Our Own Battles

Chapter 15

The ride back home was made in silence. When they reached Oberoi mansion, they walked into a foyer of chaos. Pinky had gone overboard with the decorations for the engagement. Shivaay asked what was going on. Pinky dismissed him saying it was his engagement and finally to someone who is worthy of him. Anika looked down and tried to walk away but Shivaay held her hand and reminded his mother that it is Anika's engagement as well. Pinky was fuming, there was no way she was going to plan a party of Anika.

Just then Om Ru and Gauri walked in and stood by Anika's side. Gauri assured Pinky not to worry as they have already set up the garden for Anika and Samar's engagement. Shivaay smiled at his siblings. They gave her happiness, they brought out a genuine smile from Anika, something that he knew he could never do any more. He lost that right. She smiled with Samar granted it was not like the smile she gave him, but they relationship was still developing. Shivaay remembered the time he could not even stand to be in the same room with her. He smiled sadly. He will try and be happy for her. Shivaay also wanted to be included in her happiness, even if it was for a short time. He asked Om and Ru to move all of Anika's engagement things back inside. Shivaay announced that Anika and he will get engaged at the same time on the same stage. Shivaay made the mistake of looking into her eyes and he could see her tears threatening to fall, his eyes filled up immediately. Gauri saw both their reactions, she knew she had to take Anika away before she breaks down. Gauri made Anika walk. Anika took a step to leave but she felt her hand tug back. Shivaay didn't realise he was still holding her hand.

She looked around and saw Shivaay still holding her hand. Om Ru and Gauri saw so much in their eyes. Anika looked at the hands and Shivaay slowly loosened his hold on her hand. Slowly as she took steps away from her hand slipped from his. Shivaay stared at her until she was totally out of sight.

Nazdeek hai dil ke ...she is close to my heart

Phir kyun lage milka....then why do I feel like

jaise ho milon door woh...like she is miles away from me

Jazbaa hai anjaana..... This feeling is unknown

Mushkil hai samjhana....it is difficult to explain

Apna hai ya hai ghair woh... is she mine or a stranger

Ishq mein adhoora se... my love that is incomplete

Rooh main hai poora sa....but she is completely in my soul

Dard hai yeah saari umar ka....this pain is now my whole life

Oo jaana.... My love

Khoya khoya rehta hai... my heart stays lost

Dil tadap ke kehta hai... my tormented heart is saying

Tu hai meri jeena ki wajah....you are the reason I live

Oo jaana...my love

Anika was long gone from Shivaay sight. He still stood there. Was what he doing correct? He had hope in his heart that Anika still loved him and his God knows he never stopped loving her. She was his soul. Couldn't life be simple? Why must everything be so complicated? His heart ached again. He placed his hand over his heart, he felt like Anika was calling out to him. Not now, he said to his heart. We need to do this. She needs to tell me why she did what she did. Anika is hiding something, he knows this but what?

Anika reached her room and broke down. She slide door the door and sat on the floor. She unwrapped the scarf from around her hand and touched her mangal sutra and cried. Om Ru and Gauri rushed to her and sat next to her. Anika kept saying she can't do this anymore. She loves Shivaay too much. It hurts. With tears streaming Anika was uncontrollable in her grief. Om and Ru held onto Anika and tried to comfort. Gauri could not see her calming down. She quickly called Mahi. Mahi answered immediately. He didn't even have to ask what was wrong, he felt her grief although he was miles away. Gauri put Mahi on speaker.