Conceivable – Part 4
Link to Part 3: Here
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Once back home, Sahil was greeted with one of his favourite persons, Maya Aunty. She’d been taking care of him since he could remember. Although, she was much older, but they shared an unimaginable bond. While Anika had been completing her higher studies or for now, her job, Maya Aunty took care of him. Sahil engulfed her in a quick hug making it visible that he’d missed her. She hugged him back and smiled looking at Anika. She dearly loved the child. He was like her own child whom she’d lost when he was a little kid. Her eyes dampened at the thought, but relief washed all over her face as soon as she heard Sahil’s words. “Aunty, you’ve no idea how much I missed you!” She pulled apart and affectionately holding his face in between her hands, said, “I missed you too Sahil!” The duo smiled at each other and soon, both of them were engaged in a talk about how and what had he’d done in the past one month when Maya Aunty hadn’t been there.
Anika walked towards her room to keep her bag on the table. She reminisced the events of the day and her lips curved into a slight smile. The Oberoi family was really courteous and the siblings had a day well spent in their company. She stood in front of her mother’s picture and silently looked at it. It calmed down her insides. She smiled and said, “You already know what all happened today. Pinky Aunty is still the same.” Her smile broadened at the mention of her name. She was a really nice woman. Shivaay was lucky enough to have her as his own Mom, but still, despite of everything, her Maa would be the best mother for her. She glanced at the clock and walked back to the hall. Sahil and Maya sat there, talking and sharing with each other about whatever had happened in the previous one month. If it was their Maa, she would’ve done the same. She smiled and, then coming back to reality, she called out for Sahil.
“Sahil, it’s time for your dose of medication. Change and get to bed. Maya Aunty will give you your medicines.” Sahil looked at her pleadingly. He had much more to talk with Maya, but a persistent Anika glared at him and he immediately ran back to his room. “Thank you so much Aunty for coming so soon! I know I’ve asked you for something which I shouldn’t have because this span of two months is the only time you get to spend with your family, but I’ve a hefty week or may be months coming up at work from this upcoming week, . . ,” Anika’s voice trailed off regretfully. These two months are the only time Maya Aunty asks for a holiday, but this time she’d to ask her to come back earlier.
“Anika, beta, if your Maa would’ve been there in my place, would you’ve reacted the same? I’m just like your Maa beta. I know I don’t resemble her in any manner, but you can just think of me as someone similar,” Maya Aunty said. Anika smiled at her. She knew Maya Aunty meant what she’d spoken. She was a mother like figure for her always. Although, they’d no resemblance, but the extreme care she took of the two siblings, was exact to their mother. She looked at her thankfully before Sahil called Maya Aunty for his medicines. She smiled back at her and went to attend Sahil.
Back at her own room, Anika settled down on her bed and grabbed her current read from the nightstand. She paged through the book and finally, stopped at the page from where she’d continue. This novel was her favourite one. It dealt with relations so maturely and delicately. Somehow, it was similar to her and Shivaay’s life, but unlike them, it wasn’t a marital affair. She went to the hard cover of the book and pressed her fingers over the title slowly and lightly. “May be One Day”! She was brought out of her fantasy when she heard something being hit against her window. Who could it be? A thief? Scared, she went towards the window and pushed the polyester fabric a little ajar. She peeped outside the window and found Shivaay standing. He aimed another pebble at her window and she slightly opened her window.
“Why are you here? It’s almost midnight; you should be at home, sleeping,” Anika shouted slowly, cautious enough to not disturb her neighbours. He slyly smiled at her and shouted back, “Come down.”
“Mr. Oberoi, just to let you know, it’s 12 at night. I’m not coming down.”
“Shall I come up then?” Anika shook her head and closing the window, drew the curtains. Draping a dupatta around her neck, she slowly went outside her house. He waited for her to come down. He’d planned something for her and he was excited to see how she’d react to it. He saw her petite form coming towards him. He waved his hand and smiled at her. She wondered what was so urgent that he’d to call her so late at night. Was everything alright? She stood in front of him and hurriedly asked, “Is everything alright at Oberoi Mansion? Why did you come so late at night? Did anything happen after we came back? Has . . ” She stopped when he placed his warm palm over her lips. She questioned too much without letting the other person answer.
