Flashback

Anika found herself lying in a locked room. She got up and, through the window, could see Shivaay in old building.

Anika: Shivaay…

The moment these words left her mouth, the building blasted and Anika fell back with shock. She was in that state for quite a few hours until Daksh came.

Daksh: Yeh kya kiya tumne Anika? Tumhari wajah se Shivaay us blast mein maara gaya.

Anika cupped her mouth and nodded a no.

Daksh: Agar tum ghar se bhagi nahi hoti toh Shivaay tumhe dhoondne us building mein nahi jaata jiski gas pipe leak kar rahi thi.

Anika: *crying* Nahi…

Daksh: Anika, tum Shivaay Singh Oberoi ki maut ki zimmedaar ho. Sare Oberois tumse beyhadh nafrat karte hain. Tumne unse unka Shivaay chheen liya. Woh toh tumhara mara hua mooh bhi nahi dekhna chahenge.

Anika: *shuts her ears* Nahi. Nahi, Nahi.

Daksh: Tumhare ‘nahi’ bolne se Shivaay zinda nahi hoga. Meri maano toh agar tum mein thodi si bhi sharm bachi hain toh yeh shaihair chhod ke kaheen door chali jaao. Jahaan Oberois ki nafrat na pahonch sake…likin aisi toh koi jagah hain hi nahi. Agar tum pregnant nahi hoti, toh main tumhe suicide karne ki advice deta. Likin faltu main tumhare bacche ki jaan chali jaayegi. Toh achha yahi hoga ki tum kahin door chali jaao taki Shivaay ki aatma ko shaanti miley.

Saying so, he left the room, leaving a train ticket to Delhi. Anika cried her heart out before taking the ticket and running towards the station. She boarded the train and sat on the corner seat, hugging her knees and crying. An elderly couple, Mr and Mrs Ahuja, take the seat next to her. Mrs Ahuja kept a hand on her shoulder.

Mrs Ahuja: Puttar, kya hua? *looks at her sindoor and mangalsutra* Tera pati kahan hain?

Anika rubbed off her sindoor and pulled her mangalsutra off, hugging it and crying. The couple got worried.

Mr Ahuja: Ki hoya puttar? Das mainnu. (What happened, dear? Tell me)

Anika tells them everything while Mrs Ahuja tries to console her.

Mrs Ahuja: Bas kar puttar. Apne bacche ki khaatir apne aap ko sambhal.

Anika: *sobs* Apne bacche ki khaatir hi toh maine apni jaan nahi di likin mujhe koi idea nahi main karoon toh kya karoon? Is duniya mein ab main jee bhi paaoongi ya…

Mrs Ahuja: Na-na puttar, aise nahi kehte.

Anika: *still sobbing* Likin mere paas na ghar hain, na naukri hain, na parivaar hain. Main khudko aur apne bacche ko kaise sambhaloongi?

Mr Ahuja: Puttar, meri gal sun. Sweetyji (Mrs Ahuja) aur main ek vriddhaashram, yaani old age home, chalata hain. Tu chahe toh wahan naukri kar sakti hain. Tera rehne aur khaana-peene ka intezaam hain.

Sweetyji: Haan puttar, Amarji (Mr Ahuja) bilkul sahi keh rahe hain. Tujhe kaam mil jayega aur… hume ek beti.

Anika wiped her tears tears and looked at them with questioning eyes. Sweetyji smiled and caressed her hair.

Sweetyji: Tu yahi soch rahi hain na, humare bacche kahan hain? *sighs* Iklauta beta toh London ka sabse bada surgeon hain likin apne boodhe maa-baap ke liye uske paas waqt hi kahan hain? Tu aayige toh hume ek beti mil jaayegi.

Anika hugged her.

Anika: Thank you. Thank you so much, unclejee-auntyjee.

Amarji: Oye khotti, 'thank you’ bol ke paraya mat kar.

Anika smiled a little.
Days flew by as Anika adjusted herself to her new routine in the quarters of the old age home. Everyone in the home loved her dearly but she wasn’t the same as before. Cheerful as before. Lively as before. All that was left of her was a pale body, breathing for the sake of her child. The day when her son was born and she took him in her arms for the first time, she hugged him tightly as, after her mangalsutra, he was the last symbol of her Shivaay.
One fateful day, she was in the marketplace with her son when she heard a familiar voice.

Voice: Anika.

She turned around to see Tia, with her child. She went up to her and she lightly hugged her.

Tia: Hey, we’re meeting after such a long time.

Anika: Hmm.

Tia pulls away and sees Anika’s son, sleeping in her arms. She caresses his face lightly.

Tia: He’s so cute! Anika, yeh tumhara aur Shivaay ka baby hain na.

Anika’s expression fades to a sad one. Flashes of her moments spent with Shivaay starts playing her mind while tears flowed from her eyes. Tia gets really worried.

Tia: Anika, kya hua? Shivaay kahaan hain?

Anika: Shi…Shiv…vaay…

Before she could complete, Romi comes there and is shocked.

Romi: *shocked* Anika…aap…zinda ho?

Anika and Tia get shocked.

Tia: Romi, what are you saying?

Romi: Tia, main wahi keh rahi hoon jo maine suna hain. Anika ek blast main maari gayi thi, aisa Shivaay ne statement diya tha.

Anika: K…kya? M…matlab…Shivaay zi…zinda hain?

Tia: Oh, my god! Kabhi tum poochh rahi ho ki Anika zinda hain toh kabhi Anika poochh rahi hain ki Shivaay zinda hain. What’s going on?

Anika tells them everything. Romi hugs her while Tia thinks about it.

Tia: Anika, I think is misunderstanding ke peechhe Daksh ka haath hain. I know him. Woh tumse aur Shivaay se badla lene ke liye kuch bhi kar sakta hain.

Anika: Matlab…*smiles* mere Shivaay zinda hain.

She looks at her son and hugs him.

Tia: Anika, yeh sab confusion clear karne se pehle hume tumhe wahan le jaana hain where you belong. Oberoi Mansion.

Flashback Ends