"I have something to say!" He said aloud at the breakfast table. Everyone suddenly paused and looked up at him. Anika's heart skipped a beat. Now what? Another foreign trip for a period of six month that would extend to an year plus?

"Today after lunch, I want you all to be free." 

"Why?" Pinky asked immediately.

"Surprise!" He replied with twinkling eyes and a charming smile. 

Anika had had enough of his surprises. He was growing on her nerves. He wasn't doing anything yet she was irritated.

While others continued eating she quickly got up and disappeared. Giving instructions to the maid for the lunch and else, she walked away to the room. Hurriedly, dumping the necessary stuff in her bag she walked down. 

"Bye Mumma!" She said quickly bending over and kissing Pinky on the cheek. Pinky gently patted her cheek, "so fast today?"

"Mehras event mumma. "

"Right!" 

"You should have told me Anika, I would have also started early. "Shakti said not liking the idea of Anika taking a cab to work despite of him being present. Usually he would drop of Anika at the Event Management Office and head to the West Office. Shakti took care of the Real Estate and Construction sector of the Oberoi Company. While Shivaay was focusing on the Hotel Sector. There were ten across different cities in India. With the recent foreign connections the business was flourishing.  The Oberoi Empire that had once fallen was rising sharply to dominate again.

Shivaay simply stared. They seemed so complete. Anika seemed more like their daughter than daughter in law. His absence did that, he could understand. But he wasn't complaining. She deserved every bit of his parents' love. 

" No problem Papa. Besides let me remind you, you have to head to the site for inspection today." She smiled.

"Oh. Right. How could I forget!"

"To add you have put your phone on silent mode I guess. Viren uncle was trying to reach you to remind you about the same. He then ultimately called on the landline. " 

"Oh. God. I forgot." Shakti said shaking his head.

"See you, Papa!" she smiled and then her eyes landed on him. She slowly made way to the door. Well she had to pass his chair. 

She smiled. "Bye. Have a nice day." 

"You too!" He said rather finding her behavior odd.

Pinky smiled looking at the two. Either wasn't ready to break the eye lock. She nudged Shakti. He shook his head realising what Pinky was pointing at. The woman was well a very poky woman! He laughed at thought as he heard the door shut.

Sighing Shivaay looked at his plate. He couldn't understand. Something was very wrong. His patience was drying. He was waiting her to be normal to get over the sudden arrival and be his Anika. No. Something wasn't right. He had to talk it out. Why was she behaving so aloof? His thoughts were broken by Pinky's voice.

"She forgot her phone. From morning she has been acting little absentminded." 

"I will be back!" Shivaay grabbed her phone and ran out.

Pinky smiled. "That's why she has been acting like that. He is here after all!"

"Oh, Pinky, will you stop this. She is your son's wife. "

"Whatever Shakti Ji. Don't you think they should start a family now."

"Pinky!" Her husband shook his head. "They will when they feel right. Give them their time and space. It's been more than a year they have  been away. Besides they are not kids. Let them be."

"Why do you fight?" Pinky frowned. "I was just suggesting. 

Shakti shook his head. 

" what do you think the surprise will be?" Pinky changed topic. Changing topics was like changing a gear for her.

He sprinted and was in time to press the lift's button to avoid it from shutting. He stepped in. She seemed to have just realised she had forgotten her phone. She looked up from her bag when she saw him and the metallic door shut.

"Oh -I-" she said looking into his eyes which were trying to read hers.

"Forgot this." He extended his hand towards her. 

"Hmm." She took it quickly and put it in her bag.

"What is it?"

"What?" She asked clueless.

"You know what I mean. What's wrong Anika?"

"Nothing. I just don't know how I forgot it. I never do."

"No. Not the phone. You. " he said taking a step closer. 

She stared at him nervously. He felt her nervousness and it did hurt. For his wife to behave like that. The wife who told him every single detail of her life seemed to be hiding a mountain. He hated that she was nervous. Why? Was she sacred? Scared of him? Oh that mere theory hurt him. Then what was it if not that? What was she hiding ? 

"Anika are you okay?" He asked concerned. Fear gripped him. Had something happened in his absence he did not know about? Well she would have told him wouldn't she have?

"I am okay. Shivaay. " she smiled, hoping the lift moved faster. It was then she realised she hadn't pressed a button. She quickly stepped aside and moved to the  front pressing the "0".

He did not turn. Her behavior was getting the better of him. He was growing impatient and frustrated. He inhaled a deep breath. He turned. "You didn't hug, no Good morning?" 

Anika almost melted at that. The way he said it. She saw a wave of distress pass his face. She felt guilty for a moment for treating him like that. But she couldn't simply help. She was too confused about her own self. Her heart disputed and an unknown fear gripping her. Her eyes caught the two turning to one on the display screen. And then the downward arrow again. At once she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I am just a little skeptic about the upcoming event. That it. Sorry. " she lied not wanting him to feel her frigid attitude. 

Strangely, a part of her wanted him to feel it . Feel the distant disposition. Because she wanted him to feel what she had felt for the past few months? What was this ? Revenge? What was she doing? Hurting him because she was hurt? That's how much she had loved him?

Quickly she pulled back as the lifts door opened and smiling she left. Quarter of a minute was what it took for tears to blur her vision. She pressed her lips against each other desperately trying to not cry. She felt miserable. She hated herself at the moment. She felt sick of everything. His presence was like a mirror showing her what she was. Did she never love him? If she did then where was that feeling now? Why couldn't she simply see him with shinning eyes and welcoming spirit again?

He stood there, waiting.

Waiting for her to turn back and look at him. Something she always did no matter what, whenever they parted. She did not turn back. A little of him broke. 

Little had he known that he would be no where close to her despite being so close. He just wanted his wife. The one whose attention, love, care and presence he had craved for every minute of the separation.

Thanks for the love, you all give to this story, makes me put more heart into writing it even if it means I have to squeeze my sleep to write it.💜

-Anami.