Priyanka was continuously dialling Rudy's number, but in vain. The network was poor in that place as it was little outskirts, and she was not able to reach him. As she still tried, a car came approaching towards them and stopped.

As Harsh was driving back home from the hospital,he saw a car that looked like it was broken down and three or four women were standing there. He stopped his car and walked towards them.

"Any problem?" he asked not looking at specifically anyone.

"Woh bhai sahab.. The car broke down and I am not able to fix it immediately.. These people need to head towards their hotel" The driver came forward and responded.

He saw an old woman, two middle aged women and a young girl like his own Annika.

"Why don't you come in my car? I will drop you wherever you are supposed to go" he immediately volunteered.

"Woh.. it is ok Uncle.. We are waiting for the remaining family members. They were coming in another car" she replied.

"Ohh..But are they yet to come or they already crossed you?" He questioned.

"That I am not sure uncle" she replied doubtfully "I tried calling them.. But, I believe the network is poor here, not able to reach them"

He then remembered that the signals were always poor in that part of the place.

"How long will you wait like this, beta?"

She was looking at him with confusion, as according to her, he was still a random stranger, though he looked trustworthy.

"And what about your daadi.. She will feel tired, hai na? Do one thing.. I will drop you guys at the hotel.. You can try contacting the other people from there.. Or, who knows, they might already be there" he smiled.

"Puttar.. He is right.. We will go and can later contact the others" Daadi said as she walked towards them, thinking she heard a familiar voice, but was unsure where and who it was.

"Haa one more thing.. Should I send a mechanic?" he asked looking at the mechanic.

"No sir.. I will fix it myself.. Just that it will take some more time" the driver assured.

"You people need to take any of the luggages urgently?" he asked the women as they admired his presence of mind.

"Oh yeah.. I will take one of the bags uncle.. Thanks for reminding" Priyanka smiled.

They got into the car and he started driving them towards the hotel. As they were talking random things about the place and how developed it had become over time, he was carefully explaining them all the details, and all their uncertainty about him was getting washed away.

Harsh came to know that they had come over for an important family function, after many years, however, he did not bother to barge them with more details.

As the car drove a little towards the hotel, Priyanka's phone buzzed.

"Oh haan Rudy.. arre, I tried calling you, but.... Is it? How could they say that? Not even one room is available? Oh no.. what do we do now? Did you tell them who we are? Accha, even that did not work? My bad.. Accha ok, I will talk to these people and tell you.. Bye" she hung up the phone.

"Kyaa hua puttar?" Daadi enquired.

"Daadi.. The hotel rooms are booked until afternoon..They were expecting us only this afternoon and so, they are saying they can't do much about it" she explained whatever Rudy just informed.

"Arre.. aise kaise? Did these people tell them that we are the Oberois?" Pinky interrupted.

As Harsh heard the name, he was shocked and he slowed down the vehicle and stopped it in a corner, while the others were perplexed.

"Ji..kyaa hua? Your vehicle also stopped abruptly?" Pinky was perplexed.

"You.. people.. Are.. the Ob--e--rois?" he was shocked was an understatement.

"Ji haan... but, you know us? Oh my maata.. All because of my heera beta.. He has made us so famous?" Pinky overacted.

"No no.. I mean I am not sure who you are talking about.. But, I am.. Well, you are Kalyani Singh Oberoi?" he asked looking at Daadi.

"Yes but..."

"Arree.. Namaste ji.. I am Harsh.. Harsh Vardhan Trivedi" he almost bowed in front of her.

"Really? I just can't believe this" Priyanka and Jhanvi said in unison.

"I am so sorry.. I was so carried away and I did not even bother to ask who you were.. Waise, even when you said the hotel name, I was slightly confused, but this was unexpected.. Anyways, I can help you.. Let me talk to the hotel authorities" he suggested.

"Thank you uncle..." Priyanka said as they continued towards the hotel.

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

Rest of the Oberois were already waiting at the lobby. As these people entered, they told the men about whatever had happened on the way and that they were unable to reach them. They also got introduced to Mr. Trivedi after which Harsh went to speak to the hotel manager.

He came back dejected towards the rest of them.

"Seems there is a political party meeting this morning and those rooms have been booked by the politicians. Arguing with them is not going to be of any help. There are only smaller rooms, which you may not be comfortable with.. Also, they will charge you generously.. But, the rooms are expected to be vacated around 12 noon and looks like they were expecting you towards evening only" he expressed sadly.

"That's actually right.. We had started a little early" Shakti replied.

"Huh.. I have an option, if you guys do not mind.." Harsh said doubtfully looking at them, while they gave him a confused look.

"You can come to my house, relax for a while. I can drop you guys back here, if you do not mind" he again stressed "I don't think it will be comfortable for you to wait at the lobby for that long, that too, with so many of those politicians walking in and around"

Tej thought for a while and then looked towards the other women of his family.

