You Before Me ~ From Miss Fernandes to Mrs. Oberoi // Shivika FF

Disclaimer : This story will contain words of different languages especially the words of Konkani (An Indo-European language) though translations will be mentioned.

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" This girl will never let me live in peace. She had to reach school at 10 and it's already quarter to 9. Get out of your bed, Chedi."

Annika whined as her mother's yellings reached her ears which broke her peaceful slumber. " Subhah Subhah shuru hogayi Madonna." Murmuring she got out of her bed and walked into the washroom to freshen up and get ready.

Around 30 minutes later, She walked out of her room all ready for the day dressed in a yellow cotton tunic and green embroidered trousers with a brown tote bag in her hand. Green Meenakari earrings were adorning her ears while her mint kolhapuri chappals made her feet look a little more gorgeous.

She was on the last step of the staircase which led to the living room when she heard her mother yelling out some curses to her from the dining table.
" This girl will make my life an living hell, She is already 30 minutes late but madam is still sleeping chintos hi naah (she is not worried only). She's gonna loose her job if this continues to happen."

She walked towards the dining table to see her family gathered there for breakfast with her mother serving them breakfast but still continuing to curse her while her father and her sisters ignoring her mother's rants and continued to have their breakfast as this wasn't her a new thing, it was their everyday morning routine to hear her mother rant about her or anything else.

Shaking her head in disbelief, she silently walked towards her mother and back hugged her startling her in process. Before her mother could utter anything, Annika forcefully stuffed chappati in her mother's mouth,
" Not-so good morning dad, Ri and
Shaant Lady Mogambo, Shaant. Finally time for you to visit a neuropsychologist has arrived because I think you are suffering from amnesia or else so easily you wouldn't have forgotten that today is Saturday and I have an off today."

" Oh my god, So you mean to says that I have lost my minds ? Chedi, That's how you talk to your mother ? You shameless girls." As soon as she finished munching on the chappatti, Her mother got out of Annika's hold and started hitting her with spatula as well as started reprimanding Annika on her behaviour.

Annika looked towards her father and her sister for an escape but they put their hands up making Annika to huff in anger. " Ouch ! Mama, Stop it. You know what ? It's useless explaining anything to you. Subhah subhah mood kharab kar diya, I can't stand you now even for a minute, I am going out and I'll have my breakfast there only. Byeee Mogambo, Bye Dad, Bye Ri. " Annika quickly caught hold of the spatula and threw it away, she then walked towards Dad and sister, hugged them and rushed out of the house wavying a bye.

" Chedi so, Where are you goings ? And that too with whom ? " Screamed her mother running behind her while her dad and her sister followed both of them but all they heard Annika screaming from her car that she was going to meet their son-in-law.

" Son-in-law ? Has she really gones to meet hims? " Squealed Annika's mother happily as she started daydreaming about her daughter's wedding.

" Back to the Earth, Pinky. Do you really think she's gone to meet your so called son-in-law ? She was just fooling, I'm damn sure she's gone to a cafe with her tab to complete her pending orders as well as sip on some coffee. "
Annika's father chuckled and clarified Annika's words as well as informed her about their daughter's whereabouts as he knew his daughter very well.

" That Chedi so, how many times have I told her not to eat outside food ? But has she ever listened to mes ? No, all she does is waste moneys on cafes and other faltu things." Rambled Pinky as she stormed inside the house.

" Well, to be away from your non-stop bakwaas is the reason why she wastes her money on cafes." Annika's sister mumbled quietly and chuckled which was only audible to her father who chuckled along with her while Pinky angrily glared at the father-daughter duo as she knew her younger daughter must have said something against her only.

" Enough of your kee-kee you twos, Go and finish your breakfast nows." Pinky screamed angrily which made both the father-daughter to immediately run to the dining table.

While on the other hand, ' Baal-Baal bach gayi.' thought Annika and sighed in relief as she finally succeeded in escaping from the torturous lectures of her Lady Mogambo. She was driving to her friend's place when her stomach grumbled due to hunger, so she immediately drove to the nearest Starbucks.

Finding her isolated corner in Starbucks, she sat down with her tab to complete some pending assignments of hers not before ordering her favourite cold coffee and murgh katti roll.

She was busy completing her assignment whilst sipping on her coffee as well as munching on the roll when a loud bang on the table startled her, it made her lift up her head from the tab to see a young girl sitting in front of her with an enraged expression on her face.

