SOMETHING (BEAUTIFUL) UNFINISHED

Chapter 9: The Truth

"Tell me I'm wrong, Annika"

Annika knows there is a hurricane surrounding them, but her focus is tunneled on Shivaay. Annika sobbed and shook her head, tears streaming down her face. Shivaay stalked forward, backing her up into the wall behind her, her hands going to the wall by her hips. His voice is low and deep, "tell me I am wrong."

"Shivaay, please listen to me," she cried.

She heard Omkara trying to reason with Shivaay from a distance, "Shivaay, man. Let's just calm down." Shivaay didn't move and Annika couldn't breathe.

His palm slammed down on the wall beside her head, Annika flinched as he shouted, "Tell me I'm fucking wrong, Annika!"

Harry tried again to defuse the situation and put his hand on Shivaay's shoulder, attempting to get him to move. "Okay, that's enough. You need to back the hell up," he sounded angry and Annika knew that despite how angry he was at her, he wouldn't like Shivaay's outburst.

Shivaay's eyes don't leave hers as they narrowed, "Get your fucking hand off me before I break it," he growled. His hand slammed down on the wall again, "Damn it, Annika. Tell me I'm wrong, tell me you weren't fucking pregnant." His eyes pleading with her to tell him he's wrong, beneath the anger she sees the profound hurt that she is causing him, that her decisions have caused him, and she knows it's only about to get worse.

An eerie silence falls over the room following a whisper of gasps. A hand laid on Shivaay's shoulder, gently pulling him back as Annika heard Harsh's voice, "Shivaay, backup." His voice was firm but gentle. Shivaay took a small step back and Annika watched as his eyes turned from anger to confusion and back to an unbridled rage.

Shivaay turned quickly and the silence in the room was broken by the sound of Shivaay's fist hitting Harsh's jaw. "You fucking knew!" Within seconds Shivaay was being held back by Sandesh and Tushar, Harsh was an understanding man, but no one would dare fuck with him. Shivaay didn't seem to give a shit, pulling against the two of them. "You fucking knew. It's why you let her go, it's why you helped her go! You fucking knew and you didn't tell me."

Harsh slowly rubbed his jaw, moving it from side to side. His face was hard, and everyone could see he was trying not to lose his temper, he looked at Shivaay and slowly said, "Take a walk, Shivaay. Right now." He gestured with his eyes to Sandesh, who began forcing Shivaay out to the yard.

Just as Annika let out a chocked sob and her knees began to give out, Harry was there is an instant, crouching down with her as she sobbed. He whispered in her ear, "shh, shh its okay, I've got you. It'll be okay." Annika shook as she realized everyone knew, there was no hiding it. She glanced around as everyone just stared at them, looks of hurt and confusion and pain spread across their faces. I should have never come home.

---

Annika walked slowly towards her dad's office, the house was empty, and she knew no one would be home for a while. Her face stained with tears as she knocked, peaking her head in to see if he was available.

He waved her in, barely glancing up once he saw who it was, reading some file on his desk. "What can I do for you, gudiya?"

Annika sob brought Harsh's attention to her, a worried look washed over his face. "Annika, what's wrong?"

"Daddy," Annika sobbed as Harsh came over beside her. "I'm in trouble, I need your help and I don't know what to do." She shook as her rubbed her back.

"Annika, baby. You need to tell me what's wrong. Right now, Annika."

"I need to leave, Daddy. I can't be in this anymore. I need you to help me leave." Harsh was confused at the sudden need to leave, not that Annika was ever fully comfortable with this life, but this kind of emotional outburst didn't make sense.