Warning - 5000+ Words.

"Sahil? Has she came yet?" Kalyani asked, the worry in that old lady's voice can be recognised even to a deaf person, giving a exasperate sigh, she nodded to no one in particular and with a few words of consolation - enough for the little boy not to be distressed enough to take any drastic step - she ended the call and rubbed her palms over her wrinkled face for the up teenth time now and laid back over the couch for a few second of silence.

Whatever is happening is not right.

No she was her responsibility.

From the past one week the girl was acting weird, not exact weird but it seems she was upset for something. She tried to reason her but thought maybe she might be violating her personal space. But still, she should have at-least pushed her to the edge and asked her - that might have made her aware of the things which was going on around her. Maybe - a few minutes before on the phone she could have assure her brother that her sister was sound and safe somewhere, but nothing of it happened. Nothing. Her dearest Annika was missing. Since, from the time she left her house to come here in the mansion and it's already 11 pm and there was no sign of her.

Earlier she thought that she might have taken a leave even if it was unusual of her not calling and enlightening her of her absence but then - at exactly 9 o'clock - when she finally retired to her room after a hell lot of works since Annika was not there, she got the biggest shock of her life - Annika haven't reached home till now - from a little pissed off Sahil who was pouting thinking why his sister is taking so long in coming since she always set her foot inside the house before eight.

And from then on, different kinds of disastrous scene have greeted her conscience that she just want to lay low and sleep for sometime but that was next to impossible for now. She just can't sleep peacefully when she knew that there's this girl who is missing from the morning and whose mobile is dead and god knows how she is or where she is. Kalyani had calmed herself down for a bit as she could clearly hear her pulses thumbing in her ear thousands of beat per second and waited for sometime in a desperate yet hopeless hope that she might turn up to her house and then call and apologise and say that she is a devil that she kept her so worked up but she is now sound and safe and that she should also sleep.

And the Old Lady waited for the miracle since she believed in them even if most of her family member doesn't. It hardly matters now-a-days, Anyways.

Shivaay who have as usual reached home for the office straight away went to his grand mother's room just to remind her to take her medicines but stopped near the entrance of her room as he saw his grand mother's face ceased with worry, her always cool composure was tethered to something close to a panic attack which was all set to hit her but she was trying hard not to let it resurface.

"Dadi?!" Shivaay whispered - yelled as he walked in and then crouched beside her on the bed - a mix of worry and curiosity filled his blue eyes - as he held her soft hands in a firm grip, "what's the matter? You Okay?"

"Oh sweetheart, thank god! you are here, I just don't know what would happen to me if you weren't here" Kalyani exhaled a sigh of relief, the miracle was here, her grand son is the one who will definitely help her track down Annika at this wee hour of the night, "Annika --"

Shivaay just snorted - interrupting in between - thinking what had that little disastrous women did that led his grandmother to such a state that she was at the verge of letting her heart out the very instant if he haven't reached her at the right time, "That girl! she is a thunder storm of problems, I don't know why you always freak out for her? she isn't a child? Okay? You should stop fretting over her" Shivaay had it enough, he just couldn't put a finger over the matter that why she was hired as his wedding planner when there were more sensible people out there who were waiting for working with the Oberoi's.

Just because of his grandmother he was tolerating her else she would have been out of this mansion the very second she set her foot there. he kind of feel envy with her because every member of his damn big family adore her to no end and he is frustrated with himself as well that today when she was not there at the Mansion, he wasn't able to focus on his work thinking of the possibilities what might have happened that she isn't there to eat up his brain., "Beside, today she never came, from the past few days, she is acting so irresponsibly that I just can't handle it anym---"

"Shivaay, Annika is missing" was all Kalyani could utter, as the floods of emotions swamped her soul in a brutal way that she almost chocked at the words that it made difficult for shivaay to comprehend what she uttered, almost immediately, Shivaay's posture stiffened and he felt his heart accelerate, a dull feeling creeped at the pit of his stomach as he looked at her face to confirm whether she was serious or was kidding, because trust his grandmother to freak him out at the worst way possible.

But every inch of her face spoke seriousness and he felt his hands turning sweaty. Yes, he hate himself to admit, but that girl have left a soft spot in his heart even if they do nothing but pull each other's hair anywhere, anytime.

He was worried.

"From when?"

"From the morning, she isn't at her home as well, Sahil is freaking out but I have had him handled and her cell is dead"

Now he was fucked up.

