An Aesthetic Love: A Collection Of Shivika Short Stories

09| the power of love.

"Annika, just listen to me-"
"Nahi sun rahi mai. Kya karenge? Aapne suni meri baat? Ek baar. Itne saalon me ek baar maine apni taraf se aapse kuch maanga aur aap meri baat nahi manenge. Jaiye mujhe aapse baat nahi karni."
He puts his hands on  her shoulders.

"Shaant, meri jhaansi ki rani. Meri baat suno. Mai sirf itna keh raha tha ki mujhe ek bahut zaroori kaam hai, uske baad hum chalenge na!"

"Wahi toh mai keh rahi hoon Shivaay. Aapke liye sab zaroori hai mujhe chhod ke. Ek din maanga hai maine aapse. Aap mujhe woh bhi nahi de sakte. Jaiye apne kaam se chipke rahiye."

He sighs.

"Theek hai phir. Tumne nahi manna toh mat maano. Tumne kaha na ki mai kaam se chipka rahoon? Okay. Jaa raha hoon mai." He says, and is leaving when he hears, "aake guest room me so jaiyega, yeh kamra aapko nahi milega."

He mutters "tadibaaaz ladki" under his breath, and leaves.

Annika starts her outburst all alone.

"Baagad billa! Inke liye Valentine's Day baccho ki cheez hoti hogi but meri toh sun sakte hain na! Bade waade kiye the, tumhari har wish puri karunga, Valentine's Day ke naam pe mazaak kiya hai hamesha. Pichhle saal toh goli maar di thi uss 8 foot ke van manush ki wajah se. Ab maine kaha hai ki ek pure din ki outing pe chalte hain toh inhe kaam hai!" She says, and scrunches her nose, annoyed.

In the evening, when Shivaay comes home, completely exhausted, he rushes to his room only to find it locked.

"Isne sach me mujhe bahar nikal diya?" He asks himself, annoyed, before knocking the door.

"Fhat the wuck Annika, yeh sab kya hai? Tumhe sirf ek din bahar na le jane ke liye tum mujhe kamre se bahar nikal dogi?" He screams, before hearing laughing voices.

He turns around to see OmRu.

"Hass kyu rahe ho tum dono?" Shivaay asks, annoyed.
"Bhaiya- come on, as if aapko nahi pata ki hum kyu hass rahe hain. Bhabhi ne aapko kamre se bahar nikal diya," Rudra says, and starts laughing again.
"No but seriously Shivaay, aisa kya kar diya tune jo tere saath itni badi mishappening ho gayi?" Om asks, trying to control his smile.

"Not you too Om. Waise ek baat bata, what's with women and their love for Valentine's Day? Annika mujhse subah se pareshaan kar rahi hai kal bahar le jaane ke liye, like we enjoy a whole day together without any disturbances. Yeh koi baat hui? Mai apna kaam kaise chhod doon? Aur waise bhi, this entire valentine's day thing is just too childish and teenage stuff- I don't like it."
By the time he ends his speech, OmRu are standing jaw-dropped.

"Bhaiya- aapne bhabhi ko valentine's day par bahar le jaake enjoy karne se mana kar diya? Valentine's Day?" He isn't even able to continue.

"Shivaay, what is wrong with you? Tu valentine's day ko ignore kar raha hai, woh bhi uss kaam ke liye jo tu baaki pura saal karta hai?" He holds him by his shoulders, "Shivaay. Bhabhi ko kal bahar leke jaa. Woh khush hongi. Tu bhi khush hoga. Trust me. Just spend some time not as Shivaay Singh Oberoi but as Annika's Shivaay. Trust me, you'll feel so good."
He nods.

"You're right, Om. Mujhe usse bahar le jana chahiye. Waise hi aajkal ek saath hum bilkul bhi time spend nahi kar paate." He says with a smile, but it fades as he realises the truth.

"Abhi toh mujhe guest room me hi jaana padega." He sighs, and looking at OmRu, leaves.

The next morning, Annika wakes up
with a huge heart shaped soft toy beside her with a note on it.