It's You ~

Five Days Later

"See, I know—-" Shivaay interrupted on the other line, "Annika. It's totally fine. Just get him here. Just come to Mansion. I'll be waiting"

Annika hummed and rested the call.

"Didi, are you taking Avi to Oberoi Mansion ? Shivaay bhaiyya agreed ?"

"He agreed, Rudy. But I don't think it's right. I can't help but think of it as he's doing a favour by responding to the advance of me being his close acquaintance"

"Didi, you're simply stressing out. Just get Avi to Mansion. He's so excited to meet him"

Annika rebuked, "All are your doing. One, you're sharing a buddy tag with a ten years old neighbour boy. Two, you told him about Shivaay. Like why you ?!"

"Didi, I blurted as he told me that he sincerely adores Shivaay bhaiyya. Take him with you nahh"

"Okay. Wait" She pulled out her ringing phone.

"It's him. Hel..."

"Annika. Don't bring him. I..I I can't—-some other time. Please. I'm sorry.." He abruptly hung up on her. 

"Rudy, I'll be back" She immediately stormed off the apartment. She could feel his worry in the voice. She know; she'll never be more ready and there are things she can only learn by getting out there.

She took slow steps inside the Oberoi Mansion. She could sense an unneeded silent ambience. She looked quizzical at a lady who was sitting on the living room.

"Hello, Miss Annika" Omkara greeted her.

"He..hello. Where's he ?" She asked looking around. Omkara pointed towards his bedroom.

"Is he fine ? What happened ?"

"He's buying time to accept the situation. This lady is the one he was looking for all these years. And, when she's finally here, he's just gobsmacked"

Annika's brain stuttered for a moment. She looked at the lady and bothered not to reciprocate the smile she's flashing. She sprinted towards his room and knocked continuously.

"Annika ? You ?!" Shivaay asked opening the door. "That lady—-tha—" She stammered making him worried.

"Annika hey. Relax. Yeah, she's the one. I'm just feeling too overwhelmed that I couldn't react. I should—-" She cut in, "How did you confirmed ?! What if she turns out to be a fraud ?"

"Even I was dubious. But, she said something that—-" She interrupted yet again, "What is it ? Wha..What she said ?"

"Relax Annika. Such an enthusiastic mood it got you all today. Come with me" he chuckled and took her inside the room.

Every part of her went on pause as she saw the mini camera in his hands. Her mini camera.

"She dropped the camera in shock that day. I kept it safe with me. You see this ? Ash. The lady exactly narrated the incident to me. She dropped her camera, Ash is her nickname, so on. So, yeah finally...like finally I found her"

She looked up from the camera and asked, "Are you...are you sure she's the one ? Surely ?"

"What's going on here ? Shivaay, she's waiting for you"

"Om, just a minute. Haan Annika, I forgot to tell you something. She got to meet Omkara somewhere. Through him she reached here. I'll talk to her now"

Shivaay walked out of the room.

Annika asked, "Mr Omkara, I'm sorry to make an interruption in your family issue. But I'm concerned. How can you believe anyone and get them to your house ?"

"Because she told me everything. About the camera. The nickname"

"And how do you know about them ?"

"Because Shivaay has told me about these things. He'd never shared about these things with anyone except me, Vinay and the private investigator. You too I guess"

"I'm not apprised of these things. And, are you sure she know about these things ? Or someone of you told her ? Or you told her ?" She asked whilst Omkara looked bewildered.

"That day—-" Shivaay started hesitatingly but stopped hearing Omkara's loud voice from behind.

"I'm—-I'm sorry Shivaay"

"What happened Om ?" Shivaay asked clueless. He looked at Annika but she refused to say anything.

"She's not the girl. I told her everything. About the camera, nic—-everything. I lied to you. I paid her to—-I'm sorry, Shivaay" Omkara apologised.

The lady stood up astonished as the one who paid for her to act up turned out to be unexplainable.

"Om, this is not funny. What are you even saying ? Why—-Annika..you heard what he said ? Why would—-Om.." Shivaay wobbled on his words.

"Omkara, you're kidding. Right ? Say it. Say something, man! Om, please. Don't bite my head off!"

"It's the truth, Shivaay"

Shivaay closed his eyes tightly. He tried swallow the anger.

"Sir.."

"Out!" Shivaay shouted on the lady. She quickly picked up her sling and gave a look at Omkara before going out.

"Shivaay, please try to understand. I just wanted to help—-"

"Don't even try, Om! I trusted you and shared everything. Never have I ever thought that you could betray me! I hate you, Omkara! I bloody hate you!"

"Shivaay—-"

"Enough! I don't want to hear anything from you!" Shivaay held his collars and shouted, "Don't even take my name!"

"Shivaay, leave him. Shivaay!" Annika pulled him back.

She dragged him to her car. "Just get inside" She convinced him to take the passenger seat and drove to her apartment.

~

"Rudy. Don't ask him anything. He's quite disturbed" Rudra nodded to her and left to study.

Annika closed the room door and sat beside him on the bed. She patiently waited for him to say something. She knows when he is emotionless he is most emotional, it's when he needs help the most.

"Why he did this to me ? Because he wanted to help me out from this ? Is this how—-more than the lie, the betrayal that's hurting me more. For once, I thought he's genuinely trying something for me. But—-" his voice laced with no energy as his eyes glistened.

"I don't even know who's that girl ? Why am I still finding her ? Just to clarify myself that I'm a man with good personality ? Annika, one can't understand someone's pain when they find it burden. Right ?"

She nodded to him with teary eyes.

"Then in which way he helped me ? I was always a burden for him. My feelings were a burden for him. My—-why ? I'm not a bad person, Annika. I'm not. I'm ju—-" his words halted as he felt a sudden pang in his chest.

"I...I—-" he struggled to breathe palming his chest.

"Shivaay! Shivaay! Look at me. Shivaay, please don't scare me! Rudy! Rudy! Shivaay, nothing will happen—-please. Rudy!"

"Shivaay! Please don't..." She begged holding him. He hyperventilated looking at her.

The same eyes, silvery tears, helplessly rapid blinking.

Those eyes which shedded when he rudely shouted on her. Those eyes which is now shedding when he's in pain. When the blackness clouding his eyes, when the tears rolling out of her eyes, he found out — it's her. 

To be continued ~

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Gratitude, Love Comrade