• Eternal Night •

22

Shivaay pulled up the blanket up to his chin. He had been discharged but he could care less. Suddenly, nothing mattered at all. He didn't care what happened to his business or anything else. If death came now, he would happily go.

He felt someone sit on the bed. Then someone rubbed his arm through the blanket.

"I can't find my baby. Where is he?"

Shivaay's throat constricted and he choked on a sob. When he was a toddler, he would hide under his blanket and Pinky would pretend to search for him. She would say the same exact words and then he would jump out. He tried to hold his emotions in, but couldn't. His shoulders shook as he silently wept.

He felt Pinky's hand around his chest and her face near his shoulders. She kissed the back of his head and whispered, "Oh, Shivaay...I love you so much. You are my entire world."

He turned around and threw his arms around her like a child. She held him as he wept for everything; his bad health, the realization that he was going to go away from everyone and above all, his broken marriage.

Pinky knew that he was overwhelmed. She held him until he hadn't spent himself completely. She ran a hand on his back. "It's okay. It's not the end of the world."

Sniffling, he looked at her. "It feels like."

Pinky cleaned his face and shook her head. "You still have us."

It brought out more tears from Shivaay's eyes. His lips trembled as he asked, "Where did I go wrong? I really tried hard with Annika, Mom. Trust me..."

"I know!" she sighed. "And we will never know what went wrong. But it's fine. One does not need to have answers to all the questions."

"For this one, I need answers!" Shivaay said adamantly.

"That," Pinky shrugged sadly. "Only Annika can tell you. But Shivaay, time is immaterial. Don't let that be the yardstick of anything. Kabhi kabhi puri umar nikal jaati hai and yet you don't get that person."

Shivaay's eyes drooped. "Meri toh nikal hi gayi."

It made Pinky cry. She kissed his swollen eye and murmured, "I love you so much."

"Me too," he replied. "I love too much. Always remember that."

"I will," she exhaled loudly and bobbed her head. She then wiped his tears with her palm. "Okay now bas. Stop crying. You are my baby but you cannot keep crying like a baby no?"

A small smile formed on Shivaay's face and Pinky asked, "Dekh aankh suj gayi. Achcha thodi lagta hai."

He held her hand and beseeched, "Stay with me tonight. Please."

"Yes..." nodded Pinky and lied down beside him.

**********************

"God!" Annika groaned on seeing Mallika. She caught a glimpse of Shivaay on the bed but seeing Mallika there put her off.

Mallika looked up from the book that she was reading. She smiled. "Hey."

Shaking her head a little, Annika turned around, ready to walk out of Shivaay's bedroom. Mallika caught hold of her hand. "Stop."

She pushed Annika out of the room and closed the door behind her. Then in a quiet but raging voice, asked, "What is your problem? Why are you so rude to me?"

Annika snatched her hand back. "Because I don't like you. And why are you always around Shivaay?"

Mallika crossed her arms and stared at her steadily. "Because you are never."