An Imperfect Story ||✔️||

15.

Next morning, Anika sleepily patted the other side of the bed, jerking awake on finding it empty.

Anika: Shiv...Shivaay...

"Anika."

Shivaay came out of the bathroom. Anika sighed in relief as Shivaay sat next to her.

Shivaay: Kya hua? Tum theek toh ho na?

Anika nods her head affirmatively. Shivaay mouthed an "okay" before getting up and grabbing his car keys. Anika checked the time.

Anika: Shivaay aap subaj ke 5 baje kahaan jaa rahe hain?

Shivaay: Bas, aise hi, nowhere special.

Anika: Aap...sab theek hain na?

Shivaay: Ya, everything is fine. Bas drive pe jaa raha hoon... Come with me.

Anika: *confused* Huh?

Shivaay: Mere saath chalo Anika.

Anika had a lot of questions; where were they going? And why at this time? But looking into Shivaay's eyes, she brushed the questions aside and freshened up before heading out with him.

They were out on the vacant roads in Shivaay's car. Shivaay was focused on the road but something was different. He was driving not to reach a destination; he was just driving. Anika didn't know if it was like him or unlike him but it was certainly different.

Anika: Shivaay hum...hum kahaan jaa raha hain?

Shivaay: Pata nahi Anika.

Anika furrowed her eyebrows.

Shivaay: Kabhi-kabhi jab kaheen door chale jaane ka mann karta hain toh main subah drive par aa jata hoon aur kuch der ke leyi sab bhool jaata hoon.

Anika: Main samajh sakti hoon. Kabhi-kabhi raat ko, jab Sahil so jaata tha, toh main bhi Champa ko leke chal padti thi, tare dekhti thi aur subah hone se pehle aa jaati thi.

Shivaay passed her an acknowledging smile before looking back the road. Anika leaned her head against the window and looked outside. Something dawned upon her and tears formed in her eyes. Shivaay saw this in the mirror and pulled over to the side. Anika slowly looked towards him and he held her arm.

Shivaay: *concerned* Kya hua Anika? Abhi toh hum baatein kar rahe the, tum achaanak se ro kyoon rahi ho?

Anika: *whimpering* Mujhe bahot darr lag raha hain Shivaay...aapke liye.

Shivaay: *confused* Me...mere liye?

Anika: Jabse main aapki life mein aayi hoon, aapki jaan par ban aayi hain. Me...meri wajah aap...aapko goli lagi thi Shivaay. Mere paas jo bhi aata, mujhse door chala jaata hain. Aur main aapko nahi kho sakti, kabhi nahi.

Shivaay: *hugs Anika* Maine kaha hain na Anika, na main kaheen jaaoonga aur na tumhe jaane doonga. Tum meri jaan ho aur...

Anika: Shivaay Singh Oberoi ki jaan itni aasaani se nahi jaayegi.

Shivaay: Aur aisa kabhi mat sochna ki tum mere liye ya kisi ke liye bhi bad-luck ho. Anika, mere upar humesha hi khatre rehte hain. Likin...

Anika: Likin?

Shivaay: *guilty* Likin meri wajah se tumpar hi attacks hone lage Anika. Stalkers, poison, snipper; yeh sab sirf is liye kyoonki tum meri biwi ho. Tumhara saath meri sabsi badi taaqat hain aur... tumhe khone ka darr meri sabse badi kamzoori. Main tumhe already apni bewakoofi ki wajah se ek baar khone wala tha aur woh main dobaara hone nahi de sakta. Main tumhe nahi kho sakta Anika, kabhi nahi.

Anika: Jab tak...jab tak aap mere saath, main aapka saath nahi chhodoongi.

Shivaay: Aur na hi main tumhara.

Anika wiped her tears away then stepped out of the car.

Shivaay: Anika kahaa...

Anika opened his side of the car door and pulled him out.

Anika: Bahot rona-dhona ho gaya. Baahar aayiye, thodi taaza hawa khaa lijiye.

Shivaay chuckled and locked the car before strolling around the neighbourhood they ended up driving to. There were small houses, their front lawns were covered with trees and flowering plants. There wasn't a lot activity going on, making the area pretty quiet. The early morning sky and cool breeze added to the serenity.

Anika: Shivaay, yeh kaunsi jagah hain?

Shivaay: *reading a signboard* Gulmohar Street. It's a nice locality.

Anika hummed in response and  looked around. She spotted an ice cream stall and her face lit up.

Anika: Ice-cream khaayenge?

Shivaay: Huh?

Anika: Darasal, subah-subah itna rona-dhona aur bhaari-bharkam baatein ho gayi... aur maine filmo mein dekha hain aisa hone baad hero-heroine ice-cream khaate hain, ek gaana bajta aur hero-heroine phirse apni tadi mein aa jaate hain. Aur *points to the stall* woh ice-cream bhi kisi aire-gaire natthu-khaire ki nahi hain, branded hain.

Shivaay: *giggles* Anika, you're too cute. Too cute.

Anika, too, giggled and went to buy the ice-cream. She returned and they leaned on the car while eating it. While eating, Shivaay let out small, dry chuckle. Anika looked towards him.

Shivaay: *sadly chuckles* Agar 6 mahine pehle wala Shivaay Singh Oberoi mujhe aaj dekhta toh mujhe pehchaanne se inkaar kar deta.

Anika: Aap aisa kyoon bol rahe hain?

Shivaay: Kyoonki woh Shivaay Singh Oberoi kehta "meri poori life mere control mein hain. Mera dil bhi." Ab toh...kuch bhi pehle jaisa nahi raha.

Anika: *holds his hand* Agar sahi nahi hain, toh aap aur main, hum sahi kar denge. Aur nahi bhi kar paaye toh maan lenge jo badla achhe ke liye badla.

Shivaay: *squeezes her hand* Thank you Anika, mera saath dene ke liye.

Anika: Saat janam aapka saath dene ka vaada kiya hain. Yeh toh pehla janam hi hain.

Shivaay intertwined their fingers and they share a contented smile. They finish their ice-creams and prepare to head back home. Shivaay was about to unlock the car when they both hear a scream.

"HELP!"