Hum bikhar gye hai,
Khud se hi bichad gye hai,
Toote toh sauh dafa hai,
Pr iss dafa khud se hi ruthe hai.....

Anika sat on the dining table a little distant from everyone around her, a little wary of all the people who turned her own daughter against her. She couldn't shout or scream right now, she couldn't let her secret out neither could she forgive this people, pretending to be her family and snatching away all her happiness. She once did forgive them for every bad thing they had done to her but she can't forgive them for her children's hurt, for snatching away their precious memories from her.

"Where is Anya and Ansh" she asked the uncaring people noticing her children's absence

"Ansh bhai is on shooting and don't know why Anya di hadn't joined yet. She was feeling little low yesterday night" Ritisha informed everyone thoughtfully then looking at everyone's face added "I'll go check on her" in perfect sync with Shivika.

Both the sisters stared at each other for few minutes, not knowing what to do.... each wanting the other to back out but realizing neither of them will retreat. They decided to move towards Anya's room together leaving few more than startled people behind. Not understanding the reason behind the girls sudden mood swings.

Shivika didn't know how Ritisha knew everything about Ansh and Anya?? How come she knew her siblings so much better than her?? How come Anya smiles at her with twinkling eyes and gives her all those unasked but much needed advises?? How come Ansh smiles at her with eyes full of childish glee when he doesnt smile like that towards anyone?? Why couldn't she even talk to her siblings after all that's all she wants to talk to them, to get to know them, to see them smile and laugh. Is it too much to ask??

Ritisha didnt know why Shivika was following her to Anya's room?? She didnt know what was going in the house but from past few days she was getting those creepy vibes. She knew something big is going to happen and that to soon. Is Shivika still angry on Anya and doing all this for revenge?? Her antics already had snatched Anya away from her for so many years and now isn't even letting her spend time with her sister"Ritisha thought throwing an accusing look towards Shivika but didn't let her questions and doubts out. Both the girl's were throwing each other accusing looks when the other wasn't looking. They knocked on the door and then stumbled inside Anya's room together hearing Anya's call for them to enter.

Entering Anya's room the sisters were greeted with a really peculiar scene. Omisha was sleeping on Anya's bed while Anya was trying to dress up a grumpy child and seemed somewhat down with puffy eyes as reddish hues graced her otherwise ivory cheeks and nose. The girls ignored Omisha's presence for the time being and pressed on the more pressing matters.

"You okay, di??" The question escaped both of their lips in sync again as they looked at each other flustered, they couldn't observe Anya's reaction as her back was to them but they weren't happy with their present sync.

"Yeah, I'm fine just caught cold somehow" Anya's answer was nonchalant as always, caring for herself and her health has always been a foreign context to her. She wasn't used to people freaking out over her health, well people who weren't Viaan Kundra who once knew that she had cold and was working and made the silliest excuse to make her rest for the whole week. Who rests for the whole week due to a mild cold??? She mused thoughtfully as simultaneous questions were thrown her way again.

"Did you have medicine??"

"You should rest" the words escaped their lips again simultaneously, both looked at each other a little frustrated not understanding why was the other doing this. They both were stubborn with their eyes set on their sister, both wanted her whole attention on them and both weren't getting what they wanted.

"No, I dont need medicine and I cant rest now with this little one wide awake and ready to play" their was a fond note in Anya's tone even with her visibly tired body language as she cooed at the baby in her arms, trying to grab her face

"Ummm....we will play with her" Shivika suggested clearly noticing the exhaustion in her sister's body language. She knew she won't be left with her sister's precious child, not at all as her sister trusted her even less than as far as she could throw her but still her heart froze when her sister's sharp gaze fell on her. She felt something was slowly dicing her heart in pieces and not at all gently but she was surprised when her sister relented. She couldn't guess why but she was happy, it means her sister trusted her a little and she was ready to throw a party for the whole world over this fact.

"We'll watch over Sisira, don't worry di." Ritisha added her two cents with a wide grin as she looked at the chubby baby giggling right now while grabbing her mother's hair in fist.

