Dear Sweetheart!

Yaadein - Shivaay

Annika is ethereal.

If the twenty year old woman had me enamoured, the thirty-two year old woman has me bewitched to infinity.

"Toh aap kaise hain?" She asks softly, fiddling with her dupatta.

[translation: so how are you?]

"Good." We are sitting by the ghat, Annika is admiring some of the lotuses in the huge weaved basket in front of us.

"Tum kaisi ho?" I question, taking in the sight of her chubby red cheeks and faint smile. She looks amazing.

[translation: how are you?]

"Good." She answers.

"Your grandparents, are they taking care of you?" I question.

The Krishnamurthys remind Annika of her mother's pain, there is no doubt. Laila Maa (yes, I call her by that name) left her husband with her baby after she caught him cheating on her.

When Khanna and his bodyguard told me that they contacted Annika after a year I left, I could not help but want to rush back to her.

I do not know how she did it, but my kind and brave girl welcomed her grandparents, the stark reminder of her abandoning and cheating father, into her life.

"They are lovely." She smiles at the mention of them.

"How are you?" She points to my family members. "They are nothing like you told me about."

Annika's prideful gaze makes my heart swell. Whenever I mentioned anything about my family to her, it was laced with regret, sadness, and a sheer need to make things right.

"You really did it, Shivaay." She remarks, sounding proud.

"I did." I did fulfill my promise to my grandmother.

And now it is time for me to live my life the way I want to.

When Rudra and Om told me that I should fight for Annika with her beside me, that this sacrifice was not worth it, I could not help but reminisce how horrible these seven years were without her.

I will be honest about one thing. I do love my brothers and my family, but I drifted apart since secondary school hit. The stress of school, on top of taking care of my brothers, and being the model son and grandson my parents and grandmother needed broke something within me.

I could not willingly be a part of the many celebrations and events my family hosted after we restored the glory and fame of the Oberoi name. I felt like an outsider; I felt like a toy.

Although I would never admit this out loud, I am still hurt. Hurt by the fact that my brothers turned their heads as soon as I moved and misunderstood my actions as abandonment. Hurt that they welcomed me back when I came back.

The love they have for me might be genuine but the way they showed it felt conditional. Abandoned me when I did not have anything to offer. But sought me out with open arms as soon as I returned because I had a lot to offer.

It is hard to explain my bond with Om and Rudra. I love them like the rest of my family, actually more, but something hurts within me, even today.

But they were right about one thing, I need to stop wasting more years and be there for this woman I love with all of my heart.

Annika breaks the silence, "Are you taking care of yourself?"

"I am." I see a glint of worry in her eyes and want to soothe it.

"Are you?" I question.

"I am." She looks at my doubtful face and says. "Trust me."

"Your track record is horrible when it comes to taking care of yourself, so do not blame me for doubting you." I quip.