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A few years ago,

He was furious after feeling someone's constant gaze on him and quickly reacted with the same rage.

S- yes, it's my dad,my dad took his own life and he's dead. It's my dad for whom the whole campus spoke fake RIP prayers last week , enough or still curious about something else!

Shivaay shouted showing how annoyed he felt, literally everyone in the university have been passing these deep weird stares at him. As if they really cared. She who didn't expect him to jolt out like that suddenly, took a step back in hurry and watched him straight .

A- my boobs are uneven.

He froze for a second cause he definitely didn't expect this coming, before he even realized his eyes travelled down her neck but soon he zoned back in and frowned at her. What's she even saying! Annika rose her brows and smiled.

A- did you just check it out?

She asked pointing her chest and he had no face to show only.

A- it's ok, I lied. It's natural to react like that when something different , weird,  happy, sad , happens to someone. That could be irritating to the said someone but it doesn't affect so why bother? I heard you are the best computer head in this university and you do some secret services for cash, I need your help.

She almost whispered the last few sentences and shivaay responded after listening to her calmly.

S- department?

A- chemical engineering.

S- how many subjects you think you'd fail?

He looked up at her when she didn't answer while she just passed her ID card which had the register number on it. The screen took a second to load after when he entered her details. Pass with distinction in all the subjects, he was bewildered actually.

S- you could get a gold medal with these scores.

A- uhh... can you like make me fail in all.

S- why?

Came his calm yet curious voice.

A- I recently found out that people at home have been preparing me for marriage all these days . The group I chose in school, this department in college everything was pre decided by someone abroad who wants a bride graduated in chemistry so she could help in their pharmaceutical business or whatever. This plan has been going on since forever, if I had known before I'd have screwed these exams myself but now I need your help. I'm not sure how much you demand for this...

Saying this she started fidgeting inside her purse and he took a complete minute to just stand there and watch quietly.

S- I can't do it here using college wifi. Would you come to my hostel?

A- I'm a girl.

She spoke innocently like he wouldn't know if she didn't say it.

S- I can sneak you in.

A- ok.

They settled in his room, he used his masked wifi and worked upon the database . Annika sat beside and stared at the screen bluntly, she understood nothing. Well, it wasn't an easy task, that she understood. She looked around and found a small photo frame kept near the bed, it carried a picture of him with his parents. She kept looking at it until he spoke.

S- you could've talked to your parents instead.

A- I live with my step dad, he won't understand. And my mom thinks it's good for me because , I don't know, maybe the abroad guy is wealthy.

Shivaay just passed a nod being engaged with the code on the screen.

A- why did he die?

He noticed her looking at the picture then.

S- he had big dreams. Dreams of becoming someone powerful in politics, but people of his own party betrayed him.

A- big dreams?

She asked while nodding in surprise and he replied immediately.

S- yeah big dreams, you can't graduate if you wash out like this. What are you planning to do?

A- haven't thought of it yet. I guess I don't have big dreams.

She answered  making a chuckle.

S- well you want to be something, don't you?

A- I'll tell you what I don't want to be, a puppet. I'd rather be anything else .

S- it's tough to find a job without degree.

A- I'll figure it out.

He paused working for a moment and looked at her.

S- you're sure?

A- I'm not a genius but I guess I got some knowledge. Maybe I can teach in some small random school ,I don't know.

He clicked enter and the results were changed.

S- done .

A- thanks, how much is it again?

S- 12k

A- I thought it was ten.

S- till last week it was.

A- oh ok.

She gave him some cash .

A- I don't have the remaining, please take this watch instead. I bought it for 2k .

S- no it's fine, you can pay the balance after you start teaching maybe.

Annika smiled immediately.

A- sure, by the way I'm

S- Annika

He spoke before she completed and then passed her ID card back.

A- and you are shivaay.

He gripped her hand as soon as she approached to shake hands.

Present

It was almost evening when he came downstairs from his study room just to find the bedroom empty . He asked the maid then.

S- where's Mrithula?

' Annika mam has taken her to the nearby park I think '

A- meeti , don't touch the sand again.

She sat back after washing her daughter's hand for the nth time now. Little girl seems to love playing with sand . She then climbed the small sliding board there, helped herself down through it, she liked it actually. That was clear from the cute laugh she passed her mom after landing down. Annika just quietly adored her child .

Soon she noticed his car which was parked at a quiet distance from there, but he was nowhere to be seen. She looked for him here and there until he came and sat beside her .

S- I thought you were sleeping.

A- Meeti wanted to play

She crushed her eyes for a moment watching his changing reactions.

A- Mrithula won't sleep at night then.

S- I heard there was some commotion near your school.

A - that's cause of the candidate announcement. You had a hand ?

S- well I broke an engagement, I did do something I guess.

A- why?

S- I had no big part, the boy was already playing with her, I just brought his truth upfront.

He quickly ran to pick Mrithula who was again playing with sand.

A- this girl never listens!

She kept muttering something and fetched water to wash her hands. Mrithula sat back leaning on his chest as she was now seated on her daddy's lap. He took his kerchief and started wiping her palms after Annika cleaned them.

A- was it necessary?

S- of course it was. Annika I should be the one to have the final call in everything. How could they decide about the candidate without telling me?

He grew angry suddenly, Mrithula was now seriously engaged in fetching his phone from the pocket.

She knew what this all meant for him. Power, power which betrayed his father and got him killed. He was insanely obsessed with having people under his control. He was earning well and good in his software business itself, still, he put extra care in this secret thing he's been doing.