"God! I know this girl was crazy, but to this much extend I never knew, how could she be missing just like this--"

"Shivaay we need to find her, Please. I will not be able to calm unless and until I see her in flesh" Kalyani requested with earnest worry as she leaned in his arms to close her eyes peacefully in this last two hours, since, her Billu will handle everything and Annika will be probably in front of her eyes within a matter of few hours.

She highly doubted that her Billu have feelings for her, because the way he reacted, the disbelief, the utter non-sensical expression on his face when he realise what she said - it almost made her bemused - whatever she was noticing was true? Was her Billu and Annika had that spark between them which she always wanted them to have? well, she can't let her horses run without having a possible outcome, so she will just wait, wait to see what the future holds for these two stubborn asses of her's.

But right now what is important is, Annika. Annika no surname. And Kalyani felt herself hyperventilating yet again. It's almost midnight and Annika is no-where to be seen or heard. Oh God! Please help that poor child. Seeing her hurt in anyway is the last thing she ever wanted. She just wanted her safe and sound and nothing less, and nothing more.

⚊⚊⚊

Within half an hour, Shivaay got the last location of Annika, well it was easy, since being a powerful man had it's own glory and even if he want to take out any information at the middle of a freaking night no one is there to stop him, because he was Shivaay Singh Oberoi - the Intelligent, CEO, Billionaire business man of the year of whom every one is afraid of.

"Shivaay? where is She?" asked a worried Kalyani as she looked expectantly at a stunned Shivaay, who was paler then ice, his eyes wide in horror but for the sake of not freaking out this already freaking lady in front of him, he stopped, took a gulp and clearing his throat - the paleness, turning back to normal - instantly said that he will bring Annika to her soon no matter what and with a kiss on her forehead, he rushed out, calling Khanna on his way to bring the car.

It was almost comical to see Shivaay in such a state, dashing his car at the highest speed not giving a bullshit to the traffic rules and finally stopping his car at his destination - The Nightingale Hospital. With each step, his heart beating even more faster, his mind trying to clear all the conclusion which might led her here while his body was numb.

Nothing wrong is going to happen Shivaay. everything will be Okay. Annika will be fine. She will be there smiling at you mostly scowling at you when she'll find that you didn't left her here as well.
Okay.

Breath In.
Breath Out.
Yes you can do this.
Yes.

He doesn't know whether is was thinking all this in his head or whether he was muttering it loud enough to let it echo in that empty corridors, but he didn't care much. He just wanted to see she is fine because her last location was a hospital, which is the worst place to be ever discovered when a person is went missing, he would have been much happier if it would have been a grave yard, maybe he might actually got the secret out that she was a witch but it wasn't, and it was hell disappointing.

"Hey!" Shivaay composed himself a bit as he stood in front of the reception desk, "well, I was looking was Annika" he almost cursed himself when he saw the women behind the desk give a quizzical look, well, perks of being Annika no surname. "I'm sorry, but it will really help me if you could see whether is there any Annika admitted here?"

The women opened her mouth to say something, but suddenly, something strike her mind and she smiled instantly- almost an admired smile, making Shivaay raise his brows in confusion "he--"

"You'll find her on the sixth floor, left side" she said with a smile while Shivaay fumbled a bit, almost amused at how she knew her? but staring at her for a moment, he flushed as she looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "sorry, I mean thanks" and almost ran to get to the elevator.

The Ping sound, took him out of his miserable state and he stepped out of it to strode towards the left side in search of a certain women who had instantly made him a nervous maniac who is at the verge of having a heart Attack.

The relief which washed over him was something he would never forget all his life, not even at the time of his death. As he saw Annika on one of the many chairs in the almost empty corridor. The leaning of her body against the hard metal was suspecting that she mostly be sleeping in a sitting position.

God! this girl have been making everyone stand up on their toes and here she is sleeping as if there is no worry in the world, whatsoever?

Irritation crept up his whole being as he stride towards her with a pull laid plan of scolding her until her ears bleed, but as he neared her, he could see the frown over her forehead, while the black bags underneath her eyes, the stressed out look was all that which stopped him from freaking her out in between her deep, partial peaceful slumber.

Giving a deep exhale, he pressed his hands over her shoulder, and shook her almost lightly to woke her up - even if being a terrible sleeper that even a bomb is dropped she isn't going to wake up - she was up with a jerk and stood up immediately looking every where in alert muttering some incoherent words.

