Chapter 10
Gauri slowly opened her eyes and a startled gasp came out because one of the Oberoi brothers was peering at her from close range. She thought he must the middle one Omkara. He was looking at her with concern in his eyes. Embarrassed by the uncharacteristic fainting spell she looked away and asked "How long have I been unconscious?
"Just about 10 minutes... You gave us a scare there... Shivaay has gone to try to get hold of a doctor who can treat a doctor and a small smile tugged at his lips at his own joke.
Suddenly the reason for her fainting spell crystallized in her mind and she sat up on the couch with a jerk. Omkara placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, "Easy now, you just woke up from a dead faint and any sudden movements could send you back into a dead faint he said softly.
Steely determination glittered in her eyes "I have never fainted in my life before and don't intend to make a habit of it either... I must go to my jiji. I have been searching for her for 5 years now and now that I have found her, I don't intend to waste a minute of it lying around.
Taken aback by the hostility he could sense in Gauri, Om was pondering what to say when Shivaay materialized at his shoulder with a doctor in tow.
Gauri glared at Shivaay before gritting out, "I do not need a doctor. I am fine now. I want to meet my Jiji now. Now it was Shivaay's turn to frown at the hostility radiating from Gauri. Quietly speaking to the Doctor, he sent him on his way before turning to look at Om with a questioning look. Om shrugged, he had no idea why Gauri's hackles were raised.
Finding nothing in Om's eyes to suggest he had done anything to antagonize Dr Gauri, Shivaay narrowed his eyes in a look that he had perfected to send his opponents to their knees and stared at Dr Gauri.
Usually a single look sent most grown men packing but Dr Gauri stared back at him with defiance in her eyes. He was surprised, his glare did not seem to frighten her. A sense of dj vu engulfed him. He had seen that same look on Annika's face. The two sisters were like peas in pod when it came to open defiance. Granted the shape of their eyes and facial features were different but the body language and fire in their eyes was the same.
While he had been waiting for the Doctor to arrive for Gauri, he had done an internet search on her and been thoroughly impressed by what he had seen. She was considered to be an extremely bright doctor and had rave reviews from her colleagues and seniors in the field.
She had been double promoted thrice in school for exceptional academics and been accepted into the prestigious AIIMS internship program by the time she was just 17 years old, a first for any aspiring female doctor. Having gotten her MD degree just couple of months ago, Gauri was slated to fly to John Hopkins University in USA in a month to complete her fellowship on a full scholarship and join the Hospital thereafter as full time practitioner.
His thoughts were interrupted by Gauri clambering off of the couch and standing up. Om tried say something, but she quieted him with her right hand palm up in the universal symbol of stop.
"I have been looking for my Jiji for the past 8 years with no luck, so I would appreciate if you guys moved out of way so that I can go to her. I also need to make arrangements for both of us to leave this place at the earliest so please tell me where you kept my bag so that I can get my phone.
Shivaay felt the blow all the way to his toes. He had not expected this, Gauri was wanting to take Annika away. His heart rebelled at the thought of Annika away from his line of sight, "but... but... why? You have just found her and in her delicate state its better she stays here... This farmhouse has all the comforts she needs.
Gauri narrowed her eyes and glared at him, "Mr. Oberoi you maybe able to provide all the material comforts in the world but she is my sister. I watched the video of how you coerced her into marriage. Now that I know she is my long lost sister, do you think I will let her anywhere near a person like you? I will not be able to live with myself knowing that I left her at your mercy even after knowing who she is to me. As it is, when she recovers her memories and recalls what you have done to her she will want nothing to do with you... flicking her long hair over her shoulder Gauri darted around Shivaay and headed up the stairs to Annika's room.
Unable to answer and feeling sick because of the truth in Gauri's words Shivaay watched her leave. Om was starting to follow Gauri when Khanna appeared as if by magic, "Sirji, there are 5-6 police in the main hall asking to meet you right away.
On unsteady legs Shivaay turned around and Om followed him. Police at this location in the middle of the day was not a good sign.
When he reached the hall, Shivaay was surprised to find a tall, young woman in full police uniform standing in front of 5 policemen. She removed her police cap as soon as she saw him and introduced herself "Mr Oberoi, my name is ACP Bhavya Pratap Rathod. Do you have a minute?
Gesturing for her to take a seat Shivaay and Om sank down into the opposite couch. "I am sorry to say Mr Oberoi that Daksh Khurana has escaped from jail.
Tension thick enough to cut with a knife descended. Both Shivaay and Om gasped and looked at each other. This was not good. Trembling as the implications started hitting him, Shivaay croaked, "how... when??? and then in a much stronger voice "God dammit can't your department get one thing right?? He is a killer and you are saying he is OUT THERE SCOT FREE???"
