The Life I Never Chose (Rewritten)

⩫Apologies and Families⩫

Dev felt the sunlight on his face and grimaced, but soon that changed into a smile. His hands were wrapped around Shivanya's waist and she was holding him tightly.
Last night's argument flashed in front of his eyes and regret filled him again. I made her cry. He continued staring at her, with a tight hold. She deserved an apology and she was going to get one as soon as she got up.
He quickly turned around and took his phone, emailing his boss. Today he was all hers. He needed to make things right.
Shivanya's eyes opened when she felt a light touch on her forehead. She came face to face with Dev and smiled at first, but then she remembered the previous night, and frowned.

"I know what you're thinking. I am so sorry Shivi, I don't know what happened to me. I was tired and irritated because I was excited to go on a date with you and it had to cancelled because of me. Trust me my intention was not to hurt you, or to ignore you and not give you time. I am always craving your presence and even when I'm at work, all I can think about is you. I adore you and it kills me that I am unable to show you that."

Dev waited with baited breaths and she kept on looking at him, but quickly relaxed when he felt her hold tighten as she snuggled closer to him and adjusted her face in his neck.

"I missed you so much. And I felt so lonely here at home whenever you weren't there. Dev, I know your work is important but in all that I felt unimportant. As if I don't matter enough. I know it's a big case, but you will have big cases all the time. My concern is that we won't be able to spend a lot of time together as we should. We're married for god's sake."

Shivanya was careful of her tone. It wasn't accusing. She was explaining how she felt. And Dev understood.

"I know baby, I am so sorry. It's hard for me to articulate my feelings, but I'm trying ok. I feel the need to be the best at my job because I fear if I fail everyone will mock me. Shivi, I have been told by those closest to me that they wish I fail so that I crawl back to them and apologise. I don't want to do that. It's hard to forget stuff like that. And I am terrified that if I make a single mistake they will use it against me. That's why I work so hard."

It didn't take her a second to understand who he was talking about. His parents. Shivanya was the only person who knew what they were like when he told them he wanted to be a lawyer. The farewell. She closed her eyes as the day flashed in front of her. She remembered the look on his face, his distraught eyes.

"Dev, baby, I understand that. And I am so sorry I couldn't get it earlier. I should have known. In my will of loving them as my parents in law, I forgot how they had been towards you. I don't know a lot, but what I do know is that it couldn't have been easy. But it is now. Now you have me. And I will stand by you forever and ever. You'll never have to 'crawl back' to anyone. And your mistakes don't define you Dev."

"It's not your fault. I should have told you, I should have communicated. That's the one thing you'd asked me to do, and I messed that up too. It's hard to forget that I have someone in my corner, I have fought the entire world alone. And that's why when you spoke yesterday I got really defensive. I am sorry for not understanding your point, and for making you cry. My heart still hurts when I think of it."

"It's okay. I promise to keep reminding you that I am here, right beside you. You never have to fight alone anymore. And don't worry about the crying thing. It was two months worth of frustration coming out."

"Still, I am sorry for being an asshole. I promise I will never repeat this behaviour again, and if I do I give you permission to smack sense into me."

Shivanya let out a small laugh, just holding him tighter.

"Will do. I am sorry too, I might've been a bit too pushy. Now let me go. You have to go to work."

"Nope. I emailed the boss right before you woke up. I told him there's some family stuff I need to attend to, and I can't show up to work today. And he agreed. Said I needed a break."

"See, even your boss gets it. Even I don't have to work today. Want to go on that date tonight?"

"Hell yes. And we can spend the day with your parents and Shaurya."

"Maybe invite everyone for lunch? Including your parents, Dhruv and Dhriti?"

Dev hesitated at first, but then looked at her expectant face.

"As if I can say no to you. Ok. Call them all."

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The Singhanias were not expecting an invite to a family lunch by their daughter in law, but were ecstatic to receive one.
Deven Singhania was proud of his choice of daughter in law. He had seen Shivanya during a medicine seminar he was forced to attend as he was a trustee in the host hospital, and his first thought was how she would make a great daughter in law with the grace she possessed. He immediately figured out her name and family details, and was happy to see that her parents were looking for a match for her. The rest, as they say, is history. Dev wasn't informed about this, as they were worried he'd say no.
Soon, they had reached Dev and Shivanya's apartment and saw everyone there already. Dhruv and Dhriti had made it directly from work.

Shivanya opened the door when the bell rang and saw her in laws standing there. For a moment Dev's words from this morning rang in her head, and yet she smiled and greeted them with hugs. She was determined to make them realise that just because Dev chose a career they didn't want him to choose, doesn't make it right for them to treat him the way they do.
She lead them to the living room, where greetings ensued. She saw how Dev's mother went to give him a hug, which he returned half heartedly and how his father just nodded at him before they all settled down.

Shivanya looked at the scene in front of her with mixed feelings, and that was the moment she determined something.

I will make things right for my family before our first anniversary. Dev will have everything he has ever wanted in his life.

And as the day went on, they spent time with their family, went to their first date as a married couple, spent quality time together, walked in silence at India Gate with ice creams and then came back home to cuddle to sleep, this thought didn't leave her head.

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Hey guys! Here is the update. It's a little shorter than usual, but the story has actually started now. Also, I'm not planning on dragging this book a lot. So there are only 12-13 more chapters left.

Hope you like it!