He fidgeted, in sleep. As he turned a sharp pain rose through his back. He lazily opened his eyes and looked around. He could make out the bright day through the translucent curtains, immediately he sat up holding his back. How long had he been sleeping? He looked at the watch 11:00 am..! He rubbed his face and got up. He picked up his phone from the table.

10 missed calls

"Hell!" he cursed under his breath. Immediately he called back, and spoke to the person. "One minute." he said over the phone as he searched his table. He looked at his table neatly arranged. He thought for a moment. He had left all the papers and file scattered as he had been working, though it was quite not his style but he had as he was over worked with the entire thing. Also he had been sitting there and after that he only remembered waking up now. The voice at the other end brought him back to his senses. "I will call you back!" he cut the call and threw his phone on the bed, and started searching for the papers he was looking for, finding it he called back the person and told him the details.

He quickly went to the washroom and freshened up. Now he sat on the bed rewinding to the last night. Yes he had been discussing the accounts and legal documents of his companies rather which once upon a time belonged to him with Mishra! After that he was going through Rana's activities in his companies , and after that he woke up! When did he sleep,? Confused he looked at the table. He was pretty sure he hadn't left the table like that. He realised maybe Anika..! But why would she come to my room?

His phone beeped, he read the message. He clenched his jaw in anger, teading thevpiece of information Mishra sent him. He had to hurry up all the lanes were ending in a dead end! He walked out, to the hall. She saw him come and pasted a straight smile on her face.

"Ho gayi aapki morning?"

He nodded as he poured himself some water and sipped it on.

Clearing his throat he spoke-"Wo tum mere room mein aayi thii?"

Anika -"Haan woo.."

He cut her and spoke in a cold voice-"Meri desk ko..."

She nodded in a yes before he could complete, as she saw his facial expression tense up and his jaw clench.

He coldly-"Don't touch my things next time, I don't like people meddling around with my stuff." He turned to leave when her words stopped him.

Anika spoke standing across the table-"Aap kyun kar rahe hain ye sab?"

Shivaay closed his fingers in a fist as he saw her, his eyes questioning her.

Anika-"I thought aap aage bad chuke hain, but your still stuck there. Life sabko chance nahi deti...aapko diya hai...toh aap..."

"Enough Anika!" he spat the words in anger as he took a step close to her. Her eyes widened in shock. She had never seen this side of him. She had seen him anger previously but this was all a new level, a higher one. He had never spoken to her in that tone. She gulped as she saw him furious his jaw clenched. "Enough!"

"Aap..." She managed to speak, hoping he would calm down.

He took another step closer and she stepped back her waist hitting the dining table. Her heart raced as she saw anger in those eyes.

Shivaay-"I said enough, first of all you shouldn't have entered my room without my permission, secondly you have no right to touch my things and lastly you shouldn't put yourself into my business." He said banging the table right beside her. She closed his eyes and trembled. As he saw her tremble his eyes changed colour as his anger disappeared and concern took over. He immediately stepped back.

She felt his movement and slowly opened her eyes which now looked at him with a tinge of anger. He felt guilty and angry at the same time.

Shivaay-"Wo...Anika.." He tried in a soft tone feeling guilty.

Anika-"I thought we were friends. I came in to your room, cause I was worried since you weren't awake as usual, and I happened to see all that... I had knocked on the door, but you din't respond, that's when I stepped in to look all was fine!" She said her bold eyes looking at his guilty ones.

He rubbed his forehead with his left hand, "Damn!" for once he should have just controlled his anger. It hurt him to see her hurt.

Shivaay-"Anika...wo main...gusse mein...pehle hi itna sab kuch ho raha hai..ki..main..

Anika-"Why are you doing this? Kya milega aapko ye sab karke? I know jo aap ke saath hua wo galat thaa...lekin aap kab tak past mein jiyenge. Do you realise all this is what is stressing you out, and doctor ne bhi kaha thaa stress is not good for you...for your brain!"

Shivaay's blood had started boiling as he remembered his past.

"Anika...My family was my life...my everything! Merii jaan mere bhaaiyon mein, mere parivaar mein thii! Uss Rana ne sirf meri daulat nahi meri Zindagi mujh se cheeni hai."

His eyes turned moist as he spoke. It pained her to see him like that. She had seen his vulnerable side before, she shuddered as she remembered how he had wanted to kill himself how he had attempted to suicide. Lucky enough he had forgotten those terrible days of his life, even the doctor had suggested not to tell him about those days as they might affect his brain adversely.

He looked distantly at blank space his anger rising-"He took my everything, meri jeene ki wajah cheen li mujh se." A shiver ran through her spine at his last words.

He turned to look at her, holding her by the shoulders he rocked her "And all I want is...my house back, my everything back, not that it makes a difference now...but because I want to give him only a trailer of what he gave to me. I want my home back, which holds memories of my family! Which Holds memory of my Brothers, My Life! Tell me Anika, don't I deserve to get that much!

Agar mujhe badla chaiye hota toh main isse bura karta. And honestly, main karne waala bhi thaa, lekin then one day as I sat thinking about this, I remembered what my brother had once told me...they are here in my heart and will always be here forever. I for once thought about what their reaction would be to this...They would never be with me to make someone's life hell."

He looked at her, as her eyes had grown moist seeing him. Only then he realised he had been holding on to her hands tightly. He immediately took away his hands.

"Badle Ki aag, Jalane waaley ko bhi jalaa deti hai!" This is what Om had told me once while we were casually seeing a movie. At that time, it was oddly placed but now I understand why he had said it back then. He quickly wiped away the tear that dropped despite his control. He turned away he didn't want her to see them. She had already seen it. She quickly rubbed the tears off her own eyes. She had misunderstood him!

He looked back at her, awkwardly.

She also looked at him blankly. Finally she spoke up-"Aap ne ye sab chupaya kyun mujhse?"

He looked at her, he dint know the answer himself.

Anika was upset not getting an answer-"Anyways..!" She said looking away as she was about to walk towards the kitchen.

But before she knew she was stopped by him. He had held her wrist. He knew she was hurt. Here she was wanting nothing but her rights as a friend, only for his betterment and he was being the jerk. He knew he had hurt her staying away and having a cold behaviour towards her already, and now he had topped it up with all this mess.

"Anika...I dint want you to get into this mess..!" he said what came in his heart.

She looked at him turning towards him-" Agar hum self-sufficient hote naa toh God humein ek ek planet pe single accommodation deta...lekin aisa nahi hai...that is why he made all of us and put us on this single planet, we all need someone to share with, sab ko ek dost ki zarurat hoti hai! Isliye Dost se kuch nahi chupaana chaiye! " She tried reading his eyes but was unable to. "It's a different case if you don't trust the person enough!" she ended looking at him.

He immediately looked up-"Of course I trust you Anika!"

She nodded, she was still unsure whether she should further talk but finally decided to speak up-"What's next?"

P.S

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