- Mumbai -
- 2017 -

No one's POV

'Because I'm not Annie!', she whispered softly and saline drops from her eyes begin dissolving with the rain drops on her face.

Her reply swept the ground away from Shivaay's feet. He was shocked beyond the level he could express.

'You knew Annie???', he asked her puzzledly.

'Of course I would have knew her. What do you think?? I'm some dumb ass who doesn't know what was going on with me?? Huh???', she asked back quite sarcastically.

'But Om... Om told different...', Shivaay tries to recall what Om had told him.

'I know Annie but I never knew that you guys were together. Om Bhaiya hid that from me perfectly. But little did he know that I knew you as well!', she added still sobbing.

'What do you mean??? You know me recently only right??? We've never met before, right???', Shivaay asked for her assurance.

'Shivaay!!! What do you think??? I've got DISSOCIATIVE INDENTITY DISORDER!!! We are two different person living in the same body. Whenever one sleeps, the other is awake. I'm not Annie but Annie is a part of me. And sometimes, when I get awake from my deep slumber, just for a second or two, I've seen you, I've been in your arms, I've felt the warmth of yours. But just for a very short moment that at first I thought you were part of my hazy dreams. When Om brought me back here, I was still getting flashes of you. Your smile ( she cupped his face) and your green-blue orbs (she touched his eyes) were not going away. I tried my level best to convince myself that you were just a dream, a figment of my imagination, but no. I couldn't. I failed miserably. During one of these times I had ran into Jhanvi Aunty. She treated me like her own daughter and I began coming here. The day I set foot into this house and saw your potrait with them, I was sure that you were not my imagination. I tried to do my own research but I failed in that too. Om Bhaiya had blocked all my resources. I had a doubt if you were linked with Annie. And today your actions proved me right. You were with Annie. She was the special someone you told me in the party the other day. Yeap! That's the only missing link about Annie. That's why Om has to do that. Now I get it', she won bitterly and fell on her knees.

'Anika!!!', Shivaay wanted to go and hold her but she refrained his hands.

'Don't touch me!!! Just don't!!!', she shouted and leaves his room.

Shivaay on the other hand was still in shock. He couldn't feels bad for her. That is the very reason he maintaned a distance between them. He didn't want to break her, but that's what that has happened. He broke her. The irony of the situation is that he himself is broken. Only difference is that he's been broken ever since Annie left. From that very moment, he became more sensitive towards people in his surroundings. He always think before he lets out a word and watched his actions. He never wanted what had happened to Anika in the past, to happen to anyone else. Somewhat, deep down, he cared for Anika even back then.

Shivaay came into his room once his chain of thoughts were broken by the loud thunder that just hit and immediately dialled Om's number.

'Om! We need to talk! Where are you now?', he asked as soon as the phone was picked up.

'What's the matter that Shivaay Singh Oberoi is looking for me now? I thought we had a deal to never be in touch and meet each other ever again!', Om asked back.

'I've got no time for that stupid deal. We need to talk! It's regarding your sister, Anika', Shivaay replied sternly.

'Anika??? I'll be back in India tomorrow itself. We shall meet up right after I landed there! You get that??? And stay away from her!', Om warned and cut the phone right away.

'I wish I could Om! How I wish I could!', Shivaay thought to himself.

In Anika's room, she went to the shower straight and sobbed badly under it.

'Why Annie??? Why??? Why was it Shivaay of all people??? And why did I also fall for him??? It hurts me badly Annie. You're the strong one. You've always been the strong one. This whole thing is breaking me apart. I can't handle this much of pain Annie. I can't! I have fallen in love with Shivaay but the love that I see in his eyes doesn't belong to me. Why is it always that you the unreal one gets everything??? I'm the real one. You're just my alter ego but you get everything and I just don't. Shivaay is also yours!!!', she lamented and cried her heart out.

Just then, she heard a knock on the bathroom door. Anika went to open it and Shivaay was standing there.

'What are you doing here?', she asked him coldly.

'I brought you some warm clothes. Please step out of the shower and get yourself dried. You'll fall sick otherwise!', he requested her.

'Why do you care??? Annie is no more! You know that right???', Anika asked back sarcastically. Shivaay was hurt hearing her reply but nevertheless he managed to conceal his feelings.

'Anika, can you stop this. I know that you're just badly but that doesn't mean that you'll be ill-treating yourself like this. Just take this clothes, change into them and take rest. We will talk about everything tomorrow. You need rest now! You're exhausted both mentally and physically', he explained to her in a very caring and lovely manner.

Anika took the clothes with no other choice and changed into them. When she stepped out of the washroom, Shivaay was still there.

'What are you doing here still?', she roared.

Shivaay just went closer to her and pulled her towards the dressing table. He made her sit on the stool there and began drying her hair quietly, without saying a word. Silent tears escaped her eyes. He wiped those off and continued drying her hair. They both were quiet. Thousands of questions were bombarding Anika's loud mind but she hadn't had the energy to voice then out. Shivaay was preparing himself mentally to answer her questions if she began but since she never voiced out, he also didn't speak. Once her hair was no longer dripping wet and almost dry, Shivaay took her in his arms and made her rest on the bed. He tucked her in properly and smiled at her as he sat next to her on the bed.

'Sleep Anika. It's been a long day, I know. Just take rest. Everything will be fine. I'll set everything right', he assured her and left the room.

Somewhat, his words soothed Anika's pains and she was able to sleep well that night. She was no longer crying. She was hurt, but Shivaay had given her the right oinment. Just the one that she needed the most; love and care.

The next morning, Shivaay woke up to the ringing sound of his phone. He took it up and found Om calling him.

'I hope you didn't forget that we're supposed to meet today!', Om said sternly.

'Of course I didn't!', Shivaay replied back with equal amount of sterness in his voice.

'Good then! So where should I come? I just arrived in India', Om asked him.

'The beach view cafe? We can get some privacy there. Away from media controversies', Shivaay suggested.

'You're talking as if we're gay couples going out on a date! Haha! Alright. I'll be there in an hour', Om confirmed.

'I think people are right when they say that psychiatrists are a huge psycho themselves', Shivaay thought to himself and goes to get ready.

Shivaay was already there in the cafe when Om arrived. They gave a smirk to each other with quite a cold greeting and settled themselves.

'So what is it that you wanted to talk about Anika??', Om came to the point directly.

'You came to the point directly. I like that!', Shivaay told him.

'Now will you talk?', Om asked him a bit annoyedly.

'I am going to marry Anika. That's all I want to tell you!', Shivaay spit out bluntly.

'What rubbish are you talking??? Do you need caunseling sessions Shivaay??? I can conduct it freely for you!', Om retaliated.

'I'm serious Om. I am marrying Anika!', Shivaay hissed. Anger and pain was quite visible in his voice.

'Anika is not Annie! She doesn't even know that you exist. You can't be selfish like this!', Om rebuked.

'I know that Anika is not Annie. I'm not dumb! And yes, this bethrotal was sent by your parents this morning only. My parents like her. So, I said okay!', Shivaay informed him and walked away not before doing his infamous hair flick.

Om threw the coffee cup and was visibly very angry at the turns of the event.

- To be continued -

P.S. So guys, I've revealed the question you guys have been wondering since Chapter 1. This will be my last update for the week. I'll be getting busier. So the next update will most probably be on next week. And yes, what do you guys want to read in the best chapter?? The past or the present???