The door opened and there entered an elderly woman. She walked with great difficulty and sat on her bed, grabbing the radio and placing it on her lap.

Her skin was saggy and full of wrinkles but she appeared fresher than ever. Her honey brown eyes were under the shade of round glasses with black threads escaping the corners and placed on her neck.

She turned the radio on and heard that listeners have the opportunity to make a request. Happily, she dialled the number they gave and she was greeted cordially. "What song would you want us to play?"

"Ae Dil Hai Mushkil," the woman replied in her elderly voice which broke when she spoke.

"Anyone you want to dedicate it to?" The lady asked with enthusiasm.

"S-shivaay," the woman blushed. Her all saggy skin turned livelier at the mention of her husband.

"And your name?"

"Anika Shivaay Singh Oberoi," she announced in a whisper. It was a privilege to her by having his name attached to hers.

"So guys, here goes 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' on the request of Anika Shivaay Singh Oberoi for Shivaay!"

And as the background music emerged from the speakers, Anika drifted into her precious wealth of memories which she proudly called, "Shivika's Bliss."

•••

Tu Safar Mera.

Hai Tu Hi Meri Manzil.

•••

It reminded her of the time she accidentally bumped into Shivaay for the very first time. She was in a florist shop to buy some exquisite flowers for her sister and accidentally, she bumped into him.

He fell down on the artificial flower bed but he didn't complain. Instead, he lied there and passed her a heartwarming smile.

It was then that she promised herself to walk on the path that would lead her towards him. She made him her destination and her adamance would never go, that she knew.

•••

Tere Bina Guzara.

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

•••

Five years of dating each other was the most surreal dream come true. It wasn't shocking because what else could you expect when Anika had prayed in literally every temple or a church, for making "Shivika" a thing.

Their relationship became a long-distanced one owing to Shivaay's father's transfer to a city miles away from hers. But that couldn't end the love that tied them together in a blissful knot.

After all, distance makes the heart grow fonder, right?

Video calls, Skype, iMessages became a norm and a day without ranting about the day, wasn't a day well spent.

•••

Tu Mera Khuda.

Tu Hi Du'aa Main Shaamil.

Tere Bina Guzara.

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

•••

No matter how connected they were, the fact was that they were separated by a great distance between them. No matter how much they talked, there was voidness blossoming in their hearts. Each of them missed the other terribly, for they belonged in each other's arm; the place where they can feel their partner's heart beat.

Neither Anika, nor Shivaay was a religious person but love is a religion on its own. Love made them all devout and there was no day when they didn't pray for each other's well-being, prosperity and a mere whisper that one day, Shivika happens!

•••

Mujhe Aazmaati Hai Teri Kami.

Meri Har Kami Ko Hai Tu Laazmi.

•••

Yearning for each other was hell of an impossible thing for the rebellious love eagles who soared high in the sky, never letting their wings stop. And so, one fine day, Shivaay gave her the news which caused herself to go wild with happiness;

"I'm coming with my parents to fix my wedding with you," he announced with sheer ecstasy.

•••

Junoon Hai Mera.

Banoon Main Tere Qaabil.

Tere Bina Guzaara.

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

•••

The big day arrived and there entered Shivaay Singh Oberoi with his parents. It went great and my mother was ready to get our ties knotted.

Things went downhill pretty fast when my father came after a hectic day at work. "Who are these people?"

"They're here to ask for Anika's hand in marriage for Shivaay, their son!" Her mother said with merry.

"Does he have a job?" He asked.

"No, but he will get one soon," Shivaay's father replied.

"Sorry," Anika's father replied with a glare as she realized what was about to come. "I cannot get my daughter married to a person who does not have a job on his own."

"Dad, please!" Anika beseeched as she grabbed him by his feet. "I cannot live without Shivaay. I have been in a relationship with him for six years!"

He shot her a glare and his palm made contact with his daughter's face with all his might. Slap!

She stared at her father with disbelief. On the other hand, Shivaay lost his temper and came vis-a-vis him. "How dare you slap her?"

"You better stay out of this. Or else I would not hesitate raising my hand on you," he muttered and was about to leave when Shivaay folded his hand over his wrist, attracting his undivided attention.

"She's my passion," Shivaay said and looked at her with pitiful eyes, "and I will not settle for anyone but her!"

He didn't reply so he went on, "And as far as my job is concerned, I will be a very successful person one day and then, no one can stop me from getting your daughter; my pride!"

Shivaay caressed Anika at the spot where her father had slapped her and left a small kiss over it. "I have lived without you for an year and now, I can't survive a single Anika-less day. I'll be yours one day."

She embraced him in a bone-crushing hug and tied her pinkie with Shivaay's, "Pinky promise?"

"Pinky promise, baby."

•••

Yeh Rooh Bhi Meri.

Yeh Jism Bhi Mera.

Utna Mera Nahi.

Jitna Hua Tera.

•••

A smirk appeared on the old Anika's face when this line came, for her mind took her to the restricted memories she had spent with him, without marrying. Ah, she was definitely a cheapdi back in the days!

She lied down under the feathery white duvet as she snuggled in his sturdy arms. He brushed her nose with his and left a soft and tender peck on her cherry lips.

"It was so nice with you," he smirked.

"Why? Wasn't it nice with the countless other girls you slept with?" She teased.

"To be honest, yeah. It wasn't great with them," he said as his velvety fingers made patterns on her delicate and senstive-to-him skin.

She hit him on his chest playfully and rested a small kiss on his nose, "I know no one - except me - can endure you. I'm the only one."

