Anika: Pinky Aunti, Dadi Ji? Yeh kya hai?
(Pinky Aunti? Dadi? What is this?)

Pinky: dahi-cheeni
(Sugar and yogurt)

Anika glanced at them, confused.

Anika: kyu?
(Why?)

Dadi: aaj pehla din hai office mein, naa? Toh isi liye har shubh kaam se pehle, dahi cheeni kaana banta
(Today is the first day in office, right? So that's why before an auspicious work, we make them eat sugar and yogurt)

The spoon was forwarded to her mouth and Anika smiled whilst eating it. She took blessing from the two ladies before adjusting the bag on her shoulder.

Anika: mujhe jaana padega
(I have to go now)

Dadi: theek hai puttar
(Okay puttar)

Unfortunately at this time, Shivaay was striding out of the house all decked up in his usual 3-piece suit.

Dadi: Billu

Anika turned back to face him and let out a chuckle. Oh how that name brings laughter upon her. Disregarding the 'Bhaaiya' part of the name, Anika found it extremely amusing and couldn't help herself when she heard it. Suddenly the incidents of the previous day dawned upon her, making her realise the awkwardness thay grew between them.

Shivaay: ji Dadi, Mom?
(Yes Dadi, Mom?)

Taking steps towards them he noticed the additional Anika stood with them, which slowed down his pace.

Shivaay: and you

Pinky: Shivaay Anika ko office pe chod do
(Shivaay, leave Anika at the office)

Shivaay: Kya? Mere office mein kya karegi?
(What? What will she do in my office?)

He shared a perplexed expression when turning to his mother.

Dadi: arrey Khoteya, tera office nahi. Mehra Industries
(Hey stupid, not your office. Mehra Industries)

Anika: Aunti kohi baat nahi, mein khud challungi
(Aunti it's okay, I'll make my own way)

Dadi: nahi puttar, Billu chodega aur yeh final hai. Aab jaldi challo, time per paunchna hai.
(No puttar, Billu will drop you and that's that. Now go quickly, you want to reach on time.)

After mentally preparing herself for the torturous and awkward ride ahead, Anika clutched onto her bag and followed Shivaay into the car. He soon began the journey and Anika indicated the directions. It took a second for Shivaay to work out they had reached a hospital, and not an office.

Shivaay: khog gayi kya? Yeh hospital hai, office nahi.
(Did you get lost? This is a hospital, mot an office)

Anika: mein yeh dekh sakti
(I can see this)

She huffed and got out of the car, soon followed by Shivaay.

Shivaay: hum yaha kyu aaye?
(Why are we here?)

Anika: job shuru hone se pehle mujhe Tej Uncle se aashirvad maangna hai
(Before the job begins, I would like to seek blessings from Tej Uncle)

Shivaay smiled on her consideration and antics, before accompanying her to the ward.

Tej: Shivaay, Anika. Andhar aaye
(Shivaay, Anika. Come inside)

Tej caught them as they approached the room. The two were stunned to see Tej on his feet holding the support of Jhanvi and another nurse.

Anika: Uncle aap toh bade rush mein hai yaha se escape karne mein
(Uncle your in a big rush to escape from here)

Tej showed a 'save me' expression to her, making her smile

Jhanvi: tum dono yaha kya kare hai? Anika teri toh naukri aaj shuru hone wali thi, vaha kyu nahi gayi?
(What are you two doing here? Anika your job was going to stars, how come you didn't go there?)

Shivaay: actually she was adamant on taking blessings from Bade Papa

Anika smiled innocently and bent down to touch his feet. Tej helplessly looked at Jhanvi and indicated her to make Anika stand up.

Tej: aab mere haathon se mein tujhe rok nahi paara, iska faida maat uthao beti
(Today I'm unable to stop you with my hands, don't take advantage of this)

The room was filled with giggles and Shivaay also greeted them.

Shivaay: hume chalna hoga. Anika ko late nahi hona
(We should go. Anika shouldn't be late)

Anika agreed after seeing the time and bid bye to them. They shortly continued their journey and reached the entrance of the Mehra Industry's office.

