Heart's Desire

Destiny changes in moments.

Destiny changes in moments... It's one of the bitter truths. Fourteen years ago, Shivaay was her destiny, but now everything has changed because of that incident. Even though Anika wants to forget everything, she can't forget the bitter past, where her trust and love for Shivaay were shattered into pieces.

After they both confessed their feelings, Anika's life took a pleasant turn on what had been a tasteless road. She started to love every moment she spent with Shivaay. He made her enjoy life by staying by her side. Their deep affection for each other made it difficult to stay apart, both physically and emotionally. They were bonded and had become one. But, as I said before, it was just a pleasant turn, and unfortunately, it was temporary.

Anika and Shivaay decided to pursue higher education abroad, so they had to undergo general checkups for their visas. They did the checkups separately. The Oberois didn't know that both Anika and Shivaay had applied to the same college, nor did they know about their relationship. But Shivaay's brothers did.

"Ms. Rao, you're two months pregnant," the doctor informed Anika, leaving her shocked.

"Preg... what...?" she stammered in disbelief.

"Yes, Ms. Rao, you're pregnant," the doctor clarified, but Anika couldn't process anything beyond that. She walked out and, in no time, tried to call Shivaay to tell him the news, but he didn't answer. She impatiently tried several times, but he never picked up.

"Ani... I'm at the dining table with my family, can't pick up the call," a message popped up from Shivaay.

"But... it's urgent... please pick up just once..." Anika texted back.

"Okay... wait," Shivaay replied, and five minutes later, he called her back. But for Anika, those five minutes felt like five hours.

"Hello... Shivaay," she said impatiently when she answered.

"Ani... what happened?" he asked, sensing the urgency in her voice.

"Shivaay..." she began to cry in fear.

"Anika... are you crying?" he asked with concern.

"Shivaay... I'm... I'm pregnant," she uttered through her sobs.

"What?" he asked, his tone suddenly tense.

"The doctor said I'm pregnant... I don't know what to do... I'm scared..." she continued, speaking rapidly, but he didn't respond.

"Shivaay, are you there?" Anika asked.

"Ah... yeah, I'm here," he replied, but his voice was low.

"Shivaay... I'm scared," she cried helplessly.

"Pregnant... how... what... what did you do?" he stammered.

"What did I do?" she asked, hurt by his words.

"Anika, I didn't mean that... Anika, are you there?" he tried to explain, but his earlier words had already pierced her heart. She ended the call, but he kept trying to reach her.

"Anika, please... I didn't mean that... pick up the phone," he pleaded in a message, but she ignored it. She switched off her phone as it filled up with his apologetic messages.

Anika rushed home, where she found her parents peacefully having lunch at the dining table. If her parents had been like others, she might have been afraid to tell them the news. But in her case, she didn't feel anything while revealing it to them.

"Maa, Papa," she called out.

They both raised their heads, surprised to hear her call them "Maa" and "Papa," though they didn't show it on their faces.