Shivaay had again returned late in the night. Annika was in the washroom when she heard him come in. By the time she was out, he had already changed and was lying down on the bed, his left arm wrapped over his forehead.
Annika snuggled next to him, stroking his beard lightly, "Shivaaay." She almost sang.
"Hmm. He said in a contrasting tired voice.
"Listen na. She tugged at his cheek, demanding her husband's attention.
He forced his heavy eyes open, lazily tilting his head towards his wife. She had an excited smile playing on her lips.
"Gauri was telling me that she and Om are going away for the weekend, this really nice resort around Lonavala. Her voice was dancing, and she hovered over Shivaay like a child.
"That's great. He yawned.
"She asked us to join them. Lets? She played with his buttons.
"That's impossible, Annika. I have a string of meetings this weekend. He said it with finality, straightening his head and closing his eyes.
Had he continued to look at his wife, he would have seen her face break into a grimace.
He heard her sniff, and she pulled away her hands and turned to the other side.
Shivaay sighed. "There's nothing to be angry about. I just cannot make it this time.
"It's not about this time. Her voice cracked. "We haven't been anywhere since our marriage. Initially it was all very messed up, and then you were always busy. Look at Om; it is their second holiday in the last two months of their shaadi.
"Oh come on Annika, stop with the comparisons. He was irritated at her accusing tone. "You are busy with your new business too.
"I manage to find time for you, Shivaay, for us. Unlike you. She was very hurt at his recent behaviour. Initially, he used to profusely apologise while cancelling plans or being home late. Lately, however, he didn't seem to care that much.
"I really don't have the energy for this right now. Shivaay muttered in annoyance. He had worked on an exhausting deal all day, and the last thing he wanted was a fight. He turned away too, going to sleep.
Annika couldn't control her sobs and went away to the poolside.
If Shivaay's changed behaviour was not enough, her crazy mind was at work too. She had been experiencing the weirdest thoughts after a particular incident a week back:
Annika was sitting with Dadi, and they were chatting about random stuff. The conversation had somehow drifted to how Dadi was glad that Tej had opted from a break from work, and was giving time to his relation with Jhaanvi.
Annika hardly knew about their complications, except that it had all begun with Svetlana.
Dadi, as if understanding her unasked questions, began on her own accord. "It had all started with Tej's affluent lifestyle, puttar. Once he took over the empire, his brilliance was unparalleled. With success, along came the glamour: the parties, the trips, the paparazzi, and you know, the female attention, the models, and the adulation. Tej strayed. He had the money, he had the looks, and he had a wandering heart. Bas jawaani ka josh samjho.
"Things got much better when Om and Rudra were born, but only for a few years. Jhaanvi had managed to bring him back through the children, but till when? And once Svetlana happened, she stuck to him like a parasite.
Annika was listening sadly. She always felt bad for Jhaanvi Aunty, as well as for OmRu. Thank god they had Shivaay and the rest of the family. She didn't think she would ever be able to make peace with Tej uncle; infidelity was unforgivable after all.
However, Dadi's next words caught her off guard.
"You know puttar, Billu always reminds me of Tej so much: the same knack for business, the same arrogance, the same brilliance. Both have made the name Oberoi only bigger, and that too at such young ages.
She felt something weird, an unspoken fear at this analogy.
Dadi turned to her, smiling. "Thank god Billu has you, you will never let him be the bad version that became of Tej. She caressed her cheek, and left. But little did she know the heaviness she left behind in Annika's heart.
She shuddered at the thought of Shivaay with someone else.
No, her Shivaay could never do something like that. She trusted him completely.
But didn't Jhaanvi Aunty trust her husband too?
"Shut up, Annika. Paagal hai tu. She muttered to herself, but these haywire thoughts never left her.
And Shivaay's preoccupation with his work, late night shifts, and a growing empathy that had surfaced like a devil lately, only made it tougher to get rid of these thoughts.
**
"Come on, Shivaay, it will be so much fun. Rudy is also away on a trip, you guys must come.
Next morning, when Gauri informed Om about Bade Bhaiyya being busy, he went off to try one last time to convince his brother. Moe than his company, he knew how much he and his bhabhi needed the break.
"No way, Om. I have a millions worth deal to lock this Sunday. Shivaay announced, sipping on his black coffee while waiting for breakfast.
"Hand it over to someone! I am sure the Oberois have hired a lot of capable workers. Om tried, but he already knew it was a no. Obstinacy ran in the family, especially when it came to work.
"None as capable as an Oberoi himself. Shivaay gave his brother a smug smile, at which the humbler of the two rolled his eyes.
"God. Om laughed. "You remind me so much of Dad, spoken just like him. After Tej had mended things with Jhaanvi, Om had begun to address him normally at the request of his mother. He wanted to give her the normal vibes as much as possible and make it easier for her/
They heard someone clear their throat, and turned to find Annika on the door.