Shivaay: Anika before you go I have a gift

Anika: nahi please ek aur tofa nahi
(No please not another gift)

Defensively, Anika's hands stretched towards him, blocking Shivaay from her. This made Shivaay embarrassed, so he thought not to take a long approach, instead handle the matter directly.

Shivaay: not that type

Peeking through her fingers, Anika could make out the phone in his hands, so she moved her hands and looked up to him.

Anika: yeh?
(This?)

Shivaay: mujhe sorry 2 baar bolna hai. Firstly meine tumhara phone thoda. Isi liye meine tumhare liye ek naya wala khareeda. Iss baar direct phone dera hoon, thaaki kohi aur mix up naa ho
(I need to say sorry twice. First I broke your phone. That's why I got you a new one. This time directly a phone I'm giving, so that there's no mix up)

Anika smiled and took the phone from him. She took extreme caution in this process, trying her best to avoid any contact with him. Another shock would be weird and uncalled for.

Shivaay: Meine already SIM card daal diya. Once again sorry, aur voh joh packages badal gaye, sab ek mistake tha
(I have already installed the SIM card in it. Once again Sorry, and that when the packages got exchanged, it was all a mistake)

Anika: thank you so much

Shivaay: anytime

Before she could successfully open the car door, Shivaay added on.

Shivaay: meine apna phone number daal diya usme
(I entered my phone number in that)

Anika: excuse me?

Shivaay: incase kuch ho jaata toh you can give a call. Yaha hum sab per bharosa nahi kar sakte naa?
(Incase something happens then you can give me a call. Here we can't trust everyone, right?)

Anika: samajh gayi, okay bye
(I understood, okay bye)

Once she left for the office, Shivaay slumped back in the drivers seat. Way to go Shivaay. Forget sliding into the Dm's, that's gotten old I guess. Putting your phone number in her phone is the new way. Well, might as well go ask for her hand in marriage.

Focus Shivaay, he told himself after vigorously shaking his head.
A certain ringtone took him out of his little conversation with himself. Seeing the caller ID confused him, but nevertheless he answered.

Shivaay: Anika?

Anika: mein 3rd floor se aapko dekh sakti.
(I can see you from the 3rd floor)

Shivaay quickly turned his head and raised it to see Anika at the window. She waved and he returned the action.

Anika: Meine isi liye call kiya kyuki aapne toh badi lambi line ka traffic jam kadha kar liya. Peeche toh dekhiye
(I called because you have created a long line of a traffic jam behind you. Look back)

Shivaay did as instructed and was alarmed seeing the long line. He also could suddenly here the frustration in the honking sounds made by almost everyone in the line

Shivaay: oh, okay my bad

The 'bye' could wait, first he had to get the angry drivers off his tail, literally.

Shivaay: thanks Anika, have a nice day

Anika: aap bhi
(You too)

As Shivaay disconnected his Bluetooth, Anika cut the call. A faint blush appeared on their cheeks, but may I remind you and emphasis on the word 'faint'.

Shivaay smiled like a mad man to himself as he drove out to his own industries. Anika turned around and continued too walk to her boss's office. Soon she reached and before she could knock, the door opened.

Ishaan: you're 10 minutes....

Anika: late? Ese kese ho sakta? Meine jaan poochker ghar se jaldi nikal gayi taaki mein late nahi hoti, lekin phir bhi....
(Late? How can this be? I intentionally left from home early so that I won't be late, but despite that.....)

The angelic justification voicing out her defence case had come to a halt after seeing the chuckling boss.

Anika: aapko hassi kyu aari hai?
(Why are you laughing?)

Ishaan: your 10 minutes early Anika, early.

Someone must learn how to embarrass themselves from Anika, since so far she has been executing the task so perfectly.

Ishaan: sharminda maat bano, aab jaake kaam per focus karo
(Don't be embarrassed, now go and focus on the work)

Anika: ji Ishaan Sir
(Yes Ishaan Sir)

She walked as fast as her legs could without making it seem as though she was running away. Anika also made sure to close the door behind her so her boss wouldn't see her panicking down the hallway.

