PART 1: THE Anika Shroff
Thirteen years. It had took her thirteen years- thirteen painfully long years to become what she was today. Anika Shroff, that was a name worth mentioning. An epitome of hard work. From Rag to Riches. From the depths of poverty to the heights of prosperity. But she was still rooted to her culture, her traditions.
Anika Shroff had started working at the age of twelve, secretly of course. She was ten when she was adopted by the man she called 'Papa' She knew that he wasn't her Papa. Though she can't remember their faces, she always saw faint images of her parents. Her mom grinned all the time, every single time in her dreams. And echoes. .. echoes that were music to her ears. 'ANNUUU!!!' 'CHUTKI??'
'DIII' 'DAD!' 'MA!'
She woke up in the middle of the night with tears in her eyes. She had flashes of her separation from Chutki at the orphanage. But why didn't she remember anything else? Her foster parents were kudha to her. They used to live in a big mansion with beautiful white roses and a hundred servants until a certain Bua's husband showed his true colours and reduced them to bikhaari in a heart beat. Papa had tried his best to take care of them; himself, his wife, his kid, his widowed Babhi and his newly-divorced sister. He educated his child and did petty jobs. That's when Anika started working part time at a bakery.
Time passed and the debt rose and the parents couldn't take the pain anymore. And then Sahil was born, physically disabled. If operated at infancy, the case would be less complicated. But from where were they supposed to bring five lakhs?
Both the parents were used to the luxurious life and they couldn't cope even after seven years of it. They were depressed and restless.
Her Papa had died of stroke and Momma had suicided. Anika was nineteen then, and Sahil two. They were weak, Bua says. You are dumb, Sahil retorts.
Anika had decided to leave college and work full time. Her Bua agreed but not her Maami. She sold all her gehane, even those of her marriage while Bua held onto hers. Anika and Maami worked while Bua gave excuses of taking care of Sahil. Sundari Dhanush ne Shroff was a selfish being. She held onto her fake relation and hated everyone.
But even though, she tortured her endlessly, Anika still took care of her because she was Sahil's own while Maami and she was no matter what, paraya.
Anika had done law but she never really practiced it. She helped her Maami set her own Event Planner business; Shroff Planners. That was the worn out rope that pulled out of their impasse. From a big bungalow to a chawl, and then to cozy apartment in the outskirts of the large city. With little pollution and shor.'
Bua wasn't impressed by any of it. She treated everyone like dirt. She always told Sahil the story of the hifi life she had led. Many a times, Anika wanted to remind her that she herself was the reason for their condition but she refrained for the sake of peace.
Fast forward and Anika is in charge of the company now. They had two branches, one in Mumbai and the other in Pune. Pune was taken care of by her melodramatic Maami while Mumbai by her. Her lawyer dreams had gone down the gutter years ago and now she was taking online classes for MBA.
And today, she wanted to do nothing but sleep..!
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
CID
