PART 3
Darn Mumbai traffic! It took him a whole hour to reach home after Annika ran off like an angry rabbit. He swerved into the garage and tossed the keys to the driver standing by. Taking the steps two at a time he rushed into the foyer, the house was ominously quiet.
A very upset Dadi met him at the living room. Mom had apparently got back early and with Tia had accused Sahil of stealing her phone and drowning it in the pool. Dadi was weeping while narrating all the nasty words that were thrown at the little boy. Annika had apparently walked in halfway and rose like angry goddess to defend her brother. An ugly fight had ensued between Annika and Tia, which his mom had made worse by taking Tia's side and adding poison.
Apparently Annika had tried her best to be polite. But she had lost it when Tia started pushing and hitting Sahil. A horrible physical fight started that left Tia bruised and sprawled on her butt, in ugly tears. Mom had spewed more venom and Dadi had pulled the irate Annika away.
Uh oh... Shivaay gulped.
Not finding Annika in their room, he made a beeline for Sahil's. Opening the door, he saw a hiccupping Sahil with several packed bags on the bed. Annika was on the phone, and turned around to his arrival.
Furious, Shivaay walked in and upturned the bags on the bed into a big pile. "Why is it you pack to leave after every argument?!" he scolded.
Annika was breathing hard to control her temper and remained silent. She went and straightened the bags , stuffing what had come out unceremoniously back inside.
"Stop packing, Annika. You're not going anywhere... okay?" he repeated.
She threw a glare at him , evading past him to place the bags by the door. She then gave Sahil a spoonful of medicine, for the headache he got with all that crying. The little boy hiccupped , and rubbed his swollen eyes, as his sister hugged him fiercely again.
Shivaay's heart tore at the misery in Sahil's face. He moved forward, "Sahil..." but Annika blocked his way.
"Enough Shivaay. No one gets near my brother again. No one." She huffed heatedly.
Shivaay smoothly moved her aside and touched Sahil's head. He lifted the boy up and hugged him close, and Sahil flung his arms around Shivaay's neck and wept. He walked up and down, patting his shoulder and stroking his head and few minutes later, the boy was asleep. Shivaay set him down on the bed, tucking him in, his experience in calming little boys down evident. Annika watched this silently, her intention of leaving the Oberoi Mansion tonight thwarted.
Shivaay led her out for a conversation and she followed noncommittally. Saumya came in to sit with Sahil as the two made for Shivaay's room.
"Annika..."
"No, stop. There's nothing to talk about. "
"What do you mean, Nothing?? "
"Sahil is my brother, and I am responsible for him. Our presence in this house is unwelcome in so many fronts, that much is obvious. So, I have decided."
"Decided what? Without discussing with me?"
"With YOU? Why should I? You don't get to drive through like a brakeless truck into my life! I decide what Sahil and I do. "
"You're forgetting, you're married to me."
"You're forgetting, we signed divorce papers."
Shivaay paused for a deep breath, watching an irate Annika , angrier than he'd ever seen her. The events of the day had been too much, he wished he had time to give her to calm down. He stepped up close to her a touched her cheek softly, startling her into flinching.
"You don't tell a man you love him, and then leave him without a chance to say anything. You think I'll just let you walk out , after that?" he whispered gently just for her ears. She shivered a little and raised fearful eyes.
"I take it back. "
"What ?! No, you can't !" he shook her in frustration, until she gaped at him in surprise.
"It makes no difference to you Shivaay, we are divorcing! And I want to leave .."
"You LOVE me... you said it !" his hands gripped her forearms and pulled her close.
"No, I don't !"
"But , I ... love you..." Shivaay said, his voice choking and half swallowed. Annika stared at him intently, looking for any evidence of sudden madness. He stared back at her, nothing to lose now, the words were said, and he didn't want to take it back. She looked back into his watery blue green eyes , the dilated black center hypnotizing her.
God, this man doesn't know what he's saying !
"Are you MAD?" she blurted, trying again to wiggle out of his electrifying proximity.
He looked bruised by that. Feeling vulnerable, he shook his head no.
"You don't love me, okay! You must have a fever or... did you take some pain killers or something?!?" she snapped her fingers in front of his face to test his conscious level.
"You'll wake up in a few hours and completely forget all this.. So just go please !" she wiggled out of his hold.
"I can't believe this! I just told a woman, that I loved her, for the first time in my life and she thinks I'm crazy? "
"You don't love me Shivaay."
"Crazy woman, I do. "
"But why, Shivaay? " she asked softly, and he fell silent to her huge question.
