Copyright © jasminedarcie

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Hello everyone :) Thank you so much for the response and commenting :) I actually wrote all of these chapters on another website and unfortunately the forum for that website may close soon, so I decided to move my fanfiction to Wattpad :) I never wrote on Wattpad before, but have read tons of stories on it when I was not a registered user :) Please bear with me in adjusting to Wattpad :) I will update Chapter 9 by end of the week which is likely Saturday, but it can be earlier as well :) Thank you so much for reading :) If you wish, please do comment and/or upvote :) Thank you again :)

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Flashback Continues:

I felt sudden wind pick up as I held on to the handle of the umbrella tightly as it flew up. My hand touching something rock solid as I looked down and realized my hand placed on top of his. My eyes widened as I looked up at him as he looked back at me. The umbrella stood still as my hand stood still on top of his. I felt my heart beating, pounding loudly as I felt my warm hand turn cold against his. At that moment I felt something...I don't know what, but something that was holding me and keeping me from looking away as I looked into his eyes. He looked at me in silence as he didn't inch his hand away as he held the umbrella tightly. The moment captured me.

Suddenly, I felt the window blow as I broke my gaze away and looked around and saw the snowflakes emerging with force as trees swayed rapidly against the night sky. I quickly let go of the umbrella as we began walking quickly towards our destination.

"Walk carefully, you never know when you can slip on ice," Professor Oberoi said as we walked quickly. I burred as I moved my hands up and down on my elbows as we walked.

"This is insane. Truly, something I haven't seen before," I said as we walked down the crosswalk and made a right.

"Don't tell me this is something new to you," Professor Oberoi said as he looked at me with eyebrow raised in curiousity. I looked away embarrassed as I realized it was my first time experiencing snowfall. This was actually the first time I ever saw snow in real life and to be honest it was completely foreign to me.

"Well...um I haven't," I said as we walked down the sidewalk.

"What? Really?Why?" He asked as I looked at him realizing he actually was interested to know why as I cross my arms as he raised the umbrella above us. Someone interested in listening to my boring stories...this is something new.

"Well...um....I am from Northern California and it does snow way up north, but I am from the Bay Area and have lived there most of life, so never really had the opportunity to see snow," I said as he smiled and looked away.

"Interesting....I am from there too," He said as my eyes widened as I looked at him.

"Wow really? You are actually the first one I have met here whose from the Bay Area," I said as he smiled.

"Well, sometimes it's fate that decides when we should meet certain people," Professor Oberoi said as I looked up at him as I noticed his eyes twinkle as the snow fell down on to his shoulders. Looking majestic as he looked away as we walked down the street.

I squinted my eyes as lights brightened the streets as I realized we had reached our destination. A long row of marble stairs welcomed a tall apartment building that attempted to challenge the storm that was approaching it. I noticed people scrambling indoors as we walked up the stairs.

I walked behind him as we walked up the stairs as I felt my boots slip slightly against the wet stairs that were becoming covered with snow. I tried to strengthen my feet on the stairs as I walked behind him. We reached the top row of the stairs as we walked up to a pair of large glass doors. Professor Oberoi quickly went to the side of the door and entered in a code as I waited patiently besides him. I looked around at the magnificence of the building realizing this was definitely a building that did not welcoming everyone, but only those who could afford luxury. I stared at my pale black boots on which the cloth was slightly ripping off as my eyes shifted to my black leggings wet against the snowflakes that had touched it. Clearly a misfit I thought as Professor Oberoi opened the door for me as I walked in as he closed the door and dried his umbrella.

My eyes widened as I was captured by the large chandlier covering the ceiling as it lit up the room full of classic wooden leather sofas, handcarven bookshelfs and vintage paintings. My eyes moved to people entering the building who smelled like honey and definitely spent money as they shined in their designer purses and shoes as they held keys to their luxury cars in their hands.

"Good evening Mr. Oberoi," The security said as Professor Oberoi smiled and responded to the greeting as he looked back at me as I looked around the building. Clearly, looking awkward and uncomfortable....mostly like a deer that hadn't seen the real human world all their life as they were stuck in their own, little simple world.

"Um...shall we go?" He said as I broke my gaze and looked at him and smiled faintly as he walked ahead of me as I followed him towards the elevators.

"Hi, Shivaay, how are you?" An old man asked as he looked at Professor Oberoi.

"Great, how about you?" He asked.

"Well I am fine. Is this your girlfriend?" He asked as my eyes widened as Professor Oberoi's mouth gaped as he looked back at me as I looked down clearly feeling embarrassed.

"Um....well..." Professor Oberoi began until the elevator doors opened.

" I will see your tomorrow Mr. Lawerence," He said as we walked into the elevator. I gulped as I nervously looked at the elevator doors that closed shut. Great, I hate elevators. Why oh why did we have to take an elevator? Professor Oberoi scanned a card as the elevator slowly made its way up.

