"What are you fond of? Instead of business?", Anika asked
"Nothing... Rather than the business, I don't like anything. One thing you know already", Shivaay replied. Anika nodded and remembered the last conversation where Shivaay told her he used to adore cricket games but never asked anyone to let him play with them
"Tomorrow can you take some time out to visit Sahil's school? I need to pay his fees", Anika asked
"Ok I will tell you when I am free", Shivaay replied with a smile
"Don't you feel angry when I give half of my salary to them? It will continue just for a month as Gauri will become a lawyer next month and Daksh will get a job soon but paying Sahil's fees is important", Anika asked and gave reason immediately before he could answer
"Why do you think so? That salary is yours and it is up to you how you want to spend it. I earn enough to give you luxury so if you will give your whole salary to them I will not mind but for once I want you to buy something for yourself too... From my salary", Shivaay said looking into her eyes for an answer. He was finding If she is hesitant or not to spend his money but found none
"Sure I will ", Anika said with a smile and started walking. After talking with him she forgot about Daksh but when they started talking about salary again her mind revolved around Daksh's behaviour, to divert her mind from his thoughts she looked at Shivaay to start any random conversation but he asked to go back
"Let's go back", Shivaay asked to which Anika nodded and they came back and layed to sleep but sleep was far away from Anika's eyes. She was changing sides to get comfortable but when her mind was not in a good state how can she get peace
"Take sleeping pills", Shivaay suggested
"Thanks for the help but I don't need it. And will check daily if you tried eating even one pill then forget you were married", Anika replied sarcastically and turned her face towards him. She hates consuming medicines even for headaches and he is asking her to take those which are poison in her eyes
"I stopped taking them. That was not my routine. I just thought..", Shivaay tried explaining again but Anika placed her hand on his lips to stop him from talking
"I know and I believe you. You know it is harmful and that's enough", Anika takes her hand back awkwardly. She wanted to interrupt him but didn't realise when her hand moved towards his face.
"Don't worry then. Relax", Shivaay said. Anika hummed and closed her eyes to sleep but again her mind reminded her about Daksh. Shivaay noticed Anika's worry lines on her face again so he asked her to place her head on his chest
"You are kidding hana?", Asked Anika to which Shivaay shooked his head and asked her to come
"No I am serious", Shivaay said. Anika nodded and placed her head on his chest. Shivaay wrapped his hands around her waist and asked her to sleep now. Anika looked toward him with a smile and then closed her eyes feeling peace. Right now her mind is blank because of his closeness and hold. She hugged him softly and said
"Thanks for everything ", Anika said and closed her eyes again to try sleeping. She smiled hearing the sound of his heartbeat. That somewhere gave her mental peace. After some time both dozed off.
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In morning
Shivaay woke up and smiled finding Anika in his arms. He wants her to stay carefree all the time and will try his best. He wants every morning like this. He carefully came out of her hold and kissed her forehead
"I'm sorry but I am doing what I feel is right", Shivaay said and stand up to get ready. After getting ready he drove towards her chawl to go meet Daksh. He parked his car near thier house and knocked on the door
"Good morning bhaiya. How are you here? That too this much early?", Asked Priyanka as she is surprised to see Shivaay here. She hugged him and asked him to come inside.
"I have important work with Daksh. Is he here?", Shivaay asked to which Priyanka nodded and asked him if he want to drink water. Shivaay denied and walked toward Daksh and Priyanka's room.
"Yes. You are on time as he was going for an interview", Priyanka replied standing near the door
"I will not take much time", Shivaay told
"Shivaay... Is everything fine?", Asked Daksh
"Can I drop you? As I want to talk with you", Shivaay asked to which Daksh nodded and picked his file and both came out.
"Drop me at XYZ industry. And anything serious? ", asked Daksh after sitting in the passenger seat. Shivaay nodded and started driving as he don't want him to be the reason for his lost interview
"Do you think Anika was never ashamed to perform that ritual? Don't you think whatever she was doing was right from her point of view? ”, Shivaay asked and looked at Daksh to hear his answer.
