Shivika SS : The Ties that Bind

Part 5

The next Wednesday, Shivaay had cleared his appointments for the whole morning, and even made notes on talking points to keep Ms. Annika from leaving so quickly.

He couldn't stop thinking about her the past week. He lay in bed thinking of her at night, at some point wondering if he had an unhealthy obsession over the woman, which was so unlike him. Then in his sleep he heard that beautiful voice calling his name.

OmRu tried their best to behave normally around him, but he could sense their frustration about something. They kept probing with questions and backing off when he got headaches. That morning he ventured into the kitchen and for some reason found himself making aloo puri.

Rudra, for some reason , got stupendously excited about that and hugged him tight, before running out to find O.

So much excitement over simple Aloo Puri??

***

Rudy burst into O's studio, caught his brother by the shoulder and gushed. "You can't guess what Shivaay bhaiyya is doing right now!"

Om was annoyed at the violent interruption to his calm contemplative painting time, gesturing What? with his hands.

"Bhaiyya is making ALOO PURI !! Can you believe that? It's all gonna come back soon. Then he'll find Bhabhi and bring her back home..." Om hugged his little brother tight. Annika Bhabhi being missing has upset everyone at home, even more so when they see amnesiac Shivaay , knowing he would've been leaving no stone unturned to have her back. Police were nowhere near locating where she was, they felt that she is either dead, or intentionally remaining hidden.

But Rudy is excited today, because Shivaay is making aloo puri, Bhabhi's favourite dish. Truthfully, he has made many references to Bhabhi lately that everyone was hoping that his memories were returning. But to him it just felt like, Bhabhi's habits had become so ingrained in Shivaay, that it seems like his own. Yesterday, Shivaay said the smell of Mustard seed oil gave him Michmichis, and Mishra's plans for extra holidays for the long weekend went tai tai phis.

All Annika Bhabhi's words. But for Shivaay, it's like his own.

How do I make him remember her? The love of his life.

***

Annika put off the lights of her room and made for the orphanage office. Mrs. Benedict had insisted she take the office as her workspace. The 78 year old woman called Annika a godsend to the orphanage, because she was fretting as to who will replace her as caretaker. When the wife of the patron herself arrived there needing of shelter from danger, it was a sign as big as any other.

Slowly the past one month, Mrs Benedict picked her up as she cried and grieved, gave her a purpose daily, small tasks in day to day running of this home to 40 odd children. On condition of privacy and anonymity, she agreed to train to take over from Mrs. B.

Because all she wanted to do was go back to Shivaay. He was hurt and she knew he needed her, but he's lost his memories. She'd wept enough about the tragedy of him forgetting her, almost gave up even, felt like dying at many points. But then a week ago, she had a fainting spell and Mrs. B insisted on a doctor's checkup and she found out about their baby.

Hers and Shivaay's baby.

The 4 women who ran the children's home; Mrs. B , Vasunthara the cook, Simmi and Roopa were all shocked at the way Annika cried with such a happy news. She had cried herself ill, and the women took care of her, until she was well enough to tell them her troubles.

Someone tried to kill her and her husband, and is still after her. Her husband got beaten up badly and seems to have forgotten her. Annika is all alone now, despite being married.

The women had gotten into a heated argument as Annika sat quietly in contemplation. Vasunthara insisted Annika go home to her husband, the family is obliged to take care of her, to her the institution of marriage is not about Love, but responsibility to each other. Mrs. B agreed but worried as this man, Veer was still after Annika. Bitter truth is, even if the man showed up here today, they were no help to Annika either. The younger girls wept over Shivaay and Annika's tragic love story. But Annika just sat listening to them all.

It was decided, Annika will go and meet Shivaay neutrally, to jog his memory back. If he didn't recall her at all, then she will make up her mind.

When she returned, they all pestered her till she told all details of their meeting, what he recalled, how did he behave, and how Shivaay was drawn to her by instinct. Annika again had crippling self doubt, when Vasundhara angrily smacked her shoulder and said, "A woman never abandons her husband in hardship. And you have a responsibility to this baby, to try your best to get him/her back to his father. Don't give up!!"

What she didn't tell the ladies, was that a man had followed her after leaving the Oberoi Group offices. She realized that men were still looking for her, Veer's men. They were watching Shivaay, looking for her. After some evasive moves , she safely evaded the man.

So today, when she goes to see Shivaay, she has to be extra careful.