"I am a nobody, Shivaay. I am an orphan. I was adopted by Sahil's father, but I have no surname, he didn't give his to me, legally. I have no money or property in my name, I don't even know WHO my parents' were. I have a sister somewhere, separated from me. I have NOTHING to give you , Shivaay! There is no pride in who I am ! I am nothing ! Roadside dust !"
" You are Shivaay Singh Oberoi, the pure blood, symbol of power and prestige of the Oberoi House. You shine like a diamond, and are way above my station. I will be a stain in your pristine white.. NO, Shivaay you don't love me."
The helpless way Shivaay was staring back, told her she had struck a raw nerve.
"I don't care. I Love you. " he repeated stubbornly.
"Really, Shivaay? " she allowed herself a tiny piece of hope, the question soft and beguiling. He fought back bleak sadness and clutched her to him tightly. She gave in and flung her arms around him, her nails biting into the back of his waistcoat, gripping him to her as she wept into the nook of his neck. He held her tight as she cried bitterly, smoothing her hair restlessly.
"Please don't cry like this , Annika. It's killing me. I can't bear it." he pleaded sadly, and she fought to control her tears.
She hiccupped and roughly wiped her tears away from her face, breaking the embrace. Shivaay leaned his forehead against hers and closed his eyes.
"Don't complicate things, Annika. I love you. "
"So, we'll stay married?" she said with a deep sigh.
He blinked confusedly. After a thought, he nodded.
"Your mom will accept me?"
"She'll take some time, but I'm sure she will." He said confidently.
" And we will be officially husband and wife? " she pressed on giving him no option but to listen.
"Will the media make a big splash out of it? Will it humiliate you, when they find out I am a nobody from the lower middle class? Will your investors refuse to give you big deals because you don't have big family contacts? Will the high society hesitate to invite you and your wife to their bashes, because they don't associate with lower class like you? Will I embarrass you when we go to these events? Or will you not take me anywhere at all?"
The questions probed and poked at Shivaay relentlessly, he crossed his arms and frowned pensively.
"And when we have children, will they be half-pure blood Oberois? Will you be able to accept that your son or daughter isn't pure Khandaani? Will you trust my upbringing of our children, will it be up to your standards, or will you send them with governesses so they have impeccable manners and taste? Will I be a suitable mother to your heirs?" she spoke in a heartbreaking voice, tears running streaked down her face unchecked.
A lone tear slipped down his cheek at the misery in her words. He avoided her eyes, and looked at the ground pointedly. The ugliness of his prejudices embarrassed him.
She choked on a sob and sat down bitterly in a heap, fresh tears making her loud sobs utterly heartbreaking to hear. Shivaay sat down and tried to gather her into his arms but she kept pushing his hands away.
"There's your answer Shivaay. I cannot be your wife. Being your wife is a spot on the throne. And I am no royalty, not by far. I do love you dearly, Shivaay. But I cannot be your wife. Please just let me go. Please..." she cried and cried, as he struggled with the magnitude of what she was saying.
"Just STOP it! STOP crying Annika !! I hate seeing you cry, you know that. Stop. You are not going anywhere. I don't care if people will accept you or not, you are my wife, and I'm not letting you go. "
So they sat like that for hours, as she cried and he sat with her. After a long time, she let him hold her hand, but she wouldn't let him nearer. Close to 3 a.m., they fell asleep , seated on the floor and leaning against the wall, because she didn't want to get up with him and he didn't want to leave her alone.
***
Many years ago, there was a children's home very near a little temple in the outskirts of town. It was a quiet town, where dwellers went about their jobs and life was simple. The children's home was famed for one thing, there was a blind woman, a music teacher who taught there. Rumor was it that she lived there because her heart was broken very badly, and she wished no longer to be part of her own family, and worldly relationships. She shunned love, but poured it all out to her little students.
And her little students would come and sing in the temple, devotional songs in their childlike innocence and purity, under the patronage of the young pandit there. He was young as far as pandits go, a man of considerable kindness and hints of modernity. He asked the orphans to sing before his pooja began, welcoming the temple goers with devotional songs, he even paid them a paltry sum from his own pocket. He often asked to meet with their teacher, but she always refused.
One little girl, whom the pandit was very close to, she would come on Friday mornings; she was the best of the lot. In her sole pretty outfit, she would sit and sing in her angelic voice, a song so heartbreaking and pure, that the listeners would cry with the emotions evoked.
It was a song that asked of God, to Bestow with all His Grace, to all those worthy and not, begging for relief for all those in hardship, wishing for the best of fates no matter which path is chosen. This tiny little girl would sing every Friday morning, and the people would gather to listen. Some said, her voice gave them strength in tough times ,and some said she was like an angel from God.
