• Eternal Night •

8

"Here..." Annika extended a cup of espresso towards Shivaay.

He smiled and gently apologized. "I can't have that now. Orders from the Doctor. Sorry, I forgot to tell you."

Annika stood in front of him cluelessly. Everything that she had known for two years had changed overnight. It was a little unsettling. But she nodded nonetheless. "So what will have now?"

"Oats!"

Both of them turned to look Pinky walk in with a tray. She smiled. "Shivaay will have oats for breakfast now."

Shivaay eyed the bowl of oats topped with almonds and strawberries placed in an S shape and almost laughed out loud. "Wow. Mom. I think you made rangoli on the wrong surface."

Annika chuckled. Pinky spluttered and hit his head lightly. "Shut up and eat this."

"But why have you brought it to my room? I was coming down anyway..." said Shivaay.

"Actually," Pinky shifted awkwardly. "It's better if you eat here. I don't want any more arguments between you and Om and Rudra. I don't want them to upset you."

Shivaay shook his head. "Mom...they don't upset me." 

"Mom's right, Shivaay..." Annika interrupted. "Their behaviour with you yesterday was not in good taste. Let's not engage with them."

Shivaay nodded. He sat down on the couch and began to have the oats. He had no intention of saying it, but found his mouth saying, "I didn't know that not engaging with family was an option."

Annika fell silent. She looked at Pinky and said, "I will get ready for the office."

Pinky nodded and then made wide eyes at Shivaay. Under her breath, she chastised Shivaay, "Don't do this. You know that she didn't mean it."

Shivaay knew that Annika's meaning was different but he was in a weird mood. He was constantly irritated with every little thing. The water in the shower irritated him, the food on his plate, the files on his work desk, the hair on his head, the low hum of the air conditioner; everything was grinding against his veins.

Maybe it was because of the anxiety, the uncertainty. Maybe it was the constant pain in his chest, maybe it was the constant melancholy he was feeling, maybe it was the increased medicines...but he didn't feel like himself.

Taking a deep breath to gather his thoughts, he ignored Pinky and said, "By the way, I forgot to tell you this yesterday. Mallika has come back from the States."

"Oh my god, really?" Pinky sang happily. "What a pleasant surprise! When did you meet her?"

Shivaay smiled. "Yesterday. She came to the office and surprised me. And then we went to our old house. Sat there for a few hours. It was nice."

"Aww!" Pinky cooed. "Call her home. It's been so many years since I last saw her. I also want to meet her."

"Yeah, I will..." nodded Shivaay. Then he looked at Annika and sought her permission. "Annika, if you are free this Sunday, I can invite her over."

Annika paused while arranging her office bag. "Yeah. Sure. Call her."

Both Shivaay and Pinky smiled at her. Shivaay mumbled, "Thanks."

Annika acknowledged it with a small nod. Then she rose up and dashed towards the walk-in closet. Trying hard to ignore the surge of jealousy she felt in her chest, she got busy picking out her clothes for the day. But she couldn't help and think about what Shivaay had said. Had they really gone to the old house? Where was this old house? Shivaay had never told her about it.