Hospital, his heart racing with anticipation. He had taken pains to dress up carefully and make sure he looked his best. Now that he had made up his mind that he would win Anika back, he started feeling positive for the first time in months. And even though he knew it was imperative to break up with Tia first, he couldn't resist making plans to woo Anika.

He would meet Anika first, he decided. He wouldn't tell her about his decision but just spend some time with her without being burdened by the thoughts of separation. God alone knew this was the first time ever since he fell in love with Anika, he had an opportunity to do just that.

After that he would meet Tia. He would end it with her and apologize personally to Mr and Mrs Kapoor. He would then tell his family about his decision and tell Anika about his intention in no uncertain terms. And then he would begin his single minded pursuit to woo his wife.

He checked his watch knowing that within five minutes Anika would come out of the hospital for a walk without the doctor who followed her like a shadow these days. A stroll after she finished her lunch was her daily ritual. Shivaay had lost the number of times he stood at a distance and merely watched her. It was his daily ritual.

Today Anika strolled towards a shaded spot and sat there yawning. The interrupted sleep from last night was probably catching up with her. As he walked towards her, he saw her eyes widen but she didn't move and he sent a quiet thanks to the divine one above.

"What do you want Shivaay?" she asked sharply, standing up

"I was wondering if you would talk with me for a while"

"What on earth would we talk about?" she asked as if the thought of having a conversation with him was beyond ridiculous and he tried not to show how much that hurt

"We used to talk before..." he began but Anika interrupted him

"Too many things have happened since then. Only a conceited Oberoi can think he can pick up where he left off." She said and walked off with angry strides. Shivaay caught up with her and held her wrist

"Will you have coffee with me?" he asked again

"Why would I spend another minute with you when I have a choice?" she almost shouted

He opened his mouth to reply but closed it as a car pulled up in full speed next to them. He was about to give the driver a few choice words when he realized that it was Arhaan in the car.

"Get in, both of you." The doctor said urgently staring at another car that was stuck in the traffic on the main road

"Why?" asked Shivaay confusedly but as he saw Anika getting in the back seat, he promptly sat inside the front passenger seat. Arhaan moved the car on the main road and kept driving ignoring his and Anika's questions.

"You see that red sports car?" he asked Shivaay. Anika was leaning forward in her seat actively listening to their conversation

"Is that Tia's? Why are you following her?" Shivaay asked, more puzzled than angry

"Because I was in Jeevan Rekha hospital for some work and I saw Tia with this guy"

He showed an image to Anika and then to Shivaay. It was a picture of Robin. Shivaay once again found himself hanging on to his temper in this man's presence

"You saw Tia with Robin?" Anika asked "He is her brother, Arhaan"

"His actions were far from brotherly" Said Arhaan unfazed, following the car

"Meaning?" asked Shivaay through clenched teeth

"She decided to administer CPR for a hair line fracture in his hand. The nurses had to remind them that it was a hospital." Said Arhaan giving a throwaway glance at Shivaay before taking another turn

Shivaay sat stunned processing what Arhaan had just said. Robin and Tia? Fhat the wuck was happening?

"So what is wrong in that? He is hurt right?" asked a very puzzled Anika making both Shivaay and Arhaan look at her with disbelief.

"I knew no one had the birds and bees talk' with her. I should have done something. She probably things babies are gifted by god." Arhaan muttered to himself but in a way that only Shivaay could hear him

Shivaay felt tears prick from the corners of his eyes. Anika was worldly in so many ways and yet such an innocent in many more ways. And he had accused this girl of sleeping with someone for money. Even if Tia was indeed having an affair, he couldn't hate her as much as he hated himself for hurting Anika

As they followed Tia's car, Shivaay remembered the number of times Anika had accused Tia of cheating before marriage but he had dismissed her allegations each time thinking Anika must have been mistaken. He had learned the hard way that Anika was rarely in the wrong. And, besides, Arhaan had nothing to gain by interfering in his affairs.

As Tia's car pulled to a stop by some residential colony, Arhaan boldly drove past them and stopped at a distance. Tia wouldn't ever expect to see him in a car that cost a fraction of a crore and so she wouldn't suspect that he might spy on her. He watched Robin get out, his hand encased in a plaster. Tia walked towards him and the two seemed to be having an argument. He watched Tia put her hand around his cheek but Robin threw her hand away and the next minute Tia was standing on the tips of her toes, her arms wrapped around Robin, crushing his lips with her own.

Shivaay watched astonished, understanding instantly the extent of deception. The three of them sat in silence as the kiss seemed to go on and the silence was broken when Anika said "cheee!!!"

Arhaan quietly turned the car and drove out. Neither of them spoke for a while

"How can someone do that with their brother?" She asked disgusted

"Anika Tia claims that he is her brother. But whatever Tia claims cannot always be the truth right? This is rich people's golden world, Anika. You and I won't understand it." Arhaan told her

The barb hit Shivaay straight in his chest and he couldn't even bring himself to give an adequate retort. Arhaan drove straight to the hospital parking lot when Anika's phone rang. She quickly got out of the car and waited at a distance, talking on the phone.

"Why did you do so much for me? You didn't owe me any truth. You could have easily dismissed what you saw and let me make the biggest mistake of my life. There would have been some poetic justice to it." Shivaay said to Arhaan

Arhaan considered his question for a minute, looked at Anika who was busy talking on the phone and said

"I had promised myself that if Tia had one skeleton in the closet, I'd let it out in the open for the public to see." Arhaan replied thoughtfully

"What are you trying to say?"

"Well, do you really think all this is a coincidence? I knew Tia's boyfriend was hurt and he had been taken to Jeevan Rekha hospital. I followed them to have a good look at him and luckily they took this route. I was intending to take some more pictures even though I had solid proof because you have a tendency to go blind. It was pure luck that I found you and Anika when I did."

Shivaay kept quiet waiting for him to continue

"I hired a private investigator when Anika told me how she tried to prove that Tia was cheating on you and failed. Tia used to taunt her then and your immense faith in Tia didn't help." He handed Shivaay the file which had all the details of the investigation

"My Private Investigator is really good. I'll give you his card. God knows, if anyone requires a private investigator, it is you"

"But what did you have against Tia? I appreciate what you have done for me but I'm curious" asked Shivaay impatiently

"You know, I always had a principle that I lived by. Make Anika cry and I return those tears to you with interest. Making Anika cry was Tia's biggest mistake."

"With that logic I should have been first in your line of targets."

"You are your own worst enemy Oberoi. If I target you, even god will not forgive me. Good day"

With that he got out of the car. Shivaay realized that if he now asked Anika out, she would just think he was doing so because Tia wasn't an option anymore. There was absolutely no way he could convince her around this one

Oh! What tangled webs we weave

He watched Anika end her call and smile at Arhaan who in turn put his arm around her shoulder and both of them walked towards the hospital.

And Shivaay Singh Oberoi stood alone, watching their retreating backs, knowing that Arhaan's arm around Anika's shoulder hurt him far more than Tia's lip lock

Chapter Five: The Change Of Heart