Soon thier burger's arrived and both started eating. Anika felt silence awkward between them so she started talking
"In school whenever I used to see boys skipping lunch I used to wonder what if they died because of hunger? How can someone survive? Moreover, how can thier family members let them? They used to play at lunchtime even after growing up", Anika laughed but when she noticed his expressions, she understood that her words hit his heart.
"I.. don't mean to hurt you... ", Anika tried explaining without knowing why he stopped eating. She thought her words somewhere pinched his heart
"Don't explain anything. I was thinking that why I never enjoyed those feelings. Like you are friendly with everyone and your nature can impress anyone but I am not like you. I hate making friends and talking with someone daily. I was never good At sports so I used to read books in Library.. comic books. I used to feel alone and never got guts enough to trust someone", Shivaay said. Anika held his hands and looked towards her surroundings, they both are in the canteen so she can't come near him. She respects him and his pride so she doesn't want him to lose it.
"It's ok you can still enjoy yourself with some children from neighbours. Even though I am not good at it but still I used play cricket with them as I love playing it. Even if I am out on the first ball but I enjoy the game. Try playing with children once I am sure you will enjoy it. If not children then students but try once. We will enjoy", Anika said. Shivaay smiled hearing the word we, he always thought of playing with others but his hesitance never let him play, he used to think of himself as the worst player so he never went with anyone to enjoy
"I will once I get time", Shivaay replied. He hated talking unnecessarily with people and starting conversations just for timepass. He was in pain from losing his parents so he stayed away from people in fear of what if even they left him
"Eat it now. And I will force you to eat", Anika said
"But no-one did till now knowing I hate if someone tries to force thier decisions upon me. So if I am angry let me do whatever I want. Don't question me ever", Shivaay said
" I will you can try me. I will understand if you are not hungry but will not let you skip meals. Is that fine? I mean you can eat whenever you want but at least 3 times a day ", Anika requested, Shivaay wanted to deny but her innocent eyes forced him to say yes. He knows she just wants his health nothing else
"What about you? Can I do the same?", Shivaay asked. Anika giggled hearing him as he can't get that chance ever
"Yes but remember I eat more than 3 times a day", Anika replied
"Really when?", Shivaay asked, he never noticed that she eat that much
"Whenever I feel hungry I eat whatever I find in the fridge or kitchen", Anika told him. Shivaay nodded
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The next day Shivaay dropped her at her house and left after meeting Priyanka. He thought to leave the gate but just to meet her he came inside. He felt relaxed when he noticed Priyanka's happy face when she meet him, she asked him to stay but just because of work he left with a stone heart.
Anika smiled and meet Sahil, Gauri and Priyanka as Daksh was not present there. After some time Daksh arrived and was shocked to find Anika there
"Di you here?", he asked
"Yes she is here for 2 days it is nice right?", asked Priyanka happily
"Yes, but can I talk with di... Alone?", he asked to which Priyanka nodded, she asked him if he want someone to which he denied and sat inside his room waiting for Anika
"Yes anything serious?", asked Anika after entering his room, she guessed that he is angry from his red eyes and sat on the sofa
"Yes... Vasundhra Trivedi is alive. Do you know this? Just yes or no", Daksh asked directly shocking Anika, she looked down in fear because she has been trying hard to hide this truth from everyone. She doesn't want them to think of themselves as dirt just like people call her mother
"Answer me", Daksh asked angrily raising his voice Anika gathered courage and replied a yes.
"Didn't your ever felt shame to perform that ritual? Your mother is alive and you show she is dead. How disgusting. That's why you came here right to fool us. Wow, nice try di but you know what this will not work now. Dare you to perform that ritual tomorrow", Daksh warned Anika angrily. Anika nodded and looked down without saying anything because she know it was her mistake.
"Just leave this house tomorrow morning giving any excuse. You will not perform any ritual otherwise I will tell everything to Gauri so please leave. Today I meet her and she was asking about you... She said why did Anika ignore me.. like seriously di. How can you fool us? Didn't your heart pained to do the same? Why have you never tried skipping this damn ritual? Why are you not ashamed?", Shouted Daksh angrily. Anika looked at him with plain expressions and chuckled hearing him, she is hurt hearing his words. He is her brother but still doesn't realise what he is saying. He is not even asking her. This is what she feared and that's why she was performing that ritual every year
"Fine tomorrow we will not and I will leave. But Daksh tries to think once about your words. You know very well which type of person I am", she said and left here. Her eyes were welling with tears but she hate crying in front of others, she knows people think that she is using her tears to hide her mistake. She always feel sad about performing rituals but it was just for them.
She ran towards the terrace and closed her eyes to control herself. She won't know what she is going to do tomorrow and how she is going to face Shivaay. What she will tell him? Why did she come back? She wiped her tears and looked toward the sky. How can she tell Gauri about the same?
"Why do strangers believe me and not my brother? I know he is not a stranger anymore but still, he could have misunderstood me but why my brother?", Anika thought looking towards the sky, she started thinking about Shivaay and her heart felt light. She is happy with the fact that even in that house there is a person who can understand her. Here she can't talk with Gauri regarding this issue
"Dii", she heard Gauri's voice and turned towards her faking a smile. Gauri hugged Anika which gave Anika little strength to control herself, she thought she will enjoy her day here today but everything is ruined now. If not for her self-respect then she would have stayed here. She knows she will lose respect if she stayed here.
"You came here to enjoy not to stay alone. Seems like jiju keep you alone", Gauri said
"No it's not like that", Anika said immediately
"Tell me once I will kill him. Are you happy there?", Gauri said folding the sleeves of her shirt upwards. Anika chuckled hearing her as she is always in angry mode and is ready to fight with men for single mistakes
"I will not let you. I am more than happy there Gauri trusts me. Instead, I am happiest. Think about yourself not me", Anika said with a blush when she remembered Shivaay. Now even his name is enough to light her mood up. Everyone may think that words don't hurt her but this is not true. Daksh's words hurt her but still, she is trying hard to look normal in front of her family knowing that she is there just for a day
Gauri smiled when she noticed Anika's blush. She is happy that her sister got someone deserving. She dragged Anika out and they both talked for some time when Anika insisted to spend time with Priyanka so that she can stay quiet. The whole day passed which looked like an hour to Gauri and Priyanka who started complaining at night but for Anika, it was difficult as she felt very hard to mask the smile on her face
Anika was impressed when Chachi was behaving normally without taunting them. Later in the night Anika, Gauri and Priyanka sat on the terrace and were talking when Anika's phone rang with Shivaay's number. She sighed in relief as she was not in the mood to talk with them and now she can excuse herself
"Hello madam had dinner?", Shivaay asked playfully. Anika smiled hearing him, she knew only he is the person who can light her mood right now
"Hello, Shivaay. Yes and you?"Anika asked. Shivaay looked towards his plates which he just completed eating before calling her knowing that she will ask him if he didn't eat then she will force him to eat which he hated so he had his dinner in time
"Yes and will take medicines after some time," Shivaay said, Anika smiled and replied good.
"Will you come here tomorrow?", Anika asked trying hard to keep her voice normal but her voice was breaking. She doesn't realise from when she started falling weak in front of him
"No are you missing me already", he teased. Anika looked here and there because it is true she is missing him right now.
"No... It's just wanted to know if you will come or not. Why busy person remembered me by the way? Are you missing me that's why you asked", Anika asked
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This update was ready from the night as I was awake till 12 to wish my best friend a birthday so as time passed I was writing but when I found her offline I directly slept 😅.