"Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi, what are your plans for marriage, now that your sister is settled. Can we expect to see you as a groom soon?" The reporter kept up with Shivaay's pace.

Shivaay, with his shades concealing his eyes, said nothing. He simply walked away. His business was all they were supposed to know about not his personal life. Once in his air conditioned car, Shivaay unbuttoned his coat and loosened his tie. Throwing his shades aside he rested his head behind and closed his eyes.

Once again she came before him. He held his head. His head was throbbing with pain. Daadi's repeated questions didn't help either. 

He walked into his mansion, which was nothing like what home used to be. He looked around, the silence was killing. 

He slowly started walking towards the staircase.

"Billu tu aa gaya!"

He smiled and walking up to her, hugged his grandmother.

"Dawai li?" He asked 

She nodded.

He smiled, slightly.

"Bas kar ye naatak. Teri aakhein dard we bhari hui hain. Kab tak aise jeeyega?" She said slapping his cheek lightly.

"Jeene ki wajah toh cheen li mujh se, ab kya karoon?" He asked his grandmother with a heavy heart looking at the family photo.

"Billu... Tu kyun kar raha hai yeh Sab? Anika se jhagda hua kya?"

He pulled back his hand and looked away."Daadi ...Anika Anika Anika...tang ho...

"Tu bhi jaanta hai aur main bhi . Tu Anika se pyaar karta hai.. Toh ye tu menu naa suna!" Daadi cut him off.

With a straight face he finally narrated to Daadi everything from scratch. With tears in his eyes he completed.

"Tera dil kya kehta hai?"

He looked up at her.

"Tujhe lagta hai Anika, sirf apne liye, ye Sab...

" Daadi, lagta toh yeh bhi thaa ki Roop Bua WO Sab nahi kar sakti. Tabhi bhi unne kiya naa..?"

Daadi looked at her grandson dryly. He had been slapped too hard by life. She understood he couldn't trust anyone easily now. No matter what Naam, Khoon or Khaandan, he was clearly adamant on not trusting anyone. 

"Billu agar hum akele hi sab kar lete naa, toh Baghwan humein akele akele baanaate aur akele hi , ek ek prithvi humaare naam kar dete. WO upar wala kuch aise hi nahi karta hai! Ab samaj ne waala samjhe - ishaare toh wo khoob deta hai." She got up and walked to the kitchen to instruct the Cook.

Shivaay sat motionless. He remembered that day, when theyvsat by the beach. Anika had told him the same thing. He gulped. Was this a sign? He burried his head on his plam. This mind versus heart was getting on him. Neither could he do away with the thought that Anika had lied to him all along, nor could he fight his heart's temptation to trust her beyond everything. Her memories, her laughter that echoed in his ears, her smile that illuminated his face, each and everything about her tormented his heart. And Then there were those tears he had seen in her eyes, when she left. Did she think of him as well?

* * *

"Just relax and lie down!" The doctor instructed Shivaay. His headache had grown worse. Sleep was something he never got in past three days.

Shivaay had complained about his headache to the doctor. Also about his sleep deprived nights. The doctor was sceptic knowing his case history. Shivaay had suggested the doctor to go ahead with whatever treatment or tests he wanted to but cure him of the pain.

* 

Shivaay smiled lightly at the doctor, as he entered the room an hour later."Any complications?" He asked.

"Mr. Oberoi test was fine. No complication. But I suspect your, your mental state to be responsible for the headaches. Is there something that bothers you?" 

"My Life Doc!" He laughed lightly looking at his palm.

"Mr.Oberoi, this attitude won't help. Aap...ko.. Apna khyaal ralhna chaiye. Do you take your medicines on time?"

Shivaay nodded.

"Have you been taking any painkillers?"

"Yeah."

"It won't work. Mr. Oberoi. Extra medicines will only harm."

Shivaay thought he saw someone at the door, peeking through the glass. He stared at his hand intently as the doctor kept question him about his routine. 

He suddenly looked up and interrupted the Doctor in his flow. "Doctor, is she here?"

The doctor stared at him. "Sorry?"

"Is Anika here?"

The doctor looked unsure and turned to the door to find no one there.

He looked at him silently and nodded in affirmation.

A smile crept up his face. " Can you ask her ...to...see ..!" He stopped mid way remembering the words he had told her. He closed his eyes.

The doctor patted his hand. "I had called her, actually she has always accompanied you here. I was little unsure when you came by yourself!" 

Shivaay glanced at the doctor and smiled gratefully for his concern.

"She has been a good friend." He said sighing.

"Arre, she is an angel! Always thinking about others before herself."

Shivaay peered at the Doctor at those words.

"Now, when you were admitted here almost,... What an year back? After the accident... She used to spend her time here, sab ki dost thii, nurse se lekar doctors aur patients ki !" The senior doctor laughed.

"Doctor, may I ask you something?" Shivaay now sat up, the doctors warm nature had made Shivaay feel free to speak to him. Clearly the older man had both experience and knowledge in his subject.

"What ...what was the situation like? I mean I dint even know her then why did she ...do what she did..." His voice trailed off as confusion once again grew.

The doctor sighed. "Some people are like that! Take my wife for example- she was a beautiful woman. I don't know why exactly she stayed, when she had an option to leave me and live the life of her dreams. But she stayed with this man for whom his medical practice was more than anything! " 

Shivaay simpered at the man. "She loves you!"

The doctor smiled and patted his shoulder and got up to leave. "Maybe!"

Once the doctor turned to leave. Shivaay got his answer. 

Could this be it? Anika loved him. He couldn't help but note small things and phrases to find hints, as Daadi had said.

"Doctor!" He called out immediately.

The man turned.

"Do you know about my marriage?"

The doctor now put up a straight face immediately. Shivaay knew there was something.

"Please Doctor, I need to know. I have tried hard to remember whatever that happened. I have been forcing myslef to recollect the events, but I am failing badly!"

"Mr. Oberoi, please do not. Do you know how damaging it can be ! I have strictly suggested you to not force yourself or pressurize your brain to remember anything! This could also be the reason behind your condition." 

"Then please tell me. There is something that is being hidden from me. I can feel so. "

"I was aware about the Contract Marriage. Anika told me about it!"

"Why did she do that?"

The doctor sighed and sat back on his seat beside the bed.

"Listen to me carefully, " the doctor studied his expression then sighed holding his hand. "You had grown impulsive after your accident. Due to trauma and loss of memory and identity, you tried to kill yourself. We had to give you an identity or send you to rehab. The former had little chance of success but Anika wanted to give it a try. So she brought up this idea if a contract marriage to try saving you from falling into a mental imbalance and herself from certain legal issues."

Shivaay's gaze remained fixed, his eyes shone with moisture, as the words of the doctor sank into his brain.

P.S

Woosh..

See you all tomorrow! ;)