Hlo darlings

Forgot me?

If yes, then not your fault. I had disappeared because the writer's block wasn't leaving me.

The only way to cope up with it, I thought, was to finish this story as soon as possible. So three or so chapters more.

ENJOY READING 💕💕💕💕
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Life has its own means and ways to make one realise of its power. It has the power to make one happy or sorrowful.

Shivaay's ignorance once again made her realise that her life was a punishment for her since she could remember.

Her parents, punished her by leaving her, her Chacha-Chachi made her life a living hell, her Dadi left her. She got punished for mistakes she never committed. Now, her love had become a punishment for her.

Shivaay's entry was the only thing in her life that made her feel that atleast now her fate was getting better, that life was taking her tears seriously and compensating her for her sorrows.

But it was even more sorrowful to realise now that it all had been only for a few days. Nothing could last forever, and happiness in her life was no exception.

It was her mistake that she decided to go to a monster, literally begging him to give Shivaay's everything back to him. Now when she had realised her mistake that reality dawned upon her stupid brain. Even if Tej would've listened to her 'requests', Shivaay would not have accepted this charity. He loved his self respect, his pride more than the business. Sure he wanted to save his grandfather's business but he wouldn't have accepted everything without fighting back.

And this punishment was deserving, she felt. She deserved to be ignored, she thought as she curled up on the cold floor, with her tears forming a puddle there.

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Entering the living room of the cottage, Shivaay found his mother pacing to and fro and his grandmother praying, counting the beads of her rosary.

Janvi stepped forward to talk to him as soon as her eyes fell on him, her face having the same expression of strictness she used to show during his childhood.

When Shivaay got angry on Anika, he not only stopped talking to Anika, more or less he ignored all his family members. If he was punishing her, he was isolating himself too.

"How long is it going to be?"

His mother shot the question at him without beating about the bush. So not her!

He was glad of the changes that came in his mother. There was no trace of the same cowardice he disliked in her. She wasn't the same woman who would shut her mouth at her so called husband's atrocities anymore. This woman was the brave Janvi Singhal.

It was a few days later to their property being in Tej's name that she decided to stick to the name of her parents. She said she didn't want to bear the name Oberoi because her so called husband was the connecting thread between her and that name. He had felt proud of her that day. She had changed, for good.

"I- I'm not punishing her, you know that."

He replied. It was true. He couldn't punish her. He was just too angry to talk to her.

"As if you don't know! You know you're punishing her, knowingly or unknowingly. It is a punishment for her when you are ignoring her all the time."

"And congratulations, she's not come out of her room since yesterday, Shivaay. Khaana bhi nahi khaya. How much do you want to punish her? Even if you want to punish her then get angry, shout, but atleast talk to her."

He looked at the floor beneath his feet, hands fisted tightly lest he did something terrible, ashamed of his actions.

"Lets go Janvi."

His Dadi stood up from her place and Janvi stepped towards her to support her.

"I and mummy ji are going to the temple to conduct a pooja. There's no one else at home."

Janvi told him and stepped towards the door.

"Remember one thing, your mistakes were way bigger than hers, if she has given you a chance, you sure can."

His Dadi's words kept ringing in his ears after they existed the door.

He knocked the door of Anika and Gauri's room but there was no answer from the other side of the door. He would've been a fool if he had expected an answer. It was obvious that she wouldn't want to talk to anyone.

Thankful for the unlocked door, he stepped into the room and stopped as soon as he entered.

Anika was sleeping on the floor. At one glance he noticed what he had done to her. Pale faced, swollen eyed, dry lips, dishevelled clothes, and unruly hair. Obviously he would love her no matter how he looked but he wouldn't want her to look like this ever in her life. She should always look happy. Pretty or not, long hair or short, thin or fat, but always happy and smiling and chirping like a free bird.

He picked her up in his arms and gently laid her on the bed. With her head on his chest he laid beside her, caressing her hair to ease that frown from her face. He always knew that he loves her blushing face but he had no idea to what extent. Her cheeks looked hollow without the tint of red in them.

How could he be so cruel to her. He claimed of loving her to death. He had promised himself of loving her always, never to let her cry. Then why did he let his cruel mind rule his heart and his love for her?

Hadn't he promised himself to fight the world for her if need be? Then why couldn't he fight himself? She had forgiven him despite his sins. He had named her characterless, she still forgave him and loved him as if he never did that. And here was he, who couldn't forgive one mistake of her. A mistake that she committed just because she loved him so much, because she wanted him to be happy anyhow. Her only mistake was that she failed to see that his happiness was in being with her.

