She is fire and ice
you'll fear the cold and crave the burn

Ishana found her way to the kitchen without coming face to face with any of the Oberoi's and she was grateful for the fact after the girl's emotional outburst. She wasn't ready to meet any of them because she knew, she will snap at them specially if it was Anika around her. Reaching the kitchen she was a confused soul, this isn't her home neither is this her kitchen. She isn't at liberty to cook anything for Anya here and she won't cook here. So, she looked for the kitchen staff and finding one she didn't know what will make Anya feel better, whenever Ansh was upset he preferred chocolate over everything. So, maybe something related to chocolate and something solid too.

"What is for today's dinner??" She asked the female staff with Mala written on her tag

"fried rice, veg kebabs, dum paneer...."

"Leave it, I want a cup of hot chocolate and plate a little bit of everything that's for dinner and give it to me, fast" she ordered her in her bossy detached tone that always labelled her as the haughty heiress.

"Yes, Mam" the girl nodded and began her work while she stood silently in one corner of the kitchen, checking some mails and messages on her phone when someone else entered the kitchen, someone she had avoided for so long and someone she didn't know what to feel for maybe somewhere inside her she is still the girl who just couldn't get over the fact that her boyfriend chose someone else over her. You just can't forget your first love just like that it's always there with you a shadow in the background but first love stays with you forever in your memories, in your thoughts, in the hours of darkness and morning alike. In a corner of your heart they will always remain with the thoughts of what could be and Ishana didn't want to dwell on past anymore.

"you here" the surprise filled tone of Gauri greeted her

"Yeah, thought of taking something for Anya" Ishana replied politely not trying to pick up any fight now

"oh, why won't she eat with us" Gauri asked curiously and all Ishana could think about was Anya's pain filled tone telling her how she only ate with her family when her father was here.

"No, she is quite upset so she will have her dinner in her room" Ishana's tone was still polite but her patience was slowly wearing down, she didn't want to face any Oberoi's after Anya's breakdown and here she was facing the girl who married her love and her temper was flaring slowly the past and present both igniting a fire in her soul. She had always avoided Gauri Oberoi and now here she is facing the women, she never stepped in OM after her rejection and here she is again after so many years all because of her children. Things you do for your children.

"Why as far as I know her boyfriend won the match, why is she upset then" Gauri questioned with the same naive curious tone and she didn't know whether she was acting clueless or they were always really this clueless or it was just she was beginning to be too good in the art of reading people and she didn't like the tone in which she said boyfriend, Viaan was also her son he was the first one to call her choti ma and she won't tolerate anyone using that tone for her son.

"Because of someone's accusing and hurt filled eyes every time she called me Ma" She was done being polite to be truthful and she didn't care what the other person thinks of her as she is sure in OM she will always be the villain, the bad girl and to be truthful she liked being that as now she can be rude as hell.

"Di have every right to be hurt, her own daughter isn't calling her ma and she is calling so to someone else without hesitation" Gauri was quick to jump on defense of her di and Ishana was ready to defend Anya, a war was about to star between them and this time it wasn't for Omkara Singh Oberoi

"Maybe your di, should have acted like her mother than I'm sure she wouldn't have to see this day if she acted even a little as Anya's mother" Ishana snapped back with ice in her eyes, she wasn't the diva the girl who was left for the good girl without any reason, people like to portray her as a villain she the villain she can be now. See how she can insult people without any second thought and walk as she own the damn place as her pride is her crown, her brain is her weapon and her words are the sharpest triggers.

"you don't know anything Mrs Ishana Kapoor, so don't you dare judge Anika di" Their was anger shinning in Gauri's eyes too and Ishana didn't know how could she still defend Anika

"Please enlighten me of the situation then, tell me what made ANIKA such a cold hearted person that she didn't even have time for her own daughter, that she could neglect Anya and not feel any remorse, pray tell me what made it all justifiable" Ishana asked in a scorn filled voice as in her heart nothing justified those actions.

"Mind your tone Mrs Kapoor, you're a guest so I'm being polite and you would do the same if you were in di's place we all were there we saw how the man told them that only one would live, the one who will push the other down will survive and Shivanya had pushed Shivaansh in front of our eyes. Shivanya didn't thought of her brother's life she wanted to save herself and so she pushed her brother down the cliff we have seen that we had just reached the place. Anika di and Shivaaye jiju had seen their son pushed down to his death by their daughter and they were unable to rescue him. We were so close and we couldn't save them what do you think Anika di would do celebrate her son's demise. It would have been different if Anya had survived and didn't push Ansh down the cliff, it would have been diff Anika di would have been grateful but now everytime Anika di see Shivanya see remembers how Shivanya had pushed Ansh down and they never found him. Anika di was grief stricken her own daughter has killed her son and she didn't know what to do. She knew, we all knew how close Anya was to Svetlana and we knew Anya lead Ansh to their, Anya lead Ansh to his demise and how can you think Anika dii look past it all. Do you know everytime Anika looked at Anya she remembers Ansh panic filled eyes as he stumbled down the cliff to be never found again. Every time Anika di sees Anya all she sees was the cliff and Ansh falling down and everyday Anika di was tormented by nightmares of Ansh's dead bodies and yet she tried to be there for Anya. She didn't sent her to boarding school like everyone wanted to do" Gauri spoke in a totally defensive and worshiping tone, a tone that clearly stated for her, her Anika di won't ever be wrong and Ishana only smirked bitterly hearing Gauri's statements.

