- Mumbai -
- 2017 -

No One's POV

The next morning, first things first, Gauri called up Om to inform him that she was coming. She knew she shouldn't have abruptly yell and vent out her frustration on him like that. Nevertheless, she did. It was her breakingpoint. She had also been strong for too long. Yesterday when she heard his allegations on her, she couldn't help but to burst out on him.

Om was quite happy to be awaken by her call. He was certain that Shivaay was right when he told him that Gauri still loves Om. Else, she wouldn't have apologized and rush here for his sister in the first place that too the very next morning after their fight. When Om had freshened up and went down, Gauri was already there and Shivaay was right behind him.

'We need to talk!', Shivaay said bluntly before anyone else could begin a proper conversation with greetings.

Om sensed the urgency in his tone. He doubted whether Shivaay had already made Anika open up to him. He also needed to know the reason his sister had developed such a disorder.

'Let's not talk here. Come with me!', Om guided both Shivaay and Gauri towards his consultation room in the house.

The room was quite huge and spacy with just a couple of sofa in it. One small one seater white sofa and the other was a long three seater green sofa. There were lots of books in the room along with many other weird things like brain puzzles, toys and also perspective paintings.

Shivaay settled himself on the one seater before Om could get there. Hence, he just settled next to Gauri as he knew that where he sit doesn't matter. What matters the most was what Shivaay was going to tell.

Shivaay stammered initially. He felt guilty to be revealing what Anika had told him. She had trusted him completely and believed in him. Hence, the step he was about to take for her betterment was obviously the right thing to do but his consciousness was not allowing him to do so. He was battling internally with his brain and heart. He was confused on which one should he listen to. At last, his mind won the battle and he finally began to speak. He thanked Gauri and Om mentally for their patience.

'Anika's problem didn't begin from now. It was from her childhood. When she was 12. She... she was molested, sexually harassed and... and... raped by your maternal uncle Daksh!', he revealed it while stammering.

Om and Gauri were beyond shocked upon listening to his revelation. They were completely speechless. There was nothing they could think of to say upon the revelation. All that they could do was to just watch as Shivaay wipe off his tears and continue.

'Anika couldn't even fight back against him because he had threaten her with your safety and life. She wasn't weak Om. She was afraid and lonely in her pain. That's why Annie was created and that's exactly why yesterday when Daksh reappeared, Anika shut herself into becoming dormant and Annie resurfaced. It's all because of that wicked bastard Daksh!', Shivaay cursed him.

'Daksh has to pay for this!', gritted Om angrily.

'I swear I'll break his limbs if he was infront of me now!', Shivaay cursed.

'Just a minute guys! We can't do anything to him! Whatever that has to be done, Anika has to do it!', Gauri voiced out.

Om and Shivaay looked at Gauri with a confused look.

'What? Shivaay doesn't understand this is acceptable but don't tell me even you don't understand this!', Gauri asked Om as she rolled her eyes disbelievingly.

'Oh God! How did you even become a psychiatrist!', Gauri muttered under her breath.

'Hey, I do understand what this is all about. I was just angry with that man just now and my anger kind of affected my judgement!', Om defended himself.

'What's going on here? I'm kind of lost here!', Shivaay stated while looking at those two ex-spouses.

'Shivaay, you were right when you said that Annie was created due to the pressure upon Anika. She had everything surpressed in herself for too long and that too at such tender age that she developed this disorder in order to protect herself from the trauma she was going through. This explains Annie's behaviour and characteristics. Annie was the character Anika had lost and yearned to be the most. She wanted to be carefree and wild but she couldn't. She ran away from her problems and her true self as well. This put her into depression, self-depreciation and frustration. That frustration built up and eventually burst out as the character Annie. So, if we want to cure Anika from this disorder, we should prepare her to face the monsters she's afraid of. And as far as we know, there's only one monster she's afraid of, which is Daksh!', Gauri explained in detail.

'Okay. I understand what you're trying to say Gauri but Anika doesn't want to fight back. She intends to run away. Can you believe it? She told me taht whenever Daksh is back, we shall leave this place and get back here when that bastard is gone! She would never be able to face that bloody bastard. Whatever that has to be done, we should do it. Anika will never fight back against him!', Shivaay explained his point of view.

'That's exactly why we have to make her stand up against him. This is the only way!', Gauri sounded pretty confident.

'No... that's not the only way. I've thought of another way', Shivaay exclaimed.

'What's that?', Om asked curiously.

'We will take help from Annie and screw Daksh. We will have to tell her everything and she'll definitely help us! In that case, Anika doesn't have to fight her monster and run away her whole life!', Shivaay voiced out his plan sounding pretty confident.

'We can't do that Shivaay. By doing this, we will be giving purpose and living reason for Annie. Then she'll never be gone and Anika can never be cured!', Om voiced out.

'Exactly! We need to talk to Anika. But the thing is, is she Anika or Annie now?', Gauri asked them both suspiciously.

Shivaay and Om turned to look at each other. Both asked the other whether they met her this morning.

'I was in a rush to meet Gauri when she called!', Om stated.

'And I wanted to tell you guys all of these as soon as possible', Shivaay stated increasing the tension in the room.

'So does that mean none of you checked on her?', Gauri questioned them.

With much guilt and embarassment, both turned towards Gauri and shook their head slowly.

Gauri rolled her eyes being unable to believe what just happened and rushed out to Anika's room. She just hoped if Annie was the one who's awake, she hadn't cause any kind of unwanted nuisance yet. Obviously their parents were too busy to notice the change in her character but Tej and Jhanvi who were close with Anika would definitely sniff that something is off with their would-be daughter-in-law.

Om and Shivaay dashed behind Gauri as they were also equally worried about that particular stuff. When they reached Anika's bedroom, she wasn't there and the door to her veranda was open.

'Please don't tell me that she ran away!', Gauri whispered.

'Let's hope not!', uttered Om as he dashed towards the veranda.

When they reached the veranda, the view in front of them swept the ground away from their feet.

Anika or Annie was... (Screen went black)

PRECAP : Daksh is back.

- To be continued -