I sighed as I placed my hand on the elevator wall as I leaned my head against it as I tried to breath quietly and not get scared, but the speed of the elevator was that of a snail's as it moved up slowly.

"Sorry, Mr. Lawerence can be a bit too personal," Professor Oberoi said as I shook my head and felt my hands shake as I tried to count numbers in my head.

"You ok?" Professor Oberoi asked as he looked back at me with a raised eyebrow as I looked up at him nervously as I played around with the end of my scarf.

"Um...yes," I replied as I gulped nervously and placed my hand on the wall of the elevator as a way to sense balance and reality as the elevator moved up.

The elevator suddenly shook as I flew up my hand and grasped on to Professor Oberoi's elbow. My eyes widened as my hand wrapped tightly around his elbow. I panted hard as the elevator made its way up as I moved my head up slowly as they captured the same blue eyes as they looked back at me. The moment stood still as he stared back at me as I did at him. My hand warming up under his elbow as my hand stood there in silence. I felt my heart pound as I looked at him as he did at me. Why does this feel right? Why does it feel that I am supposed to be here and why does it feel right that I am holding his arm? My heart questioned as I heard the elevator doors open. I quickly let go of his elbow as he walked out and I followed him.

"Sorry...um....I just have a fear of elevators," I said as Professor Oberoi looked back at me as I weakly smiled.

"It's fine. Plus, that elevator is a bit too slow, so it does catch the nerves of a lot of people," He said as we walked up to a pair of large doors as Professor Oberoi took out a key and unlocked the door.

I stood in silence as I looked around and realized this was the only apartment on the floor. The hall was empty except two pairs of windows right across and opposite of each other in the hall. I felt my nerves get to me as I realized I was about to enter a stranger's home whom I don't know anything about beyond the fact that he is my professor. This is not right at all. I mean these days it's not safe at all t be with any stranger...isn't that what we are told as kids to never talk to strangers? Oh God....what am I doing? Should I go? Well, I should. Yeah I should.

My anxiety kept driving at me constantly. Since last year I was diagnosed with anxiety and certainly I am getting therapy, but clearly it is not being too effective as I felt my mind merry-go-around the same thoughts over and over again as Professor Oberoi opened the door. He looked up at me with a friendly smile as I looked at him. At that moment my mind clearly pushed me to not go, but somehow I felt that I should. He seemed safe to me....for some reason this complete stranger felt safe. I mean not a complete stranger since he is my professor and I know him at school, so I think it is ok. I thought as I moved slowly and walked inside.

My eyes widened as I realized this definitely was not a simple apartment, but a penthouse. The large living room stood covered with every ounce of luxury and opulence as a large chandlier stood in silence above the living room as its crystals lit up the maroon colored painted walls that merged with black leather sofas. My eyes widened as I saw a large TV attached to the wall as a fireplace stood below it. There were books. Lots of books everywhere on shelves, on sofas and the large coffee table in the middle of the living room. I looked to my right and saw a large wooden staircase twist and wind up to the secondary story. What caught my attention the most were the large windows that covered the entire walls as curtains swayed to the side of it. The view. The magnificent view of the entire city that lit up below the night sky. It was beautiful.

I broke my gaze away as I looked at my boots and quickly slipped out of them as Professor Oberoi stared at me.

"It's fine, you don't have to take off your shoes," He said as I looked up at him and put my boots to the side of the door.

"No it's your home and I should be respectful of it. Plus, I am used to not wearing shoes indoors while at home, so yeah that's me," I said nervously as we walked down a pair of small steps into the living room.

I bit my lip nervously as I awkwardly looked around as I felt out of place in the strand of luxury. The penthouse was big, too big as it widened out and spread without borders. I knew Professor Oberoi had a comfortable life considering he recently joined his father in handling Hope Hill Oberoi Hospitals, but I never thought it was this comfortable. Clearly, I don't fit in here. Considering the fact that I come from a working class family in which I have always seen my parents work day and night trying to make enough money that would keep food on the table. All our lives we have lived in a small apartment and clearly not the one who could afford such level of luxury.

Professor Oberoi placed his laptop bag on the couch as he quickly walked away into another hallway. I stood there awkwardly as I placed my bag right next to my boots as I looked around at the living room. My eyes followed the art work and stood still on a traditional Indian piece of artwork. This reminds me of an artwork resembling the Mughal period. Clearly, the way the flowers were drawn and the figures. I love Indian artwork, it is a glance into a history unknown, but wide and diverse. I smiled as I admired the artwork.

"Make yourself at home!" I heard Professor Oberoi yell as I broke my gaze away from the artwork and walked to the entryway where he went and noticed it was the kitchen where he stood quickly making tea.

