Shivika SS : The Ties that Bind

Part 1

Shivaay caught his wife by the waist and bundled her into their bathroom. Rudy grumbled something nearby, something about married people and their weird timing, but left them alone. Shivaay needed to talk to Annika urgently, his anxiety levels through the roof since they had discovered it was Veer who was their hidden enemy.

"Annika? You okay? You didn't go near him did you?" he fretted over her, drawing a frown from her.

"I'm fine, Shivaay. I was with Om and Rudy and everyone, why should I be in trouble. We've got so many things to do Shivaay, not to sit around and worry. We told each other to keep an eye out for trouble but appear unaffected. Right?"

" I dunno, Annika. I've been thinking. Maybe Veer does not like my encroaching on his business turf here in Goa. But we aren't in the same ventures at all. Something's not clicking in my mind, I'm missing something." He had an expression of stressed tension, that Annika hugged him tight. Lost in each other for comfort, they shared tender kisses of love.

"Every thing will fall into place, Shivaay. We'll just play cool for now. Can't we tell OmRu? So they can be on alert too?"

"When I get the chance, I will tonight. Its getting dangerous for everyone. I'm in half a mind to send everyone back to Mumbai. What I don't get is why? Does Veer want us out of Goa you think?"

"Oh God, Shivaay! We caught Svetlana outside his outhouse last week, with that cycle bell fake ghost woman's body. You think he's helping Svetlana?" She cupped her face in horror. "Oh God. There was once I saw that woman on the kitchen counter and Veer pretended not to see her! That means he knew about the cycle bell ghost woman and even tried to convince you I was going crazy?!" She leaned against a wall in flabbergasted horror.

"But what does he want from me??" Shivaay frowned in deep thought. "Doesn't make sense..."

A knock on the bathroom door interrupted them. "Um.. Bhaiyya, Bhabhi? The pandit wants to meet you guys... Sorry for interrupting.." Shivaay opened the door in a rush and startled his youngest brother. Looked over Rudy's shocked face, "What? Can't a man talk to his wife in peace in the bathroom?" and marched off, Annika's smile smoothing away the rebuke.

Preparations mounted and Annika suddenly found herself face to face with Veer. Nervously, she spoke little and evaded. Shivaay's orders. Suddenly she realized how huge and imposing he was physically. Creepy, after just being chased by him and doused with petrol. She shivered, and Veer didn't miss it.

"Are you okay Annika? You look a bit anxious.." Annika smiled wanly and locked eyes with Shivaay across the room. He signaled her to leave and she obeyed. Taking refuge in the kitchen, she fussed over the trays of sweets. Carrying one, she turned to find Veer right behind her.

She gasped and let out a little scream and backed off against the kitchen counter. Veer's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Annika? Why are you scared of me? Is something wrong? Have I upset you in any way?" he raised a hand toward her and she flinched so hard, his brows knotted in suspicion. Her eyes wide with terror, she resembled someone he'd seen recently. Slowly, he moved towards her, trapping her against the kitchen counter. She was petrified, gasping in soundless terror. She made to flee, when he put out a hand to stop her exit.

"Annika? Why are you afraid of me? Or are you, Begum Zubeida Khan?!" he spoke menacingly, as her eyes grew even wider at what he was saying. Trapped, she crouched away as far as she could.

"SO you and Shivaay played a trick on me. There was no rich investor from Dubai after all, it was you! So now you know it was me! But that's not fair, I don't mean YOU any harm at all, sweet Annika. It's just Shivaay I want to be rid off. You, are the sweetest gift a man like me could ever ask for..."

Annika went speechless with what she was hearing. Her brain was screaming Shivaay's name over and over like a chant. When Veer's large hand came to gently caress her cheek, she flinched so hard it enraged him.

"NO!!! You were not supposed to fear me!! I went to so much trouble!! You trusted me damnit!! Now he's ruined my hard work!" He punched a hole in the wooden finishing , startling a scream out from her.

"Shivaay !!!!" she screamed. In a split second, Veer went silent, simply tossed Annika over his shoulder and ran out of the door.

Shivaay felt her fear first before he heard the scream. Running to the kitchen he found the kitchen in mad disarray, the door wide open, a large hole punched into the cabinet and Annika gone.

Oh God. It was Annika , Veer wanted Annika.

He felt momentarily dizzy with the thought of Annika being terrified and wanting him. He swayed to the doorway wondering where to go. Omkara pulled him up as Rudra ran out to see if he could see anything. But they had vanished.