"May I come in, Sir?!"

As Annika and Om turned towards the door, the arriver as well as Om and Annika were completely astounded.

"Shivaay . You here?!" Om tried to ask as normally as possible, lest the trustee of the Children's home got suspicious.

"You guys are here?!" He asked simultaneously. Annika just gave a blank expression and did not utter a word.

"Aapko fark padtha hai, Shivaay! This lineage is forever going to matter to you!" The words she had told him long ago echoed in his ears.

"Annika…." He tried to explain, but she just turned back towards the trustee.

"Sir, you could probably give us the details now" she requested, without bothering to respond to Shivaay. The man began referring to the adoption form and verifying details of the same from old records.

"These adoption forms are from this Ashram only. Looks like it has happened more than twenty years ago. But, back then, I was not in charge. Most of the authorities here have also changed. But, there is one person with whom we can try to confirm the authenticity of this. She is an old woman who was working here and still continues to stay here" he explained and the three of them looked on.

"Can we meet her?!" Annika asked anxiously.

"Of course! But, she is too old to walk till here. You may have to go inside to see her" he informed.

"That is okay. We can do that" Annika was too quick to react.

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All the three of them were now on their way towards the old lady's room. Annika had a chain of thoughts running in her mind.

When they were almost close to the destination, she found two kids conversing.

"Didi..this candy is for you" the little girl extended it towards her elder sister and the girl extended her hand to get it. A similar scene from her past played in front of Annika's eyes.

"Jiji..toffee for you and me" said an excited Chutki. But, even before Annika could take it from her little sister's tiny palm, someone snatched it away.

"This is the only thing that was left for undeserving people like you" the arrogant man snapped back angrily. "Go and clean that place!"

"Okay. I will, I will. Please let my Chutki go inside" Annika almost pleaded to the monster man. That was how she referred him!

"Nooo.." A loud voice shifted Annika back to the present from those agonizing thoughts.

"You both are not eating this now. Come have lunch first. And, then I will even give you each another candy also" the lady ordered lovingly to the little kids. Annika was a little convinced now.

"There are no more such people who torture the kids here, Annika. We have only nice, kind people around" Shivaay assured a worried Annika. He very well understood her emotional turmoil.
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They entered into a small room where an old lady with broad spectacles, probably in her late seventies, was seated, and reading a local magazine.

"Kamla Tai" Annika muttered, completely startled on identifying the person in front of her.

Shivaay and Om looked at her quizzically.

"She..she was the one who helped me escape from this place" she replied to no one in particular. Both Shivaay and Om were aware of the fact that Annika had fled from the same Ashram many years ago. Although Annika did not have a very clear memory of her childhood, she knew that Kamla Tai was the only one who gave some love to the kids and treated them well.

"Kamla Ji.. these people have come to meet you" the trustee briefed her on details of the two little girls, namely Annika and Chutki, from his old records, and informed her that the three people had come to enquire about it.

"It happened many years ago. But, the incident is almost clear in front of my eyes. After the fire accident, these two children were here. That man used to torture all these kids. There was this girl who used to be tortured extra just so that she could save her little sister, Chutki from getting hurt. Someone from Uttar Pradesh adopted her. They were ready to adopt her elder sister also. But, that arrogant monster blatantly lied that he had already promised to give her to someone else. Thankfully, I was able to help her escape from this place and also notify all this to Kalyani Oberoi. Only after she intervened, we got some real trustworthy people here" she explained with moist eyes.

"Do you have an idea of where exactly in Uttar Pradesh?" Om asked curiously.

"No Beta. This itself I found as I tried to go inform them about Chutki's sister, but unfortunately could not. They had a train to catch that night" she reasoned.

"Thanks a lot for your help!" Om said generously.

"It is okay, Beta. I just hope wherever the two girls are now, they are happy. After losing their parents at such a young age and living a torturous life here, they deserve a lot of happiness" she wished wholeheartedly.

"Your wishes will be with them forever. Don't worry" Shivaay promised her indirectly.
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Annika still had conflicting thoughts about whatever happened, as the three of them walked outside. So, her Chutki was adopted by someone from Uttar Pradesh. But, what was the assurance that Gauri from Bareilly was her Chutki?! Were the papers enough to prove the fact? She was still unsure.

Being totally thoughtful, she did not notice the flower pot placed on her path, when she accidentally slipped over it and fell down.

"Didi. You okay?!" The elder one of the two little kids, whom she had seen sometime back, came rushing towards her.

"Juhi. See I asked you to place this in the corner. You placed it here and Didi got hurt. Say sorry to her" she instructed her little sister.

"Sorry Didi" the girl apologized. Annika admired the two of them, kissed them both of their foreheads and extended a bar chocolate towards them. She always carried chocolates in her handbag.

"Both of you study well and achieve lot of things" she told and they nodded after which they ran back inside. Smiling, she got up when she felt a sharp pain near her elbow.

