Shivaay frowned: Forgive you? Forgive you for what Rahim?
Rahim: for what you will see and for not trusting your love for Anika before (then he swallowed) for everything, Shivaay
Then he bowed his head and held Shivaay's wrist and made him walk with him to the car, and Shivaay walked with him with the shock still on his face and the fear thumping in his heart.
He rode the car beside Rahim and Rahim drove behind Anika's taxi, it entered Kamini's neighborhood and tears crowded in Shivaay's eyes, he felt his blood boiling in anger and whispered with a frown..!
Shivaay: Anika was the girl in auntie Kamini's attic, she lied to me, they all lied to me, even you Rahim, you all lied to me, I won't forgive that.
Rahim swallowed: I know it's hard to understand that we might had our excuses, so I beg you before you judge us, wait and calm down, don't rush in taking actions before we reveal the whole truth to you, then we are under your mercy, all of us (then he whispered) including Anika.
Shivaay looked at Rahim confused wondering how Anika will be under his mercy too? But no matter how much he tried he can't satisfy his wonder with all what was his head trying to digest
At the beginning of Kamini's street the taxi stopped and Rahim stopped their car behind it
Shivaay looked from the window with a frown and great attention as the backdoor of the taxi opened, not noticing that Rahim was bowing his head and tears flowing on his cheeks
Rahim: I am so sorry
Shivaay ignored Rahim and kept looking back at the taxi, as the door was still open, and Anika got out in her black coat then took it off and put it in the back seat of the taxi and closed its door.
And Shivaay flinched with the thud of the taxi door closing and exhaled what felt as if it's his last breath and tears flowed from his widened shocked eyes.
It's his Anika, his princess, in dirty ragged dress and worn out shoes, she looked so weak, so fragile, so broken, tears were sparkling on her red cheeks as she taking her slow steps, towards Kamini's house.
Shivaay looked at Rahim shocked and Rahim just looked down
Rahim: I brought for her this black coat, it was the only way to convince her to come with me (then he sighed) she never wanted you to see her like that (then he swallowed) again
Shivaay looked at him with confused teary eyes, but couldn't wait to ask Rahim what he meant and without thinking twice got out of the car and rushed behind her, Rahim followed him quickly and held his arm before Shivaay come closer to Anika and pulled him away enough for Anika not hear them.
Rahim whispered: please Shivaay, please; calm down
Shivaay frowned with teary eyes: leave me, I have to face her and aunt Kamini, I have to understand what is happening?
Rahim frowned with teary eyes: and who will you believe? The girl you love or the woman you call a mother, because for sure there will be two different stories here (then he swallowed) and one of them will pay the price.
Shivaay looked at him for a moment then nodded and both again walked behind Anika hiding between the trees opposite to the house.
Anika took a deep breath then bowed her head as she walked towards Kamini who was standing at the entry of the house, frowning in anger at her
Kamini: where were you, you filthy creature?
Rahim pulled Shivaay who was looking at Kamini with shocked teary frown to hide him behind the tree near Kamini's house
Anika: I was throwing the trash, Ma'am
Kamini: FOR AN HOUR?!!
And she held Anika from her hair and pulled her towards the house, Anika screamed as Kamini pushed her inside and shut the door firmly
Shivaay groaned in anger as tears covered his face and was about to rush to Kamini's door but Rahim held his arm and pulled him away while looking at his mobile
Rahim: we have to go now
Shivaay frowned angrily: GO WHERE? I can't leave her here, I need to understand, you have to tell me everything now
Rahim: the butler just sent me a message, there is someone waiting for you in the mansion, she will explain everything to you, and more that I know.
Shivaay: who?
Rahim: Anika's Guardian Angel, Mrs. Jhanvi Kapoor
Later
In the Mansion
Jhanvi: Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi, you don't know me but I know you, I am...
Shivaay: Jhanvi Kapoor, the widow of Tej Kapoor, I know you.
Jhanvi swallowed with widened eyes and her hand shivered as she shaking Shivaay's hand and looked at Rahim who was sitting beside Shivaay smiling a soothing smile to her but didn't work to calm her down.
Jhanvi: I...I came because I can't be silent anymore, I....I don't want to be silent anymore
Shivaay looked at Jhanvi with a frown as she was shivering uncontrollably looking at him
Shivaay frowned: why are you crying?
Jhanvi: I.... (Then she looked down) I am so scared, sir
Shivaay in low tone: for yourself or for Anika?
Jhanvi's eyes widened then swallowed and looked down
Jhanvi: you know? (Then she looked at him) what are you going to do to her?
