Hlo darlings

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Shivaay had never pondered over something for so long as he did regarding this matter. He still couldn't come up with something good to start a conversation with her. Rudra's ideas started with flirting and ended on asking for a date and he just couldn't be as poetic as his brother Om. At last, his Dadi was the only option he had to seek help.

Dadi looked at him suspiciously as he was stammering way too much which was so unlike him. Had it not been Rudra who blurted out the matter, Shivaay would've taken years to reveal the same. Dadi's face was worth watching as her smile kept growing wider with each passing second. Her grandson whose only love was his business was now in love with a girl and that too with a girl like Anika. For Shivaay it was just attraction as he thought but only his Dadi knew that it was pure love.

Anika's heart almost jumped out of her ribcage when Dadi told her to talk to Shivaay regarding the decoration theme and menu of the party. Shivaay was someone whom she feared very much. Whether it was due to her first encounter with him, or it was him scolding his poor security guard that made her fear him, she don't know. She went towards his room hesitantly as if delaying the meeting would change anything.

On the other hand, Shivaay looked at himself in the mirror time and again to see if he was presentable or not, something he had never done in the 30 years of his life. Women out there die to get a single glimpse of him but the one whom he wants to notice him, is just busy fearing him.

He gulped three glasses of water at once as he heard the soft knock on the door. She came in as the door was already open. He waited for her to say something but she kept staring the floor.

"Sir, Dadi asked me to talk to you regarding the theme of the party as well as about the menu." Finally she gathered the courage to speak and he gestured her to sit. She sat on the couch while he took a seat on the bed. She opened the diary and waited for him to speak.

"I had to be that damn diary, atleast she would have looked at me." Shivaay muttered under his breathe when she didn't look at him even after good ten minutes.

Anika heard him saying something but didn't understand the exact words and she didn't dare to ask. She didn't want to die so soon.

He kept deciding and rejecting things just to see her for a few more minutes and an hour passed like that. Sometimes he wanted the colour scheme of the decorations to be white and blue, sometimes the party to be organised in the backyard and sometimes on the terrace. Anika kept writing and then cancelling the contents in her diary but stayed quiet.

"The menu should be Italian, Continental and Chinese." Shivaay finally spoke something seriously in last one hour.
"The theme should be simple yet elegant and classy. As Oberoi Industries has completed 40 years in business successfully, all the business associates and politicians will be attending the party. Rest I leave upto you to decide as I trust you.. I mean Dadi has selected you so you must be good at this." Shivaay mentally smacked himself for his silliness and covered up quite easily.

She nodded and stood up to leave but he came infront of her, scaring the hell out of her. She stumbled as she took a step back to keep distance from him but it only led him to wound his hands around her to protect her.

"Kya tum isi tarah kisi bhi bewakoof ki bakwas sunti rehti ho, chup chaap ?" Asked Shivaay once he made her stand properly. She was confused at this abrupt question that made no sense to her and she had to look at him.

"Mai ek ghante se bole ja raha hun aur tum gudiya ki tarah baith kar sunti ja rahi ho. Bol nahi sakti ? Irritate nahi hoti tum ?" Asked Shivaay as he wasn't able to believe that someone could be that patient and calm and... cute. Had he been at her place he would've killed the person infront of him thrice for talking nonsense.

She looked at him with her big brown orbs and suddenly she chuckled as she realised he called himself nonsense unknowingly. He was sure that he definitely said something stupid but that was fine until the outcome was as beautiful as her smile.

"Aap bewakoof hain ?" Asked Anika innocently, unconscious about what she was talking and to whom.

"Did you just call me bewakoof ?" Shivaay asked doubtfully and Anika's eyes widened in shock. She nodded her head up and down and then immidiately changed it to east and west, closing her mouth by pressing the diary onto her lips. He stepped close to her but she quickly jumped to the side and ran out of his room as fast as possible, leaving a goofy smile on his face and something which was very precious for her.

Anika closed the door of the room that was assigned to her to complete her work and it took her a few minutes to calm down followed by a hearty laugh that she remembered was missing from her life until this moment.

Her day passed in ignoring him and she took a sigh of relief as it was time for her to leave. She informed Dadi that she was going home and Dadi nodded but then her eyes fell on her grandson who was standing behind a pillar and gesturing her to say to Anika that he will drop her home. As much as she was surprised seeing his childish antics, she was more than happy to see this carefree side of him.

