A Bargain Made with Frosting

Ch. 37. Seeds of Doubt and Seeds of Hope

Shivay was preoccupied with yesterday's events at his office. He recalled that the last thing Annika remembered was talking to Rohit and Natasha. His gut feeling told him they might be behind Annika's inebriated state.

Rohit panicked upon learning Shivay had summoned him. He feared Shivay might have discovered their plan. The previous day, while searching for Annika with Natasha, they had stumbled upon her with Shivay. Realizing their plan's failure, they cursed their luck and decided to wait for another opportunity to drive a wedge between Shivay and Annika. Now, Shivay calling him could worsen things.

Feigning composure, Rohit entered Shivay's cabin after knocking.

"Why did you get Annika drunk yesterday?" Shivay directly questioned him, noticing Rohit.

Startled, Rohit lied, "What are you talking about, Shivay? I didn't make her drink anything."

"Don't lie, Rohit. Annika remembers talking to you and Natasha before she got intoxicated," Shivay countered.

Rohit fabricated a story, "Yes, we were talking to her, but she was having juice. Maybe it was an alcoholic drink, and she wasn't aware. She told us she was looking for you and left."

"What were you discussing?" Shivay inquired.

Rohit, feigning sympathy, replied, "We were advising her to leave you. Shivay, we all know you married her to become the head of Oberoi Industries. You don't love her and never will, because of what happened in the past. So, we were urging her to get out of this loveless marriage."

Shivay was stunned by his revelation.

Rohit continued his charade, "Look, Shivay, I care about Oberoi Industries and don't want it to suffer because of your heartbreak."

Bewildered, Shivay asked, "Why would I have heartbreak?"

Rohit responded, "Because Annika will abandon you just like Natasha did in the past. You see, all women have expectations from their husbands and boyfriends, and if those expectations aren't met, they seek solace elsewhere. In the past, you couldn't meet Natasha's expectations, so she cheated on you. With Annika, you have no feelings, so she too will crave love, attention, and security, which she'll eventually find in another man. And ultimately, she'll leave you. So, to prevent this scenario, we were persuading her to leave you."

Shivay was now seething with rage. Who were they to decide about his relationship with Annika? Shivay glared at Rohit, "Remember this, we are not separating. She is my wife, and she'll stay that way forever. This is your last warning: you and Natasha stay away from her and stop meddling in our affairs. Now get out and get back to work."

Rohit slunk out of Shivay's cabin, his carefully constructed facade crumbling. Shivay's unwavering conviction about his relationship with Annika had shaken him. Despite the anger simmering beneath the surface, a sliver of doubt lingered in Shivay's mind, planted by Rohit's venomous words.

Shivay's mind replayed Rohit's accusations. Was Annika truly content? Did she crave something he wasn't offering? An image of her kiss and playful baby talk from yesterday surfaced. It was evident she had expectations. But was he prepared to meet them? Love remained a hazy concept in his mind. He questioned his own feelings, unsure if love even existed for him. Loveless marriages, he knew all too well, bred only pain. He was adrift, unsure of his next step.

Meanwhile, at home, Annika relaxed in front of the TV. Absorbed in a movie, she jolted when a kiss scene flickered on the screen. A memory from the previous night flooded back – her kiss with Shivay. A blush crept up her cheeks. Her first kiss, yet it happened in a state of intoxication. The memory sparked a question – why hadn't Shivay mentioned it? Did the kiss hold no significance for him? Her mind then drifted to Natasha's words, the accusation that Shivay would never love due to his past.

Curiosity piqued, Annika sought answers online. However, internet searches yielded nothing. As she continued browsing, an article about Shivay's engagement caught her eye. Years ago, it proclaimed. The eldest grandson of Prithviraj Oberoi was to be engaged to her college friend, Natasha Malhotra, in two days, with the wedding set for two months later.

Annika reeled, her world tilting on its axis. Shivay and Natasha – college sweethearts? The revelation sent a tremor through her. What caused their split? What transpired between them? Shivay wouldn't confide in her, and Natasha, she knew, would weave a web of lies.

Determined to find the truth, Annika dialed a number, seeking information about Shivay and Natasha's past.

The voice on the other end of the phone belonged to Om. Annika, her voice trembling slightly, asked about Shivay and Natasha's relationship. Om, ever cautious, was hesitant to divulge details, sensing the seriousness of the situation. However, Annika's sincerity and evident distress softened him.

Om recounted the story with a deep breath, his voice heavy with emotion. He painted a picture of Shivay's unwavering love for Natasha, their idyllic college romance, and the shocking betrayal that tore Shivay's world apart. Natasha, captivated by the allure of wealth, couldn't stomach the idea of Shivay giving up his privileged life to build his own company from scratch. Her absence at their engagement ceremony not only tarnished their reputation but also proved to be too much for their grandfather, who died of a heart attack unable to bear the public humiliation. The heartbreak and his grandfather's death left Shivay emotionally crippled, his faith in love utterly destroyed.

Hanging up the phone, Annika felt a surge of protectiveness for Shivay. The anger towards him for not mentioning the kiss melted away, replaced by a profound empathy. He wasn't cold, he was scared. He was afraid to risk getting hurt again.

Shivay deserved love, a love that wouldn't betray or abandon him. Maybe, just maybe, she could be that love for him. But it wouldn't be easy. It would require patience, understanding, and chipping away at the walls he'd built around his heart. A fierce determination filled Annika. Shivay deserved happiness, and she was determined to help him heal.