He was punishing her for loving him?

He looked at her face, his vision blurred by his tears. He kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her chin, her nose, her lips and then her forehead again. He hugged her closer to his chest, not wanting to disturb her sleep.

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She felt well rested as she opened her eyes and felt something thudding beneath her right ear. It was when she raised her head a bit that she realised Shivaay's presence. It was his heart that thudded beneath her ear and the tickling she felt on her waist was because of his arm around her.

She was seeing his face so closely after so many days. The contours of his face looked sharper than ever. She wanted to trace the stubble on his face, but she didn't want to wake him up. What if he left again? May be he was sleeping so peacefully after many days, like her.

She had her hand just a few inches from his face when he opened his eyes, making her nervous and scared. Come what may she couldn't bear another blow of his ignorance.

"You can trace it."

He said and she looked at him, confused and startled. Seeing her confusion, he held her hand and placed it on his stubbled cheek, kissing her palm at the same time.

Anika's vision got blurred by her tears after feeling the same tenderness in his actions after so many days. She missed him and his actions.

The sight of her tears brought back the unpleasantness of last few days back in his mind, making him sigh at his foolishness. Everytime he vows to not let his anger hurt her but he does the exact opposite everytime.

"I'm sorry, Shivaay. I shouldn't have done that stupidity. It was all my fault. But please don't stop talking to me again. You won't, right?"

He shook his head at her question and hugged her to his chest tight. After all these days he realised it wasn't her mistake but she still found herself guilty.

"Not your fault, Sweebit. I was behaving like a pig head. You were thinking of me but I didn't think about you twice. I just kept wallowing in my own anger and hurted you so much. I was punishing you for nothing but your love for me. I'm so sorry."

He said everything with his lips against the top of her head, kissing there from time to time. She didn't respond to whatever he said and he tried to look at her face, but she hid herself more in his chest.

Her tears seeped through the gap between the buttons of his shirt so he didn't call her again but let her cry. She was shivering due to her sobs and he rubbed her back to help her relieve everything bottled up inside her heart.

"S- Shivaay please d- don't do that again. I- I won't be able to take it. If I do a mistake toh gussa kar lena, but- but don't stay so silent and aloof."

"I won't. Never, ever. I'm sorry Anika. I promise you everytime that I won't hurt you or make you cry ever again but I end up doing that. My anger blinds me. It's my fault Anika, I can't control my anger I don't know why. I'm sorry."

"You'll never hurt me intentionally  Shivaay, I know that. But I feel insecure. My happiness have never lasted for a long time, I feel scared of loosing you too."

"Don't. Don't feel scared of anything. I won't leave you ever, I can't leave you. That's not possible for me as long as I live. And I'll try to change myself, Anika. So that my anger doesn't give you the same pain again."

She was startled at his words and raised her head to look up at him with a frown.

"No. You won't change yourself. Tadi ke bina aap aise lagenge jaise kisi ne Om ke sar se baal hata diye hon."

She said making a grumpy face and hugged him again. She felt his chest rumble with his silent laughter but he didn't say anything, making her look at him again with her chin resting on his chest.

"I missed you."

He said. As much as she found it cute and it made her heart flutter, but it was too innocent. Shivaay Singh Oberoi and no answering back, how could that by possible!

"Won't you answer me back? I mocked you. Haww! were you even listening?"

She looked at him with her narrowed eyes, her lips pursed tightly. This time he laughed out loud and she couldn't continue with her facade.

"I missed you too"

She said and he pecked her lips, then kissing them softly at first and passionately again.

"Did I say I missed you? After kissing you I think I missed you too much."

Hearing him she chuckled and blushed at the same time.

"Okay. Get up. I need to go."

She looked at him and denied, pouting her lips to melt him.

"You don't have to do that, mere your one look can melt my heart. As much as I want to stay here like this all my life, I can't. I've heard from mom that someone had locked herself in the room and ate nothing to fill that stomach of hers. So I'll go and cook something."

Anika bit her lower lip at his mocking and smiled sheepishly. Now that he was beside her and talking to her, she was feeling hunger creating havoc in her stomach.

"Now if you would bite your lips like that I can't just leave you here and go. Can I?"

He wriggled his eyebrows mischievously and picked her up in his arms in a swift movement.

The punishment for loving someone was sure painful but love had the power to make the pain worth it.

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Hope this one was satisfactory enough, to you all atleast.

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Love you all loads💕💕💕