chapter xlv. A Tensed Weekend

Friday

11:03pm

Hey! Just wanted to know if you're doing okay?

I am sorry, I just really am tensed.

Let me know when Varun leaves?

Saturday

12:07am

You still haven't replied. I am sorry if this is intrusive?

2:39am

Okay Anika, you're worrying me. You aren't even seeing these messages.

Why aren't you picking up the calls?

Maybe you're asleep. Fine. Call me in the morning.

8:00am

I know this isn't exactly the time you'd wake up but look at me, hoping? :P

10:00am

Hey?

1:06pm

Honestly, what the fuck is going on?

ANIKA?

and now you aren't even receiving the messages anymore. What the hell is going on?

I am coming over.

1:59pm

WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU

I am standing outside your house. You aren't opening the door.

This is scary Anika.

I'll call Gauri.

Her phone is busy...

Shivaay sighed, the uneasy feeling engulfing him. He sat on the staircase steps, calling Om.

Thankfully, at least someone still knew how to operate their phone.

"Hey Shivaay!" Om answered.

"Om, is Gauri around?"

"Oh she is at another showing. I am about to head to give a speech. I'll get her to contact you as soon as I can?"

"Okay..." Shivaay answered, still unsure.

"If you don't mind me asking, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just... Anika's phone is switched off, she isn't receiving any messages. I was wondering if everything is okay." Shivaay bit his lip, looking around.

"Oh, Gauri was just talking to Anika a couple minutes ago, before she headed into the gallery. And Gauri sounded happy? I am sure everything is okay." Om answered.

Shivaay furrowed his brows.

"Why can't I reach her then?"

"Oh sorry, Shivaay they're calling my name on stage. I'll get back to you as soon as I can."

The line was dead before Shivaay could even say anything. He got up and dusted off his clothes, utterly confused. Did Anika block him for some reasomn?

---

Turns out, Om's soon wasn't really soon enough.

It was almost 8pm when Gauri finally called Shivaay. Shivaay was at home, the anxiety of Anika not being okay barely subsiding.

"Hi Bhaiya, Omkara Sir said you wanted to talk."

Shivaay rolled his eyes. God they never really stopped the theatrics, did they?

"I was just wondering where Anika is. She isn't receiving any messages or calls. She wasn't at home."

"Oh, Di went to Pune."

"She did what?" Shivaay had a hard time keeping his voice low.

"Yeah, it was Mom's birthday. Our mom's and Varun's mom's birthday fall on the same date. So the two of them surprised everyone."

"Surprised them with a wedding proposal?" Shivaay asked, pretty sure he didn't like that idea.

Gauri laughed. "No. Just a normal birthday surprise. Di called me from Mumma's phone. I thought it was because she wanted to make a point? Maybe she lost hers or something."

"Oh right." Shivaay sighed. "Thank you."

"I can ask her to call you?" Gauri offered. Shivaay did sound very tensed.

"No, no. That's not necessary. I am sure she'll call me when she finds the time to." Shivaay muttered. "Thanks again. Goodnight."

Not even fifteen minutes later, Rudra was in his room. "Bhaiya, how was your date?"

Shivaay frowned in confusion. "What?"

"Your date. Yesterday?" Rudra explained.

"Oh that. It was great. Why do you ask?" Shivaay was distracted, his mind still not at ease.

"Can I ask you something?" Rudra smiled, a little unsure.

"Of course you can." Shivaay answered.

"Why did you go on this date? I mean, when I went to Pune... I really thought you liked Anika Di." Rudra mumbled. The fact that he had played a part in Anika's heartbreak was eating him up.

Shivaay rolled his eyes. "Why can you not think of anything else?"

"Batao na yaar."

"For starters, Anika is seeing someone." Shivaay smiled at Rudra.

"What?" Rudra raised an eyebrow quizzically.

"Rudra. I am taking back my words. You can ask me anything that is not related to Anika." Shivaay deadpanned.

"Then I am not talking to you. Bye."

Before Shivaay could say anything, Rudra was out again. Shivaay frowned. What the hell?

---

Sundays were supposed to be relaxing. It was anything but that for Shivaay. If the last twenty-four something hours were spent worrying about Anika, now began his own rage piling up.

Okay, maybe she might not think of him as the best friend or whatever, he deserved to know if she was okay. Her simply not counting him important enough to let him know, hurt.

He sat at the breakfast table alone when Saumya and Rudra came, bantering about something. His oitch for the general meeting was almost ready.

