An Imperfect Story ||✔️||

20.

The Oberois watched as Svetlana and Mrs Kapoor left Oberoi Mansion, without turning back. They were trying to process what had just happened until they were pulled out of their trance by the clicking of Tia's heels. She made her way to Pinky.

Tia: Pinky mo… Pinky aunty, I’m really sorry. Aapne mujhe bahot pyaar diya, bahot izzat di. Likin maine sirf naatak kiya. Mere dil aap sabke liye sirf nafrat thi. Maine aap sabko bahot hurt kiya hain likin aap logo ne mujhe sirf pyaar diya. I’m sorry.

Pinky closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, trying to muffle a cry. A tear rolled down Tia's face before she moved towards ShivIka.

Tia: Anika, Shivaay, jo maine aap logon ke saath, uske liye ‘sorry’ bahot chhota word hain. Aur jo aap logon ne mere liye kiya, uske liye ‘thank you’ bahot chhota shabd hain. But I still want to say… *joins hands* I’m sorry for everything that I did. And thank you for everything you did.

Anika: *lowers Tia’s hand* Tia, agar tum hume sach mein thanks ya sorry bolna chahti ho, toh promise karo apni life aaj se sirf Khushi aur pyaar se jeeyogi. Jo humne kho diya hain, use hum kabhi waapas nahi la sakte. Likin jo humare paas hain, uski kadr na kare toh use bhi kho sakti hain. Main nahi chaahti humari nafrat mein ek… aur maasoom apni jaan gavaaye. *holds Tia’s hand* Zindagi har kisiko doosra mauka nahi deti, likin tumhe diya hain.

Tia: I promise you Anika. And main universe se pray karoongi ki tum dono humesha saath raho aur khush raho.

Shivaay: Take care Tia.

Tia: You too.

Tia took Dushyant’s hand and left with him. Oberoi family watched them leave, feeling the dense atmosphere starting to lighten.

Shivaay and Anika looked towards each other.

Anika: Yeh sab, aakhir kaar…

Shivaay: *completes her sentence* Khattam ho gaya. It’s finally over.

Shivaay puts his arm around Anika’s shoulder while she leans her head against his. Om walk upto Shivaay, with Rudra in tow, and keeps his hand on the eldest’s shoulder. Shivaay put his other arm around OmRu and they gently hugged each other. After a few moments Jahnvi’s voice broke them apart.

Jahnvi: Oh my God! Tia aur Svetlana related hain aur woh bhi Mr Kapoor se, hum toh kabhi sapne mein nahi soch sakte.

Shakti: Aur hum unke itne bade jaal mein phans jaate, *looks towards ShivIka with a small smile* agar Shivaay aur Anika nahi hote. Aakhir sab theek ho gaya.

Dadi walked towards the couple and placed her hands on their cheeks.

Dadi: Theek hua nahi hain, Billu aur Anika ne theek kiya.

Shivaay: Dadi, humne toh bas wahi kiya jo hume sahi laga.

Dadi: Rab tum dono ki jodi banaye rakkhe aur tumhare sar se saari balayein taal de.

Dadi blessed them and they head towards their room.

Pinky: Anika.

They stopped when Pinky called to Anika. She walked towards Anika, tears filled in her eyes.

Pinky: *joins her hands* Maaf karde mujhe Anika. Tia aur uski maa tere khilaaf mere kaan bharti rahi aur main fools ki sunti gayi. Tujhe galat samjha, apne bete ke liye tujhe bad-lucks maanti rahi jabki tu ne sirf uski bhalayi chahi. Maine tujhe itna kuch bula, tere saath itna galat kiya likin tu ne ek baar palat kar kuch nahi kaha. Bas mere bacche ki madad karti gayi. Samaj nahi aa raha kis muh se maafi mangoon.

Anika: Pinky aunty, please maafi maang ke mujhe sharminda mat kijiye. Aap maa hain, aap Shivaay ki bhalayi hi toh chahti hain, isme galat kya hain. Aur mujhe aapse na koi shikayat hain, na kabhi thi. Toh aap maafi bilkul nahi maangenge.

