Days passed by, him not talking to her or just a 'hello' has become their routine. It hurts Shivay, a lot when she refuses to speak with every new excuse on every new day. Did he do something beyond repair? Asking his poor heart again and again he consoled concluding no. But somewhere his conclusion shattered the very next moment and he started blaming himself. His health has improved but his heart's health isn't. Mily and Thomas have grown close to him, asking him about his health and helping him when needed has truly helped in growth of their friendship. Shivay shared his side of the story to Thomas and asked for a solution but Thomas was blank too, he kept on assuring Shivay that Anika is just angry and she will call once she gets time. Probably she is very busy. Thomas concluded which Shivay didn't seem to like much, so he stopped asking Thomas as well. With Mily he was a bit awkward in this matter, thus letting go was last option and he opted that.

His phone rang, knowing it is an important business call he grew denial towards picking the call up. By the time second ring started he was ready to pick it up, business call it is afterall. Then turning left he checked the clock and saw fifty minutes past nine. Calculating Indian time he knew it is morning in India. A slight hope of getting a call from her blew over although still his inner system spoke it is call from an business associate. He looked at the phone and as expected, a business associate it is. Ending the call soon he opened his refrigerator.

Taking out the same healthy low oil and almost tasteless food he sat thinking about her, how she used to force him to taste different food and then refrain him from having it because of his health issue. Her extra round eyes while staring him in anger and then calling him cute. Everything he remembers crystal clearly. An hour passed by, he had no mood to clean up anything but pushing himself he completed all the work by another hour. Sleep was far away from his eyes, just one hope that she might call ponded inside his small safe not so healthy heart. Thinking all these, about her and about his family sleep took over. From past few days his dreams are also dark. But for a change, that night he dreamt of her smile, he dreamt of them running through long length mustard fields. She running in front and he chasing her from back. Her hair swaying rhythmically in air, her perfume astonishing his sense everytime he is feeling like he has caught hold of her, but again she is slipping away and he is chasing her. The process continued, but he failed to get hold of her and she vanished in that yellow dream. He called her but no reply came back. Surprisingly when he turned to leave, uttering he would die without her, she caged him from back. Her hands lied flat over where his heart lies and she has hugged him from back. Smile widened, in his dream as well as in reality. 'I love you' they muttered together caging each other tightly.

"Anika" he got up calling her name just to discover she isn't there beside him. He is lying alone in the darkness and it is almost morning.

Dawn is welcoming a new day. And he welcoming the sorrows he forgot in his dream, yet again. Finishing his morning walk and exercise he stretched arms looking at the sky. Sun would not show his face today. Glimpse of news that he read a day before, weather isn't that much chilly  but sun is still playing hide and seek, most probably it will continue hiding for days now. It is a weekend, a boring weekend, what he calls. No meetings, no rush and just time pass. Previously he used to speak to his family and his dear wife the entire weekend but now just his family shows up. His phone rang, he furrowed brows guessing who it might be. Sipping the coffee he inched near his phone.

'Anika' screen showed, his happiness jumped to ninth cloud and he immediately picked up the call.

"How are you?" she asked from other side.

Is he dreaming again? No he isn't.

"Now I am fine" he replied holding on the brightest smile.

"I am sorry Shivay" he could sense her sob followed. She is guilty, but for what? She shouldn't be guilty of anything.

"Are we so distant from heart that you stopped speaking to me?" he was not planning to ask this, but words rolled out.

"I am sorry" she sobbed more.

"Anika don't cry, you know I can't see your tears" ironic it is, yes he can't see her tears but now feeling her sobs is way too painful.

"I promise to never do anything to dissapoint you further, please forgive me" she is completely broken.

"Video call?" he couldn't resist the urge to see her, atleast not after knowing that it was same painful for her, probably more.

"You can't see me crying" he smiled listening to her reply.

"Once I see you, you won't be crying any more" she would do anything for him so just holding back her tears are much less as compared.

Video call rang. Picking it up in seconds she sat straight. He looked messed up, the distant visual of his room also showed stuffs lying at strange places what he once hated. His hairs are not combed perfectly but that smile, that never ending charming smile did not fade for a second while she scrutinized. She tried looking beyond but all she saw was immense happiness and relief. Bottle green T-Shirt hung over his maintained figure. 'You look crazy in this bottle green colour' she remembered how once she complimented him on the same colour, before their marriage. Same thought ran through. Silently they kept on looking, trying to find something beyond they are seeing, but relief in expressions were evident.

Initiating a conversation seemed difficult, no one had any topic and repeating the old one is totally disturbing and boring. Not getting anything else Anika asked him about his health. He discussed stuffs and shared what all doctor has said. Asking about her office he noticed her expressions getting changed to sad at something.

"Is there something that is bothering you?" he asked, what if he was there just beside her.

What if she kept her head over his chest at that moment and he played with her hair? What if they never had to separate and miss the other every moment? What if their relation won't ever grow like a husband and wife and they end up staying far? So many what if's knocked them. But they knew, trust would never fade away from the other's side. She shared about her boss. She was irritated to face him everyday, and she shared about it to Shivay. He after listening to everything just asked her to stay strong as always she did and do what feels right.