A few hours later at the airport, Om and Rudra were waiting for Gauri to arrive. They didn't know how she would react or anything, but their main priority was getting her home. Om was the first one to spot a figure that resembled her, so he thought to find out.

Om: Miss Gauri Trivedi?

Gauri: Mrs

She corrected him, and Om's reaction was hilarious. His eyes widened in shock, as if he'd been decided. Well in a way, he had. Anika never told him about the wedding of her younger sister, why let him get his hopes high?

Rudra: Shaadi ho gayi?
(You've got married?)

Rudra also was a little shocked, but mostly he enjoyed Om's visions and fantasies crushing.

Gauri: dar gaye kya?
(Got scared?)

Om nodded his head in a trance

Gauri: mazak tha, I'm single
(It was a joke, I'm single)

A big sigh of relief, she's still available

Rudra: Anika Didi ne hume bejha, voh busy hai
(Anika Didi sent us, she is busy)

Gauri: mere liye time nahi hai? Mein gharr jaake usse milti
(No time for me? I'll go home and meet her)

Rudra: Gauri Didi, aapke bags mujhe di jiye
(Gauri Didi, you give the bags to me)

Rudra took the two suitcases from her and kept them in the boot of the car. He also opened the door for her and then decided to snap his fingers in Om's face.

Rudra: Om, La La Lands se bhaar aao, aur aab gaadi chalao
(Om, come out of your La La Land and drive the car)

Om: yeh of course, I'll drive for us

Rudra: request nahi tha, order tha
(It wasn't a request, but an order)

Hitting his brother's head, Om took the driver's seat and waited for Rudra. Once they set off, Gauri asked for an introduction

Gauri: aap dono kaun?
(Who are you two?)

Rudra: myself the handsome, the dashing, Rudra Singh Oberoi

He gave her a look in the front mirror before shortly continuing.

Rudra: lekin pyaar se aap mujhe Rudy......
(But with love you can call me Rudy...)

Gauri: aap sab Oberoi's hai? OMG what the hell yaar? Ek mint, aap Anika Di ko kese jaante?
(You are the Oberoi's? OMG what the hell? One minute, how do you know Anika Di?)

Om: voh sab Anika batayegi
(All that, Anika will explain)

Gauri: okay, lekin voh hai kaha?
(Okay, but where is she?)

She asked, after all it had been months since she met her face-to-face.

Rudra: kaam per
(At work)

Gauri: konsa? Restaurant mein yah daycare mein?
(Which one? In the restaurant or in the daycare?)

Rudra: nahi, office mein
(No, in the office)

Gauri: Kya voh vaapis Malhotra company mein join kiya? Meine usse bola ki vaapis uss company mein maat jaana. Ese badtameez insaan ke saath kaam nahi karne dungi mein
(Did she rejoin the Malhotra's company? I told her not to go back to that company. I won't let her work with such an ill-mannered person)

It took time for them to process and take in her words. Did she just say that Anika had three continuous jobs?

Gauri: hum kaha jaare hai?
(Where are we going?)

She was quick to realise that this isn't the same route home as the one she took when coming for holidays.

Om: hum Oberoi Mansion jaare
(We're going to the Oberoi Mansion)

Gauri: kyu?
(Why?)

Om: yeh baate baad mein ho sakte, jab Anika ho. Aab bas ponchne wale hai
(These talks can happen later, when Anika is present. Now were are just about to reach)

It was only a matter of a few more turns before they reached the Mansion. Om opened the door for Gauri as Khannah took the luggage. They went in and discovered Anika alongside Shivaay already waiting there.

Gauri: Di!

She excitedly ran up and jumped in her arms as she hugged her. Anika also reciprocated, but she felt guilty after hiding all the past events from here.

Gauri: kitne saare baate karne aur...... ek minute, Hum yaha kya kare hai? Aur Papa...voh toh nazar hi nahi aare?
(How many things we need to discuss and...... one minute, what are we doing here? And Papa... he's not even in sight?)

Om: Anika aaj office mein pehla din tha, itni jaldi chutti bhi mila?
(Anika today was your first day in office, you got a leave so quickly?)

