If You Loved Me (completed)

Chapter 6

AFTER they took their seats in the train, Anika got lost in the window view for hours as Shivaay chose for her the window seat and his idea was to take her mind of the pain of leaving her home town by the beautiful scenes of the other villages and cities.

But the truth was that Anika actually felt relief leaving the village with no other feelings beside that!!

Although it's her home that she never left even for once in her life and that the idea of a new place is scary, but as she left everything she owns behind, she left with it every pain she suffered and all the people who didn't show mercy on her and took her kindness as a weakness.

She smiled faintly and pressed her hand on the window glass and sighed as they got out of another village and got closer to Mumbai. God how excited she is for going to Mumbai with only one question in her mind that she answers happily and with many possible answers.

And the question is...

What will she do when she reaches to Mumbai?

She can do anything, she can complete her education and find a job...maybe she can make friends too, she wasn't allowed before to make friends but maybe now she can

She smiled widely and pressed her both hands on her chest to stop her heart from jumping from happiness

She can do everything she couldn't do before, in fact she will.

She will cook her favorite food, and she will eat whatever she wants and not what her Bhabhi force her to cook and eat...and she will never let anyone beat her again and she will...

but she was taken out of her thoughts by Shivaay's head falling on her shoulder ,she flinched and looked at him as he was deeply sleep and his head leaning on her shoulder .

And her breath stopped, what about him?! He said he will divorce her whenever she is ready? What ready means? When she find a job and a house to live in? That is what ready means?

What about if she ready that he get out of her life, isn't that what divorce means? People separating?

Anika said in low tone: how will I be ready for that Shivaay?

Then she touched his hair and he deepen his head in her shoulder with her kind touch and slept deeper and she whispered

Anika: why you came to my life, stranger?

Meanwhile woman with a food trolley reached towards Anika and said..

The woman : you want to buy anything from the trolley for the road dear?

Anika looked at her and the woman smile vanished and looked at her sadly then looked at Shivaay with disgust and Anika for the first second didn't understand why but then she understood and shook her head hard

Anika: no , he is not who beat me ..He is a good person , we are just married ..I ..I ..Was in an accident

The woman smiled sadly and nodded and said ..

The woman: okay , dear .. You want to buy something from the trolley ?

Anika shook her head and said: I don't have any money

The woman picked two sandwiches and two boxes of juice from the trolley and smiled ..

The woman: it's on me ..Just take care of yourself and leave who ever beat you and make you say it was an accident

Anika looked at the woman who nodded and left and Anika took a deep breath and whispered ..

Anika : I just did , ma'am

Then she looked at the sandwiches and juice and whispered ..

Anika : Shivaay ? Shivaay ?

Shivaay flinched out of his sleep and noticed he was sleeping on her shoulder and looked at her to see if she have any anger about that but her smile was enough to sooth him

Anika : I am sorry I wake you up , but you have to eat something

Shivaay nodded as she gave him a sandwich and a box of juice and he smiled to her and said ..

Shivaay : from where you got that food ?

Anika bit her lower lip and said : the trolley woman give it to me out pity, because she thought you beat me up

Shivaay looked at her with wide eyes as she folded her hand to him and said ..

Anika : I am sorry , I tried to tell her, its injustice to be blamed on something you didn't do

Shivaay smiled and shook his head: don't worry , it's not a big deal ..I am used on that(then he said teasingly) beside we got a free meal out of it

Anika smiled sadly as he put the straw in the box of the juice and took a sip of the juice but the minute he taste it ,he got out a tissue fast and spit it and Anika said worried

Anika: what is wrong ? It's not good

Shivaay : I am sorry but apple juice makes me nauseous, I can't drink it

Anika nodded hard and looked at the box of the juice in her hand and said ..

Anika : this is orange juice if you want it , I am okay with apples .

He nodded and gave her the box of the juice and took hers and she shook her head in disbelief and said ..