"Breakfast's laid. She had heard the last snipped of their conversation, and that weird fear had caught on once again.
Shivaay couldn't help but notice how immensely disturbed she look. He put an arm around her shoulder as she came next to him. "Still angry? He asked, tilting his head.
She shook her head, smiling a little, but at the same wondering when did her husband ever apologize. The man had simply gone off to sleep last night.
"I am sorry, bhabhi. You have to live with your mistress. Om remarked playfully, referring to his brother's work, but Shivaay felt Annika stiffen in his hold even as he laughed at his brother.
Om excused himself as Shivaay turned to Annika. She looked lost.
"Let it go now. We will go sometime soon, I promise. Shivaay said, almost a plea. He was getting late for office, but didn't want to leave behind an upset Annika.
She sensed the urgency in his voice, and saw him shift on his feet as he eyed his files on the bed. She could not conceal the hurt in his eyes.
"Yeah, let's go. I have a meeting to attend too. Annika left abruptly.
Before Shivaay could register this, his phone rang, and then Mishra took away all his attention.
**
"Ragini Malhotra?
Shivaay was looking through the profile of his newest associate, the one to be working with him on one of the biggest Japanese deals of the year.
"Yes, sir. Samarjeet Malhotra's sister. She's a new bright face in the industry, the board loves her choice.
"Yeah, yeah. I am aware. Great, fix up a meeting for tomorrow. Shivaay put the file away, briefly recalling Ragini. She was with him at Yale, some 7 to 8 years back. They had done their MBA together, and had briefly dated. Although for Shivaay the equation was largely physical, as all of his were at that time, Ragini had proposed to him. He had declined, and ended their relation at once, apologizing for the misconceptions. Since then, they had not remained in touch. He did read a little about her brother, based in Bangalore, but nothing more.
Until now.
He was perfectly okay with establishing a professional equation with her, and was almost certain that even she would have forgotten all about the past.
All Shivaay was worried about was his wife.
He vividly remembered when Ragini had been mentioned a few months back playfully by Rudra, and Annika had turned red with anger.
"You never told me about her. I just know about Mallika, and of course, Tia. She was sitting in the study, fuming, when Shivaay came running to talk to her. She had simply walked off as Rudra had remarked that the sexiest Shivaay had dated was Ragini. Seeing Annika's eyes turn into daggers, he had quickly mumbled something like "of course second to you bhabhi.
But it was too late, the damage was already done, and Shivaay had to bear the brunt.
He had tried taking her in his arms, but she refused to touch him until he gave a satisfactory explanation.
"Because those two were the only ones that meant anything to me, Annika. You know how I felt about love before you. Mallika was way more important as a friend than a girlfriend. He tried his best to reason. He honestly didn't even remember Ragini till she had been mentioned. Back in his MBA days, physical fun was all he cared about.
"And what was Ragini?
Shivaay gulped at this plain question. He was not sure whether his wife would understand the kind of relationships he had back then.
"Well, we were hardly dating. Shivaay shrugged to enunciate his indifference.
"What is that now? Either you date someone or you don't. What does hardly mean? Annika scrunched up her nose in annoyance and confusion.
Shivaay shook his head. He had to come out with it. "I mean it was just physical. There was no emotional connect.
His wife took a few seconds to register this, and then exclaimed. "CHEEE SHIVAAY! HOW CHEAPDA!
Shivaay laughed, expecting exactly the same reaction. "I was different back then. He went a little defensive. "Besides Annika, all my girlfriends were exactly that.
He thought this would diffuse the tension, but his wife jumped. "GirlfriendS?! She emphasised on the plural usage of the word.
Shivaay gulped once again. He was so dead.
"How many? Her voice was so low that Shivaay felt worse.
"Annika, it doesn't matter now. Nothing but you matter to me now. He said it in the warmest voice possible, carefully putting his arm around her cuddled figure.
She sniffed. "I want to know.
Shivaay sighed. He knew that stubborn tone. He looked up, mentally counting, and felt Annika tremble in his arms.
"Six.
She looked away.
He immediately put his other arm around her, beckoning her to look at him.
"Annika, trust me, none of it means a thing to me. Please, please do not fret over this.
"Were they good?
Shivaay stiffened, not at the question, but at the vulnerability in his wife's voice. He knew of Annika's inexperience, and she had voiced her fear early in the marriage. But Shivaay thought that was long gone, for what they shared was the most amazing stuff he had ever had.
He was hurt. Had he failed in letting her know that there was nothing better in his life than her?
He pulled her closer. "I don't remember, not after you. All I remember is the first time I touched you and fell sick in the pit of my stomach, the first time we kissed and it was electric, the first time I breathed in your bare scent and felt intoxicated, the first time I heard you moan my name and nothing was as beautiful, the first time I beheld you naked and couldn't take my eyes off, the first time I entered you and felt complete in every sense of the word, the first time I looked into your eyes to find desire burning, and nothing has been as tantalizing since then.
