- Mumbai -

- 2017 -

No One's POV

'Someone come quick please! Doctor!!!', Shivaay yelled at the top of his voice as he carried an unconscious Anika in his arms from the car. 

He didn't wait for the ambulance to get there and rushed her to the hospital himself. She had lost too much of blood which frightened him to the core. The mere thought of losing her drove him mad. He lost his love, Annie once, and it took him five long years to make peace with it, only after getting Anika in his life. If he were to lose Anika, he somewhat knew that he wouldn't be able to survive it. That was when he realized that he wasn't just in love with her, but he was truly, deeply, madly and crazily in love with her.

'Doctor!!!', Shivaay shouted as he took her straight into the emergency ward ignoring a dozen of ward-boys and nurses who were tailing behind him. 

A middle-aged lady doctor was the first one to get to Shivaay and inquired about Anika while checking her.

'What had happened?', she asked as she checked Anika's pulse and eyeball movements.

'She got hit... that man... that bastard... he... slammed her head... wall... she... lost blood...', Shivaay stammered as he couldn't make a proper sentence to the doctor.

She understood right away and called out for a stretcher. Some ward-boys brought a stretcher to them and Shivaay carefully placed Anika on it. She was rushed into the treatment room right away as Shivaay tailed behind while tightly holding her hand. He was too afraid to let her go even for a moment. Just before entering the treatment room, Shivaay reluctantly let her hand go. He would have gone inside the treatment room if he could. He stood there numb and lost in front of the door where he had left her hand. He was way beyond shocked to be able to decipher what was going on.

'Sir, we need to get your wounds treated too', came a voice which made Shivaay unwillingly break his gaze which was fixed on the door. 

'Anika... she's inside there. I can't come!', Shivaay denied right away.

'She will be fine Sir. Our ER team are one of the best in the entire Mumbai. Please come and get your wounds treated', the nurse pleaded him, unable to see how he was being so worried for her that he had forgotten his own wounds.

'NO!', Shivaay denied yet again as he turned to look at the door impatiently, just like how a kid awaits his or her parents by the door when it was time for them to come back home.

Just then the door opened and the doctor from earlier came out to see Shivaay.

'Is my Anika fine Doctor? Is she fine? Is she back? Can I see her?', Shivaay bombarded her.

'Please calm down first, Mr..',

'Oberoi', Shivaay answered hastily.

'Okay, Mr.Oberoi. You will have to calm down first. We have given her the required first aid treatment. The wound wasn't that deep but I'm afraid she had lost some considerable amount of blood. We are not sure of any internal injuries yet but then. We have to take her for a CT and MRI scan and might have to perform a surgery on her if...', 

'Do whatever you have to do. Just make sure that she is fine. She has to be fine if not I'll sue you all! Did you get that?', Shivaay warned them in a stern voice.

'We will do our best on her Mr.Oberoi. You will have to sign this consent form so that we can begin her treatment', the doctor said as she handed over some papers to Shivaay. 

Shivaay snatched the consent form from the doctor and went through it as quick as possible. He got furious when he saw the clause wherein it was stated that if anything had happened to the patient while the treatment was going on, then the hospital or any of the staff members would not be responsible for it.

'How can you put this as a clause?', he snapped at the doctor.

'It's a procedure Mr.Oberoi. We will try our level best and make sure that she will be fine. By the way how are you related to the patient? You can only sign the consent form if you're closely related or a legal guardian of the patient', the doctor explained patiently.

'I'm... I'm her husband. Anika is my wife', Shivaay blurted out in an urgency as he signed the consent form.

'We will start the treatment right away, but you will have to file a police report as she was assaulted and please get your wound treated as well Mr.Oberoi. Mrs.Oberoi will be fine. I will see to it myself', she assured him as she rushed in back. 

'Sir, your wounds...', the young nurse next to him hesitatingly asked. 

Shivaay turned towards her and nodded as he followed her to get his wound treated. After getting his bandage done, Shivaay ran to the treatment room where she was kept earlier, but to his surprise, she was no longer there. He almost broke all hell loose, but before he could do so, the doctor from earlier had informed him that Anika was shifted to ICU and has to be kept under observation. She had also informed Shivaay that Anika didn't had any internal injuries but they suspect her to be having a concussion, considering the fact that there was a little swelling in her brain where she was hit. She was given the medicines for it and kept under observation.