Shivaay: what you came to tell me about Anika, Mrs. Kapoor?
Jhanvi: I will tell you everything, I came to tell you everything, but I beg you that if you won't help her, you won't tell Kamini a thing and will let her live, she has no fault in this life, I beg you
Shivaay looked at her with teary eyes then looked at Rahim, then looked back at Jhanvi and nodded faintly
Shivaay: talk, Mrs. Kapoor
Jhanvi swallowed: to not...to not waste your precious time, sir (then she looked down) can I know what you know about Anika?
Shivaay: Anika (then he smiled) my Anika is auntie's maid and she hid that so she can go to college, and I know from her that she is an orphan, she told me she is staying with her Guardian but I guess she lied, that is what I know.
Jhanvi: please forgive her, she just wanted to study and be the doctor you know, she is in so much pain already and didn't mean to lie or...
Shivaay frowned: STOP BEGGING ME, I will never hurt Anika or accept her being hurt and even if she is a maid, she shouldn't be treated that way (then he frowned deeper) no one, no matter whom, can treat MY ANIKA like that, even if it's aunt Kamini, NO ONE
Jhanvi looked at him surprised then looked at Rahim was still smiling the soothing smile to her
Jhanvi: you love Anika? Even if she is a maid, even if she lied to you, you will still love her?
Shivaay: I will always love her
Jhanvi swallowed: but you never will marry her, she is just a maid
Rahim looked at Jhanvi confused and Jhanvi looked at him back nervously and he understood what she is doing, she is testing Shivaay's love, he also would like to know the result of the test.
Shivaay: I don't care if she is a maid or not, I love her, I will marry her if she will accept me
Jhanvi strictly: but you know in our rules, the Aristocrats' rules, you can't marry a maid, even as the ruler, the Aristocrats will demand your punishment, they will take your positon from you and our new ruler will ask the new head of Singh Oberoi to take everything from you, all your inherits will be taken, you will no longer be considered an Aristocrat and you might even get whipped as an attempt from them to change your mind through the pain, so is loving Anika worth all this pain?
Shivaay calmly: and much more.
Jhanvi smiled widely: you are just like Amar Kapoor, you have the same pure brave heart (then she nodded) but you are much more lucky than him, because you won't lose your position as the ruler or will get punished in any way for your love for Anika (Then her smile vanished and looked down) because your situation is very different, much more easier in a way but much more painful in another
Shivaay frowned confused: what do you mean?
Rahim swallowed: Anika is not really a maid, Shivaay
Jhanvi: Anika is....Kamini's niece
Shivaay looked at Jhanvi shocked for a moment then stood and shook his head in disbelief
Shivaay: no, NO, IT CAN'T BE TRUE (then he frowned with teary eyes) YOU ARE LYING, HOW DARE YOU LIE SUCH A LIE TO ME
Rahim: it's the truth Shivaay
Shivaay: NO, IT CAN'T BE; THIS IS LIES
Jhanvi: ANIKA IS ANIKA KAPOOR; KAPOOR OF THE ARISTOCRAT, ANIKA IS THE DAUGHTER OF AMAR AND LAKSHMI KAPOOR
(Then she sobbed and Shivaay shook his head in disbelief)
Shivaay: no, no, it can't be (then he looked at Rahim with a teary smile) Anika is not aunt's niece, aunt Kamini won't do that to her own blood
Rahim sadly: Shivaay, I heard them myself
Shivaay: NO aunt Kamini is cruel with servants, I know that (then he frowned) I hated that, I even scolded them the last time I visited them for hurting their maid (then he frowned in shock) for hurting Anika...... (Then he whispered) Kapoor is her last name, her father is a doctor like Amar Kapoor, he died the same way too, but how can it be?
Rahim with teary eyes: Shivaay, Anika told me herself too, she told me.
Shivaay breathed heavily and sat on the nearest chair and closed his eyes as tears streamed on his cheek.
Shivaay: why? I wasn't her own blood but she took care of me, she was the kindest person to me!! Then why she will do this to Anika!! TO AN ARISTOCRAT? HOW DARE SHE?!!
Jhanvi: Anika's parents died 11 years ago, she was just 7 years old, a little Princess, they left her alone in the world with a lot of money and a big house, but in the same day, Amar wasn't even cremated yet, the Kapoor family gathered and Kamini as our head presented to us Anika as the result of her half-brother's crime, back then you were in America ruling the Aristocrats from there and put Kamini in your place, gave her full control on the Aristocrats under your name, remember that?
