Annika was sitting lost in her thoughts when Shivaay entered her room.

Annika- You he-re?

Shivaay- Yes and i want to ask some questions.

Annika- No-t aga-in Shivaay.

Shivaay- On what track your mind is going? I'm talking about questions related to this case.

Annika- Oh! Yes su-re!

Shivaay- How do the opposition's lawyer had pictures of you and your ex-lover?

Annika- Um me-I had th-em.

Shivaay- Do you remember anything from that night which can help us fight this case?

Annika- I do-n't exact-ly remember.

Shivaay- Put pressure in your mind Annika and think about anything, anything which can make our side strong.

Annika closed her eyes and started recalling scenes from that night, her breaths were getting heavy but she decided not to fall weak, Shivaay held her hand when he noticed her sweaty palms and uneven breathing.

Annika- He was drag-ging me towards the roo-m, i was mov-ing continu-ously to get ri-d of him, i was screaming loudly.

Shivaay- You don't have to tell me that Nini, just think something which can help us. You can do it, think of something.

Annika- I don't know, I'm sorry.

She ended up crying.

Shivaay- Oh no no! You don't have to feel bad, I'll do something. Stop crying, please.

Annika- I'm use-less Shiv-aay, sorry!

Shivaay- It's okay Nini, I'm always here for you. I'll do something.

Annika- Shivaay! I sti-ll do.

Shivaay smiled brightly knowing exactly what she meant by that.

Shivaay- Sanjana Dii, come here.

Sanjana entered the room.

Sanjana- Yes Shivaay?

Shivaay- Take care of Annika, I'll be back.

Sanjana- Okay!

---------

Any progress? ~ S

Yes Sir, I've find something very fishy. I think we should go for it. ~ Khanna

Good Job Khanna! I'll be coming in 20 minutes and then we can discuss the plan. ~ Shivaay

Sure sir. ~ Khanna

Shivaay smirked.

(It's show time y'all.)

--------

4 days passed and Shivaay was working day and night to collect evidence against Riansh Khanna.

It was 8 or something when he entered the house looking tired.

Sanjana- You're back finally. I've an emergency case and will be staying out tonight. Take care of Anu, please.

Shivaay- Okay.

Annika- No no, you can go if you have some work. I can manage.

Shivaay- No it's okay. Luckily I don't have any work today but hope you'll be back before 10 Sanju di. I've a flight tomorrow.

Sanjana- You're going somewhere?

Shivaay- Some work. Don't worry, I'll be back before the court hearing.

Sanjana- Okay bye! Take care, love you!

Sanjana said hugging him quickly.

Shivaay- Love you too!

--------

Annika sat beside Shivaay and started serving him dinner.

Shivaay- You had your dinner?

Annika- No.

Shivaay- Why?

Annika- Was waiting for you. Let's eat together.

Shivaay looked at her surprised, first she was waiting for him and second she isn't shuttering today.

Shivaay- Okay!

Annika- How's everything at ho-me i mean off-ice?

Screw it! No matter how much she tries she still feels a little concious whenever men are around even it's HER Shivaay and she can still feel the pain of betrayal in his eyes, which breaks her every passing second.

Shivaay- It's okay Annika, you don't have to talk when you don't want. Have your food.

Annika- It's n-ot li--ke that. I-I want to ta-lk.

Shivaay- Haha okay! Then talk.

Rest of the time passed eating and talking about random things.

-------

Shivaay massaged his own shoulders sitting on the couch of Annika's bedroom. He rarely got some sleep from last 4 days, he was working his ass off on this case.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, his head was aching like hell but no, he can't sleep. Just two days left for the last court hearing and he can't waste his time on petty issues like headache.

Just when he was going to start working on his laptop again he felt someone pulling him back from his shoulders.

Shivaay- What you doing Annika?

Annika- I'm massa-ging your he-ad Shivaay, rel-ax for some-time.

Shivaay- But my work---

Annika- Shut up and relax. Work, work, work! You can't see anything beyond that or what?

Shivaay- Okay it's not just about work. I know you are not comfortable around men, it's different when you are having panic attacks and all but i don't want you too get uncomfortable in your consciousness.

Annika- Kinna bolde ho tussi! Chup paa ke baitho or mainu mera kaam karan do. (You talk so much. Just shut up and lemme do whatever I'm doing.)

Annika started massaging his head with her fingers.

Shivaay- I missed this so much.

Annika- I missed you so much.

Shivaay- Tell me the real reason you left me.

Annika- I--I don't kn-ow.

Shivaay- Swear on me.

Annika- Shiv-aay ple-ase!

Hot tears started forming in her eyes.

Shivaay- Nini i can't live with this guilt anymore. Guilt of not understanding you, guilt of not stopping you, guilt of hoping bad for you, guilt of taking revenge everyday.

Annika- I wa-s for-ced by my pare-nts.

Shivaay- Huh! What?

Annika- Mom somehow got to know about my affair with you and threatened me. I was adamant about living my life with you so i ignored her constant threats. One day, when i returned to my room after meeting you, Mom and Dad were already there. Dad started crying and told me that he will die if i don't leave you.

Shivaay- And you left me for this reason? You know it was emotional blackmailing, they'll never give up on their life for you.

Annika nodded no.

Annika- I knew what they are trying to do and i blant-ly refused to leave you but on that very moment, my father got a stroke. He was a heart patient and i got worried, my love for my parents took over my love for you and that's why when my mom asked me to leave you, i agreed. Though i realised what I'm doing isn't right but then i got a call from Riansh, he informed me that my marriage is fixed with him and he wants to meet me. I was devastated. I asked my mother about this alliance and she informed me about the loan my father took for my studies. The same guy now wants to get married to me. I was stuck between responsibility and love.

Shivaay- But you behaved very strange that day.

Annika- I wanted you to hate me, i wanted you to hate me so much that you always wish for my bad. I wanted you to move on.

Shivaay- You fucking sacrificed everything?

Annika- I was helpless! My father was dying, my mother was crying, i was getting calls from Riansh and i was completely in love with you.

Shivaay- You should have told me this.

Annika- How i wish!

Shivaay- I hate you so much for bearing all the pain alone.

Annika- I hate myself so much for leaving you in pain.

Shivaay- I still love you Nini.

Annika- I-I lo-ve yo-u t-oo Shivaay!

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SURPRISE SURPRISE!

DO TELL ME YOUR VIEWS ABOUT THIS ONE. DO YOU THINK ANNIKA'S REASON OF SHIVAAY IS JUSTIFIED?

ALSO, THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO MY LOVELY READER jhanvi6684❤️❤️

Love ❤️
~N 🥀