"Rudra" Bhavya poked her husband to gain some, attention. He was too busy examining the notice delivered by the court authority that he didn't realise the surrounding.

"What is it? Is it serious? From the government?" Bhavya asked placing the mobile on the tea table and peeping into it. She caught a glimpse of the National emblem on the documents, which made her scrutinise and look vividly at it.

"He has filed a cross-complaint on me. For the wrong accusations and for being the reason for his mental health" Rudra whispered still eying the fresh documents in his hands.

"What? But why?" She mumbled with the impact, scratching her forehead with her tips of fingers and fell into deep thoughts.

"He killed my father. I worshipped him more than my brother but he never loved as I did, I guess. He was found at the location with a pistol in his hands and my father was bleeding blood. I still have a clear picture of the scene in my eyes, how can the accusations be false" Rudra cried leaning to the wall, his eyes landed on his wristwatch.

He remembers Shivaay had presented it as a gift when he had his first success at the business. He stroked the watch to believe that his brother was not at fault. But, he dismissed the thoughts and tried an effort to continue strong for what he saw.

Shivaay bhaiya treated Dad his own. Then why did he do that? Was acreage more important than us?  He thought eyeing his analogue watch.

A piece of flesh tore apart from his heart when he saw his father bleeding lying on the ground and his brother kneeling, crying out loud with a revolver with him. He never foresaw that he would one day catch a glimpse of this with his eyes.

"Bhavya can't you take over the case and start the investigation?" Rudra turned to face Bhavya and pleaded with her.

He was worn out with the turns of events. The gross responsibility of the industries was on him. Investigators backed out of the projects, stock market shares collapsed within a few days after the breakdown of the allegation. His elder brother Omkara was busy in parenthood and never tried to fix the situation.

"I can't Rudra. As I'm related to the family, I have no liberty in this. Moreover, this is high profile case and is monitored by the promising team" Bhavya answered with a smattering sadness.

Rudra slumped down the couch, his mind was revolving around the incident. A lone drop of tear escaped his eyes, he wiped them off and watched the elevated view of the city.

"If he is true then, I will be delighted with it. If not I will get him chastised for my father's demise. I promise" he softly testified, looking down the window, where people were busy with their chores and running here and there.

He remembered the period when he and his brothers would cook jointly brunches on Sunday's, neglecting all the busy schedules and work anxiety. They were so happy with life. Where did things go wrong?

Rudra was engaged with ACP Bhavya Pratap Rathod who is his wife now, Omkara and Gauri were expecting and lastly, Shivaay and Annika were accepting the relation and trying to move forward when the mishap happen. They all were terrified of the unexpected happening.

Tej and Jhanvi returned to their homeland from Los Angeles after learning the big announcement of Omkara and Gauri. Never in his wild dreams, Rudra thought that his brother would do something like this. A portion of him wanted to trust his Shivaay bhaiya, but as a son, he wanted his father as much as others. A father would always be a father, no matter the possibilities.

.

"I'm sorry Annika. I didn't mean to hurt you" Shivaay murmured, wiping out the blood with a cotton ball. Her forehead for scratched by the glass pieces resulted in bleeding.

He turned to see the shattered glass pieces on the floor. Few of them were coated with her blood. He was badly shaken after glancing at it, analysing it Annika held his shoulders and spoke.

"I understand. You are traumatised" she whispered. He blankly looked at her and nodded.

He still remembers the days before the unfaithful day. They both were happy. But somehow it was whirled and confused them. 

.

Annika grinned much, as her sister was approved by Jhanvi and Tej. That was a huge obligation for Annika to bring about her in-laws to agree, as Gauri and Omkara were in a secret affair and abruptly pregnant.

She merrily moved into her room and waited for Shivaay to arrive. As shivaay entered the room whilst adjusting his cuff links, she hopped on him.

"Easy. Easy" Shivaay grumbled as he stumbled and balanced himself with her weight.

"Shivaay I'm so happy. My sister is going to be a mother and most importantly all accepted her" she cheerfully told him. Shivaay smiled at her and detangled her hands from his neck and stood in front of her. His hands-on her waist, he pulled more into him.