"Anika, it's too late, you shouldn't go alone at this time. Shivaay will drop you." Dadi dropped the bomb on Anika. Before she could protest Shivaay was already there, smiling from ear to ear.

Anika followed him while praying to God to save her from Shivaay's wrath. The way he shouted at Khanna yesterday was so scary. Khanna was brave enough to be able to cope up with this angry young man but she was sure she would faint if something of that sort happened with her.

She settled in the passenger seat and looked outside the window. Throughout the drive she kept stealing glances at him as she wanted to apologise but she was too scared to do that.

"Kuchh kehna hai ?" asked Shivaay. "Sorry. Humara matlab voh nahi tha. Humein aapko voh nahi kehna chahiye tha." Replied Anika instantly.

"Kya nahi kehna chahiye tha ?" Shivaay was in a naughty mood seeing her scared.

"Bewak.." Anika was about to reply but stopped and looked at him apologetically, making him laugh his heart out.

"Aap humein daantege nahi, jaise Khanna ji ko daant dete hain ?" she asked innocently and he stopped the car. He closed the distance between them and she closed her eyes expecting him to shout.

"Nahi datoonga. Par sirf ek shart par. Will you be my friend ?" Shivaay asked and extended his hand towards her when she opened her eyes stunned. She stared at him and his hand for a few minutes to confirm if he was joking. But he was serious and she couldn't stop herself from saying yes to him.

"By the way, even if you had said no I wouldn't have scolded you." Shivaay said mischievously and she smiled at his antics. He was not at all like she had thought about him. "Sir, ek baat kahoon ?" Anika asked hesitantly.

"Tumhe permission lene ki zaroorat nahi hai. But don't call me sir." Said Shivaay and Anika felt a little relaxed.

"Aap Khanna ji ko bhi mat daanta keejiye." Anika spoke sweetly and only Shivaay knew how he controlled his urge to pull her pink, chubby cheeks.

"You don't know him, he's a disaster. If I stopped shouting at him he won't do any of his works properly." Shivaay stated as a matter of fact and her face lost that beautiful smile. She just hummed and started looking outside the window.

"Ok fine. I will not shout at him. Meri Dost ne pehli baar kuchh manga hai, mai mana nahi kar sakta. But please don't get sad, you look good when you smile." Shivaay said and she smiled as he accepted her wish. Though the last line he said made something stir in her heart but she chose to ignore it.

When she reached the road that led to her house she asked him to stop there itself. He insisted on accompanying her till her house but she denied.

That day onwards Anika's dull life changed, for good. She started talking a little more, she started smiling a little more and she started living a little more. Every small moment spent with him used to give her happiness and peace. Her colourless life became beautiful because of his presence.

Shivaay's life took a 360 degree turn. His thoughts were always occupied by her. Bringing a smile on her face was his only purpose these days. Surprisingly, Khanna was tortured less by his boss which was so unlike him. Though it frustrated Shivaay to no extent but his Anika's happiness was all he cared about. It took hin many days to make ger call him by his name but at last he was successful.

After the maha aarti, She was in the temple of the mansion when her dupatta caught fire due to the burning essence stick. She didn't realise what happened until Shivaay pulled her towards himself and threw her dupatta away. He was shouting at her for being so careless but her eyes were on her dupatta that was lying on the floor, half burned due to the fire.

Anika wasn't able to meet his eyes and it was then he realised what blunder he did unknowingly. "I... I'm sorry I just..." Shivaay tried to apologise to Anika and but she was not in a condition to hear anything. He wanted to wipe her tears away but for now he needs to be away from her.

He gestured Priyanka to take her to her room and he looked at his Dadi and other family members helplessly.

"Don't worry, Shivaay. Thoda dar gayi hai par jaldi theek ho jayegi." Pinky cheered him up and he nodded reluctantly.

Priyanka tried to cheer Anika's mood and she was somewhat successful in it until she did something that broke Anika's heart.

"Anika, look at this dupatta, this will look beautiful on you. Try this." Priyanka tried to make her wear the red coloured, embroidered dupatta. Anika denied but Priyanka thought it to be her reluctance to take anything from her and tried to make her wear it again.

