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Anika's Point of View

"Nothing has happened Vikram...at least not yet." I held a tearful smile and wrapped my hand around his arm. He flinched under my touch. I could tell he was forcing himself to smile.  His eyes fluttered back towards Mallika who appeared to look towards us bitterly.

Shivaay's gaze met mine briefly. He plastered a tearful smile and looked towards Vikram and my hands that were entwined into one. There was evident pain across his eyes, but he attempted to submerge it not wanting to ruin the moment.

"Nothing at all Vikram. I was just telling Anika to take good care of you from now on. Afterall, you are deserving of her love."

Shivaay's words stung a needle into my heart. I felt regret overcome me from the realization how I dared to share a part of love I held in my heart for Vikram. How I dared to love Vikram after having a broken heart. A broken heart that holds a broken love is far better than daring to love someone again...because there is nothing like first love. Nothing as pure as first love.

"Ah of course. But that is not to be said Shivaay...I already know how much my Anika loves me and will take care of me."

Mallika appeared to grumble from Vikram's statement. Her green envious eyes tracking Vikram's lips that laid a soft innocent kiss on my forehead. Shivaay threw us a bitter smirk and nodded in silence, not wanting to pointlessly argue.

"Come let's us sit down and eat." Vikram led me down to the dining area in a private corner of the restaurant. Vikram pulled out a chair for me to sit only to turn and pull out another chair next to him for Mallika to sit in as well. My eyes watched them carefully. Vikram's hand lightly brushed against her back as they exchanged a quick look of desire. Mallika took a seat next to him before giving Shivaay a smile though her eyes only lingered at Vikram.

I sighed and looked the other way not hoping what I was thinking to be true. No it cannot be true that Vikram and Mallika may be having something going on. Not at all true. Vikram has loved me for years. In fact, he is the one who pursued me in medical school. So, how can I even doubt his love? Maybe it's prewedding jitters that are getting to me. It's better to not think of this. Not at all.

"How was the ad shoot today sweetheart?" Shivaay wrapped his arm around Mallika's shoulder and looked straight ahead at me. He held a sheepish smile as he continued to stare at me, like he was taunting me. But that is foolish of you Shivaay...nothing you do will have an affect on me. That feeling of jealousy has long gone past.

"It was great. I was telling Vikram just about it before you guys came. He was helping me figure out the logistics of it since the ad shoot had a minor problem today regarding payment-so he was offering to talk with production and help out."

Oh so that is what they both were talking about. And here I was thinking of something else. Anika, how wrong of you to question Vikram's intentions.

"Well you could have told me Mallika. It would have been perfectly fine. I can handle it too." Shivaay broadened his shoulders and looked at Vikram with a glare. Clearly the brothers share animosity, but pretend there is peace. I can sense Shivaay is jealous, but not worth it over a model girlfriend who he eventually will break up with for another girl.

"Of course you can sweetie, but you are busy with the hospital! So I asked Vikram for this minor favor." Mallika squeezed his hand tightly as if to shut him up before he spoke more.

"Good evening, what will you like today?" The waitress interrupted the seeming awkwardness that existed amongst all four of us.

"Yes of course. I would like an oat salad for my fiancé here-" Vikram without even asking me, decided to order on behalf of me. My eyes widened from hearing the order since it was completely wrong.

"Anika does not eat oats. She is allergic to them." Shivaay snapped before I could even open my mouth.

Vikram shot him a darting look before he eyed back at me. I smiled softly and nodded, though, hating to agree with Shivaay he was correct. I am allergic to oats. In fact, I vividly remember when I ate oats for the first time at 5 years old with Shivaay as my witness.

As usual, our moms had us both on a play date and I decided to eat oats only to choke almost to death before Shivaay screamed for our mothers to come save me. What do I remember the most about this scary memory?...Five year old Shivaay holding my hand tightly and having his arms wrapped around me while he consoled me with a soft, sweet voice. His voice smoothened my panic as tears shed through my eyes. That is the first and last memory I have of him consoling me with such kindness and oddly I still remember it.

