She could see how broken he was. The way he cried broke her heart! What on earth had he done to get so much pain? And how was she so much engrossed in her own suffering that she literally forgot how badly he would have missed her. He was the man, who did everything in the best way possible. Whether it was love or hatred. She knew he loved her to bits and the whole phase had been a tormenting reality for him as well. She felt ashamed at how ignorant she had been of him.

"Shivay! Please tell me all that has happened after that night?I m sorry for not listening to you all this while. Please forgive me!" She said clutching his shirt, still hugging him.

"Shhh! I will tell you everything Annika but please promise me that you will not leave my side after knowing everything. You will not take any stupid step again. Promise me that you will trust me and my love for you." He said cupping her face while she caressed his hands on her soft skin.

"I will Shivay, I promise" she said tightening her hold on his hands.

He took her to the car and sat with her at the back of his seat. She looked curiously into his eyes, her orbs screamed impatiently as if dying to know everything she suffered.

"Annika!! The day we had our wedding and you went missing, I had faced a trauma. I was waiting for you and Akash in the temple. Every single moment that passed scared me. I tried to call you but was unable to get in touch. I called Akash too but all my efforts went in vain. My heartbeat became faster and I felt myself surrounding with a different wired feeling. I could not reach you and Akash. After waiting for hours I filed an FIR in the police station. Days and nights I waited for you and Akash but nothing happened.

For a minute Annika's face changed expression. She was shocked and that was visible from the way she was looking at him.
"Akash??? He went missing too? Where is he now Shivay? You are lying that he is in London right? Tell me where is he?" She asked composing her tone although her voice went shrilling. She could feel a sensation of fear running through her body.

"Annika!! Akash..." Shivay tried to be strong, but he could not. This was such a tragic news and he was scared in telling it to Annika.

"Tell me Shivay! Please" Annika pleaded. Her eyes full of tears.

"Annika, he is not with us. He is..He is no more" Shivay said crying, his heart could not believe that he told it to her. Infact he still could not believe that he lost his only best friend. The one whom he loved more than his own brother.

The moment his words fell into her ears, she felt her knees going all weak. It felt as if she is falling into some dark pit. She could not control her tears and the only word escaped her mouth was "Akash" she uttered in disbelief and hugged Shivay tightly. She could not believe that she lost her friend, such a great and loyal friend. Just like Shivay, he was her friend too, infact he was like a brother she always missed having in her life. The only time she got one god snatched it from her and that too in the most cruelest way.

"How Shivayyyy!!! And why!???" She cried, devastatingly. This was such a huge loss in their life.

Shivay weeped with her. He could not control his tears anymore. He missed Akash, terribly. The loss they suffered was the most terrific among all.

"Shhhh Annika. I don't know why and how but all I know is I won't let his sacrifice go in vain. I promise you that I will snatch away the smiles and happiness of all those who have done this with us. I promise I will not let them live peacefully." He said caressing her hair while the tears of pain left his eyes.

She kept lying on his chest crying and sobbing. He knew this was too much of a stress for her. He thought of taking her home and giving her some moments of relief thus the moment he felt her breaths coming back to normal, he asked her to sit in front of the car and decided to take her home.

The whole ride was quiet and silent. No one said anything except the fact that Shivay kept placing his hand on her every now and then to assure her that he was with her.

Reaching his home, she felt a positive sensation surrounding her well being. This was the home she always wanted to be a part of. This was the home she was coming to, when the tragedy happened. His house was like her own house. The warmth and positively his home gave her couldn't be experienced anywhere else in the world. She felt a smile covering her face when he came out of the car and stood on her side, forwarding his hand towards her he said "Welcome home Annika"

She held his hands and came out of the car. He took her inside the house. Each and every thing about his house had a memory in her life. The way she used to come here every day, before their love confession, the way she came here after being engaged to Shivay, their lunch and dinner dates at his home made her heart flutter. She could sense some tears appearing in her eyes. How terrific things have been in a sudden span of time. How drastically everything changed, she thought.

Shivay was the only one who understood the state of mind Annika was suffering from at the moment. He held her hands tightly, clutching them to his hearts.

"Won't you come to our room?" He said looking into her eyes.

"Our room" she thought. The tears which were hiding till now made a way from her eyes. How she wished it to be their room but!

"Shhh! Annika, you know I can't see you in tears. Don't you?" He said wiping off that stubborn tear on her cheek.

She nodded with a teary smile. Of course she knew he can't see her in tears. She smiled and he smiled back proceeding towards their room.

