Chapter 2
Jhanvi sat in her favorite spot in the palace, the balcony of the bedroom she had shared with her husband. It had been a long journey to get back here. This view of the palace garden and then the sand dunes beyond the walls always used to give her comfort. But ever since they have been back this view had been taunting her.It has been a month since the auction and they all moved into within a week after it. She inhaled deeply to breathe in the comfort of this air because even though she had finally achieved what she had aimed to when her husband was killed this victory did not give her the contentment she thought it will. This hollowness inside her just refused to go away. She needed her best friend Aruna to be here in her presumptuous good times when she had been her rock in her definite bad times.
Her kids would not be here if it was not for Aruna. In the beginning when she was too busy to make ends meet, put a roof over their heads and food on the table it was Aruna who had given them emotional safety. She was an equal contributor in their success as her. When she had moved to Delhi money was scarce and she was faced with the impossible choice of putting food on the table or sending her kids to school it had been Aruna who had taken that burden off her shoulders and home schooled them. Her kids eat their determination and ruthlessness from her but their humility and humanity comes from Aruna. Jhanvi always said that she was the nature and Aruna was the nature.
Aruna had loved them as her kids. She built on their strengths and worked on their weakness along with giving them a conventional education. Jhanvi still remembered that fateful Christmas. It was after three years they had moved to Delhi.
Aruna had saved for whole year to get gifts for all her six kids. But Jhanvi had insisted that she will buy Annika's gift this Christmas. That girl had a way of sneaking into you heart and she had cleverly taken a corner in Jhanvi's heart. All the kids had gathered in the Bose living room under the tree to receive their gifts.
"Okay now to be fair and decide who will get to open their gift first I have written your names on the paper slips and put them in this bowl, Aruna explained pointing at the bowl on the coffee table, "Dadi will pick up the slip and read the name and that child will come and open their gift, All clear!
Shaurya was the first one to go and had received a video game he had been requesting for 3 months, Omkara went next and to his utter delightment opened a oil paints set, then Rudra got a set of dumbells and Priyanka had received her first sewing machine. Then came Shivaay's turn who was standing next to his mom apart from all the kids with a scowl on his face. He had received his first calculator that day and kids had doubled with laughter to see the happiness on his face.
"A calculator gets a calculator, oh the irony, dear universe! Annika had said making Shivaay scowl a little more but even at that time he was a business man when Annika opened her anklets a minute later he returned that comment with interest, "A cat finally got a bell on her, Oh the justice,Thank you dear universe and walked out of the room smiling like a boss.
Shivaay entered the balcony to see his mother smiling whimsically looking onto the gardens, "That is a smile have not seen on you in a very long time.
Jhanvi turned to see her son standing in the balcony door dressed in one of his master of the universe suits. She gestured to the chair next to her inviting him to sit, "I was remembering the day you got your first calculator.
Shivaay laughed at the memory while sitting down, "You know Ma I still have that calculator Aruna Ma gave me. It travels with me wherever I go as her blessing. He sighed, "I miss them too Ma.
"Then why don't you find them Shivaay,Jhanvi pleaded.
"I have tried Ma. I have been actually trying to find them for last two years to absolute no avail. Don't forget it was Samar Sa who helped them and we both know how good he is. Shivaay replied.
"Maybe you haven't asked the right questions and said the right things Shivaay?Jhanvi said. Samar Singh was nothing if he was not loyal. She would know that better than anyone. There was nothing he would not do for this royal family but he understood something that her son had yet to learn, the power of timing.
And with that great sense of the time man of the conversation Sir Samar Singh ji knocked on the door, a folder in hand asking for permission to come in. "You never have to ask for permission Kaka sa," Shivaay said as Samar Singh walked in.
"In your office, yes I don't need permission but this is my place of duty and honour. Samar Singh replied smiling to Shivaay as he handed a folder to Jhanvi. "I think its time you had this discussion with Shivaay, Rani Sa. Already a lot of royal families have sent their proposals. It will be rude to make them wait any longer. And I think there are some good prospects here that would really suit Shivaay. I have marked them for you in this folder. Jhanvi smiled knowingly at Samar Singh's straight blank face.
Jhanvi silently prayed to the god for strength for what she was about to do. "Shivaay, I think its time you started thinking about marriage. In past two weeks we have received marriage proposals of daughters of various royal and prominent business families.
Marriage. Shivaay felt his mind go numb at his mother's words. Marriage. What in the world, " Marri... Umm..What?...Maarrrige...Mmm Me? Shivaay stuttered not being able form complete words due to utter shock.
"Yes,Shivaay. Marriage. You. Jhanvi repeated emphasizing every single word, " You are the Prince and believe it or not, even in this day and age one of the most prominent duties of a Prince is to marry and produce an heir. Jhanvi handed the folder to Shivaay, "Samar Singh Ji have earmarked some good matches for you, take a look at them and see if you like someone and we will arrange a meeting.
What absolute ridiculeness! Shivaay thought taking the folder from his mother in a daze while looking at Samar Singh, "You earmarked..., Shivaay took a deep breath to maintain his composure as his shock quickly turned into rage, "You earmarked some prospect brides for me?
"Yes Kunwar Sa. There are some really impressive young ladies in that folder that will suit you and this royalty very well. Samar Singh sincerely, not giving Shivaay an inch.
"And what makes you think that you know what suits me? He asked Samar Singh before turning to his mother, "Ma I think you should just concentrate on Priyanka's wedding because I have no intention of marrying anyone of these girls. And I hope this is the last time we are discussing this topic. Shivaay slammed the folder on the table before leaving the room. Had he turned back he would have noticed the cheshire grins on both his mother and Samar Singh ji's face.
"You do have an excellent sense of timing Samar Singh ji.Jhanvi said chuckling.
"Well I was tired of his half hearted methods to find them. Something had to be done. Samar Singh replied.
"Then why don't you just tell us where they are? Jhanvi asked puzzled.
"Because Annika said she will only take my help if I promised never to say anything to your family. It was the only way to keep them safe. I can not break my promise to her but that does not mean that I can not give Kunwar Sa a much needed push. His tardiness when it came to finding them was getting on my nerves. Samar Singh explained.
"Tardiness, now that is a word I thought that will never be associated with my Shivaay. Are you trying to say that Shivaay's effort for them had been half hearted? Jhanvi asked little offended.
"Not half hearted Rani Sa but held back, Samar Singh explained. "There is nothing Kunwar Sa can't achieve if he puts his mind to it. I think he is scared of coming face to face with Annika. I had told Kunwar sa the first time he asked me about them two years ago that I can not give him their location but I will also not stand in his way. He had been so close at times and he had just ignored to act. Samar Singh said, "Something big had happened years ago and I hope for Kunwar sa's sake is not too late to fix things.
On the highway to Airport from Veergarh
BOOM!!!
That evening, 1700 Kms away in Darjeeling,West Bengal, India
"Breaking news, the business magnate and the Royal Prince of Veergarh Shivaay Singh Oberoi had been admitted to the hospital following an attack on his life. His car blew up on the way to airport. No statements have been issued regarding his condition. We will keep you updated as the incidents of this blast keep unfolding. Stay tuned.
Aruna stilled in the process of serving Vinay dinner. There was pin drop silence in the Bose house as the news played on television. And then all their eyes turned to Annika who seemed to have gone white as sheet, her eyes glued to the television.
He was hurt. That was only thought that filled her mind. She felt her body go numb in pain and fear for him. Then she did something she had not done in last eight years, she cursed Shivaay Singh Oberoi for still having her heart even after all the pain he had given her.
Edited by Eternized_Blues - 7 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