Affronted by Shivaay's irate tone, the ACP replied sternly, "We have already apprehended the accomplice who helped him escape. The reason why I came here is because Commissioner Kadam asked me to personally oversee the case and provide you with protection.
"Protection?? For us?? Why? Om asked perplexed. One of the policemen handed the ACP an envelope and she opened it and took out photographs and handed them to Om and Shivaay.
At first, Shivaay was not able to make out what was special about the photos. They were black and white and grainy and he was just about to ask the ACP what was in them when Om gasped again. With trembling fingers he turned to Shivaay and pointed out something he had missed earlier. The photos were of a brick wall and scratched into the wall was the unmistakable message "ANNIKA MUST DIE, "DESTROY THE OBEROIS.
Shivaay felt the blood leave his face. His nightmare was not over. The worst was yet to come. Daksh was coming for Annika and his family.
Clearing her throat to get the attention of the shell shocked Oberoi brothers the ACP said, "I have already posted 6 policemen outside the Oberoi mansion and the ones with me here, are for this farmhouse's protection. I know you have your own security team but I want to capture Mr Khurrana alive, so that he can face justice. I know how dangerous he is so I will also be in residence here to keep an eye on things. Hope you won't mind the team's presence in this house? We will be as unobtrusive as we can. We will be dressed as your staff so that there is no suspicion.
"So you are sure he is going to come here? questioned Om.
The ACP looked at him with a clear gaze. "I have been dealing with criminals for a number of years now Mr Oberoi. People like Daksh Khurrana live for revenge and don't care about the cost to themselves or to others around them. I believe he will come here to complete his revenge. She turned to Shivaay and said "I have been following your case and Daksh believes you have insulted and demeaned him by stealing the love of his life and fiance. Startled by her knowledge of Daksh's motives Shivaay looked at her questioningly. "I read his case file and confession before coming here. He is a classic sociopath.
Trying to absorb the magnitude of the danger hovering over Annika and his family Shivaay sat still, paralyzed by his inability to think or come up with a plan. His defenses were crumbling against the repeated blows from fate.
Into the tangibly tense atmosphere walked Dr Gauri who had found her bag and was on the phone speaking to someone, "Yes, please find a home nurse for a month who has a lot of experience and a lot of patience. The patient is someone who is grown up but has the mind of a 7 year old. Switching the phone off she looked up to see a bunch of people staring at her with various degrees of consternation on their faces.
Shivaay spoke up, "Annika isn't going anywhere and the command in his voice had Gauri's temper flare.
"I am going to take my Jiji with me and you can't stop me.
Trying to defuse the volatile situation, Om used his calm and reasoning voice "Dr Gauri, this is ACP Bhavya Pratap Rathore. Daksh Khurrana, the man who shot Annika has escaped from jail and the police think he is headed this way. If you take Annika with you they will have a hard time trying to protect her.
The gravity of the situation struck Gauri and she slumped into the couch behind her. "Why? What did my Jiji ever do to this man that he is bent on taking her life? No one answered her question but Gauri noticed that Om briefly looked at Shivaay and then Mr Oberoi looked away with a guilt ridden face. She was sure he had something to do with it.
"I agree with what Mr Omkara just said. Anyone related to the Oberoi family or Ms Annika is in danger. You called Ms Annika, jiji right Dr Gauri? If so I am afraid even you need to stay here so that we can protect you. Daksh Khurrana is a sociopath and won't hesitate to use you to get to the Oberois.
"I am going to have to call in at the hospital and take emergency leave. I cannot and will not leave my Jiji here with the Oberois, she said with loathing. Flinching from the venom in her voice both Shivaay and Omkara looked down.
"That's settled then. Mr Oberoi could you instruct your security to help us understand the layout of this house and also help us integrate in with the staff? I would like to get to work right away.
Shivaay nodded to Khanna who had been a silent witness to the conversation so far. He left with the policemen and the ACP in tow. A heavy silence descended in the hall with Gauri still continuing to glare at Shivaay and Omkara.
Sighing because he did not see anyway out of this mess until Daksh was back behind bars, Shivaay decided to try to extend an olive branch to Gauri.
"Dr Gauri, all of us going to be stuck here for sometime till the madman is behind bars. I know I have done unforgivable things and I am more sorry than you could guess about how I have treated Annika. I wish I could turn back time and undo all the damage but as you know that is impossible. Can we not try atleast for Annika's sake to coexist till the danger is over? I have promised myself that I will do everything and anything in my power to right all the wrongs. After getting her memories back if Annika chooses not to forgive me then I will accept her decision.