"Hum nahi le sakte isse." Anika shouted as tears flowed down her cheeks. Shivaay who came there to check her was astonished because Anika was not one of those who would shout at anyone.

"Par kyun, Di ? It's.." Priyanka tried to convince her.

"Kyunki hum widhwa hain. In rangon ki koi jagah nahi hai humari zindagi mein." Anika shouted and ran away from there without sparing a glance at Shivaay and others.

Shivaay felt as if his legs were numb. He wanted to run behind her but he couldn't. He looked at Dadi and she just nodded, giving him the answer to his unasked question.

"I didn't know anything, Bhaiya. I didn't want to hurt her, I swear." Priyanka cried and hugged Shivaay tightly.

"Dadi did you know this ?" Asked Om and Dadi nodded. Shivaay wanted to know the whole matter because Anika's tears gave him so much of pain.

"Bataungi billu, par mujhe ek sawaal ka jawab de do. Kya tum abb bhi Anika se pyaar karte ho ? Kya uske bare mein jaanne ke baad bhi usse itna hi pyaar karoge ?" Asked Dadi and Shivaay nodded without a second thought.

"Until now I had no idea that I love her. I thought it's attraction, but today when she cried, I felt I'll die. This moment made me realise that I love her. No matter what her past is, I'll always love her." Shivaay spoke his heart out and Dadi smiled at her grandson.

"Anika was an Orphan. Asad Khan, her husband was her best friend. Anika loved him but only as a friend. When he asked her hand for marriage, Anika had denied at first but later he convinced her. On the day of their marriage when they were returning from temple as Anika wanted to get married in a temple too, their car met with an accident and.. Asad died. Anika lost her husband as well as her only best friend. Asad's business collapsed after his death. Asad's mother and sister blamed Anika for Asad's death." Dadi told them and it brought tears in everyone's eyes.

"That's why she chose to work hard and give them whatever Asad could give. But for them, she remained a bad omen. I don't know why they can't see that girl's goodness and selflessness. She had the choice, she could leave them and live her own life. But she chose to take the responsibility of the house and to educate Asad's sister. Still they keep blaming her and she tolerates everything as if she is actually a criminal." Dadi cried and held Shivaay's hand.

"I always tried to make her understand but she never stopped blaming herself, I want you to give her the happiness she deserves. Will you ?" Dadi asked Shivaay and he nodded and left from there to end her miseries. Shivaay called Anika but she was not answering his calls.

Anika had reached her house but she was scared to go inside but she had to. She knew what will be thrown at her if she will enter but it was her fate and she couldn't run away from it.

"Aa gayin aap ? Abhi kya zaroorat thi, thodi aur der se aati. Aur..." Nikhad, Asad's sister spoke as soon as Anika entered but she stopped as she noticed Anika's condition.

"Ammi, zara dekhiye inhe, kis haalat mein lauti hain." Nikhad spoke her mother whose anger shot up seeing Anika infront of her, without her dupatta on her head. Who knew better then Anika that it was just an excuse to bad mouth her.

"Mere bete ko khane ke baad abb kis ka ghar barbaad karna hai ? Khud toh anaath ho par kam-s-kam humari izzat ka toh lihaaz rakho. Na jaane kis ke saath Kya kya gul khila kar ayi ho. Abb kis ko rijha kar.." Before Aasma could speak more, someone shouted at her.

Anika looked at Shivaay who looked no less then the devil himself. He marched towards Aasma as if he would kill her. Had not Anika been there to stop him, he would have lashed out at the mother daughter duo.

"Shi.. Shivaay please Jaaiye yahan se." Anika requested but he nodded his head negatively.

"Tumse kaha tha na, ki kisi bhi bewakoof ki bakwas mat suna karo. Mai janta hun tum bhut achhi ho par yeh log tumhari achhayi deserve nahi karte." Shivaay said to Anika and pushed her gently to come face to face with Aasma and Nikhad.

"Toh yeh hain jinhe fasaya hai aapne. Kyun kisi ka ghar barbaad kar rahi hain. Humare bhai jaan ko chheen kar chain nahi mila ?" Nikhad, though, was scared seeing the anger in Shivaay's eyes but her hatred for Anika was perhaps stronger.