"I'll bring your breakfast dii" Shivika informed Anya remembering their real reason of being here after the tired smile Anya flashed their way after Ritisha's reassurance.

"No, I'm not hungry right now" Anya plainly denied Shivika hiding the pain churning in her heart killing her desire to eat and her body craving sleep like a child craves ice cream.

"But di"

"No buts dear, let me sleep...I'm just too tired, I just wanna sleep for sometime...how about you bring me food after my nap" Anya spoke pleasantly pacifying Shivika and Ritisha knowing the protest lingering on their lips, protest that never escaped their lips. Sighing, she gently settled on the bed beside Omisha not letting her movements disturb her sleep.

She noticed Shivika's wide awe filled eyes when Ritisha took Sisira out of her arms and the child didn't like the sudden change of position and whined. She watched the way Shivika's finger traced Sisira's face like she was one of world's wonder and will break under the slightest pressure. She liked they didn't analyze her daughter with the same scrutiny as their so called grand parents did, they didn't treat her daughter like she was some evil soul or result of some sin. She liked how they looked at her with adoration and wonder filled eyes.

"Hmm...one more thing Ritisha if Vi calls tell him I'm asleep but don't mention about the cold. He'll be overbearing then" Anya grumbled out the last part not missing the way both sisters eyes sparkled with mirth and mischief. She didn't really know she was capable of igniting this emotions in any person who wasn't one of her constants but her eyes didnt gave away her surprise and for that she was grateful.

"Sure" Ritisha drawled while Shivika was still too lost in playing with Sisira to give any reply. she couldn't help but smile even though the smile weighed heavily on her face when Sisira squealed happily at Shivika's antics.

"Even my smile feels indebted now" she thought sorrowfully but didn't waver her eyes from where Sisra, Ritisha and Shivika were playing on the carpet. The girls showing an unbelievable understanding the way they worked around Sisira, making sure the super excited crawling and giggling baby didnt harm herself anyway.

"Btw di, what is Omisha doing here" Ritisha questioned as the question was eating her from inside for quite some time not getting why Omisha was sleeping on Anya's bed in Anya's room??

"She was drunk and I didnt know her room" Anya replied nonchalantly, her eyes again their frosty self as both Ritisha and Shivika nodded buying her words, not questioning the absurdity of her words, not telling her Omisha doesn't drink, not telling her Omidha despises drinking but maybe both the girls were as unaware of Omisha's real self and choices as was she of them all. Maybe the white lie really seemed truth to them last night Omisha was drunk in pain and despair and now her heart is drowning in agony and guilt.

But she was grateful, she didn't have to explain more to them.She didnt want to elaborate more on this topic to them. They were still too young for this game no matter what they thought, their expressions and thoughts so easy to read. Their intentions clear to detect and the emotions that clouds them so easily detected.

They were children to her, children she promised to protect and failed so miserably. Now, she can see Shivika's haunting gaze, her gaze lingering on her screaming for help, asking for a hand to pull her out of the darkness surrounding her, pull her out of the pit their so called family pushed her in and she ran away leaving the girl she promised to protect, to fend for herself, leaving her dear sister to fend for herself. How can she be so selfish?? How did she not notice all the dark circles under all their eyes?? How didn't she notice her ill mother?? How didn't she notice the number of medicines lining in her mother's room?? How could she turn so blind to not even know what her mother was suffering from?? What kind of daughter is she?? How didn't she know that her mother could have forgotten everything forever?? How didn't she know her mother was so sick that she could pass away?? How couldn't she see all that?? How did she misunderstand the fear in her mother eyes?? Her mother wasn't afraid of her. She was afraid of hurting her. Her mother had always loved her.

She didn't know whether to scream laughing or crying. She wants to scream her mother loves her and laugh and she also wants to cry at the top of her voice that she failed her parents and siblings. She promised to protect them then how could she leave them like this?? How could she leave them in danger?? Maybe if she was here Omisha didn't have to go through all this alone, Maybe if she was here then they could have somehow turned the tables, maybe them Shivika wouldn't be this lonely soul, distant of everyone, maybe then Ritisha wouldn't be this angry girl, craving attention and love, maybe then something would have been different, maybe then Omisha wouldn't be this broken and suicidal, maybe then each night Omisha wouldn't have bleed a little out of agony, despair and devastation.

