Concept credit: aryaS_works

    Aru! I hope it'll be upto your expectations.

P. S. It's a long chapter (4100+ words) so read when you have spare time.
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Annika stirred in sleep because of the sunrays peeping through the curtains. She slowly opened her eyes only to find his side of the bed empty. She smiled sadly. It'd been a month since she woke up to see him sleeping beside her. Sighing deeply, she looked at other side to see their bundle of cuteness, their four years old daughter sleeping on her mini bed clutching the duvet tightly in her small fists. She smiled looking at her. Getting up, she kissed her forehead and left for the washroom to get freshen up.

         After wearing the nuptial chain, she was applying the vermillion when he came inside with a food tray. Their gazes met. She gave him a faint smile which he ignored. She gulped the lump formed in her throat. It was a month since he smiled at her forget about talking.

       He kept the tray on the bed for her to eat and himself sat on the couch opening his laptop in order to work.

      She went towards the bed and ate silently what he brought. She didn't want him to get more angry. He was already not talking to her and then her skipping meals would only add more to his anger. So she didn't want to take any risk.

       When she completed eating, he gave her the medicines and a glass of water without even sparing a glance at her. She consumed the tablets.

      He was about to go when she held his wrist. He stopped in his track.

      'Aur kitne din, Shiv?'('How many days more, Shiv?') She whispered meekly. He got his hand free from her hold and left from there not before kissing his princess's forehead.

      Tears escaped her eyes. She cupped her mouth crying. She was unable to tolerate all this. His distance was making her vulnerable. He was so close to her yet so far.

       She was crying when two small hands wiped her tears. She looked up only to see Shivika looking at her with her big cyan eyes all ready to shed tears seeing her mumma crying.

      'Mumma, no cly(cry).' Shivika said shaking her head cutely. Annika hugged her tightly. Shivika patted her back with her small hands.

       'Baby, pap.....a ko bo....lo na mum.....ma se baat krne ke liye. Mumma is sorry.' Annika cried more.

      Shivika ran from there towards the hall to call shivaay. She scanned the whole area but didn't find him anywhere. Whole family was there except shivaay.

      'What happened baby?' Asked Jhanvi who noticed her.

      'Papa?' She asked.

     'Shivi, he left for his office beta.' Answered Pinki. Shivika looked down. Everyone noticed her change of expressions.

    'Baby, why are you sad?' Asked rudy picking her up in his arms.

      'Papa no talk to mumma, she cly, Shivi sad.' She whispered sadly. Everyone got serious listening to her. They all knew about Shivaay's behaviour but couldn't do anything about it. They tried talking to shivaay but he was adamant. Annika was at fault too but they couldn't see her like this. They too were angry on her but eventually forgave her as she apologised.

      Pinky left to see Annika taking Shivika along with her. They saw annika sitting on the bed holding her face in her hands. She looked tired. Pinky went to her and caressed her head. Annika came out of her thoughts. Pinky sat beside her. Annika silently kept her head in her lap. She patted her head. In no time, she slept because of the medicines. She left from there with shivika letting annika sleep.

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      Shivaay entered his room after coming from office only to find it empty. Neither annika nor shivika was there. He went to the washroom for freshening up.

      He was setting his hair when she came from behind and hugged him tightly.

      'Shiv! I'm sorry.' Her voice cracked. Her eyes watered. He stood still without saying anything. His face was blank.

     'Please....ta....talk to m.....me Shiv. It....it..hu...hurts.' She sobbed against his back. He closed his eyes tightly so as to not fall weak. He didn't want to do this but she didn't leave any other option for him. She had hurt him way too much.

      'Leave me.' He said sternly. She denied still crying. He forcefully pushed her away and was about to go when she held his leg sitting on her knees.

      'Shiv! Please I'm sorry. Don't do this please. You are my everything, my only family......' she cried more. He jerked her away and looked at her with accusing eyes.

      'Family? Really Annika!.....noo! Sirf annika who has no family and who's an orphan.' He mocked her. She looked down being guilty.

      'I'm sorry.' She apologised yet again.

      'Can your sorry heal the pain you caused me?' He asked angrily. She looked at him with her pleading eyes. He looked away as he knew he couldn't stand her crying and guilty face.

      It all started two months ago. They were very happy with each other. Their daughter just added to their happiness. They were fortunate enough to have each other as their soulmate. But destiny had some other plans. It was time to test their love which they claimed to be unconditional and unbreakable.......

Two months ago,

      Shivaay entered their room in the evening to see her standing holding her head in her hands. She was about to fall down but he held her immediately.

     'Annie! You okay?' He asked with concern filled eyes.

      'I'm fine, Shiv.' She nodded.

     He made her sit down on the bed and gave her water which she gulped in a go. He was looking at her with his forehead creased with worry lines. She gazed at him.

