CHAPTER 15
ANIKA
What am I even supposed to do now? My mother always believed I was strong.
That no matter what life threw at me, I'd find my way through it. But the truth is, I can’t.
Not without her. I am nothing without her.
If I don’t have her guiding hand, her love, her warmth.
.. I don’t know where I'll end up. Because for as long as I can remember, she’s been my home.
Not just my mother, but my best friend. My shield against the world.
She loved me like a mother and protected me like a father.
She was everything—my parents rolled into one.
And now, when she needs me the most, I can’t even hold myself together.
Aarav’s hand closes around mine, squeezing gently, like he’s reminding me he’s here.
I blink, looking down at our joined hands, feeling a strange lump forming in my throat.
I never thought he would come. Sure, I knew he would send the money—after all, I shamelessly, selfishly asked him—but I never expected him to sit here with me.
To hold me while I fall apart. He hates me.
He has no reason to be here. No reason to comfort me.
What’s wrong with him? I wonder as I stare at his side profile before I pull my hand away from his grip.
My heart is pounding for reasons I don’t want to think about.
The doctor finally walks out of the operation theater, pulling his mask off. I shoot up from my seat, almost stumbling towards him, with Aarav right behind me.
"Doctor, how's my mother?" My voice shakes, and the words barely come out.
He exhales heavily, looking tired, maybe even burdened. My chest tightens. "The surgery was successful," he informs, rubbing his forehead.
A tiny bubble of hope rises inside me—but I hear it. The unspoken ‘but’ hanging heavy between us. I brace myself. "But..." he continues, and there it is, the word that always ruins everything.
"But what?" Aarav cuts in, voice urgent.
The doctor looks between us, like he doesn’t want to say it but knows he has to.
"Her condition has worsened. I don’t know how to sugarcoat it, so I’ll just say it—you’ll need to make sure she doesn’t experience any kind of stress, physical or emotional.
Her heart’s too fragile now. We can’t keep performing surgeries on it.
It’s too risky." He pauses. "I suggest hiring a 24-hour nurse. It would help a lot."
Without waiting for a response, he gives us a sympathetic nod and walks away, leaving a gaping hole where hope was a second ago.
I stand frozen, staring blankly at the empty space he just left. My mother survived. But now what? I can't leave her care to a stranger. How could I trust anyone else to love her like I do? To care the way I would? They would do it for money. That's all it would ever be for them.
"Anika," Aarav calls, but I don’t move. I feel trapped inside my own head.
His fingers slide from my hand to my shoulder, slow and hesitant.
I close my eyes. Just the lightest touch from him, and it feels like my soul is trembling.
I suck in a shaky breath as he turns me to face him.
"We'll figure something out," he assures me quietly, voice thick with something I don't have the strength to name.
"Figure something out?" I echo, my voice rising.
"Figure something out?" I yell, the words ripping out of me. Tears well up again, blurring everything. "It's simple! I always make things worse for her! She stresses because of me. She loves me so much it’s killing her! If only she never had me... none of this would have happened! It’s my fault; everything’s my fault! I wish I was never born—"
"ANIKA!" Aarav’s voice booms, cutting through my breakdown.
I flinch. His hands tighten on my shoulders.
"Do you even hear yourself?" he roars, his face inches from mine.
"How can you say something like that so easily?
Have you even thought about what your mother would feel if she heard you right now?
!" His chest rises and falls sharply. "How do you think I feel listening to this? "
I blink up at him, stunned.
"My existence doesn’t affect you, Aarav!" I snap, my own anger clawing its way out. "You've thrived without me! You’re smart, successful, handsome... and you don’t even like me! So stop pretending like you care. I hate your pity!" I shove his hands off me, breathing hard.
His eyes darken, jaw tightening dangerously. He steps closer, like he wants to say something, maybe yell again—but another voice cuts in before he can.
"Anika!" I turn around and see Maa, Bhabhi, and Rudraksh Bhaiya rushing towards us.
"We were here for Shivani’s sonography," Maa says breathlessly. "The receptionist told me Aarav was here too."
She reaches for me, her arms wrapping tightly around my shaking body.
"You must be so scared," she murmurs against my hair.
And just like that, the dam inside me breaks. I sob into her shoulder, loud and messy, not even caring about the ugly noises leaving my mouth. She strokes my hair gently, rocking me like a child. Bhabhi is next to me, rubbing soothing circles on my back.
I cling to them both, feeling like I'm drowning, and they're the only things keeping me afloat. After a while, I pull away, wiping my tears furiously. I don’t want them to see me like this anymore.
Aarav’s hand wraps around mine again. "Stop it," he says, low and firm, almost like an order.
"You all should go home and freshen up a little," Maa says kindly. "I'll call as soon as she wakes up." I immediately shake my head in denial, unwilling to leave. "Sweetheart, please. Just for a bit," she pleads gently.
I hesitate, biting my lip. I don’t want to leave Mumma’s side. But Bhabhi speaks up, voice soft and heavy with unshed tears, "Anika... you'll obviously not want to leave after she wakes up, right?"
I swallow hard and finally nod. "Okay," I whisper.
Aarav extends his hand towards me again. I take it—not because I want to, but because I don’t want to create a scene in front of his family. Once we're in the elevator and out of sight, I yank my hand away, refusing to meet his eyes.
He clenches his jaw so tightly that I can practically hear his teeth grinding, but I don’t care. Let him be mad. I’m tired of everything.
He strides ahead when the elevator doors open, and I trail after him, dragging my feet. I honestly don’t have the energy to deal with his tantrums right now. One minute he’s sweet, the next he’s impossible. Classic Aarav. I should’ve known better.
He opens the passenger door for me, and without a word, I slip inside, keeping my gaze fixed on the dashboard. He gets in too, slamming the door shut harder than necessary, and drives off—way faster than the speed limit. Not that I have it in me to scold him anymore.
After a long, heavy silence, I finally speak. "I’m going to return every penny you gave me."
His hands tighten on the wheel, but he says nothing. "With interest," I add, staring out of the window. I’ll take up more freelance projects and maybe find another part-time job if needed. No matter how long it takes, I'll pay him back. I won’t owe him anything.
The car suddenly swerves sharply to the side, and I scream, my heart leaping into my throat. The tires screech, and the car jerks to a stop. I clutch the seat, breathing hard.
"What the hell are you doing?!" I shout, whipping around to glare at him.
His fists are clenched so tight his knuckles are white. He looks at me, his scowl so intense it’s almost scary. "What did you just say?" he demands, his voice a low, rough whisper.
"You heard me," I fire back. "And don't you dare drive like that again!"
He rakes a hand through his hair, looking like he’s barely holding it together.
"Anika," he says, sighing heavily. "Don’t ever say that again."
I open my mouth to argue, but he presses a finger against my lips, silencing me.
"Shut up," he says, voice gentler but no less firm. "You're my wife. It’s my duty to—"
I push his hand away roughly, my eyes burning.
"It’s not your duty!" I snap. "She’s my mother. She’s my responsibility. I’m grateful for your help, okay? But that’s it. I will pay you back whether you like it or not."
I turn my face away, swallowing the lump in my throat.
I don't want to talk anymore. But then I turn back to him, jabbing my finger into his chest for emphasis.
"And don’t forget," my voice comes out in a hiss. "I’m your wife for just six months. That’s it.
You made me sign the damn contract, remember?
" My voice booms around us; Aarav glares at me before turning toward the steering wheel and swiveling the car back to the road.