Shivika SS : The Ties that Bind

Part 10

Shivaay marched her into their bedroom, personally saw to her every need. He fed her, helped dress her wounds, fussed over her comfort. Everything, but it that serious silent manner. Annika watched his face for a long while but decided not to pursue the matter until he was ready to talk. She was terribly exhausted and frankly not up for more emotional events. She was ready to die earlier today, running for her life and her baby, it's just too much. It felt like it was over, for now. She wanted to welcome the embrace of peace and just shut down for a while.

She walked out to the living room, and saw a discussion going on with almost everyone there. Pinky was touching her son's shoulder and he was standing ramrod straight , looking at a distance.

"No, Mom!! I have every right to be furious!! She is my wife!! I got injured , and I couldn't protect her! And she goes to stay at an orphanage, instead of coming home? If she was here, you could have all watched out for her! I may have gotten my memories back faster with her being around! Who knows?! "

"Why does she automatically think that if I am not in my senses, her place in my life will not exist anymore?! WHY?!? She is my WIFE! My partner in life. Even if I forgot her, I would have fulfilled my responsibilities. It is my right and job to do that, as was hers to be by my side while I was ill?! WHY did she feel that my family never included her!!!"

Om touched his arm and Shivaay pushed it away firmly. "No, Om, it's not done. I won't accept any justifications. She should have come home, instead of being alone again." Shivaay's face crumpled for a moment before he fixed it back to a stoic face.

"I understand your anger, Shivaay. But she's been through so much, and she pretty traumatized already, is it really time to be angry right now? Relax, there will be a time to discuss all this soon. Please."

"Then, tomorrow, if Veer escapes and comes and shoots me, she will run with our child and live out there alone!?! When our baby has a full family here who will love him/her? How can she decide for our baby all by herself? Already she doesn't take my surname, that's fine, but she rejects me and my family also??"

"WHoaa...whoa... that's taking it a bit far, Bhaiyya." Rudy jumped in. "Bhabhi is sacrificial types, just like you. She always puts others first and herself last. This is just another of those instances. I think you shouldn't take it in a bad way. Not now."

Suddenly everyone turns to find Annika standing behind them , listening in. Rudra rushed to her side, as she searched Shivaay's face.

"You're angry with me?" she asked Shivaay innocently.

"Why? So you can go pack a bag and walk out on me?" he countered sternly.

Her eyes watered and she stammered through silent sobs, unable to make her voice come out.

"Answer me this, Annika. Why didn't you come back home, when I was having head injury, and lost my memories??"

"Veer...w .... Following me. He would h..have... sent men to.. to .. attack you again.."

"So, you thought, you could put yourself and our baby in danger like that, by living in an insecure orphanage, with 2 old ladies. Hmmm??! Even if ONE of his men had found you at the orphanage, what would you have done?? HUH?? WHAT!?"

Shivaay was raising his voice, and Om put a hand on his shoulder to calm him. Annika continued to stand head bent like a convict, tears running down her face, silent sobs shaking her chest.

"Why ? Is being part of MY family so insulting to you?? Like you have to give up your pride and self respect to be associated with Oberois or what?! You don't take my name with yours, as it is. Now you don't accept them as your family too?"

"No.... I don't mean that at all !!" she whimpered.

"THEN??? Do you know what Dadi and everyone went through when they found me and not you?? They were searching the streets ANNIKA!!! FOR YOU!! How could you do this to them?? This baby is as much theirs as ours!!" he ranted.

Rudy gripped Annika's arm, and let her lean on him.

Pinky turned Shivaay to face her and pleaded him to stop. "Stop this, Shivaay. Enough of this anger. Now it's not time to find fault. It's time to rest and heal. Shhh, enough of this rage.." she stroked his arm.

With tears in his eyes, he turned to her and said, " Do you really take my family as yours, Annika?? Honestly, deep in your heart? Like, ALL for one, ONE for all??"

She nodded desperately. Shivaay shook his head in disappointment. "Then you should have come back to us? Why is your independence such a separate entity to us as a family?? It hurts, Annika! Right here.." he said , stabbing his finger at his heart. "You'd do anything for us, but you won't let us care for you??"

Annika's sobs broke out aloud. The sound was so painful, Rudra started crying too. She buried her face in Rudra's chest and sobbed like a heartbroken child. Dadi rushed to her and sent them both into the room. Shakti pulled Shivaay into a hard hug, when Annika's crying broke Shivaay's anger too.

***

Pinky stood at the door of Shivaay's room and saw Annika sobbing into her hands, with Rudra hugging her from the back like a child. It was time she took the first step, she knew. One of the biggest reasons Annika never imposed herself upon the family is because of the unpleasantness on her part. She didn't really openly accept Annika as her daughter in law, and showed any love. These two have been through so much for the family, and each other, she saw herself as petty and very unmotherly.

She carefully approached the bed and touched Annika's head softly. She got up with a start and stood up. Shaking her head vigorously, Pinky sat Annika back down by her side and took her hand.

"Annika, I have seen you be by Shivaay's side through the worst of times, you are the true perfect wife for him. Whatever he needs; support, love and stability, calm, you give it to him. He is genuinely happy and contented with you. Thank you for that. I am so sorry I resisted accepting you for so long. I guess its my pride and arrogance , but in the end, I only want my son to be happy, all his dreams to come true. You are all that for him. I know, you hesitate to come to us partly because of me."

Annika started denying but she was shushed.

" I will change now. I have seen you defy odds and give Shivaay strength that he cannot turn away from. He loves you so much, we can all see it. He is our pillar and he leans on you. I understand it is hard for you to understand intricacies of family life but slowly you will understand. In a family you become a unit, stronger by the number, glued with loyalty. But it all starts with acceptance. I accept you , my dear, you are my daughter now. But I will be your friend first, take it slow."

Annika sobbed into the hankerchief Rudra gave her , and Pinky engulfed her into a hug. She stroked the crying girl's head gently and smiled at Rudra's gaping shock.

"Okay stop. No more crying. I don't want my grandbaby to be a crybaby like his daddy."

Annika stopped crying abruptly and looked stunned.

"Shivaay was a difficult baby?" she asked, not able to believe her ears.

"OMG, he was! He cried and cried and cried from birth to 6 months age. Well, it felt like that to me. Every two hours milk, diaper change, crying, for tummy upset, cry. Sleepy, cry. Loud noises, cry. Not correct person carrying him, cry. He'd cry for everything!! UGH. I think I didn't sleep for 6 months. And he didn't smile for the first 4 months can you imagine? He used to make this baby pug face all the time, such a grumpy baby he was! Then we discovered he'd only smile when Mummy ji carried him outside."

"Then he started crawling, and he refused to be carried at all! He'd go everywhere himself. By 7 months he was walking up the stairs. Then came all the smiles and his green eyes used to twinkle so beautifully. Such a sweet baby he became after that."

"SO no more crying. You've cried enough the last 4 months, first trimester bhi finishes already. Now strict happy mode only. Don't worry about Shivaay, he's like that. He himself will come and say sorry.. Dekh lena.."

She left the room to bring Shivaay's baby photos, sharing them with Annika would made her smile. And bring out those maternal feelings, Pinky smiled to herself.