Mumma, Do You Love Me?

Chapter 14 - Gauri or Chulbul?

First off, I'm sorry for the very much delayed update. I'll try to update it weekly from now on. Please do comment and drop your votes! Stay tuned! Love to you guys! Happy belated Raksha Bandhan!!! Hope you guys had a safe and sound Raksha Bandhan celebration.

-Nivaa

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"Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!" Annika, Ansh and Pia kept demanding as Shivaay tried to turn a deaf ear. He had wanted to bring them somewhere else, somewhere special, but, they have another plan which he doesn't quite support.

"Shivaay, please! We eat Indian food even in home. Please, let's go grab pizza instead. Pretty please!" Annika whined as the two kids in the backseat looked at the couple hopefully.

"The only other food apart from the home cooked meal we eat is pizza. And even now you want pizza? Yaar, Annika, I'm so sick of pizza. Let's get something else, okay? What say, kids?" Shivaay looked up at the kids from the rear-view mirror.

"Okay, Papa!" Ansh agreed almost immediately, leaving Annika amazed. Her little boy was supposed to be on her side!

"What say if we get Subway sandwiches instead?" Shivaay dropped a suggestion and turned to look at Annika.

"Why are you even looking at me? You and Ansh decided everything today. Why not this too? Besides, no one ever allows me to decide on anything!" Annika faked her anger as she wrapped her arms around her torsoe.

Though Annika said it playfully, somehow, the words that she used reached Shivaay's heart.

"No one ever allows me to decide on anything!"

Well, he did that mistake too. When she had confessed that she wasn't ready to have a child just yet, he didn't listen to her. He had just forced his decision on her. When he wanted to end everything with her, he hadn't given her a chance to even explain herself. He had just shut her out. He hardly tried to reconcile despite him missing her a lot. He didn't even try to find out how she was doing without him and Ansh. Oh, how wrong he was to be adamant and firm on his own decision. He should have at least listened to her.

"Maybe Aditya had listened to her. He gives her the opportunity to talk and they seem to have an understanding that is beyond my comprehension. Perhaps, they were meant to be? Am I just fighting for nothing right now? Is it too late for us, Annika? Could it be that you're with me just because you want Ansh in your life? Should we proceed with the divorce?"

Shivaay was completely lost in his own thoughts for as long as the family were in the Pizzeria and had their dinner. He couldn't help but to ponder over their relationship equation and compare it to that of Annika and Aditya's. Perhaps, he made a mistake by asking him to leave his house? He didn't know what he was going to do to salvage whatever that remains. Is it possible to salvage anything at all or is it too late?

Without him realising, they had already finished their dinner and Annika offered to drive back this time around. She had noticed how Shivaay was zoned out after she faked her anger. She didn't realise that her playful banter actually had the power to stab that man's consciousness.

"Shivaay! Are you okay?" Annika asked once they had settled the kids at the rear seat and were about to climb into the front seat.

He had wanted to speak out, but he was mortified of the possible outcome of his banter. He was confused himself, how was he supposed to come to a conclusion and speak to her?