"And you will always be the only one," he muttered before he buried his face on the crook of her neck as her hands wandered everywhere, from her neck to her spot underneath.

"My body is all yours," she gasped as he took this statement heartily and started doing what he wanted to.

They became one.

•••

Mera Aasmaan Dhoondhe Teri Zameen.

Meri Har Kami Ko Hai Tu Laazmi.

•••

After months of struggle and hardwork, Shivaay was finally able to establish his own business empire with the help from his family and friends. Within months, it expanded further and his empire flourished.

"No one can stop us from getting married now," he muttered to Anika as he cupped her face and left a protective kiss on her forehead.

And so it did. It was decided that Shivaay and Anika will tie the knots on December 25th on the Christmas day. The two families would soon enter into a genuine relationship.

But destiny had something else planned for our Laila-Majnu.

•••

Zameen Pe Na Sahi.

Toh Aasmaan Mein Aa Mil.

Tere Bina Guzara.

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

•••

The wedding day was on its peak. The venue was all decorated and filled with all the guests who were waiting to witness Shivika's marriage.

Anika sat in her room, adorned in her champagne colored bridal attire and raven black hair flowing loose. Her jewelry was exquisite and she was ready to give a mini heart-attack to her groom, Shivaay.

And to add cherry on the top, she was pregnant. "Bin Pati Garbawati" she had said and giggled.

Just then, her phone rang in the ringtone she had kept for Shivaay. Without delay, she picked the call up and her excitement was evident in her tone and eyes.

"..."

Her heart cleft asunder as she received the news she couldn't have even thought of, in the wildest of her dreams. Her mobile fell on the floor and her honey brown eyes were brimmed with tears which made their way down her cheeks.

Shivaay had an accident.

She grabbed her heavy lehenga and rushed outside where the guests stared at her with a confused expression. Without having a look at the surroundings, she ran as fast as she could and arrived at the spot where her boyfriend was lying down with a pool of blood.

Anika took him to the hospital.

"He's in a coma," the doctor announced as she fainted right when she received this terrible news.

•••

Maana Ki Teri Maujoodgi Se.

Ye Zindagani Mehroom Hai.

Jeene Ka Koi Dooja Tareeka.

Na Mere Dil Ko Maaloom Hai.

•••

She waited for a day.

She waited for a month.

Heck, she waited for an year.

He was still as lifeless that he was on 25th of December, the previous year.

Life without Shivaay was colourless. She had realized that his hazel eyes were the reason behind all the happiness and color of her life.

Without him, she was incomplete.

Of course, how could she be complete when her heart belonged to the boy in coma? The boy she loved with all the pieces of her heart.

And in that same heart, there resided hope for his recovery; that one day he would wake up and hurriedly;

envelop her in the hug she was waiting for,

kiss her in the way she was yearning for.

But that remained just a piece of her imagination as she spent two years with utmost misery.

Being a single mother was a tough thing when her Shivaay wasn't there to support her and raise their baby with the love she deserved.

Shivanya needed her father.

And Anika needed her husband.

She was deprived of his love, of his beautiful presence in her life and she didn't know how to survive without Shivaay when his name was etched onto her heart and with every breath she took, she prayed for him.

She prayed for a normal family.

•••

Tujhko Main Kitni.

Shiddat Se Chaahun.

Chaahe Toh Rehna Tu Be-khabar.

Mohtaaj Manzil Ka Toh Nahi Hai.

Ye Ek Tarfa Mera Safar, Safar.

Khoobsurat Hai Manzil Se Bhi.

Meri Har Kami Ko Hai Tu Lazmi.

Adhura Hoke Bhi.

Hai Ishq Mera Kaamil.

Tere Bina Guzara.

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

•••

She spent most of her nights by the hospital bed and tell him a love story each day, secretly hoping for her love story to become a successful one!

Also, she hoped that he remembers all these stories when he wakes up so he can learn some romance from the protagonists of such stories.

She would spend days without food and her condition became pitiable. Her eyes had bags under her eyes as her skin went pale with all the sorrow. Poor Shivanya didn't get her mother's undivided attention.

She became a living-dead person but she waited for Shivaay for years. Yet, he stayed on the same bed, without moving his finger as his girlfriend (could've been his wife) caressed his hair and kiss him good morning each day, in the hope that he would wake up from his beauty sleep.

•••

By the time this song ended, Anika was a crying mess. Right, she shouldn't be sobbing this much at this age, for it is not good for her health.

But what could she do?

Her past came back rushing to her mind and the oldie couldn't control her tears. Just then, the door to her room opened and she quickly looked up to see who it was.

A bald man with traces of grey hair and white beard entered the room. His skin was loose and his eyes were definitely a shade hazel with bits of grey and blue. He walked with his stick and sat right next to Anika.

"I hope you're not missing me once again," he sighed. "Despite the fact that I woke up from coma 25 years ago, you're still crying at that."

"Of course, you are my love. I had yearned for you for four long years," she rolled her eyes as he wiped her tears and caressed her cheeks.

"Come here, you old hag!" He muttered before he embraced a giggling Anika in the kind of hug she had always adored.

"I love you, oldie!" She confessed while still in that hug.

"Mutual feelings, babe!" He replied as he kissed her on her hair.

Shivanya stared at this from the somewhat opened door with teary eyes. "30 years together and still counting," she said with a huge smile.

"Mom, Dad," she called them as she entered their room. "Smile!"

And she took a photo of them with her camera and showed them that;

•••

The End.