He invests a lot of money in politics  to get what he wants. It's not always about the campaigns and stuffs in a party. Literal groundwork and everyday research is what that keeps it alive. Politicians know a little of this, so they keep experts along, shivaay was using this opportunity to have them dance on his words. At some point of life he realized how crucial money could be and he started working hard, knowing no day no night to earn and to earn more.

But it's not something stable, this field . Anything could happen and it could turn out dangerous for him too. People at home always keep telling him this but he hardly listens.

Annika snatched the phone from her hand for Meeti went all grumpy and cried immediately.

A- no!

S- ok,  it's ok come here.

He carried her and went to the sliding board . Annika sat back and watched them both quietly. He would place her on the top so that she slides down and pick her up halfway before she reaches the mud. Exactly this happened ,Annika smirked appreciating her smart mind for being right.

Some time passed like this, she stood up and went to them.

A- I think we should go back, I have some paper correction to do.

S- hmm? Ok

She was coming down and he caught her right on time.

S- I have a meeting, you should go.

A- ok, dont be late.

Annika approached Meeti who didn't seem to leave her daddy today, she coiled her arms tight around his neck and stayed that way only.

A- since morning I've been running around you, and he just came to you.

S- that's the reason maybe, I just came to her . I'll be back soon, ok ? Now be a good girl go with mom .

He kissed her head and slowly tried removing her clutch onto him. Mrithula cried at once when he succeeded .

S- I'm so sorry, I'll come to you soon.

Annika kept joggling her continuously while shivaay pleaded giving flying kisses continuously.

M- da.. da

A- people would think I have come to kidnap you, stop crying baby. Shivaay you leave, only then she'll stop .

S- but she's crying.

A- I know I'll take care, go.

He nodded and left from there . Annika immediately tried to divert her.

A- wow, the black birdie is hear again to say hello to Meeti!

The baby looked back at once when she heard the word birdie, it's the name of her black friend who comes to their tearrce to visit her everyday. The crow stood on the sliding board and cawed continuously.

A- I think he's asking whether you ate, did you eat mum mum today?

Mrithula immediately passed a nod.

M- mum... mum

Annika chukled as she asked the same back to the crow.

A- yeah seems like birdie did eat mum mum, seeing it's energy.

She went to the kitchen after completing her work, pinky was found cooking while Rudra was playing with Meeti who sat on the counter top. Pinky saw her there and sighed in disappointment.

P- you came?

A- I'd have cooked, why

P- when? next morning? See the time Annika. I don't know why you are so irresponsible.

R- choti maa, stop being one of those dangerous MiL's from TV soaps.

P- what?

Annika quickly signalled Rudra to keep quiet.

A- uhh, I think I can wash those vessels then.

She stood by the sink and carried on with  job after tying her hair up with a clutch.

The ministers, advisors, investors, literally everyone were a part of the meeting today. Shivaay clearly felt things falling apart when he noticed how some were completely inclined towards Mr. Singhania's side. Like the party, it looked like it would soon break which is a very bad thing to happen. Because all those candidates are crucially important to hold this rule if not it would become very difficult to bring trust in people for the candidates under his radar. That means his plan would fail. He would loose, it was his biggest fear. Loosing control, loosing power.

He came back home with all this running in his mind, to worry and provoke him with tension. He was scared, worried, tensed, enraged, frustrated, everything all at once. This cannot happen, he can't loose, shivaay walked to his room , on finding it empty , he went to the kitchen then.

She blew over the heat burn on her hand before washing the cup again.

A- you mean international school? I thought I could take a look at her if she's around me in my school.

P- no way my child would study in that dummy shcool of yours. She's an Oberoi.

A- well, later on its fine but it's gonna be just A B C D for now wherever she goes, how much ever big school it is.

P- what do you wanna prove Annika? Ok let's wait for shivaay then, you came!

Annika looked at him once when he entered the kitchen and continued her work casually while he came straight to her. She was stunned for a second when he suddenly came by and stood hugging her from beside. Pinky took the food and went to the dining hall to arrange them,Rudra carried Meeti to the yard.

Since she was facing the sink, he had gripped her from sideways, like ran his arms around her hip and stood like some statue. She didn't know what to do only, her hands were dripping and she herself was covered with sweat totally, she didn't want to spoil his shirt.

She remained without touching him, and when she turned slightly he pulled her completely to his side and hugged tight, pressing his face on her shoulder arc. As she was wearing a saree, that was a bare spot , she could feel his skin there . Annika held  his shirt making least point of contact but had them all crushed within her fist when he changed position suddenly to settle his face on the other shoulder. He kept his hand pressed to the back her head, on the clutched hair while the other had her gripped around him.

They didn't speak anything, he stayed like that for sometime now. She slightly moved to close the running faucet only then he let go of her. Annika read his face which spoke much worries . She then noticed the stains on his shirt that her hands had made . His fingers which worked on her left cheek brought her back, she watched him silently as his thumb drew soft patterns over that spot. His eyes focused on nothing but her.

And then he suddenly left. While Annika watched his retreating figure cluelessly, Pinky came back there.

P- what happened? He seems tensed.

A- don't know.

P- he can't go on like this, that field is dangerous. I've seen what it does to people, I've seen it from close. Please stop him, only you can do that. Please!

Annika frowned in fear as pinky expressed this with tear brimmed up in her eyes.

To be continued...

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