"I believe that is Mallika's favorite salad though...Surprising you do not know the likes and dislikes of the woman you are about to marry tomorrow." Shivaay threw me a look. I could tell he was at the edge of his patience, though kept his silence for peace. I felt my heart sting in pain from hearing that, however, I kept a smile hoping that it was a genuine mistake.

"Oh yes sorry Anika. I completely forgot. Work has been insane lately. My apologies. What would you like?"

I sighed and stared at the menu as everyone else began to place their orders. Being as bland as I can be, I placed an order for a lasagna and called it a day. I took a deep troubled breath and continued to follow my gaze back towards Vikram and Mallika who both appeared to exchange constant looks at each other before looking back at me and Shivaay respectively.

Shivaay drummed his hands loudly on the table. The rhythm of his hands got louder and louder while the scorn on his face dared to not disappear. The rhythm a perfect reflection of the anger he drummed within himself tonight, but attempted to keep under the surface to not cause chaos. His anger is chaotic and better to not be challenged.

"Well what a wonderful night to be here today. I am glad we all decided to have dinner before the wedding. A nice break from the stress." Mallika strangely friendly than normal. Let's just say she is not friendly. In fact, I find her the perfect demonic match for the moron sitting at this table.

"Of course, a great idea indeed to get dinner. So...how is work going?" I looked at Vikram and Mallika. Vikram handles the advertising aspect of Oberoi Incoporations. Oberoi Incorporations over the year has evolved into handling hospitals, oil, and entertainment. For a while, Vikram has roped in Mallika to do advertisements for big name brands associated with the Oberois.

Vikram and Mallika exchanged another worried look before plastering fake smiles.

"Wonderful! It has been great to have this opportunity to model-a huge break...all because of Vikram of course!" Mallika threw a sweet, flirtaous smile to Vikram without any shame. Shivaay appeared unaffected as he picked up his phone that was vibrating loudly on the table.

I tightened my lips together. Vikram gave the break? Or did luring Shivaay do the trick? I am surprised Shivaay does not care nor has a he responded to Mallika's comment.

"Yes of course...I will be visiting soon in a day or two. It's my brother's wedding or else I would have come early." Shivaay held a concerned look. Sadness grazed across him. It was nothing like of him at all, but he appeared worried which is a rare mood I ever see him in.

He slammed the phone shut, but right before I could catch a peek on the screen that said "Greigo Hospital". My eyes widened in surprise. The local mental health instutition is calling him? For what and why? Has Shivaay finally reached insanity? I joked at the thought, but could tell Shivaay was deeply concerned.

"How is the hospital going for both of you?"

"Good" Shivaay and I replied at the same time. We both caught each other a look, surprised how in sync we were considering how our entire lives we both have been out of sync, never meeting each other's wavelengths.

Mallika let out a laugh and bit her lip in curiosity. She looked intrigued. It looked like she had just weaved a web of dangerous betrayal in her mind.

"Not surprised by how both of you said the answer at the same time! Both of you have been friends for a long time right?" Mallika questioned with a sneaky smile.

I rolled my eyes and took a bite of my lasagna angrily. I took a sip of my water that oddly had a bitter taste to it-wow this tastes really bad.

"Not friends exactly." I snapped at her.

Moodiness is something that defines me and right now I feel moody and freaking annoyed. Annoyed by everything. Annoyed by how her and Vikram keep snatching looks at each other. Annoyed by how Shivaay knows my allergies, but my husband of tomorrow does not. Annoyed that how Vikram and Mallika have developed some sort of chemistry that is a threat to Vikram and my relationship.

Shivaay stood taken aback from the comment for a moment. He did not expect the immediate reply. He let out a chuckle wanting to look nonchalant and unaffected by the comment.

"I can guarantee we will never be friends let alone on good terms. We both just have been forced to be hooked to the hip since we were little because our parents were mutual friends. Our parents were in a disillusion that we both can be great friends just like them and continue the family tradition. However, she hates me and I..." Shivaay paused.

