Love's Untold Symphony

Part 2

A day earlier.

"SHIVAAY!" The familiar sound jolted him from his reverie, pulling his attention away from his stunning wife who glittered uniquely at the party. Wherever he looked, his eyes invariably found their way to her, as always.

"Hey, Malika!" He called her name after a brief pause, struggling momentarily to recall his friend's name. A smile graced his lips at the irony.

"Anika really has that magical wand on you, Shivaay. Like Rudy says," Malika remarked. Despite his resistance, he had to concede—Anika wielded an enchanting influence over him. Her mere gaze had the power to bring him to his knees, a fact he reluctantly accepted. Recalling the past had lost its sting, replaced by an eager anticipation for their shared future. Shivaay even found himself contemplating how their children might inherit her spirited personality, envisioning a life that resembled a captivating circus.

"Like you don't use your magic wand on your husband?" He replied, a wide smile illuminating his face.

"Oh my god! Never saw you laughing like that. By the way, answering the question, I had to put in much effort to use the magic wand with my husband. Unlike Anika, who just has to turn around and smile at you to get whatever she wants," Malika revealed, leaving Shivaay slightly shocked. He began to wonder if his feelings for his wife were so apparent that even his ex-girlfriend turned best friend could discern them.

"Am I disturbing these ex-lovebirds?" Anika's voice, cheeky as ever, reached his ears from behind. A sudden tension gripped him, though she seemed nonchalant, especially in Mallika's presence. He knew Anika wasn't here out of jealousy but to tease him and test his self-control.

"Why? Feeling jealous?" Mallika countered.

"Obviously," Anika replied, casually intertwining her arm with Sh's and linking their fingers.

"Sorry to break this, Anika. The only one who should feel jealous in this trio is ME," Mallika teased. "Don't know where's my husband," she added, walking ahead.

"You know, Mr. Oberoi!" She began once she left. Shivaay found himself perplexed by her alternating naming conventions. During the day, she willingly called him by his first name, but at night, it was Mr. Oberoi. Not only in regular conversations but also during intimate moments. He never questioned her about it, knowing that if he did, she would counter with questions about his cold demeanor in the morning. How could he explain when he didn't understand the reason behind his behavior? Initially, he adopted it to make her realize the lack of room for romance in their lives, but now, he acknowledged that no matter how hard he tried, he eventually wanted to end the day in her arms. Every morning became a struggle.

"But why the hell were they asking tips from me to woo their husbands?" Anika asked, her tone filled with doubt.

As if you didn't know, he thought, choosing not to say it aloud and risk giving her the upper hand in their ongoing battle of self-control.

"Do I really have to remind you about your profession?" He replied. At times, he wondered if she experimented with ways to woo him, prescribing them to her patients afterward.

"I am not a marriage consultant but help my patients in grief management and provide counseling for addiction," she explained, her tone softening as she spoke about her profession. Shivaay couldn't help but feel proud of her.

"I know, but these people don't, right?" He told her. She chuckled in response, causing his heart to somersault.

"But Mrs. Thakur was very keen. She asked what I love to do with my husband?" She shared. He got curious, although he wasn't usually interested in women's conversations. But everything became interesting when it involved his wife.