Abruptly she fell into silence. Her facial expressions changed from an over-energetic to sadness engulfing her.

"Annika, what happened?" he asked softly while uplifting her chin to face him.

"Badi maa and baade papa welcomed Gauri with open hands. Even dadi did, I don't know when will dadi accept and forgive us" she sobbed clutching his shirt.

"If your mom would have been alive, she would have accepted me and welcomed right?" She inquired him. He was short of words. No, matter how Jhanvi shower him with love but he did need his mother. Annika was true if Pinky was living, things would have been different. His mother would have welcomed his wife just like Gauri was received.

"She would have definitely. She was the sweetest mom" Shivaay recalled his childhood days with her, his smile faded away as the flashes of his parents shooting themselves came over his.

He could never forget that day.

"You are becoming an aunt before a mother. How do you feel?" he wriggled his brows in laughing at her He just wanted to cheer her up.

"Hmm. Even I want to have a child. Ours." she shyly expressed. Shivaay's eyes were wide as saucers.

"What? A child needs more attention than you. You are a kid, Annika." Shivaay was horrified with thought. He was just joking, but she took it seriously.

"I'm not a kid. Even I have crossed 30" she twisted her mouth in irritation. Shivaay laughed at her and placed a kiss on her cheeks.

"Shivaay let's have a baby. We are of perfect age and good financially also. Even you are getting old" she spoke, playing with his shirt buttons. Shivaay raised his left eyebrow, as she spoke about his age.

Age, height and hairs were his touchy subjects. And Annika often purposely commented on it only to annoy him.

"As male ages the proceeds of sperm reduces. So..." She lowered her eyelashes and blushes deeply, making Shivaay amused at her.

"Are you sure Annika? I mean we just started our relationship with each other. We can always take it slow. You know what I mean by?" Shivaay stepped back and made himself comfortable on the bed. While Annika frowned at him. She was suddenly pulled, she landed on his lap.

"We have been intimate before, and we can't have in its first go. We can always try" she turned to him and spoke. He just peppered kisses on her nape, making Annika arch her neck to give more asses, in pleasure.

He was just gazing at her plum red lips, within seconds he took her into a passionate kiss. Her fingers fisted his hairs and yanked more into her.

"Is it?" When she nodded he continued "I'm scared. You aren't my Annika".

Shivaay added with a shocking face. Annika laughed at him and kissed him raw. He was taken back by the zeal and soon reacted with equivalent fascination.

.

"Please don't cry" Annika wiped the tears rolling down his crust. Her heart crumbled contemplating her husband in this state.

"I was about to kill you, Annika" he whispered looking at the destroyed glass vase on the floor.

"No. You didn't. My husband would never harm me intentionally. He is very fond of me" Annika said clasping his fingers with her.

"If you stay with me I might hurt you, Annika. Those treacherous dreams haunt me" he pulled back his hands and said to her.

"Okay then, I will sleep on the couch. But I won't ever leave you. I will stay in this room only with you" she adamantly said pulling his hands and clasping them again.

"Tomorrow, we will visit a psychiatrist and a nutritionist. They will benefit you in coming out off the shell" she planted a kiss on his cheeks and wipeout his damp face with the hem of her plain palazzo suit.

"Mental Health is very important Shivaay. It's no crime in visiting the consultants for this. I know there are a few subjects you don't want to share with me. They are very much professional and would assist you in clearing your mind" she spoke softly, assuming that he might feel offended with this.

"I understand Annika. I will visit them. I want to live for us" he smiled at her and bend down to clean up the floor.

It's been a week since his bail. Shivaay was still adjusting to new surroundings. Initially, he was surprised when Annika brought him to a new flat on the outskirts of the city. He needed fresh surroundings to start afresh, so he didn't say much on it. And also amused as none of his family members or cousins came over to meet him. He realised that the distance has been doubled with the turns. He did regret standing for them.

                                 °°°°°°

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Pranathi.