The Wedding Night ~ Shivika SS ~ Updated page 13 - Page 7

Regrets and Promises

A deep sigh of relief escaped from her mouth, as she heard the sound of the shower. Finally, she had a moment to herself. Till now, she had only shared her room with Sahil. Being here with him was nerve-racking for Annika.

She could hardly believe what just had happened, or worse.. What could have happened. What was she thinking? Why had she allowed him to touch her? Why had she even enjoyed it so much?

She stared at the bed, where minutes ago they had laid, kissing and caressing one another. The thought of his gentle touch hit her with a flash of heat and made her feel foolish and uncomfortable. Above anger towards him, she felt disappointed in herself.

His soft hoarse voice echoed in her mind."Trust me, whatever I am about to do, you will beg me not to stop!"

The high and mighty Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi got what he wanted! Again! Does he have no limits? He did all this just to prove me wrong.. Unbelievable! And I just let him.. Do I not have any pride left? Why did I not stop him? Why??'

Instinctively, she knew she could not accept the truth to this question and quickly turned around to change into the white outfit he had given her and stared hollow at the mirror. The young woman staring back at her, looked like her but was a complete changed person.

Just a few hours ago, she had stood at the exact same spot, wearing the beautiful red bridal dress. The colors of both outfits could not have been more fitting, both given to her by the same man.

The red wedding dress, in which she forcefully started her new life, albeit for one day, symbolised much more than just love. For Annika it meant unconditional love, commitment and strength. Not so much for her so called husband, but for her brother Sahil. She would move heaven and earth for him, with a elusive devotion solely for the sake of his happiness.

Living together with Sahil was perhaps one of the reasons why she had always been a childlike bubbly person. But her sweet and simple life had come to an end today. It felt as if it was the death of her. She could never be the same. Annika could not hold back her warm tears from rolling down her cheeks. She realised these tears were her only companions, who truly understood her and would help her mourn over the death of her own being, and strengthen her to help her rise again. The immaculate white outfit matched her state of mind perfectly in that sense: purity, innocence and rebirth.

Annika had been wronged. She was accused, deceived and lied to. And for some reason Shivaay believed that she was at fault for doing the unthinkable. But what, he refused to say. What happened to him these last days that changed him back to that ruthless man?!

She could recall her conversation with Sahil earlier:

"Annika didi why are you crying. Some other person got married, not you..." "Yes Sahil.. You are right.. Someone else got married. Not me.."

With that thought she came back to the present reality again.

"Sahil.. I have to see him!"

She heard him turn off the water, followed by the shower door opening. As quietly as she could she rushed out of their bedroom.

Carefully, paying attention not to wake the boy up, she tiptoed into his room. Her expressions softened up when she laid her eyes on him. She reached out to gently touch his face. Lovingly, caressing and straightening his hair. A content soft smile was visible on Sahil's face.

