Chapter 8

Shivay look at the phone ringing and Annika's name flashed. He placed his laptop aside and picked the phone. He knew she must be calling to ask him something as trivial as if she should buy imported washing liquid or if he wants baby corn. Their conversation has mellowed down to things like this after his confession of being married twice.

Annika didn't pry him more on his failed marriages. She left him with sympathetic pat and gloomy look. Perhaps she didn't know his full story and so she began to walk on egg shells around him fearing she might offend him. Shivay understood her, but he was yet not ready to open up to her.

It was just a bump in their almost friendship and Shivay was only buying time before he could talk to her.

"Hello, Annika."

"Hey! Am I disturbing you?"

"No, what is it?"

"Well..." she hesitated for a minute trying to form words in her mind. "Can I ask for a favour?"

"Sure?"

"My neighbour was supposed to take care of Vihaan, but someone in her family died and she has to leave. I don't have many acquaintances here in the city. I don't know what to do now."

"You mean babysit?"

He could hear Annika gulp and her voice sounded apologetic. "I am sorry for asking you this. I know I am taking liberty..."

"Oh! Annika, don't think like that. I would be happy to take care of him. You don't have to be so formal."

She let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank God! " he could hear smile in her voice. "I was a minute away from breaking down. I don't think I will remember anything when I see exam question paper."

"Exams?" Shivay asked and immediately he felt like a fool. Has Annika been studying all these months and he has been dense enough to not notice it?

"Yeah, my finals." She said. "I will be back around 2, then do my works and make dinner." Before he could say anything, she continued. "You know lunch is in fridge, right? You can reheat it. Vihaan has his own lunch box. Don't worry about him. He won't trouble you."

Shivay only wordlessly agreed to whatever she said. He was still stuck in the fact that she was going to give her final exams and he has been so ignorant that he didn't know that she was studying. Yes, there were clues. Her incomparable English knowledge, her always being busy in laptop, her making frequent trips to library, but Shivay looked through all it.

Has he become a prejudice that he always prided that he was not? Did he think that since she is a house help she cannot be educated?

Annika was at his doorstep fifteen minutes later with cheerful Vihaan beside her.

"Shivay uncle!" Vihaan cried as he extended his arms and Shivay bent down to pick him in his arms with as much casualty as they have been doing hug and spin forever.

Annika handed a bag to Shivay. "This has his colouring book and crayons. He will take a nap after lunch, so don't worry he will not trouble you."

"How can this little boy trouble me!" Shivay shared a cheeks grin with Vihaan.

"I owe you one."Annika said pulling her bag

"I will keep that in mind." Shivay smiled.

After Annika waved them bye and she was waiting for lift, she heard Shivay call her.

"All the best!" he said and Vihaan repeated the same making both chuckle.

"Thank you!" she grinned at them both.

***

Annika returned to a house with pizza box, ice cream tubs thrown around living room and Toy story 3 playing in the TV as Shivay and Vihaan were slouching on the couch.

Hearing Annika open the door, Shivay tilted his head and smiled at her.

"How did the exam go?"

"Not bad, but what is happening here?" she asked as she made her way to the couch where Vihaan was apparently sleeping and only Shivay was watching the movie.

Annika lifted her eyebrows in surprise.

"Why did no one tell me Toy story is an interesting series?" The question was fairly rhetorical as Shivay went back to watching the film.

"Why didn't you both eat what I had prepared?" asked Annika eyeing Vihaan's untouched lunch box and Shivay's lunch that didn't even make it way out of refrigerator.

"Because pizza is tastier than carrot paratha or jeera rice." Shivay replied in matter of fact voice still not turning his eyes off TV.

Annika knew she wouldn't get answers from Shivay for anything till his movie was over, so began to get about her work.

"Coffee, would be nice." She heard him shout from the living room.

Annika turned to look at him with pointed gaze. After Radha's visit, Annika has put a leash on his coffee habits and seeing the number of cups in the sink, she knew he has already exceeded a day and a half's quota.

