Ladies, I tried to end this series with Drabble 5, but I got many (sweet!) requests to continue this as we deal with the Shitia show onscreen. So, I thought--we have all been waiting for a crazily jealous Shivaay, and a (non crazy) man's entry into poor Anika's life for so long! So two birds, one stone--aap sab ka liye kuch aur stories, aur giving that arrogant hero of ours a little bit of competition, khud ki bichai hui jaal mei hi fasakar! Enjoy!
DRABBLE 6A: YOU WON'T TELL ANYONE ABOUT SHIVAAY
"For God's sake, Jimmy!!! Go tell Badi Papa to get to the living room immediately! I have to change out of these casuals first!! I'll get there in 10 minutes, but we can't have Ratan Tata waiting by himself, this is the first time he's come to Oberoi Mansion, we have to entertain... Go!" As he dashed to the wardrobe to grab a blazer, Shivaay was irritated to see that the house butler was still standing there, wringing his hands."But Sir.." stammered Jimmy.."He said he isn't here to meet you, or Tej and Shakti Sir. I have already served drinks and snacks. He said he's here to meet Anika Maam, and he's brought his son Mr Naval Raj Tata along with him. And she is already there, sitting with them, downstairs. He has been here for half an hour already, he insisted that I get Anika Maam first. I just came by to let you know as well, since he is..well... RATAN TATA..."
By the time Shivaay reached the living room, Tej and Shakti had already come in, to meet their illustrious guest and to figure out what the hell was happening. This man controlled one of the largest empires of the past 4 generations, and the Oberois were in competition with them for the title of the "First Family of India Inc." So, it can be assumed that Tata presence at the Oberoi mansion was a shocking thing in itself. There was no such thing as dropping into each other's houses for tea between families of such high stature. The fact that Ratan Tata had come without ten different phone calls between their staff and maneuvering between their rival offices-- that itself was an event without precedent. But to come here...for HER?
Shivaay was the new generation's hope of the Oberois, already proved to be a businessman without precedent.Within the past four generations of both rival companies, no side had created a man who combined pride, sheer ruthlessness, intellect and icy control like the Oberois had managed to do, in Shivaay Singh Oberoi. So Shivaay should have been doing what Tej and Shakti were doing-- trying to find out, discreetly, what the hell had brought Ratan Tata to their house. And-- how could they profit from their rival's sudden appearance. But what Shivaay Singh Oberoi, their stony, unemotional scion did now was even more unprecedented than this odd, unplanned meeting.
Because after coming down the stairs, a predatory smile on his face, after sauntering over to the guests, he was just greeting Mr Tata and his group of associates when he totally froze. Turning, almost sniffing the air like an animal, Shivaay had slowly swiveled away from the hands outstretched to his. His eyes had sparked into storm cloud grey, a look of absolute rage suffusing his face. And, snarling like a panther in the jungle, the pride of the Oberois had left the staring businessmen, his father and uncle, even Mr. Ratan Tata to stalk over to the far side of the living room. To where Naval Raj Tata, the scion of Tata Sons, was currently holding both of Anika's hands in his, some papers between their palms. Whispering into her ears, as Anika stood, head bent, blushing --- LETTING him.
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"Anika Bhabi...please try and understand. If Shivaay thinks it's a bad idea to agree to this event planning offer from Tata Sons, maybe you should..." Anika's snort of derisive laughter cut Omkara's pleading short.
"Shivaay has nothing to do with this. Woj meri bhalai ke liye mujhe stop nahi karr rahe hai. Woh khud ki koi issue ke liye mujhe rokh raha hai. Naval Raj Tata and his father, Ratan Unclej-ji were at the Midnight Ball. I planned that for your family, tum log ko khud ki family maan kar. But yeh meri rozi-roti ka kaam hai, na? Aur appreciation bhi hua. I am grateful to you all for that, for giving me a chance. Yoh sab log aiyi thi to enjoy the great Oberoi's party. But Om, yeh meri business bhi thi, na? I am very good at what I do. Choti si businesswoman hu, but khuddari, imandari aur mehnat hai mera kaam mei. I just need an opportunity to reach corporate clients, and this is my chance.
If Naval and Uncle-ji want me to plan Tata Group's Annual General Meeting Party, I will do it. I will not let you brother stop me, just because he does not like the way Naval spoke to me. He has no reason to act like how he acted downstairs. Embarrass kar diya. Naval jaise thoda flirting types ko mein bachpan se akele handle kiya hu. And he wasn't being a cheapde. He was putting contract papers in my hand, requesting me to accept them. He was not grabbing my hand mere sath mangni ke liye. Shivaay waha pe aise aya jaise Naval Tata sab ke samne mujhe utake ghar lene wale thi.
Aur Om, ek aur baat. Why do I need your Bhaiya's permission? Bolo? Woh meri pati hai, boss nahi. Aur is Mansion se bahar woh pati bhi nahi hai. I don't have time to argue, it is 10,000 guests, the biggest event in the Indian corporate calendar. I might not have an empire like you, bohut chota aur kaccha khilari hu. But stupid bhi nahi hu. Yeh meri choti event company ke liye big opportunity hai. Meri har loyal vendors aur meri saath kaam karne wale har chote suppliers ka liye opportunity hai, uchai tak pouch ne ka.
