Our Own Battles

Chapter 7

It took a lot of courage that night for Om and Rudra to walk away from Anika. Mahi had assured Om and Rudra that he will be Anika's shadow. Anika had promised them to take care of Shivaay and to always stay by his side. Anika knew she had to be strong. This is was long road. After all that was said and done she had to live a life without Shivaay. Shivaay will never forgive her. She had killed the person she loved the most, she herself had destroyed that one person. She promised herself that she will not even by accident let her path cross with Shivaay's.

The first night was the roughest. She promised Mahi no more crying but she could not help it. Her heart ached. She decided that today she will cry, she will mourn for everything she killed on her own. It hurt too much to close her eyes. Whenever she did she saw Shivaay and the look of betrayal on his face, she saw the love that turned to hate. She saw his heart breaking. Before all this, she loved to sleep, she even had a problem getting up in the morning – her sleep was filled with dreams of her future with Shivaay. Now it hurt to close her eyes, those same dreams will remain just that, a dream, it taunts her. Anika cried her heart out. Mahi could do nothing, he felt helpless, Mahi decided he will give her this night, let her cry, tomorrow no more tears. Mahi played his mouth organ to calm Anika as they both cried for the man they both loved more than anything.

On the other side of town Shivaay had broken down completely. He was trying to make sense of everything that had happened. He replayed the scene over and over hoping to find some clue from her that this was all an act. But nothing, not a subtle "oye oye" or even "bablu" nothing. He looked around the chaos his room was in was reflecting the state of his heart. His heart felt heavy, breathing was becoming difficult. He clenched his heart. This is what heart break felt like. He could not take this pain anymore. Shivaay fell to his knees, the room began spinning and suddenly everything blacked out.

Om and Ru found Shivaay like this. Shivaay's state shocked them. Their great wall of Shivaay Singh Oberoi was broken. They cried for their brother and Bhabhi's state. Why could true love not be easy? Om and Ru remembered their promise to Anika. They would take care of Shivaay and not let him become weak. They promised each other that they would give Shivaay this night to mourn. They picked him and placed in the bed. Rudra called the doctor whilst Om changed Shivaay's clothes. Pinky came into the room with the doctor so did the rest of the family. Pinky was shocked to see Shivaay's state. Om looked at his choti maa, he gave her a look of disgust and ignored her. The doctor explained that Shivaay's heart condition was weak and could handle whatever shock it had received but he will be okay. Shivaay was sedated. Everyone left the room. Om Rudra and Gauri began picking up the pieces of Shivaay's life.

The next day came slowly. Anika never slept. She woke up and promised herself no more crying.

Shivaay opened his eyes, he stretched his hand for Anika, and he could not feel or smell her. He sat up and looked around his room, no sign of Anika. His room was back to its normal boring ordered state. Shivaay closed his eyes and pictured her one last time. This is was the last time. He looked at the ring she placed on his ring finger a few days ago. He kissed the ring for the last time and removed it. She no longer exists, he told his heart and brain to forget her. He placed the ring in his bedside drawer. In that same drawer he saw a "Chand" from her bracelet. He shut the drawer with a bang. No more! He instructed himself. It was time to re-invent himself. A new Shivaay Singh Oberoi.

Anika showered and changed, she stood in front in of the mirror looking at her refection, and she had no right to use his mangal sutra anymore. She destroyed his love. It felt like a noose around her neck, she slowly removed it. No, screamed her heart but her brain told her it was the right thing to do , she will not cry anymore. She kissed her mangal sutra and placed it safely in her box with all his memories. In that box, was her engagement ring, her sindoor 'dibbi', a bottle of his perfume and several pictures she got from Khanna. The kangans he gave her was amongst the items she returned.