Anika : what kind of a wife am I ? I don't know anything about my husband

Shivaay raised his eyes brows in surprise and she looked at him then swallowed and said ..

Anika : I know we are not real husband and wife but ..

Shivaay: okay what you want to know

Anika smiled and said : really ?, okay, tell me what your last name is ?

Shivaay smiled widely and said : Shivaay Singh Oberoi , and your name is Anika Shivaay Singh Oberoi now, how you forgot that ?!!

Anika smiled widely and said : where were you born ?

Shivaay smile vanished and said: umm..In the village, just like you

Anika smile vanished and said : it can't be (then she took a deep breath and said) fine, tell me about your family at least ?

Shivaay eyes widen and looked down and said with pain

Shivaay : do you really care that much about my past?

Anika looked at him then shook her head faintly and said

Anika : NO , I don't care about your past (then she smiled and said ) what is your favorite color , husband ?

Shivaay smiled widely and said : blue

Anika smiled widely and said ..

Anika : great , because I have a lot of that , trust me

And she pointed on a blue bruise on her cheek

Shivaay smiled and said : you joke about your pain too ?

Anika : I cried about it enough, it's time to laugh about it , I think

Shivaay smiled widely and nodded as Anika said ..

Anika : don't you want to ask me about anything, Shivaay ??

Shivaay shook his head and said: actually I like to know you by the time , not by questions ..I want to know Anika

Anika smiled faintly and took a sip of the juice shyly as he said ..

Shivaay : I will go wash my hands before eating , are you going to be okay by yourself ?

Anika smiled widely and said: your heart choice wife will be a lucky woman that is something you didn't tell me about but I knew by time , you are such a caring husband , Shivaay. For even the wife you don't love.(then she chuckled and said) what will you do with the wife you love then?

Shivaay looked at her for a moment then swallowed and nodded and turned to go as she turned as well and looked through the window and didn't notice that he turned back and looked at her as she unwrapped her sandwich from the paper around it but her action caused her to receive a paper cut on her finger so she sucked her finger to sooth her pain then ignored with no concern but not him !!

He was more concerned that he flinched and held his finger as if he is the one who received the cut not her!!

Then he looked at his hand that was holding on his finger and he swallowed and went towards the bathroom lost in his thought, as his eyes wide shocked. She is right, he really worry for her so much, he care for her more than he cares for anyone in his life ..That is normal right? any good man in his condition and met a girl like Anika in this time, will be as much concerned as him and will do the same with her, yes of course, but is it really normal ? because if its normal then why his heart bound that hard in his chest and why he can't think of a similar feeling he had in his life just like what he have for Anika !! What is that called ?

He took a deep breath in frustration then went in his way as the woman with the trolley came back to Anika and said ..

The woman : you need anything again , dear?

Anika smiled widely and said..

Anika : thank god you came again ... my husband is really a good man believe me , we got married yesterday when I was just like that , I am his new bride ...I swear

The woman smiled and said: you care so much for my opinion dear, I am just the trolley lady

Anika : he do not deserve anyone to think bad of him, please you have to believe me

The woman smiled and said : okay ,okay I believe you if my opinion matters for you that much ...you know what....? Come with me, new bride ..Its half an hour till we reach to Mumbai we can have a tiny celebration in this time , do you want that ?

Anika looked at her for a moment then she smiled widely and bit her lower lip , and looked where Shivaay went, then looked back to her and nodded hard .

After minutes ..

Shivaay was cleaning his hands in the tiny bathroom of the train as a faint knock from outside made him close the tap and open the door as a young man said ..

The young man : can I ...?

Shivaay nodded and said : I am done

The young man nodded as Shivaay got out in the same time the young man phone rang and he answered the call and said ..

The young man : yes , you were right ..I saw her on the train, she is going to Mumbai

And he closed the door behind him as Shivaay eyes widen and held his breath then he rush his way towards Anika's chair, what is the chances he means Anika ? Can he be Surya or someone from Veer side or her brother's side ? He has to warn Anika, even if it wasn't for them, they should be careful

.