No one knows me as anything more than the Oberoi family's resident event planner. Aisa nahi hai they are doing Shivaay or your family a favor by hiring his wife. Om, Rudra, samjao isko. He is saying his wife won't work for his business rival. That I can work for Oberoi Industries exclusively. I can get his contract, he will pay me whatever I want. Yeh insulting hai. Mei koi bacchi nahi hu. Mei ek professional hu, kaam karna aur khuddari se income kamana aate hai, muje. Aur his offer is because of his issues, not because of me.
Yeh log meri kaam se impressed hai. Koi nahi jante, mein kaun hu. Aur why should I work for Oberoi Industries, just because Shivaay Singh Oberoi can't tolerate having his wife work? Kaun sa wife? Tia is Shivaay's official wife, woh kuch kaam-waam nahi karti. Shivaay Singh Oberoi ka image safe hai -- aur menne yeh accept bhi kiya, that Tia will be the official Oberoi bride for a while. Kyu nahi pucha, aur Shivaay bhi mujhe kuch nahi batai. Mein kuch kaha kya, iss bare mein? Nahi na? Koi haq jataya, Shivaay pe, uske naam pe? But I have the right to have my own career. If I can pull this off, I will have my own success, I will be independent. Aage kya hoga, mere sath, yeh kaun jante hai? Lekin agar mei khud ki work pe dhyan du, Sahil aur mein kissi ke liye kabhi bojh nahi banugi."
She turned, ignoring the stone statue currently planted in front of her, fists clenched, an eerily green light emanating from his incandescent eyes. Skirting around her husband, Anika picked up her jhola and reached for her files. Shivaay shifted again, blocking her way, still staring at her, his face frozen into lines of strain and unholy rage. She moved around him again, striding to the door. Om and Rudra both sat on her bed, helplessly watching their Bhabi leave. Shivaay stood where he was, staring ahead, his bloodless, stark white face and clenching and unclenching fists the only outward signs of the raging typhoon inside.
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Rudra and Om got up, and ran out to the landing. Below them, they could hear Anika's footsteps as she clattered down the stairs to the men gathered around the door. They watched as Naval Raj Tata turned to face her, and politely took her files from her. Om and Rudra exchanged glances as they saw the famously handsome, famously charming Naval Tata now smile dazedly down at the beautiful woman standing next to him. Today, even dressed in old jeans and a white top, Anika managed to be more breath-taking than any socialite Naval Raj Tata had ever met--and this was clear from the look of utter fascination on his face. Naval was floating in seventh heaven, and even the scowls on the faces of all the Oberoi men wasn't enough to make him stop smiling.
But Naval was nothing if not a quick worker. Last night, he had asked around, had found out more about the goddess. The details were vague--Dadi's friend's granddaughter. Staying at the Mansion, as the granddaughter of someone who Dadi knew from childhood. Not one of "them,"maybe. But a girl who was under the Oberoi family's protection, treated by them like family. She was fiery, gorgeous, talented as hell, and the most important detail that mattered--unmarried.
Naval's father had not needed any convincing. The Tatas did need someone to handle the upcoming AGM dinner. The fact they had rushed over today, sans appointment, was -- simply everyone at the party last night was going to swarm Anika with event management offers now. It just made sound business sense to go to the Oberois and get her, the very next morning. Naval Raj Tata pointed out this "sound business sense" to his father last night, on the way home from the party, his face a little flushed, his voice a little breathless.
Ratan Tata had chuckled at the usually suave, cool Naval trying to appear casual, then outright laughed at his blushing son's shy grin. He agreed to ambush "Anika beti" and secure her services for Tata. Naval could not believe his luck. The promise of dusky beauty from last night now paled in contrast to the glowing, animated and stormy woman of today. Naval Tata stared discreetly at Anika, and dreamt of a wonderful day of discoveries.
From up here, in her bedroom, Shivaay could hear Tej trying to salvage his nephew's suddenly volatile situation. Tej was insisting that she take one of the Oberoi cars. Anika politely refused. She would take an auto back from the Tata offices. "Your Dadi-ji will worry, Anika. You know you are her responsibility as long as you are staying here. Raat mei akele ana hoga. Maybe you should take Rudra or Om along with you." Shakti said, glancing up at the second flood landing, wondering where the hell his son was. What the hell was happening here? Inside the bedroom, Shivaay felt as if his blood was freezing slowly, every shard piercing his veins. Bleeding him, from inside out. He could not move. He could not stop any of this. He had done this.
"Nahi Shakti Uncle. we will be going to a number of different sites all day, Rudra and Om will be bored. It's no problem, and I can understand your tension. No auto, I will drop her home this evening. Please tell Dadi-ji I will take good care of her friend's grand-daughter. Anika will be fine, and once she has her event plan done, from Tata's side, she will work with me on the project, there will be no issues." Naval Tata's polite response was firm.
There was nothing more to be said. No one knew who Anika really was. The Oberois had chosen not to tell anyone, Shivaay had chosen this for himself. No one could know about Anika, about Shivaay's relationship with her. As far as the world was concerned, she was Dadi's friend's granddaughter, an unmarried, professional event-planner. An ordinary working girl. One could not tell Ratan Tata's son to leave the badi bahu of the Oberois alone. So, the Oberois could only watch as Anika was escorted out of their Mansion, and the entourage drove away. With Shivaay Singh Oberoi's very heart, buckled safely into the front seat of the charming, handsome (and besotted) Naval Raj Tata's Viper 2017.
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