"Ohh so she sent you to clarify after I asked her to leave this house", Daksh said
"What do you mean by that?", Shivaay asked to confirm whether what he heard was right or wrong. Daksh sighed and replied
"Shivaay do you think she is right? I don't think so. I still couldn't tell Priyanka about this issue and she told you without any hesitation. That indirectly means that she is not ashamed. Yesterday I was regretting sending her out like this but now I think I was right. She just wants atten..", Daksh said but Shivaay interrupted him in middle
"Don't cross your limit Daksh. What do you mean by sending her out and you asked her to leave the house? Did you ask her to go back? ", Shivaay interrupted Daksh angrily with fear what if he sent her out of the house that was the main reason Anika was worried from the time she came back. He was confused why she asked him to take her when she was excited to visit them before
"Yes as she deserves this", Daksh said angrily. He is still angry at her for hiding such a big thing from them. Even he craved for mother love and just because of Anika he was unable to meet her
"Have you gone mad? She told me everything as I knew already why your mother left you, people. How can you behave like that? And that too without hearing her side... Do you have any idea how hurt she is because of you? The whole night she was tensed. And why do you think she should be ashamed to tell me when she was not wrong? You were ashamed because you were wrong Daksh. And while performing ritual every time she used to Regret but just because of you all she used to perform the ritual", Shivaay shouted from the top of his voice and stopped his car in the middle of the road. He wants to kill Daksh right now for having thinking like that. How can he trust someone else more than Anika who spent her whole life thinking about them?
Shivaay tightened his hold on the steering wheel to control his anger which is at its peak right now. He is angry with himself as well that why he comes to tell him everything when he trusts someone else, not his sister. He wants to hold his collars and ask him why he sent her out of that house which is Anika's but his interview is what stops him
"You know what she was right that you don't even deserve clarification. But my motive is to tell you. Do you think someone can boldly tell her sibling what her mother is? And why you didn't question your mother why she never came to meet you? If you have that many guts then ask your so-called mother why she left you not from that person who always thinks about you people", Shivaay shouted angrily and started driving to divert his attention to the road instead of him otherwise he won't know what he will do in anger
"Did you ever thank her once for handling you all together? One more thing. She didn't send me here to clarify things. She said she doesn't want to explain things ", Shivaay told roughly without looking at him, His eyes turned red in anger.
"But she told you when I didn't tell anything to Priyanka. We had a love marriage yet I was ashamed to talk like this", Daksh said as he felt Anika was wrong here for telling Shivaay whatever happened here
"Half-truth is more dangerous than a lie Daksh. You are pointing out that she told me everything but you could not then it is your problem, not hers. You know how you behaved with Anika that's why you were ashamed. Whereas Anika was hurt by your words and she told me because our relationship is based upon trust, unlike you jerk. Now keep quiet. Don't force me to kill you", Shivaay said angrily and increased speed as he is finding it difficult to stay with Daksh. He hates these types of people who believe outsiders more than family
"We reached", Shivaay said without looking at Daksh and parked his car near the gate.
"Was that true?", asked Daksh
"Ask from that woman whom you meet. She was more concerned than Anika right then ask her why never paid your fees. Ask that woman to pay you the money which Anika gave till now. give everything back to her. Ask her to feed you. Even you are like.. ", Shivaay stopped in the middle as he realised what he was going to say. Daksh is Priyanka's husband and he doesn't want him to turn bad even in his wild dreams as that will indirectly ruin Priyanka's life. He doesn't like comparing parents with children but in his anger, he doesn't realise his words
"Get out before I lose my temper Daksh", Shivaay said. Daksh nodded and came out of Shivaay's car knowing Shivaay and his anger very well
"I...", Daksh tried asking forgiveness when Shivaay showed his hand to him and drove his car far from Daksh's sight.. once he reached the plain area he stopped driving. All flashes of today's conversation with Daksh came to his mind and then Anika's sad face
He looked towards his mobile phone when he heard a ringing sound. He checked and noticed a call from Anika
"Hello, Shivaay where are you? Why do you leave early? Is everything fine?", Anika said
"I am fine. I am not a child who can't go out early. I am coming"Shivaay replied
"Sorry vo, Khanna Ji was asking me where are you. I thought you are in the office but you are not. He asked me to call you", Anika said
"I will come back within an hour. Don't wor..", he said but stopped in the middle when Anika cut the call without hearing him. Shivaay banged his hand on the steering wheel as he doesn't know if she is angry or he is just overthinking.
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Sorry for delaying again but this will continue for months now I think as I have joined a course run by skill India whose classes will start soon moreover studies -_-