Hey guys!

It's highly disappointing for me to see that you could read the chapter and conveniently become silent readers but not press a button, that costs you no money, to move the story ahead. 
I hadn't asked for anything big, just a 100 votes, and it seems that is a very difficult thing to achieve in spite of having over 400 views. Well done! I'm proud of the reader in you that couldn't encourage a person to write. 

The others, to whom I send my heartiest gratitude, please vote, comment and share with friends! 
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Looking at Anika's disappointed eyes, OmRu ran after Shivaay, outside the ward, whereas Dadi took a seat on the tool and looked at Anika with tears in her eyes. 

Jhanvi stood on the other side and asked her with a sad smile," How do you feel Anika?"
Anika raised her eyes, looked at Jhanvi's face, emanating warmth and replied with a small smile," Mai theekh hoo Aunty."

Jhanvi tilted her head the other side, thinking how easily Anika lied again, saying that she was fine when 'I'm broken' was all what her face screamed. 

Tej," Don't worry Anika beta, we are with you."
Anika looked at him with surprise on her face - she had never expected this to be coming from the stone-hearted Tej uncle. 

Shakti," Haa beta, we are with you. Tum bahut jaldi theekh ho jaaogi."
Anika looked at him and gave him a small nod to acknowledge his words. 

Tej, Jhanvi and Shakti left the ward to see what their children were up to, when Dadi decided she could not let Anika bottle up any more. 

She forwarded her hand to Anika's face, but there was hesitation evident in her move. She didn't want to hurt her granddaughter-in-law, who had already taken a load of pain while fighting the miserable condition she was in. Anika, who was already devastated with the reality of herself, was breaking more and more, sensing that Dadi, who had never hung back to comfort her even when she was an ordinary wedding planner at the Oberois, was today finding an obstruction in giving her the same warmth that she had earlier. 

But Dadi was Dadi. She looked into Anika's eyes and understood what was going on in her head. She slowly moved forward and touched her cheek, careful of doing it with extreme care. 
Dadi," Puttar, dard ho raha hai na, apne andar rakhegi toh badhta hi chala jaayega. "

That was the last straw for Anika. 
She slowly held both of Dadi's hands and started crying. 

Anika," Yeh sab kya ho gaya Dadi...mere saath hi kyu hamesha aisa hota hai? Kya bigaada hai maine kisi ka? Kya mai itni buri hoo ki jab bhi koi khushi haath mei aati hai toh jhat se chin jaati hai? Kya meri kismat mei, iss janam mei thodi si bhi khushi, thodi si shanti nahi likhi hai? Poori zindagi kuch na kuch hota chala gaya, jab aap log mile, pyaar mila toh juda ho gaya, ab toh mai khud hi sabse juda ho jaaungi...kyu Dadi? Kyu aisa hua mere saath?"

She started crying harder and harder, while Dadi could only try to caress the disfigured woman in front of her. 
Dadi," Nahi puttar, tu kahan ham sab se juda hogi?"

Anika," Rahungi bhi kaise Dadi? Mujhe toh iss hospital se hi kabhi chutti nahi milegi, agar galati se mil bhi gayi, toh kaise rahungi aapke saath? Kis haq se?"

Dadi, " Sab theekh ho jaayega puttar, Billu sab theekh kar dega."

Anika," Kuch theekh karne ke liye ab bacha hi kahan hai Dadi. "

Deciding not to drag the futile conversation any further, Dadi made Anika lie down on her bed. 
Dadi," Puttar tu aram kar, mai sab ko dekh ke aati hoo."


Outside in the corridor--

Shivaay ran out, came to a turn and held a pillar for support.  He could not get Anika's face out of his head. Hell, he wasn't even able to recognize her. This Anika, whose presence he could feel from afar, who raised his heartbeats when she was close, whom he could never fail to recognize in any of her dress-ups, that Anika was sitting there, with nothing to make him connect with the Anika he had last seen. And this was something he could not digest. 

Om slowly came to him and put his hand on Shivaay's shoulder. 
Om," Shivaay?"

Shivaay quickly wiped his tears with his sleeves and turned around. A few sniffs could be heard, yes and the redness in his eyes could not be ignored. 

Shivaay," Om..."
Before he could say anything further, Om engulfed him into a tight hug and Shivaay let his tears down again. 
Sobbing into Om's shoulder, Shivaay was unable to even get a word out of his mouth. He just kept on crying for what seemed like a few hours, when Om made him sit down on a nearby chair. 

As Shivaay wiped his tears and sniffled the last of his sobs, Rudra came out from behind Om and asked him,
" Bhaiya, why did you leave bhabhi like this and run outside? You know how broken and disappointed she must have felt?"

Shivaay raised his head to look at Rudra.

