[Annika - A, Shivaay - S, Gauri - G]
As soon as Chanda left, Annika broke down completely. She cried her heart out
A(in her mind): why does it always happen to me? Why am I so unlucky? The guy I have feelings for didn't want to be with me. The guy I trusted, who said he liked me, deceived me. I lost before I loved. I know I have Neil and Chanda and they'll do anything for me but I still feel so alone, I don't have anyone who could help me cope with this pain. Why did you leave me here, Mumma? Why didn't you take me with you? They say when you're dying your entire life flashes before your eyes but that didn't happen with me. I didn't see anything
Someone: Because it wasn't your time my sweet child. You still have a long life to live
Annika looked up, in front of her stood her mother, dressed in her favorite green salwar suit. Annika ran up to her and hugged her tight. They settled on her bed with Annika's head in her mother's lap
Radhika: Annika, my brave, beautiful girl, you are stronger than you think. You will get through this. You will find many people in your life who will hurt you and deceive you but you will also find people who will love you and look after you. Just have patience, happiness is right around the corner. I know my baby girl will have a happy life
A: But I miss you so much
Radhika: And we will be together again after you have your kids and they have their kids. Then you will come and we will be together forever. Till then look after this precious heart of yours, for me
An hour later, Annika woke up. She had fallen asleep on the floor and dreamt all of that. She took her medicines and went to bed, thinking about what her mother said in that dream.
********
Early next morning, the doorbell rang and woke Annika. Still, in her pajamas, she opened the door to find two smiling faces
A: What are you guys doing here so early?
G: We have to begin your therapy sweetie. Come on
Gauri made Annika exercise her shoulder for an hour and later helped her get dressed. When they came out of her room, they were welcomed by the fragrance of the delicious breakfast Shivaay had prepared for them
G: ooh fresh juice, lovely
S: So doc, how soon can you fix her up?
G: Very soon, 10 days should be sufficient for her to recover all movement.
S: Eat Annika
Throughout breakfast, Annika didn't say a word. Gauri and Shivaay got engrossed in conversation.
G: Okay, I have to get to my next patient. I'll see you tomorrow Annika. Avoid using your left hand okay
The two of them left but they agreed that Annika was upset. Two days passed like this, each morning Gauri and Shivaay would come over in the morning for her session, Shivaay made breakfast for them and she would hardly talk to Shivaay. He sent her reminders to take her medicines but she never responded to them either.
Shivaay was getting anxious, so he decided to talk to Annika today.
He closed the door after Gauri left.
S: You've been quiet all morning, are you okay?
A: Why are you here Shivaay?
S: What do you mean? I'm here for you
A: I didn't ask you to come. Is it because you feel guilty about what happened?
S: Annika, what's wrong?
A: What's wrong? (she scoffed) Everything Shivaay. My life is in ruins right now. I don't know who to trust. The guy I was dating turned out to be the biggest villain of my life. I was a pawn in his mission to destroy YOU, I was collateral damage. Everything is unraveling. How did I not see through his act? How did I not feel that he was faking it?
Annika was falling apart, tears rolled down her cheeks
S: Annika, he had us all fooled, it's not your fault
A: It is my fault because I got involved with you.
S: You don't mean that, right?
A: I forgave you for breaking my heart Shivaay. You're the only guy I have ever kissed and the moment things got real between us, you left. You didn't trust me. I know you regret that and you apologized but that doesn't mean I wasn't hurt. Like a fool, I care about people, and that only gives me pain.
S: I know I have hurt you a lot and I really am sorry for that, Annika. Tell me, how do I earn your forgiveness? How do I prove to you that I trust you? How do I make it hurt less?
A: I want you to leave me alone. I want you to stay away from me.
S: Please don't do that, we can fix this. What about our friendship?
A: I don't want you here, Shivaay. I've been through a lot, and right now, I just want to be alone.
Shivaay wiped her tears and cupped her face
S: Please don't cry. You want me gone, I'll leave. Don't torment yourself because of me. You mean a lot to me and I can't see you in pain. Take care of yourself.
Chanda saw Shivaay leaving with a grim expression
Chanda: What happened, Shivaay? Is Annika okay?
