Rishte...

Chapter 5

"Everything went blank anika, You're destroyed! And it's the fate" - Those were her last word after drinking the juice given by the large terrific old figure which seems so powerful before her but he didn't touch her, at least not in her consciousness. She still hears his voice in her ears. 

"I don't know why I have so much craze on you. But I am damn sure, You will come on your willingness and surrender yourself to me, And I will devour you on that day! That day wasn't so far away." - He said when he met for the first time, She still felt his palms on her shoulder which made her feel like a disgusting creature on the earth. She felt like died on that spot. But she was alive. 

Even In that sober state, She wanted to protect herself. She grabbed herself upwards and locked the washroom before she could see the image of him reaches her. Tears crossed uncontrollably from her eyes when she realized her helpless state. Her mind started to rewind her whole life, She has no friends because of her dad, Everyone in her life distanced herself. Her mom and Her brother suffered a lot because of her dad in their life. But for them, They gave up on him. Her mom died due to cardiac arrest and her brother went high on depression and attempted suicide in his college campus. From then, Everything started. Sometimes she wonders why her mother took a risk and gave birth for them believing her husband who's good for nothing. And her brother died at a very young age and here, she is sold by her husband fighting for dignity. But every time whenever she feels like dying an unknown hope arouse and gave energy to her overcome everything. And she succeeds too, First, She came out of the mom's death after that her brother. Survived like a warrior, Even now, She's fighting. How long she will fight? She asked herself but only the feel of her warm tears answered her. 

"Please god! I gave up. I don't want to live! Please take me!" - She cried in her thoughts over then she heard a chain of bullet shots. But that didn't stop her from going to an unconscious state. She didn't feel anything But constantly trying to open her jammed eyes. But she couldn't. She felt the weight of her whole body. She finally succeeds and saw herself admitted in the hospital, But the vision was not clear, From the strings connected in her veins to the monitor fixed sidewards to her, Over then she heard a strong male voice. 

"Anika! You're safe! Mathur is dead!" - She heard it finally, The tightened feeling in her heart relaxed. She never believed in magic. But that strong male's voice made her believe in magic. Even she gave up on life, Life and her fate didn't give up on her.

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Shivaay felt relaxed when the doctor told Anika was out of danger. He felt so relaxed and weightless when he saw her before his vision. The doctors treating her in his private hospital, And the death of Mathur considered as a Mafia clash in the middle of the night. Shivaay's name never mentioned anywhere. But now, When he saw scatch marks in her hands and forearms, He was frightened to the hell. Last time, He was helpless but it was not the same situation. He slowly raised her dress upwards but stopped when his courage went on minus. He felt even difficult to breathe. While then, He called the doctor quicker. 

"Doctor, I need a favour from you!" - He asked her as soon as she approached them. 

"Tell me, Mr Oberoi." - She asked him. 

"I've rescued her from a very dangerous place. So I just want to know..." - He couldn't able to take another word. But the doctor understood, She asked him to wait outside until she checks her. It never mattered to shivaay either in the past or in the present, But he wished all the gods not to repeat the history. He literally saw her sufferings every day. And he badly wanted to keep away from all the pain she faced from the past. That's his only aim in his life. But the anika who's lying there didn't know anything about him. And there are high chances to think bad about him. Over then, Doctor arrived outside. 

"Thankfully, Mr Oberoi. She was safe." - The doctor spelt and relieved him. He grouped his hands to her for the first time when none of his vocabularies helped him. 

"It's my job, Mr Oberoi." - The doctor said with a smile holding his palms downwards. Sudden sort of closeness he started to feel with the doctor.

"What's your name, doctor?" - He asked her before she could leave the place. 

"Shivaani Sharma." - She said with a smile, The expression in his face changed when he heard that name. It was not he was hearing that name for the first time but that name does have many connections with him and especially with Anika. He walked inside the ward and took the seat next to her. Out of sudden, Her blood pressure fluctuated and she tried to open her eyes. Shivaay kept his hand in her forehead and asked her to calm down while calling the doctor. But her helpless eyes told him manything which he never wanted to hear in his lifetime. So he decided to console her. 

"Anika, You're safe. Mathur is dead!" - He said looking at her. His palm is still in her forehead. 

"She's fine! She's getting her consciousness back. It's a good sign, Mr Oberoi." - Dr Shivaani told him, He greeted her with a smile and she left leaving both alone. 

"I don't know whether you are going to believe everything. But we met! At last! Again, Milady." - He exclaimed in happiness and from now on, He will be her protector. 

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Year: 1894

Shivaay was all set to leave, Anika told him already that she won't be coming to send him off but write to him regularly and he said he will send an attached letter to Maharaji so that she will take it from him. Maharaji, The head cook was the only person who stood as support for both of them. When anyone couldn't able to help anika clearly knowing her situation, He keeps it a secret that both shivaay and anika meet during night times. And he accompanied shivaay to send him off. But his eyes waited badly for Anika and want to meet her for the last time before he leaves. 

"Okay, Maharaji, Bye." - Shivaay said giving him the tightest hug. While then, He heard a sound of Ankle chain which was approaching fast towards them. Shivaay turned around learning whom it would be with the widest smile in his face. 

"Hey. You. Bye." - Anika reached his palms and breath harder.

"At this situation, Who asked you to run this much faster, Milady." - Shivaay exclaimed in anger holding her palms tighter which she held for support. 

"Even though. I said. I can't. let you. leave this. place. without saying bye." - She said and unknotted her pallu and gave her a golden Durga's idol to him with a smile in her face. 

"She will protect you." - Anika said with a smile. Shivaay smiled at her widely. 

"And please take care! You're carrying a child, Remember." - Shivaay said with a smile. It was a genuine smile, He was happy that finally, she will one true person in her life who will be her support. Even in his imagination, He could see three of them, Together, Happy. He don't know why He could see it as a girl and only Anika's child, not a spark of Thakur he could see it in his imagination.

"I know. He's stronger, He will be alright." - Anika said with a smile. 

"Shut up! It will be a girl. Cute and adorable like you." - He said with a smile. 

"Hope your wish comes true!" - Anika replied to him with a smile of excitement in her face. 

"Also I have another wish. Name her, Shivaani. She will be there by your side like I am. Something is there in that name. Don't forget and if possible, Write regularly." - He said while getting ready to leave. Her eyes welled up hearing to him and his undying care and love for her. How someone can be so selfless?

"Shivaani will be fine. I will never let anything happen to her." - She promised him unknowingly and waved bye to him. Maharaji was there all the time and hearing their conversation. But he couldn't able to sense anything wrong in their conversation. And the way, Shivaay looked back anika, He understood, He's not leaving on purpose.

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