Annika was now sleeping on her bed with bloodshed eyes due to crying continuously. Listening to that tragic story of Tia had made her completely loose her marbles. Shivaay and Tia were meant to be together always, if Destiny had been cruel and betrayed those two pure lovers, she Annika would definitely make sure that they'd be reunited again.
"Hello excuse me Annika don't try to go against me. If I Destiny can make a fool like you fall in love. I can do anything. Do not underestimate me."
As a first step to her mission of reuniting Shivaay and Tia, she had packed her bags, left Shivaay's place and had come here to her own flats in Mumbai. She had left the place without anyone's knowledge but had been caught red handed by their security guard Suresh kaka. She had reasoned him that she was leaving the place coz she was missing Shivaay. Suresh kaka had let her leave after blessing her.
So now Annika was here in her own flats, lying on her own bed, sobbing on her own. Isolation and Solitude had engulfed her entire being. Darkness was all that she could see everywhere. It was raining very heavily today, the monsoon seemed unstoppable now and Annika thought even the sky was crying with her at her own misery.
Shivaay would return back to Mumbai late night tomorrow and she didn't absolutely understand how she was gonna meet him or what he'd do on not finding her there. She hadn't spoken to him for one whole day and she didn't know whether it'd have affected Shivaay in any way. Life seemed lost to her. She felt like standing on a crossroad all alone, not knowing which path to take.
She heard her calling bell ring. She had called her back her old maid an hour earlier. May be she was here Annika thought. She got off her bed hastily, wiped away her tears, straightened her clothes, wore her slippers and walked to the door calling,
"Thai I'm coming! Wait!".
Annika opened the door and was startled, she was shocked to see Shivaay standing there at her door with a wide smile fully wet.
As soon as he saw Annika, he exclaimed "SURPRISE DOCTOR" happily pulling her into a tight hug. Annika was too shocked to respond.
"I missed you so much doctor. Why didn't you pick up my calls" Shivaay muttered into her ears all emotionally
"Why didn't you pick up my calls. I was worried to hell. And why are you here?", Shivaay spoke now walking into the house and slumping onto the sofa in the living room. Annika stood there all flabbergasted, how did Shivaay return today when he was supposed to come tomorrow and how was she to react to it now.
"What happened Annika? Why aren't you speaking anything. Else you start speaking like a train and never stop" Shivaay teased her getting up from the sofa and walking to an Annika who stood there all shocked.
"Ok so you are really shocked to see me here. Whoops I was successful in surprising you then" Shivaay laughed heartily holding her hands. But Annika stood there rooted to the spot.
"Annika come on yaar, react" Shivaay said amused looking at the way she was behaving. Annika without any reaction walked away. Shivaay was curious and mumbled "what has happened to her?" twitching his eyebrows, crossing his arms.
Annika again walked back into the living room with a towel in her hand and some pills, she pulled Shivaay, made him sit on the couch and started wiping away his wet hair without any reaction. Shivaay sat there with a contented smile, he remembered his mom Pinky, she too wiped away his head the same way Annika was doing.
"Ok Annika, so have you pledged of not talking again" Shivaay questioned an Annika who was pouring water into a glass. Without replying Shivaay, she walked to him and made him have the pills.
"Alright, you are not gonna speak, so let me speak. I've something important to say" Shivaay exclaimed excited, getting up and holding Annika's shoulders.
"Shivaay I've to tell something too" Annika spoke this time finally but void of any emotion
"Amazing so you've not forgotten to talk then" Shivaay laughed out loud.
"Ladies first always! tell me what you've gotta say" Shivaay added.
She removed Shivaay's hand which were on her shoulders, making Shivaay's heart beat skip for a second. She looked straight into Shivaay's eyes with an expression which Shivaay couldn't comprehend.
"Shivaay its better if we part ways for our own good" Annika blurted it all out in a go, curtly but firmly
"A very bad joke doctor" Shivaay laughed back in response, he really thought Annika was joking.
"Shivaay I ain't absolutely joking. It's better if we part ways" Annika literally shouted unable to bear the emotional turmoil that was going on in her heart. She was finding it hard to pretend.
Shivaay was shocked, he thought he was dreaming.
"Stop acting doctor. Why'd we part ways when everything is going fine" Shivaay asked with teary eyes.
