[ chapter seven • i will be with you ]

"I want everything perfect Khanna" Shivaay kept his hands in pants pocket and ordered.

Cutting the call as he knew that khanna would never make things go wrong, he had blind trust on Khanna.

Scrolling down in his phone, he stood there reading about 'business' stuff, where some praised him and some degraded him, making a scowled face, he shut his phone and looked at the weather which looked densed.

Annika sweated in sleep as she had the same nightmare which reeled inside her brain from more than ten years, clutching the sheet, she painted hardly as she starved for oxygen.

Getting up with a jerk, Annika was in a panicking mode, looking around she didn't see Shivaay which scared her further, the lights were off and the climate was dark, she had Nyctophonia which added more to her for being scared.

"Shivaay?" No response, she got up and shouted again "Shivaay?" Annika gulped down in fear.

"Shivaay I am scared" She said in a stammering way and took baby steps as she couldn't see anything in the dark.

Walking a step ahead, she collided with the table resulting in her getting hurt on the thighs and she moaned in pain.

"Ahh" she got down, rubbing her thighs where she was hurt.

She got up and decided to walk upstairs, thinking he would be up there doing something important as he left her down alone. Walking up till where stairs started from, she took a deep breathe in and steeped on the first one.

Reaching till the third last one, she had a unknown smile formed as she reached up, being happy, Annika casually took one step ahead and looked up to her destination when her feet disagreed to give her side and the half feet left in the mid air, losing her balance, she fell down in a dangerous way.

Her screams died in throat as she rolled down and hit her head on reaching the fourth step and again when she hit her floor lastly. She had no movement as she lay motionless in the pool of blood.

Shivaay had his heart ranging in an unknown fear, like something bad was happening and he couldn't help, sighing, he removed the unwanted thoughts and made his way inside.

Reaching there he saw the power was off, going ahead and switching the lights on, it didn't lighten up the hall instead it was still dark, Shivaay knew it was a power cut.

Shivaay made his way towards the sofa where Annika was sleeping but instead he found no one except a bedsheet lying.

"Annika?" He shouted as he looked around for her in the darkness.

Turning on the flash of his phone, he looked for Annika but he found no one, taking some steps ahead, his feet hit with something soft and big.

Taking his flash down to focus on the thing he hit with, there he saw his 'love' lying lifeless in a pool of blood.

"Annika, Annika" he got onto his knees and took her head in his laps, shaking her little, his eyes pooled up in tears.

"Hey, stop pranking, I swear, I won't talk to you" Rubbing her cheeks, he tried waking her up.

"Annika, please wake up" Clutching her hands in his, he shaked her but she laid down as she was.

Not waiting a second more, he sternly picked her up in his arms while wiping away the tears which just flowed.

Going towards the car, he took a handkerchief and tied around her head to stop the loss of blood from her body, setting her up in the car, he took onto the driving seat and started the engine, he was sure nothing was going to happen with her because he knew, she couldn't leave him, not now.

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Shivaay paced to and fro outside the operation theatre, his shirt was all drenched in her blood and his hands were covered in blood, looking up to see the bulb of theatre, he hoped for it to turn off.

A weight on his shoulder made him turn his face, looking for the person, he saw his brother with dull eyes, hugging him instantly, Shivaay let some tears flow.

"Shivaay control" Omkara took him out of the hug, he kept his hand on his shoulder.

"How did this happen?" Shivaay Raised a brow on thinking how Omkara knew.

"Don't make such faces, Dadi told me" turning his face to the other side as he said.

"Om, she got hurt on her head" Breaking down and sitting on the bench nearby, Shivaay rested his head on the wall.

"You can't break Shivaay, who will take care of Annika if you start to feel weak?" Omkara sat beside shivaay and rubbed his back.

"Bhaiyaa, what happened to my Annika didi? Rudra jumped anxiously on the seat next to shivaay.

"Rudy, I will tell you later" Omkara didn't let Shivaay answer as he knew he would break down again.

The door of the operation theatre opened and the doctor came out with a stethoscope around his neck.

"Who is Shivaay here?" Doctor Kabir looked at the three who stood up.

"I..am.. Shivaay" stuttering a little, he came forward.

"Come inside and meet her as she is continuously taking your name from the time we have operated her"

Shivaay crossed the doctor and pushed open the door and came inside without saying a word.

"Doctor how is Annika?" Omkara asked.

"She is good now, she had some minor injuries on her spinal cord and a major one on her head but she can cope up with that, don't worry she is fine" Doctor Kabir took a leave from there.

Omkara and Rudra had a relief hearing the doctor's words, no wonder Annika was as important as Priyanka was for them.

"Shivaay" Annika mumbled in an unconscious state.

Shivaay took the stool and seated next to Annika's bed, running his hand through her silky and wavy hair, he planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Look I am here" he took her wrist and kissed her inner palms.

"Annika, I am sorry, I shouldn't have left you alone" Shivaay adjusted himself in the curve of her neck and sobbed silently.

"Billu, she will be good, let her rest" Kalyani placed a hand on his shoulder and he looked up.

"Dadi, Annika" he hugged her tightly, Kalyani was amazed to look at his vulnerable state.

"Shh..billu, you are strong, don't break down, everything will be alright" Dadi wiped the tears from his cheeks and made him sit down on the stool back.

Doctor Kabir entered the room with a piece of paper in his hands and examined it kneely. "Mr.Oberoi she is absolutely fine, it's just that, she is too weak, we see there is a lack of nutrients in her body"

"I will take care of her Doctor" Shivaay assured and doctor Kabir just nodded.

Shivaay looked at the watch which showed midnight, he probably knew that she could wake up in morning as she slept under the effect of anaesthesia.

"Dadi, you can go home, I am here, take Omru along" He got up to lead her dadi out.

"Bhaiya, take care of my Annika didi" Rudra spoke in a threatening tone.

Shivaay smiled and nodded looking at the concern which his family held for Annika.

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"Shivaay" Annika faintly opened her eyes and looked around.

Shivaay who slept on the bed, his half body laid on the stool while the other on the bed where Annika laid.

Hearing her voice, he shrieked and looked at her trembling lips trying to say something.

"You ok?" He got up and panicked, scaring Annika.

"I am fine Shivaay" she said in a whispering tone.

"You scared me" he hugged her tightly as he could.

Annika choked as he hugged her, "You are Killing me shivaay"

Shivaay broke apart and cupped her face, kissing her top of nose earnings a giggle from Annika, Shivaay smiled smugly.

"I died every second you know" he connected their forehead and leaned to steal a kiss when they heard the opening of the door.

"Oh my god, I am sorry, I would come later" Rudra covered his face as he looked at their intimate position.

"Rudra, you can come in, we are up to nothing" Annika bluntly spoke, making Shivaay roll his eyes.

Shivaay's phone suddenly ranged loudly, taking it out his pocket he looked at the caller ID, before picking up he took a deep breath in.

"I will come, till then wait for me" he got up and went out of the room, confusing Annika.

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