      'Shiv! I'm fine. It's just that i didn't have my lunch today. Don't worry.' She said seeing his worried face. He glared her. She bit her tongue realising that now he would burst on her for not eating. But he silently went from there. She looked perplexed. Soon after, he came back with her food and made her eat himself. She smiled and made him eat too.

      Few days passed by quickly. Annika started feeling more weakness day by day. She even fainted twice in a week. Shivaay insisted her to check with the doctor but she convinced him that it was just because of work load. Being an event manager, she didn't get much free time which always led to exhaustion. Shivaay wasn't fully convinced but his wife was way too stubborn to listen to him.

      After some time, she started feeling terrible pain in her head along with the dizziness. She thought to get her checkup done but she didn't inform shivaay about it as she knew he would be worried sick for her.

      She described her condition to the doctor who asked some tests to be done. Annika did as per the doctor's advice. She was asked to wait for two days to fetch her reports. She was worried. She just hoped for everything to be fine.

     She got her reports two days later. She was sitting in the doctor's cabin in the hospital. She opened the envelope with shivering hands. Her heartbeats were erratic. Shock would be an understatement for annika when she looked at the result. It was brain tumour. She had brain tumour. She looked at the doctor being shocked. The report fell from her hands.

      'Bra.....brain...tumour.' She whispered being lost.

       'Annika! It's a serious disease. Your tumour is in its final stage.' The doctor threw a bomb at annika.

      The only thought which came to her mind was of her husband and her daughter. What would those two do without her?

      'How much time do i have doctor?' She asked masking her emotions.

     'I can't exactly say annika but we can perform your surgery yet again there are just one per cent chances of your survival.' The doctor explained. Annika nodded gulping back her tears.

      'Okay! I'll let you know but please don't tell this to anyone in my family doctor, please.'

     'But annika! It's against the rules. We have to tell your family members. Being your family doctor, i can say how much your family loves you so you can't avoid telling them.' She reasoned but annika was adamant. She convinced her somehow and left for Oberoi Mansion.

      She entered the mansion with a dejected face. Looking around, she recalled the time she had spent there. The hall, where whole family used to sit together to chat with each other after their hectic day. The kitchen, where the three obros used to make food for everyone, where shivaay used to feed her lovingly making her sit over the kitchen slab. The pillars, where they both had been caught romancing or kissing myriad times by their family. The garden, where shivika used to play with shivomru.

      Thinking all this, she reached their room. This was the place where she received love for the very first time in her life. Being an orphan, she had no one in her life. She had always been deprived of love and happiness till shivaay entered her life. He had filled every void in her life with his love and care. He had always been a caring and loving husband since the starting. He loved her as if she was a child. He fulfilled every single wish of hers without even her voicing it out.

       She looked at the bed where they became one, where they became shivika in complete sense. She chuckled with tears remembering how he would always sulk whenever she denied kissing him. She recalled when they first got to know about her pregnancy. They were on cloud nine. Shivaay was literally jumping here and there like a mad person in happiness. Then Shivika came in their life. She just added more to their happiness making their life more blissful.

       She sat on the bed crying bitterly. She couldn't fathom what to do or not. Should she tell shivaay all this? No, he would be worried for her. She needs to do something before it is too late. She knew if something happened to her then shivaay would eventually die. But she didn't want that. He needed to live for their daughter, their family.

       She didn't realise when sleep overtook her thinking about all the chaos.

     Shivaay entered the room only to see her sleeping in an uncomfortable position. He was confused seeing her sleeping at that time since she never slept in the evening. Shrugging his thoughts away, he made her lye down properly covering her with the duvet but what shocked him were the dry tear strains on her face. He got worried. Why was she crying? Is there any problem? Is she okay? So many questions roamed in his mind but he got no answers.

        Annika woke up to see him working while sitting on the couch. His eyes glued to the laptop screen while his fingers worked on the keyboard. She looked at him smiling faintly. Her eyes captured his handsome face in her mind.

     She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realise when he came and sat beside her. He cupped her face. She could see the concern and immense love in his eyes for her.

     'Jaan, you okay?' He asked softly caressing her left cheek with his thumb. She smiled.

     'I'm fine.' She whispered back holding his hands which were cupping her face. Her hands then cupped his face bringing it down to her level and she kissed his forehead followed by his eyes and cheeks. He was getting restless with each passing second. His annika was behaving so out of her character today. No! It wasn't that she never kissed him but today it was something different. He knew something was bothering her but what, he didn't know. She placed her head on his chest hugging him after pecking his lips. He too wrapped his arms around her.

     'Annika, kya hua hai?'('Annika, what happened?') He asked caressing her hair.

     She looked at him. 'Can't i kiss my husband?' She pouted. He knew she was trying to distract him and he also knew that if she decided to hide it then she wouldn't tell him no matter what. He thought to ask her later as for now, she was more important.