" What the hell ! Pri, you scared me. Couldn't you just settle down like a normal homosapien and not like a crazy monkey and wait, what's with these murderous looks you are giving me as if I have made a mistake ? " Annika questioned the angry friend of hers who looked on towards Annika much more angrily with this question of hers.

" Mistake ? You have committed a crime, the crime of making me wait for you from morning at my place. I like an idiot was waiting for you to come over and share something important even after reminding you in the night to not to forget to come over but nahi madam as usual apni Mogambo se lad ke aagayi bina breakfast kiye and then the hunger alarm started ringing which made madam as usual drove to Starbucks, right ? " She questioned Annika angrily where as Annika quitely gulped her coffee in her fear seeing her Pri's anger. " Listen Pri, Your didi is very sorry. It actually slipped out of my mind that I had to come over to your place. I'm so sorry baba, I promise I won't make this mis- I mean commit this crime again." Holding both her hears Annika apologized with a puppy face which as always melted her younger sister's anger.

" Didi, Your cute antics and puppy face always melts my anger but next time this won't work if you do something like this again." She warned Annika who in return sheepishly smiled as she knew that next time also these antics itself will only pacify her anger.

" So Miss Priyanka Oberoi, What was the urgent work you had with me that made you call me at 2 in the night and inform me to come over in the morning ? " Questioned Annika with raised eyebrows. A nervous Priyanka fidgeted with her fingers not knowing on how to answer this question while Annika looked on waiting for Priyanka's reply.

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It was Sunday Morning which meant it was Annika's day; her favorite day of week, well who doesn't love sundays ? Everyone loves Sundays (not counting the 'foolish' exceptionals though).

There was a time when Annika hated sundays to the core and the reason was that on sundays, she had to wake up early to go for sunday school classes which she was not fond of attending due to arrogant classmates she had but sunday school classes should never be skipped or bunked making Annika loathe sundays more. But now things were different as now there was no sunday school, no arrogant classmates, no waking up early.

It was 30 minutes past 8 and Annika stood in front of her vanity combing her tresses. She was getting ready to attend the Sunday Mass, she was dressed in a white cotton kurta which had sky blue prints on it, she paired a matching sky blue duppatta and palazzo with it. Leaving her wavy tresses open after removing all the knots, she put on a pair of silver floral jhumkas. Annika applied a bit of concealer under her eyes to hide her dark circles which were evident due to her insomnia, added a little kohl to her eyes and moisturized her lips with tinted lip balm. Annika was not an avid user of cosmetics though you would find different types of makeup stored in a vanity which are mostly gifts given to her( which are rarely touched). Adorning her feet with the comfy white slider flats that she got from H&M, she walked out all ready for Sunday not before carrying her brown tote bag.

The remaining members of her family had already attended the 8AM mass at their local church and were currently at her aunt's place. She sat inside her car and drove to the Basilica of our Lady of the Mount which was 45 minutes away from her place.

The Basilica of our Lady of the Mount more commonly known as Mount Mary Church was Annika's favourite place in the entire Mumbai. Whenever, she needed some answers or some peace, she visited this church as it never left her empty-handed. Today, Annika needed none neither an answer nor some peace but God knows why, she felt like coming here today as if Mumma Mary was calling her to visit the Basilica.

She luckily reached on time for mass as luckily there wasn't much traffic. After hearing the whole mass, she walked out of the church, crossed the road and climbed up the stairs to the oratory of our Lady of Fatima which is located opposite the Basilica.

She lighted up a candle and placed it infront of the statue. She joined her hands in prayer, ' Mamma, Thank you for all that you have given me. I have everything in my life, a family, friends, stable career and even her umm... You have provided me things which I never expected I would hold possession of and I'm thankful for them though but still, I don't know why I feel that something is missing as if a piece of my life jigsaw puzzle cannot be found. Why do I think that today the reason you called me here is to indicate that soon I'm gonna find that missing jigsaw puzzle piece. I don't know what the missing piece is but whatever it is, I promise to accept it whole heartedly. I don't know if what I'm thinking is right or not but if I'm right then provide me with a sign.'

Annika was still praying when few marigolds fell upon her from above (from the statue) which suprised her as it made her realize that indeed what she was thinking was actually true. But then her mind chided her by making her conclude this couldn't be a sign but just a mere coincidence and these flowers must have flown down only due to the wind.

Concluding her prayers whilst doing the sign of the cross, Annika walked down the stairs to her car. Sitting in her car, she zoomed down the hill towards the Oberoi Mansion which was 10 minutes away from the Basilica.