Our eyes locked instantly. I felt my heartbeats increase. Memories of our past suddenly rushed back to me. Every single moment began to replay in front of us. Every memory we both have secretly shared, afraid to reveal to the world. I felt tears force them way into my eyes, but I locked them shut with my throat not daring to waver to the man in front.

"I am surprised that instead of Vikram and Anika, it hasn't been you two..." Mallika broke the silent tension between us.

I felt anger within me from the statement, not liking it one bit. How dare she make that comment at the eve of my wedding? How can she think of such a vile thought?

"How dare you even say that? How can you even think of such a..." I crawled my nails against the table ready to chew her out.

"Anika, Mallika did not mean it in that manner. She was likely joking right?" Vikram coming to her immediate defense. My mouth widened in surprise not liking one bit how he did not even react with anger-in fact he is defending that idiot?

Mallika smirked and took a bite of her salad in amusement.

"Mallika you have no right to make a statement like that at all. And Vikram should you not be upset with that comment that is out of line! Even I am upset by it!" Shivaay slammed his chair back and took a shot of his wine. I can tell he is getting ready to yell at Mallika, but before he could Mallika broke into a loud cough.

She appeared to be choking on her salad. Before Shivaay and I could react to help her, Vikram took a hold of her shoulders and got her up from the table.

"Mallika are you okay?!" Vikram grabbed a glass of water for her. His hand wrapped tightly around her shoulder. Her hand entwined into his.

I felt my legs weaken. My vision turned into fog. Numbness overcame me with the inability to comprehend what I was just seeing. Denial entered me. I dared to not look at the truth that stood before me. I know I should react. I should say something. I should do something...I should yell, I should scream, I should cry...but all I can feel is numbness. Only numbness.

If tomorrow was not the day of my wedding, I would be questioning Vikram and Mallika. I would not neglect what I have been seeing tonight. But,...what can I do? How can I break my parents' heart? They have forever envision this wedding-this proposal. Their reputation is on the line...and even if Vikram and Mallika have something...what can I do? I can do nothing.

I could tell Shivaay had caught on to my feelings. He began to stare at me intently not once looking away. Not once did he look at Mallika. No string of jealousy occurred to him. In fact, he looked at me with pity. I could tell he felt some level of sadness for me. I could feel it. All these years, I have only felt Shivaay's emotions of course....Shivaay is the most dearest person to my heart...he was. He was many years ago...not anymore.

Shivaay's shoulder brushed against mine gently. I raised my eyes and looked into deep blue ones. I could see his heart beating vigorously against his chest that moved up and down quickly. I could tell he was turning red out of anger...the disrespect that was being shown to me. His finger lightly grazed against mine, only to sent a chill down my spine.

I lowered my gaze in silence and raised my phone in my hand. I took a grasp of it and placed it against my ear, ready to escape this horrible nightmare-not wanting to believe it for a moment.

"Yes, of course, I will be there soon. No worries, I will be there okay?" I replied to the fake caller on the phone.

Pretending to be on the phone-my classic escape.

"Um...sorry the hospital needs me for an emergency case. I have to cut dinner short. But, I will see you tomorrow sweetheart..." I snatched a kiss on Vikram's cheek and looked back at Mallika who had calmed down. She threw me a death glare, indicative of the future she was to bring to me. Somewhere I know tomorrow is going to be a tragedy.

"Of course, I will see you tomorrow for the big day. I cannot wait for it." Vikram smiled nervously. I can tell something is disturbing him and I somewhere deep down know what it is.

I sighed and gave him a weak smile before grabbing my purse and beginning to walk out.

"I will give Anika a ride since she came with me. Plus, we both are on the same call team..." I heard his voice behind me.

I closed my eyes tightly from realizing my foolish mistake. Of course Shivaay and I are on the same call team tonight for cardiology. How can I forget? I sighed and quickened my pace out the door and down the sidewalk.

Footsteps quickened themselves behind me. I felt tears flee themselves and drop down my cheeks. I bit my tongue and wiped my tears away furiously not wanting Shivaay to see them once. I felt an instant rush of dizziness overcome me. My legs ready to give out any moment. Chaotic confusion swept me without a reason at all. I sighed and forced myself to continue to walk, not wanting Shivaay to catch up to me.