      'Of course! You can sweetheart......but not like this.' He said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. She looked at him quizzically.

     'Let me show you how to kiss.' Saying, he placed his lips on hers making her shocked. He pulled her more closer from her waist. She clutched his collar tightly before reciprocating the kiss. Being out of breath, they broke the kiss breathing heavily. He joined his forehead with hers.

      'You just disappointed me, Annika.' He spoke suddenly being serious. She got scared thinking that he might know everything.

       He leaned his face towards her ear and whispered, 'Even after eight years of our marriage, you fail to kiss me properly......you need more training, wifey.' He pecked her earlobe making her breathing heavy. Eight years of intimacy and she still couldn't help feeling all those tingling sensations erupting in her tummy whenever he touched her. His touch made her forget all the worries.

     He chuckled looking at her blushing face. Kissing her forehead he muttered 'My blushing queen.' She hid her face in his chest whilst he laughed loudly......

       Annika found a new doctor for her treatment since she didn't want anyone to know about her disease. She thought to leave everyone as she was told that it was impossible for her to survive. She thought to do something which would make everyone especially shivaay hate her so that they wouldn't feel pain after her death but what she didn't know was the fact that this would give them more pain.

        Shivaay was packing his clothes as he had to go to London for business purpose for at least five days. Annika was just sitting on the bed looking at him. She wanted to see him to her heart fill for the last time. She wanted this moment to cease. Her eyes moistured thinking about her fate. Just few years ago she got her happiness and now she was going to lose it again. Why the hell God was so cruel to her?

      He went to her after packing. Both laid down on the bed hugging each other. Shivika was with rudy and bhavya.

       Annika kissed his chest right over where his heart resides. He kissed her forehead as a reflex action. There was a blissful silence which they didn't want to break.

      'Shiv!'

     'Hmmm.'

     She scooted more closer to him.

    'Make love to me.' She whispered placing a chaste kiss on his cheek. She so wanted to tell him everything so that he could set everything right as he always says 'Main sab thik kar doonga.' But she didn't have the courage to break his heart by telling him about her disease. She wanted to cocoon herself in his embrace so that he could protect her from every freaking thing but alas......

      Talking about shivaay he was shocked listening to her demand. It was always him who initiated their intimacy but today she herself was asking him to do it. It wasn't that he was complaining but now he was completely sure that there was something wrong. He gazed into her eyes which were pleading him to protect her, to keep her with him, away from all the evils. He thought that he would ask her the problem in the morning. That was the first thing on his to do list after getting up. As of now, he couldn't tolerate the pain in her eyes. He wanted to heal her pain even though it was unknown to him and he knew only his love can provide her the much needed solace.

     'Make me feel loved please.' She again whispered meekly holding his face.

    He complied to her demand. He kissed her making her feel heaven. He doffed their clothes off their bodies. Hovering her, he placed wet kisses on her swan like neck. She moaned his name. He moved down continuing his kissing assault on her assets. She writhed under him in pleasure. He made her feel loved whole night. She kept moaning making him more passionate. His love made all her worries shoo away. For her, it was the last time she was getting this moment to live. She wanted to feel it till her heart felt happy. She wanted more of it. She wanted him to love her like anything and he did what she aspired......

     Shivaay woke up to find them cuddling. He remembered last night and smiled but soon his smile vanished as soon as he recalled her problem. He looked at her. She was holding him tightly as if he would run away if she left him. He could see she was scared for something. He could feel it. He got up and got ready for the day. She was still sleeping.

      'Jaan, wake up.' He said softly. She stirred yawning and sat up on the bed rubbing her eyes. He smiled.

      'Good morning.' He wished her. She nodded smiling. Asking her to freshen up, he left from there to take their breakfast. When he returned, she was all ready.

     She forwarded her nuptial chain and vermillion box to him which he made her wear happily. She closed her eyes in contentment.

      Both had their breakfast talking randomly. He thought it was the right time to ask her. He held her hand in his and as he was about to speak, shivika came inside shouting 'Good morning mumma Papa.' Both smiled at her.

      'Good morning, princess.' They replied in unison. She started talking to them and soon it was time for shivaay to go. He sighed thinking about his failed attempt to ask her.

      He hugged her and asked her to take care.

     'Love you.'

   'Love you too.'

  'Lobe you three.' Shouted their princess giggling. They chuckled looking at her. Kissing Shivika's forehead, he left.

Night,

    Annika made shivika sleep and started packing her clothes. Her tears didn't stop. She packed their family photo too in which she was holding shivika and he was back hugging her with a wide smile on his face. She wrote a letter for him and placed it in the side drawer of their bed.

    With a heavy heart, she left from there crying her heart out without even daring to look back not before kissing her princess's forehead and cheeks.....

