Becoming Sweethearts [✓]

Part Fifty

"Becoming Sweethearts" half-century done 😁✨  Thank you guys for your constant love and support in form of votes, comments, messages. You da best ❤️

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Shivaay softly knocked on the door and waited till Annika answered. "How is she?" he asked softly, glancing at the doctor who was examining her. Annika stepped closer to him and nodded, "Doctor is having a look. Gauri's blood pressure levels went low, that's why she fainted." Pausing for a while, she asked, "How is Janhvi Aunty?" Shivaay nodded without saying anything, pressing his fingers on her eyes, "Rudy is with her."

Annika gently closed the door behind her, and coming out of the room, she asked him in a low voice almost trembling, "Shivaay, is it true that Om..." she couldn't bring herself to complete her sentence. "No Annika!" Shivaay said in a firm voice, "Nothing can happen to Om. I have a gut feeling. Wherever he is, he's fine." Annika nodded, but with a frown, she asked, "Toh woh boarding pass ka jo scan hua tha, uska kya?" Shivaay exhaled wearily, "I don't know. I was told that his boarding pass has been scanned, and he had boarded the flight too. But main yeh kaise maanloon ke mera bhai uss plane crash mein..." Shivaay stopped, looking away. Annika patted his arm in consolation as if silently letting him know that everything will be alright.

"Annika," he called out to her in hesitation before she went back into the room, and she looked at him in question. "I'm sorry," he said, with his gaze cast to the floor. Annika was tempted to tell him that it was okay, knowing what he was talking about. But it wasn't; it wasn't okay at all for Pinky Oberoi to say those words. However, she didn't want to hurt Shivaay either. Instead, she asked him, "Pinky Mom, how is she?" Shivaay looked at her, appalled. "After she said so much, you still..."

Annika gave him a humorless chuckle, "Shivaay, after being married to each other for this long, you still ask me such a question?" She continued in a slightly disappointed tone, "You ought to know me better, Shivaay. I am not someone who would keep a grudge. Haan, bura laga jab unhone aise baat ki; in fact bahut bura laga. But that doesn't mean I would stop caring for or respecting her. Main unhe Pinky Mom bulati. Maa ka darja deti hoon. I do love her like I would have loved my own mother."

Pausing for a moment, she was tempted to comfort him when she saw the guilt on his face. However, she continued in a firm tone, "But yes, having said that, I have decided not to stay silent henceforth, Shivaay. Agar mujhe koi bewajah kuch sunayega, toh main ab chup chaap nahi baitungi. Tumhari biwi - Mrs. Annika Shivaay Singh Oberoi - banne se pehle main khidkitod Annika thi. Shaadi ke baad, aisa lagta hai ke maine khud ko bheed mein kahin kho diya hai. Lekin ab nahi, Shivaay. Annika khud ke liye khadi bhi ho sakti hai, lad bhi sakti hai; aur waqt aane par, apno ke liye, apnon se bhi lad sakti hai. Gauri is like a younger sister to me. So, I will not tolerate anyone speaking anything against her, phir who chahe Pinky Mom hi kyun na ho!"

Shivaay stared at her for a whole minute and nodded. "Mom ko tumse aur Gauri se maafi maangni padegi..." Annika shook her head in a no. "There's no need for that, Shivaay. Unke maafi maangne se agar kuch achche ke liye badlega, phir theek hai. Lekin, agar maafi maangne se kadwaahat aur zyada badhegi, toh aisi maafi rehne hi dijiye." Shivaay didn't know how to respond to that. He nodded silently, not wanted to blow anything out of proportion right now. His priority was to find Omkara, by hook or by crook. Something told him that Omkara had to be alright; he could sense it in his heart and spirit. The triunity of the Oberoi brothers was still intact, and he knew it was only a matter of time. If only, time would fly sooner...

The doctor exited the room, informing them that Gauri needed rest. "I've given her an injection. She should sleep through the night. She might drift in and out of sleep, nothing to worry. If the fever increases, give her paracetamol at night; just one tablet though. Should anything concern you about her health, please give me a call; I'll stop by tomorrow morning before going to the hospital." Shivaay thanked the doctor, and saw him to the door, while Annika went back in to sit next to Gauri.