Chapter 66: Chapter 66

Author's p.o.v

"Why did you choose me instead of your sister?" Niyati asked Shivansh and he stopped in his track.

Turning his head behind, he walked towards Niyati and sat right in front of her. He looked deep into her eyes and noticed a lot of questions lingering in them. She also looked into his eyes and found sadness and helplessness in them. She kinda felt bad for him but didn't show it on her face.

Instead of answering her question, he asked her," If I ask you the same question, what would be your answer?"

Niyati was taken aback a little after hearing his question. She blinked her eyes nervously because she doesn't have the answer with her right now.

" I asked you first," She reminded moving her eyes somewhere else.

Shivansh took a deep breath and answered," I did whatever I felt right."

" Why? I am nothing special to you. I am your ex-wife. We don't share any emotional bonding anymore then why?" Niyati asked curiously and Shivansh noticed some kind of expectation in her eyes.

Shivansh responded with too much guilt in his voice," I didn't want to commit the same mistake again. Once I abandoned you when you needed me the most and it cost me our happy married life. I didn't want to lose you. You and Neela's lives are more precious to me than anything else in this world."

Shivansh said the last part genuinely and Niyati kept looking at him with wide eyes. She frowned her brows a few moments later because she wasn't convinced with his answer yet.

" I understand that Neela's life is important for you because she is your daughter. I am asking about myself. What's my importance in your life now? I am your ex-wife," Niyati questioned and Shivansh just sighed.

Then, Shivansh started explaining with his heavy voice," You are my child's mother, Niyati. I will find out about Orni sooner or later but I couldn't bring you back once I lost you. I have already alerted the police and I hope Orni will be with us very soon but I can't argue with God about life and death."

Hearing him Niyati only hummed looking down when Shivansh said hesitating a little," And, if I say I love you till now and that's why I chose you. You won't believe me."

This time, Niyati looked at Shivansh widening her eyes when he continued saying," You won't believe me because for you I am just a coward and manwhore nothing else. And, I don't deny it. Today, I won't request you to accept me or think about us again because I don't have that much courage to tell you this. But I will obviously tell you to think about my situation from the very first. Just for once."

" I don't want to remember the past incidents again," Niyati replied curtly and Shivansh hummed.

Taking a deep breath Shivansh said with his painful voice," I wish I had a time machine so that I could go back in time and correct everything."

" Thank you for saving me," Niyati thanked him genuinely looking at him with soft eyes.

Shivansh answered holding her hands," It was my responsibility."

The Next Day

Shivansh was fulfilling the remaining formalities of the hospital and Niyati was standing behind him holding Neela in her embrace. Neela was sleeping peacefully on her mother's shoulder. Today, Niyati and Neela were discharged from the hospital.

" Shivansh Raichand," Someone called from behind and Shivansh got startled by the sudden voice.

Niyati & Shivansh looked behind and found Orni's father Sanjay Patel & her mother. Sanjay was looking at Shivansh with furious eyes whereas Orni's mother was looking at Shivansh with teary eyes.

Sanjay inquired angrily," Where is my daughter?"

" Mr Patel, you should hear me ou.........." Shivansh couldn't complete his sentence when Sanjay's voice boomed through the whole area like a thunderstorm and everyone looked at them with curious eyes.

Sanjay yelled making Shivansh lower his head," You handed over my daughter to that bastard, right? Satya sir has told me about your deeds."

" I will find out Orni very soon. Please, give me some time," Shivansh requested but Sanjay wasn't in any mood to hear.

Sanjay responded seething with rage," Finding out!! Do you have any idea what Orni is going through right now? She despises that man and you have handed over her to him. That bastard is going to torture my daughter again and this time her children are involved too. How could you do that?"

" I will save my sister anyhow. Have some trust in me," Shivansh assured with determination but Sanjay wasn't convinced.

Sanjay screamed at the top of his lungs," Trust!!! I trusted you blindly, my daughter trusted you blindly and what you did in the end? You backstabbed us by giving Orni back to VR. You are her brother, right? Then how could you do this to your sister? What kind of brother are you? You knew about her mental state and still, you returned her to VR!! If you wanted to give her back to VR then why did you save her in the first place? You should have let her die instead of letting her suffer in VR's hands again."

Saying all these Sanjay bursts into tears and Orni's mother started consoling him. Orni's mother was also sobbing just imagining Orni's situation.

This time Shivansh lowered his eyes due to shame and a tear threatened to roll down his eyes. He fisted his palm tightly to suppress his emotions but nothing was working. The guilt was stabbing him repeatedly right into his chest.