Their are so many maybe's, so many what if's in her mind but she knows she can't turn back time. Every maybe or if, is just her wistful thinking. She can't do anything, she cant even scream and cry again. Even after crying the whole night, her heart still feels so heavy like it has absorbed all the sorrow of the Pacific Ocean and not enough liquified sorrow had escaped through her eyes but she can't cry now. No, she can't cry not in front of the girls she promised to protect and forsake in middle. She is renewing those promises. She and Omisha know who one of the true enemy is,they know what they had planned and she'll do anything and everything in her power to make sure that never take place. She'll talk to Shivika and know the reason of the haunted look. She'll make Ritisha feel loved and she is just so tired now but she doesn't want to sleep. She want to listen to the giggles, laughs, squeals and babbled echoing in the room. She wants to hear the lost laughter of the daughters of this house but she is oh so tired, tired of everything and she wants to sleep, sleep in an eternal non disturbing sleep. She is just so tired of all these googlies of life.

She doesn't know why Viaan's uncontained laughter echoes in her mind or why his words play in her mind like a soothing lullaby "I'll love you until the stars go out and the tides no longer turns." The most chaotic person in the whole universe fills her heart with peace and acceptance. No matter which way the world turns she'll always have Viaan by her side and if she believes Omisha then she too but she isn't yet quite ready to give back her heart to the girl. She knows how much the broken pieces pains. She'll save her and see whether she truly means what she says as actions speaks louder than words but she wont provide then with her heart just yet. She cant trust anyone with her heart but the person who mended them with the pieces of his own heart.

"He is mine and I'm his" her heart whispered as Viaan face full of childish glee flashed before her eyes and sweet slumber took her under his wings.

Omisha felt so refreshed and relaxed and she didnt know why?? She never feels this well rested like ever. So what happened today and why her dreams were full of Anya consoling and reassuring her?? She didn't know what to think but the weight on her legs forced her to open her eyes. She didnt even in her wildest dreams imagine to open her eyes to come face to face with a baby's face inches away from her looking as thoughtful as a baby can. She blinked several times as the baby babbled happily in some gibberish language when her eyes caught the ivory skinned, blue eyed girl sleeping beside her peacefully and suddenly everything made sense to her. She craned her neck to see what was weighing on her feet and to her utter surprise, she found Shivika using her legs as her pillow. The perfect princess Shivika, who cant sleep anywhere beside her luxurious bed was sleeping so peacefully on her legs while her arms were loosely wrapped around a cushion and Ritisha literally on Anya and Shivika, Ritisha's legs lazily thrown over Shivika's legs and her head resting on Anya's torso and arms loosely holding baby Sisra's dress who was sitting between all of them looking around curiously.

"You know what baby, you got the bestest mom in the world. I couldn't save your mom from hurt, I couldn't save her from myself but I promise I won't ever let anyone hurt you,baby. My Anya's heart resides in you and I'll protect you with my whole soul" Omisha whispered to the happy baby who tried to eat the colorful cushions again and again while Omisha tried to do what her sisters failed at, putting the baby back to sleep.

●●●●●

Anika was worried for the girls, it has been hours since the girls went to call Anya and none of them returned yet. Everyone had done their breakfast and were back to their businesses but all she could do was think about her children, her children who grew up before their time and never returned to her.

"Shivaaye, let's go and see what happened. Why they didnt come for breakfast???" A fearful Anika asked her husband who was sitting with her brooding. No, matter how many times she tried to reassure him that it wasn't his fault. He needed to follow badi ma's words nothing changed. Shivaaye blamed himself for everything and she couldn't do anything to change his mind. He loathed himself for everything that went wrong and no one could ever loath someone more than she loaths herself presently. All her children are scattered apart and she cant do anything to help them. No, she can't help them as she doesnt know what troubles them.