Shivay rolled his eyes and mumbled an irritated "Fine"

When Shivay and Vihaan, who finally woke at the end of Toy story 3, were half way through Toy story 4, Annika's has completed all her works but cooking Shivay's dinner.

"I am making chappati for you. Is that okay?" Annika asked from the kitchen where she was picking utensils.

"Take a break, Annika. I will order dinner for us."

Annika leaned back from where she stood in kitchen to look at Shivay and asked questioningly, "Us?"

Annika didn't fight Shivay when he wanted to order food for three of them from Chinese restaurant around the corner. After attending her second last exam, with one most difficult exam pending, Annika couldn't argue against the break.

"So, you are doing UG through distant education." Shivay summarised after Annika explained her educational background.

"Yeah! I know too old to be still a non graduate."

"I didn't mean it." Shivay said consciously. "It is really commendable what you are doing, especially being a single mother. I don't know many women..."

"I know..." Annika stops him in between. "Everyone says to me the same things when they hear what I do. I don't know if they actually mean it or just say they should be said. But, yeah, I have heard it enough to not feel motivated by it anymore."

"Fair enough." Shivay said. "But I really mean what I say, Annika. I see firsthand how tiring your work is. I can't imagine how you manage to go back home and study with Vihaan to take care and all."

"I know you mean well. I appreciate it." Annika pushes all scattered vegetables in middle of Vihaan's plate and gestured him to eat. "And Vihaan has always only been my strength. I couldn't have done half of what I do without him." Vihaan pouted looking at Annika forcing him to eat his vegetables for which the latter only bent down placed a kiss on his hair mumbling how good boys eat everything.

Shivay observed the interaction and a small smile played on his lips.

"I am sure he is." Shivay agreed.

After dinner Shivay stood in the balcony looking at the heavy rain that has pause the busy activities of the city for once. Something only nature is capable of.

"Vihaan is has slept already. I don't know when the rain will stop." Shivay for the first time heard Annika's worried voice. He turned to the side where Annika had stepped in to stand beside him looking at the city.

Rain that looked like a welcome gift of serenity to Shivay was an unnecessary disruption to Annika.

"It is nice when it rains." Shivay remarked.

"It is but only if I am in my house. Not when it stops me from my regular schedule."

Shivay then realized that Annika wasn't an irrational optimist that he had pegged her for. She was a very practical person. How easy does life become when one is merely practical without being bound by our own prejudices? Knowing Annika, he can only be sure that it must be liberating.

"Don't worry. Once it's safe to drive, I will drop you both."

Annika looked at him like she was going to argue that. He expected her to deny his help when she opened her mouth to say something. But, she pondered for a moment before she only mumbled, "Let's see."

After Annika left Shivay to enjoy the sight of rain, she went back to tuck in Vihaan in guest bedroom that Shivay generously offered and then returned back to balcony with a cup of ...

"Coffee?" Shivay asked hopefully.

"You wish." Annika snickered. "Black tea."

Shivay scrunched his nose in disgust. "Thank you so much." He mocked but didn't make an effort to get his glass from her hand. He turned back to look at rain and leaned forward on the rail.

Annika slowly sipped black tea lost in her thoughts.

"What are you thinking about?" Shivay asked.

"Do you remember how you asked me few days ago if I miss having someone in my life?" Annika asked. Shivay nodded. "Now when I think about it, I do miss having someone."Annika turned to look at Shivay. "Not necessarily romantic." Annika took a deep sigh while Shivay waited patiently for her to continue talking.

"I sometimes become tired of taking all decisions of my life by myself. It would be nice to have someone to discuss with about life, even the mundane things. I miss having someone to turn out for support and empathy. I know I don't sound like the strong, independent person I am trying to be. But, tell me, don't you think so called 'independence' everyone keeps talking about is overrated?"

Shivay didn't say anything when she looked at him. He only smiled encouragingly.