He went towards the chair, but he didn't find Anika sitting , she even didn't complete her sandwich ,he asked the passenger beside them and said ..

Shivaay : ma'am , have you seen my wife, the girl with the blue dress?

The woman : she went with the trolley lady, to the third class car

Shivaay nodded and opened the door to the third class car and that when he entered and heard the laughs and the singing

then he saw a circle of woman at the end of car clapping and singing , he walked slowly towards the circle and looked through it and for his surprise he found Anika in the middle of the circle wearing a red veil and dancing very beautifully, laughing and jumping

she seemed so happy that tears was welling from the corner of her eye , and suddenly he forgot everything seeing her happiness, that he felt tears may come from his eyes too seeing her happiness as his smile was so wide that his mouth hurt

he can't take this from her, she deserve to be that happy, she deserve to be carefree, Anika is his wife, let them do what they want ..He will protect her and make her happy no matter what !

Anika as she was dancing and twirling noticed him watching her and she smiled shyly and danced slower but couldn't stop even if she tried

She was so happy to stop , she didn't feel that happy from years, even if she not really a bride, she feels like one now, she do not want her shyness to take this from her

As the woman of the trolley looked at him then looked at her back and pulled her and whispered to her ear .

The woman : I believe you now, no man look at his wife like that if he doesn't love her.

Anika looked at her then smiled a shivery smile not taking her words seriously.

As the woman signaled to Shivaay to join Anika and he smiled widely and for Anika surprise he agreed and approached her, and that made her to stop nervously but he held her hand and twirled her and she surrendered to his leading as he pulled her between his arms and swayed with her and whispered to her..

Shivaay : and I thought you can't dance !!!

Anika raised an eye brow and got out of his arm and danced faster and more beautifully as he smiled widely and danced with her and she smiled widely then twirled and fall on his arm with wide smile as the women clapped for them and they looked at each other for seconds and their smile lessened and got lost in each other's eyes , but got a waken from this moment by the train stopping as it reached to Mumbai.

The minute they got out of the train station Anika noticed the different between the city and her village !!

It was very crowded and there were many cars and people everywhere and tall buildings instead of the small houses and many bright lights everywhere

Anika looked at Shivaay who was walking beside her with confidence as if he walks in those streets each day, she never got out of the village before, not even once but it seems that for him , Mumbai is home

" He can't be a village boy , he can't " she thought about that as he held her hand tight and crossed with her the street and said with wide smile ..

Shivaay : I will show you Mumbai and every place in it , we will stay in a hotel tonight but tomorrow we have to look for our own house, we will chose calm neighborhood, don't worry I know you are not used to the city noise and I want you to be comfortable And then we will go and buy you cloth and buy furniture and everything you want

Anika smiled widely and nodded as he smiled and said ..

Shivaay : you will be very happy I know (then he stopped and said) in fact let's start from now ,you want to go to the cinema ? It's been long since I went to a cinema, what about you ?

Anika shook her head and said : I never went to the cinema before

Shivaay smiled and said :okay then, the cinema is just over here ..Let's go

And he held her hand and for her surprise he pulled her hand and ran with her to the cinema and she couldn't help but notice how happy he is to be in Mumbai and that he is sharing his happiness with her .." I wish you always be happy , Shivaay" she thought

They both reached to the cinema and he bought for them a big box of popcorn and they both entered the movie that already started and he held her hand to guide her in the dark , as she wasn't even looking in her way , she was shocked by the huge screen and the new experience

they both sit and Anika started watching the movie and eat from the popcorn as he was actually not interested at all with film or the food ... he was more interested on watching her

As she chuckled so hard in the funny scenes and cried in the sad scenes to the limit that he felt his heart ache for her pain, then chuckled and cried with happy ending and that took his breath away.. For the whole movie, he just watched her every action and every moment of her eyes , with no explanation of why he is so charmed ...he is just is !

