No Thanks!

A sick puppy

Three weeks later...

The wedding event had been successful. Hello magazine even picked the event to be their cover story. Ann couldn't stop beaming seeing the cover of the magazine. She started flipping through the pages, when her eyes caught a snippet in the gossip column. It was another picture of Shivaay and a random woman walking out of the lobby of the Hilton. She sighed and threw the magazine away. It's been three weeks since he disappeared out of her life. He had not messaged, not called, not liked a single post of her event on social media. It was as if he was a ghost. She had broken the news to her parents finally, that she and Shivaay has decided to go their separate ways. Initially they were upset, but then they soon recovered, as Ann introduced Neil to the family.

Neil has been a gentleman. He was kind, patient and supportive. He knew she liked to take things slow, and respected that. She appreciated his companionship more than anything. The void she felt in her heart, she tried to fill it up with work, momma, papa, Saahil, and Neil. But the void was bigger than she expected. She felt sad knowing that she may have lost her Billu forever. But she remained strong. She was determined to move on with Neil. She had been on a fair amount of dates with Neil. He'd drop her to work every morning, yet every time he tried to get closer, she hesitated. She couldn't let him kiss her. He just didn't make her feel the way Shivaay did yet. Safe...

Neil had to go back to Italy for a spring wedding, and he was coming back in a week. He kept sending her cute pictures, from romantic locations by lake Como, and hinting at a destination wedding. What say we get married here one day? Instead of being happy, she felt a sharp pain every time he said this. She should be happy right? This is what she wanted? A relationship that will end up in a marriage.

BRRRRING....Ann's phone rang, and it was from the Oberoi mansion. Her heart raced for no reason. What if it's him? What if it's him? Is it him? She took a deep breath and answered. It was Pinky who was sounding rather upset and helpless.

"Pari...beta...I am so sorry to trouble you...but...I didn't know who else to call.."

"It's okay Pinky Aunty...how can I help tell me...you sound very upset...is everything okay? Is...Is Shivaay okay?" She sensed an uneasiness.

" It's actually because of him...I...I can't get hold of him, for two weeks or so now...He's...He's not been home...Shakti ji is so mad at him...He's not been to work either...He came back from Goa...He said you two decided not to go ahead with the proposal...and then he just..." She started sobbing.

"Aunty...don't worry..I think I know where he will be...I'll check up on him on my way to work..."

"Oh thank you beta...he..he had a doctors appointment a week ago...I...I hope he's eating right..."

"A doctors appointment?"

"Ah yes...a routine check...I hope he went for it...Please tell him to call me? And come home? We are all very worried for him!"

"I'll tel him aunty, don't worry...he's probably just busy with some work..." She reassured a distraught Pinky.

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Ann took a deep breath as she made her way to the elevator and pressed the top most floor to the pent house. This is probably a bad idea...But what if he's in some trouble...Besides...You promised his mother...She knocked on the door. There was no answer. Maybe he wasn't here. She dialled his number and she could hear his phone ringing inside. "Shivaay...Shivaay...It's Ann...Open up!" she knocked again. She dug in to her purse, and thankfully at the bottom of it she found the key card, he gave to her the first time she came here. She hoped it would work, and thankfully it did.