Right here, with him, she felt at peace again. She could not imagine a world without him. Sahil might seem weak because of his physical condition, but to her he was strong. He was her pillar, her strength and weaknesses at the same time.

~~~~

Shivaay was in no hurry to get back to his room. To stall for time, he took an extra long shower to cool off. He closed his eyes as he let the lukewarm water run freely over his face and body.

Somehow, water had been the recurring liquid glue between the two of them. It had always brought them together. No wonder he had sought a safe hiding place in the bathroom. Their make out session had him visibly aroused. When he finally got up and looked at her, it was not helping him at all. Her beautiful face, her luscious swollen lips, her perfectly messed up hair made him want her even more.

With his eyes still closed, he recalled the flashes of the early moments between them. Annika smashing up his car windshield, splashing water over him. Shivaay throwing her in the pool. Her breaking down in the rain as he drove off.

It was at this mental picture which made him open his eyes. In that one and sudden moment, he had felt exactly like he had felt that day. Till then he had not seen her vulnerable before. And now, as a shrewd business man, he had broken her twice, but experienced no pleasure out of it. In fact, he felt restless, guilt and regret. Why did winning from Annika made him feel like the biggest loser on the planet?

He would set things straight again. Tomorrow, this whole mess would be sorted. Shivaay tried to comfort himself with this thought, but was torn between guilt and disappointment. He had not expected himself to be so affected by her.

Her presence, absence, emotions or words. He had denied it for the longest time, but whether he liked it or not, his world had started to revolve around her. Just like the force of water could break through stone, it was Annika, with her kindness, simplicity and crazy madness, who had managed to conquer his heart.

The fact that she was now officially his wife, should have made him happy. But his ego and conscious were holding him back. His conscious knew he was in the wrong. But his ego would not allow him to apologize to her, nor forgive her for choosing him! And that too for money!

After he got dressed, he stood there, staring into the fogged up mirror, without actually seeing anything. His mind was preoccupied.

She choose him over me! If it was money she required, I could have given that to her, without any expectations. Why did she not come to me? She only had to ask! But this girl is just too stubborn and foolish to see beyond her dislike towards me. Can't she see Daksh is only interested in one thing?'

Shivaay wondered what bothered him the most. Was it because she slept with another man, his friend, that too before marriage? Or that she did this for money? That she made him lose the bet? Or.. That she did not choose or consider him..? His instincts were never wrong.. He could sense her. He could sense that she was in love with him. How could he be wrong? In business his instincts never failed him.

He cursed the day he had requested Daksh to come and stay at the mansion. The day he introduced them. Never had he expected from his Annika that she would stoop so low. Never had he expected his friend to take advantage of a girl. His girl! He could feel his blood rise in anger again. Tomorrow then.. Things would be back to normal. He would set things straight again. He would let her go, against his own wishes.

Shivaay entered the room only to discover, Annika had left. But where to? At this time of night! He called to security to check whether anyone had entered or left the mansion, but this was not the case.

Maybe she is in the kitchen to get water. Good, I will tell her to put ice packs on her neck. It might help against the hickeys.'

While he walked towards the kitchen, his thoughts went back to their brief but intense love making session. He knew they were compatible. He could tell by the way she reacted on him. Never had he had felt such a strong connection and desire for someone. He tried to push these thoughts away. Back to the corners of his mind, where no one else but him could ever reach them.

Shivaay found his way in the dark effortlessly, but he was not able to find Annika in the kitchen or living room. Where could she be? He took the ice packs with him and returned to his room, secretly hoping she would be back as well.

~~~~

The door opened soft and slowly, letting through the shimmer of the lights in the hall. Annika turned around. The ray of light had blinded her temporarily but by the entering shape and his footsteps, she knew instantly, it was him.

He walked up to her, deliberately slow. Annika stepped back without realizing how close she stood near the bedside. Before she knew it, she was well on her way to fall on the bed, right on top of the peacefully sleeping Sahil. Shivaay reacted within seconds. He had caught her on time and pulled her close to her, covering her mouth to avoid her from screaming out loud.

In her eyes he could see her struggle of gratitude mixed with annoyance. They stood there silently for some time. Finally, he broke their silence. He whispered calmly threatening.

"I will remove my hand, you will not scream or yell but you will follow me to my bedroom. Is that understood?"

She looked into his grey blue piercing eyes. She nodded once. He removed his hand and let go of her slowly. He stepped back and walked towards the door. She quickly tucked in Sahil underneath the blankets and kissed him gently.

Shivaay had not seen Annika interact with anyone else besides his own family. He could tell she cared immensely for her brother. He stood at the door taking in how lovingly she had kissed him. He could instantly relate thinking of Omkara, Rudra and Priyanka. They meant the world to him. He did not realise it but a smile appeared on his face by the thought of his siblings. She looked up and walked towards the door, which he had opened for her.

He walked in front of her in the hallway, leading the way.

"Look.. Smile all you want! I know you are so happy right? That I follow your every order. Go ahead.. Feel powerful for a few hours. Tomorrow.. You will be very sorry that you picked a girl like me to mess with!"

Annika stormed of to their bedroom. He followed closely. "Mind your language Annika. You really have no idea what I could do to you if I really want to. So don't make empty threats and especially.. Don't push me to that limit! There is absolutely no need for this.. This.. This attitude!"

She completely ignored him and walked towards the bed. "Look.. I brought ice packs for you. It's for uh.. The uh.. The hi.. Hi.. The uh.. Allergy.. Yes the allergy.. So here.. There.. Use it.. If not, fine.. Like I Care!"

Shivaay went to bed, hoping she would use the ice packs and hopefully no visible proof would remain of these love bites. He knew his family would not give it a rest otherwise!

Annika used the ice packs, and went to bed. Before she fell asleep though, which did not take her very long, she made him an unspoken promise.

~~~~

"Color, rather than shape, is more closely related to emotion."

~ David Katz

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."

~ Rabindranath Tagore

"Water is powerful. It can wash away earth, put out a fire, and even destroy iron. Water can carve its way through stone. And when trapped, water makes a new path."

~ Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

"Gentleness is stronger than severity, Water is stronger than rock, Love is stronger than force."

~ Siddhartha by Hermann Karl Hesse