Our Own Battles

Chapter 25

Shivaay noticed Om Ru and Mahi step in front of them, it looked like they were protecting them. Shivaay felt Anika's grip on his hand tighten. The air around them suddenly got very cold...

Pinky's temper rose as she saw Mahi. Mahi, Om and Ru was not going to let Pinky hurt Anika and Shivaay today. Ragini stood at the top of the stairs and watched everything play out. She knew her time was up. Pinky stood in front of Om Ru and Mahi.

"Move, I want to talk to my son" said Pinky, she voice was dripping with anger.

Shivaay stepped forward and stood in front of his mum, "Mum, please think before you say anything. I know you don't like Anika but Anika is my wife and I love her mum. Please understand" said Shivaay softly.

Pinky said nothing and continued to stare at Anika angrily. Anika was in the middel Mahi and Om was on either side of her whilst Rudra stood behind Shivaay.

"Mom, please," said Shivaay loudly trying dissipate the tense atmosphere, "Mom, Anika is my wife. I love her and she is not going anywhere. It would be best if you except Anika and allow us all to move on" explained Shivaay. Pinky said nothing, in fact her anger grew. Shivaay could see he needed to try harder "Mom" said Shivaay holding Pinky's hands "Mom, Anika has done so much for this family and me. She took a bullet for me. She lost blood for this family. Even after knowing everything she still loves me mum" explained Shivaay.

Pinky looked at Shivaay with red eyes and said eerily "only she" pointing to Anika "has done so much for you. What about everything that I have done? Everything you are I made you. I made you Shivaay Singh Oberoi, did you forget all that" screamed Pinky now.

Shivaay was shocked, he took a few steps back. Rudra held him, "Mom" whispered Shivaay looking at her with tears in his eyes.

"Today you proved that you are not my son" said Pinky.

Everyone was silent and in shock. The secret they had been protecting Shivaay from was out. Anika went to Shivaay but Shivaay put out his hand to stop her. Mahi held a crying Anika. Om and Rudra was at Shivaay's side instantly. Shivaay pushed them and went to his mother.

"Mom", he said holding Pinky's face, "tell me what you said was a joke. I am your son, right" pleaded Shivaay to Pinky.

Pinky pushed him and Om and Rudra held him "Mom!" spat Pinky, "Did you think of this mom, when you married this witch again? I tried my best to get rid of her but she came back, shameless" shouted Pinky looking at Anika. Daadi and Jhanvi stood with Anika as well now comforting her.

"I gave her three days to make you hate her and throw her out of this house. She was protecting you. That is why she did all that. I made her leave, I made you hate her" sneered Pinky pointing to Anika.

Pinky went to Shivaay and touched his cheek, "You were forgetting me Shivaay. I was not important to you anymore. You only saw her, I became invisible. I did everything for you. I brought you up even though you were not my son. I never let you feel that way. I loved you like I gave birth to you. You became my life" said Pinky, "Then she came into your life. I could see her for what she really was, a gold digger. A low class bloody orphan. Slowly she became the centre of your universe. All my sacrifice I did for you became nothing. It felt like a slap on my face. So, I told her the truth of your birth. That you are Shakti's illegitimate son, you and this Mahi" said Pinky pointing to Mahi.

Shivaay could not feel the ground beneath his feet. Om and Ru held him up. Shivaay looked at Mahi. He could see that Mahi was not surprised. No one was surprised. Everyone knew. Shivaay looked at Anika who was being supported by Mahi. Mahi had been protecting him all along. Mahi was his brother.