"I wish someone shares my burden or even decisions. When I am confused about something related to Vihaan, I wish I had someone to be confused along with me. It would be nice to walk in unknown destination with company rather than walking alone." Annika chuckled humourlessly as she pointed at the general direction out of the balcony. "It is raining cats and dogs and Vihaan seems to be running temperature. At this time, it would be comforting if I had someone by my side to be anxious and uncertain along with me."

Shivay looked at Annika baffled. The last bit of information was shocking and also worrying.

"Annika, why didn't you tell me? Do you want to go see a doctor?" Shivay straightened himself and looked at her concerned.

"No, I don't think it's anything to be worried about. May be because of the weather he feels feverish. I am sure he will be alright after some sleep. "

"Are you sure?"

Annika nodded and perched on the cushion chair behind her. She untied her ponytail and massaged her scalp gently as if trying to get rid of her headache.

Shivay stood in same place for couple of minutes before he occupied the chair across Annika.

"What about your parents?"

Annika generally wouldn't have encouraged talking about his parents. It's one the topic that was very sensitive to her and always manages to have huge impact on her mental status later. However, she truly felt like talking about it now, even if it was just to rant. After all, it was Shivay. If she trusted him enough to reveal her most guilty secret about not wanting to be alone, she could tell him anything.

"My father passed away when I was 16. I was very close to him. His death came as a big blow to me. People who knew me were worried that I am never going to come out of the depression. Anurag was in my school from first standard. But, after my father's death we became closer. My mother took up dad's old job to support us. She will be working most of the time and so I started to spend all my time with Anurag. After twelfth, my mom wanted to shift to where my uncle, mom's brother, stayed and go to college from there. She said that way we will have close family by our side. I didn't like the idea of going away from Anurag. I had lost my father and that almost broke me, I was not ready to lose Anurag as well. So, I three days after my 18 birthday, I eloped with him."

"Anurag wanted to become a singer. He was part of a band with some older boys. So, we went from one big city to another doing gigs and waiting for music labels to scout him. Money was never a problem. We had enough to get us through more than an average life. We had our fair share of fights and disappointment, but nothing enough to break us, until I conceived. I know I am such a cliché." Annika chuckled wiping tears off her eyes.

"We both didn't plan for a baby, but when Vihaan happened at least I was more receiving. Problem which we considered trivial began to blow up. The last deal breaker was when I caught Anurag in bed with a leading singer. Vihaan was just three months old then. I know I had to leave. Over the three years I was alone with him away from home, I know love was lost, but at least I hoped he had respect towards me and responsibility towards Vihaan. When he proved both wrong, I couldn't help myself."

"My schoolmate's mother had a spare room where I moved. She wanted me to do house works for her, in return of which she will not ask for rent. Then another neighbour hired me to wash vessels for small cash. Then another hired me to do laundry. Thus I began this profession."

"After Vihaan started pre-school, I found a job with a rich family. Thanks to my good school education, I had good language and etiquette. They hired me full time. Pay was good and the employer suggested for me to complete my education. I registered for distant education. Then I left previous job and started working for you."

All throughout Shivay was only a patient listener.

"And to answer your question, my father passed away when I was 16 and my mother shifted with my uncle after the disgrace I brought upon her and now doesn't even want to see my face. I have no communication with any of my family members."

Shivay reminded silent for a while giving her space to get hold of herself. Then with all the sincerity that he could manage, he spoke.

"Annika whatever I say after what you have revealed is going to sound irrelevant. But, trust me when I say this. No one could have handled your situation better than you. I know what you think lacks in your life, Annika. You are the most hopeful person I have seen in my life. In comparison to my grumpy, cynic self, you look like an angel of optimism. I am very sure there must be better things waiting for you in your future. You are still young. You have long way to go."

Annika knew he was only trying to encourage her. Being pragmatic without considering real life difficulties hasn't worked for Annika before. However, it felt good to hear such things and she can allow her to hope just to humour herself.

Once Shivay was sure Annika was feeling better but not completely out of melancholy, he rubbed his hands together and said , "The rain has stopped and I feel like having ice cream. Do you know any good ice cream shop on the way to your home?"

Annika smiled at his sweet gesture to cheer her up.

"Sure." She said.

***

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