That was his condition till the end of the movie when the light turned on and people started to go and they both kept sitting as she didn't finish crying over her wide smile yet and he kept patting on her back to sooth her till she wiped her tears and said

Anika : I am sorry , it just .. It was so beautiful ,isn't it ?

Shivaay nodded as she wiped her tears again and said ..

Anika : what is your favorite part ?

Shivaay felt lost when she asked that , he didn't even watch one minute of the movie , he was just watching her , but he want to be truthful to her so he answered ..

Shivaay : when she chuckled as tears of happiness slide on her cheek , I never saw something more beautiful and kinder

Anika looked at him confused and said : I didn't see this scene , when was it ?

Shivaay smiled and said : it was there ..But no one saw it but me .. I am the only one who saw it, how lucky am I ?

Anika looked at him confused then nodded faintly as he chuckled and they both walked out of the cinema and towards the hotel that was just at the end of the street and as they walking, Shivaay asked .

Shivaay : Anika, you are free to do whatever you want to start your new life and I will help you ..So do you have any ideas ? Do you know what you want?

Anika looked at him and nodded yes hard as he smiled seeing a shop selling bracelets and he picked red metal ones and bought them then put them on her wrist as she held her breath then looked at them and smiled widely

Anika : they are beautiful, why you bought them for me ?

Shivaay : for this smile, what better reason ?

And he signaled on her lips that smiled widely and looked at the bracelets and then she put her hand over them and said ..

Anika : I will keep them forever, thank you

Shivaay chuckled and said : those cheap things ..You will sure get better ones , do not rush yourself

Anika shook her head and said : they are very precious to me,I will never take them off. I am sure

Shivaay smiled to her and nodded as they reached the hotel and Shivaay asked the reception

Shivaay : we want to rent a room? We are married

The reception : welcome sir , you want a room with king size bed or two beds ?

Anika swallowed and looked nervously to Shivaay who shook his head and said ..

Shivaay : I changed my mind , I want two rooms ..Just beside each other

Anika smiled faintly as he smiled for her smile and the reception took his ID and gave him the keys as bill man took the bags and Shivaay gave Anika her key .

Shivaay : I will wake you early in the morning, have some sleep ..I am just in the room beside you

Anika smiled faintly and nodded then she entered her room and his smile vanished and sigh as he entered his room as well and closed the door behind and leaned on the bed to try to sleep but he just kept looking at ceilings for minutes or hours, he don't know ..He just kept thinking of her and wishing if he can just make sure she is okay

Shivaay to himself : of course she is okay , you can't just knock on her door and ask ...

But he heard a faint knocking on his door and he got off the bed and opened the door only to find Anika standing hugging her pillow

Anika : I just want to know if you are okay.

Shivaay chuckled faintly and nodded yes hard as she smiled back to his chuckle that she didn't understand its reason then she looked at her pillow and said ..

Anika :I can't sleep so can I ..

Shivaay nodded yes hard as she smiled widely and ran to the bed and leaned on it on her side and looked at him with wide smile and he pulled a pillow and put it on the floor and leaned on it and she looked at him with faint smile and closed her eyes and he closed his eyes too but then he opened his eyes and said ..

Shivaay :Anika ?

Anika opened her eyes as he said ..

Shivaay : no matter what your plans to the future , even if you ask for divorce, I want to be in your life , even as a friend. I just want to make sure you are okay , don't deny me that

Anika smiled faintly and nodded yes hard as he raised his hand and held her hand and said ..

Shivaay : good night

Anika smiled faintly and said : good night

And he closed his eyes as he holding her hand then he planted a kiss on her hand and drifted to sleep that he took from her eyes by his action as she looked at him and whispered ..

Anika : why you came to my life, stranger ? And why are you doing all this for me ?

And she noticed with her question, that Shivaay smiled faintly in his sleep as if he heard her question and has the answer.