“Ah what a good joke!” She told rolling her eyes and he chuckled as he tightened his grip on her palm.

“Anika how about we sit there for a while? We've been walking for so long”

“Tired already?” She asked and he chuckled.

“A little. Let's sit” He told as he sat on the bench while she sat near him.

He was simply looking at the stars above him while she looked at his face. She had to say it and what better time would it be than this when he had this serene smile on his face as if he knew what her next action was going to be.

“Shivaay I——”

“Anika” She heard someone's shocked voice and her heart skipped a beat. This voice, she could recognize it anywhere. Once she fell in love with this voice and unmistakably it was him.

They turned startled and her guess didn't go wrong.

“Varun” She whispered with trembling lips and shivaay turned to her, his eyes showing fear.

Varun rushed to her, his eyes shining in happiness as she stood up from the bench followed by Shivaay.

“Anika!! Where were you till now? Do you know where all I searched for you? Where did you go baby?” He asked holding her palm and all of a sudden, she felt weak. Tears brimmed up in her eyes seeing the concern in his eyes. For a moment, she was alone in that park with him.

“I—I——Varun” She managed to say as tears overflowed her eyes.

Shivaay didn't know what to do that instant. He wanted the earth to gobble him up that instant than seeing this sight. What he feared was in front of him.

He held her arm and she turned to him with a jerk suddenly remembering that he was with her. Looking at her hand which was clasped in Varun's, she took it back startled.

“Anika——should I stay? Do you want to talk to him privately?” Shivaay asked, his heart breaking to ask the mere question.

She looked at Shivaay and then back at Varun who was confused, probably wondering who Shivaay was.

“Yes” She told softly and shivaay nodded.

“Whatever decision you take, remember I'll always support you no matter what” He whispered to her and squeezed her palm in his before walking away from them. Where did the question of decision come from? She thought with a frown.

She smiled at Varun, her mind clear on what to do.

“Anika how are you? Three years and everything changed” He told holding her palm but she simply took her palm back.

“Yes, three years” She told softly.

“Anika, I'm genuinely sorry for what I have done but I never intended to hurt you. It was for you and me. I thought about our future” He told guiltily and she nodded.

“I understand but there's no US now. It's you, and me” She told and he looked shocked at her.

“Anika what——”

“You say it was for our future but did you ever think about me before abandoning me in that mandap with just a stupid message? Do you know about the humiliation I faced? The pain I had to undergo?” She asked calmly and he looked at her guiltily.

“When you got a better job offer from UK, you thought it was better to choose that rather than me who loved you like mad. You might have your reasons but what reason can you give for breaking my heart so badly?” She asked and he looked at down.

“Anika, I know I can't change the past but please give me a second chance. I will never hurt you in my life. I promise” He told holding her hand and she smiled.

“It's too late Varun” She told taking her hand back.

“Why? Are you in love——did you forget me so soon?” He asked hurt and she chuckled.

“Soon? It's been three years Varun. Let's leave the matter of years. I would have waited for you till the end of my life if you just told me a word but you didn't. Instead you just left me to get humiliated in front of the world. That day, when I cried in front of the fire, he came and held my hand. Till now he hadn't left that hold” She told with a teary eyed smile and he looked at her with wide eyes.

“Did you hear what he said before walking away from us? Whatever decision I make, he'll be there with me no matter what. He loves me more than anything in this world and my happiness is what matters to him more than his heartbreak” she told with a smile.

“On the day which was supposed to be our marriage, I got married to him to save my parents' name. That very day, he had to go to US to finalize a deal but he didn't leave my side seeing my pathetic condition. He lost that deal and incurred a big loss. Do you realise the difference?” She asked and Varun couldn't raise his head to look at her face.

“He never asked me anything. He said I can move out of that relation whenever I want and he'll happily sign the divorce papers. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if I could love someone else other than you. I was depressed and he was right by my side, pacifying me”

“He made me the Anika who I'm today. I resumed my medical practice and he was always there with me to support me in every decision I make. You broke my trust and my belief in myself. You broke Dr. Anika Raizada but he restored me back. He made me wear my doctor's coat which I thought I'll never be able to wear again. He made me hold my stethoscope again. Do you still think I'll love you who pushed me into depression?” She asked and he was speechless to answer anything.

