Shivika FF: Love means letting go UPDT. CH 11- PG 24 /20-07 - Page 10

Originally posted by: Illuminati07

OMG seriously??

That means a lot coming from an amazing writer like you

Thank you sooo much

Chapter Ten

Anika leaned against the headboard of Ansh's bed, stroking his hair as he slept. She had narrated his bedtime story in an absent minded manner and the child had fallen asleep in the middle of it. If Omkara noticed earlier that night as they had a quiet dinner that she sounded off, he hadn't commented and Anika was grateful for his silence.

Anika thought about the incident that happened sometime before with Shivaay on the terrace and banged her head repeatedly on the headboard, cursing herself. She didn't know why Shivaay had touched her the way he did. Didn't he know that she was married? She wondered. She was sure he knew because Rudra knew and Rudy was his cousin. Agreed, she didn't wear a sindhoor or a mangalsutra and her marriage was pretence but that didn't make her arrangement with Om any less real. She didn't wear a sindhoor and mangalsutra because she couldn't mock the sacred institution of marriage. She wasn't married in reality but she was in a relationship with Omkara and as platonic as it was, they were partners/ friends/companions.

And there was Ansh and a world of secrets behind him.

Agitated, Anika placed a soft kiss on her son's forehead and made her way to her bedroom. Though she shared it with Om, they slept on separate beds and she watched Om leave the wheelchair and slowly make his way to his bed. Absently Anika rearranged his pillow and held the covers and waited for Om to lie down.

"How was your physiotherapy session today?" she asked silently

"It was painful as usual but there is improvement. I can feel it. How was your day?"

With that the terrace scene rushed to Anika's mind and she plopped on his bed. Om waited for her to gather her thoughts and then listened silently as she narrated the whole incident to him.

"So?" she asked uncertainly after his prolonged silence

"Don't you think you over reacted, just a little?" he asked, unperturbed

Anika's jaw hit the floor

"I over reacted? He took me in his arms---"

"---Which is quiet normal in this day and age." He said interrupting her in midsentence " Anika, you need to tell him about Ansh and for that you need to get rid of that internal dilemma you seem to have and for that you need to spend time with him. If you analyse a single touch of his hand this deeply, how will you walk on that path that you have set for yourself?"

Omkara's rational words calmed Anika down a lot more than she expected and the week that followed had Anika renewing her acquaintance with Shivaay all over again. Those three hours which were otherwise spent in her lonely apartment when Omkara went for his physiotherapy sessions and Ansh for basketball practise were now spent with Shivaay and Rudra. Shivaay had surprisingly apologized for the night on the terrace and Anika had brushed off his apology and had apologized in turn for over reacting. Shivaay had accepted the apology on a condition that she join him for a movie and it was from that day on that their outings began.

***

The week that followed was the best of Shivaay's life and the reason was Anika. Despite of the hectic schedule, he made it a point to spend two hours outside Oberoi empire with Rudra and Anika. In that process he found himself doing things he hadn't done in his entire life- not only doing things but enjoying them too... like eating at the roadside stalls, driving aimlessly on the Mumbai streets in an open jeep with Anika and Rudra singing tunelessly from behind, standing in the line for popcorn with Anika beside him while Rudra got tickets for the latest movie, visiting temples because Anika insisted, feeding birds and street dogs while they chatted away to glory, having hot tea in the cold wintry night.

In Anika's company he realized how much he missed out on the simple pleasures of life in his journey to make millions. He also realized how shallow his world had been so far. Anika was a breath of fresh air and her beauty wasn't skin deep like Tia's. Her beauty went far beyond her pretty face. Her beauty was in her simplicity. Her beauty was in her innocence. Her beauty was in her helping, caring nature and that made her the most beautiful woman he had ever met.

One night, Shivaay, Anika and Rudra were supposed to go out for dinner when Rudra cancelled at the last minute. Shivaay didn't know the strange feeling of happiness that he felt as Anika got inside the car. She was wearing a wine coloured plain velvet top with a gold embroidery around the edges and a flowing black skirt. Her hair was left loose and the fresh flowery scent that clung to her hit him with twice the intensity. She seemed relaxed and as he drove along the busy streets, he felt strangely content.

As they entered the restaurant, he seated her and looked into her eyes.

"So what do you think?" he asked looking at the luxurious interiors.

"I always liked this place." She said happily

Shivaay was surprised. He hadn't expected her to have dined at this place because it was darn expensive but he was glad she had.