The steams of the tea kettle making its way up as he stood there with his blazer off and the sleeves of his white buttoned shirt rolled up. I gulped as my eyes moved up to his torso as I admired how the shirt fit perfect against it as it revealed its underlinings...the carved muscles that moved up and down. He appeared focused as he began cutting some vegetables as he moved around. The way his face was carved perfectly with those perfect eyes...God what am I thinking? No stop it Anika. Stop it right this minute. I thought as I looked away from him.

"I am making pasta. You can have some because I am pretty sure you didn't have dinner," He said as I looked up at him as he smiled. Wow, someone actually caring whether I ate or not. That is something new.

"Thank you. You cook?" I asked as I walked up to the small barstool right across from the kitchen counter as I sat on it as he looked up at me.

"Of course. How can we humans survive if we don't know how to cook," He said as he smiled as I looked at him. Clearly, I am an anamoly. Hell, I can barely cook for survival.

"Do you cook?" He asked as I looked up at him with my eyes widened as he got me off guard.

"Not too well. Barely for survival. My parents made it a priority that I focus on my studies and well there's a con to that which is you don't learn some of the basic skills you need to survive, such as, cooking," I said as he chuckled as he opened a bag of pasta and put it into the pot.

"Well, if you ever need any tips I can help. Ever since high school I always cooked with my grandmother for some odd reason and now when I think about it I probably did to bust any stress I had in school. So ever since then I have been cooking because it is a good stress buster," He said as he continued to cook.

"All ready for the final exam?" He asked as I looked up at him and weakly smiled. Sure, well I can tell you the truth that I still have to review the zillion number of powerpoint slides that you just hand out like free candy during lecture. I thought.

"You said something?" He said as my eyes widened as I looked at him as I shook my head.

"Um...no. Still studying and hopefully it goes well," I said as I played with my fingers.

"Can you hand me the pasta sauce. It's in the corner bottom cabinet behind me," He said as I walked to the cabinet and grabbed the sauce as I walked up to him.

Suddenly I felt my feet slip as my arms flew up until I felt two strong hands wrap around my waist as my hands grasped onto a pair of strong arms. My eyes widened as I looked up as I felt a warm breath touch my face as I looked down and saw Professor Oberoi holding my waist tightly as I looked back at him into those blue eyes. His eyes stood still on my face as I felt my breath get heavier as he held me as my hands stood still on his arms not wanting to let go. He appeared lost in a trance as he looked at me as I moved my face away as it felt getting warm and hot. I could tell my cheeks were getting heavily pink. Never in my entire life have I ever been this close to any man. Ever. And this moment felt right for some reason although it was so wrong at so many levels. I felt the skin on my waist tingle as the heat of his hands made it through the fabric as I looked up at him again as he did at me. Slowly, his hands withdrew as I let go of him as I felt an awkward silence approach us as he looked at me as I looked up at him and away nervously as I bit my lip.

"Sorry. I'm clumsy by nature. You could tell why now cooking and being in the kitchen isn't me," I said as he smiled slightly and grabbed the bottle of pasta sauce from my hands as I felt his fingers linger lightly on to mines as I felt my hands feel a jolt of electricity as he opened the bottle of pasta and put it in the pot.

I quickly walked out of the kitchen awkwardly as I nervously walked up to the window. My hands and legs shaking as I looked out to the skyline. What is happening to you Anika? Why are you being so affected by his touch and the way he looks at you? Stop being stupid. This is what happens to you all the time. You develop these instant likings for men over stupid conversations and moments that mean nothing and then those likings just go away. You know how every crush ends. You never talk to them more than just small talk and then they just go away. So, forget about it. Don't you even dare think about it.

I quickly broke out of my trance as I looked outside through the balcony doors as I saw the snow fall hard as it covered the balcony white as it continued to fall. This storm looks sure hell. I thought rainstorms were bad, but this seems worse. I thought as I turned on my step and tried to soak in the warm heat in the living room as I walked around the living room and stared at another traditional Indian painting that was a reminiscent of the Mughal era. I smiled slightly as I admired the shades of blue in the background and it was touched and surrounded with a range of flowers of peculiar shapes.

"Like it?" I heard as I quickly turned around as Professor Oberoi stood there with his arms crossed as he smiled as he walked up to me. I took a step back as I looked back at the painting.

"Yes, it is beautiful. It really reminds me of the Mughal era," I said as I felt him stand closely behind me. In fact, too close as I felt his breath touch my shoulder lightly as I nervously bit my lip.

"It is a tribute to that era. How did you know?" He asked as I looked at him as he raised his eyebrow at me curiously.

"Um...in college I took a class on Medieval History of India and there we learned about the Mughal empire and its cultural contributions. Our professor's research was based on the Mughal Empire and he noted that they were known for the way they drew their flowers. He noted that the flowers are always very unique and of a stylistic structure that does not exist in real life. It truly is magical," I said smiling as he smiled and looked back at the painting.

