Our Own Battles

Chapter 11

What had just happened? Om, Rudra and Gauri was dumbstruck. After all they had gone through to set up this meeting, they had expected a conversation, a few words, even a smile at least. Shivaay and Anika had just walked off without speaking to each. Mahi could see Anika was barely hanging on as she walked away. As she walked pass them Mahi followed her. Om Rudra and Gauri was still staring at the space that Shivaay and Anika stood a few moments ago still wondering what the hell had happened? Shivaay did not react. He was a robot. His eyes said so much in a minute and then all the life disappeared. It was then the Om and Rudra realised they had definitely lost their bother. It was not a phase Shivaay was going through. This was permanent Shivaay has lost everything that made Shivaay. Shivaay's soul was now gone, he was just an empty vessel. Even brining Anika in front of him did nothing. What had they done?

Mahi placed his hand on Anika's shoulder to stop her, he made her face him and what he saw broke his heart. Her heart was breaking all over again and this time is was all over her face, her eyes which were the windows to her beautiful soul was empty. At least before you could see pain in her eyes now it was empty. Anika placed her head on Mahi's chest and just cried silent tears. Mahi like always just kept his hand on her head. Gauri rubbed Anika's back to get her to calm down. Mahi's hand was joined by two other hands, Om and Rudra.

"What have I done? Cried Anika, "I thought only I would lose but we both have lost. I can't see him like that, Where is his attitude, his anger, that person is not my Shivaay. That is just a body, where is his soul, there is no light in his beautiful eyes. What have I done? I did all that so he would forget me and be happy. He was supposed to be happy. Did I kill the man I love?" Anika cried some more. Om Rudra Gauri and Mahi knew it was time for drastic measure. Enough is enough.

A little down the road from the this group of people a far away from hearing distance a pair of "kanji" eyes had tears free flowing down this face now. Shivaay was still holding his heart, his heart ached, for the past 3 months he was not used to that warm feeling in his heart. Seeing Anika in front of was not the same as seeing her every night. Yes, the great Shivaay Singh Oberoi was reduced to spying/stalking Anika. Every night whether it rained or not, he would sit on the sea shore and watch her room with the balcony across the road. He knew everything about her, about her business, about Mahi. He knew his siblings was in contact with her. She even had phoned the house phone when Om was in coma. There was so much of things that Shivaay had learnt in this 3 months about himself, his family and his Anika. He had become numb, he had no reason to be emotional. Nothing in his life brought him joy anymore. He was the great wall of Shivaay and he had become just that a wall. No emotions no feelings. Yes, he worked, he worked hard to make sure his brothers and family was secure so when he is eventually not around his family will be safe. He also watched the love of his life prosper in her life. He watched her move on. Shivaay had nothing against Mahi. Whenever Shivaay saw Mahi now he felt a strange connection to him. He watched Mahi when he watched Anika, Mahi was like Om and Rudra to Anika. Anika and Mahi had a strange connection which Shivaay felt a part of. At night when he watched over Anika, he would hear Mahi play on his harmonica for her. Mahi's tune calmed the storm in his soul. As Shivaay watched Anika and with his brothers he knew that one when he is not around they will all be secure.

Another pair of eyes was watching this whole reunion. Pinky and sent Ragini to meet Shivaay at the dargah and Samar was invited to Chanda's engagement. Samar was happy for his friends. Anika looked like her heart was breaking all over again but atleast this time she had support, he brother in laws loved her almost as much as he loved his sister Ragini. Thinking of Ragini, he spotted her also staring the reunion in front of them. Except Ragini looked like she was ready to murder someone. He had seen that look in her eyes. That look was when she was going to do something really bad.