• Eternal Night •

38

"So what do you talk about in the therapy?" asked Shivaay.

"I will tell you if you finish that bowl of fruits..." said Annika and furiously typed away on her laptop.

Shivaay threw his head back. "Ugh. I can't. The banana is making me nauseous. Please."

"Nothing doing," Annika glared at him. "Eat it."

Shivaay sighed and pretended to eat whilst he played with the food. "But tell me no. What's it like?"

"Shivaay..." Annika rubbed her forehead. "We talk about stuff. Okay?"

"What stuff?"

Annika let out a tired breath. "Stuff about me."

Shivaay snorted. "But there are a million things about you. So what exactly?"

Seeing that he wasn't willing to give up, Annika relented. "Ugh fine. We talk about my issues. Okay?"

"My statement does not change!" Shivaay grinned. "You have a million issues too. Surprise! So what exactly?"

"Shivaay!" Annika made a face and yelled. "Why are you so stubborn?"

"Why are you so stubborn?" he asked. "Just tell me. I am your hus..."

He stopped abruptly and averted his gaze. He swallowed the lump in his throat and said, "Well...I am just curious. What if I also need therapy?"

Annika swallowed too. This was hard. And the guilt was making it harder for her. Smoothening her hair, she said, "Well. Not surprisingly, I have deep-rooted issues. So we talk about loss and how to deal with it. My insecurities, my fears...just everything that makes me, me."

Shivaay looked at her thoughtfully and nodded. "Is it helping?"

Annika smiled lightly. "I am in front of you and sharing personal things. Do you think that would have happened a few months ago?"

It made Shivaay smile too. "Yeah. So it is helping."

Then he winked at her. "In any case, your secrets are safe with it. I am going to take them to my grave. Or funeral pyre. Whatever is convenient for you guys."

Annika squeezed her eyes shut. Shivaay had always driven her crazy but off late, he had turned worse. She didn't think she had it in her to handle him anymore. She slammed her laptop and walked towards the washroom.

"Are you angry?" he asked.

Seeing red, Annika wipped around and yelled. "No. I am not. I am enjoying all our conversations about death. Feels like Disneyland."

Shivaay giggled. "Yea. Fun! So now you know how you made me feel all these years."

"What?" snapped Annika and took two steps towards the bed. "What the fuck do you mean?"

Shivaay smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. I didn't mean anything. Don't spank me."

Annika threw her hands in the air. "What the hell is wrong with you, Shivaay? Why are you doing this? Why are you saying all this?"

He played with the fruits in the bowl again. "I am bored. Does that count?"

"You think it does?" she half yelled.

"Okay, no..." he giggled like a child and stuck out his lower lip. "Does me being super sick count?"

Annika closed her eyes and took a steadying breath. She was not supposed to get angry with him. She knew it. So swallowing everything she felt at that point, she grudgingly walked towards him and sat down in front of him. She picked up the bowl of fruits and scooped some of them in the spoon. She held it in front of his lips and he made a face.