She walked inside the mansion after smiling warmly at her favourite Khannaji who in return gave Annika a wider grin as his favorite person had come to the mansion. When she neared the living room, she heard someone singing.

Aaj Blue Hai Paani Paani
Paani Paani Paani Paani
Aur Din Bhi Sunny Sunny
Sunny Sunny Sunny Sunny
Aa Jao On The Beach,
Yaara Photo Meri Kheench
Phooti Kismat Hogi Teri
Gar Tune Yeh Baat Na Maani

Oho..Oho..Oho..Oho..
Oho..Oho..Oho..Oho..

She walked in to see Rudra: Priyanka's twin singing loudly while Priyanka, Saumya; Rudra's best friend and Omkara; Priyanka's elder brother cheering him.

" Aapka shabd hai O, Aap ko O se gaana ghanna hai." She heard Rudra saying this to his grandmother and parents who were sitting infront of him on the sofa. She checked her watch to realize that it was time for the Oberoi's bonding time, the time where every Sunday they have discussions or play games and today the bonding time is being spent by playing antakshari.

" Come on, Sing fast or you guys will loose. Tick - Tick 1..."
She walked further inside to see Priyanka saying this to the opposite team that is the elders. She seen that the elders needed some help as they looked helpless as they couldn't recall any songs that start with O.

Oye Oye Oye Oye,
Oye O O Va, Oye O O Va
Oye Oye Oye Oye,
Oye O O Va, Oye O O Va

Gajar Ne Kiya Hai Ishara, Ghadi Bhar Ka Hai Khel Sara
Gajar Ne Kiya Hai Ishara, Ghadi Bhar Ka Hai Khel Sara
Tamashaye Ban Jayenge Khud Tamasha
Badal Jayega Ye Nazara, Ha Badal Jayega Ye Nazara
Gajar Ne Kiya Hai Ishara

Oye Oye Oye Oye,
Oye O O Va, Oye O O Va
Oye Oye Oye Oye,
Oye O O Va, Oye O O Va

The Oberoi family turned towards the door to see Annika singing and walking towards them with a smile. " Rudra and team, your word is Va, come on now sing a song from va. " spoke Annika as she winked at him and sat near Dadi aka Kalyani Singh Oberoi, the matriarch of this house.

" Ayeee Di, This is cheating ! Aap aise Daadi aur team ki help nahi kar sakta hai. Aur waise bhi Va se koyi song bhi nahi hai." Cribbed Rudra like a kid whose chocolate was stolen making the Oberoi family and Annika to chuckle.
" Chup kar kotya, koyi cheating nahi hui. Dekh Tere team mai chaar members hai aur humare mai teen the, abh humare team ki chauti member yani meri Annika ne gaaya toh kaise huhi cheating ? Tum log haar gaye toh hum par cheating ka charge laga raha hai, kotya. "
Said Daadi hugging Annika making Rudra shut his mouth as she was right as Annika was always in the team of the elders than the youngsters.
She was everyone's favourite in the family but the elders adored her more.

" Waise Annika, How did you know about this song ? This song is an old song. " Questioned Jhanvi; Priyanka, Onkara and Rudra's mother while Annika smiled in return and was going to answer but Priyanka beat that to her and answered her mom's query.

" Arrey Mom, aapko pata nahi ? Annika di iss zaamne ki nahi par aapke zaamne se hai. She belongs to your generation, the retro Annika. "
Said Priyanka mischievously making Annika throw a cushion at her on her answer. " Aunty, It's just that I prefer old bollywood retro music more than the latest ones, hence I have knowledge about these songs." Said Annika making the elders to smile as Annika was nothing like her generation women are, she is so different from everyone, her likes and dislikes vary so much from their kids and is more like theirs is the main reason she is adored more by the elders.

" So, as decided you guys are the loosing team and are going to prepare the lunch as punishment. " said Tej with a smirk making the youngsters whine. " If you guys don't mind, Can I help you guys in cooking ? " questioned Annika feeling guilty as due to her, the youngsters lost. " Of course, you are most welcome Annika didi." Chirped Rudra thinking that the punishment will become more easier with Annika's help. " Chup kar koteya, Annika puttar teri help ki koyi zaroorat inhe. Tu yaha humare saath beth aur thode ghape mar." Said Daadi pulling Annika by her hand and making Annika next to her.
" Yes Annika, Daadi is right. You sit here while we OBros and OSiss prepare the Sunday special lunch." Said Omkara dragging a cribbing Rudra inside the kitchen with a chuckling Priyanka and Saumya following them.

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