"Maa.. what do you people have to say? I will decide based on that"

"I do not have any problem, if you guys do not have a problem" Daadi said after a little thought.

The Oberoi women had grown very fond of Harsh during the short drive itself, and they anyway had no reluctance.

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

After they all agreed to go to his house, Harsh went and intimated, in fact ordered the hotel manager, that he wanted the rooms ready by the time they had been promised. The rest of them were surprised seeing the manager all sweating and giving in to his demand, just like how people give in to Shivaay. They also realised he had a good respect in the town.

As the Oberois walked out of the hotel, they again split into two groups and got seated in both the cars. Harsh, meanwhile, made a call to Meera, informing her that some people were coming home and he would give further details after reaching.

As he knew it would be difficult for his wife to prepare breakfast for so many people, having informed her about their visit in the last minute, he decided to take them to a decent restaurant on the way. They also politely obliged and went along.

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

Annika was sitting at the dining hall and cutting vegetables. She was very thoughtful and lost in her own world of miseries.

"Annika.. Annika...." her mom was calling her for the tenth or eleventh time from the kitchen.

Not getting any response, she came out to see her daughter lost in thoughts.

"Annika. I have been calling you for the past five minutes" her mom slightly shook her by the shoulder after which she reacted.

"Where are you lost?"

"Woh.. mumma.. Huh.. nothing.. I.. I am sorry mumma" Meera was horrified to see the state of her daughter. She felt guilty as she was in a way responsible for this.

"It's ok Annika.. Listen.. Papa had called.. He said he is bringing some people home, but did not give further details.. You just make sure you bring some extra chairs from the top floor and keep" she commanded.

"Arre bua.. Why am I here? I will bring them..she is busy with something right.." Rohit said as he did not hear the whole thing but the last part of their conversation alone. " And haan.. Good morning" he smiled at them. Annika gave back a faint smile and continued doing her work.

Meera decided that there was only one person who could bring her daughter at least a little back to normal - Chanda.. She decided to call her and ask her to come over to spend some time with Annika.

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

Shivaay had gotten up earlier than usual. He already seemed to miss his family, though he was just out of bed.

He quickly took a shower and did a final check of his emails after which he came down for breakfast. The entire place was empty.

There were indeed days he was away from home, on business trips, but still had never felt so aloof. The hall almost looked eerie and haunted.

The workers had already been given the day off and special arrangements were going to be made for them to travel for Priyanka's wedding.

Shivaay was not in great mood to cook something really nice and delicious. In fact, he just wanted to fill his appetite.His daadi always made sure they all left home only after having atleast one morsel of food, and so he quickly grabbed some pasta and cooked it.. He suddenly got reminded of OmRu and their Obro moments. He smacked himself for acting like they were so far away from each other for such a long time. In spite of the fact that, he would be reaching there in a few more hours.

That was when he remembered that these people had not called back after reaching the hotel. He assumed it was too early and they might not have probably reached yet, and decided to wait for their call.

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

Annika had gone out to water the plants and Meera who went by that side realised that she had mistakenly spilled some water near the entrance. She called Annika and showed it to her who looked at her mom apologetically and then came back inside to take a mop stick to clean the place. Vanitha, who was also witnessing all this, held Meera's hands, as though convincing her that everything would be alright soon.

Sometime later, they heard a car honk and Meera knew already that Harsh was there. She came out when she noticed Annika already walking inside after cleaning the place. As she noticed her mom looking towards the entrance eagerly, she signalled that she would go and check who was outside.

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

Annika saw her dad along with a young girl of her age and an old lady. There were few more people coming behind them.

"Annika.. take them inside beta.. I will bring the remaining people" her dad said noticing his daughter at the entrance.

"Annika?? Really?" Priyanka was so amazed and quickly came towards Annika and side hugged her.

"What a surprise?! I never expected this" she exclaimed.

Annika was confused with her reaction as she had no idea who this girl was but still, she was behaving like Chanda.

"Arre... I am so sorry.. I know you, but you have no idea who I am, hai na? I am Priyanka" she extended her hand towards Annika, while Annika was still blank.

Hearing some familiar voices, Rohit walked outside as he was shocked to see the people standing there.

"Hey....." he said looking at Priyanka.

"Hi..." she waved "SURPRISE" she said as she winked at him.

Annika was still standing there clueless when Rohit noticed her reaction.

"Hahaha. Annika.. Meet Priyanka. My would-be wife" he smiled as he introduced Priyanka to her.

Shock was an understatement for Annika.. So, she was the one. But, she composed herself and tried to behave as normal as possible.

"Hi Priyanka.. Glad to meet you" she forced a smile.

She immediately responded and introduced Annika to Daadi.

"Daadi.. I have told you na.. She is Annika.. You know what I am so so surprised.. I never expected this coming up" she almost jumped.

