Bound by Circumstances

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Shivaay sat with thoughts. It didn't take him too long to agree to Gauri's deal. He had actually laughed when she told him what she wanted with a grave expression. But somewhere he did understand why it was important for her. His chain of thoughts was broken when he felt her come down.

She came down with giant headphones, and eyes closed. She wasn't walking, she was tapping with the rhythm. He wondered what song made her lose herself with the beat. He heard her hum the closer she came.

"Lost inside you'll never find
Lost within my own mind
Day after day this misery must go on

So far away we wait for the day
For the lives all so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on"

She kept shaking her head with the heavy metal she heard. That was a song she truly connected. She looked around and her eyes landed on the huge Shiv statue adorned with numerous garlands. She stared at it blankly. What a waste of flowers those were! After all, there was no such thing as God. All the hymns they chanted never took away her pain, which she felt no more. She was immune to emotions, and that was her nirvana. She took off her head phones when she saw Gauri gesture something to her.

"Do you want to do the aarti? The puja is done, but I'm sure you can still do it." Her eyes were so hopeful, and Annika shook her head.

"Why do you even try Chutki?" She chuckled.

"Hide it away, but I'm sure it's inside you somewhere!"

"I'm hollow inside! Unless you wanna witness a vacuum, there is nothing inside." Annika laughed but no one else did of course. She took a plate of the prashad and made herself comfortable on the couch.

"I thought you don't believe in all this Bhabhi!" Rudra asked thoughtfully.

"I believe in food Rudy boi!" Annika replied cheekily, making the rest shake their heads and chuckle. Annika was still Annika end of the day.

*

Shivaay walked in to find Annika sitting in the middle of their bed, with books and papers all spread out. He hated it when people used bed for things other than sleeping. There was a reason why people have desks and study tables. But he refrained from chiding, he did not want to come off too controlling even before their relationship started. He changed into a black Tank and shorts. He combed his hair and saw from the mirror, Annika was looking at him with her mouth a little ajar. When he turned, she immediately looked away.

Annika looked back to her notes. How was she supposed to concentrate on statistics if he was in front of her looking like the perfect piece of pizza! She sighed aloud, not caring his gaze on her. She was in complete dismay, because of her assignment that was on due.

"All okay?" Shivaay's voice made her look up at him again. His turquoise eyes, gosh... Did he have to look this good! Annika shook off her thoughts.

"Statistics huh? Its quite easy!"

Annika glared at him. Did she look like she wanted to listen to it stated out that she was a loser? Nope.

"I slept through the whole of last week's classes. I can't make heads or tails of this!" She pouted when he laughed at her reply.

"I can help you with this. Sit straight and listen!" He sat next to her and took her notes. His lips were thin lined when he saw her doodles all over the pages. "Never let Om see these!"

She hung her head sheepishly and started listening to his makeshift lecture. Her eyes would divert at times to his perfectly defined chest. She never once saw him workout, was he born with such a perfect body? Her mantra soon became 'concentrate'. He was distraction in human form. For the good or bad of it, he was her husband.

It was a little late when they slept. And inevitably, Annika found herself under him when she woke up in the morning. And she was quite used to that. She did realize that few things didn't feel awkward with him, few. She had his mornings memorized too. It started with freshly brewed cup of espresso and a business paper. Also, he loved his family. They, altogether, made a dead part inside her ache for hers, for a few seconds, before she buried her emotions inside. Like she always did.

Shivaay took out his new shirt. It was his first day at office. He was glad that it was time for him to finally join the family business. He prayed that he should do everyone proud. When he went to take his laptop bag, his eyes landed on a stack of paper.

*

Annika went through her bag again. It was missing. Her assignment was MISSING!

"Anni, look into your file. It must be there! Fast, before Professor. Saxena comes!" Mallika said hurriedly. The whole class knew Annika would be the first person their professor would ask, considering she hit her head on the table with a bang when she dozed off in the last class.

Annika looked up when she heard collective gasps. He stood outside, and his eyes were searching for her. She slowly got up, a little dumbfounded. His eyes gleamed a little, he smiled and waved at her when he spotted her. She walked to him.

"Here, you left these at home!" He handed her a file. Her carelessly thrown assignment was neatly piled and pinned inside. She looked up gratefully for a moment, and then she frowned.

"Isn't it your first day at the office?"

He nodded as he ran his fingers through his hair. When Annika heard an 'Oh my' from behind her, she knew her husband was going to the topic of the day.

"You didn't have to come all the way here for this! Tej Uncle wouldn't appreciate it."

Shivaay shrugged, "Its alright. I didn't want you to get screamed by your 'favourite' teacher!" He air quoted it with a chuckle.

She grinned, she did lament out to him the previous night. And yes, she was oddly touched. This was no 'roses and chocolates' but this gesture was sweeter than anything else.

"Okay, gotta go. See you in the evening! Bye." He trailed his finger on her cheek and tapped it lightly. She smothered the shyness that threatened to join her smile. When she turned around, she saw her entire class looking at her, half dreamy and half with mockery. Well, being the only married girl in the class wasn't easy!