When her eyes landed on Shivaay, she almost relaxed but soon her yes widen in shock and exclaimed, "Aap?"

"Yes, Me" he said almost sassily as he dipped his hands into his trousers pocket and looked at her accusingly, "Care to explain why are you here like this?"

She stiffened a bit, but momentarily calmed as she gazed back at him with the same sassiness, "It's none of your business"

"It's actually my business, when my grand mother is almost getting anxiety attack just because, you are missing since morning" he almost yelled, his frustration getting better of him as he stepped closer, "do you know what's the time and what might be happening to your brother if his sister doesn't turn up to home?"

Annika almost gasped, She was so much worried, she lost the track of time and when she actually got the sense to call up her brother to say she will be late she was lulled to sleep.

Damn you Annika! you almost freaked out that old women as well. How could you be so irresponsible? Shit! this day is turning shittier day by day and she fear it might turn much more worst then she think so.

"Look! I know I have been stupid enough not to call Sahil but I was busy, I was just so caught up that I forgot and I'm immensely sorry for making Dadi go through all this. But Please don't be angry at this time, I'm not in a mood to argue with anyone" Annika almost pleaded, the guilt almost crystal clear in her voice, but Shivaay was not done yet, A mere sorry was not going to redeem the things she had made his grandma go through, hell made him go through all this while but as he opened his mouth to bash her something more, her pleading, weary eyes stopped him in his tracks, Maybe his scolding can wait for a bit.

Shivaay nodded, now taking out his mobile to pass it to her who looked confusingly at him, "call Dadi and Sahil and let them know that you are fine and you are going to come soon, because I know they both must be thinking that you might have died a peaceful death" Anika just rolled her eyes and snatched his mobile from his hands and dial their number and assured them that she is fine and other stuffs.

Sighing, she cut the call because it was really hard to make them realise that she is fine and that she will not pull this stunt ever again in her life anymore and turned to look at Shivaay who was now sitting on the chair which was previously hers and taping his legs as he was lost in deep thoughts. She stood in-front of him and handed him his mobile with a thank you waiting impatiently for him to make a move and go from there, because she think, he was done with his part and there was no use of him here anymore.

"What?" Shivaay almost snapped, gritting his teeth, "why the freaking hell are you staring at me like this?"

"Why are you still sitting here? don't you need sleep? Go home and sleep" she crossed her arms across her chest and raised her left eyebrow in mock surrender.

"Yes I will, but not before taking you with me" he shrugged, as if he was determined to do so.

"I can't come with you today, I need to stay here today, It's impossible for me to come with you"

"May I know why is it?"

"I don't feel like letting you know, you see?" she shrugged as she started to pace to and for, her eyes, still held that worry which he hadn't seen in ages when something caught his eyes, was there a bandage over her wrist? what is happening? he needs answer. Standing up from his seat he tried to reach out for her arm when a nurse came running calling her name.

Both of them turned instantly and was met with a panic stricken girl who was trying hard to keep her breath steady as she pressed her palm over her chest, breathing hard.

"Yes Sneha?"

"Annika, Natasha" was the only words which make Annika tremble, "she had taken a turn for the worse"

Annika's shoulder dropped as she tried not to let her tears fall off her eyes that too in front of Shivaay.

"What do you mean worse? Who is getting worse?" Shivaay asked exasperated while the nurse looked at him for the first time ever and looked blankly at him for a few second and started, "we are not allowed to discuss a patient's health to an outsider, I'm sorry"

"What do you mean by this? You can tell her everything and not me? Why is it so? Why Annika needs to know about it?"

"Shivaay, You need to stay calm, while I go, understood?" Annika murmured as she looked with blank eyes at him, he felt stupid for sometimes but eventually nodded due to the seriousness of the situation.

As they neared a private cabin, Annika turned to look at him one last time, while he nodded and assured her that he will be here outside until she comes.

As the door opened, he could get a glimpse of a small girl, almost the age of 8 with brown hair and soft toys spread across her bed but eventually it got closed and he was left alone.

With nothing in particular to do, he sometimes leaned over the wall or sat on the chair alternatively but after a few minutes started replying to his mails which he had kept for later, but the sound of a shrilling wail albeit the door being the hindrance made him stood up to his toes as he instantly felt his hands shaking while there was a dullness at the pit of his stomach as if something terrible happened inside about which he wasn't ready to face.

