Our Own Battles

Chapter 26

AN : Thank you everyone for the kind words and encourage to date. I do apologize for not writing often. Life does have a way of getting in the middle of what you love to do. 

Please ignore any errors. I have not done a very thorough job of proof reading. 

Thank you once again for all the support...hope you like it :) 

Chapter 26 

Shivaay held Anika's hand and walked out of the mansion smiling. Rudra and Saumya followed Shivaay and Anika. They did not know where the future took them but they had each other and they will be okay. Some hearts understand each other, even in the silence. A love that grows stronger with each passing day. Hand in hand. Together. Forever....

Mahi and Om stood at the door until their brothers disappeared from sight. They would have stood there is daadi did not come take them inside. Pinky still stood in the same position. She is was still in shock. Everyone left her and dispersed into their rooms.

Shivaay held Anika's hand, he looked at Rudra and Saumya walking behind him. They needed to snap out of melancholy, it was time for him to step up again as a big brother. You could not be selfish and think about his pain and everything that happened. His whole life was a lie. No, he had to think of these 3 people that was now counting on him. Anika could almost hear Shivaay's thought. She squeezed his hand and stopped him. Anika stopped a taxi, they got in, no one asking any questions. She gave the driver, her address to her house in the chawl. Anika knew Shivaay would not go to their house on the beach because badi maa was their business partner.

The driver stopped at the chawl. Nobody realised how fast the journey ended. Everyone got off. They realised where they were but no one said anything. Shivaay and Rudra was still numb. Saumya and Anika took charge. Saumya paid the driver. Anika went to the neighbour's house and got her house keys. Anika guided them all to the house. She opened the door and let the house breather. Anika and Saumya guided Shivaay and Rudra into the house. Saumya went to the kitchen to get them water and Anika worked around opening all the windows and letting in the air. Saumya and Anika worked in silence but in sync. Shivaay and Rudra still sat in silence. Anika's home was a small one bedroom unit, Shivaay's room was bigger than Anika's home. Saumya and Anika showered and changed their clothes. Shivaay and Rudra still did not move.

On the other side of town, Gauri was in the same position as Anika and Saumya. Om and Mahi had not moved or said a single word. Gauri handed them coffee. She went to Anika and Shivaay's room and packed their clothes with tears in her eyes. Om finally looked at Mahi, he saw Shivaay's face but Mahi was not Shivaay. Mahi felt Om looking at him.

"Om, we have to get them back" said Mahi softly.

Om nodded and they both stood up just as Gauri brought wheeled in two big suitcases. Gauri wiped her eyes and smiled sadly at Om.

"They will need this" said Gauri softy.

"Where will they be, none of them are answering their phones" said Om frustrated.

"Shivaay will not go beach house" said Mahi, "Anika Bhabhi would have taken them to her house in the chawl".

Om, Mahi and Gauri knew that their attempt was going to futile but they had to try.

Anika and Saumya had finished cooking aloo puri and was trying to get Shivaay and Rudra to eat when they heard a knock at the door.

Saumya opened the door, Om and Mahi saw Shivaay and Rudra sitting like statues, they walked in and sat next to them. Rudra and Shivaay looked at their brothers and smiled sadly. The 4 brothers sat in silence for a while. Whilst Anika, Gauri and Saumya left them alone. It was almost an hour.