"You know quite a bit about this. I am surprised. Usually, whenever anybody visits me they are always confused by this painting as they do not know what to make of it. The only reason why I bought this painting was because of my attraction to that deep blue background. It is so rich and vibrant and peaceful," He said.

"Peace I guess is what you are looking for," I said abruptly as I bit my tongue and realized I spoke too much as he looked back at me. His eyes slowly tracing my eyes as his eyes slowly traced my face. I looked away as I felt my cheeks feel hot. No one has ever looked at me the way he was looking.

"Perhaps yes," He said as we stared at the picture in silence. We stood silently for a good minute.

"So, you like history or something? Considering the fact that you are in medical school, I thought you would only be interested in medicine and science related topics," He said.

"I was a history minor in college. I love history. It is a subject that fascinates me a lot. You can predict a lot about the future by learning about what happened in the past," I said.

"Interesting take," He said as he turned around and looked at me.

"Well, dinner is ready," He said as I looked away from his gaze as he turned around and began walking towards the kitchen as I followed him quietly. We walked quietly to small round dining table next to the large window that began to be frosted and covered with snow as we sat down in silence.

I stared at the large plate in front of me awkwardly as Professor Oberoi opened the lid to the large bowl of pasta and began helping himself as I stared at the large bowl of red sauce and cheese pouring on to the pasta as I looked up at him as he took a bite of his pasta and then looked up at me as he smiled slightly.

"Look, be comfortable. I am sure you must be hungry. Look at the time," He said as I shook my head quietly and began putting the pasta on to my plate as I took a bite of it. My eyes widened as the pasta's enriching flavors filled me up. Wow, this is surprisingly tasty considering that pasta tends to be very bland and tasteless due to its doughy flavor that fills up the tongue.

"This is actually very good," I said as he smiled and looked at me.

"Thank you. I know it is good," He said with an air of superiority as I looked away. Obnoxious much? Well, I guess it is a trait that all professors seemingly have. Always full of themselves and considering themselves as perfect superhuman beings.

"Hm...you said something?" He said as I quickly looked up. How does he do that? Is he a mind reader or am I beginning to speak my thoughts out loud? I faked a smile and shook my head as I looked away.

"Well, I hope this dinner makes peace between us," He said as I raised my eyebrow and looked at him in confusion.

"Peace? Regarding what?" I asked.

"Well...you know we started off a bad note in the beginning of the semester. I was completely wrong in the way I was behaving and the way I treated you in public after the car accident we both got into," He said as I felt a faint smile appear on my face as he acknowledged his mistake. I mean we did make peace months ago, but still it means a lot he is still acknowledging it.

"I guess I should also apologize and make amends. Because of me you lost such an important research grant," I said as he gulped as he shifted his eyes away from me and looked outside at the dark night sky filling up with snow. I noticed his face darken as his eyebrow shifted down as he bit his lip. Stupid of you, you should not have clearly mentioned about that topic. Now Professor Oberoi is clearly upset about it.

I played with my pasta as my eyes stayed on his face as he turned it towards me and looked into my eyes and I noticed a smile appear on his face.

"Let bygones be bygones Anika. We should forget about the past," He said as I took a sigh of relief and smiled back at him as he did at me.

Present

Except he never forgot the past. I stared at the clock at it read 4:00 PM as I sighed and stared at the ceiling as I tried to zone myself out from the chaos in the ER as I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I opened my eyes slowly as I looked back at my computer and began charting information for a recently discharged patient from the ER. I sighed as I felt my eyes feeling heavy and begging for sleep as I sighed and took a drink from my water bottle as I tried to keep myself awake.

I felt my phone beep as I looked at it in silence and sighed as it was another text from Priyanka who was clearly upset that I wouldn't be attending her sangeet tonight. I had gotten a call at from the hospital since 1:00 last night indicating I had to be in the ER which was understandable as I was on call. Clearly, the business of the ER indicated I could not be relieved from my shift anytime soon.

Anika how could you? You are my best friend and you cannot just abandon me. Please come to the sangeet.

I bit my lip as I read Priyanka's text. I wish I could do something, but clearly nothing could be done about it since the duration of my shift was beyond my hands. I texted my thought to her as I grabbed my stethoscope and walked out of the office and back into the ER to see my next patient.

I continued my rounds for a few more patients as I tried to maintain awareness and not fall asleep while standing. I took a deep breath as I smiled weakly at the patient as I reported good news to her that her chest pain was due to mere acidity and not due to angina as she smiled as I walked out of the room and down the hallway as I noticed Dr. Amoli Thakur smirking as she crossed her arms and looked at me as I looked back at her.

"So sad, it is Priyanka's sangeet and her only best friend cannot make it. Uff...kitni buri bhat hui," Amoli said as I crossed my arms and shook my head and began walking away as I was too tired to argue or even utter a word in defense.

