Heart's Desire

Confession

Anika felt devastated after hearing those words from Shivaay. She never expected such a response from him. She tried her best to console herself, but she couldn't manage it. Then, a reckless idea crossed her mind as a way to forget him. She rushed to her father's bar at home, only to find it locked since her parents were out of town for a meeting. Anger surged through her veins.

"Dhada!" she called out to the driver.

"Yes, ma'am..." he hurried to her, panting heavily.

"Take me to the bar," she ordered, getting into the car. Initially, her driver resisted, but after her threats, he reluctantly took her there. Her mind and heart couldn't bear the pain caused by Shivaay.

At the bar, she sat at the counter with a heavy heart.

"Ma'am... what would you like?" the bartender asked.

"Vodka... plain," she said without looking at him. He served it, and she downed it in one gulp.

"One more," she ordered, still avoiding eye contact. He obliged, and again, she drank it in a gulp.

"One more," she requested again. This time, the bartender didn't serve her. She looked up to find Shivaay holding the glass.

"What are you doing here?" Shivaay asked in a low tone.

"One more," she demanded from the bartender.

"Stop it," Shivaay told the bartender, who immediately complied.

"Hey, you... this is none of your business," Anika snapped angrily, signaling the bartender to give her another drink. When he did, Shivaay snatched it from her and smashed it.

"Are you mad?" Anika yelled, her eyes blazing with anger.

"Are you asking me? Look at yourself! You're the one who's gone mad," Shivaay shouted back.

"One correction, Mr. Oberoi. I was mad, but not anymore. Now I see reality clearly. This alcohol helps me forget the mistake I made. So, leave me ALONE!" she yelled at the top of her voice.

"Anika... I'm sorry," Shivaay said with tears in his eyes, and Anika looked at him in disbelief.

"Sorry? Are you serious? You think 'sorry' can heal the wound? You broke my trust. Why? Why did you do it?" Anika grabbed his collar, demanding an answer, but he remained silent, knowing how deeply his words had hurt her.

"You know what? I was happy for the past few months. Your care, your friendship—it took me to a new world, a world of joy, a world of happiness. I felt free from all the pain. But you... you pulled me out of that and locked me back in a dark room, causing even more pain in my heart. I hate you! I hate you, Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi!"

"Why me? Why always me?" she cried, her legs giving out as she collapsed to the floor. Shivaay crouched down in front of her.

"I started to fall for you... I longed for the love I never got from my parents. And just when I started to yearn for your love, you broke my heart into pieces. Why does this always happen to me?" she sobbed, her heartache pouring out in words.

"Everything I wish for disappears before my eyes... You didn't even call me your friend. Am I just a classmate to you? Does nothing matter to you? Then why did you care for me? Why didn't you stay away from me? Please... it hurts," she cried, passing out before her body could hit the floor. Shivaay caught her in his arms, and his face was the last image she saw before losing consciousness.

The next morning, Anika regained consciousness but didn't open her eyes. She remembered her outburst from the previous night and felt terrible for revealing everything to him. She didn't want sympathy—she wanted love. That's why she had kept her past and her feelings to herself. She mentally prepared herself for what was to come and decided she didn't need him in her life anymore. But when she opened her eyes, the sight before her made her heart weak, and her resolve started to fade.