“Varun I have moved on from you. May be somewhere I still love you but what I feel for him is much more than what I ever felt for you. You're my first love but he's the love of my life. With my soul and heart, I love him” She told and Varun nodded as he let out a deep breath.

“I think you should move on too. Please don't wait for me any longer” She told and briefly hugged him.

“I always searched you in the crowds but now I got my answer on why I did that. I wanted to give a right closure to us before I started a proper life with my Shivaay. I wanted to make sure I moved on from you. Now I'm sure because I don't feel anything towards you. It wouldn't ever be fair to him as he deserves nothing less than my love. I don't know if I'll ever be able to love him as much as he loves me” She told and Varun smiled, a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

“Yes Anika, he does. He deserves all your love and you deserve all his love. Three years, I was guilt ridden for leaving you and had been searching for you ever since but now I can be happy knowing you're happy somewhere. Always be happy Anika. You deserve only happiness” He told and she smiled though her eyes brimmed up with tears. He loves her but she can't be blind to her Shivaay's selfless love. She ignored that love for three years but not anymore.

“Bye. He's waiting for me” She told with a smile and he nodded.

Without another word, she walked to the car where shivaay had his head on the steering wheel, waiting for her in tension.

She sat inside and he looked at her startled.

“Anika” He told with a painful smile.

“Can we go home? I'll brief you about the conversation after reaching. And ya, your decision is still the same right?” She asked and he nodded with a pain in his heart.

“He told me he still loves me. And that he was waiting and searching for me these three years” She told with a smile, just to see his reaction.

“What did you tell him?” He asked after a long silence.

“Hang on, tell me this. Why are you being so selfless. You have the right to stop me right”

“I told you many times Anika, I do not have. I married you in such a dire situation and even after knowing your heart is with someone else, I didn't have the right to fall in love with you. I did and I shouldn't be selfish. I loved you knowing that I should let go of you one day” He told and she turned to look at him.

They reached Oberoi Mansion and Anika got down from the car as he parked it.

“So you're saying, you never wished I loved you back?” He smiled as he turned to look at her.

“I'm not a fool to not wish that. All I can do is wish” He told as they walked upstairs to the room.

“Shivaay” His brother Om called and they turned to him.

“I have something to talk to you” Om told and Shivaay turned to look at Anika. She nodded before walking upstairs.

*

As Shivaay entered their room and closed the door, he noticed the change in scent. After locking the door, he turned to see Anika standing there, wearing a baby pink saree he had gifted her a few months. His breath hitched in his throat.

“You——You wore this?” He asked shocked and she smiled.

“You told me to wear it when I truly accept you. I had accepted you long back but today I realized I——” She stopped as she looked down with a blushy smile.

“You?” He asked with a thumping heart as he held her shoulder.

She stood on her toes and kissed him making his hold on her tighten.

“I love you” She whispered against his lips and he looked at her with eyes filled with tears.

“You do? Are you sure?”

“I have never been so sure about anything in my life Shivaay” She told caressing his beard and he hugged her as he breathed a sigh of relief.

“He's an old chapter of my life. I wouldn't leave you or your love for anything in this world. I'm not a fool to not see your love. I want this love. Call me selfish but I want your love till my last breath” She told as tears rolled down her eyes and he kissed her temple.

He had never felt so happy in his whole life.

“I'm happy I met him today. I was about to confess to you when he came and interrupted me” She told and he parted from the hug with a frown.

“Why?” He asked and she chuckled.

“Because even when he confessed his undying love for me, I didn't feel anything. All I was thinking was about you so he gave me a surety that what I felt towards you was not out of guilt or obligation. I truly love you” She told and he smiled wholeheartedly before kissing her. She closed her eyes as she reciprocated the kiss.

“Anika can I——”

“I'm all yours” She whispered and he couldn't help but smile as he carried her in his arms towards his scratch it their bed.

~The End~