"Waise...you should be thankful to me. After all, I insisted that you get called in if there is an extra need of doctors since you know you don't really have a family life of sorts, so I thought why not suggest to HR to keep you on call," Amoli said smirking as I looked back at her as she smirked as I looked away.

"But, you know I am just a mere head resident. I mean my voice is not powerful as much as my dear Klent's is and then he is close to Mr. Oberoi who clearly approved that you should be kept more on call," Amoli said as my eyes widened as I looked at her. Of course, Shivaay would support this idea. Any opportunity that would help him keep me away from his family is something he would grasp on to always.

I walked away in silence to my small little office as I began charting again for patients in silence as I heard the keyboard silently clicking. I stared at the screen zoned out as I rubbed sleep from my eyes as I looked at the screen.

I heard a loud cough as I broke away from zoning out and looked up as my eyes widened as I noticed Shivaay standing near the door frame with his arms folded as he looked back at me as he bit his lip. Wait, what is he doing here? Oh no Anika, clearly sleep deprivation is getting to your brain and you are hallucinating. I shook my head as I looked back at my computer screen and finished charting my last patient as I logged out of the computer and got up from my chair as suddenly I bumped to a powerful piece of rock.

"Ow!" I yelped as I looked up as my eyes widened as I realized it indeed was Shivaay as he stared at me. I stood in silence as he stared at me as I raised my eyebrow in confusion as I felt his eyes pierce into my soul. I stared at our feet pointing close to one another as I noticed a black bag in his hand. Suddenly, his hand wrapped around my arm as I looked at him furrowing my eyebrows as he began dragging me out of the office as I tugged on his hand.

"What the hell? What is wrong with you?!" I exclaimed as Shivaay looked at me and at his hand tightening on my arm as he sighed and traced his hand down to my hand and entwined his fingers with it tightly as I tried to loosen my grip on it as he began dragging me out to the registration desk. I tried to pull my hand away as he dragged me.

I turned my head around and noticed the nurses staring at both of us. Clearly, this was a wrong image on so many levels. God, what must everyone be thinking about us? I thought as I heard whispers from staff as Shivaay held my hand tightly as I looked up at him as he looked straight ahead.

"Shivaay, please let go. This is completely inappropriate and look everyone is staring at us," I whispered as he looked back at me and then at the staff as he threw them a glare before he began leading the way again as I tried to remove my hand from his. Clearly, he was taking me out of the ER as we began turning the corner of the hall to lobby of the hospital.

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks as Amoli appeared with a furious look on her face as she looked at us. Her eyes darting at both of our faces and then down to our hands as his hand laid firmly in mines. Her mouth widened as he looked up and gave both of us a questioning look as Shivaay rolled his eyes and looked firmly at her.

"Where are you taking her Mr. Oberoi? I understand you are the CEO, but still there are patients that Dr. Anika Malhotra has to see," Amoli noted as I looked up at Shivaay as he looked at her.

"Well, Anika's shift is over and she is going with me. I told HR already and another on call doctor will be summoned to replace her shift. Until then, Dr. Thakur you can take her place and look at some patients," Shivaay announced as my mouth gaped open as I looked at him and her.

What? My shift is over? Where is he taking me? I thought as before Amoli could utter a word, Shivaay began walking down the hallway as I followed him.

"Where the hell are you taking me?! Hello, I am talking to you!" I exclaimed as I used all my force and stood ground on the floor as he looked back at me and stopped.

"Look, you yourself don't have any right to take me anywhere without my permission. You lost these rights on me," I hissed as he bit his lip and held on to my hand as he sighed.

"What do you want me to say? For the last eight hours my sister has consistently been yelling at me and nagging me nonstop because you aren't there at her sangeet. Apparently, she lacks best friends and you are her only one. So, there you go. Here I am to relieve you from your shift and take you to the sangeet with me," Shivaay noted as my eyes widened. What? He's here to take me. Why? He didn't have to do

that considering he could have told me about that on the phone and I could have come myself. The hotel is pretty far from here.

"You could have told me on the phone," I said as Shivaay stopped in his tracks and looked up at me and then looked away as I crossed my arms and looked at him.

"Well, you are my responsibility....I mean that is what Priyanka told me. She told me to personally bring you to the sangeet," He said as I shook my head. Makes sense, I thought as I stared back at my clothes. Clearly, my black pants and a white blouse were not going to make the cut for the sangeet. I thought.

Suddenly, Shivaay grabbed my hand and we began walking down the corridor as I looked up at him as he looked straight ahead. He smelled like mint from his aftershave and fresh from his perfume. The suit tightened perfectly around him as he cleared appeared dash and sharp. God, stop it Anika. Stop thinking like this. After what he has done to you and treated you, you have no right to think in such manner about him. I looked away and broke my train of thought as I looked away and stared at the floor.