“Everything is alright. I just wanted to show you something,” he calmly spoke and removed his hand. Her brows knitted in confusion while he laced their fingers together and walked forward, away from her house. She looked at him clueless. Where would he take her at this hour of the night? Weren’t they supposed to be at bed cuddling with each . . . Ugh, her thoughts! With the pillow! She reminded herself and mentally slapped herself for such indecent thought, but they swarmed her mind. She wanted to cuddle with him under the dark sky and fall asleep in his arms gazing at the millions of twinkling lights. He felt unimaginably warm and she wondered how it’d feel cuddling with him. May be, the next morning when she’d wake up, she’d feel warm and even be surrounded by his aura. Mmm, she loved his aura and . . . She shut her eyes and cursed herself for thinking about Shivaay, always.
Meanwhile, Shivaay loosened his grip on Anika’s hand and stood behind her. He waited for her to open her eyes to search for him and while she’d do so, she would see his surprise. Something he knew she’d always love to see. Anika slowly opened her eyes and found it dark all around her. Although, she was afraid of dark, she could feel Shivaay’s presence and knew he was beside her. She looked around for him, but her eyes stopped wandering and looked at a specific direction. The direction he wanted to see her. A sky full of stars! It looked beautiful. It was as if he’d instantly read her inner thoughts and presented her with what she wanted to see. “Shivaay,” she softly spoke and he smiled. Just the way she left him mesmerised all the time, today it was the sky that had left her mesmerised. Certainly, it was beautiful, but for him, his Anika was more beautiful.
“This is so beautiful,” she continued and he smiled. “Beautiful!” he said looking at her. She could feel his breath fall over her face making her feel a little warm. She stepped closer to him and as if on a cue, he wrapped his arms around her. She was surrounded with warmth when the entire world felt a little cold. She looked at him and found him staring at her. Arching her eyebrows, she looked at him briefly. “What are you staring at?” He tucked the hair locks behind her ear and randomly circling over her cheek, he said, “At you.” Her cheeks flushed at his reply and instantly, she looked back at the sky. It felt so peaceful looking at the sky. The sky, although dark, would always illuminate you. Being with Shivaay, she’d become a little philosophical. She smiled at her thought and keenly stared at the sky with a calm mind.
“Why did you bring me here?” she asked while both of them laid down on the grass. He pulled her closer to himself and wrapped his arms around her. “You wanted to, didn’t you? Lay down below a sky full of stars and snuggle close to me.” Anika looked at him startled. How did he know? Had she spoken it aloud? “How did you know?” He smiled and wrapped his arms around her. He brought her face closer to his chest and placed it sideways. Her ear pressed right over his heart and she could feel his heart beat.
Beat, Beat, Stop.
Beat, Beat, Stop.
Beat, Beat, Stop.
That’s exactly how his heart was beating and the pace matched hers. “They’re interconnected,” he whispered while stroking her hair softly. She smiled and wrapping her arm around him, she looked back at the sky. He pressed his lips lightly on her forehead and both of them stared at their own stars. Anika was a ray of hope in his life. The time when he’d thought of the worst outcomes of his life, she’d come into his life, guiding him to live for his loved ones. He didn’t know when in doing and learning this from her, he’d fallen in love with her. Truly, madly and deeply.
Everything seemed surreal to them. From meeting each other to their current scenario, everything. They were that lost piece of each other which if they hadn’t found, they’d have always remained incomplete. The love they had for each other was inexpressible and irresistible. The mere thought of being away from each other scared them. Having each other in their arms comforted them and made them happy. Gratefully, they looked at each other and escaping into a world of fantasy, they pressed their lips on each other’s, slowly and passionately pouring in all their love. Conceivably, One day it’d be a surreal dream. Holding each other in their arms, they escaped into a dreamy slumber knowing that the day when they’d be acceptably together wasn’t far anymore.
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Author’s Note: Sorry for updating late; had a prior engagement to be fulfilled followed by the worst writer’s block ever. Forgive me if this part wasn’t up to the mark because it’s the eighth time I’ve typed this. Sorry, again! But if you like it, please don’t forget to drop your views below. I’ll be waiting to know them. Constructive criticism is acceptable. ?