It was an awkward car ride with unsettled emotions wavering.
Within the confined space of their car, a thick and heavy silence hung in the air as Annika continued to sob softly her tears flowing incessantly. The events of a few hours ago still weighed heavily on her heart and the rawness of her emotions consumed her. Beside her, Shivaay, her husband tried his best to focus on the road ahead whilst his grip tightened on the steering wheel as he desperately searched for the right words to console his wife.
The vibrant city lights seemed to merge in a blur as Shivaay stole glances at Annika his heart aching with her pain. It pained him to see her like this as if her very spirit had been shattered. Yet he understood that the scars of the past could unexpectedly resurface reopening wounds thought to have healed long ago.
"Annie, my strong wife," Shivaay finally whispered his voice trembling slightly "I know it hurts and I can't even begin to imagine the depth of your pain. But please remember that I am here for you always. No matter what may come you are not alone in this."
Annika sniffled, her gaze fixed on the passing lights outside the window finding solace in the muted chaos of the outside world. She took a deep breath her tears subsiding for a moment as she let Shivaay's words penetrate her wounded heart.
"I feel so broken Shivaay." She managed to say her voice filled with sadness. "The memories came rushing back today and I thought I had moved on. And I have but she rubbed it on my wounds. The pain...it's still so real. I didn't do any of it with my consciousness. I agree I was wrong. I was wrong but....bringing the memories back is-"
Shivaay reached out and gently clasped Annika's hand squeezing it tenderly. "Sometimes wounds heal on the surface but deep down they leave a mark. We carry those scars with us and it's okay to feel vulnerable in these moments. But please believe me when I say that you are strong. You've faced your demons before and together we'll face them again."
Annika's eyes met Shivaay's searching for reassurance and finding it in his unwavering gaze. Despite feeling overwhelmed by her own emotions she took solace in his embrace knowing that he would never belittle her pain or dismiss her feelings.
"She told me I wasn't welcome at my parent's home, it's the place where I fell, I laughed and learnt from my fall. I grew up there with my parents and brother holding my fingers tightly. Now, today my friend, my brother's would-be wife asked me not to visit my parents. I never thought I would one day receive this kind of treatment. Probably this is what happens with every woman, once they get married they can't call their parents' home hers not their husband's family as hers. like all I don't have a house to call it home. What an unaltered love!" Annika raised her fingers to brush away the rolling tears as she glanced at her husband's hard and straightened face.
"Not all women Annika." Shivaay tightened his grip on the steering wheel, parking the car on the sidelines. "Don't think it like that. As I told you earlier, I will always stay by you. Through thick and thin. And who says that you don't have a home? I agree our house is small and doesn't match other bigger ones regardless of that it makes the home. That's all matters. However our hearts are so Big and spacious, they can accommodate all. Even if you sleep with your limbs on my face, our home is big enough."
Annika gave up on her sobbing when she heard him remark about her sleeping position. Her lips curved up and she whacked his arms for teasing at the wrong moment.
"My parents aren't that typical in-laws. Never say that you don't have a home. The place where you, Ma, Papa and Shubh Bhai are, is my home."
Wiping her dampened cheeks, Annika nodded her head and threw her famous smile. Overjoyed with his confession, she reached over, hovering over him and pecked his lips, bringing a smirk to his lips. Soon his body flustered with her open act.
"Behave yourself." Shivaay scolded her slightly.
"Don't leave me ever." She mumbled. "I have never trusted anyone more than you. So-"
"I have faith in your trust."
As Shivaay continued to drive into the night the city transformed around them casting long shadows that mirrored their emotions. With each passing mile, he reminded Annika of their shared journey the trials they had already faced and overcome together. He emphasized the strength of their bond a beacon of hope in the darkness assuring her that she need not navigate the treacherous path alone.
In that car, amidst tears and fragments of heartache, they found solace in one another's presence their words serving as a comforting blanket over their wounded souls. And as the car rode on through the night Annika slowly began to grasp Shivaay's message - that their relationship infused with patience and compassion had the power to heal even the deepest scars.
____
Shivaay sat in his favourite armchair in the living room, knowing that no one was at home, the room filled with a slightly hazy cloud of smoke. The faint smell of tobacco hung in the air as he took a long deliberate drag from his cigarette. As he exhaled his mind drifted back to the recent visit to his wife Annika's parents- for Smith's engagement.
He remembered how Annika's parents welcomed them with arms open while they had been excited to see their daughter nevertheless something had seemed off. Annika had been distant, even though she revealed most of the happenings, her usual vibrant energy dimmed her laughter hollow. Shivaay couldn't help but worry about what had happened during their time together.
As Shivaay continued to smoke he was caught off-guarded at the moment the main door knob twisted and then was opened wide. Then unfortunately to his misery, Annika walked in with bags of shoppers then a fraction of a second later their eyes met and Annika caught him in the act.
The red-hued cigarette holder had been a giveaway and Shivaay knew there was no hiding it now.
Her eyes widened in disbelief her voice barely above a whisper "Shivaay! I have never seen you smoke before. Didn't you tell me you left smoking and drinking years ago?"
"Drinking yea. But smoking is a little hard." Shivaay couldn't help himself from chuckling his laughter filled with memories and secrets. He knew he had hidden his smoking habit well, safeguarding his lighter and cigarettes in clever hiding spots throughout their home.
But Annika as always had managed to discover his secret. Shivaay was proud of hiding this for six long months, considering with regards to Annika.
He took another drag from his cigarette allowing the smoke to swirl around him and threw it into the dustbin as he replied "Well my love there are many things about me that you are yet to discover."
Tossing a mouth freshener into his mouth, he waved his palms around the smoke, making it disappear.
Annika crossed her arms with a playful glint in her eyes "Oh really? And do tell Shivaay what else have you been hiding from me?"
Shivaay leaned back in his chair with a mischievous smile creeping onto his lips. He recounted the secret spots where he had hidden his lighter and cigarettes each location carefully chosen to keep them away from prying eyes.
"In the drawer of kitchen cabinets, bookshelf beneath the stack of dusty Indian penal code, book." He revealed with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "And the pack of cigarettes? Well, that's hidden behind the loose floorboard in our bedroom closet."
Annika's eyes widened a mix of surprise and admiration in her gaze. "I can't believe you've managed to keep all this hidden for so long. You truly are full of surprises Shivaay."
He grinned and took Annika's hand in his intertwining their fingers. "Well, my wife even after all these weeks and months there's so much more to discover about each other. This is just the beginning."
The room filled with a comfortable silence as Shivaay extinguished his cigarette but the memory of that moment lingered in his mind. He knew that his secrets and hidden spots were symbolic of the vast depths of their relationship a never-ending exploration of love trust and a hint of mystery.
___
This is a filler type.
How is it? Well, I have a piece of good news, that I shall update every Wednesday.
The votes in the last chapter were a little disturbed, and I hope you all shall compensate in this chapter. This would boost my confidence and encourage me to move further.
Let's get more than 90 votes! Let's go
Also, I'm confused regarding the length of the book. How do you all want it?