"By the way, what's with this sudden surprise?" Rohit asked Priyanka.

"So.. you are letting us enter inside only after you are done with your investigation, is it?" She raised her brows at him.

"Arre nahi nahi.. Please come inside" Annika came forward and said.

Priyanka and Daadi just smiled and all the other guys joined them in by then.

They, then explained the entire fiasco to them, while Annika and the other people at home were baffled.

Priyanka and Tej, then thanked Harsh, for providing timely help to them.

Annika was instantly attracted to Priyanka. The girl was quite chirpy and enthusiastic, just like her and no wonder Rohit fell for her. The most attractive thing about her was her ever-smiling face. It was obvious how her friendly nature would have impressed Rohit, when she saw her own mom, who doesn't get along easily with any others, enchanted by her.

It was then Priyanka said that they themselves were still not out of shock that Harsh was Rohit's phupha.

"Rohit has spoken to me a lot about Annika and her family. Well, but Annika was the only one name he has mentioned so many times to me, that I was so excited to meet her here. Not just me Annika, even Om Bhaiyaa and Rudra were so eager to meet you" Priyanka said introducing her brothers to her.

Annika was surprised at the fact that Rohit had mentioned so much about her to his girfriend, that almost her entire family knew her and were in fact, eager to meet her.

"Actually this entire thing was planned by me, Daadi and Rohit's family. Papa, Bade papa and the others don't even have an idea that Rohit has a relative here you know. We had planned to surprise them. You know what all we did, we convinced my family that it is only for Daadi's sake that we were conducting the wedding here" she winked.

"Oh my maata.. But what was the need for this plan? You already gave us so many surprises in last few months Prinku" Pinky said sarcastically while Jhanvi signalled her to keep quiet.

"Surprise was Daadi's plan.. She wanted to know, in fact, confuse papa and bade papa, as to how Rohit or his dad, were so easily convinced to conduct the wedding here, when they have their entire business running out of Mumbai, and also most of their guests belong there" Priyanka added.

"But, destiny never fails to surprise us. In fact, two days back, Daadi was speaking to Harsh uncle, about our mansion and its renovation. But, see here we are, due to the same Harsh uncle and his help. And, to be honest, till I saw you, I had no idea he was your phupha ji..Haa I mean he has hardly shown me any photos or anything of that sort" she blamed about Rohit to the others.

"And, I never knew, Daadi was so reluctant to reveal that, she had plans of conducting the wedding in the ancestral home, which is now under my phupha's control. Haa daadi?I mean that huge mansion is yours? You haven't told us also.. We used to play there when we were young, hai na Annika?" Rohit was surprised.

"That was supposed to be this Daadi's surprise to you and your parents. But, like Priyanka said, life never fails to amaze any of us, hai na? Waise Mai kyaa kahu Puttar.. World is so small" Daadi said while all others managed to smile.

"Daadi.. Din't I tell you, I feel we have a lot of surprises lined up in this place" Om said looking at Daadi and she nodded her head in agreement.

"But, Priyanka beta, I know Rohit and my Bhaiyaa always wanted to get Rohit married here. But, how about you? I mean, these days girls make so many plans about their wedding. Moreover, even your family and business is based out of Mumbai.. I mean I understand Daadi wished for it, but still.." Meera was very curious.

"Aunty.. You know what? I always preferred a simple wedding. I wanted a lot of people in my wedding, my near and dear ones. When Rohit and I fell for each other, I did not even know, how I would convince my family. Forget about having wedding plans and ideas and all. But, god has been very kind to me, aunty." Priyanka said but Meera looked puzzled.

"Then what aunty.. See I am having a destination wedding now" She smiled heartily.

Annika was surprised to see this girl and her family's simplicity. Such a lovable and close-knit family they were. How she had always wished, her family was as big as theirs.

"Waise Kalyani Ma.. you did not introduce the other people to me properly" Meera asked Daadi after serving all of them some sweets and savories, that she had already made.

"Ohh yes yes.." She introduced Tej, Shakti, Pinky and Jhanvi.

"And, this is my grandson, Omkara, and he is the younger one, Rudra"

"Huh?! Omkara Singh Oberoi?" Annika was amazed, while the others turned towards her.

"Ji.. haan" Om responded.

"Really?! I just can't believe this.. You are an artist right?" She exclaimed.

"Yeah.. but.. I mean.. How do you know?"

"Haa that.. Actually we had this fundraising event held in our college last semester.. And, we had a lot of outsiders who had volunteered to help as well, like some independent musicians, businessmen and some artists too. I mean we had some stalls to sell their products and a proportion of the profit would go to charity.. I was one of the volunteers of this particular event, and I have seen a lot of your paintings there. In fact, they fetched a good amount, which we used for funding an orphanage and a school in the same locality..I had heard from our college authorities that you were generous enough to donate that entire amount to charity.. My friends and I were very curious to meet you and in fact, you were the talk of the college for almost a week " She smiled at Om.

