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• Nightmares •
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“I’m too lazy to walk Annika,” he mumbled.
“I'm too lazy to speak Shivay,” she said.
“Let’s order in tonight from that Italian restaurant,” he suggested, she nodded in agreement.
He picked up his phone to order when he saw some missed calls from Omkara, “Hey did Om call you?”
“Maybe. I haven’t touched my phone in hours,” they both lay on the couch. Their shoulder and leg muscles not allowing them to move. One of Annika's legs overlapped with Shivay's.
Shivay dialled to him, keeping the phone on speaker, “Hi Om. Yes we are at home. No-no tonight’s not possible. Arey nahi, of course, Annika and I are at home, but we both are really tired. Your bhabhi can’t move an inch.”
Annika threw her hand aimlessly, jabbing Shivay’s face.
“Ouch,” Shivay itched.
“Seems to me she can move just fine,” Omkara teased.
Annika carelessly smiled.
“We were at the hospital since morning-,”
“Hospital?”
“Yeah, Annika got wounded- she,”
Shivay turned to look at Annika. But she wasn’t there by his side. He twisted, eyes searching for his wife.
“Annika?” he called out. No response. Like she was gone.
Shivay jolted up, stretching his shoulder again, “Annika!”
He rumbled from room to room in search of her but couldn’t find her anywhere. When he tried to switch on the lights, none of them worked.
Shivay returned to the couch again, fumbling for his phone, but nothing. The phone had vanished. He could just feel an empty couch before him.
When Shivay called out her name now, his calls were not cautious or calm. They were filled with desperation. He kneeled to the ground when he could not find her. His chest heaved, as he tried to stop himself from tearing up.
“Annika please,” he managed to speak when a light switched on.
But it wasn’t Annika. It was two children standing beneath the spotlight. Two children Shivay would never forget, “Hi Shivay Bhaiya,” the shorter kid said. Shivay cried when he saw him, a long sufferable cry.
But the child only smiled. He walked closer leaving the taller one there.
“Do you know where our toys are? Will you play with us?”
Shivay flicked his tears,” Yes, of course I’ll play with you.”
“Rudra!” the other boy followed, “Get away from him, he’s not our brother!”
“But Om bhaiya- he said yes. He will play with us” he squeaked.
The long-haired child's face was grim, and his eyes black, “But he won’t stay- he'll leave us, Rudy.”
“But.”
“Come- let’s go play somewhere else,” Omkara lightly took Rudra's hand and walked endlessly far. Just far and far.
“Wait! I said wait! Om! Ru! Wait! I’ll play with you! I’m Shivay! I’m your brother! Om! Wait,” Shivay screamed until his throat felt hoarse.
But the light vanquished, leaving him in utter darkness and silence.
When he began crying again, a voice vibrated against the room. Strongly.
The walls shaking, against that voice. The ground shifted like an earthquake occurring. Shivay closed his eyes and ears tight. Things fell, cupboards slid, but Shivay kneeled right there, his hands enclosed over his ears. But the vibration now beat against his heart. And it transformed into a voice, a known voice calling his name.
Shivay,
Shivay,
Shivay.
“Annika,” Shivay opened his eyes in an instant.
“Wake up Shivay,” she whispered, but it felt like a shout. A shout to get him out of that shattering house.
When Shivay opened his eyes, he saw Annika hovered above him, one hand on his shoulder and the other on his cheek. He lay in his room, on their bed. The blanket tucked in haphazardly.
“It was just a nightmare, Shivay,” she rubbed his cheek, he realized, his tears, “You’re okay now.”
You’re okay now.
You’re okay now.
You’re okay now.
Her voice settled within his skin. His thoughts running, trying to remember or forget. Or just be. He tried to make himself forget, but his tears rushed out as Annika stood maneuvered against him. He wished she’d move, it would be easier to forget. . . But she refused to move.
“Annika, just leave- me alone- for some time,” his voice cracked.
“No,” hers did too.
“Please,” he prayed.
“I will not leave you Shivay. You want to cry, you cry. You want to sleep, you sleep. But I’m right here.”
He inhaled, letting himself breathe before he let go of his last semblance of calm. He cried then. Cried himself hoarse. Mumbling his brothers' names. Annika pulled him closer, wrapping his face, occasionally wiping his tears.
“I am such a bad brother, Annika, I-I could not keep them safe.”
“It’s not your fault Shivay,” she said, “You did everything you could.”
“But it wasn’t enough, was it?” he said, stifling a sob. He hugged her, “I wish I could call them here. We all could live together without- without-,”
“Problems don’t fade away Shivay. They will always come and go, that’s their nature.”
“But at least we'll face them together,” he said, against her shoulder.
She pulled away and wiped his face, “Tomorrow. You call them tomorrow and talk to them. It’s been a while since you did that. Hell, go meet them. I’ll come too- it’s been a while since I met those idiot faces.”
Shivay laughed, still crying, “My brothers are very handsome, Annika.”
She shook her head, “Hmm maybe, but not as handsome as my husband,” she pulled his cheeks softly.
“Ouch.”
“I just touched it- you sensitive baby,” he smiled at her words.
Annika didn’t turn off the light that night. It stayed on as she cuddled him into sweet sleep.
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Nightmares is one of the sad One-shots. ( Oh there is more, ) but not the next one. It's called The mandatory break and it is literally a happy break after this sad os.
Update Schedule? What about my update schedule?? I basically said let it go to hell because I'm tired of waiting so you may get one daily.