TITLE : Phantom Love
THEME : Romantic Suspense
COUPLE : ShiViKa (FT. Gauri)
1956 WORDS
"Shivay, can you for once look at me and not at the laptop while I am talking? She said lying on her stomach on the bed wrapped in thin satin sheet.
"Don't disturb me while reading contract files. He warned angrily.
*_*_*_*_*
"How dare you talk to my mother like that? he scolded holding her shoulder in his tight grip.
"Ahh... she groaned in pain
"Never forget your aukat. He warned pushing her aside
*_*_*_*_*
"Stop doing this to me. I know you love me." She said as she moved her hands aroind his neck.
"Donot forget your limits. You are dear to nobody." He spat like venom and threw her on the couch nearby.
*_*_*_*_*
"Will you miss me when I die? she asked placing her head on his shoulder
"No one misses anyone after dying. Life goes on. He answered smiling at her brainless question.
*_*_*_*_*
Gauri's heart beat increased and her hands began to sweat as she tip toed across her jetji's room. It has been three months since her wedding to Omkara Singh Oberoi and yet she hasn't learned to be relaxed in his vicinity. One pat on her shoulder made her gasp noisily and she moved back scared.
"Gauri... called Omkara in an amused tone, "What happened? he asked concerned
Gauri nodded her head vehemently biting her lips. "Nothing. She mumbled. Moving towards her husband, she held his arms closer as they moved towards their bedroom crossing elusive Shivay Singh Oberoi's room.
Once in the confines of their bedroom, Gauri sighed in relief and the smile returned on her face. She moved towards the cupboard to pick her night dress. Omkara held his wife's wrist and made her face him.
"Are you scared of Shivay? asked Omkara with mix of disappointment and anger
Gauri's eyes widened in shock, as she looked at her husband troubled. She knew how much he loves his brother and she didn't want to confess how terrified she was of Shivay.
"Woh... she hesitated.
Omkara didn't wait for her answer as he sat on their bed with a forlorn look on his face trying to recollect a distant memory.
"Gauri, the man you see today is not the actual Shivay Singh Oberoi. He said.
Gauri knew that already. The Shivay Singh Oberoi the world knew is a ruthless businessman, a loving son and liable brother. Everyone saw him as perfect role model for what he had done in business in just span of five years. There has not been a single day when news about him will not appear on newspaper, both in business times and page 3. However, everything changed a year ago. No one knows what really happened. Oberois remained tight lip about it. There were even rumours that her wedding with Omkara was arranged hastily to make media forget Shivay fiasco. Gauri didn't think much about the same as far as she got to marry the man she had a crush on since she was fifteen.
Her first encounter with Shivay happened on the second day after her wedding. She was going to her room talking to her friend over the phone giggling, when she bumped into him. Initially, she was surprised as she thought Shivay was out of the country as he was not present on her wedding. Gauri's astonishment changed to dread as he looked at her angrily with bloodshot eyes.
"Don't laugh loudly. He warned in a livid tone. "Don't you know Annika is sleeping? he glared at her venomously before storming into his room.
Gauri thought Annika could be anyone from his pet dog to his live in partner. However, she was shocked to discover that she was his ex girlfriend, who died in a flight crash. Ever since she feared to even breathe in the same room as Shivay who, according to various international doctors, was suffering from acute case of hallucination.
"He is more of a father to me than a brother. Omkara's painful voice broke Gauri's trance. "I can't believe he is facing this fate. It has been a year yet he thinks Annika is with him still and he sees her. He refuses to believe she is dead. I wish I could do something, anything to bring him out of his misery. Gauri... he called turning to her. She immediately rushed to his side. "He is very precious to me. Don't look at him like he is a psycho. He pleaded.
Gauri's heart ached at her husband's pleading. So, very next morning, instead of the house help, she took breakfast for him.
"Bade bhaiyaa. She called. Shivay never really allowed anyone to enter his room except for who provide food for him at the exact same time all days. He spent most his time inside his room except few days when her husband or Rudra wants his special attention for business related stuff. So, Gauri was surprised that the room was neatly maintained. After all, Shivay was also believed to have OCD. How big was his room? She wondered taking hesitant steps inside.
Gauri was startled by his tough voice calling her name. She found him sitting in the balcony bespectacled with a book in his hand. Gauri questioned her own decision to face the lion in its den looking at Shivay's narrowed eyebrows.
"What are you doing here, Gauri? he asked. She was surprised that he even knows her name.
Gauri's mind wavered a minute with uncertainty, before she walked towards him holding the tray tight in her hand. She was surprised by the way he began conversation with her easily; completely different to the way he spoke to her first time.
"What are you reading, bhaiya? she asked casually trying to sneak a peek at the cover.