Shivaay had pulled her so close now that they were hardly apart, and Annika looked at him with eyes shining with unshed tears, tears of anger, jealousy, and a little love for this man who could make her go bonkers and sane all at the same time.
Shivaay held her tighter, caressing the small of her back. He knew that she was aware of his love, but right now she needed to be told that how sexy, tempting and absolutely delicious she was.
"When I am with you, and since I am with you, everything else is utter shit. You drive me crazy, Annika. You do things to my body that no one ever has. He saw her turn red, and leaned in closer. "Look at me; I am turned on just holding you so close. He nuzzled at her lower lip.
Annika jumped at his teasing lips. He said all she wanted to hear, and a lot more. She kissed him with such possessiveness that Shivaay was startled, but he couldn't care less as she entered his mouth with an unsuppressed moan.
That night, an uncharacteristically soft Shivaay and aggressive Annika had made some noisy love. In her aggression, in her nails digging a bit too deep in his back, in her calling out is name double as much, in her grinding against him ever so relentlessly, in her hands holding onto his neck as if she was falling off a cliff: they let Shivaay know that her anger wasn't forgotten, and that she wanted to remove any foreign trace from his body. Every move of hers screamed: you are only mine.
That night, Shivaay had for the first time witnessed an out and out possessive Annika, and although he had absolutely loved the heated session that it brought, he did intelligently take the lesson of never mentioning his past affairs to his wife.
Definitely not that one of them is a potential associate.
**
But he hated lying to her. In fact, hiding stuff from her was pretty much impossible. Maybe he could break this to her in a soft way?
Shivaay was still mentally deliberating when he entered the room. Annika had just shut her tablet, and looked up at Shivaay with a wide grin across her face. He immediately smiled back.
"Shivaay! She jumped up at him like a kid, encircling his neck. "I just had a Skype session with Sahil. He has his break soon; he will be home for an entire week! Sahil was away at a boarding school in Bangalore, the most sought after in the country. Annika missed him a bit too much, and the excitement in her voice was proof enough.
Her eyes twinkled, and Shivaay cupped her cheek. That happiness on her face was all he wanted. He was also glad that she had forgotten all about the cancelled trip.
"That's great. We'll shop for him.
Annika beamed. "And my meeting with the Kaushiks was superb today. They are handing us over all their launch events of the next two years. She removed her hands from around his neck and popped her collar.
Shivaay laughed. "That's quite a deal, Annika. Way to go. He settled on the couch and she snuggled next to him. She was smiling so hard that Shivaay wondered if her cheeks hurt. He asked her to give details, and she went on in an over enthusiastic tirade.
Shivaay loved her talking. She was so carefree, so much herself, no qualms around her. She had just cracked a deal worth lakhs, and she was narrating it with a humility and innocence like she had won a gol gappa eating competition.
"How was your day? Annika asked once she finished.
Shivaay hesitated. Should he tell her about Ragini? He stared at her content face, at the smile that hadn't left her, at her eyes that shone. He could imagine it all vanish at the mere mention of her name, and couldn't bear the thought of it.
Why was it necessary anyway? She was just an associate after all, that Ragini. He should not let her take this beautiful sight away, nothing was worth upsetting his Annika.
"I missed you. He finally whispered, lightly tracing a finger down her cheek.
"Finally, huh, busy man?
"I know, I know. Shivaay was guilty as charged, and at once picked is wife up in his arms. She was so happy today, and he wouldn't dare let that alter.
"I'll make it up to you, I promise. He whispered huskily, carrying her to the bed.
Annika held him by the neck and pulled herself up. "High time. She pecked his lips, all her worries and doubts forgotten. This man was her happy place, and shall always be.
**
It was around 2 am. Shivaay had put on his pyjamas, while Annika lay covered just in a thick comforter, wrapped around Shivaay, her head on his chest.
She was asleep, and Shivaay too moved tiredly to look at her one last time before dozing off. Her swollen lips were testimony of a long due love making session they just had, thrice. He kissed her brow, and settled back in the pillow.
His phone buzzed. He looked at the screen, and found Ragini's name flash on it. He remembered saving it this morning, but wasn't expecting a call till tomorrow.
He carefully got up, and went to the poolside to talk. She informed him that she was flying to India and was on the connecting airport. She apologized for calling late due to the time difference. While Shivaay courteously told her that he would send a car, Ragini hung up saying that she could not wait to meet her old friend and rekindle soon.
He went back, getting into the blanket.
"Who was it? A drowsy Annika shifted in his hold.
Shivaay sighed. "Office, something urgent about tomorrow.
Annika nodded mindlessly, and had dozed off even before waiting for an answer.
Shivaay went off to sleep too, a little disturbed, but certain that telling his wife about an associate was unnecessary.
However, the first seeds of lies had begun to germinate themselves.
___________
Love,
Arushi.
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