"Annika, you okay?!" Shivaay came rushing towards her. "Khoon hai, Annika. Let us .let me bring the first aid kit" he stuttered incoherently.

Annika kept looking at the blood that oozed out, when something clicked in her mind.

"Om. Let us go to the hospital now, immediately" she commanded leaving Om puzzled. His Bhabhi wanted to go to the hospital for such a small injury?! So unlike her.

"Remember we need to collect Gauri's reports" she stated immediately. "And, yes I am coming with you, in your vehicle" she said sternly and quickly proceeded towards his car.

Om chuckled looking at Shivaay's state.
"Try harder boss" he teased and left quickly, to avoid receiving some strong glares from Annika.
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As soon as they reached the lab, Annika was the first to speak up.

"The person who took the blood samples that day is here?! You remember her?!" She questioned Om.

Om tried to recollect the girl's name.

"Excuse me, the girl with curly hair and glasses, is she here?!" He asked another person who walked out of the lab.

"Oh, Rina. She has gone for lunch, sir. She would be back anytime" the girl smiled. Shivaay looked on curiously, not getting head or tail of whatever was happening.

"I want to get a blood test done, Om. Before that, I want to know if they still have Gauri's samples. We could get a DNA test done" she said thoughtfully. A smile formed on Shivaay's and Om's face at her presence of mind.
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"Hello. Heard someone was looking for me?!" A girl who walked towards them asked with a charming smile. Om identified her as Rina.

"Oh, two days back only?! I am sure I will have it here itself. Let me check quickly and get back to you. We can then get your blood work done too" she assured, after Om explained about Annika's idea to her.
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"I am scared, Shivaay" said a devastated Annika after few minutes. That was the first thing she spoke to him after so long.

"Everything will be fine, Annika. Do you realize we are just a step away from confirming things?! You have to be confident too, just like we both are already" he encouraged her and she nodded faintly holding on to his palm tightly. Om smiled looking at them. They loved and supported each other way too much! Gauri and he still had a long way to go in that aspect.

"Bhabhi.. remember when we all do things together, we end up being successful?! So, don't worry, Bhabhi" Om assured from his end and Annika nodded in agreement.
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"The sample is there. Shall we get your tests done now?!" Rina asked, as she walked out of the room.

"Yeah sure. When would I get the reports?!" Annika was way too impatient.

"Three days. Minimum two days. I can probably call and tell you once the report is ready" she suggested. Although Annika was too restless, she had no option but to wait.
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Gauri got up after a good sleep only to realize Om was not around. She recalled him saying he would submit her documents and also had to visit his gallery.

Her thoughts gradually shifted to about five days ago when there was a Rakshabandhan celebration at home. The Oberoi siblings were so happy enjoying the day with each other. Ever since, Gauri was frequently getting reminded of her sister, the only person she had to call her own.

She had no idea where her sister was now, but every other time this function came, she reminisced their moment where they had vowed to be there for each other throughout their lives. She knew they were too small for such promises, yet could not stop thinking of her.

"Jiji. I hope you are happy wherever you are! How I wish I could meet you atleast once?! You have been on my thoughts since almost a week. I love you a lot, Jiji. Your chutki loves you a lot" she thought as tear drops trickled down her cheek.

She had been completely off mood from after the function. In spite of everyone asking her about it, she chose to remain mum. She knew Om would have guessed the reason by now. If not, why would he ask Rudy to take her for an ice-cream treat when it was raining, just so that her mood changed?!

That was when she recollected something.

"Bhojai had asked me for pakoras that day. And, this stupid fever ruined everything..Now, Omkara ji is also not here. Let me quickly make it. Patha nahi kyun. I am never able to refuse to anything Bhojai asks me. She fills that void whenever I miss my Jiji. I feel this strong connection with her" she thought smiling.
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"Oh my maata, Gauri..what are you upto?!" Asked a petrified Pinky as she entered the kitchen.

"Woh choti maa ji. I am feeling so bored to sit simply. See, I am absolutely normal now. Thought of making pakoras for Bhojai. Remember she asked the other day" she exclaimed.

"Haa haa. And you ended up with viral fever after getting drenched in the rain" she reminded her.

"But, now I am fine Choti maa ji" she pouted sadly.

"Thik hai. Let me help you. She likes it spicy na?! I asked Annika that day. But, she said she would eat only after you are completely alright." Pinky informed and Gauri's heart warmed at that.

"If only Annika Bhojai is my real sister, how nice it would be?!" She thought to herself as she and Pinky began getting the ingredients ready.

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Okay, again stopping it here just to match the word count with the previous chapter.
This Shot will end in the next chapter..
Probably after that will combine and make it 'Two Shots' 🤔 let's see!

So, arshi-suchi here is the next part! Wish you a belated happy bday once again 🎈🥳

And, to all others reading, do leave your comments ❤️

What do you think is going to happen now?!

Will the reports come out as expected?! Or, there is a twist/shock awaiting Annika and Gauri?