Shivaay swallowed looking at Jhanvi and nodded faintly
Jhanvi frowned: that was the main reason no one said a word or defended Anika against Kamini, your most beloved Aristocrat, we were all so afraid of you and her, so Anika's fate was decided, she is not Kapoor anymore!! and won't go to an orphanage so Kamini can take all what she has as a guardian; the house of Kamini was Anika's house but now she serves lower than a maid and more like a slave (then she frowned deeper) they give her only bread to eat and the scraps of their food not even enough to satisfy her hunger; they took her out of school and didn't allow her any education, no clothes but a dirty dress that she washes and wait for it to dry to wear again and her beauty must always be covered with dirt and cinder so she won't hide Kamini's wicked daughters' beauty!! They beat her and punish her for even tiniest mistakes; they denied her any kindness or respect!! She serves all the Kapoor and sit at their feet (then she sighed) the poor thing has no rights and own nothing but the cinder they put on her beautiful face and she became Cinder Ani, that is what they call her.
Shivaay held his head as the tears froze in his eyes and weren't coming out anymore, he sure know nothing on hearts like Anika said, how many times he told her about Kamini's kindness, about the amazing life he provides to all the Aristocrats and she just smiled and listened to him with patience and kindness.
Jhanvi smiled: but Anika educated herself and tried to do a different future than what we decided for her, I bought her serves to make her able to do that, each day I give Kamini money in exchange of Anika's service (then she smiled ) and she became the Anika you know and love
Shivaay: why didn't she tell me her pain, she must was scared, she thought I will punish her for it but she should have tried, she should have asked me to help her.
Jhanvi nodded sadly: she did, Mr. Shivaay
Shivaay frowned with teary eyes: never, she never came to me, she never....
Then his eyes widened in shock and looked at Rahim and Rahim nodded to him
Rahim: the beggar
Shivaay looked down in shame and closed his eyes sadly
Shivaay: I always felt I am the one causing Anika's pain, now I know I was right.
Jhanvi: Anika is the only innocent here, we all at fault, we all share a part of the guilt and I share most of it and no matter what I did for her, I can't be forgiven, but you, you are the only one who can make this right, you are the only one who can bring back the poor girl's right and save her for this hell.
Rahim: and we have to do this fast, Shivaay.
Shivaay frowned and looked at Rahim and Jhanvi then nodded
Shivaay: from now on, no one of you will act behind my back; and you will do exactly what I will tell you to do.
The early morning
Kamini smiled: Anika, Anika wake up
Anika opened her eyes and sat on her thin mattress and rubbed her eyes
Anika: Ma'am? What I did wrong?
Kamini caressed her hair and Anika body tensioned with Kamini's unfamiliar kindness and looked at Ragini terrified, especially seeing her smiling at her, which is never a good sign.
Kamini: nothing dear, wash your face and fix your hair, oh you cleaned your dress? That is great, because we have Guests
Anika: Guests? What about serving at Mrs. Jhanvi?
Kamini smiled: not today, today you are not going to serve anyone
Anika frowned confused: why?
Ragini: silly Anika, instead of being happy you are asking for work, today is your lucky day, enjoy it.
And she held Anika's hand and helped her stand, and Anika looked at them confused
Anika: my lucky day?
Ragini: yes, yes let's go, I will help you clean up
Anika: help me? I don't understand
Ragini pulled her to the bathroom and after 10 minutes, Anika descended the stairs with Ragini and found in the reception an old man and two women looking at her
Kamini: Anika, this is Mr. Abraham Patel and his daughters, Maria and Lola Patel of the Aristocrats
Anika: welcome sir, Ma'am, Ma'am
Lola smiled: Anika is very lovely girl, isn't she papa?
Abraham smiled: indeed, very lovely
Anika smiled kindly and bowed her head and Tia who was sitting beside Kamini frowned and folded her arm angrily
Kamini: Anika, go prepare us the tea
Anika: yes, Ma'am
And she entered the kitchen, prepared the tea then served it and stood beside Kamini for further orders, but noticed that all the time she standing, the old man was staring at her and Kamini looked at him with wide smile
Kamini: so Mr. Abraham, what do you think?
Abraham smiled: fine, I accept her, when can I take her?
Anika looked confused at them but kept her head bowed as much as she can
Tia frowned: no I don't accept that, you can't marry Anika now; she didn't finish my dress yet
Anika's eyes widened: what? Whose marriage?
Kamini: Mr. Abraham accepted to marry you, Anika; and he will take you to his house now and you will get married there.
Anika's eyes widened further: what? (Then her eyes crowded with tears) no, you can't do this to me, no I won't marry anyone, I won't.