[Concussion :- Concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). It can occur after an impact to the head or a whiplash-type injury that causes the brain to shake quickly back and forth.A concussion results in an altered mental state that may include becoming unconscious.]

'She will be fine right?', Shivaay asked the doctor like a child with tears in his eyes. 

'She will be fine when she has someone who loves her like you. Don't lose hope. You can be there next to her in the ICU. Only one person is allowed, so when the other members of your family comes, please do take turn', the doctor informed him.

Shivaay remembered that he hadn't informed their family only after hearing the word from the doctor. He immediately pulled his phone out and dialed Om's number first. He informed Om regarding Anika and asked him to inform the rest of their family. He had also asked Om to file a police report against Daksh. He wanted to make sure that Daksh was severely punished for all the trouble he had put Anika in.

Shivaay's heart broke further when he saw Anika lying on the bed, lifeless. She was visibly pale and there was a small bandage on her head. Multiple wires were attached on her body to measure her vitals. The blue hospital gown was making her look even worse than she already was. Her left hand was inserted with two needles wherein saline solution drips entered through one and blood entered her system through the other. Gone the girl who was smiling widely a few hours ago. Gone the girl who was finally beginning to enjoy the little things in her life. Gone the girl who was glowing in the glory of her love. Shivaay silently sat next to her on the seat and took her right palm in both his grips and brought it to his face as he rested his elbows on the bed. He couldn't look at the condition Anika was in. It broke him completely. Tears that were held back a while ago began to betray his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. Without even bothering to wipe them off, Shivaay slowly lowered his head and placed his chin on the bed and looked at Anika. He held her hand close to himself with one hand and caressed her hair with the other. 

'Shivaay?', a familiar voice brought him back from the light sleep he accidentally drifted to.

'Huh?', he got up to find Om there.

Om was broken when he saw his sister's condition, but looking at Shivaay now, he felt even worse. That very man who he had despised for ruining his sister's life once was in a complete mess. His best friend now with whom he could share everything was no longer the person he used to be. Gone the enigmatic business man. Gone the mischievous smirk which always adorned his face. Gone the perfectly gelled up hair. He was completely disheveled.

Shivaay's eyes were bloodshot red due to the continous crying. His right eye was swollen because of a hit and a small cut by his eyebrow, making him unable to open them completely. His shirt was crumpled and had lost the first two buttons, revealing his chest which also had some purple bruises. His right fist was bandaged. The only thing that relieved Om was that his wounds were treated. Before Shivaay could even say something, Om had engulfed him in a tight hug.

'Daksh?', Shivaay barely whispered being in the hug.

'I'll find him and make sure that he pays for every drop of blood he cost you and Anika', Om assured Shivaay.

'He escaped?', Shivaay asked puzzled breaking away from the hug.

'He will be found. The police are looking for him high and low. Come now. Mom, Dad, Gauri and your parents are outside. We have to take turn to see Anika. Come', Om informed him as he brushed Shivaay's ruffled hair, setting them better.

Shivaay complied to Om silently, like a lost child, as he held Om's hand for support. As soon as they stepped out of the ICU, Jhanvi and Tej had the shock of their life upon looking at their son. They rushed to hug him while Shivaay assured them that he was fine meanwhile, Shakti Kapoor and Kamini Kapoor dashed into the ICU to look at their daughter. Ori who was in Gauri's arms freed herself forcibly and rushed to her Phuhi. She tugged on his pants making him kneel down to her level and hugged him tightly. 

'Is it paining a lot, Phuhi?', Ori asked as she gently cupped his face. 

Shivaay could only manage to nod his head as tears began to brim in his eyes. Ori immediately wiped off his tears and planted a kiss on his cheeks.

'Now it will be allight (alright). Whele's Phuphi?', she asked him. 

'Ori!', Gauri tried to reprimand her but was stopped by Om.

'She's inside there', Shivaay told her and yet again, tears betrayed his eyes and they rolled down his cheeks but met the soft palms of Ori before they could reach the floor. 

'Don't wolly Phuhi. She will be fine'

Hearing that from her, Shivaay pulled her into another hug and broke down into tears with her in his embrace. Jhanvi hugged her husband being unable to see her only child in that situation. His happy face in the morning when he had realized his love for Anika, flashed through her mind. 

'I love you Phuhi. Stop clying please!', Ori requested him being unable to see her always cheerful and playful Phuhi like that.