"Here, come in here," Shivaay said as he dragged me towards the changing room for doctors as he keyed in his badge and slammed the door shut as I looked at him in curiousity. I leaned back on the row of lockers for the doctors as I crossed my arms and looked at him.

"Why the hell did you bring me here?" I asked as he sighed and grabbed my hand and placed a black bag in it.

"Here, go change. Um....Priyanka got it for you," He said as I looked at the bag curiously as I looked at him.

"I mean she wants you to get ready and get to the sangeet as soon as possible. So, go and change," Shivaay ordered as I walked into the single bathroom for women's and slammed the door shut.

But, I don't think Priyanka exactly knows my measurements. So, how did she get this for me? I thought as I pulled out a large black box and opened it to see a beautiful black lehenga in it. The lehenga was beautiful embroidered in silver threads as the choli was stripped with heavy embroidery that covered up to the neck line. Wow, this is gorgeous. I thought as I pulled out the lehenga and began putting it on.

I smiled as I looked at myself in the mirror as I stared at myself. Wow, this is beautiful. I stared at the embroderiy of the choli tracing lightly up on my neckline as I tried to pull it down lightly. I felt my stomach being a little too exposed as I bit my lip. I don't feel comfortable in this choli. I mean it is beautiful, but not my type. I thought as I grabbed the heavy black dupatta and placed it on my left shoulder and my right shoulder and covered my choli and stomach. The dupatta was still a see through, but at least it looked not bad. The little stared embroidery pattern on the dupatta made it stand out as I smiled and stared at my hair. I quickly opened my hair and began brushing it.

"Hurry up! How long is it going to take you?" Shivaay asked on the other side as I shook my head and began clipping up a few strands of my hair back.

"Well, wait can you? I am trying to hurry up," I replied.

"The pace you are at, we might get there when the sangeet ends," Shivaay replied as I rolled my eyes.

I sighed as I noticed another small box in the bag and opened it as my eyes widened and saw a pair of heavy white, silver pair of earrings. I grabbed the earrings and placed them in my ears as I noticed a pair of four diamond silver bangles as I grabbed them and placed them into my hands. Wow, I never realized how familiar Priyanka was with my taste. I thought as I quickly packed my clothes into the bag and walked out of the bathroom.

I closed the door shut as I grabbed the pair of heels inside of the bag and dropped them on the floor as I began attempting to place them on.

"Why are you always so impatient? I am trying to hurry up," I said as I looked up and noticed Shivaay staring at me. His eyes wide as his mouth slightly open as he stared at me. His eyes moving slowly up and down as he looked at me as I looked at him. His eyes bright and full of light as he looked at me without any shame. I felt my face flush as I looked away shyly and fixed my heels. I quickly walked up to my locker grabbed my large purse and placed my work clothes in it as I walked up to him. Suddenly, I felt a grasp on my wrist as I looked up and noticed Shivaay holding it tightly as I looked at him curiously as he looked at me.

"I think you forgot something," He said as I looked at him curiously as he turned me around suddenly as I felt his hand slowly trace up to my back as I felt my breaths getting deeper as I looked at him. I felt my skin warm up to his touch as I felt my cheeks burn. The manner in which his hand traced my back reminded me of many past ways he had touched me.

"What are you doing?" I whispered as I felt him come up closer to me.

"Don't worry I won't harm you," He whispered back as I shivered under the sound of his voice. Suddenly, I felt him tighten the pair of doris against my back as my eyes widened as I realized what indeed I had forgotten. His hands slowly twisting and entwining the strands as I felt him close...too close to me.

"No words to describe how beautiful you are looking right now," He whispered lightly into my ear as I felt my cheeks burn in shyness as I looked up at him. I stopped realizing how close he was as his face stood close to mines. We stood in silence as his hands stood still on my bare back as I took in a deep breath and looked away feeling my cheeks heat up in the moment. I felt his hand slowly trace up my back and entwine with the strands of my hair. His hand slowly reaching on to the small clip that held my hair back. The clip slowly unlocking as I felt my hair falling down my face. My eyes standing still as I felt my cheeks turning more red.

"You look more beautiful like this," He whispered as I bit my lip nervously allowing him to be close to me. Somehow forgetting a dark past that we shared as I tried to be in that moment with him. Why can we not be like this?

"We...should...um....get going," I whispered as I took a step away from him and fixed my dupatta.

"Right," Shivaay mumbled as he walked ahead of me and opened the door as I walked out as he followed closely behind me.

I looked up and noticed a group of doctors...familiar ones of course since they are in the same cohort as me in residency. Raising their eyebrows curiously as they looked at Shivaay and me. Amoli walked up to us curious as she looked at both of us and then at me eyeing my clothes.

"Where are you both going?" Amoli asked curiously as she crossed her arms at us.

"Acha...now will I have to take permission from you before going somewhere?" Shivaay asked clearly annoyed and frustrated.