Anika: mujhe khud nahi pata, Sir ko somehow pata challa ki meri behn aari hai toh usne leave diya
(I myself don't know. Sir some got to know that my sister is coming so he gave a leave)

Om and Rudra immediately glanced at Shivaay, who turned his head just in time. It was obvious that he had a hand in this

Anika: Yeh sab chod, Gauri mujhe kuch important baat karni hai tujhse. Aur please agar ho sake toh mujhe maaf karlo
(Leave all this, Gauri I need to tel you something important. And please, if possible then forgive me also)

Gauri: Di kya hua? Aap mujhe dara rahe
(What happened Di? You're scaring me)

Anika made her sit down, as she was well aware all of this would come as a shock for her. The she carefully explained to her what had happened. How their father passed away and that she had to quit her jobs. She got a new one, however their house was sold in the process of collecting money for their Father's operations. She was sure to include that they did offer to stay in a hostel but due to the family's insistence she got to stay at the Oberoi Mansion.

Gauri: Papa....

Anika: sorry Gauri

They shared a hug as Anika tried to calm her down. Unfortunately Gauri was in no mood to stop crying.

Anika: aaj uska antim sanskaar hai....
(Today we're doing his last rites....)

Her broken voice managed to whisper. No matter how much she wanted to let out her feelings, it seemed as her responsibility to handle her younger sister first. By this point, the Oberoi brothers left them to give a little privacy.
Soon the evening came, and the Oberoi Family accompanied Anika and Gauri for the funeral. Tej also managed to attend, though he was restricted in a wheelchair. Gauri was uncontrollably crying, after all he was the only person Anika and herself had after their Mother passed away months after Gauri's birth.
The rites were soon concluded, and they returned to the Mansion.

Shivaay: Gauri, Priyanka tujhe apna room dikhaoungi, uske saath jao
(Gauri, Priyanka will show you to your room, go with her)

Gauri: Di?

Shivaay: voh kuch mint mein aayegi
(She'll come in a few minutes)

Priyanka directed her to the room whereas Shivaay bought Anika to his.

Anika: Shivaay....

Shivaay: sit down

Obediently she did as she was told, and was soon joined by Shivaay

Shivaay: aab tu roh sakti
(Now you can cry)

Anika: what?

Shivaay: tujhe pata hai ki mein kya bolra
(You know what I'm saying)

Anika: Lekin aap samjhte nahi, mujhe apni behn ke liye kamzor nahi padna
(But you don't understand, I can't become weak for my sister)

Shivaay understood what she was saying. He wouldn't want to break down in front of his family as well. But he also knew that trapping all the feelings inside isn't good.

Shivaay: dekh Anika. Yeh healthy nahi hai, apne feelings ko andhar rakhna. Kohi nahi hai yaha joh tujhe judge karega, okay?
(Look Anika, this isn't healthy, keeping all of your feelings inside. No one is here to judge you, okay?)

It took a while for Anika to accept her surroundings and finally let it all out. She realised that sometimes it's okay to fall weak. It's not necessary to always be the strong support system.

Shivaay: uss din, jab meine tujhe pehli baar dekha, tere Papa ka death ho gaya. Ek baar bhi tune mourn nahi kiya. Ek aansu thak bhi nahi
(That day, when I saw you for the first time, your father died. Not once did you mourn. Not even a single tear)

It wasn't soon before her tears began to shed tears like a waterfall. In the process of her unleashing the pain, she subconsciously fell onto his chest. The sudden action surprised him but unknowingly his arms also slid around her body, protecting her figure in his embrace. He could barely make out the murmurs that left her mouth, but nevertheless reassured her.

Shivaay: it's okay Anika

Precap: Shivaay Checks in at Anika's office

Shivaay: excuse me, I'm here for Anika Trivedi

Receptionist: aap kaun?

Shivaay: tera baap, aur kaun?

************

Hello 👋

How was the update?

Sorry for the chapter becoming all rona-dona and boring at the end. It was compulsory for the story but I tried not to exaggerate it too much.

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Thank you so much 😊