And she tried to run to the door but Ragini ran behind her and grabbed her from her hair, and Anika screamed as she pushed her on the floor
Ragini: WHAT YOU THOUGHT? You thought you will threaten us to go to the choice party and will just get away with it? You brought this on yourself, Cinder Ani.
Kamini: you will marry him Anika, you don't have a choice, and if you want to save on yourself a lot of pain, I say agree instantly
Anika sobbed: aunt Kamini please, I won't go to the choice party, please
Kamini frowned: since when I take back my punishment, Anika?
Anika sobbed harder and looked at Abraham with pleading eyes
Anika: sir, please I don't mean any disrespect, please I don't want to get married, please
Abraham frowned: enough; Lola, Maria; take Anika to the car
Ragini smirked: have a happy life, CinderAni
Anika looked at the women with pleading eyes but they just frowned and grabbed her from the floor and pulled her to the door, Anika screamed, struggled and held on the door and the walls as much as she can but the two women were stronger than her, she ended up held from her arms and her feet being dragged outside the house.
Anika: NO, PLEASE, PLEASE
They pushed Anika inside an old limo and Anika fell on the back seat on her face and sobbed as the car drove away
Anika whispered: please, please
But out of sudden, she felt a hand caressing her hair, a kind hand, loving hand, she opened her eyes and raised her head then gasped loudly and her eyes widened in shock and struggled to take her breath even from her wide open mouth.
Shivaay's eyes widened: Anika calm down, you are having a panic attack calm down, calm down
And he put his hand on her back but she continued looking at him terrified and gasping for breath loudly as tears covering her face and her body tensioned in fear
Shivaay smiled kindly: it's okay, breathe, you are save now, breathe
His kind smile made her calm down and adjust a little of what is happening
Shivaay: I know everything Anika, Rahim and Jhanvi told me everything and the Patel family never wanted but to save you, Rahim heard Kamini as she planning to force you for the marriage and told me about it, and we were going to stop this anyway but the Patel also reached to me to help you and they did help me to save you without Kamini knowing that her plan failed.
Anika sobbed: no, Rahim promised me never to tell you (then she hid her face behind her wrists) you shouldn't see me like that!! I don't want you to see me like that!!!
Tears flowed over Shivaay's kind smile and he caressed her hair
Shivaay whispered: why Princess? Why you want to deny me of seeing the love of my life?
Anika looked at his smiling teary eyes and whispered
Anika: that is me!! This is the real me, this is my clothes, I am a maid!! I am not a Princess
Shivaay smiled: but I can only see a Princess
Anika whispered: look at me!!
Shivaay: I never could stop myself; your beauty always takes my breath away
Anika whispered: all my life I am a maid, this is my clothes and my hands scrub the floor, I am not worthy of you
Shivaay: those hands heals, safe life and do miracles
(Then he held her hands, and kissed them and that made her sob harder)
Anika: you still love me?
Shivaay with teary eyes: more than you can imagine, what I feel for you is beyond love, you are part of me, you are my soul and my breath, I would die for your smile
(And he kissed her hands again and his tears covered them)
Shivaay: I will all my life live for your smile and never let harm touch you, I am so proud of you, so grateful you chose me to love and I promise you that I will give you all the love in the world!!
Anika smiled: you don't pity me, right?
Shivaay strictly as tears flowed on his cheek
Shivaay: I only pity the Kapoor, every single one of them, they will lose the only reason mercy reached them, their bless and their miracle but I will win it, Anika you will no longer be Kapoor, you will be Singh Oberoi, Anika Singh Oberoi, the wife of the ruler of the Aristocrats, my choice, if you think I am worthy of being your husband!
Anika chuckled as tears flowed on her cheek...
Anika: yes, yes I love you so much and right now I really want to hug you, but my dress is dusty from being dragged and your suit is very clean and I am worried....
Without thinking twice Shivaay pulled her to his chest and kissed her lips and all over her teary face, then let her head rest on his chest, she closed her eyes and let herself feel safe, a feeling she waited for in 11 years but this hug, he waited for his whole life.
Anika whispered: where are we going now?
Shivaay: to my mansion, Jhanvi is waiting there and you are going to live there from now on
Anika whispered: Is this really happening? I will never return to aunt Kamini again?
Shivaay smiled: believe it Anika, your pain is over, from now on, no one will ever hurt you, you will only be loved and cherished and have the happiness you deserve (then he frowned deeply) as For Kamini and everyone that hurt you, it's time they pay the price (then he nodded) it's time for their pain.
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