"Get one thing in your mind Dr. Amoli. Don't ever ask questions to Shivaay Singh Oberoi...I am your boss and you are my employee. Now move out of my way," Shivaay hissed as her mouth widened at the utter embarrassment Shivaay had caused.

Shivaay looked back at me as I looked away trying to distance myself from an awkward situation.

"Now will you just stand here Anika or get going with me?" Shivaay asked as I nervously shook my head as we began walking away.

We walked in silence down the hallway and out of the hospital into the parking lot. A nice Porche stood parked in front of the entryway of the hospital as Shivaay guided me to it. He grabbed open the passenger door for me as my eyes widened as I looked back at him quite taken aback from his chivalry.

"Now what?" Shivaay asked as I raised my eyebrow at him as he looked at me.

"Nothing...shocked a little bit at your chivalry," I replied as Shivaay rolled his eyes as I took a seat inside of the car as he slammed the door shut.

He quickly sat down in the driver's seat and turned on the ignition. I sat in awkward silence as I looked out the window as he drove a bit too fast down the road. Clearly in a rush to get back to the sangeet as he took a left on to the highway. I sighed as I felt my eyes lightly close as the movement of the car was making me sleepy.

"Stop it," Shivaay ordered as I suddenly blinked and looked over at him as he looked back at me throwing me a glare. I rolled my eyes as I looked away.

"You know how much I hate it when a passenger falls asleep when I am driving," Shivaay grumbled as he made a swift turn and took an exit out of the highway.

"Well, what can a person do when they have been sleep-deprived for days due to a zaalim boss. A person who has been sleeping barely four hours everyday for the past two weeks," I replied taunting him as Shivaay bit his lip and looked back at me. Keenly observing me with one eye as he drove into the dark roads heading up to his home.

"Work is work Anika. I cannot be lenient on you," Shivaay said as I narrowed my eyebrows and looked out the window staring at the sea of trees that huddled around us as we made our way down the two-lane road.

"But, you can discriminate and treat me unequally compared to other employees,"

There was silence as Shivaay took a deep breath realizing he might not win this battle. I remember how when we were married he always tended to win battles, but some days I would win and those were the days when he would angry...angry that he lost and somehow lost power in our relationship. Looking back, I do realize there were certain flaws in our relationship, but in that moment of time when I was almost falling for him, I didn't see any flaws in him and dreamnt of a perfect relationship.

I weakly smiled realizing how stupid I was as I remembered our broken relationship. How could I not see that something was wrong? That something was wrong in the way in which we had established our relationship and the way we treated it. Was it immaturity? Was it disinterest?...But, I had invested myself completely into the relationship. Then what went wrong?

"What are we doing?" I whispered as Shivaay looked back at me as I looked back at him. My eyes standing emotionless, tired...weak...from all the fighting. Fighting for a broken relationship, fighting a broken soul and most of all fighting for the life of a relationship that had died ages ago. That kiss...that one kiss that happened two weeks ago was still haunting me. It keep replaying in my mind and I couldn't get rid of it. No matter what I kept thinking of him and me...that spark, that chemistry. If our relationship was truly dead then why did I feel the same way I did ages ago. Why did I feel that he felt the same way that I did?

"What are you talking about?" Shivaay said as he looked straight ahead avoiding my gaze. My eyes widened as I looked at him as he looked straight ahead.

In that moment something happened. I do not know what it was....But, perhaps it was amixture of anger and frustration. Anger over the matter of how he treated be after that kiss and went on to ignore me for weeks. Anger over the fact that he didn't provide me any answer when I saw my mangalsutra in his hands that day. Anger over the fact of how he left me.

I suddenly grabbed my large bag and began slamming it hard on the dashboard as I clenched my hands into fists and began clawing it the leather of his car seat. Shivaay's eyes widening as he pressed the brakes hard grabbing my hands as I pushed him back.

"What the hell is wrong with you?! Stop it! Stop it!" He began yelling as I pushed my elbow into his chest pushing him away as I pulled out my house keys from my bag and began digging it into his leather car seat pulling the leather away as Shivaay began screaming at me. I raised my eyebrow as I looked at him and continued ruining his car.

"So this means you are going to give more attention to this fricken car than me?! Do you even know what the hell you are doing?! You are giving more importance to lifeless objects than me!" I yelled as Shivaay shook his head as tried to grab hold of my wrists.

Tears running endlessly down my cheeks as I realized I had entered a moment of complete and utter breakdown. Breakdown over what he had done. How he had treated me. The divorce. Everything.

"Anika! Stop it! Please!" Shivaay yelled as I shook my head and looked back at him. That face of a cheater. The face of a player who toyed with me like I was a puppet. I sighed as I wiped my tears away and pushed open the car door as I entered the windy night.