Nobody knew why the pandit left the village all of a sudden few months later. Heartbreak, some whispered. Some months later, the blind music teacher also passed on one night. The new pandit shooed away the scruffy children from the orphanage, and little Annika never sang her beautiful song again.
***
Omkara was an early riser. He loved his private early morning time, 4 - 6am, where no one is awake yet, time goes slowly and it was peaceful like no other time in the day. Today, he was sitting with his clay, starting a new sculpture, when he heard a sweet voice singing. It was really soft, yet it was such a keen calling sound that he was drawn to find the source.
Who is that? In our house. At this hour?
Wandering out to the prayer altar, he found Annika Bhabhi, seated there amid some burning incense sticks , eyes closed in prayer. She sang a song in such a beautiful voice, a song asking for strength in hard times, for the best of fates in the path chosen. She was lost in her prayer and song, asking for guidance deep from her heart, tears streaming unchecked.
Her words and voice drew tears from Omkara's eyes, and he sat behind her and kept her company. It gave him a curious peace, as though life's troubles were there for a purpose, a test for one to overcome and succeed. He felt ashamed that he felt his problems were paramount, when in perspective there were a lot of worst things that people succeed through on a daily basis. He wept quietly as Bhabhi sang her song, herself wishing for deliverance from her troubles.
When she finished, there was a lightness in the air, Annika turned to find a teary Omkara behind her. She gave him a hug and shared a smile.
"What is it , Bhabhi? What are you struggling with? You can tell me..." Om asked softly.
"I don't fit in here, Om. I will always feel like an unworthy street urchin Shivaay feels sorry for. It's easier of I leave. Everybody will be happier if I'm gone."
"What about Shivaay, Bhabhi? He will be miserable without you. Can't you see he loves you so much. And you? Will you be able to be apart from him? "
"He will have to fight his mum to keep us together. Marriage won't be easy when you don't have the blessing of the elders. I do not wish him any hardship on my behalf, Om. "
"But what about HIM? Just him. Leave aside his family, lineage and responsibilities, and just love HIM? I don't think he will ever fall in love again, not like this."
" Separate Shivaay, from his beliefs on Khoon, Khandaan , Naam? Only he can do that for himself, I can't do that for him. All I can do, is do him a favour and get out of his way. He needs to be there for his family."
"Don't leave him, Bhabhi. Please. It will kill him. Please."
She looked down sadly, and Om gave her a bear hug out of desperation. He was afraid of what would happen to Shivaay when she left. She leaned into him and touched his cheek tenderly. With a simple smile, she got up and went back to the room.
She found Shivaay seated on the bed by her bag.
"What were you wishing for , Annika?" he asked solemnly. She was surprised, realizing that he was privy to the conversation she and Om had as well. She looked into his eyes, and saw only honesty and love.
"Perhaps, for now, I will ask you for some time, Shivaay. Apart." she said softly.
"But why? I can give you space. You don't have to leave." Shivaay said, coming really close and holding her by the shoulders, thankful to Om for asking her to reconsider. She looked into his big green eyes and smiled sadly at the attempt at pushing his way , preventing her from leaving. He pulled her hands around his shoulders and let himself be swallowed in her arms. His own arms held her tightly by the waist, as he tried to absorb her into himself.
"3 months, Shivaay. Let's give ourselves 3 months to decide."
"3 days." He said in a staccato.
"Shivaay..." she pleaded softly, to which he frowned and refused to negotiate.
"OK, 2 months." She offered.
"1 week..." he counteroffered, already planning ways to find loopholes in the deal. She rolled her eyes, unable to believe they were actually discussing a period of separation.
"Maybe we should just end it here, then." she said, and his face paled in response.
"Okay, ONE month.. that's my final offer. Period." He waved his hands dramatically and avoided her eyes.
"Okay then. ONE month apart. And we'll see how we feel after that. Deal?" she sniffed, keeping her voice upbeat.
She picked up her bag, and made for the door to get Sahil. Before she could, he pulled her back into his arms and hugged her like his life depended on it. Running his hands in her hair, he cupped her face and kissed her on the lips. Sweetly, then deeply and then out of control. When he let her go, she was thoroughly stunned and flushed with his passionate attention.
"Just to tell you, how much I will miss you..." he whispered in her ears.
Sahil and Annika left the house that afternoon, with heavy hearts, back to their old house. She didn't want to say goodbye to anyone, having said her goodbye to the most important one.
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