"Sharam aani chahiye aap donon ko. Iss larki ko yeh sab sunane se pehle ek baar sochiye, ki yeh kyun har roz aapki baatein sunti hai. Yeh chahti toh aapko dar dar ki thokren khane ke liye chhod deti par isne aisa nahi kiya aur phir bhi, aapko iss mein buraiyan dikhayi deti hain ? Nikhad, tum ise kos rahi ho. Kabhi socha hai ki agar yeh nahi hoti toh tumhe apni study chhodni parti ?" Shivaay asked Aasma and Nikhad. He thought, may be they will understand but for them Anika was and will be a culprit.

"Aap isski bholi surat ke jhaanse mein aaye honge, hum nahi aayenge. Aur mehaz 1 maheene mein aisa kya kar diya inhone ki inki itni tarafdari kar rahe hain aap ? Rishta kya hai aapka inse jo inke peechhe peechhe yahan tak aa gaye ?" Nikhad spoke with sheer hatred in her voice. Anika knew where it was going so she interrupted.

"Aunty please, aapko jo kehna hai humse kahiye, inhe beech mein mat laayiye. (To Shivaay) Hum haath jodte hain aapke aage, please chale Jaayen." Anika joined her hands infront of Shivaay and he caught her hands immidiately, nodding negatively.

"Inn jaise mardon se ummeed bhi kya ki ja sakti hai, aaj yeh, toh Kal koi dusri larki hogi, Aur phir koi aur. Iss ke jaisi larki se koi rishta nahi jod sakta sirf istemal karke phek sakta hai." Aasma's accusation angered Shivaay and in the heat of the moment he did something that was unexpected for Anika as well as the evil mother and daughter duo.

Shivaay banged his hand on the table that broke into pieces, leaving a deep cut on his hand. Rubbing his bleeding palm on her forhead he marked her his. It was not only a red mark now, it became an indication for those who were accusing his lady and his love for her.

He fished his hand in his pocket and brought out something that shocked Anika. He made her wear her bracelet that she had left with him that day.

"Mangal Sutra nahi hai mere paas, par ise hi mere pyar ki nishani samajh lo." Shivaay spoke softly, making her eyes go wide in shock. She still couldn't believe what he did and then what he said. She so wanted to throw herself in his arms that she was sure were awaiting to embrace her. But she couldn't, she couldn't risk his life as she did with Asad. Had he not married a bad omen like her, he would have been alive.

"Leave !" Anika pushed Shivaay and pointed towards the door.

"I know, you think that you are a bad omen but you are not, Anika. What happened was just an accident. You were not at fault. Thank you. I had a fear in my heart that may be you don't love me but you made it clear that you do. By staying away from me you are trying to protect me but let me tell you, you are mine and I'll not leave you, not after knowing that you love me like I do." Shivaay said and Anika couldn't control herself.

Anika slapped him hard across his face that the corner of his lips started bleeding. She had to stay away from him and she had to be harsh on him no matter how much it hurted her to see him looking at her with hurt filled in eyes.

Shivaay left from there without uttering a word and Anika fell on the floor, crying on her fate. No one cared about her and she kept lying on the floor for hours until she recieved a call from Om. What she heard snatched her breathes away. Shivaay didn't reach home even when it was 3 in the morning.

She ran out of the house crying madly. Nothing mattered to her except his well being. The darkness didn't matter to her, all she wanted was to see him fit and fine. She passed by a park and that's when she noticed a man sitting on the ground.

She ran towards him as fast as she could and threw herself in his arms, making him smile. He didn't need to look at her to see it was her, he could sense his woman's presence.

"Finally you're here." Shivaay exclaimed as if everything was as normal as sun rising in the east. Anika was too busy in checking him if he was fine to notice his remarks.

"Kyun kiya aisa aapne ? Pata hai sab kitne pareshan hain ? Om, Rudra, Dadi, Priyanka aur..." Anika was speaking when he interrupted her, "Aur tum ?" Making her silent.

"Jaaiye yahan se. Please. Haath jodte hain hum aapke aage." Anika joined her hands infront of him and cried.

"Mai iss rishte ko nahi manti. Aap mere dost the, par abb, aap mere kuchh nahi lagte. Samjhe aap ?" Anika shouted at him which hurted him.

"Par kyun ? Mai sirf tumhare saath rehna chahta hun, hamesha. Iss mein kya galat hai ?" Asked Shivaay gripping her hand firmly.