I took in a deep breath as I looked at the shiny black color of the porche. Grabbing my keys I placed it lightly against the door as Shivaay's eyes widened as he shook his head at me. I clenched my teeth as I began keying his car. Slamming the door open Shivaay got out. His face red with anger as his body huffed and buffed against the windy, cold night.

"What the hell?!" Shivaay yelled as I turned my head and began walking down the empty road. Walking fast, avoiding his gaze as I felt a sense of weight lifting off of my chest. A weight that was composed of the dark emotions of sadness and anger the way that Shivaay Singh Oberoi had treated me.

I weakly smiled as my tears began drying on my cheeks as I walked swiftly ahead. His footsteps following me as he yelled out for me.

"Anika! Anika! Stop! I am talking to you!" Shivaay yelled grabbing my arm forcefully as he turned me towards him as I looked at him looking like a piece of a broken doll.

I stood still as I looked at him as he looked at me. His face had a mixture of unreadable emotions as he looked at me trying to understand why I had committed those actions. He held tightly to my arm as he shook his head.

"What is wrong?! Why did you do that?!" Shivaay yelled as I raised my head high up in the air taking in the wind as I looked back at him.

"Because this is the only way you can actually talk to me! Because I have been trying to talk and all you do is order me around and not listen. A unique problem you always had. Do you know what you have done?! Do you?!" I yelled loudly as he looked at me confused and clearly tongue tied.

"You have ruined me. That is what you have done huh? If our relationship is oh so over, why do you have mangalsutra? Moreover, why the hell did you kiss me? Huh? Why?! Don't you despise me? Despise my presence? I am your ex-wife right? Then why? Why?!" I questioned him as I grabbed the collar of his shirt pulling him close towards me.

He stood still as stone as he stared down at me. Not knowing what to say as he placed his hands around my wrist looking into my eyes. His fingers lightly rubbing against my wrists as he attempted to calm me. He knew it always worked whenever I was riled up or panicking about any event in my life. He took in a deep breath as my hands stood still against the collar of his shirt.

"Anika...calm down...please. Calm down ok?" He said soothingly trying to calm me down as I shook my head and pushed him away.

"Then answer me! What are we? Answer my questions!" I demanded as Shivaay shook his head and looked back at me.

"How will that benefit you and me? What will change between us? Anika...we have separated and no matter how much we try our paths can never cross," Shivaay said as I sighed with frustration and shook my head.

"That doesn't answer my questions. I want to know why do I feel that something still exists between you and me. If it didn't you wouldn't have kissed me right?" I said as wiped my tears away and grabbed his hands.

"Speak to me. Forget about what happened or what we are. Just look at me and tell me...answer me what you feel for me and for our relationship. Because I no a divorce cannot just end a relationship. You have to cleanse the relationship out of you and out of your soul to purely get rid of it," I argued as I grabbed hold on to his arms as he looked back at me.

"Anika. Stop. Please stop this. All of it! Ok? Please. I have cleansed this relationship out of me and you should to! Ok? Seriously. Please, get over it! Maybe that kiss that day was a meaning to officially seal off the relationship because I clearly didn't feel anything when it happened!" Shivaay exclaimed looking eye to eye.

My eyes widened as the grip of my hands on his arms loosened as his words rang through my ears. What is he saying? How can he say that? This cannot be happening. But...what am I thinking. If a man can marry me to get revenge then how would he find this kiss or anything that I feel for him real? Why do you have such blindfolds on your eyes Anika? Why? He himself has given up on our relationship and he himself is admitting he is over it. Then why cannot you be over it?

"If you didn't feel anything then fine. If you don't want to answer any of my questions then don't. If you find joy in using me then that joy will end soon because from now on this Anika will not let you use her as trash. This Anika is not worth it. You don't deserve someone like me. You don't. From now on our paths are officially separate. You don't come in my path and I won't come in yours',"I declared as Shivaay's eyes stopped me trying to be cold and emotionless.

At that moment everything ended. I ended everything and began my journey to cleanse the relationship out of my soul, but somehow fate had something else in store.

Preview of Upcoming Chapter 9 (Will Be Posted by End of the Week):

"Hi my name is Armaan Oberoi and you are?" He questioned as he smiled and looked at me.

I weakly smiled as I shook his hand as his hand somewhat lingered on mines as I pulled it back.

"Anika Obe--Anika Malhotra," Shivaay said as he walked up to me standing a bit too close next to me as if indicating we shared a relationship more than a professional one.

"Anika... this is my cousin," Shivaay said looking back at Armaan as I smiled.

"Nice to meet you Armaan," I said smiling as he smiled back.

"Same here," Armaan said as he looked back at Shivaay.

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Thank you for reading :) Sorry, this chapter was a bit long. From now onwards, I intend to shorten my chapters :) Thank you for reading and if you wish please comment and/or upvote :) I love hearing what you think about the story. Thank you for reading :)

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