She and Shivaaye walked towards Anya's room with heavy hearts. It feels so strange calling her Shivu... Anya but maybe she really had lost her right to call her Shivu, Shivu. After all she had forsaken her daughter and now her daughter doesn't want to do anything with her and life isn't just fair.

She didn't knew entering a room requires this much courage before this. She was really unaware how the stomach churns and heart squeezes with anticipation but getting her nerves under control, ready to face her daughter's justified wrath and cold gazes. She entered her room, her fingers tightly interlocked with her husband's as she entered the guest room, her daughter has claimed as her and was surprised to see the scene before her.

"Badi Ma" she didnt remember ever uttering out these words this harshly but she did now, watching Jhanvi Oberoi in her daughters room, doing something with her daughter's daughter.

"Huh, Anika...Shivaaye" Jhanvi greeted them with the expression of a deer caught in headlights and she couldn't help but feel something just not right was happening in this room

"What are you doing here, Badi Ma" she knew she didn't have any right questioning the elder women in this way but couldn't help, her guts told her she stopped something sinister but she didnt know why her guts were saying this after all what could badi Ma do??

"I was here to check on Anya but found all the girls asleep and this little one wide awake. So, thought to take her out so she wont disturb her mother's and aunts sleep" Badi Ma replied sheepishly and she felt so bad for doubting her but her instincts still screamed something was wrong, highly wrong and she shouldn't let her granddaughter escape her sight so she did just that.

"So thoughtful of you badi ma but Shivaaye and I got it from here" she told her sweetly and watched how she left the room, reluctantly handling Sisira to her.

And for the rest of the morning, she and Shivaaye looked over their daughter and granddaughter with adoring, wonder filled eyes not believing the heart whelming scene in front of them. They were just happy to see the girls in peace.

■■■■■■

Panchi was shivering and sniffling sitting on the bench, frozen in her place by memories and fear. She could still see the blood flying out of Omav's mouth and the blood flowing down Omav's head. She could still hear her screams for help and her dress roughly being teared, teasing for fun. The nails digging on her skin, alcohol reeking in the air along with fear as the end seemed near.

The knife, the belt, the bottle everything was a weapon against them and then their was he Omav Oberoi bleeding in his arms, whispering "I'm sorry....I love you" and she howling like a mad person, begging him to hold on, asking him to jot make her indebted to him and the chill in the morning air slowly creeping in her heart again.

The sudden warm arms wrapping around her, frightened her more as she whimpered in fear,her voice hoarse not letting out any other sound. The warms words drove away the fear, the warm breathing against her shivering form and the heat enveloping her trembling form brought her back to the present. Her present, sitting in the hospital wrapped in Swadhin Raizada's arms praying for Omav Oberoi. She didnt thought this day was possible but here she was wrapped in Swadhin's arms, holding onto him tightly as if to hide in his arms forever as he whispered sweet reassurances in her ears and placed warm kisses on forehead every now and then, her only anchor in an ocean of sorrows, darkness and fear keeping her on the bay.

"Niks,go to Anya" she heard him command Niks, command the boy who looked at Anya like she hunged the moon and stars in the sky to go get Anya. She didn't know why Savvy was calling Anya but she wont deny that she would be more stable with Anya beside her. Viaan's Anya with her even though she loves Swadhin's warm arms around her and can't divert her eyes away from the ward she knows Omav is in.

》¤¤¤¤¤¤¤《

"Is it done??" A lady asked certain easily buyable goons on the call

"No, my lady three guy's came in the path. She would've been finished if that Omav didnt come in between." The good answered back visibly upset with the intervention.

"What, how is Omav???" The lady asked with desperation in her voice

"Dont know, maybe in a hospital" the goon replied nonchalantly

"Listen carefully if anything happened to my Omav na then you would wish you were never born" the lady threatened in anger before disconnecting the call.

Screaming in rage and raw fury "Omav is injured because of Panchi" the women thought burning with fury

"Panchi, will feel my wrath soon and her so called massi will be helpless. I'll not let my mistakes repeat" the women thought viciously

To be continued