Saumya smiled a little awkwardly at Shivaay before sititing on the other corner of the table. Shivaay raised an eyebrow to himself.

Rudra sat next to Saumya and kept his iPad on the table, discussing something. Shivaay was surprised to see his brother talk about some topics from business class.

"Wait but why does it not work this way?" Rudra frowned, turning to Shivaay.

Shivaay looked a little confused before Rudra explained his question. Shivaay helped explain it and Rudra grinned.

"See, Sumo. That's how you're supposed to explain."

"I guess only certain people can speak your language, Dumbbell Oberoi." Saumya rolled her eyes.

Shivaay curiously looked at her. Okay, he could understand her wanting to insult Rudra. Why drag Shivaay in between?

"Bhaiya, do you know Sumo interns at Anika Di's event firm." Rudra gave Shivaay a sly smile.

Shivaay rolled his eyes. "I told you something last night."

He then thought for a few seconds.

"Actually, Saumya, have you talked to Anika all weekend?"

Saumya was startled for a second before she composed herself. "I did. She called me just a little while ago. Was asking for tomorrow's event's details."

Shivaay pressed his lips together. So she had time for everyone. "That's great."

Well, okay. If that is what she wanted. Shivaay picked up his phone again and opened Anika's chat window.

You seemingly can talk to everyone except me.

Great.

Let me know when you can go back to talking to me.

---

Shivaay's week was definitely off to a bad start. It was 9:30 am on Monday, he had been at work since 8 and Anika had apparently received all his messages last night, a little after midnight. There had obviously been no reply to any of those messages and Shivaay was sure he'd do something stupid pretty soon.

His phone rang then, Weird Woman flasing on the screen.

He had half a mind to ignore her, just because he was feeling petty. But then again, that seemed counter-productive.

Shivaay sighed, picking up the call.

"Hey Shivaay!" Anika sounded in a hurry. "I am so sorry, I left for Pune the other night and forgot my phone at home. I got back last night but I was so tired, I slept. Now, I saw there were a lot of calls and messages from you. Didn't really get a chance to see all of them but is everything okay?"

Shivaay took a deep breath. "So you were drunk. You left for Pune late at night and you forgot your phone at home."

"Oh come on, I am okay, am I not?" Anika asked, her voice muffled.

"And it did not strike you once to maybe call me and let me know you were okay? Especially when you knew I was tensed about leaving you the other night?"

Anika muttered something under her breath that Shivaay failed to catch.

"I am sorry." Anika softly replied. Shivaay heard a door closing.

"Oh dammit." Anika hissed.

"What happened?" Shivaay was immediate.

"Oh nothing." Anika nonchalantly replied. "I am late for work and the lift isn't working."

"It wasn't working on Saturday either." Shivaay mumbled.

"Wait, you were here on Saturday?"

"Yes I was, because I was tensed. Not like you'd care."

"I am sorry?" Anika sounded a little unsure, probably guilty. Good for her.

"Well, we'll see how you make it up to me. Tab tak, watch me ignore you. Bye."

"Shivaay that is not-"

But Shivaay had already cut the call. At least she was okay. Now he'd deal with her later.

A small smile on his face, Shivaay stared at the files on his table. She was okay and she was talking to him.

---

It was not even twenty minutes later, his phone rang again. It was Anika calling him.

Shivaay rolled his eyes, putting the call on speaker as her read through an email.

"Hi, is this Mr. Shivaay?" a rather older voice asked.

Shivaay furrowed his brows.

"Yes it is."

"Hello Sir, I am calling from Leela Hospital. Uh, do you happen to know Ms. " there was a pause and sounds of some paper rustling, "Anika Trivedi."

Shivaay could feel his stomach drop.

"Anika if this is some sort of joke, it is not funny. I won't talk to you just because you play a stupid prank."

"Uh, Sir. I'd call you from the hospital line but there are too many patients suddenly. She was-" another pause, "in an accident, yes. It would be nice if her family could reach soon."

"I will be there." Shivaay answered, still unsure.

That was certainly not what he had been expecting when he wanted Anika to make it up to him.

---

Update obviously dedicated to Malvika _Mystical_Dimples

Aapki mano kamna-ein puri ho gayi.

The way y'all just forgot about my best boy last update. Kisine aisa nahi socha, Shivaay ka kya haal ho raha hoga😭

I was supposed to update yesterday but Wattpad was being... Well Wattpad.

Sorry to whoever saw the notif for the other chapter and got excited :P

Dumber: Shivaay or Anika?

Ab teen din tak koi update mat mangna. Bye.