Evening time~
5:00 PM~

Sanjana walked in her room to see Annika struggling in her sleep. No matter how hard Annika is trying to be strong but those haunting memories are way too bigger than her courage.

Sanjana sat beside her and started caressing her head.

Sanjana- Shss Anu.. it's okay! No one is going to trouble you. It's okay don't worry. I'm here!

Annika starts taking deep breaths. She shakes Annika to wake her up.

Annika- LEAVE ME!

Annika screams and gets up.

Sanjana- Anu? Are you okay?

Annika looks at Sanjana and realises it was nothing but a bad dream.

Annika- Yeah sanju dii I'm fine. I'm sorry!

Sanjana- What sorry?

Annika- I came here without any money or anything. You're paying for my food, my medicines and I'm always screaming and making you tense.

Sanjana- Anu I'll literally slap you so hard if you'll keep talking shit. Shut up and get ready.

Annika- Why ready?

Sanjana- We've to go and meet the lawyer. He's really nice and he'll help us Anu. You just have to stay strong and tell him everything.

Annika nodded and went to bathroom.

She was looking at her reflection in mirror.

Annika- You deserve it Annika. You deserve all the pain, you've broken a heart. A heart that loved you, a heart that always cared for you! Things would have been so different today but no. One wrong decision ruined everything.

She started searching for something impatiently. Sanjana knocked the door to check on her when she heard the sound of glass breaking, things falling.

Sanjana- Anu? Anu? ANU? OPEN THE DAMN DOOR. ANU!

Sanjana started shouting but Annika didn't replied.

She decided to break the door and kicked it hard. The door finally flew open and Sanjana was shocked to see the scene infront.

Annika was sitting on the floor with glass piece in one hand and the other hand was bleeding. She again tried cutting her wrist! Sanjana ran towards her and took her hand in her own.

Sanjana- Not again Anu. I've told you so many time not to do this.

As she slitted her wrist the pain increased in her heart longing for him, the blood was flowing like river water. She was waiting for darkness to engulf her and the darkness finally took over her.

(I'm crying writing this >.<)

As soon as Sanjana made her lay on the bed her eyes gave up and she finally slipped to a world of no worries, no miseries, no pain just darkness.

Sanjana did her bandage, the cut wasn't deep but deep enough to make her forget all the real life happenings for few minutes.

Sanjana calls Shivaay.

Shivaay- Yes Sanju Dii?

Sanjana- Sorry Shivaay, we'll not be able to come. Will you come and meet her.

Shivaay- Okay Dii but what happened suddenly?

Sanjana- I'll tell you everything when you come. Now Bye!

*****

The doorbell rang informing Sanjana that Shivaay is finally here. She opens the door for him and he greets her with a small smile and side hug.

Sanjana- Don't try to smile when you don't want to Shivaay.

Shivaay looked at her surprised.

Sanjana- Don't forget I'm your Didi.

Shivaay- But still how do you manage to know that I'm faking a smile?

Sanjana- Because your smile never reaches your eyes.

Shivaay- Leave all that and tell me what happened?

Sanjana- You go and sit in my room, she there only.

Shivaay- Okay but where are you doing?

Sanjana- I'll get something to eat and coffee.

Shivaay nodded and entered the room where Annika was sleeping. Her body and face was covered with the duvet but her injured hand was visible.

Shivaay felt a weird kind of feeling as he entered the room.

"Annika" He whispers.

He finally looks at the girl laying on bed and notices her injured hand.

Shivaay- These fingers, they seem so familiar. Why the hell I'm getting weird kinda feelings un this room. Her wounded hand is somewhere making my heart ache.

He was going to touch her hands when Sanjana enters.

Sanjana- Hey what you doing?

Shivaay- No--Nothing! I was just checking her hand.

Sanjana- Oh okay! But please don't touch her. She'll get scared.

Shivaay- Hmm okay. Now tell me what happened?

Sanjana- As you can see she slitted her wrist.

Shivaay- Oh my got she tried taking her life and you're saying it so casually?

Sanjana- I never said she tried taking her life. She just slits her wrist when she wants to escape all of this drama. It's her 28th cut i guess.

Shivaay- What the fuck Sanju Dii? What kind of girl she is?

Sanjana- You won't get her pain Shivaay. God knows what crime she did in her past life to get a life like this. Anyways let me wake her up, we've to file the case ASAP. Her husband must be searching for her.

Shivaay- Must be searching? What you mean by that? He must have visited you if you're this close to this girl.

Sanjana- Actually he doesn't know i live here. I mean he thinks I've shifted to Banglore.

Shivaay hummed and started munching on his cookies.

Sanjana goes to Annika and shakes her lightly.

Sanjana- Get up Anu. Your escape time is over now. Look the lawyer is here.

Shivaay was watching Sanjana keenly.

Annika snuggles up to Sanjana.

Sanjana- Good evening anu. Time to get up now.

Annika hums and gets up finally. The duvet was still covering her face.

Sanjana- Don't be lazy Anu, look the lawyer is here. You've to tell him everything okay?

Sanjana removes the duvet from her face and Shivaay gets the biggest shock of his life. Never in his wildest dreams he thought he'll meet her like this. Yes, he always wanted to see her in pain but not like this. A lone tear escaped his eye as a sudden kind of guilt passed through him.

Annika was shocked to see him as well. He looks so different! His hair are longer, his beautiful blue eyes reflects pain, his eyes are having big eye bags. Tears started flowing from her eyes without her knowledge.

Sanjana- Why you crying Anu? It's okay we'll not leave that monster. Look our lawyer is here, he'll help her to fight that lawyer.

