Our Own Battles

Chapter 2

Anika sat with her head hanging. The stars witnessing her silent battle. Where could she go? She walked out but she had no where could she go. The haunting melody that was filling the air was now in sync with her tears. She looked at the basti down the hill. If only she and Sahil never left they would have a home. Sahil... she remembered her little brother, her soldier. Remembered that moment Shivaay brought Sahil home after Nayantara her so called mother had kidnapped him. Shivaay's hands around them was their safe haven. That was home.

Mahi let the person on the other side of the tree cry. Her sobs was in sync with his heart ache. Mahi understood what it meant to be alone.

Shivaay still stood at the pool side. His heart felt empty. His home was empty. Rudra could not take this any longer. He knew Shivaay needed time on transform back from SSO to Shivaay. Storming into his room "Bhaiya" shouted Rudra into the room, "It's been 3 hours since Bhabhi has left and you are not bothered to look for her" shouted Rudra obviously shocked at his brother. Shivaay lifted his eyes bloodshot eyes to Rudra "Calm down Rudra, Khanna is with Anika, she doesn't know that but Khanna is with her" said Shivaay quietly. Rudra finally understood why there was no panic in his brother's eyes. Rudra sat down next to Shivaay, "Bhaiya, you need to apologise to Bhabhi. I know you trying to change but bhaiya you did not say anything. Choti maa went on insulting Bhabhi and you said nothing in her defense. That broke her bhaiya" said Rudra. "Bhaiya, you guys have bled for each other. This is nothing. Bring her back bhaiya, please". Rudra squeezed his brother's shoulder and left the room.

Anika saw her phone ringing "Shivaay", she touched his name and ended the call. She needed time. He started calling her now, that means SSO has turned back into Shivaay. Anika knew Khanna was following her. Even if Shivaay had not told Khanna would still follow her. Anika smiled sadly. The music came to a stop. "Please don't stop" said Anika.

Mahi was surprised "you were listening to my tune"

Anika "it was beautiful. It was like my feelings got a tune. In a way it helped me, thank you".

Mahi was now shocked, no one ever identified with this him let alone his music. Mahi didn't want to break the illusion so he sat on the other side of the tree. "Sometimes all you need is a little music in your heart. To drive away the loneliness besides you are never really alone you always surrounded by thought and memories".

Anika smiled "memories. Sometimes that's all you're left with. Memories of people gone. Sometimes those memories become painful. They hurt more cos you can't reach out to that person in the memory".

Mahi was listening and understood all too well, he smiled at the little memories he created at Oberoi Mansion. "The people gone we cannot do anything about but what about the people that are here".

"People you love the most can hurt you the most" whispered Anika.

"But it's that hurt that proves that you are alive" responded Mahi.

"Why does a surname mean so much to people? Nobody questions God. God does not have a surname. That is just accepted. Why does naam khoon khandaan mean so much to people? If you don't have that does that mean you do not have a right to live, a right to love"..sobbed Anika.

Mahi sat in shock. Those were the questions that ate at him all his life. He has no answer for her. He himself was looking for those answers. "I guess no one can answer what goes in a person's head. Everyone has a fear, everyone is brought up differently, and everyone has a different outlook in life. And if that outlook is different it doesn't mean that they are wrong or you are wrong. I guess you just need to give yourself and the other person time. Nobody can change what they been thought or believed all their life. It takes times. I don't know much about relationships or people, everyone I have met has been mean to me. But I understand it's not their fault, they were thought to believe that people like me is "dirty", said Mahi so softly that Anika almost did not hear him. Najayaaz, that's what I am thought Mahi.