A Bargain Made with Frosting

Ch 55. Unveiling the Past, Facing the Future

Two days crawled by for Shivay. The ghost of the croissant's scent lingered, a constant reminder of a feeling he couldn't quite grasp. It gnawed at him, a persistent itch that demanded scratching. He couldn't shake the conviction that something, or rather someone, crucial was just beyond his reach. Finally, succumbing to the pull, he found himself back at Himalayan Delight. A sliver of hope, fragile as a spider's web, clung to him.

He wandered the bakery, feigning interest in the pastries as his eyes darted around, searching for the source of the pull that had brought him here . Half an hour crawled by, the silence punctuated only by the clinking of plates and the murmur of customers. His charade was starting to feel transparent. Just as he considered retreating, a voice cut through the air.

"Hey mister, what can I do for you?" Sneha's voice, laced with a hint of annoyance, came from behind the counter. "You've been circling like you're lost in a park. If you don't need anything, perhaps you could let other customers browse in peace."

Shivay's shoulders slumped in defeat. He mumbled an apology and turned to leave, the weight of his failed mission settling heavily on him. But then, another voice drifted from the back of the bakery, a voice that sent a jolt through him. "Annika, beta," it said, concern laced with a hint of authority, "take some rest. You shouldn't be walking so much in your condition."

He pivoted towards the sound, his heart hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs. A young woman stood with her back to him. An invisible force tugged at him, an undeniable pull. Ignoring the social awkwardness, he moved towards her, his voice barely a whisper when he spoke.

"Annika?" he breathed, his hand hesitantly reaching out to touch her shoulder.

The world tilted on its axis as Annika whirled around. Her face, a canvas of shock and disbelief, mirrored his own. The emotions – a volatile cocktail of anger, hurt, and a flicker of relief – threatened to drown her. Before she could process the whirlwind within, the world dissolved into darkness.

Shivay's world spun. One moment he was drowning in despair, the next, Annika was collapsing in front of him. Adrenaline surged through him, replacing his emptiness with a frantic need to act. He scooped her up in his arms, the weight of her fragile body a stark contrast to the woman he remembered. He hailed a cab, his voice hoarse as he barked the name of the nearest hospital. The ride was a blur, his mind racing with a thousand questions and a desperate plea for a second chance.

The sterile hospital bustled with a tense calm. Shivay couldn't hold still, pacing the waiting room like a caged animal. Each second stretched into an agonizing eternity. Then, the doctor appeared.

"She's okay," the doctor said. "Just exhaustion and stress. We'll keep her for observation, but she should be released tomorrow. Now, you are her...?"

Relief slammed into Shivay, an overwhelming wave that threatened to drown him. "Her husband," he choked out.

The doctor's gaze sharpened. "Husband, you say? This is a critical time for her. Taking care of her, not causing stress, should be your priority. Any additional strain could be dangerous for her and the baby."

Shivay could only nod numbly as the doctor left. Stepping into the room, he found Annika lying in bed, an IV drip snaking its way into her vein. He looked at her pale face, then down at the gentle swell of her baby bump. Shame washed over him as he sat beside her, his hand hovering over her belly.

A sudden kick startled him. Tears welled in his eyes as the reality of his actions hit him. He had left her when she needed him most. Taking Annika's hand, he choked back sobs, silently begging for forgiveness.

A flicker of warmth roused Annika next morning from sleep. Her hand rested beneath something heavy, and a choked sob reached her ears. Cracking open her eyes, the blurry shapes solidified into a tear-streaked Shivay. Worry etched deep lines on his face, his eyes red and puffy.

"Shivay?" she rasped, her voice like sandpaper.

Relief flooded his features as he saw her awake. "Annika," he breathed, his voice thick and wobbly.  He grasped her hand like a lifeline, afraid to let go.

Annika's hand instinctively went to her stomach, seeking reassurance of her baby's well-being. "The doctor said the baby's alright, Annika. You shouldn't stress," Shivay spoke quickly, almost tumbling over his words.

Annika nodded weakly. But the memory of their fight, raw and fresh like an open wound, surfaced in her mind. "Why are you here?" she asked, a tremor in her voice.

Shivay flinched at the question, the hurt in her eyes a fresh blow. He opened his mouth to speak, but the enormity of his mistake choked his voice. Words seemed inadequate, a pale attempt at bridging the chasm he'd created.

"Why did you leave me alone, Shivay?" Tears welled up in her eyes. "What did I do to deserve that? You left when I needed you the most."

Shame and regret washed over him. "I'm so sorry, Annika," he choked out. "I realized the choice I made was a terrible mistake. Please forgive me. I can't live without you."

"Forgive you?" Her voice hitched. "How can I forgive you, Shivay? What if you just decide to leave again, leaving me and our baby to fend for ourselves?"

His grip on her hand tightened. "No, Annika. Never again. I'll never leave you."

But trust, once broken, was a fragile thing. "Then tell me the truth," she demanded. "Why did you leave? Why did you demand a divorce?"

Shivay sighed, knowing he couldn't avoid the truth any longer. He poured out his heart, confessing his mistake that led to her parents' death. He revealed his fear – that learning the truth would push Annika towards seeking justice, potentially fracturing the fragile peace between their families. He admitted his cowardice, his terrible choice to leave her – not out of lack of love, but a misguided attempt to protect her from the devastating truth.

Annika's breath hitched. The revelation slammed into her, a horrifying truth tangled with a twisted sense of his reasoning. Tears streamed down her face, a mixture of grief and anger.

"My parents..." she choked out, her voice barely a whisper.

Shivay reached for her hand again, but she pulled away instinctively.

"It was an accident, Annika," he pleaded, his voice thick with despair. "I never meant for it to happen."

Annika closed her eyes, the image of her parents' smiling faces flashing behind her eyelids. The warmth, the love, the sudden absence – it all came crashing down on her.

"How could you keep this from me, Shivay?" she finally asked, her voice shaking. "How could you make such a decision for me?"

Shame gnawed at Shivay. "I was scared," he admitted. "Scared of losing you, scared of your anger, scared of what it would do to our family."

Annika scoffed. "And you thought a divorce would solve everything? Did you even consider how I felt, how I would cope?"

Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words and shattered trust. Shivay looked away, unable to meet her eyes. He knew his actions were unforgivable.

"I don't know what to do anymore," Annika whispered, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek. "All I know is that right now, I need some time. Time to process everything, time to grieve, time to figure out what this means for us... for the baby."

Shivay understood. He nodded slowly, his heart a lead weight in his chest. "I'll respect your decision, Annika. But please, don't shut me out completely. Let me prove to you that I can be there for you, now more than ever."

Annika didn't respond, her gaze fixed on a point beyond the window. The path forward was uncertain, shrouded in a fog of grief and betrayal. Yet, amidst the pain, a flicker of hope remained. Could their love survive this devastating revelation? Only time, and Annika's heart, would tell.

___________________________________________

Thankyou for reading and voting