Sipping the last sip from his coffee cup Ankush looked up, Anika was still smiling. It was perfect, she and he sitting together having coffee and discussing their life. Ankush shared his plans further imagining a fairytale marriage of both of them. Going further his thoughts stopped at their first night, his smile died. Anika and Shivay also had first night, few days back. His eyes fell over her, she was still smiling knowing what is coming next.

"Did Shivay touch you Anika... intimately?" he pressurized the last word taking pause.

He hesitated to continue his flow of thoughts, although he knew she is a girl of principles but the spark in her eyes before marrying Shivay and on the day of their marriage can change everything. Trying to rub off all the thoughts, his face changed expressions. Anika noticed those, very keenly but kept silent. He repeated the question again, this time with more doubt and bit fear.

"After all he is my husband" she replied, her face showed smirk on her win as Ankush held his head.

He got his answer probably, and she answered him rightly. Just as it was needed knowing Ankush's character. Being close friend to him she almost knew his reaction to her every words but now she regretted, she regretted of accepting him as her close friend, who is asking her to break off her own marriage just to satisfy his own needs. No she won't allow, she would never allow.

Her phone rang yet again, Shivay the screen read, again cutting the call she waited more for Ankush to speak up. To deny for his stupid dreams and let her free, forever.

"Okay Anika, I still accept you after you slept with another man because I love you" just then a tight slap landed over his face.

Red marks of five fingers stamped nicely over his face and she got ready to storm out but looking back she answered, she had to, for her and her's husband's respect.

"Mr. Ankush, I am not that woman about whom you are mentioning, I never thought you are so low and so cheap. I was easily trying to explain that get out from our lives in your own words, but no... marrying me is your only mantra right then get straight Ankush that I love my husband a lot and in return he loves me too, let him be away from me but this love would bind us forever, now you just get out of our lives, and if I see you in front of me ever again, then it would definitely be your last day on earth" with that she stormed out.

"Then definitely he would have to buy land in Mars to stay" Anika heard someone cracking this joke in a low tone and left smiling thinking about her angry side and her use of words.

She checked her phone, two hours late already, nine calls from Shivay and four from her family. She cursed her choice of timing to give Ankush his own medicine and rushed her car towards home. Traffic held her on road for more forty minutes. Stepping into the hall she noticed everyone sitting tensed, she regretted her decision yet again.

Your figure has only grown up, not your mind, useless girl who can never take a right decision in her life. Her mother's words they were, but at this point it is not important when she heard those, all that is important is her family was tensed for her. Pinky spotted her and asked questions, she wasn't willing to answer all those.

"Mom, I was held in office. I am really sorry for not picking the calls, work was really tiring, I need rest" she lied, after many days she lied that stab her but she didn't budge those feelings and moved towards her room.

Calling Shivay didn't seem priority too, but her lie stabbed her continuously. Her phone rang yet again, not wanting to pick up and answer Shivay's questions she cut it and switched off her phone. It was all wrong what she was doing but for now she needed rest.

No one came to call her for dinner that night, she felt bad but at the same time she regretted of taking her family for granted.

"Anika, please have the food" Pinky handed her food and went away.

Switching on her phone she saw Shivay's message which read nothing specific but 'take care'. Probably her family has told him that she is alright. And analysing her behaviour she realised that she is pouring her irritation on Ankush's matter over her family which is wrong. She called Shivay to tell him everything but one side of her asked her to stop and not give any extra tension to him. He didn't pick the call although and messaged back saying he was busy and will try to call the next day.

Days passed, Anika and Shivay's conversation has cut down short. They just asked how about and ended their conversation. Video calling too stopped and Anika's life started becoming miserable. Everyday after that coffee shop instance facing Ankush near her car while coming back is disturbing. Her boss's behaviour too started worsening as he tried shouting over her since two days out of nothing. Shivay too is behaving weird and that day it was beyond any good. Ankush tried touching her, and when she pushed him back he in turn slapped her hard. Her head hit the bonnet of her car resulting into a small cut over her forehead. Her family asked about the cut and she lied saying her leg slipped and her forehead hit with the bonnet.

For the first ever time she cursed this long distance between her and Shivay. She regretted of constant lies that she told her family because of her late coming to house from past fifteen days. She regretted of not sharing this matter with Shivay. She regretted every damn decision she took in past days that left her with tears in eyes every night.

In haste she dialled Shivay's number and fortunately he picked up.

"I wanted to talk, please listen" she cried.

"What more you want to talk Anika? What more is left for me to listen huh?" his voice sounded cracked too.

Was he crying?

"Please Shivay, please listen to me once. I did many wrongs in these fifteen days, please Shivay listen to me once" she begged trying to hide her sobs. He didn't reply in return. He probably waited but as she planned to start, her world shattered listening to him.