"Anika wait! Where are you going?!" He yelled after me while I continued to walk not wanting to talk to anyone at the moment.

I tugged my finger tightly around the ring on my finger-that felt like a burden at the moment. God, how can I be so foolish once again? How did I even think I would not be fooled again? Without a thought, I decided to cross the busy street in front of me.

Suddenly, I heard loud honking behind me. Bright lights flashed before my eyes. A scream escaped from my lungs. I found myself being thrown back. And suddenly everything went dark.

***

Shivaay's Point of View

Life flashed before my eyes. My breaths stopped for a second. Fear took hold of me. I went still for a moment unable to believe what I had just seen. Suddenly,  tears ran down my cheeks. I began to run. My feet slid down the black pavement only to gain their grasp. I continued to run towards the lifeless body that laid in front of me.

"Anika! Anika!"

All I could think in that moment was Anika. The very name that has consumed, intoxicated me, and driven me to my limits in the past 7 years, nevertheless my entire life. I pushed my way through the crowd of people, only to see my life laying silently on the ground. 

Without any hesitation, I grabbed her and pulled her into my arms. Her hair cascading down her face to cover the bits of blood that covered her face. She appeared to whimper before she buried her face into my neck, finding comfort in my presence.

"Anika! Are you okay?! Anika!" I placed my palm against her cool, wet cheek. Raindrops began to slowly pour down on us. The rain a symbol of the pain I felt at the very moment from the realization that I was so close to losing her, but did not.

She barely opened her eyes to capture me in her vision. Her hand slowly slid up my damp, white shirt to my neck to pull me closer to her. The heat of our bodies merged into one not daring once to let go of each other.

"I-I am fine...Gosh I feel so dizzy right now. Why am I seeing two of you Mr. Demon??" Anika broke into a fit of giggles.

I looked at her in confusion. This is unlike Anika, why is she behaving this way? I glanced back at the car that stood in front.Thankfully, It barely had brushed against Anika's leg, so that cannot be a cause of her odd behavior.

Soon a police officer came to seen. I led Anika down to the cement pavement of the sidewalk as the driver followed along. The driver apologized furiously and definitely appeared guilty. I nodded my head at him and let him go knowing he was not at fault considering he pressed his brakes pretty hard to avoid colliding into Anika.

"Are you sure you don't want to press charges?" The policeman asked and I nodded as I recounted the story to the police officer.

Anika laid in my lap and continued to giggle without a reason at all. The policeman looked at her in curiosity considering it definitely is weird that a girl, who just was about to be knocked out of life by a car, is laughing without a care in the world.

"Uhh...her wedding is tomorrow, so she is just a bit out of it." I made an excuse and he smiled with acknowledgement.

"Oh yes I am getting married to-to-tomorrow officer- to the biggest asshole to exist on this planet! My asshole!-- Excuse me lameness!" Anika drawled her words at the officer before attempting to pull herself up from the ground. I pretended to be in on the act as I wrapped my hand around her waist tightly to life her up.

Anika broke into another laugh and wrapped her arms around my neck tightly.

"Well aren't you handsome Mr. Oberoi?"

The hair behind my hair rose up as I felt her drag her finger lazily down my neck. Her cooing voice doing a number on me instantly. I felt my legs weaken in her presence, though I attempted to hold on to my strength and maintain the stoic nature I have nurtured all these years.

"I guess I will let the soon to be couple alone." My eyes widened as I was ready to deny in front of the officer that he had a misconception. However, Anika smiled widely and saluted the officer. Her arms still wrapped around me while she dangled her feet against the ground, barely able to keep steady.

"Tha-nkk yoouuu..." Anika sang as the policeman went off his way. I immediately looked at Anika in anger not liking one bit how she behaving at this moment and giving the wrong idea to the officer.

She threw me a charming smile. That awful smile that always had gotten her way with me. Her threatening pearly white teeth and those stupid, beautiful full red lipstick stained lips that I disdain so hard, but dream of often---ENOUGH to charm me and make me mute.

