Finding Forever, Together ~

Chapter 8

Annika was currently sitting in her cabin, getting the final preparations done for the meeting. Although the truth was that she will never be prepared for the real thing. She might have all the files, documents and presentations ready but is she ready to do it all?

She will never know.

Still lost in the thoughts of what she knew was going to be a showdown in the meeting room, she was going through a file when there was a knock on the door.

When the door opened, she saw her assistant standing there, who signalled her that it was time for her to attend the meeting.

Annika sighed, and closed her eyes. She was going to face Shivaay for the first time in almost one year. And that too, today, when it has been one year since their engagement, which was later broken.

By her.

She opened her eyes again, and looked at the tattoo of Shivaay's name on her ring finger, that no one knew existed. The day she was forced to let go of the precious ring that he had given her, she decided to do this. Right now, it was the only symbol she had of him.

Of the love of her life that she was forced to sacrifice.

Shaking her head, she moved out of her cabin and into the meeting room. She should focus on the meeting and nothing else. It was extremely important for their business, which is why they still had professional ties intact with the Oberoi's despite everything that had happened.

Entering the meeting room, she saw everyone, including her very special guest of honour, Shivaay Singh Oberoi, waiting to start the meeting.

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To say that Shivaay was shocked would be an understatement. Obviously he wasn't shocked because Annika had actually shown up - he knew she didn't have a choice - but what shocked him was how disappointed she looked with herself and her life. 

That day when she had broken everything including his heart and just left without a valid reason, he had thought that whatever she was doing was for her own happiness. He had even satisfied himself by making his heart believe that whatever happened was for the good, that atleast Annika was happy now, and that was all he needed. 

His heart ached to see her like this, and he had a very strong urge to just go and take her into his embrace, understand her problem, and tell her that everything will be alright. 

But, he sighed, he had lost the right. He had lost any and every right he had of comforting her. At present, they just shared a formal relationship, that of business partners. 

One thing he knew for sure was that the woman in front of him was not his Annika. He didn't know where she was, or what had happened to her. He could only see that the Annika he knew, who had a spark in her eyes and a beautiful, eye-catching smile, was lost. 

Now physically he was in the meeting, but mentally he was still lost in the thoughts of what was going on in her personal life. It was not his place anymore, but he needed to know. He could ask practically anyone from the family, because he was still in touch with everyone except her, but he has always decided against it. 

Today when he finally saw her, he could see that something was missing. And that did not sit right with him. Was she not happy with their separation, or was it something else? 

Still lost in his thoughts of her, he didn't realise when the meeting ended. It was then time for the formal handshakes. 

And Shivaay stood and stared, as Annika bid everyone goodbye, one-by-one with handshakes, until only the two of them were left in the room. 

Shivaay looked into her eyes. He didn't pay attention to anything else at all, just trying to find his Annika in those eyes, yet failing. It upset him. 

He finally came back to reality when Annika forwarded her hand, for a very "formal" handshake before finally getting done with this. Shivaay noticed that she didn't look at him even once. Either she did not want to because she had clearly moved on, or she had no courage to do it - he could not guess. 

Nevertheless, he joined his hand with hers. It felt terrible. Their hands looked good with their fingers entwined inseparably. This was different. And it hurt. 

Not to mention, he still felt the electrifying spark he always did. Even when they were actually in a relationship, her touch did things to his insides. It felt so right, and he didn't want to get out of it. 

Until she actually pulled her hand back, and turning around, left the room. Leaving him alone.

He sighed. He very desperately wanted to know what was going on. 

Following his heart's instinct, he decided to follow Annika to her cabin. 

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Annika slumped down on the couch in her cabin, with tears in her eyes. 

Shivaay. She got to see his angelic, handsome face after one whole year. And it wasn't the best experience. Just looking at that face made her realise that the man had lost himself. 

His ever-expressive eyes were completely empty. She had always loved them for how special they were, how every emotion he felt could be seen through his eyes. 

But when she saw him today, that was lost somewhere. And if the way he looked so pale and sleep deprived was an indication, she could clearly guess that the past one year had been like a trip to hell for him. 

And what hurt her even more that the reason was her. He was going through so much that he didn't deserve because of her. 

Standing up while still crying, she went to one of the cupboards in the room and took out a bottle of vodka, what had been her solace for the past one year. Looking at this bottle always made her chuckle because she has always been the first person to tell people not to drink. 

Yet, here she was. 

Sitting down on her chair now, she looked at the photo frame with a picture of her and Shivaay from their engagement, that stood on the table, before taking a sip. 

"I'm sorry, Shivaay," she started, "kitni badi galti kar di maine." 

"Mujhe...mujhe kabhi realise hi nahi hua ki iss sabse aapka dil kitni buri tarah toot jayega," she said, looking at his face in the picture and taking a sip again before she realised the bottle wasn't in her hands anymore. 

She looked sideways to see Gauri standing there. 

"Gauri..." she said slowly, and standing up, wiped her tears. 

"di, aap yeh kya kar rahi thi? Hua kya hai aapko?" She asked her, concerned. 

Looking at her for a while, Annika took her into a hug, and started crying again. 

"Shivaay..." she said, "aaj itne time baad Shivaay ko dekhke mujhe bahut bura lag raha hai, Gauri. Mujhe yeh toh pehle se pata tha ki mai aisa karke bahut badi galti kar rahi hoon par mujhe aaj pehli baar realise hua hai ki maine Shivaay ka dil bahut buri tarah toda hai," she broke the hug, and continued, "unki kya galti thi, Gauri? Unhe toh aaj tak nahi pata ki maine woh sab kyu kiya!" 

"Tumhe pata hai," she wiped her tears, "mere Shivaay toh kahin kho gaye hain. Jiss insaan ko maine aaj dekha, woh toh koi aur hi tha!" She cried again, "maine unhe todh diya. Todh diya maine unhe!" 

Shivaay looked on, from behind the extended wall of her cabin. He was devastated, to say the least. He now knew that Annika was equally upset at their relationship being broken, which clearly meant that she did it against her will. 

But, the question remained, what was the reason? 

And more importantly, what did that wedding invitation mean? 

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