It was both too long and too early for a dishelved Annika to open the door and come out with a bow head, and a blank expression, her eyes rimmed with redness, her cheeks streaked with tears which have now stopped flowing or he highly doubt that she is trying her best not to let it flow since her shoulder is still trembling.

"Annika?" Shivaay whispered but even at that soft voice, Annika visibly flinched, Shivaay shifted uncomfortably wondering what he should do? Should he just take her in his arms and soothe her or just let it go as if nothing had happened at all, or just scold her for her stupidity and childishness? God! he was never great in handling people at such situation. His family be an exception but this girl is something just more than that, he felt like going and taking her in arms and take all her worry and grief but they never had that level of comfort with each other, so it might be awkward, like really awkward.

Her eyes found his and he felt the breath left his soul because the intensity of her orbs which was expecting something from him was unbearable. Something which he doubt he wouldn't be able to give. Because whatever happened can't be changed and he is not a God. "You Okay?" was all he could say at this very moment, she just nodded, her hands gripping her Kurti in a tight grip.

Even if they were in this vincity of an empty floor, he knew they do have spectators, beside he could see people in suspicion clothes and he groaned internally, it is almost 2 in the morning and the news reporters didn't seems to care as they trailed their way all from their headquarters to here, just for his glimpse. He will surely sue them. can't they leave him even for a second, he know that the New project the Oberoi Industry is working on is still confidential and there are people's out their who wanna know what it is all about. But this was height.

Grabbing her arms, he started moving from there to find a more safe place to have a talk with her and make her calm, while Annika just let him move her as he like since she knew she never had that energy to move anymore. As they moved Shivaay noticed that this section of the hospital was specially for the children itself.

As they moved, they encountered a girl most probably of nine or ten who smiled cheekily at Annika with her sleep deprived eyes and this was it, Annika was broken beyond repair. coming out of his hold, she sniffed ran away from there saying that he should leave her alone for some time. Shivaay as obvious protested and ran behind her to finally ending up inside a room which was flooded with boxes of what felt like medicines and fundamental equipment for medical aid.

He walked through the boxes and found her sitting against a wall, her legs close to her chest while her cries muffled in between them. It hurts to look at her like that, but it was an obvious reaction. Yes, it's true, he never knew about this girl until a few hours ago and how she knew Annika and what was their relation but it seems she was way much attached to her. Was this is the reason, Annika was acting so off all those days? Perhaps, he is racking his brain a lot more these days.

He walked and dropped himself beside her in the same position - even if sitting in that position in tight trousers was difficult - and waited for her sob to subdue. She needed to cry because it is the only way of pouring out your grief. He rested his head over his folded hands and looked at her sadly. It might be hard. He knew.

She visibly seemed to be affected by his intense gaze over her and lifted her face to stare at a calm Shivaay whose face shows how much pity he feels for her, Genuinely. Wiping her tears with the back of her palm she inhaled deeply and rested her head against the wall, sighing later on. "What's the matter? Why are you here and what's with that nerve trembling look? huh!"

He just shrugged, "I thought you might need someone beside it's not like I'm gonna leave a girl in this state" he shook his head to show his dissatisfaction, "I'm not that bad , You see?"

Annika fought the urge to roll her eyes and hummed, "I know, but I don't think this might be the right place for someone like you"

"Perhaps yes, but it's not a problem"

They stayed like that for another few moments not knowing what to say or do, while Shivaay was getting restless, he wanted her to speak out and say something which might show that she was alright, even if her eyes were red and she was sniffing.

"So, do you want to say something?" Shivaay asked finally, after a lot of debate, "like what you feel? it get better you know?"

She stayed quite for a few seconds and not even for a second met his eyes, but eventually started because she knew she need to let out her thoughts to stop that nagging feeling inside her chest, "A week ago I was returning from Sahil's school after dropping him off when I encountered Natasha running across the road to pick up something" Shivaay nodded in pure concentration, "It might be her teddy bear and from the other side of the road a running car was coming, I ran to save her from it but it was too late - th-the car had already hi-hit h-her and she was in a pool of blo-blood in-in front of my eyes, and you know what? even if it was bright day light, no one came forward to save her, they just stood there and stared at her moaning in pain"

Annika's tears were carelessly sliding down her cheeks while a hint of fury filled her eyes, her body tremble with such ferocity that Shivaay had to held her in place, "I brought her here and admitted her but eventually due to a loud blow over her head she slipped into Coma" she leaned into his arms unconsciously and sobbed until she found her voice back while on the other hand, he just wrapped his hand over her shoulder and scooped her closer to provide her the much needed support she needed.