On the other hand, Niyati's eyes were never leaving Shivansh's distressed face. Looking at his guilty and sad eyes she doesn't know when her eyes got teary. She rested one hand over his shoulder but Shivansh removed her hands softly and stayed silent.

" Where I am going to find my daughter? My Orni," Sanjay whispered and hugged Orni's mother's waist tightly who was looking at Shivansh with helpless eyes.

Then, Shivansh kneeled in front of Sanjay and promised holding his hands," Mr Patel, if Orni is your daughter then she is my sister too. I am worried for her just like you and my Dad. I promise you that I will find her out anyhow and punish VR with my own hands. Just give me a little bit of time."

Sanjay didn't utter any words and just shed some tears. Sanjay was holding one of Orni's teddy bears and cried loudly looking at it. He hugged the small teddy bear imagining Orni and prayed for Orni's safety.

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Shivansh entered the room and found Sanjay lying on the hospital bed. He also noticed Orni's mother who was sitting beside Sanjay holding one of his hands. She was shedding her tears silently looking at Sanjay's face and didn't notice Shivansh yet.

Sanjay couldn't bear the loss of his daughter and fell ill. Finally, he ended up in the hospital making Shivansh more guilty.

" What did the doctor say?" Shivansh asked Orni's mother and she got startled.

Wiping away her tears she answered with a barely audible voice," He will get better soon."

Shivansh only hummed and having no other words to say he thought to leave the room. He will just leave the room when a hand held his wrist. He looked behind and it was Orni's mother.

" Please, save my daughter," She requested Shivansh with teary eyes.

Shivansh nodded his head when she started saying with her trembling voice," I know that you were helpless and that's why you returned Orni to VR. I can understand your turmoil but no matter what I want my daughter in my embrace. Do something as soon as possible. It's a request. I have missed my daughter for the last 13 years. I don't want to miss her anymore."

Saying that she joined her hands in front of Shivansh and looked down. Shivansh held her hands and tried to utter some consoling word but no word was coming out of his mouth.

" Please, Pray to God," that's what Shivansh could say more and left the room.

After two months

It's been two months since Shivansh was trying hard to find out about Orni and her children. But, to his disappointment, he couldn't even get any clue. It's like VR has vanished in the air with Orni. Shivansh has alerted every police station of every state but nothing was fruitful.

When Shivansh thought that Orni's crying face and accusing eyes were going to be a nightmare for the rest of his days. He wasn't wrong though. Because for the last two months Shivansh never had a peaceful slumber. Every night he would wake up from his sleep recalling Orni's words and crying face. In one word, Shivansh was depressed.

Shivansh has started skipping meals and can hardly concentrate on anything else. He would always be with his daughter but still, he couldn't be happy. He has lost weight and prominent dark circles can be noticed under his eyes. He hardly talks to anyone because guilt and remorse were eating up his soul. He was sorry about everything but no one was here to forgive him. Every day he wishes to go back in time so that he could correct everything but alas!

The emotional and mental pain was way too much for him. Specifically when his father stopped talking to him and Orni's father Sanjay Patel continues to blame him daily. Shivansh needed a shoulder to rely on and share his pain but no one was there. Not his parents nor a partner. We can apply ointment on external wounds but what about internal wounds? From the inside, he was shattered and it can be understandable from the outside too just looking at his depressed face.

On the other hand, Niyati was behaving normally with Shivansh. Looking at his condition she didn't show her stubborn side anymore and thought to be in a civil relationship with him.

A few days ago she acted so stubbornly because she wanted him to feel emotional pain which she felt years ago. She knew that he was broken and guilty after knowing his mother's truth but it wasn't enough for her. She wanted him to feel more pain and that's why she acted cruelly with him. She wanted him to feel every sort of emotional suffering that she felt. But, she never thought that things will turn out like that and Shivansh will be hurt more than necessary.

She wanted to talk to him, console him and support him but doesn't know why she couldn't. It seems like something was holding her back and she doesn't know what it was.

It was afternoon when Shivansh woke up. He was working on his laptop and doesn't know when he slept. He searched for Neela in his room but she was nowhere to be seen. Rubbing his eyes with the back of his hands he stood up and walked towards the living room.

" Mommy, I am here. Catch me if you can," Shivansh heard Neela's playful voice before entering the living room and a frown appeared on his forehead.

