father of my children

The words rang in Annika's ears.

I can't see her as the mother of my children.

She closed her eyes as frustrated tears flowed down. She had gone to give Om his evening tea and stopped outside the room hearing his voice. Oh, how she wished she hadn't stayed long enough to hear those words. Annika tried not to let it affect her. Their relationship was not that of a typical husband-wife and she was only in this house because Dadi had insisted that she stay, but being reduced to someone who wasn't good enough to be the mother of his children filled Annika with shame and disgust. For whom, she wasn't sure. 

As Shivaay walked into the room, Annika wiped away her tears and turned to him. He was looking at his phone when she spoke up.

"You don't have to worry, you know," she said. He looked up, confused.

"You don't have to worry. I won't ever want to be the mother of your children."

Shivaay's heart skipped a beat. She had heard him.

"Annika I...I didn't mean to-"

She raised her hand to stop him.

"You don't owe me an explanation. We're on the same page here, Mr. Oberoi. You can't see me as the mother of your children, and I will never want to bear children who will have you as their father."

As Annika left the room, Shivaay was forced to slump down on the bed by the sheer intensity of the pain in his heart.