Shivaay," How can I go and see her when I am so highly disappointed in myself? Mai khud se hi nazarein nahi mila paa raha, Anika ko kaise dekhunga? Yeh jo Anika ki haalat hai na, sab meri wajah se hai, toh mai kaise uske saamne baith ke usse pooch loo ki kaisi hai woh? Meri ek galati, galati nahi gunaah! Mere gunaah ki saza Anika bhugat rahi hai toh mai kaise jaake usse dilaasa de doo, kaise vishwas dila doo ki sab theekh ho jaayega, jabki sab kuch mere hi wajah se hua hai? Kaise karu mai aisa, batao mujhe?"

He closed his eyes in pain and put his head in his palms with elbows resting on his knees. 

OmRu were left standing clueless, eyes darting from one tile on the floor to another, trying to grasp in that it was as painful for Shivaay to see Anika in this condition, whereas he was partially responsible for that. 

In a few minutes, Shivaay got up from the chair, wiped his cheeks and red eyes, sniffled once and started moving out. 

Rudra," Bhaiya, where are you going?"

Shivaay," Rudra, I want to stay alone for sometime. Let me go and don't come behind me."

Rudra," But bhaiya..."
Before Rudra could say any other word, Shivaay darted out of the hospital and when Rudra moved forward, Om held his hand and stopped him. 

Rudra looked at him but without moving his eyes from Shivaay's retreating figure, Om replied, "Jaane de usse Rudy, he needs time."

They turned to go back to Anika's ward when they found the elders behind them. 
Shakti," Shivaay kahan chala gaya?"

Om," Chhote papa, he needs sometime alone. It's not easy for him especially to grasp all of it in, and I think if he sits alone for a while, he will feel better."

Shakti," Okay then, let him go. Anyway, I'm taking Maa back to the hotel, she needs to rest."

Tej," Jhanvi and me are also going for a while. Anika is conscious now and we think a change of scenery might help."

Rudra," Alright, you all go, we both are there for Bhabhi."

Tej," If you need anything then call me."

Rudra and Om nodded and started towards Anika's ward. Shakti guided Dadi outside the hospital and into the car. Tej and Jhanvi went walking outside. 


When OmRu came inside, they saw Anika was lying on the bed with her eyes closed. 
Rudra whispered to Om," Bhabhi is sleeping, I guess we should come back later."

Om nodded slowly, not moving his eyes from the figure on the bed. 

But Anika was not sleeping. 
She had just closed her eyes to think and opened them with a sigh when she heard Rudra whisper. 

" OmRu?"

They turned and saw her trying to get up. After helping her sit properly, they sat on either sides of her bed and looked at her, trying to just digest her look. 

Rudra," Sorry Bhabhi, we did not mean to disturb you. We just came to see if you are okay, and..."

Anika," It is okay Rudra, I was not sleeping either."

Rudra," How are you now?"

Anika," Not unconscious, so better I guess." 

" You were thinking, isn't it?", Om asked with a slightly amused smile. " About Shivaay."

Anika looked at him, a bit baffled. It made her think whether it was so obvious on her face that she was thinking about the man who just walked out of her ward after giving her one glance or that Om just knew her too well. 

With a snort Om replied," I do know you well, but after the stunt that idiot pulled, anyone would know that you were thinking about him."

She shifted her gaze to her lap, looking at her charred fingers entwining each other, but with hardly any sensation or feeling in them. 

After a moment or two, she replied," Rudra wouldn't know that."

While Om burst into a small laugh, Rudra first widened his eyes and then made that cute little frown he always did when he wanted to show that he was angry.

*Idk why the option of adding media is not showing, else I would have added the picture here, but still find the link in the inline comment, thanks*

" Bhabhi yaar!", he whined, and a small, tiny little smile crept up on Anika's lips. 
It was after such a long time that she had smiled. She didn't even know the last time she felt this way - not burdened with family or love. 

And as she thought about all of the things, tears started forming in her eyes. 

Om," Bhabhi?"

Anika did not respond. 
Om forwarded his hand to her, moving it slowly towards her and hesitating to take hers in his. Anika took a quick look at his face and saw the same hesitation that she had seen in Dadi. 

They all were afraid of hurting her, again. 

Anikka said in a voice that came from her heavy and choked throat," It won't hurt Om, not as much as it already did."

Om and Rudra both glanced at her face and saw the pain in her eyes. Om held her hand in is and told her," Don't worry bhabhi, everything will be alright. Shivaay will make it alright."

Anika," Nothing will be alright Om, not anymore. Shivaay...I don't think he cares for me anymore. At least not in the condition I am. And it's not his fault. It's my stupid 2 rupee fate."

Rudra," No bhabhi, it is not like that. Bhaiya still cares for you, he loves you."

Anika," No Rudra, he does not. He walked out the moment he saw me. He is getting engaged to Ragini. He threw me out of the mansion. How can he love me? I don't want to nurture false hopes anymore."

