Comment in if you'd like to continue this story or tag your writer friends who can do justice to the following plot.

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By Your Side

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Shot 1

She grinned as he commented over what she had told him. "Cheapde! She blushed as she spoke into the phone as she walked down the lane flanked with small shops on both side.

"What? Like you are not acheapdi!" He laughed as he tapped the steering wheel.

"Haaw! Maine bas generally kaha. Aap baat ko wahaan tak le gaye She argued.

"Quit it Anika. Itna ab blush mat karo!' He grinned widely. Sure that the vendor selling peanuts beside his car would have concluded him to be a mentally unstable person.

Anika looked around with wide eyes. Was he around? Din't he say he was waiting for her at the main road.

"Where are you Mr. SSO?" She asked her husband looking around.

"In the car! Tumhe bina dehke bhi, pata chal jata hai tum kab blush karti ho! He smiled.

"Chantomai! she commented smiling wider and nodding her head.

Anika couldn't shop if not at the Baazaar. And Shivaay couldn't drive in those lanes where every time he had gone either he or his car had landed up being poured over at.

"Anika, you should consider the Ambiance Mall next time! He said as he grew impatient waiting for his wife at the circle. His car parked beside a park at the busy circle.

"Arre...wahan ke price tag dehke hain aap ne!? Wahan ki ek kurta yahan ki das ke baraabar. Aur wahan ki limited choice.

"It's Limited Edition Anika! He rubbed his temples. His wife would ever remain the classical Khidkitod-Totally-Mad Anika!

"Anika it's been fifteen minutes, don't tell me you entered another shop?

"Nahi Nahi...wo I was buying gaane ka juice!

"What?!"

"Gaanee Kaaa Juicee! She said aloud.

"Don't scream. I hear that.

"Toh what kyun poocha!

"What pooch nahi. What COMMENT kiya! As in shocked- What!? he exclaimed to make his wife understand.

"You remember naa last time you got sugarcane juice, for one whole day my stomach was upset.

"Arre uss waaley thele se nahi doosre thele se liya iss baar.

"No..Thele se! Anika, tum naa paagal ho! Thele se kaun juice khareed ta hai?

"main! She replied immediately. "Arre aap peeke toh dekhna...ek dum jhakas taste hai, aapki saari garmi dhoor ho jaayegi.

"Anika, no. Main nahi eene wala. Tum aa rahi ho yaan main jaaun?

"O, ho, nakhre noor jahan ke phirse suru! Bas pahunch gay...Haan mujhe aapki car dikh gayi

"Hold, on tum ho kahan. He said looking around, wondering which of the two streets she would come from.

She waved to him, in hope he would see her.

He looked around and spotted a lady dressed in black move across in front of his car.

"Agar aap ka taadna ho chukka toh mere ko dekhenge. She spoke cross, standing opposite to his car on the other side of the circle.

"Hey, main taad nahi raha thaa!'

"Haan dehka maine!

"Arre biwi ho yaan dushman, wo mere car ke saamne aagayi toh main kya karoon?

"Iska matlab aap taadenge.

"Iss puri duniya mein sirf, ek person ko main taadta hoon okay..!

"Matlab aap agree karte hain aap taad... She suddenly went silent. She saw him looking at her. She blushed realizing what he had meant.

"haq hai mera, usse taadne kaa!He smiled.

She finally kept the call, and prepared to cross the road. He smiled, remembering the first time she had accused him of checking her out. He chuckled and looked up.

In seconds his smile disappeared and shock painted on his face. She had met with an accident!

"Anika! he creamed getting off his car and running to her side. There was a commotion, with cars honking. She was conscious when he got to her. She smiled looking at him. He picked her up quickly in his arms. Once in his arms, she cared no more, she was in his arms and that was enough. Her eyes were closing slowly. "Anika look at me. Don't close your eyes.

She obeyed. It was hard to keep her eyes open, but she looked at him. If these were the last few minutes of her life, she wanted to name them his until they met again. She kept looking at him.

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"She is out of danger Mr.Oberoi. "Spoke the doctor in a dry tone.

Shivaay closed his eyes momentarily in relief and then looked back at the doctor.

"But... the doctor hesitated.

"What?" he whispered scared.

"She can't walk. Her legs are paralyzed. The doctor sighed, feeling helpless.

"SHivaay!" echoed Omkara's voice as the family made way to them.

"How is Anika? asked Pinky immediately.

"Bhabhi is okay naa? Asked Rudra at once standing beside a shocked Shivaay.

"Kuch boliya naa.. spoke a tensed Gauri.

A fear rose in Omkara's heart. Shivaay's silence , his shock-written face was telling him something. Something he din't know and perhaps would never want to believe.

He looked at the doctor quizzically.

"She is out of danger! The doctor informed, slowly.

The others sighed in relief.

"Thank You Mata Rani!" Pinky sent up a prayer immediately.

While Om-Ru exchange smiling glances. Gauri smiled amidst tears hugging her Choti-Maa.

"But...her legs are paralyzed." The doctor spoke softly. Shivaay slumped onto the metal chair, while others looked shocked.

"Matlab.." Pinky asked baffled refusing to believe what her brain told her that meant.

"She can't walk.. " the doctor said plainly.

"You all can see her in a while. " The doctor informed and also asking them to complete the formalities, left for his other duties.

Shivaay sat still. Not just hers, but their life had come to a still. The one thing that bothered him was- How would she react when she came to know about this? That Anika who loved to dance, who walked like she owned that place where she stepped, who jumped in excitement at the smallest of things, how would she react when she would know she had been hit with paraplegia!

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