Forgotten But Not Unloved

|| 1. World Upside Down||

Annika was waiting impatiently outside the operation theatre waiting for the doctor to come out. She was pacing outside the door. It had been 4 long hours. Couldn't the doctor come out already. She was clutching her mangalsutra tightly. She again glanced at the bright red light that signalled the occupancy of the operation theatre. She was deep into her thoughts when she suddenly felt a warm hand on her shoulder.

"Shivaay!", she turned back in anticipation that it is her husband but turned out to be her youngest brother-in-law.

"Bhabhi, he will be fine. Don't worry"

"How can I not worry Rudy? Even a scratch on him scares me and here so much blood was there. I am really scared"

Annika said and ran off to the garden. She was controlling herself in front of everyone but now when she was alone she couldn't hold herself up.

She remember the past few tormenting hours. While Shivaay was arguing with her, a truck had come in front of his car and he didn't notice it. He tried to stir the car but the attempt was unsuccessful and in that process was hit by the truck. His car toppled and hit head got hit badly. Based on what Annika listened and her increasing heart palpitations, she took no time in guessing that Shivaay might be in trouble. She ran out of the room shouting for Khanna loudly. He came and she instructed him to find Shivaay's car immediately.

After an hour, Annika received a call that snatched the ground beneath her feet. Khanna informed her about the accident and gave her the hospital address he was taking an injured Shivaay to. Annika and the whole family rushed to the hospital. Shivaay had already been wheeled into the operation theatre. The doctor, Dr. Rajeev Dhillon, told them, "Thank god, he had been wearing a seat belt otherwise he would have died on the spot. Baaki ka we will only be able to say after the operation" The doctor departed but leaving the whole family in a state of unending fear. None of them could even imagine a life without Shivaay. They all were way too dependant on him, more emotionally and mentally.

"Jiji, why are you sitting here? Niku has been crying for you since a lot of time. She has seen the news of bhaiya's accident on the TV and is not ready to believe it. Please talk to her", Gauri, her younger sister said to her and forwarded the phone.

"I can't do that Gauri. How am I going to face her. I was arguing with him while he was driving. I am the cause of the accident. If I only I had waited until he got home", Annika cried.

"Jiji, we don't know anything yet"

"And that same uncertainty is killing me Gauri. It has been hours and we don't have any news on him. He wouldn't have been so distracted if we weren't fighting. I also told him not to come back and God anyway hates me. Aisi baatein kitni jaldi maan lete hai. He caused Shivaay's accident"

Seeing her sister broken as such, Gauri immediately wound her hands around her sister and said, "Jiji, first calm down. We know him right. He is so strong. And aapke and Niku ke liye toh he has to come back. He has promised you that he will always be with you and Niku. You know na, Shivaay Singh Oberoi apna vaada kabhi nahi todte"

"We fought over a very petty thing Gauri. He had to take me and Niku to the beach and he got an urgent meeting. I chided him for choosing his work over us. Even though I knew that he tries every way in avoiding to make us feel that he doesn't prioritize us. And I pulled the wrong strings Gauri. I am at fault. Agar mein unse kabhi maafi nahi maang paayi toh"