An Aesthetic Love: A Collection Of Shivika Short Stories

40| how it feels to have a heartbeat.

Time period: 3 months post separation. 

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Shivaay descends the stairs, probably lost in the thoughts of the woman who's 'his past that he's left behind, three months ago, she's out of his life, out of his system, and he wouldn't want to look behind', when he sees OmRu rushing in the living room, probably going somewhere.

He walks to them in confusion.

"Itni jaldi me kahan jaa rahe ho tum dono?" He asks them in confusion.

"Mat puch Shivaay, Mat puch. Kya karega jaan ke? Tujhe toh waise bhi koi farak nahi padta." Om says, not looking at him.

"Matlab kya hai tera Om? Seedha seedha bol na,"

"Commissioner ka phone aaya tha Shivaay. Unhone ne tujhe bhi phone kiya tha, par tera phone laga nahi. Unhone bataya ki...." Om trails off, not knowing how to continue.

"Ki? Bol na Om,"

"Unhone apni aankhon ke saamne chhoti maa ko," he tries to tell him, not knowing what to say.
"Mom ko? Mom ko kya?"

"Unhone chhoti maa ko kisi ki taraf goli chalate hue dekha."
"What?" Shivaay screams in surprise,
"Yeh tum kya keh rahe ho Om? Aisa-aisa nahi ho sakta!"

Om chuckles.
"Tu hass raha hai?" Shivaay frowns at him.
"Tu itne me hi surprise ho raha hai, Shivaay?"
"I don't know tu yeh sunke kaise react karega ki woh goli kisse lagi."
"Kisse?"

Om looks directly into his eyes, and says, "Annika bhabhi."

Shivaay literally felt the land slide from beneath his feet.
"K-kya kaha?"
"Nahi. N-nahi. Mai maan hi nahi sakta. Mom? Mom kyu Annika ko- nahi."

Om chuckles again.
"Abhi toh tujhe bahut kuch nahi pata Shivaay," he says sadly, keeping a hand on his shoulder, "anyway. Mujhe hospital jaana hai. See you soon."

Shivaay wants to go with him, but doesn't stop him. Why should he?
He's lost the right. 

Om has settled into the car and is going to start it when the door to the back seat opens.

A smile forms on his face, as without even looking, he knows its Shivaay.

"Chalein?" He asks, and when he sees Shivaay nodding subconsciously, lost in something, he starts the car.

When they reach the hospital, Shivaay rushes out of the car and into the hospital. OmRu follow him.

He is going to ask the receptionist about Annika when he notices Sahil sitting outside the operation theatre, alone.
He runs to him.

"Sahil?" He bends down to his height, and hugs him. He is crying.
"SSO," he says, sniffing and breaking the hug, "kahan the aap? Kyu nahi aaye aap iss baar jab Annika didi ki jaan ko khatra hua? Aapko pata hai, aapki mom-" he suddenly looks away.

Shivaay looks surprised. He makes Sahil face him.
"Mom kya Sahil?"

"Nahi. Mai aapse baat nahi karunga. Aapki mom ki wajah se Annika didi ki jaan khatre me hai. Mujhe aapse koi baat nahi karni."

Shivaay is about to speak up again when he feels a hand on his shoulder.
"Om?" He looks up to see him.

"Commissioner aaye hain, Shivaay," he says, and Shivaay stands up and walks to him.