"And what changed her mind huh when did she started searching desperately for her Little Shivanya huh, What finally made her realize the truth??" Ishana questioned Gauri in a tone totally lacking emotions but their was bitterness in her eyes

"Di and jiju found Svetlana outside a hospital.She told them how that day it was Ansh who went willingly with those men dressed as security guards and Anya followed him not wanting to let him go alone out without anyone in family knowing, Svetlana said she didn't know of that plan as she will never hurt innocent kids for their family's crime. She won't ever hurt kids and she promised Anya she would save them but she could only save Ansh but before Di and jiju could ask her something else. She disappeared from the hospital and they didn't believe her words, they thought she was just trying to save Anya. she didn't want to blame Anya and di couldn't imagine Ansh being alive but then he was and when he narrated the same thing di and jiju were really very heartbroken." Gauri said all this sadly, miserably but Ishana didn't find anything in her to sympathize with the women standing in front of her as the misery in Anya's eyes whenever the escape the veils of her frosty unfeeling orbs were breathtaking and utterly painful while so were Ansh's everytime he woke after nightmares or the first few years with them. Ansh couldn't sleep on the soft mattress, he will sleep on the cold floor and how many days it had taken them to make him sleep on the mattress. How the first few months he couldn't eat anymore that two bites before his stomach ached for overeating. She had seen what pain, misery and helplessness looked like then and she didn't find them much helpless sorry.

"So, did you dear di ever have nightmare of Anya's death while watching Ansh's face. Did your di ever think Anya could be dead the way she left in the night a rich girl and specially Oberoi girl. The whole nation knows how many enemy they had?? Did your di hate you all for how you treated her" Ishana questioned Gauri with a sweet scoffing tone

"why will she hate us??" Gauri questioned not understanding Ishana's logic

"Well for treating her daughter that way, okay maybe she was in grief maybe she saw Ansh's demise every time she saw Anya but what about you all couldn't you care for the innocent girl who lost her twin, couldn't you all show her a little care and hold the frightened girl's hand whose whole world has changed suddenly, couldn't anyone of you just ask her why, did you do that beta in a loving tone? Couldn't you ask her reasons or what she was going through that moment or it was okay she pushed him down because she didn't love him and was selfish enough to kill her own brother to save her skin. so, there is no reason to know her story let's all tell her she was a murderer we all believe it and she should think herself a murdered too and didn't even one of you think the whole experience could be traumatic for her? Did anyone of you ever ask her what kind of language those goons you or what words they use to scare her so much to push her brother down the cliff or do you think one line was enough to do the job? No counselling, no need to know what the girl was feeling or suffering through, you remember your Anika di's nightmares. Do you know what kind of nightmare's might be tormenting the little girl. Now you hear her screams when she didn't need you where were you when she screamed due to nightmares as a little child. You were her massi and chachi, you did have a bigger responsibility couldn't you check what was going on with her or you thought why should I care let her go mad in isolation, I've my healthy twins, my own children to look after if she goes mad it will only profit me my children will become the heir of entire empire and di and jiju won't ever make her heir after all this. Is that what you thought when you also neglected her like everyone around here" Ishana questioned her in a tone full of so much disdain that it shocked Gauri first she couldn't even imagine someone could think something like about her. She never thought anything like that ever. She didn't even know and she was angry and really hurt by Ishana's words

"How dare you say something like that? how could you even think something like that?? Shivanya was like my own daughter to me. I won't ever think of harming her" Gauri denied vehemently with so much anger in her eyes for Ishana. No, doubt her Anika di disliked Ishana, after all how could someone think something like this ever.

"I dare say that because actions speaks louder than words Mrs Gauri Oberoi and look back at your actions and think what did they showcast and like your own daughter Mrs Oberoi not your daughter there is a big difference in there and you already have harmed her all you can." Ishana drawled out with so much intensity and hate in her eyes that Gauri was taken back. 

" and Mala if the plate and drink is ready please give it to me, my daughter will fall asleep otherwise"Ishana said with a sweet smile putting stress on my daughter as she looked in Gauri's eyes and left the kitchen with the food and drink.

....to be continued....

okay, hope you guys enjoy this another back to back update and this one is for you saranyasingaravelu whom I've irritated quite a bit today with my non stop chatter and complains and stupid thoughts and also Princi106 with whom I've discussed history whole day. Hope both of them don't get tired of my vichitra ideas and decision of teasing and chatting with them.