"I miss you Shivay" she confessed looking down, hiding tears.

"Few days more Anika, and whenever you miss me just close your eyes and remember all the great time we cherished together" his inside broke, tears tried betraying but he composed and looked straight. The never ending charming smile still not faded.

"Why did you go leaving me? I would never talk to you once you return"

"Ouch it hurts, but Mrs. your Mr. will right away die if you abandon him like that"

Sarcasm was never his topic but from nowhere he skilled over this matter after meeting her. She smiled, much to his relief.

"I would invent a technology that would allow people to hug physically on video calls"

"No please, you are enough famous for your job to go apart now if you become more than I would loose my husband to that workaholic Shivay Singh Oberoi"

Expressions were straight over their faces. Their laugh synced. Weeks after they laughed, it felt good. She looked at the door and asked permission to let her go. No one had mood but Pinky was calling Anika for something important. He complained of her being more close to his family. She showed tongue saying it is his fault that he went abroad. He smiled at her cuteness and kissed looking at the screen. A naughty playful winked followed.

"Ok-kay bye" she immediately said and cut the call. This side his laughter followed until long minutes looking at her flushed expression.

He loved it, thanking God he almost threw the coffee cup in air, though it was empty, but the poor cup didn't fly up and loose it's life, god's grace. He danced and sang and greeted Mily happily.

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Anika was still blushing, almost twelve hours to his kiss but the effect still intact. She imagined wild and blushed more. Again after so many days she is shamelessly staring at her husband's picture and eagerly waiting for her leave from the office. But annoying her, one of her colleague informed that boss is calling her.

"No one allows me to spend time with you, I will surely sue these office people really soon. I hate them, stupid they are, useless" she cursed under the breath getting her files ready.

"Love you baby" a weird habbit she has grown since morning, once in half hour her 'love you baby' followed looking at his picture.

She just imagined how to confess the words soon in front of him but then two years separation came knocking her senses and it saddened her.

"Hate you stupid" she walked towards the boss's room saying so looking at his picture. Contradicting her previous remark with pleasure.

Again the same drama followed from her boss's side. He pointed out illogical mistakes in her work and blamed her of day dreaming about her husband and not doing any work. He continued cursing her marriage saying she was far better employee when unmarried but now she is loosing concentration over work. She heard everything silently and remembered all the previous encounters. This time she decided not to give it back, rather remind him who is he to her and how much respect he deserves.

"Sir" she paused.

This single word had him stop. He waited further, to listen and then become silent for few days. He loved it anyway, blaming her and get her reaction, at least that helps him to speak to her.

"You were my mentor if you remember sir, I always looked up to you to learn something but these days I am failing to find that old motivated man who impressed me previously. I knew sir that you had a soft corner towards me, probably what you mis-thought as love, but sir for me you are my teacher and your place inside my heart is of immense respect. I dont know sir why suddenly I became a bad employee for you but if my marriage is the reason then we can talk it out. I know your late wife was somewhat like me but getting to see her in me and urging to make me your wife is completely wrong, right sir? And still if you think all my words are wrong, then I would really be happy to know what is right from you. And truly I miss the old you. Really sorry sir if I dissapointed you with any of my curt words but all these are truth. And the major one is my marriage with Shivay, the man I love. I hope you understand sir" her voice was as calm as undisturbed water in a container.

He asked her to go back and continue with what she was doing. He realised where he was wrong and guilt had him. She was happy, proud as well. Wanting to see Shivay's expression at this she dialled his number, but it is early morning there, thinking such she waited patiently.

Her phone rang, Soumya it was.

"Di, tomorrow is Ishu di's birthday and she will be landing by tomorrow morning so any plan?" Soumya is changing into a confident happy woman gradually and Anika is happy seeing her.

"You plan it Choti, and let me know" Anika said arranging the left over files to check.

"Di, I will get back to you by late evening" she paused, Anika hummed in trance.

"Oh no, you would be busy with bade bhaiya then, okay I will text you, okay di bye Sahana is calling me" she could hear Sahana crying, probably she was eager to talk to Anika and Soumya denied.

Soumya is a strict mother. Anika smiled at her own thought, concentrating back on her work. Next day is really going to be fun and her Shivay is going to miss all of these. As you sow, shall you reap. Anika's smile widened looking at his smiling picture.

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Here they have sorted out stuffs. Now is there anything left for bad? Probably it is, or something good. But dearies, next chapter is going to be so much sad for Mr. Elder Singh Oberoi. I would miss him in the function, what about you buddies? Think about future, til then buy bye.

Hey guys, we crossed 6k+ votes, thank you so so so much to everyone for sticking to this story in thicks and thins. Now get ready for something unexpected and I promise you all would love it. Thank You yet again. Please continue showering the love. Love back buddies ❤️

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NEXT EPISODE WILL GET POSTED ON THURSDAY.

-NILANJANA