Whelve - to bury something deep; to hide

Shots On Ishqbaaaz
Prompt : Annika's inner turmoil of leaving Oberoi Mansion (Vanwas Track)

Requested by : @SolankKajal

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Annika waved at Shivaay leaving for office. She looked around at the living room, sitting all alone. After a hectic day, storming to various stations to reach the working places, being alone was a salve, a chance for true serenity to calm every part of her being. It was the time when she truly enjoyed the solitude. But now. It's different and it hurts.

A grandmother. Her wrinkles are the map of her sweet paths she'd travelled since her birth. Brushing Annika's hair, smiling as if she were a child. A cup of tea, they do, always made with milk, proper little cups like on an old movie, lots of love and her evergreen Ishqbaaazi lessons.

That day, she wailed in distress till she couldn't find her own voice. She was helpless. The number of times she cried out holding Shivaay's hands.

Gauri. A flower woman. She's nothing less than a little sister to her. A person she would dearly complain without any worries about her husband after Dadi and OmRu. She's the one who help others, using her everything to fix whatever needed fixing.

She remembered crying on her shoulder before leaving Oberoi Mansion. Her soft and tiny arms unusually wrapped tight around her so that she would let not her Annika bhojai go off the sight.

Two brother-in-laws. In precise, her brothers who always stands her either side. There is so much comfort in being with them, a kind of rest that's pure.

"Bhabhi, do that and, no matter what happens, you will be proud of who you are," Omkara would say. Like a friend. Unbothered about the time, he's a person she could believe on getting good words of wisdom to calm down her uncertain thoughts.

The most miserable part was, that day he wasn't there. There's a little corner of her heart convinced that if he was there, things would've been different. He wouldn't have let this parting happen.

She can't even imagine how depressed it must've been for him after learning the problems at worst, where he can't fix anything.

Then, there comes Rudra. Her child. He's a like a flag, dependant on the inconstant breeze for its direction. The wish for him to always stay together was tarnished in a moment. A boy with the eyes that shined like pebbles on the shore always were begging in helplessness.

Her breathe stuck inside her throat, her tears refused to stop when she remembered his face. She was broken the moment she turned around. On the knees, he was crying his heart out. The thought of him not bouncing around some corner to laugh with her for failing to elaborate the silly jokes tormented her.

Last but not the least, Shivaay. Love of her life. Every blessing is a burden and they come in equal strength. Shivaay is the greatest blessing almighty could ever have brought to her. Thus the hardships in their family is of the same measure.

Annika wiped her tears away when her attention drawn to her ringing phone. She smiled at the screen flashing Shivaay's name.

"Annika..."

"Hmm"

"Are you okay ? Why you're sounding so low ?" he asked concerned.

"Nothing. I'm just—-missing you"

"Acha ji. Ain't you the one who pushed me out of the house to work like a man. Now what's with you ? Mood swings ? Wait! Are you pregnant ?" he asked bewildered, equally shocking her.

"Shivaay! I'm not pregnant"

"No. Looking at your capricious moods, I think you need a pregnancy test"

"Mr Oberoi, too much confidence. Not a good thing. And, I'm not pregnant"

"Mrs Oberoi. Aise kaise ? I think the fruit of our bed adventure is finally happening. Don't you think so ?" he teased.

She felt warm spreading across cheeks. Why this man!

"Shivaay. Keep quiet, please"

"Okay," he chuckled "Actually I called you to inform about a new grocery store here. You should—-"

"Ek minute! Grocery is your department. Do not bring it to me" she told curtly. He rebuked, "So you suggest that I should get the grocery items instead going office right now ? Annika yaarr!"

"Don't whine! We'll go to the grocery store tomorrow. Together. Stop finding reasons to come back and sleep on my lap" she smiled hearing him sighed.

"Fine, woman! Tomorrow. Fixed. And, I want you to know something"

"Something ? Now what ?"

"I love you, Annika"

She smiled looking down at her lap.

"I love you too, Shivaay"

He smiled resting the call. Even when they see things differently, their souls are still in stereo. He know she will stand by him no matter what. No matter how hard things gets, they are each other's comfort. Because they know losing everything around them isn't a destruction point but the price of losing each other would be the surrender of their souls.

The End.

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Gratitude, Love Comrade