[Annika - A, Shivaay - S, Bhavya - B, Gauri - G]
B: Bhaiyya, earlier this evening bhabhi came to the police station with a woman
Flashback
Annika was headed home from a client's office. On her way, she saw a lady crying and holding a child's arm while a big goon held the rest of the body of that kid. It appeared the goon was trying to take the child. The lady was shouting for help and the little boy was crying.
Annika parked her scooty as close as she could and hit the goon on his head from behind with her slipper.
A: leave the child
The guy got briefly distracted by the sudden hit on his head. His grip on the kid loosened.
He turned around and pushed Annika and she fell on her side. His accomplice came out of the van they had come in and took the boy away from the mother. The mother ran behind but the accomplice pushed her as well.
Goon: Apun ko maaregi! Abhi batata hai tereko {{You'll him me! I'll show you now}}
He kicked Annika in her abdomen very hard and ran towards the van. The two goons succeeded to kidnap the little boy.
Annika managed to get up and helped the distraught mother.
A: Please don't cry, let's go to the nearest police station. They'll find your son
They sat on her scooty and went to a police station. Luckily Bhavya was on rounds there. The two of them told the police everything. Annika had memorized the number plate of the van which was a good start for the police. Their statements were taken and sketches of the goon were drawn based on their descriptions. Then Annika left while the police questioned the lady some more.
End of flashback
B: She told me he kicked her but said she was fine. This is all that we know based on both their statements. Our entire team got working on looking for the kidnappers to get the child back. And I swear she looked fine at the time otherwise I would have prodded
Bhavya tried to reassure Shivaay but it made no difference to him.
S: Bhavya, the doctor said her injuries could have been fatal if he had hit her a little harder. I could have lost her so easily (his voice broke). I need you to find that man, he must be punished
B: We're doing our best bhaiyya. We'll take bhabhi's statement again once she's okay. You can officially lodge a complaint against him then. Take care bhaiyya, I have to go now
Shivaay disconnected the call and massaged his temples. He was having a normal day until a few hours ago and now all of a sudden everything was a mess. They had spoken over call in the afternoon at lunch like they usually did and everything was good.
Shivaay saw a nurse take another unit of blood to the operation theatre.
S(in his mind): If I had talked to her when she came home we might have come here sooner and she wouldn't have coughed out so much blood. Why didn't I say something when she came to the room? She was walking slowly. Why didn't I say something when she didn't talk much at the dining table? How could I be so ignorant? The signs were all there, something was wrong with her.
He looked at his hands, distraught and helpless
S(in his mind): Why did she have to get involved in the first place? She is such a good person that she can't see anyone in trouble. If only she had called out other people for help instead of fighting with that bastard. Please get well Annika, I can't see you like this. I can't see you in pain.
Shivaay paced the hallway after finishing all formalities. The doctors were still in the OT. An hour had passed and he hadn't received any updates.
Finally, Dr. Sharma came out and stopped his anxious steps
DrSharma: Mr. Oberoi, your wife's surgery was successful. We have stopped the internal bleeding and stitched her up.
S: and her rib?
DrSharma: nicely taped. The scarring on her lung and tissues will heal on its own. We'll shift her to the room in a bit, you can see her then but not for long. I'd like to keep her sedated. She is in a lot of pain right now and she's weak, there are only so many painkillers she can handle. She needs complete bed rest for a few days. You can wipe these worry lines off your forehead now, your wife is going to be fine.
S: thank you so much, Doctor
After a few minutes, Shivaay was permitted to see Annika in the private room. She was still unconscious but the nurse told him that she'll wake up soon, the anesthetic was wearing off.
And she was right, Annika opened her eyes after 10 minutes. Shivaay sat on the stool beside her bed, patiently, waiting for her eyes to open
A: Shivaay
His heart resumed its normal rhythm, his body relaxed, she was fine, he was fine.
S: Hey, I told you I won't let anything happen to you
They smiled
A: I was going to tell you when I came home
S: I know, Bhavya told me everything
A: Did they find the boy?
S: Not yet
She nodded, disappointed that the little boy was still away from his family
A: so when can I go home?
S: Not yet. You need complete bed rest right now. Have you seen your face? You look like a ghost right now. Sara khoon tumne khaans khaans kar bahar nikaal diya. {{You coughed out all your blood}}
He joked to uplift her spirit
A: that was a very poor joke
S: you scared me (he said in all seriousness). Why didn't you tell me at that time? This was more important than anything else. Tum mujhe rok sakti thi, vaise to itna bolti ho k mere kaan khaa jaati ho, or aaj chup chap dinner k liye chal padi. Ek baar boldeti na ki Shivaay meri baat zaroori hai. Tumhe kuch ho jaata to? {{You could have stopped me, usually you chew my ears off by talking so much and today you just came down for dinner without saying anything. You could have said once that Shivaay I need to tell you something important. What if something had happened to you?}}
Shivaay was angry and worried at the same time and Annika understood what he was going through
A: I know I should have told you. I'm sorry
S: when we go home, I'm gonna make sure everyone scolds you
A: Shivaay no. Please, don't tell anyone. They'll get worried. Daadi has been having high BP lately and mom will panic and Sahil will cry. Let's not tell them. (she pleaded)
S: and how do you plan on explaining your absence?
