The Masquerade (AnShi/ShivIka FF)- Epilogue UPDATED (Pg 130){COMPLETE}

1

Something was wrong in the air. Try as he might, Shivay wasn't being able to settle himself down to enjoy this hard-earned Friday night dinner date with Tia. He had always prided himself on finding a life partner who really understood him but he wondered how Tia could be so blind to his restlessness. Vipassana, reiki, karma all jumbled together in his head as he fought the urge to tell her to stop with her positive energy. He generally respected her interests but he couldn't explain this growing irritation. However, before he could say something he would regret later, he was saved by a phone call. It was Mrs. Kapoor. Tia's designer was coming over with her dress for some final alterations and Tia had to be there.

He watched her drive off and heaved a sigh of relief. Immediately he felt guilty. What was the matter with him? Why wasn't he able to relax and enjoy some quality time with Tia? She was one of the most accommodating people he knew and if he couldn't find comfort in her presence, he was surely doomed. Was Anika right? Was he seriously a curmudgeon beyond redemption? That was not what she had called him though...not curmudgeon...

"Sarooo insaan", she'd said tossing her hair in that infuriating way of hers. No. It was Anika's fault. Rubbing him the wrong way all day long with her annoying behaviour.

"Aapki sherwani"... "aapke jooti".."aapke sehra", "aapke ghore"... pestering him all day with her questions and reminders about the wedding. If his mother hadn't been bad enough, Anika was definitely the new and improved version, badgering him with details of a wedding which he had no time for at present. Admittedly she had stopped calling him 'Billuji' to his face. But he knew it from those eyes of hers that she was thinking it! Which was just as bad. No. It had to be that wretched Anika's fault that he was always on edge these days.

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Entering the Oberoi mansion, Shivay felt his restlessness increase. Lately with all the wedding preparations going on, the house was rarely silent. Hordes of decorators would be milling around generally getting in everyone's way. Then there were the builders renovating the east wing, the house staff going over every speck twice and the hapless security team trying to bring some order to this chaos. And the ringmaster to this circus was none other than his beloved Daadi and her lately installed side-kick,Anika. However, today the house was silent. The brightly lit hall lay empty. After changing into his kurta pyjama, Shivay peeped into Om's studio. A chat with his brother would help him sort out his emotions. The room lay empty. Om's bedroom was empty. Rudra's room was empty. Priyanka was nowhere to be seen. Even Daadi was missing. Where had the whole lot gone?

Bade Papa and his father were attending a meeting, Shivay knew. He didn't feel like going into his mother's room to see if she was there since any conversation with her these days inevitably ended up in an argument over the need to fix a date for the wedding. As for Badi Ma, she would hardly be in a state to give him any information at this time of the day. Shivay was pondering over whether to haul up the security team when he caught sounds of laughter coming from the hall.

The sight that met him when he rushed there left him quite flabbergasted. Almost his entire family were standing around the main entrance doubling up with laughter. They had clearly just come back from somewhere. Daadi, Soumya-- the kid, Rudra, Omkara and even his mother and Badi Ma were there. The object of their laughter happened to be Priyanka and her mele-mein-bichri-hui-behen Miss Anika. The two of them were telling some story. As one paused to breathe or giggle, the other would step in. Whatever jumbled yarn they were spinning had the whole lot laughing like a pile of hyenas. Shivay should have been glad to see his family having some fun for a change but instead he only felt himself getting angrier and angrier! Obviously Anika was having a really bad effect on his usually quiet and graceful sister. Was Prinku actually shrieking with laughter! No Oberoi ever shrieked with laughter! Daadi couldn't find anyone else for a wedding planner!

'Hey Shivay!' Om had spotted him

'Hi bhaiya!', Rudra piped in as he tumbled onto the sofa.

'Billu, tu wapas aa gaya, puttar?'

'Lady Baba let you off so early, bhaiya?'

Shivay tried to glare at the insulting comment but Pinky beat him to it.

'Rudra! Tia hamari bahu bannewali hai! Aise mat kaho uski barey mein!'

Jahnvi also agreed with her sister-in-law.

'Aap sab kahan gaye the?' Shivay asked.

Woh, Bhaiya, Anika had taken us to this chaat shop .We were all feeling hungry toh hum chaat khane...

Priyanka trailed off at the sight of Shivay's incredulous stare.

'Chaat shop!'

He didn't know what this world was coming to!

He turned towards Anika. The culprit was at that moment busy grinning at something Om was telling her.

'Anika!'

She startled at that and looked at him, her eyes rounding to resemble saucers.

'Phir se dauda par gaya hai, bagad bille ko', she muttered to herself. Shivay could not hear her but strongly suspected that she wasn't mumbling praises about him. He reminded himself that he didn't want to create a scene here and earn another scolding from his Daadi.

'Have you got the bills for this week ready?', he managed to rasp out.

She tried to hand a folder towards him but he cut her short by telling her to bring them along.

Anika cast a rueful glance towards Priyanka and Om before following Shivay's rigid back. Bagad billa seemed to be in one of his moods and once again she appeared to have been chosen as his metaphorical punching bag.

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