"Nothing is alright Shivaay. I can't live with you anymore. I want back my old life, living with you has made me cringe my own existence" Annika shouted back
"Annika don't joke this way, I can't absolutely bear it. You know I can't bear you shouting at me right" Shivaay spoke wiping away the tears that was rolling down his eyes.
Annika was finding it hard to see shivaay crying. But she was doing it for him, to give him back his long lost happiness, his Tia, his first love.
"Shivaay, don't make it hard for me. Please let us part ways cordially. It's for the good of both of us" Annika replied turning away her face from Shivaay and wiping away the tears that were rolling down her eyes unknown to him.
"Annika just because I left you for a week. You wanna part ways with me. Don't yaar. I promise I'd not leave you alone again till I live" Shivaay spoke hugging Annika from her back and sobbing.
Annika was breaking down, she couldn't bear it anymore. Controlling her sobs with much difficulty she removed Shivaay's hands that were wrapped around her waist tightly. She then turned to Shivaay and spoke,
"Shivaay I ain't foolish to part ways just because you left me for a week. This is the decision I've taken after thinking very deeply. I wanna part ways. I was forced into this marriage, I don't wanna continue this facade anymore" Annika shouted it all holding her head
"Annika, but did you think what I want" Shivaay whispered in his broken voice
"I don't wanna think. I don't care for you, No. I just want my life back. I don't care for you. Leave my place right now" She replied irritated. Only she knew she was breaking into a million pieces from within.
"So you don't care for me. Then why did you wipe my head now, why did you give me pills now. WHY? Answer me damn it" Shivaay cried
"NO! NO! NO! Leave me alone. I don't wanna hear your voice. It irritates me" Annika shouted shutting her ears tightly with her palms.
"Please LEAVE ME. LEAVE" Annika cried pushing Shivaay by his chest to the door.
"Why are you doing this Annika? Please tell me. We'll solve it together" Shivaay literally pleaded.
"I'm doing this for my own good. Understood. I'll send the divorce papers soon", Annika spat back angrily. Shivaay looked at Annika with questioning eyes all silently, with tears rolling down continuously from his eyes. They both were lost in each other's eyes,
Just then a heavy thunder banged with a loud thud making Annika shut her eyes tight and hold her ears scared, Shivaay rushed forward to her instantly and hugged her tight stroking her back and hair continuously. Annika hid her head in his chest all scared.
"Shh don't be scared Doctor" he calmed her down and Annika calmed down in his embrace. Lost and long forgotten was the fight that took place before some time now. Shivaay was trying to cajole his wife and Annika was feeling secure in his embrace. They remained like that, until again the thoughts of Tia struck Annika again. She didn't want to come in between Shivaay and tia. She instantly pushed Shivaay away from her and then shut the door on his face without giving him a second glance.
Shivaay was left broken hearted, he couldn't believe what had just happen. He thought he was dreaming. He was numb to react, he walked down the stairs aimlessly all lost, to the car park, drenching completely in the rain. Drops of Tears that were rolling down his eyes were masked by the rain drops.
He took out the rose flower that he had cleverly hidden in his pocket and threw it away sobbing. He then brought his hand into his jacket and took out the card which had "I LOVE YOU" written on it with a painful smile, he fell on the flooded ground holding the card close to his heart shouting "NOOOOO" loudly, crying.
Shivaay had returned back to Mumbai a day earlier because Annika hadn't spoken to him for an entire day. He had rushed here worried for Annika. But then when he had reached their flats, suresh kaka had said that Annika had left to her own place, coz she had missed him badly. So shivaay had rushed here driving crazily in the heavy rain, leaving his entire luggage in the cab in which he had reached home. He had taken the rose flower he had purchased on his way from the airport and the card he had purchased for Annika two months back with him, to proclaim his love. Yes he had purchased this card two months back, when Annika had narrated the story of her mother's death and her ambitious life which she had dedicated and devoted to the others. He hadn't realized that he had fallen in love with the lady back then but some intuition within him had made him buy this card for her back then in a book exhibition without any thinking. He hadn't been sure if that was love or mere admiration and had hesitated, remembering his past with Tia. But his foreign trip had made him realize that he couldn't live without Annika even for a second let alone a week, although they had know each other only for three months. But with Tia although his relationship was one year long, he had lived away from her unaffected for one whole year. Shivaay had come here to profess his love, but his every dreams had been shattered.
On the other hand Annika was under the running shower in her washroom all broken, crying uncontrollably.
"I'm unable to control I'm leaving. See you"
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On popular demand.
Yours Tabitha💐...