She stared at me intently. My eyes locked into hers not daring once to look away. Rain pattered upon the both of us. Her beautiful red satin dress clung tightly to her wet body. Her beautiful waves now collapsed gently against her shoulders. My hands shaking delicately against her waist, knowing to let go, but not wanting to.

She leaned in closer to me. Her nails dug into my neck as she grabbed the collar of my shirt and pulled me against her. My breaths shuttered for a moment, taken aback by her boldness that is a complete contrast to her shy, introverted nature.

"You are so handsome. The things I would do to be with you...why is it that when I am near you, you drive my senses wild in a way that even Vikram cannot? Hmmm?" Her voice had dropped down to a sharp, steady whisper, so only I could hear her inner dark, forbidden thoughts.

Her statement watering my ego. A sense of pride overcame me knowing that I hold a higher place than Vikram somehow in Anika's life. Even though it is wrong to be proud of this feeling...I cannot deny the fact that Anika does hold a special place in my heart and to know that she felt this feeling is enough for me to let her go tomorrow when she marries Vikram....if she marries him. We cannot ignore what we saw between him and Mallika at the restaurant today.

"Anika what has gotten into you? Are you feeling alright?" I placed my palm against her neck and lifted her chin up, wanting to read her eyes that could reveal what she truly was feeling. But, her bloodshot red eyes said nothing-they were plain and cold.

However, tears did stream out of those beautiful hazel eyes of hers. She smiled weakly and wrapped her hand tightly around my wrist, not daring to let go. She took a deep, quivered breath and stared at me with the most sad, broken eyes that I had ever seen.

"I don't know...I don't know if I am okay. Everything hurts right now. Everything. Not just physically, but also here...it hurts here..."

She grabbed my palm and trailed it lightly against her beating heart. My hand flinched for a moment wanting to crawl back, but it found itself innocently listening to the gente, flutters of her heart that began to increase its beats as it felt my touch.

"It hurts with your touch. It hurts with your presence. It hurts so much to the point that I want to take it out of me...for years it hurts because of you...and now your brother. Your awful brother who did the same thing to me that you did."

My heart broke into a million pieces. I felt myself crawl into the cave of shame. Her raspy, tearful voice enough to throw me down the hill of confidence and ego into a pit of guilt and humiliation. I lowered my gaze like a guilty prisoner. I lowered myself in front of her knowing I am her wrongdoer.

Memories of our past swept before me, but I submerged them deeply into the back of my mind not ready to look at them. 

"Anika...I..." Before I could dare to break myself open, Anika grabbed me and pulled me into her arms.

Silence overcame the both of us. Our bodies merged into one, once again. Her arms snaked themselves around me to pull me closer against her beating heart. Our wet, liquid hearts merged and molded themselves into each other instantly, not once showing any hesitation. My hands wrapped around her tightly immediately. A sudden urge to embrace her and hold her in my protection overcame me. I closed my eyes shut, wanting to capture this moment forever.

Rain continued to fall upon the both of us. Lightened roared behind us, to warn of the storm to come. But, our hearts showed no fear. We continued to hold each other without any shame or regret. She placed her lips gently against my heart, keeping them still against it, not wanting to move away once.

"Let's go..." She mumbled in innocence and without a thought, I grasped on to my chivalry and came back to reality, knowing that I had to do the right thing.

I grabbed her hand and slowly led her the way down...not knowing once I was walking her towards our doom...towards a path that would only be full of thorns.

Upcoming:

I held her in my arms as she slept silently against my shoulder. I held on to my fortitude knowing that I cannot cross that invisible wall that keeps us apart. Knowing that she is not mine anymore.

Anika slipped herself carefully into the hotel bed, not once daring to sneak out of her asleep. I sat next to her hoping that this time never passes.

***

Well, Shivaay and Anika do share a past. There is more than meets the eyes considering initially in Chapter 1 they were bickering, but now are appearing to dwell back into their past that holds a deeper meaning and deeper feelings...More to be written soon :).

I am almost done with studies, so a lot of free time to write, thank you for reading as always :).