The man next door

Secret is out

The disgust on Mr. Hansda's face told it out loud that he had heard them. He walked slowly towards the duo and chuckled at Anika, "We pitied you thinking that your husband had left you. We embraced you with so much love and you turned out to be a slut."

Shivaay's anger had crossed the limit and he could take it no more. But Mr. Hansda could speak more, he had grabbed his collar, choking him with the pull.

"Shivaay leave him. Whats wrong with you Shivaay?", Anika begged from the side.

"He dared to call you a slut. How dare he? I will break his face", Shivaay's punch was blocked by Anika.

 Realising he had hit Anika, Shivaay immediately let go. An enraged Hansda said before leaving, "Characterless people like you do not deserve a position in the society."

"Now do you get it why I did not go to you?", Anika shouted in tears. Anika wasn't wrong- Shivaay realised it. Her fear about getting backlash was indeed terrifying but what worried him more now was- how would she manage here?

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Anika sat in the corner of her room, hugging her diary. She does not feel like to cry anymore, it would be of no use. Her hardwork to get everyone's love for so many years were all in vain now. She remembered how the people were looking at her and gossiping when she walked down the street, Mrs. Hansda did not even open the door for her, her neighbour moved away her face when Anika greeted her and how her boss insulted her. His words repeated in her ears continuously, "All of us gave so much love to an outsider, considered you as a part of our society. But you turned out to be like this. I still can't believe that you are such a low woman. You are nothing but a disgrace to us. God knows how much you have affected the children's purity while staying here. Get out."

It will never be the same again. She had to leave this place soon.

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The news of Shivaay's and Anika's affair had reached the air of the teachers of Mussorie too. While some of them did not care, the others were shocked. Shivaay was lucky that none of those who were close to him saw their relationship in wrong light. 

Mrs. Gomes sat beside Shivaay in the tea party, "I didn't expect your ladylove to be so pretty."

Shivaay could not help smiling at her compliment. His Anika was indeed the prettiest.

"She is prettier inside. We are complicated, I know that. But anybody who knows her can not stop falling for her", he replied.

"You look better now. For all these years, I was fed up seeing that distressed face", she stated after noticing his face.

"Her worries weren't wrong. In Musoorie, no one is judgemental. But I saw today how others are treating her. I am the cause of her problems once again. She is afraid to come with me but I can't leave her alone too", Shivaay sighed.