Pinky: *cups her face* Mummyjee humesha kehti hain tu Shivaay ke takkar ki hain. Ab mujhe samajh aa rahi ki woh jo kehti hain, sach kehti hain. Tu mere Shivaay ke liye bilkul perfects hain.

Pinky hugged Anika and Anika reciprocated tightly, breaking down into tears. Pinky had finally accepted her. Shivaay, too, had tears in his eyes. Things were beginning to fall into place. 

The day was over in the blink of an eye. At night, Anika was standing nearby the poolside window, strands of her hair floating in the breeze. Shivaay entered the room and back-hugged, remembering the first time he accidentally hugged her in the same way. When Anika tensed up in his hold, he pulled away from and turned her around so she was facing him. He noticed the lines of tension on her face.

Shivaay: *concerned* Anika, tum pareshaan ho?

Anika: *dismissively* Nahi toh.

Anika went and sat on the bed. Shivaay sat beside her.

Shivaay: Anika, mujhe sach-sach batao.. *softens tone* *holds her hand* tum mujhe bata sakti ho, kya hain jo tumhe itna pareshaan kar raha hain.

Anika: *almost in tears* Shivaay, maa banna, mere apna koi hona, mera sapna tha. Aur aapke bacche ki maa ban paana sapne se bhi zyaada khoobsoorat. Likin woh sapna… toot gaya. Bikhar gaya.

Shivaay: Anika, aisi koi problem nahi hoti jiska koi solution na. Treatments options kayi saare hain. Aur doctor ne kaha tha na Yeh accident ki wajah se hua hain? Kayi baar shock ki wajah se bhi ho sakta hain likin phir theek bhi ho jaata hain. Yeh humare life ka ek challenge hain aur hum ise definitely overcome kar lenge. We’ll do it together. Main jaanta hoon jo ghav tumhe lage hain, unhe bharne bahot waqt lagega. Jitna bhi lage, lagne do Anika. Apne aap ko baihtar feel karne ke liye force mat karna. Tumhe rone ka mann kare to lena, gussa aaye toh gussa kar lena bas mujhse chhupna mat Anika. Main har kadam par tumhara saath dena chahta hoon aur doonga chahe jitna waqt lage.

Anika: Aap mere liye itna karenge, itna sahenge? Kyoon?

Shivaay: Maine tumhara haath thaama hain Anika. Shivaay Singh Oberoi ne yeh haath chhodne ke liye nahi pakda hain. Na main tumhara haath chhodunga, na saath chhodoonga. Chahe situation kaise bhi hui ho, tumne mera saath nahi chhoda. Mujhpar bharosa karna nahi chhoda. Toh main kaise chhod doon, hm?

Anika: Thank you Shiv…

Shivaay: Aye, apne haq ke liye thanks nahi bolte. Anika, hum ek doosre ko koi baat batane mein hesitate nahi karenge. Jo dil mein hoga, bol denge. Aur agar koi aisi baat hogi jo tumhe ya mujhe hurt kare, toh hum use baith ke discuss karenge. Hum dono ko ek doosre ke baare mein chhoti-badi, har baat jaanne ke haq hain, okay?

Shivaay wanted to say further but hesitated. Anika noticed and raised an eyebrow.

Anika: Arey, ab aap kyoon atak rahe hain. Aap kuch kehna chahte hain na, kahiya.

Shivaay: Anika, samajh nahi aa raha waqt aur jagah sahi hain ya nahi likin darr lag raha hain agar sahi waqt ke intezaar mein raha toh kaheen waqt na khattam ho jaaye.

Anika: Shivaay, kya hua? Aap achaanak aisi bhaari-bharkam aur daraavni baatein kyoon kar rahe hain? Aap theek hain na?

Shivaay: I…don’t know main kya keh raha hoon bas itna pata hain jo keh raha hoon…dil se keh raha hoon. Kya tum…tum sunogi?

Anika nodded.

Shivaay: *thinks to himself* Here goes everything.