The moment she entered his room, she could feel her heartbeat rushing to a new speed. The room, she saw after ages was so special to her. Although she had not been married to him but she still had some heartful memories of this room. She remembered how she used to fight with Shivay for not keeping the things on their particular places in his room and making his room a mess and she always loved how Shivay said that he waited for her to do it coz it was their room. Not forgetting the fact that Shivay was actually a really organised person but the way he messed up his room clearly stated that he did it purposely to tease her.
She recalled how she once barged into his room without any warning while he came out of the washroom, a thin towel surrounding his waist. She was so much embarrassed to see him like that whereas the naughty smile which crepted on his lips made her nervous. He came towards her and held her tightly in his arms. For a moment her mind could not register that he was the same Shy Singh Oberoi who turned into a Shaitan Singh Oberoi. Holding onto her waist tightly he brought his face dangerously close to hers. She felt really nervous with the hot proximity between them. His hot breaths and cold body doing a magic on her nerves. His hands on her waist making her go week on her knees and the way he said" I think you can't even wait for the marriage Mrs Future SSO, so desperate hmm?" literally made her blush. She quickly elbowed him playingly on his chest and ran out of his room. Numerous of such incidents she had in her mind while looking around the room.

"Annika? What happened?" He asked her, looking at her. He could see how her mind was going through a flashback, he just wanted to make sure that she was fine.

"It's still the same Shivay" she said, surprisingly.

"Nothing has changed, It can't ever Annika" he said, as if assuring her that nothing could change the love his heart have for her.

She smiled, staring into his eyes while he adored her beautiful brown orbs back.

"I think you should sit here, I'll just be back Annika" he said making her sit on his bed.

"But Shivay!" She said trying to ask him where was he going.

"Just coming back! Wait" he said and went out of the room to get something for her to eat.

He went to the kitchen and cut some fruits for her. She is so weak, everything that happened have had a tormenting toll on her health.

The phone in the drawing room rang. Shivay knew it must be his mom. He had not called her, this could only be her. The same phone had an extension in his room as well. Annika could hear the phone ringing.

She thought of going and calling Shivay but then suddenly she received the call while on the other hand Shivay also picked up the phone in the drawing room.

Before she could say hello she heard,
"Hello" Shivay said

"Hello Shivay! How are you bcha?" It was his mother, she could recall the voice, Annika thought listening to her. She cannot forget her voice, she was like a mother to her. How terrible she wanted to talk to her but for the time being she just thought of listening to her.

"I am fine mom! How are you!? Had dinner?" She heard him say.

"Yes just did. And you? How is Annika bdw? Is she fine Shivay?" His mother asked. Annika felt the tears of happiness forming in her eyes. She still cares for her.

"Mom she is better now. She is here at home with me" he told her. Annika was feeling so happy. Both Shivay and his mom literally were so genuine by heart. She could not thank her stars for letting her meet these people.

"I m so relaxed now. But Shivay... have you told her about Akash? Did you told her that we are ashamed of what we thought about her and Akash after she went missing. I still cannot forgive myself for thinking so bad about Akash and her Shivay. I m literally guilty"
Annika could not understand what Sheetal was saying to Shivay. Was there something Shivay was hiding from her? But what was that? And why was Sheetal Aunty so embarrassed? Annika thought.

"Mom..I..I have not told her about that yet. More than you I m ashamed of being a dumb piece of shit. I can't even face my own self when I recall how I believed that she and Akash deceived me. I feel so cheap of myself mom. How can I even think that she ran away with Akash. I doubted my love and my friend mom, I m the most guilty. I don't know how to tell all this to her but I will tell her mom. She needs to know everything that has happened and only then I will have peace" Shivay said with a trembling voice.

Annika could now understand what he meant. But she was literally frozen at her spot. She could not believe her ears! Shivay thought that she and Akash ran away together and deceived him? He doubted her character? He doubted her love and loyalty and moreover Akash's friendship? She could not stop the flow of tears which made a way from her eyes. This pained her, this was more hurting that what all she has suffered in last few days. Not being trusted by the love of your life can be so demeaning and heart breaking. Annika could not think what was she supposed to do. Her heart was crushed into pieces. She kept standing there in shock, utter shock.

Precap : I can't marry you Shivay.

Hi all,
Thanku so much for the likes and comments on the last part. I m really overwhelmed at how you guys are so loyal towards my writings. I am so lucky 🤧🤧🤧

Won't say anything about posting so late. I m just so sorry 😪😪😪 I m genuinely busy and caught up with studies.

Anyway I don't know what crap have I written. It's the most weird part I have ever written. I am not at all satisfied with this one but do tell me how you all like it. I know it's going a bit slow but will rush up soon.

Do comment and vote to show me how you all have liked it.

Till then keep smiling
❤️