S: Yeah, she's fine
Chanda: What's wrong then?
S: She doesn't want to see me.
Chanda: I'll talk to her
********
2 more days passed. Shivaay didn't try to contact Annika again, he gave her space, even though it pained him to be away from her.
Every morning he dropped and picked up Gauri and got an update from her. Annika was pretty normal with everyone now, just not him. She resumed work as well.
Annika was supposed to meet Shivaay for an important meeting regarding their next round of funding. He waited, excited to see her after days. At the designated time, Shivaay sat with his eyes glued to the door. But his bubble burst the moment the door opened.
S: Neil
Neil: Hi Shivaay, I've got the finance reports. Shall we?
S: Hm? I'm sorry, I thought Annika was going to come
Neil: She asked me to come
S(In his mind): So you won't see me even for work? Is there no hope for us, Annika?
Like the last couple of days, Shivaay called Chanda in the evening to see how Annika was doing.
Chanda: Shivaay, I get it you are concerned for her and she's not talking to you right now. But your obsession is bugging me now. Meet me at the apartment in 30 minutes.
S: Fine
Chanda unlocked the door and made him sit.
Chanda: Be honest with me, how do you feel about her?
S: I am in love with her, Chanda.
Chanda: Woah, when did this realization happen? I mean, a lot of us knew this but you finally admitted it!
S: Go ahead, you also pull my leg. It happened okay. I can't imagine my life without her. And breaks my heart to see her like this
Chanda: wait here
Chanda went to Annika's room and brought a big case. She opened the case and pulled out a canvas. She turned it around to show it to him.
Chanda: She made your portrait a while ago, before the Delhi incident.
Shivaay felt his throat choke up at this gesture. Annika had never seen him this happy yet she captured it so beautifully on the canvas. Innocence reflected in his kanji eyes, the portrait was the personification of the daadi's Billu, OmRu's Shivaay. It was the happy version of Shivaay that he wanted to be
Chanda passed him a tissue to wipe his tears
Chanda: Annika had very strong feelings for you, so strong that she struggled to move on. Even when she was with that piece of garbage Sanket, we often talked about it. She always felt off with him, because you were always on her mind. She still has feelings for you
S: Doesn't seem like it. She doesn't talk to me. She doesn't even see me for official work
Chanda: She's in a bad place Shivaay. She's icing everyone out, even me. She just wants to protect her heart. Give her time, she'll come around.
S: I get that Chanda, but at least she's talking to you. I don't mind if she fights with me, because that would still mean something
Chanda: We'll have to do something about that.
Chanda packed the painting and placed it back in Annika's room.
Chanda: I have an idea, but Annika's not going to like it
S: The last thing I want is to upset her even more
Chanda: Don't worry, tell her it was my idea. I'll deal with it. We can't stay upset with each other for long.
S: So, what's the plan?
Chanda: Just wait until she comes back from work.
10 minutes later, the door opened and Annika entered. She called out from the living room
A: Chanda, is it you?
Chanda: Yes, it's me. I'm in the kitchen
Annika entered the kitchen and saw Chanda and Shivaay sipping coffee and chatting. She gave a look to Chanda, her eyes screaming the word "traitor"
S: Hi Annika, how are you?
A: Fine. What are you two doing?
Chanda: I invited Shivaay, we were talking about the orphanage.
A: Okay. I'm gonna change. Chanda, do you mind helping me?
Chanda accompanied Annika to her room
A: What the hell! Why did you call him here Chanda? You know very well I need space from him right now. You could have met him in his office
Chanda: Relax, I was here already, so I asked him to meet here. And you weren't even at home
A: Fine. But stay here until I come back from the bathroom.
Annika changed into a simple t-shirt and pajama bottoms and both of them walked out.
Chanda: there's some hot coffee in the pot, you can have that.
While Annika was pouring herself coffee, Chanda picked up Annika's phone and her keys and kept them in her bag.
Chanda: Shivaay, can I see your phone for a second?
S: Umm o-okay
Chanda stuffed his phone in her pocket and dashed out the door, locking the two of them inside.
Hey guys I hope you like this chapter
Annika and Shivaay are going to have a long chat
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