'I love you too. I'll stop crying now. Okay? See!', Shivaay broke away from the hug and composed himself. 

Ori became delighted to see him smiling and ran to Om calling him Papa. Just then, Kamini and Shakti walked out of the ICU.

'Papa?!', Shakti exclaimed as he and Kamini saw the little girl in Om's arms.

'We'll talk about it later', Om plainly avoided the topic as he nodded at Gauri passing Ori to her.

Jhanvi and Tej went in to see Anika meanwhile the others stayed back outside. 

'Om beta, what case have you filed against your Mama?', Kamini asked.

'Child molestation, sexual harassment, rape attempt, rape and also murder attempt on both Shivaay and Anika. Another thing, please don't address that man as my Mama', Om stated plainly.

'Are you mad or what? Drop the sexual harassment and rape cases. Just file the murder attempt is enough!', Kamini retaliated suddenly.

Om just scoffed as he tried to arrange sentences in his head. What else can he expect from his mother? Meanwhile, Shivaay was is in complete shock as to how Kamini could say that after seeing the condition Anika was in and after knowing what all Daksh did to her. But before anyone could say anything, Shakti turned Kamini around by her arms making her face him.

'What are you saying Kamini? I know that he is your brother but can't you see the condition of our daughter in there? Can't you see Shivaay's condition here? Why are you protecting that bloody Daksh?', Shakti rebuked, maybe for the first time in his life. 

'I'm not protecting Daksh. I don't even care about him. I'm protecting our image and reputation. Can you even imagine the effect of this on our shares? On our business, huh, Shakti Ji?', Kamini bluntly spoke her mind out in front of everyone.

'This is exactly what I had expected from you! We will handle this on our own. Just leave Mom. Get out of here and go handle your business', Om stated rudely as he turned away.

'Shakti Ji, look at the way he is talking to me!', Kamini complained.

'Enough is enough Kamini. I always knew that you love our business and money more than Omkara and Anika but it's enough now. My daughter is in a life or death situation, my son's marriage is broken and whether you agree or not, somewhere, we both are responsible for this. I've done everything that you asked for. Now no longer. Whatever Omkara is claiming about you is absolutely correct. You're one selfish and greedy woman. Just leave Kamini', Shakti shouted at her.

'Wow! Finally you got your voice to speak out huh, Dad?', Om mocked Shakti.

'Om...', Gauri tried to stop him from talking further.

'You stay away from this Gauri!', Om snapped at her, making Ori frighten.

Tej and Jhanvi who had witnessed this silently went to Gauri's aid. Jhanvi took Ori and nodded at Tej to handle the situation. Shivaay on the other hand was completely speechless, still couldn't believe the mother Kamini was being.

'Shakti Ji, you can't be blaming me like this. I love my children too. And if the news gets leaked, what do you think will happen to Anika's reputation. Will she still get married? And you Om! I'm your mother, whatever I do, I prioritize you both first. I know what's the best for you both!', Kamini argued angrily.

'You don't have to be concerned about Anika's marriage. She will get married to Shivaay no matter what. They love each other and I've accepted her as my own daughter. That bloody brother of yours has to pay for all the trouble he had put my daughter in. For each and every crime of his!', Tej rebuked to Kamini's statement.

'But still, have you thought about what people would talk about her even after the marriage? She will be maligned!', Kamini retaliated.

And the argument heated up between Kamini, Shakti, Om and Tej. Each of them were just not willing to compromise and kept increasing their voice, becoming completely oblivious of where they are at. Gauri tried to interrupt but no one was willing to even listen to what she had to say. Having had enough of all the nonsense and the constant bickering, Shivaay finally decided to voice out.

'Enough!!! Bas!!! Have you all forgotten that we are in a hospital? I have gone through a lot today. Please just leave all of you and make things easier for me. Just leave and continue your argument else where. I've had enough!', Shivaay stopped their argument and went into Anika's ICU ward.

He sat back the way he did earlier while caressing her hair and promising her to make everything fine.

PRECAP : Much awaited end of the villain in this story. 

- To be continued -

P.S. Hey guys, sorry that  had to repeat the precap, but the family drama was much needed for the flow of this story. And yes, till I wrap this story up, MISSO and COD will be temporarily on-hold. I'm free tonight. Let's see if you guys can make me update again by tonight. 

Target : 5 detailed comments on today's update. Just 5 only and I'll update again tonight. Otherwise the next update will only be when I'm free. Deal?