"Yes, David. Great!" He ended the call and dialed another number.

"Hello, Mishra? "

The ends of his lips lifted upward as he ended the call. Things were perfect. The happiness was unbeatable. He had achieved more than he had expected and was returning home to his family. To her. To his other half. 

He was dying of anticipation with every minute and still living to meet her. He couldn't contain his excitement. How would she react on seeing him unexpectedly? How would mom dad react? Oh, he missed all of them so much. Now, he could give them with pride all that they deserved. 

The gleam in their eyes when they would see him successful. The pride blooming on their face. The comfort he owed them. The reputation of the family name, which his dad had worked his entire life for. The hope his mother had tirelessly nurtured him with. The care, love, and everything his parents had given him. He couldn't wait to see them realize their dream. 

Then there was her. 

He wondered how he had existed without her, as he looked down on the city of California growing smaller. He took a deep breath. That feeling of heading home. He remembered this feeling ever since school. He smiled looking down. His gaze stuck on the ring on his finger. His wedding ring.

"Anika!" He sighed.it had been so long since he saw her. Ever since that argument on the call, things never went back to being how they were. He was actually a little happy in the sadness.

There were days when he craved to talk to her. Every time he called she would either hand the phone to his parents or cut him off saying she was busy with something. He couldn't blame her. She never wanted this in the first place. She had been so upset when he had told her about his plan for extending his stay. He knew she hated it. More that he asserted his decision rather than asking. Never mind. When she would see him in person she would forget everything. 

If it hadn't been for her, he wouldn't be where he was. Every time he felt terrible, he would miss her so much. Her warmth, her hugs, her kisses her whispering assurance. Every time he was close to giving up h remembered her face and sprang back. He couldn't let her sacrifice, their sacrifice go in vain. All along he kept pushing himself with one thought. Achieve and get back home, to her. He wiped away the moisture off the edge of his eye.

Happiness was surfacing. He laid back and sighed. Home.

He couldn't Wait!

* * *

Anika sat stirring the dal. She had wanted yo have a private lunch. Mumma had packed her lunch as usual. Her thoughts were stuck at the news she had received last night - His Arrival.

Her thoughts went back to that day. That was their first-ever argument. That too, on the call.

...

"Shivaay you are joking right?" She asked a little hesitant. It did not sound like a joke.

"Anika...it's...its a matter of few more months. I have already put so much effort into this collaboration. Once we have, our company will be where Dad wants to see it. "

"Shivaay it's going to be five months already.." She said in a soft voice.

"I know. But trust me Anika...

" Until last to last week, you said you would be here by now. "

"Anika... please understand."

"I miss you Shivaay." She wiped her tears.

"I miss you too Anika. But this is important.

"Please come back."

"Anika,"

"Shivaay please...you can go back later again. And next time I will accompany you. Even if I do not like to go abroad. Promise."

"Anika, why don't you understand. Anyway," He sighed, he was losing his temper. It was already hard for him a and she was making it worse. "My Visa has been extended. Oh yeah, Mr. Malothra will be meeting you soon regarding his upcoming launch. And I spoke to mom and dad. They are okay with it. "

"Shivaay!" She couldn't help but feebly whisper. 

"Anika. Please be mature. I will come home soon. And...yeah...there are certain documents in the locker that I want you to give to Dad. Alright. "

Anika frowned. "Shivaay...you.."

"Anika, please. I don't have time for this. Just go with the flow for now. "

"But Shivaay.."

"I have a meeting to attend. Talk to you later," he cut the call, in frustration. Couldn't she understand she was making him weak when she had to be his strength?

The call did not come until five days. Shivaay was scared he would be rendered weak by her pleas. Anika was angry with him. She had cried to sleep every day after that conversation until on the sixth day he called and spoke as though nothing had happened. 

That day she decided to do as she was told. Go with the flow. She no longer spoke her heart. He did most of the talking about the new city and people. Slowly the conversations got shorter. He also lost the heart to talk knowing she was upset. She did not say it, but he knew. Ever since that day his sleep got less. He started spending more time at the gym and working. All he wanted was to get back to her. But not before fulfilling the task he had come for.

The knock brought Anika out of her thoughts. Anika had started working for the Oberoi Event Management Company. Usually, Shivaay headed it. But in his absence, she had taken over. In the beginning, it was hard but with constant support from him, it became a cakewalk for her. 

"Yeah, Vishal. "

"All okay? "

"Yeah. "

" Cool. At five, meeting with Mehras. "

"Alright. Just tell the driver. Ah...ask Misha to accompany me."

"Okay boss!" He gave a cheeky smile left.

Anika smiled the man always was very jaunty and managed to get a smile on the coworkers' faces. Vishal indeed was a gem of a person. She straightened her lips. Just like Shivaay used to be. She closed her eyes. She did not like this. It was like the breeze before the storm. Storm? 

She did not like this. Her sudden unlikeness for anything related to Shivaay. Why was she going so mad about it? She should be happy. She was. But happiness was packed with confusion and doubts. Did he feel the same way too? 

Only time could tell. 

She had to wait. Like she had for more than a year. The truth pinched her hard. Waiting was her Destiny now. Annoyed with the thought she got back her mind on the remaining work.