Not waiting for Gauri's response, Shivaay walked out, it had been a long day and he needed to regroup and use his razor sharp intelligence to come up with a plan to defeat Daksh.
Dr Gauri's mouth was partially open in shock and Om almost smiled at the comic picture she made.
"I don't understand him...
"I don't think anyone other than Annika understands him, added Om.
A doubtful look crossed Gauri's face at that. "You can doubt me but you have not seen what I have seen. These two are like magnets. They share common traits that frustrate each other but those same traits attract them to each other so much that it requires great force to separate them.
Omkara proceeded to tell Gauri about how Shivaay and Annika had first met and then all of subsequent meetings that had led to the growing bond between them uptil the point of Annika coming to Shivaay's rescue in the courthouse. He purposefully left out the Daksh engagement episode and the vile accusations against Annika because he was sure she would take offense again and the hard won truce would be lost.
At the end of story Gauri whispered, "If this is not love, then what is it? Om responded, "In my Dadi's language "takkar ki ishqbaazi but personally I think it's much more than that... They are soulmates.
2 days later:
Shivaay was ready to tear his hair out. Between Annika and Rudy they had managed to drive away four home nurses in 2 days. Annika had an aversion to being told to do things such as eat, rest and listen to others. She followed her own rules - laughed or cried when she wanted to, displayed the most stubborn pig pigheadedness when it came to food by refusing to eat any of the healthy food he prepared with great care and going for the spicy, oily stuff.
One time he had actually caught Annika and Rudy before they had tried to ride the banister down to the hall! Shudders still wracked his frame when he thought of how close of call it had been. That still didn't count for all the pranks they had pulled on the home nurses including leaving multiple rubber snakes on the nurse's clothes or littering the floor with talcum powder to make the nurse slip and fall or painting a mustache and beard with non-erasable markers on the third nurse's face while she had been sleeping. Rudy had also tried to hit up the fourth nurse who had been young and comely and she had run away because she already had a jealous boyfriend.
He had taken to feeding A nnikahimself because when it came to Prinku, Rudy, Om or Gauri, they allowed her to eat whatever she wanted. It seemed only he was immune to her pouts and big fat fake tears and could force her to eat healthy food.
Annika had taken to the news that Gauri was her "chutki like a duck to water, with wide arms, big grins and squeals of delight. Gauri and Annika now shared the same room so he was reassured that Annika would be cared for at night even if there was a nightmare. He had taken the room next door just in case he was needed, but that opportunity had not come so far.
He also hadn't had a chance to talk to Gauri in any depth on whether she had an idea where their parents were or how Gauri had become a doctor after being adopted. That was something he hoped Gauri would confide once the awkward truce that existed between him and her became permanent.
He had come to dread the daytimes because it seemed as if Annika had made it her personal mission to irritate him. He was struggling with juggling all the work piling up in the office while trying to keep Annika out of mischief. She had found new ways to torment him by hiding his laptop, finding ways to ruffle his neatly groomed hair, doodling on his custom expensive white shirt with bright fluorescent pink paint and so on.
When he yelled or shouted she smiled sweetly at him before prancing off to the next mischief and he would be left to deal with the glares from Om, Rudy, Prinku and Gauri who seemed to follow her around all the time like bodyguards.
He was rubbing his forehead looking at the latest shareholder report for Oberoi industries when he became aware that Annika was in the room. Looking up he found her eyeing the papers in his hand as if they were Christmas presents she wanted to open and instantly became wary. "SSO it's raining outside...
"So?
"There is a puddle of water outside and I want to make paper boats.
"Go talk to Khanna and he can give you as many papers as you want but don't go out in the rain. You will fall sick.
"Khannaji has gone to the market and I wanted printed papers not plain papers.
Saying so she moved forward and snatched the papers from Shivaay's hands. Frustrated Shivaay started yelling, "Annika, give me those papers NOW!
Instead of being frightened by his glare and thunderous voice Annika smiled at Shivaay "I got what I wanted, your eyes have changed to blue just like the sky.
Then she handed him back the papers and said, "You know blue is my favorite color? before frowning. Then in a self-contemplative voice "But there is one thing I don't understand...Why does my heart race when you are around? Why do I like fighting with you so that your eyes change to blue?
Tapping her finger against the corner of her lip, she turned and left the room still looking for the answers to her questions, leaving a dumbstruck Shivaay whose eyes turned an intense cerulean blue.
Precap: "Remember me Annika??
"We need to wait, that's the only thing we can do.
Edited by vanshika56 - 7 years ago
Cricket
Current Affairs
Udne Ki Aasha