"Kyunki mujhe aadat ho rahi hai aapki. Ek... ek woh tha, mera dost, uski bhi aadat ho gayi thi aur jab voh chala gaya toh akelepan mein dam ghutne laga. Abb mera py... iss baar mujhse nahi hoga. Mujhe mere haal par chhod dein please." Anika said and burried her feelings deep down her heart.

"Aapki zindagi rangon se bhari hai aur meri zindagi sirf ek berang, safed kaagaz. Mere liye apni itni khoobsurat duniya mat ujaadiye." Anika cried helplessly.

"Tumhari zindagi safed kaagaz hai, isiliye toh apni zindagi ke rang iss safed kaagaz par bikher ke ek khoobsurat tasveer banana chahta hun Anika." Shivaay replied, making her silent for a minute.

"Meri zindagi mein kaale baadlon ke alawa aur kuch nahi hai." Anika tried one last time.

"Then let me be the rainbow in those clouds." Shivaay said and Anika closed her eyes at the stubbornness of this man.

Anika came out of his arms and started walking away from him. He ran behind her but she didn't turn to look at him.

"Anika, mai isi raaste par khada rahoonga jab tak tum mujhse nahi kehti ki tum bhi mujhse pyaar karti ho." Shivaay said firmly and she turned to see him standing in the middle of the road. Her eyes widened in shock when a truck was marching towards him with full speed.

"Shivaay, please hat Jaaiye. Please Shivaay apne parivaar ke baare mein sochiye. Voh sab aapse kitna pyar karte hain." Anika cried but he didn't move even an inch.

"Aur mere pyaar ka kya ? Agar jiyunga toh tumhare saath varna..." Shivaay couldn't speak more when Anika pulled him towards herself. They fell on the road with Anika on top of him.

She hugged him tightly and he knew she was scared to lose him the way she lost her friend Asad. He kissed her head to assure her that he was here with her and will always be.

She looked at the corner of his lips where the blood had oozed out during to her slap and now it was dried up. She couldn't stop herself from kissing him and cupped his cheeks. He moaned in pain when her hand touched his cheek where she had slapped.

"Dard ho raha hai ?" Anika asked in a barely audible voice and he nodded. Her eyes became moist with tears and she place a feathery kiss on his cheek as well.

"Yeh toh theek ho jayega, par yahaan par zyada dard hai. Ise theek kar do please." Shivaay pointed at his lips and she stared at him being confused. But soon she understood his intentions and she couldn't stop blushing.

"Thodi der pehle toh socha nahi, aur abb mujhe tadpa rahi ho. Stop blushing, blushika warna pata nahi mai yahan iss road par kya kar baithoonga." Shivaay whispered in her ear and she just hugged him tightly to avoid his smirk.

2 years later

Anika smiled as she looked at the sky and the particular star that as always, was shining brightly. She felt someone hug her from behind and she frowned, jerking her husband’s hands away.

"Jaana please.. I promise that won't happen ever again. Now please come inside. I don't want you and our princess to catch cold." Shivaay apologised to Anika but she didn't move.

"You should have thought about it before speaking about your death. Now I don't want to come with you." Anika spoke and embraced her possessively.

"Anika it was just a joke. I have to live long to love you more and more. So how can I leave you. Now don't be angry and come inside. Otherwise I'll end up doing something naughty as you're looking so tempting with only a blanket wrapped around your body." Shivaay whispered as he pulled her closer making her hold her blanket tightly. She couldn't trust herself as these days her hormones were very wild and this man made her do unimaginable things.

"No. Go away." Anika asked him to leave but hugged him tightly. Shivaay chuckled at his cute wife who was telling him to go and at the same time embracing him.

"Really ? Will you be able to sleep without me hugging you ? Mere ten minute ago you were pulling me closer when I was..." Shivaay was about to speak out the details of their make out but Anika put her palm on his mouth shyly and he smiled widely after being successful in taming his innocent tigress.

Anika felt so peaceful when the fresh air touched her skin as if Asad himself said that she had made the right decision. She felt so peaceful when the love of her life embraced her and her best friend smiled at her as a star shone brightly, as if winking at her.

The End
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Dramatic it was, but hope atleast it was worth reading. Do vote and give your reviews please.

Love you all a lot 💕💕💕