      Four days later, shivaay came back finally being happy that now he could be with annika only to to find his family sitting in the hall with worries faces. His little munchkin was crying her heart out in her dadi's lap. He immediately picked her up wiping her tears. Shivaay hugged him tightly.

    'Baby, what happened?' He asked worried.

    'Mu...mumma.' She cried hicupping. He stood their worried. He looked around to not find his wife, his annika.

     'She's missing since four days shivaay.' Pinky answered his unasked question.

    'Whattttttttt?' He literally screamed making everyone cry as they didn't have the courage to tell him the truth.

       Pinky forwarded the letter towards him which they found in their room after annika had gone missing. Shivaay made shivika sit over the couch and held held the letter with shivering hands.

Dear Shivaay,

    I know you would certainly hate me after reading this letter but i literally had no other choice. In last few days, i realised that i no longer love you. I fell out of love shivaay. I'm sorry but i just wanna thank you for everything. You left no stone unturned to bring even a little happiness to me. I'll forever be grateful to you but i can't bear this anymore. Take care of you and our shivika. Don't leave your tadi aside okay because that's what makes you Shivaay Singh Oberoi.....

Annika

       Shivaay dropped the letter after reading it. He went numb for a moment. His annika, his wife didn't love her anymore. She left him. She didn't even for once thought about their daughter. His knees gave up eventually. He fell on his knees not being able to stand up. Everyone cried looking at their great wall of shivaay breaking. They knew annika was the base of this strong wall. Her departure would immediately break him. 

     His thoughts broke hearing his daughter's crying. He looked at her. His heart clenched seeing his jaan crying for her mother. He felt angry on annika for leaving like this. If not for him, she could have stayed back for her. They could have figured it out.

     He embraced his daughter in his arms making his way towards their room. He made her sleep by singing a lullaby. Shivika slept clutching his shirt tightly in her fist fearing that he too would leave her like her mumma. Shivaay hugged his daughter close to his chest.

      He started searching for annika as the days passed but didn't even get a clue about her whereabouts. He knew what was written in the letter was a white lie. She can never stop loving him, not even in her dreams. There was something more to it and he had to find it out at any cost.

      One day, he was going to the hospital as he had an appointment with the doctor for shivika as she fainted last day due to the stress. Shivaay was all riled up by then.

      Annika was admitted in the same hospital.

     Shivaay got shivika's checkup done and the doctor suggested him to keep her away from the stress. He nodded.

      He was going back with shivika in his arms when she started whispering 'Mumma mumma' continously. He looked at her to see her looking at a particular direction. He followed her eyes and was shocked to see Annika standing there. His eyes watered looking at her. But wait, what was she doing there and that too in a hospital gown? She was talking to a doctor. He went closer to them asking shivika to stay quiet.

     'Are you ready for the surgery, Miss annika?' The doctor asked. Annika nodded.

     'Yes, doctor.'

    'And please tell us if there is anyone in your family. I'm asking you for the last time.'

      Annika shook her head.

     'NO DOCTOR! I HAVE NO FAMILY. I'M AN ORPHAN.'

     Something broke inside shivaay listening to annika. Did he really mean nothing to her? Was he really unable to give her love? Wasn't his love sufficient for her? Why did she give up so soon? Didn't she have the trust on their love? So many questions roamed in his mind. But what he didn't notice was the nuptial chain which annika was holding in her hand tightly.

     Shivaay informed everyone at home. They were shocked. More than that, they were angry on her for giving up so soon. Fortunately, her surgery was successful. Shivaay was relieved.

     Annika was shocked seeing everyone when they met her. They scolded her for her not so good work. She apologised and explained everything to them as how she lost all her hopes to survive. They anyhow forgave her as the doctor advised them to keep her happy.

      She looked for shivaay. He was nowhere to be seen. Her heart yearned to see him. One month passed but he didn't even come in front of her. She was brought back home.

     Finally, after a month he met her. But her heart broke when he ignored her. He would do everything for her but without any word. He would sleep on the same bed but with a pillow wall between them.........

Flashback ends

     Shivaay went from there leaving a crying annika behind. She knew she deserved it but she was unable to tolerate all this.

    Next day, Annika was sitting in the hall along with other ladies of the house when omru entered crying along with some people who were carrying a stretcher with a person lying over it covered with a white cloth. They placed stretcher on the floor and uncovered the face. Annika's breath hitched seeing it. It was shivaay. All were crying as the doctor declared him dead.

       'I HAVE NO FAMILY. I'M AN ORPHAN.'

      These were shivaay's last words which Rudra told them crying.

      Annika stood there without blinking. Her eyes glued to shivaay. Now she understood how he would have felt listening to those words from her. Her heart screamed in agony but her eyes remained devoid of tears. Only one thing was there in her mind that he left her..........

                     THE END

Okay! Just kidding😂😂 don't throw your chamelies at me. There's something more to it❤