"Have you come here often?" he asked

"Just twice or thrice" she replied nonchalantly

It was on the tip of his tongue to ask Who with?' but he guessed she wouldn't appreciate the sudden curiosity and he himself was surprised at his own behaviour. Luckily he was saved by the waiter who took the orders.

"This place is more for couples isn't it? The ambience screams romance and yet there are a few people who are sitting alone. Such places make one feel lonelier than usual."

She was looking around as she spoke but Shivaay's eyes were on her and at that moment she looked so very breath-taking that he couldn't have looked away even if his life depended on it.

"Well" he said, knowing she was expecting him to say something "if there was something wrong in the dcor or the hospitality, I could have fixed it. This is not in my hands, my lady" he said with a smile

"You know, there is a lady who sits outside with a basket of roses. I often buy a bunch from her when I walk down this lane." She told him

"Do you like roses?" he asked, his eyes brimming with tenderness

"Who doesn't? They are so positive and beautiful" she replied

"And beautiful" he agreed but he wasn't talking about the roses.

The waiter brought the food. While Anika had ordered Indian, Shivaay had opted for Italian but the mouth-watering smell that was coming from her plate made his look bland and tasteless. He had a spoonful of his dish and looked at her enjoying her food.

"Hows the food?" he asked

"It's delicious" she said, savouring another mouthful

"I wish I could say the same" he told her ruefully bending over his own plate. But before he could eat, Anika had exchanged her plate with his.

"You don't have to do that. I will order something else" said Shivaay protesting but Anika held his hand and his heartbeat fastened.

"Just eat. Besides it's my fault. I know their speciality and I didn't recommend you to try it and I don't like wasting food so..."

"You don't have to eat that" Shivaay told her "We can parcel it and give it to dogs."

"No Shivaay. Besides, this aint all that bad" she said smiling as she quietly cleared her plate.

Swapping his bland food for her delicious one would have been a normal thing for Anika but that small gesture meant a world for him. He didn't know the feeling of warmth that suddenly filled his insides but all he knew was that he wanted this moment to go on forever.

***

Shivaay had told Anika that he wanted a word with the manager and as she waited for him in the foyer, she was met by one of Omkara's clients. After the pleasantries were exchanged, he asked

"Mrs Roy, I heard that your husband is holding an exhibition on Thursday of his newest work. Please let me know the time and place. My wife and I would love to see it and purchase a few as well. Your husband is a very talented man."

"He is truly."

"Good to see you Mrs Roy." He said shaking hands with her and walked away.

"Who was he?" asked Shivaay who had just joined her, having missed her exchange with the older man completely.

"Oh no one important." Said Anika simply "What took you so long?"

"Well I arranged to have someone buy all the roses from that rose lady of yours every day and hand it over to each lady who dines at the restaurant so that she feels special, whether she is with someone or without."

Anika stood stunned as she listened to what he just said. She knew that he had done this only for her and she was so overwhelmed by his gesture that she did something totally out of character.

She put her arms around his neck and hugged him.

And Shivaay asked himself which was the exact moment when he had fallen in love with Anika Rai Chauhan.

Originally posted by: -Pia-

Finallly...This update feels like the it's raining after millions of years.

Dear I must tell you that your writing skill always fascinates me.

Trust me you have ability to touch the souls through your writing.

I still don't know why each chapter you write pulls the string of my heart.

Your concept of love in this story always leaves me astonished .

Anika is such a sweet heart,she must be zilllion Times stronger to let go of her love for shivay and this happens only when you love a person truly.

Shivay of your story is just like each one of us,he has flaws and that makes me connect to him

This story portrays how we discovers the true love doesn't relay on outer beauty but it's innner beauty what makes a person attractive.

Coming to Om I would say he is perfect bestfriend anyone could ever ask...

Anyway I want to thank you for making my days Brighter by updating your work

Stay blessed dear

Lots of love

Pia

Originally posted by: water9786

Res

_____________

Unres

Loved it totally.

Anika and Om they are so much awesome...

Anika spending time with Shivaay...

Shivaay feeling content with her, their exchange of food, roses...

Shivaay thinking when exactly the moment he has fallen in love with her❤️

Everything was superb.

Was waiting for this and got this.😳😊

Please update next part as soon as possible.

Originally posted by: Illuminati07

Thank you for making the rest of my day brighter with your comment

❤️