Being the heiress of one of the richest businesses in India was not something Annika Vardhan Kabeer felt proud of. Having lost her mother at childbirth, she is raised single-handedly by her father, who means the world to her. Her outlook of life is...
"Khana pet main ja raha hai ya dimag mein?" he asked
She did not reply. Not because she didn't want to but because she wasn't listening. He cleared his throat in an attempt to gain her attention. When she didn't notice, he did so again. He tapped his fingers on the table as well. Then he coughed. He cleared his throat again.
He sighed, giving up. If he tried getting her attention any longer, he would catch a sore throat. Then he would have to cough for real.
"Annika!"
"Hmm?"
"I asked khana pet mein ja raha hai ya dimag mein?" he repeated.
Annika squeezed her eyes. This was a very bad joke if he was kidding. He wasn't being sarcastic or funny here.
"I can't deal with this now," she took a deep breath before continuing to have her meal.
"Come on. I asked to find out if your brain starts working after having food. Khana dimag mein jaye toh shayad usse fuel mile aur woh kaam karne lage."
"You aren't funny anymore."
"I ain't a lot of things anymore," he replied in affirmative.
Annika looked up. Both of them knew what he referred to. But why was he lying? He didn't sign the papers, so he is technically still her husband. Oh, this fact was making her happier than it should.
"When did my brain stop working?" she asked. She didn't need an answer. She just wanted to hear him talk.
"Ever since you came here," he replied, "Honestly, your brain stops working every time you come here."
"What's wrong with this place? This is my home," Annika couldn't help but be offended. He knew which strings to pull.
He shook his head, "Nothing wrong with this place. Your reasons behind coming here were wrong."
She didn't say a word. She kept looking his way silently asking him to continue.
"Okay, I have to accept. The first time you were here, it was my fault. I said sorry too. You decided you couldn't forget but you forgave. It was nice of you. I don't know if you have forgotten the incident yet but the little days we spent together in peace tell me that you don't judge me based on what I did back then."
Annika knew he was right. She didn't reply. She wanted him to continue speaking his mind.
"But this time, I won't take all the blame to myself," Annika raised her eyebrows. Shivaay didn't let it intimidate him and continued, "You came across a piece of paper and decided to end a relationship. Was it mature enough? I agree. I accept that I shouldn't have said yes to marriage just because I wanted my business to grow. I mixed my professional and personal life. Annika, at that time, I didn't know the beauty of marriage. I learned the meaning of this relationship afterward. I started respecting what is between us when we were in Crete. When I saw how hurt you were knowing about Mallika. When you were drunk and spoke your heart out. When you hugged me after throwing those phones. When you cooked for me the first time. When I kissed you for the first time. When we saw the sunset in Matheran. When you challenged my beliefs. When you stood by me during Priyanka's suicide attempt. When you fasted for me. When we spent a night under the stars."
Shivaay released a deep breath. Both of them didn't speak for a long time. Annika was shocked by how he remembered all their moments. This was the person who forgot his own employees' names. Of course, barring the very important ones.
"Both of us failed to respect this relationship," Shivaay replied in all honesty, "The only difference being, I signed the contract papers without knowing the adventure I was getting into and you signed the divorce papers after all the memories we created together."
Annika held back her tears. This was not the moment. He was making her feel guilty. He whitewashed himself by pointing out her flaws. What a shame!
But he didn't put all the blame on her. He said both of them failed to respect their marriage. He accepted his fault here. Annika shut closed her eyes. He painted that she was more at fault here. She couldn't decide what she wanted to believe. She at least knew that he took an equal share of blame on himself.
"Memories," she found difficulty speaking, "Memories you won't remember?"
"Memories I will cherish for life," Shivaay replied, "You are with me or not." He recalled the love between her parents as he said so. At that moment, not just Annika but he too wanted such type of life for himself.
"Will we be able to create more memories?" Annika mumbled but he heard that.
"Only if you want," he replied.
Her eyes met his. The intensity in her stare challenged him. She didn't need to know why he failed to sign the divorce papers. Everything was said and understood during their small exchange. Shivaay loved her as much as she loved him if not more. Certainly not less.
"I saw the unsigned papers in the median compartment of your car," she broke the secret in her heart. She found relief as she did so. Perhaps now he would face his feelings. There was no point in being together yet separate when they shared similar sentiments.
Shivaay turned statue. He could feel how eager she was to receive a reaction. He could give non. She was turning Omkara's words true. She was proving the romance novels and Bollywood movies right. She was dreaming of a life similar to what her parents might have had. He turned stiff. He didn't know how to react. He didn't know what to reply. He was asking the question to himself without finding any other answer.
"I realized something," Shivaay muttered to himself.
Annika silently encouraged him to speak something. Anything.
"I just realized," his words trailed off.
"Shivaay?"
He was turning nervous. Perhaps he already was. The volume of emotions reached over the capacity his heart could intake. Oh, this heart again. He was wrong to blame Annika or himself. Everything was rooted in the play of this heart. Both of their hearts.
"Annika, I—I—I forgot to flush the toilet," he turned to his heels and walked away. Annika smiled instead of being confused. People took time to realize they were in love and this man took too much time to believe in love.
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