A: We can tell them that I had to leave urgently for Pune because Rohit was having trouble managing an event. And I'll tell Rohit also, if anyone asks he'll tell them I was in Pune
S: hospital bed par ho, par chant ideas ki kami nahi hai.{{You're in a hospital bed and still full of crazy ideas}}
She gave him a mischievous smile. The nurse came in with an injection.
Nurse: it's time for the sedatives, she needs to rest
A: sister, 5 minutes, please
The old nurse saw how Shivaay had held Annika's hand and she had witnessed this stressed husband also, so she agreed for his sake
Nurse: I'll be back in 5
A: you should also go home now, the family will wonder where you are.
S: I'm not leaving you (he was dead serious)
A: I'll be asleep here anyway. You can visit me tomorrow and I'll call Chanda also. And you have to tell Gauri in the morning itself so she can send Sahil to school.
S: I said I'm not leaving you
He made a determined face, nothing could send him away from her
A: Shivaay please, listen to me (she pressed his hand that held hers). I'm fine now and there are so many doctors and nurses here. You should go home and get some sleep
S: we don't have to talk about this. You need to stay calm and focus on your recovery.
The nurse came back and injected the sedative into her IV drip. Annika's eyes began to droop
S: good night
Annika mumbled something that sounded like good night but the sedative was strong and she quickly fell asleep
S: sister, how long will this sedative last?
Nurse: It's 2 am right now, so she'll be up by 9-9:30 am
S: thank you
After the nurse left, Shivaay caressed Annika's hair.
S: get well soon my silly beautiful wife.
He placed a gentle kiss on her hair and laid down on the couch in the room. He didn't sleep very soundly, time and time again he would wake up with a jerk because he felt like she was calling him. Then he would check up on her sleeping figure, caress her hair or her cheek and then go back to sleep.
At 6 am, Shivaay called Gauri. She was sleeping but she answered when Shivaay called for the second time
S: Gauri, can you send Sahil to school today?
G: sure jeeju, but why did you call me for this? Where's di?
S: She's not at home right now. I just dropped her at the airport, she's headed to Pune
G: must have been urgent. I'll handle everything jeeju. When will you be home?
S: soon
He disconnected the call, one thing was handled. Then he texted his secretary about something that needed to be done at the earliest.
The doctor came to check her vitals and she was doing well. Shivaay had a conversation with the doctor.
He waited for an hour and then unlocked Annika's phone to call Chanda. He informed her about Annika's condition and requested her to come over to the hospital as soon as possible. Chanda came by 8 am. Shivaay checked on Annika one more time and the nurse assured him she won't be up before 9.
S: Chanda, I'm leaving her here in your care, if anything happens and I mean anything (he pressed), call me. Annika doesn't want anyone at home to know about this so I have to set up her story. I'll be back in an hour
Chanda: Don't worry Shivaay, I'm here
Shivaay entered the house undetected from the back door.
Khanna: Sir, is everything okay?
S: Yes, but we won't be here for a few days. Don't tell anyone about this
Khanna: of course sir. Is Annika ma'am okay?
S: she will be
Khanna nodded, he knew his boss will not let anything happen to his favorite ma'am
Shivaay quickly freshened up and met everyone for breakfast
Pinky: where's Annika? Haven't seen her all morning
S: She had to go to Pune urgently. There was a mix-up with the wedding venue and the wedding is in a few days so she left on the first flight
Pinky: arey why didn't she tell us before going?
S: mom I dropped her off at 5 in the morning, we didn't want to wake anyone up. She told me about the client on our way and it turns out, the bride for whom she's working is getting married to one of my friends from college. I wasn't planning on going earlier but then Annika is already there so I thought I'll go
Pinky: very good ideas Shivaay, you'll get to spend some time togethers
G: When do you have to leave jeeju?
S: I'll go today itself, there's a cocktail party tonight. We'll be back in a few days
Pinky: have funs beta
The story was set, and no one doubted anything. Shivaay packed a few of his clothes, his laptop, and Annika's iPad (cause he knew she won't be able to stay away from work, they were alike in this case). Now he had to pack some clothes for Annika, something he had never done before.
He opened her cupboard and got even more confused. He rummaged through her clothes and picked out the ones she wore at night, at least they were guaranteed to be comfortable. Then he opened the drawer of her undergarments and without looking picked out whatever he could grab and shoved it in the bag.
By 9 am Shivaay was all set to leave
Hey guys I hope you like this chapter
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