"Did you talk Mrs. Anika Singh Oberoi before letting Ankush into our damn life? Did you share for once about what you were going through? Did you tell me how your boss behaved with you? No... no Anika no... all you did was constantly hiding matters and uttering lies. Is your trust over me so thin? Tell me Anika, just accept it" last part of the entire sentence frightened her, his voice sounded hoarse, he suppressed his eager to shout.

"Shivay listen please, I thought you would get tensed if you get to know, I was afraid to share all these with family thinking about their tension as well, but... okay Shivay I know I did wrong and... and I am sorry" she clutched her phone tight trying to make him understand her state, but in vain.

"Fine Anika, then you handle everything on your own and don't call me back. If sharing your problems with me is increasing my tension then this marriage stuff isn't worth" when Shivay is angry then he budges no one in world and Anika is his wife, his love, his concern and everything he had towards her overpowered him which resulted in such bitterness.

It is correctly said, that too much sweet results into bitterness, which they are experiencing.

"But Shivay, how did you get to know all these? No one except me knew these. Shivay... Shivay did you fix any spy behind me?" a phase which she regretted of welcoming unwantedly.

She was unsure, what will she do if he accepts yes to her question, she was afraid to fall weak because it is Shivay, she was afraid to act insane because again, it is Shivay.

"Yes" his answer shattered her, he sounded low but guilt wasn't there in his tone.

He didn't regret of what he did rather he was happy knowing he was taking her care 24x7 even when he is far. He thought about what else might have happened further if his men didn't shoo away Ankush.

"You should cut the call Shivay, I am tired" she wasn't sobbing anymore.

Did he do anything wrong? Was it wrong to take wife's care? Yes he is agreeing that his way was wrong but if he told her than she won't even had allowed him. He wasn't trying to disrespect her by invading her privacy but his caring side for her couldn't even sit silent guessing she isn't right by listening to her voice in past few days.

"Anika my intention weren't bad, all I wanted was your safety" he justified

"I never wanted anyone to invade my privacy, not even you Shivay. You should have known your limits" she freaked out.

"Listen to me Anika, listen to me. I know my limits, and dare you repeat this sentence again" his voice raised breaking his own barriers.

"Stop shouting at me, and let me take rest" Anika cut the call and threw the phone over her bed.

Phone striked the side table and lied flat. She threw the pillows, unfortunately one pillow hit their marriage picture and it fell down resulting into the breaking of the glass. She sat holding the edge of her bed and cried aloud. Her eyes fell upon the picture, picking it up carefully she hugged it tight letting all her tears out. The showers from her eyes showered the photo. Their smiles looking into each other's eyes started fading in front of her eyes. Her dream of a perfect family with him was getting shattered and she again cursed this distance. Slowly she drifted to sleep not knowing the exact time.

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Shivay cancelled all the meetings and rushed out driving his rented car. No direction he could see, his eyes felt blind and ears felt numb. Breaking rules he reached his house and barged in hitting over the wall. He shouldn't have hired a spy without Anika's knowledge. He punched more letting blood ooze out.

"Sir, that man has slapped Anika madam" rang into his ears.

He hated it, her behaviour did not hurt him much but her lies did. Her shouts didn't hurt him much but her silence did. And now he was shattered, not getting any hope he kept on hitting until his neighbour Mily rushed in.

"Oberoi, what's the matter? Are you okay?" she pulled him away with all her strength.

"How could she" he kept on saying as he drifted into darkness.

He hoped everything to be a nightmare and of not then he just wanted to leave the world thinking about him shouting over his wife, whom he loves even more than himself. This distance, his love and her denial, everything pushed them apart. Is it wrong to light up the hope still, no right?

He saw Ankush's face, he saw him slapping her and he got up from the darkness.

"Oberoi are you fine?" Mily asked, a doctor sitting in front who said that he is weak and special care is needed to be taken. By Mily's side her husband stood holding Mily's shoulders.

"I shouted over my wife, I shouted over my wife" Shivay repeated twice and looked forward fearing they will leave his side.

"Don't worry Oberoi, we are there for you. Please for few days shift into our house and after you get fine shift back" Thomas's smile was truly genuine.

Shivay agreed nodding yes and asked whether he should apologize before time runs out, they asked him to think wisely and then take any step forward. He was taken to their house and Mily took his extra care. He was recovering, but the guilt of shouting over Anika still stabbed him after five more days of the incident, given that they have not spoken in this time span.

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Who is wrong according to you? How will this couple sort out stuffs? And is it really true that Ankush is gone forever? Okay so much questions and so much perceptions, let's see how everything gets sorted. Until then please keep sharing what else you want and any suggestions for further story?

Thank You so much to everyone who read, voted and commented. Hope you have enjoyed this part as well. If so then please do hit the star button and leave your comment or criticism down.

NEXT EPISODE WILL GET POSTED ON THURSDAY.

-NILANJANA