Shivaay finally gets back from his own world and clears his throat to behave normal.

Shivaay- Sanju Dii, I'll be waiting outside.

Sanjana- No Shivaay. Anu is not going to leave bed anytime soon. You sit here and talk to her. I'll get some turmeric milk for her.

Shivaay nods and takes out a notebook to write down whatever she says.

Shivaay- Hello there! Can i know your name please?

He asks taking a seat beside her bed.

She looks at him perplexed.

Annika- Huh?

Shivaay- Can i know your name please? I've to make a case file.

Annika- An--Anni--Annika Sharma.

Shivaay writes the name on paper which was already imprinted on his heart and a part of his body too!

Shivaay- Husband's name?

Annika again looks at him baffled.

Shivaay- Look lady, i know you're not in state of talking with a stranger but please co-operate. I've to make a case file as soon as possible and file a case in court.

Annika nods with tears streaming down her eyes. Shivaay's heart ached looking at her crying.

Sanjana enters the room with a glass of milk, some food and medicines.

Sanjana- Here Anu, have something please. You skipped lunch too.

Annika- I'm not feeling like eating Sanju Dii.

Sanjana- Please anu eat a little.

Sanjana says as she forwards a spoonful of rice towards Annika and Annika takes it.

Shivaay- Should we continue?

Sanjana- Yeah sure.

Shivaay- So what's your husband's name?

Annika- Ri-Riansh Khanna.

Shivaay was noting it down when Sanjana asks out of the blue.

Sanjana- Shivaay by any chance do you guys know each other?

Annika's and Shivaay's eyes widened listening to her question.

Shivaay- Ofcourse not Di. Why would you ask that?

Annika- Ex--exactly! We are just two strangers.

"We are two strangers who know every shameful secret, every mole of the body, every stupid habits. We are just two strangers with hundreds of memories." Shivaay says to himself.

Sanjana- It's just Anu is atleast talking to you without getting triggered. She was in very bad condition when a delivery guy came.

Shivaay nods and Sanjana's phone rang.

Sanjana- Guys I've to take this call. Anu you'll be okay right?

Annika nods and she leaves the room.

Shivaay- So Mrs. Khanna I'm...

Annika- Sharma.

Shivaay- Huh?

Annika- I--It's Ann--Annika Sharma.

Shivaay- Oh so you didn't changed your surname?

Annika- I don't t--think yo--you're here to as--ask this.

Shivaay- So I'm going to ask some personal questions now. Be comfortable okay?

Annika- I'll t--ry!

Shivaay- You guys were having sexual intercourse before or he directly forced himself on you.

Annika- W--we we--were in a phy--physical relationship al--already.

Shivaay looked at Annika shocked. She submitted herself to that bastard willingly. How could she? How could she do this to him? This is the proof that she never loved him actually. But what if he forced her into that?

Shivaay- Can you pass me the water please?

Annika passes him the glass of water and Shivaay gulps it in a go.

Shivaay- Now you have to tell me what exactly he did that night?

Annika takes a deep breath. Her fear is slowly taking over her. She can't afford to think about that night again.

Annika- I was work-ing in th-the kitc--kitchen when he kn--ocked the door. He was to-totally drunk and he asked me fo-for umm that.

Shivaay- Yes, I'm noting down continue.

Annika- An--And wh-en i den--denied he slapped me here.

Annika pointed to her cheek. Shivaay looked at her with his eyes dripping the same pain she felt that moment. Her memories from that night took over her and she bursted out crying.

Annika- SHIVAAY! He's here to take me. Shivaay he'll kill me. I know what i did was wrong and I deserve punishment but please save me. I don't want go with him.

She hugs Shivaay tightly crying.

Annika- You know he used to beat me daily, whenever he wants. He used me like a toy, made me work like a servent but i never complained. I thought it's my punishment for breaking your heart but i don't deserve this Shivaay. I beg you Shivaay, please save me.

Shivaay- Shshss shss Annika, it's okay! No one's gonna harm you. Don't cry.

Annika- Don't be so nice with me shivaay, I don't deserve it.

Shivaay- There are a lot of things you don't deserve but still have. Stop crying now.

But Annika's breaths started getting heavy.

Shivaay- Sanju Dii Sanju Dii come here fast. Look Annika...

Sanjana enters the room with an injection and injects it in Annika.

Shivaay- What's this Dii?

Sanjana- It's a sleeping drug. It will help her to relax and sleep for sometime.

Shivaay- But isn't this harmful and addictive?

Sanjana- It is. But I can't help it. Annika needs to calm down anyhow or she'll end up doing something really bad to herself. Her hand is already injured and i don't want her to do anything.
Oh yes, I'll just change her dressing too.

Shivaay- Di I want to ask something.

Sanjana- Go ahead Shivaay.

Sanjana says opening the earlier dressing of her hand and Shivaay notices multiple scars on her wrist.

Sanjana- Look at her hand Shivaay, seems like she's always punishing herself for some past deeds. I tried so hard to make her understand that we are human and we are bound to do mistakes but that doesn't mean you'll go around punishing yourself. God knows when she'll learn to forgive herself.

Shivaay sat still looking at her hand!

*****

This chapter made me cry alot. Normal people think self harm as something very coward step and all but let me tell you guys Self harming thoughts can enter anyone's mind at anytime.
Just don't let them take over you.

(Saying all this by my personal experience)

****

Thank you for reading ❤️

Though I'm really disappointed with the response to this story :((
I made this separate account for my ShivIka readers but not getting views and votes hurt alot.

NVM I'm not going to give up ;)

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Love❤️
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