Om squeezed her hand gently. 
Om," Bhabhi, you know na ki mai kabhi jhooth nahi bolta? Mai aapse keh raha hoo ki Shivay still loves you. A lot of things happened in the span of the two three days that you were not with us, and Shivaay went out because he couldn't see you this way. He thinks himself to be responsible for whatever happened to you - this blast, these burns, the whole fiasco that happened three months back...everything that has gone wrong with you."

" Wait. Why does he think he is responsible for what happened three months back? Did he...Did he come to know?", Anika asked with wide eyes. 

Rudra," Not everything bhabhi. Mom just told him that all of that was an act and Chhoti Maa blackmailed you to leave him. Not the whole truth."


Silence prevailed again. Anika put her face in her palms, why, she didn't know because she could hardly feel anything on the outside. But inside, everything was destroyed. Symbolically and literally. Emotionally and physically. 

After a few minutes, she asked," How did he take it?"

Om," How did you expect him to take it?"

Anika," I mean how bad is the damage?"

Om," Very bad. Can be controlled with a lot of effort, but again we are dealing with Shivaay. Shivaay Singh Oberoi does not forgive." 

Anika," I just hope he never comes to know the root of this whole thing."

Rudra," Bhabhi, you just got conscious and see we sat down with these depressing stuff. I haven't even cracked jokes in a long time, everyone was so worried, especially Bhaiya."

Anika," Wasn't Nagini here to annoy you off?"

Om," Thank God for that."

Rudra," Agar hoti bhi toh drama hi karti na, waise bhi Bhaiya se baat nahi kar paati, unke ward mei bahut serious mahaul tha na..."

Anika snapped to look at him. Om glared at Rudra, who did not catch on his slip. 

Anika," Ward? Why was Shivaay in a ward? What happened to him? He was fine when I saw him."

And then Rudra realized what he had done. 

Anika," Rudra, I'm asking you something. Why was Shivaay in a ward? Om?"

Om left her hands and got up from the stool, unable to look at her desperation anymore. 
Om," Woh bhabhi...when he heard that you are in a critical state...he..."

Anika," He what Om?"

Om," He got a heart attack."

Anika," What?! Heart attack? Shivaay had got a heart attack! How is he now? He just got well and is not resting at all. Where is he? Call him I want to see him right now!"

Rudra got up and tried calming her down. 
Rudra," Bhabhi, it's okay, Doctor said he is perfectly fine now. Calm down Bhabhi you need to rest."

Anika looked at Rudra, directly into his eyes.
" Are you sure he is fine? Nothing happened to him na?"

Rudra," No Bhabhi, he is alright. Trust me."

Anika calmed down a bit and asked OmRu to tell Shivaay that she wanted to see him, before muttering in anger," I'm sure he must have not eaten his medicines. Never listens to anything, this stubborn man. " 

Om turned and smiled at her," Haalat aapki kharab hai and chinta Shivaay ki ho rahi hai. Strange. Abhi bhi yehi kahengi ki fark nahi padhta, Bhabhi? Aap sab ko hazaron baar keh sakti hai ki apko fark nahi padhta, par har baar sabko dikh hi jaayega ki aapko kitna fark padhta hai."

Sighing, he came back to her and sat down on the tool. 
" Trust me Bhabhi, aap dono ko na sirf aapki misunderstandings and ego ne door rakha hai. Jitna pyaar aap dono ek doosre se karte ho na, utna koi bhi aap dono ko nahi kar sakta, koi nahi. Khair, yeh aapki aur Shivaay ki baat hai, mai beech mei nahi bolunga. Mai bas yeh chahta hoo ki aap jaldi se theekh ho jaao and then hum wapas Oberoi Mansion chale jaaye."

Anika's eyes betrayed her to shed a few tears when Om was talking about the love she shared with Shivaay. But only she knew how painful it was to see how everyone could see this except for the one who actually needed to see it. Only she knew how difficult it was to stay strong before him when all of her wanted to melt in his arms. Only she knew how difficult it was loving Shivaay. 

Rudra gently wiped her tears, careful not to hurt her, nodding his head in a no when she looked at him. 


Just then the door opened and he walked in. Anika quickly wiped her tears and sniffed her nose to get rid of the clog. 

"Anika?"

Everyone looked up to see him come in and stand beside Anika's bed as Rudra made way for him. 

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Huff! A filler chapter, yes, but that's all I could manage for now. 

Ab dimaag ke ghode daurao and tell me what do you think about who entered into the ward? 

Thank you guys for all your comments and love, I love you too. 

If you have any scenes or even songs which you would like to see in this particular track, please feel free to DM. I will be more than happy to incorporate into the story. 

Again, all I am asking for is a 100 votes, please don't disappoint me, it's a request. 
Next chapter after the target. 

Please exercise great caution while outdoors. Its a difficult time, and even with the necessary gear, the coronavirus made its way to my house and engulfed a family member into an abyss with no returning point. Hence, please understand the intensity of the situation and stay safe. 

Until next time, 
<3