Entering the room, a smile appeared on his face unknowingly. He leaned on the door folding his arms and started watching Niyati and Neela who were busy playing blind man's buff. He smiled noticing Neela pushing Niyati then and now. Niyati was trying hard to catch Neela but the little kitten wasn't easy to catch.

Shivansh stopped smiling and his cheeks heated up when he started gawking at Niyati's plump lips. He gulped down his saliva nervously when she pouted cutely. She was making a lot of cute and funny expressions which were making Shivansh's condition hard. Those previous emotions started clouding his mind and he strode over her nervously. He stood right in front of her looking at her with feelings and she grabbed him tightly.

" Gotcha," Niyati said excitedly but her excitement didn't last long when she understood it wasn't Neela whom she touched.

She removed the blindfold and opened her eyes slowly adjusting to the light. She looked frontwards and found Shivansh towering her small frame. She got startled looking at his emotional eyes.

Clearing her throat she asked him," Ummm.... Do you need anything?"

Shivansh wanted to tell her that he needs her. He wanted to voice out loud that he still loves her and want to reconcile their relationship again. He wanted to ask for another chance and promise her that he won't disappoint her this time but he didn't say anything. Because he understands that she won't like it if he asks for another chance. He doesn't want to see hatred in her eyes anymore.

" Today we have an appointment with the doctor about Neela's checkup," Shivansh reminded and Niyati just nodded her head in the positive. The way he stood right in front of her, she thought he would be talking about something else.

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" How is my daughter, doctor?" Niyati asked the doctor who was checking Neela's reports.

The doctor looked up at Niyati and answered smiling," Neela is progressing day by day. The reports are quite positive. I am hopeful that once the surgery is done she will be fine completely."

" Thank you, doctor," Shivansh thanked the doctor and he just hummed.

Then, the doctor told them about the next appointment and they are now ready to leave the doctor's room when the doctor stopped them.

The doctor told Niyati," Ms Niyati, can you go later? I need to talk to you about some matter."

Niyati curled her brows and gave a questioning look to the doctor. Shivansh also did the same wondering why the doctor stopped Niyati particularly.

" Is everything alright, doctor?" Shivansh questioned.

The doctor laughed nervously and replied," Everything is fine. I just needed to talk to Ms Niyati."

Shivansh might have guessed something but still, he told Niyati," I will be waiting for you in the car."

Niyati nodded her head in the positive when Shivansh left the doctor's room. The doctor gestured Niyati to sit in front of him and she obliged him.

" What's the matter, doctor?" Niyati asked curiously.

This time, making her shocked yet confused the doctor asked," What do you think about me, Ms Niyati?"

" Excuse me?" Niyati uttered surprisingly and the doctor bit his tongue. She wasn't understanding his puzzling words.

He said chuckling nervously," I mean to say you know about me? What do you think about me?"

" Of course, I know you. You are Araav Tripathi, one of the best paediatricians and that's why I am consulting you for my daughter," Niyati answered curtly and a smile danced over his lips.

After taking a breath, Araav started saying," Ms Niyati, I know that you and Mr Raichand are divorced. If you are with him right now, it's because of Neela. I know you are single so am I. I am a divorcee too. So, I was thinking if we can get to know each other."

He asked the last part hesitatingly and Niyati was flabbergasted. Her pupils grew bigger and her mouth got wide open. She was speechless.

" I mean I have been noticing you for the last few days and I came to know a lot about you. I was impressed by your personality and intend to know more about you. Of course, if you allow. I am not telling you to accept my proposal right now. I am just requesting you to think about me. Will you go on a date with me? It will be a simple dinner to just talk so that we can get to know more about each other. I know I shouldn't be telling you all this right here but I couldn't control myself from sharing my feelings with you," Araav explained everything having a sigh smile and Niyati was speechless.

On the other hand, Shivansh came to see what's the doctor telling Niyati. He twisted the doorknob but before he could enter the room he eavesdropped their conversation. He clutched the doorknob tightly looking at the doctor with anger and Niyati with too much hurt though she hasn't said anything yet.

He opened his mouth to say something but no word came out of his mouth. Shivansh felt like his heart was sinking and his eyes were getting heavy. He left the doorknob and came out without making any sound.

Resting his back on the nearby wall he supported his body and his right hand went inside his hair automatically. He recalled the memories when Niyati and he were together. He recalled that day when he proposed to her and she accepted him. Recalling those memories his soul screamed inside him, cursed him for destroying his happy married life and for being a fool.

After thinking for some time he murmured," She deserves someone better. Not a coward like me."