"I used to visit her regularly in a hope that she revive because I never wanted her to be alone when she woke up and ask for someone close to her, You know what? I went to the spot where the accident took place in a hope to find any of her parents, anyone who knows her even her relative when I got to know that she was an orphan and doesn't know anyone. I know what it feels to be alone, I have lived that life and even if though I never talked to her, she started to affect me to no end. Her beautiful innocent face was all that roamed inside my mind, I started to look forward to the day when I can hear her voice but--" she stopped and closed her eyes instantly, her body shook terribly bad as she clutch over his torso as she gave out a sob, a terrifying sob which shook every cell of his body and he felt his eyes pricking due to the tears which filled his eyes unknown to him.

His heartbeat matched with her, beating wildly in their chest as he held her securely while she cried until she ran out of tears. After a few minutes, she cleared her throat and started again in that broken voice of hers which pierced his heart in the most cruel way, "She was just a small baby, Shivaay. A small girl I really wanted to know about. She might be having some dreams, some aspirations but God took it away from her. It's so cruel. she had all her life to look forward, to make a difference but everything just vanished in a blink of an eye." she whispered softly, thinking of the possibilities of what would have happened the other way round. Then, coming out of his arms, as he let her to do so, she looked at her fidgeting fingers, Shivaay sighed thinking that she was recovering but the thought was changed as soon as it came when he saw her eyes widen and suddenly she whispered, whispered so softly that it took him a minute to understand what she was saying "It was my fault, everything was my fault, if I was a little too fast and saved her from the car, she would have been alive in front of my eyes. God! I'm a terrible women." and now she was hiding her face with her palms as she shook her head vigorously.

Damn! She was blaming herself for all this when she have nothing to do with it, else she was the one who took care of her when no one was there.

"Oh god! Annika, just stop right there, understood" he made her look at him and all he could he see was grief and tons of guilt which she could hardly bear upon her shoulder. She thinks it was on her but this was what meant to happen, this was how the God wanted it to be, no one would have changed this, "You are not at fault, nothing was your fault, you need to understand it, okay Annika? See you did what you could have done, You did your best. You took her to the hospital for medical aid hell! you literally took care of her all this while like she was your own and there was nothing you could do much other than this." he held her cheeks and tried his best to make her understand. "I know you are feeling terrible for this but this was meant to happen, why don't you see the bright side? that now she is peacefully with god, perhaps her loved one's with no fear of being hungry for days or taking stress of where to sleep every night. she is happy Annika, there with god. She is safe with him. So stop this. Please, think about it. You don't deserve to live in guilt all your life because you did nothing wrong else after all of this, my respect for you have increased much fold. I'm proud of you darling, please stop thinking about it"

If Shivaay wasn't in this situation he might have died by a heart attack because he never spoke to someone like this, Hell he never soothed anyone anyway but this girl was an exception, she always took out that side of him which he never knew ever exist in him. And what cringed him more was he doesn't felt regret to say any of those soothing words, since he was truly proud of her for being such a strong women even if what she ever got was pain and sadness when she was not even worthy of them.

Annika was silent, looking at his face for something, for something that might say that he was just kidding and nothing of the words he uttered made a sense but seeing those bright blue eyes shining with such confidence she knew he was right that it was useless of her blaming herself for all this.

Yeah, he was right, maybe Natasha was saved from all those horrible things she had to face when she was a child perhaps this was the best thing to be happening with her.

She just visibly calmed and so did Shivaay. Moving a bit forward, she hugged him tight - she was conscious of what she was doing - while Shivaay stiffened because this was something he never expected and when he recovered from it - ready to wrap his arms around her, she pulled away and kissed his cheek making his eyes go wide in horror while he could feel his cheeks and neck warming during the adrenaline rush while she smiled at him - the first genuine smile in this whole week, 'Thank you for handling me Billuji. I'm overwhelmed"

⚊⚊⚊

Glad to see you all reached here. Anyways Let me tell you all, this is probably the last work on this book, If I ever write something, I will surely post them. But for now, there's nothing to be looking forward for this book since I'll be vanishing from here just like the way I came here.
Hope you all enjoyed it, I know it got a bit intense in the end but you all know what is there when there's no intensity? Do Let me know about you thoughts.

Much Love,
-Anya ❤️