"Wow.. so you did your graduation in Delhi? I mean I remember that is where I had given those paintings" he asked.

"Yeah. I did my MBA there"

"Arre waah.. Tej ji.. See our son Omkara is so famous.. And, you always talk to him about business.." Pinky sarcastically said to Tej while he felt little embarrased.

"Yeh ho kyaa raha hai??Ek aur surprise? Oh god!! How is my brain going to handle so many back to back surprises?" Rudy stood amused while Om smacked his arms.

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

Shivaay reached office and arranged the meeting room for the presentation. It was a little later that the delegates arrived and the presentation went much better than Shivaay had expected. He was already happy of what the outcome would be. They said they would get back to him after few more discussions at their head office and finalise other details.

Shivaay was undoubtedly sure they would get this project and was mentally calculating the kind of profits it would fetch them if they were successful.

He checked the time and it was not even noon. He had expected the meeting to be over around lunch and he would start after that. But, now that it was done, he decided to quickly grab some lunch at his office canteen itself and surprise his family by reaching there earlier than they expected.

He called Khanna and asked him to get the chopper ready in an hour, by then, he would be done with lunch.

"Dear Family, here I come to surprise you" he thought to himself.

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

All of them were casually talking for some more time and Annika got quite accustomed to them, specially Rudy and Priyanka.

"It has been so long since we played all this, Annika didi" Rudra pouted sadly while Annika chuckled, they were all playing a game of ludo.

"You guys dont play all this?" She asked with widened eyes.

"Where is the time, Annika? I mean daadi makes sure we spend atleast breakfast and dinner time together..All of us have our own jobs to look after right. The only possible time is weekends, which still depends, as Om Bhaiya's exhibitions happen mostly during weekends" Priyanka pouted.

"Om.. you hold exhibitions too?"

"Haha.. yeah I do Annika" he replied enthusiastically.

Om had asked Annika not to be too formal with him and just call him by name, to which she had accepted on one condition that he should call her the same way too .

The seniors were also sitting and discussing various stuff regarding business and also about the wedding arrangements. Harsh said that the house was almost ready, just some cleaning was pending, and that would be over soon too.

Meera had proposed to prepare lunch for them, while the Oberois politely denied, saying it would be too difficult to cook for so many people. Harsh, then convinced that, he would arrange lunch for all of them from outside, and everyone could rest for a day.

Meera was casually asking what their plan was when they said they would leave to the hotel after lunch.

"Daadi.. woh .. can I say something?" Annika hesitantly asked.

"Haa puttar.. What is it?"

"Woh.. you can stay back right.. I mean our house is big enough too.. If you give me sometime, I can arrange some rooms for all of you. Waise bhi your house will be ready in another two days as papa said. Papa..ask them to stay back na.." she said pouting at her dad.

"I have no problem.. I love Annika Didi's company.. Mai ek dum ready hu" Rudy said and Priyanka joined in too.

"Haa haa.. Mai bhi ready hoon.. Waise bhi i have sooooo much to talk to Annika"

"Arre.. but woh rooms.." Tej and Shakti were little reluctant, while Pinky and Jhanvi were already ready to stay back.

"But woh puttar..." Daadi hesitated.

"Daadi.. Please na.. I love your company.. You guys are really interesting" The others smiled as Annika said that.

In fact, Annika had a little selfish motive in saying so too. She wanted some distraction from her misery and like a blessing in disguise, these people had come home. Though it was just less than three hours since they came and also that Priyanka did remind her of Rohit and her own broken wedding(atleast that was how she considered it) in a way, she had nevertheless grown quite friendly with her too! Rudy and his timely jokes kept her engaged, and if they stayed back, she felt, she could get a little back to normal.

"What Annika is saying is right.. why don't you all stay back?" Meera also took Annika's side after noticing a positive change in her behaviour since afternoon.

"But.. that was not my point. What I am trying to say is..." Daadi hesitantly spoke up when they heard a voice at the entrance

"Hellooo everybody..."

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Helloooo everyone!!!! I know, I know.. I am too late 🤧🤧🤧 Don't get mad at me😳

I am quite busy and hardly get any time to update 😟 That's why gave a relatively longer chapter!!! And, it is not edited too.. I updated so as to not delay any further ☺️!!!

I know this chapter is a filler, but yeah, it was needed, don't you think so!?!

Please read, vote and give me your valuable comments in the comment box below!!
The more you comment, the more I am encouraged to give faster updates 🤧🤧

Now, tell me, will Daadi and others accept to stay back??? And, who do you think has come to Annika's house now???

Ok, this chapter is dedicated to missingmypassion and Priya0706 for their right guess 😉