Morning rays disturbed her not so peaceful sleep and she opened her eyes, only to find herself in that damn wedding dress. It felt like a trap to her.

Slowly standing up, Anika walked into the room. Her so-called husband was already awake. But she didn't give two shits about it.

"What are you doing here?", Shivaay asked her, surprisingly not yelling at her.

"Came for the clothes", she whispered, not even sparing him a glance.

Everyone had gathered around the table and so did Shivaay. Apart from his missing wife.

"Where's Anika?", Dadi asked him with a flat voice.

"Don't know, don't care", he replied while grabbing a slice of bread. His reply made Omkara roll his eyes.

Rudy was about to take a bite from his sandwich, when his eyes stopped at the staircase and he dropped it. Everybody looked at him confused.

"What's wrong?", Jhanvi asked him.

"Anika", Omkara replied while taking a sip from his tea.

Shivaay who hadn't been following the conversation, turned his head only to find her walking towards him.

"That's a beautiful saree, Anika. Where did you get that one?", Jhanvi genuinely smiled at her.

"Aunty, I made it", Anika replied looking everywhere just not at the guy sitting beside her.

"Not really surprising. How can she afford something good when she's struggling for two times food a day", Shivaay made a rude remark. But Anika ignored him.

At least she tried to but couldn't stop the forming tears in her eyes. Jhanvi glared at Shivaay in anger.

"That's a nice design, where did you learn it from?", she asked her again.

"Maa", she replied with a low voice. The same mother she hadn't seen since a day. Who might not know that her daughters married now.

"Of course, that's what they do most of the time to earn some money", each of his words, kept tearing her heart but he couldn't seem to care.

Anika looked at him with sudden disgust and stood up to leave from there.

"Sit down na, have breakfast", Pinky said smilingly. Which was pretty confusing, giving the fact she wanted her son to divorce Anika yesterday, right after the marriage.

Anika looked at her and nodded. When she was about to sit down, her sandal slipped and she landed on his lap. He held her arms softly protecting her from falling.

She looked into her eyes. Only to find them darkening again. Shivaay looked at her with disgust, which broke her heart all over again. As if that moment, in which he might have cared for her, hadn't even happened.

Jerking her away, he left for office and Anika sat down to at least have her fast meal, since the past twelve hours.

✼ ✼ ✼

Everyone was ready for the function. The guests had arrived. The bride was waiting for her groom. Who was missing.

"Where the hell is he?", Omkara asked annoyed.

"Here", a voice came from behind. Which could've only belonged to the heartless Shivaay Singh Oberoi.

"Finally, here you're", Pinky ejaculated while walking towards her son.

"Where's Anika now?", Dadi asked, stressed out.

"I'm here", a soft voice came and everybody felt relieved to have them both present now.

Everyone was walking towards the couch, made for the couple. While two eyes couldn't stop staring at the girl walking with him.

Anika was now standing in front of the stage. Not knowing what would happen to her next. Her life had taken a drastic change since she agreed to marry him.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen", Shivaay welcomed them all.

"So, as all of you know that I'm finally married now. I'd like to introduce you to my wife. The Mrs. Shivaay Singh Oberoi", a smile formed on his face.

Anika, not knowing what to do, slowly started taking steps towards the stage. Only to have someone snatch the earth away from her feets.

"Alizey Singh Oberoi", he declared and a girl, who wasn't Anika, joined him on the stage.

"Finally, here you're", Pinky ejaculated while walking towards her son.

"Where's Anika now?", Dadi asked stressed out.

"I'm here", a soft voice came and everybody felt relived to have them both present now.

Everyone was walking towards to couch, made for the couple. While two eyes couldn't stop staring at the girl walking with him.

Anika was now standing in front of the stage. Not knowing what would happen to her next. He life had took a drastic change since she agreed to marry him.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen", Shivaay welcomed them all.

"So, as all of you know that I'm finally married now. I'd like to introduce you to my wife. The Mrs. Shivaay Singh Oberoi", a smile formed on his face.

Anika not knowing what to do, slowly started taking steps towards the stage. Only to have someone snatch the earth away from her feets.

"Alizey Singh Oberoi", he declared and a girl, who wasn't Anika, joined him on the stage.

She went to the stage, hugging him while he smiled at her. Kissing her cheek. Anika clenched her fist in anger. Everybody seemed shocked.

Anika started taking a step backwards. Tears were flowing down her eyes and she ran into the bathroom.

She entered the hall, again, with a smile on her face. Not giving him the satisfaction of having hurt her. He didn't care about her.

That was just as obvious, as him dancing and kissing that girl in front of Anika. He was such an asshole.

She just kept smiling, until someone took her hands and dragged her towards the dance floor.



"Saad, is that you?", she asked him dumbfounded.

"Ani, what are you doing here?", he asked her confused, yet smilingly.

"Nothing, to be honest", she shrugged her shoulders. It was the truth.

"Won't you tell me anything?", he pouted in sadness.

"I tell you everything, just not right now", she looked at him exhausted and he nodded.

"So, no hug?", he asked her with sadness and she smiled at him.

"Idiot", she chuckled and wrapped her petite body around his.

But what they hadn't noticed were those green eyes, staring at them with pure disgust and hatred. As if she had done some crime.

Only if he knew that he did crime and this was his punishment. He knew he didn't deserve her. Or anything remotely close to good. So, he never bothered living up to expectations.

And maybe that's what ruined him. His mind that never seemed to stop thinking about the possibilities of him ever knowing what it feels like to beloved, by someone.

He was a lost cause. And maybe even a threat to the ones who weren't. He couldn't be fixed. Because he'd only end up destroying her too.

Anika, looked at him. Which made him realize that he had been looking at them for way too long.

Saad took her hand and twirled her around, which made her smile at him.
_______________________________________

Amna xx