"Ah! Something Annika gave me yesterday. Said Shivay. "Girl stuff. He chuckled waving a copy of Jane Eyre at her. "She thinks it matches our life with her being my employee then falling in love and all.
Gauri smiled at him not commenting on Annika or the book. Later that night she revealed what happened to Omkara.
"Yes, Annika was chief marketing executive. They used to have tons of arguments every time they meet. I was extremely surprised one day when he declared that they were dating. Omkara said. "I wish she didn't go to China for the meeting. She wouldn't have died.
Gauri's visit to Shivay's room frequented with her taking every meal to him. In the past fifteen days, they sort of formed friendship with each other. However, with every meeting Gauri discovered new things in his room that made her wonder if he was alone there.
"Omkara, I saw two bowls of ice cream in the room.
"I found a girl's stole in his room.
"I am a girl Omkara. I know the difference between paint stain and nail polish stain. I saw nail polish stain on his bedsheet.
"Why the hell did he order girl's shoes?
"Can you stop going all Sherlock Holmes on my brother, Gauri? shouted Omkara one day. "You have no clue what he is undergoing.
Gauri decided to quit paying more attention to Shivay's room and picking out new anomaly everyday. But, what she discovered two days later appalled her completely.
"Condom!! Gauri almost shouted the minute she closed Shivay's room door behind her.
Omkara's London tour fell on the right time. Gauri was more than happy to spy on her brother in law the same night her husband left.
Sound of giggles, womanly sigh and moans was discretely heard on close observation. How did everyone miss this all these months?
Gauri hid behind the huge bush under Shivay's room. It was thirty past four with no sign of anyone. Gauri was on the verge of giving up when she saw a lone figure walking towards the back gate. She jogged unconnectedly and reached the gate before the figure.
"Who are you? asked Gauri breathlessly holding the woman's wrist tight.
No amount of pushing and pulling made Gauri lose the grip. With one final push Gauri made the woman fall on the ground and tied her legs with the stem of the tree.
"Who are you? she asked again.
The burka the woman wore was pulled down to reveal a face Gauri has seen in photos many times.
"Annika? asked an appalled Gauri. "Are you...
Threats to call the security, threats reveal identity to the Oberois and finally threat to involve Shivay himself made Annika confess the secret.
"I survived after that flight accident, but never revealed this to anyone, not even police. Confessed Annika.
"Why didn't you? Why are you meeting Bade bhaiya secretly? Do you people around here are convinced that he is ... he is... Gauri didn't have the heart to complete it.
"A mental? Psycho? asked Annika with a humorless chuckle.
Gauri looked at Annika with contempt at the way she was talking about it casually.
"Mallika. Said Annika in a distant voice. "My sister, who loved Shivay Singh Oberoi unconditionally, but he never really paid any heed to her. He was always I, me and myself. He just used her for his body pleasure. He never forgot to belittle our family status, treated her harshly, pushed her away and said he wouldn't even care if she dies. Di was so hurt that she committed suicide. And he was right he never missed her. He didn't even call to know if she was dead or alive. She sniffed before she continued. "That day I decided to avenge her death. I joined Oberoi industries to ruin one thing he considered most dear to him, his business.
"Then why did you make him fall for you?
"No one can make anyone fall for someone. She said. That is one thing that I didn't plan.
Gauri looked at Annika as she wiped lone tear from her eyes.
"When I came back, I was shocked to find Shivay devastated by the news of my death. One, who never realized his three year long girlfriend stopped meeting him, was shattered at me missing. So, I made a plan.
"To portray bade bhaiya as a psych in front of the world? asked Gauri shocked by her plan.
"Yes, I started meeting him in secret telling him that I am hiding from terrorists who blasted the flight. He was more than happy to pretend to play insane as far as I meet him. Now, Shivay lost most important things in his life, his heart, his mind and his sanity. Annika chuckled.
"Is that the only reason why you are meeting him in secrecy? asked Gauri raising her eyebrows. "Don't you love him?'
Annika's face reflected something unreadable before she masked with indifference.
"I will not betray my sister by loving the man who deceived her. She said with a determined look.
"And you cannot betray his love by not meeting him? Gauri asked
"I am doing this to make him look like a psycho. Annika argued
"Really!
Annika's nose flared in anger as she glared at Gauri.
"What if I reveal this to everyone?
"Then you won't see your bade bhaiya alive.
"Will you be able to see him dead?
"My sister is gone. So, I wouldn't hesitate to give even my own life for revenge. She declared in a subtle way that she would die after causing Shivay's death, but she will not let him roam a free, sane man.
Both the women spent another few minutes lost in their own thoughts. Annika was trying to read Gauri's thought process, while Gauri was trying to comprehend Annika's. Later, Gauri slit the stem holding Annika's legs and released her. She stared at Annika's retreating back bewildered. She has to do something to solve this or should she?
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