Ananya's Pov:

"Hey, done for today?"

"Yeah. Let me grab my things." Even it just a few minutes away from office Neeraj always drop me. I grabbed my bag and dial Shiv's number while walking. I didn't get a call from him in last two days and when I dialled it's always unavailable.

"Hello." A female voice answered the call.

"Mom! Is that you? Why're you receiving his phone? Where is Shiv? How come Shiv is in Delhi? Is he alright mom? What happen to him?" tears are coming down on my cheek. I'm shivering with fear. Fear of losing Shiv.

"Calm down, beta. Calm down. Shiv is fine now. You just come home. Ok?" Shiv is in Delhi? Why didn't he tell me about it?

"ok mom, I'm coming." Hurriedly, I booked a cab and after hoping in the cab I dialled Neeraj number. I don't know what he is thinking about me right now, I left the place without informing him anything. And it reminds me now that Shiv's home is near his locality. I should have wait for him. But at that time, I totally lost my thinking capacity.

"Hey! Where are you? You left for your home already?"

"Not for home. There is an emergency, I mean family matter. Sorry I was in hurry."

"It's fine. Are you ok, Ananya?" his voice is filled with concern.

"Yeah. I'm ok. I'll call you later. Bye."

"Bye. Take care."

Because of the traffic, it took me forty minutes to reach here. The more I'm stepping towards the door, my heart beat is start to pounding like crazy. With a shaky hand I pressed on the calling bell. Mom opened the door with a pale smile. I noticed her eyes; anyone can say that she was crying. I hugged her without wasting a second. My vision started to blur.

"Don't cry. He is sleeping in his room. He will be sad if he awakes and sees us crying." She wiped my tears. "You go freshen up first. I'll prepare something for you to eat. Go."

I quickly freshen up myself and went to Shiv room without making a sound. His right shoulder is wrapped in bandage. Some scratches on the foots. Other than that, everything looks fine. I sighed in relieve that at least he is fine. Alive. Now in front of me. I silently cried seeing his condition. I turned to leave the room.

"Where do you think you're going, leaving me on the bed, love?"

"Since when you were awake?"

"When you entered my room and standing like a statue, gawking at me and cried."

"you love to watch me cry, right?"

"That's what I hate the most."

"Why didn't you tell me, Shiv? Why?"

"Because you would cry. I hate it when I'm the reason of your crying and I wouldn't be here to console you."

"You should have told me Shiv. You don't know how worried I was when you didn't call me for days. What horrible situations we had you in, in our heads? Everything was alright, how did it happen?"

"It happened when we returned from our exercise. They were terrorist and finding a way to attacked us, I guess. It wasn't easy when we were there because of the tight security. But that day when we were returning everyone was happy to be back to the normal duty life. They were hiding in the forest and fired on the tire of our bus. Thank god the driver somehow managed to stop the bus or the bus would have fallen off cliff. When I bend to take the rifle, a bullet hit me from back side. Most of our men injured because we were not prepared. It was sudden attacked. Like I said everyone was so happy to be prepared for an attack like that." He chuckled. "That was our fault, we are soldiers, we had to be alert of situation like that. But our happiness overpowers us." He sighed and hold my hand "I'm sorry for lying you and mom that our exercise days were extended. I was hospitalised at that time and I didn't want any of you to see me like that. I'm really sorry for everything, love."

"That means you were there in Shillong when I left for Delhi? Why didn't you tell me Shiv? I could have gone there in the hospital. I'm sorry to say that but I'm very much disappoint with you right now. It seems you don't think me as your partner who can stay with your happiness or sickness. Am I right, Mr. Shiv Kapoor?"

"No, it's not like what you're thinking Ani. You know, what you mean to me. I really can't see you in pain because of me."

"So, you'll lie to me?"

"I won't in future. Just forgive me this time, ok?"

"I need time to digest the fact that you were in hospital when I was in the same city and you didn't even think for once to tell me about it. And you suddenly showed up here. Do you know how mom felt, when she saw you wrapping in bandage at the door step? Don't give us shock like this, Shiv. I know it's very difficult to see someone you love in pain but I love you and I accept you with all this. I already know situation like this could happen anytime and I'm mentally preparing myself to handle situation like this. You just don't hide it from now on, promise?"

"I promise, I won't hide anything from you and mom."

"You better because there is no next time, remember."

"I love you."

"I love you too" I hugged him tightly.

"Ahhhhh. You're chocking me."

"Yes I know, I'm doing it intentionally. This is your punishment for lying to us. I know mom won't do anything to you that's why I'm doing on the behalf of her." He chuckled hearing that. I missed this smile. I missed him.

"That's remind me, did mom call you and tell about me?"

"No, I called you and mom received it and told me or someone was never going to tell me. I should thank mom. Oh! Mom is preparing something to eat, especially for me. Bye." I left the room with a mischievous smile.

"MOM! Don't give her anything until I come."

*****

"My favourite aalu paratha. Thank you, mom."

"Anything for you, beta. Shiv, come fast I need to feed you and after that I have to go market to buy groceries."

"You don't have to worry; Ani will feed me. You go." Hearing that mom left for market.

"Then hurry mister, I need to go also." I indicate him to seat so that I can feed him.

"I thought you are staying here today." ok, he is sad because I'm going.

"No, I'm not staying. I directly came from office, thanks to you. And I don't have cloth to stayover." I shrug it.

"Ok." He grabbed his mobile from the table by left hand. Is he calling someone? "Mom, can you buy a night wear for Ani?" "Thank you, mom." Oh God! This boy. Did he just call mom and tell her to buy cloth for me, so that I can stay here? What is mom thinking of me right now?

Agghhhh...

"So, you're staying. Now, feed me." like seriously.



*****

Shiv's pov:



Her head resting on my left shoulder, me wrapping my arm around her waist on the couch watching tv, this is what I wanted from a long. This seems so unrealistic when I thought of that day. I thought I would never see my mom and my love. I lost consciousness because of excessive bleeding. When I woke up, I was in the hospital bed. That was the moment of like, thank god, I made it to the world again.

"What are you thinking?" Ani asked me in her sweet voice. Her voice is like a melody for me, which I can hear without getting bored.

"I'm thinking that how lucky I'm, because I have you and mom and God saved me to enjoy in this beautiful world with you."

"Shiv, whatever happen just forget it. Don't think too much about it. You know earlier I was very angry on you to say that but I'm so proud of you." Her words always amazes me.

"Where is my reward then?" I teased her.

"You want a reward?" she was shocked, because I suddenly asked for a reward.

"Yes." I nodded looking at her. She closed the distance between our face and kissed me on the lips so passionately. I kissed her back until we were out of breath.

"I loved the reward and I love you." I whispered near her ear. She hides her face in my chest. My shy wild girl.

"I love you too." She mumbled.

*****



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