DIL BOLE--OBEROI! STORY|1| FOR ANIKA
CHAPTER ONE
"We are Committee members too, and we have decided, Anika, darling. We three simply didn't like your ideas, and the plans you came up with for The Save the Orphans fund raiser is...well, tacky. Just like that last season Sabyasachi you are wearing my dear... someone should take you shopping! You should learn to dress like your betters if you plan to hang out with them..." Harpeet Jadeja, who was at this table because her father had finally taken their groceries chain public, drawled the comment to the beautiful woman sitting across from her.
The table full of socialites went eerily silent. Each woman at the table held her breath, lips pouted over wineglasses, gossip suspended, hair tosses paused mid-air as they watched the drama unfold. In these rarified circles, put downs were always subtle, backbiting done with utter sweetness and the best reputations were cut into ribbons through the most gentle and subtle of attacks. This kind of crass comment was just not done. Naturally you had to be a vicious, cut-throat, clawing she-monster to survive in these waters, but you still were one with class, dammit. That was the rule. And for years, learnt from their mothers, aunts, mother in-laws and older sisters, there was one other rule, held to be inviolable in Mumbai Society--- you did not, ever, ever, ever, ever-- attack an Oberoi. This had been an unspoken taboo in Mumbai society for so long, most of the women at this table didn't even know why they were supposed to follow it. But it had always been followed, until this afternoon, with these three-- the newest, new-money members of their socialite group. So what were those three women doing, to Anika Singh Oberoi, right now?
Soumya was about to launch her glass of white wine into that Harpreet Jadeja woman's face when Anika's grip on her wrist stopped her. Anika Didi looked as composed as Soumya was furious. Calmly, Anika stared at the three young socialites; people she had thought were friends, as she worked with them to put together their Annual Charity fund raiser. Now, she saw how their eyes glittered with dislike, how their faces contorted with jealousy as they watched her.
Still, Anika tried.
Ignoring the personal attack that had come out of nowhere, she focused on what they were saying "Jasmine, Simran, Harpreet. Maybe we can talk about what part of the plan you didn't like. I worked on the charity project for two months, because this is a cause that is very close to my heart. I thought if we donated more than 50% of the proceeds, it would benefit those children. My plan cuts down Charity expenses for the fundraiser without compromising the quality, and leaves more for..."
Jasmine De Silva, who's husband had just made a killing in the telecom market cut in, saying, in a cold voice "Look Anika, you have no right to change things. You don't have the background to take lead on the Charity, okay? People wait for years to get on the Committee, and you don't have either the smarts or the sophistication the position needs. Janvi Aunty brought you in, but you should not assume that means you have a place. You really are outclassed here, you know."
Jasmine's friend Simran Sobhan, of the Sobhan Security family snickered, as Anika came to a stop, staring at the three women sitting across from her at the table. "Of course the orphan thing matters to you, my love...word around the club is that you are one, yourself...absolutely no one knows who you were before that green eyed GOD you bagged brought you into our circle. We all know what men do their thinking with, and I'm sure you knew exactly how to get from the bed to the boardroom, love.." purred Simran. She had been rejected not once, but four different times by this gold digging social climber's husband, Shivaay, and payback was literally a bitch.
Anika coolly stared down the women, and didn't answer. In situations like this, Shivaay had taught her to tamp down her natural reactions. Striking these women across the face with the Jimmy Choos on her feet was going to bring assault charges, not inner peace. So she allowed the tension to build, knowing that others at the table would realize that these three had gone much too far. Their barbs would not land if she could just control herself. So, Anika did the hardest thing she could do-- she stayed silent. The silence at the table stretched until Soumya turned to another young girl at the table, and complimented her newest Prada crossbody. The talk instantly shifted to holiday plans, maid issues, newest jewelry, parties. As the chatter built, Anika smiled wryly at the three glowering women and suggested they do the Charity event themselves. She would donate, of course, and come to the event if they wanted her there. Soumya dragged her attention to something else, and the lunch went on.
Aware that their take-down wasn't in any way the wild success they'd planned, the three women looked around uneasily. They were new to this group, and attacking an Oberoi had seemed to be the fastest way to get recognition and even respect here. And Anika Oberoi was such an easy target! As she'd worked with them on the Committee events, she had seemed so perfectly vulnerable, with her big eyes and her large hearted plans and her laughter and sunny nature, where nothing was hidden or fake. But right now, no one was making eye contact with them as all the other ladies at the lunch chattered feverishly with each other.
They had not managed to goad Anika into either denying her lineage and background---- which would have been a delicious scandal, or confirming it --- which would have been even better. The three women silently sipped their mint mojitos. Each thought bitterly that Anika Singh Oberoi had a skin that was much thicker than they had assumed. No matter, next time, they would come up with something better.
Unwritten rule!! Don't attack an Oberoi! As if!!!
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SHORT STORY: FOR ANIKA
Chapter 1 -- Page 1
Chapter 2 -- Page 3
Chapter 3 -- Page 5
Chapter 4 -- Page 9
Chapter 5 -- Page 13
Chapter 6 -- Page 18
Chapter 7 -- Page 25
Chapter 8 -- Page 34
Chapter 9 -- Page 42
Chapter 10 (part 1)--Page 45--- 18+ warning
Chapter 10 (part 2)--Page 48-- 18+++++warning😆
SHORT STORY: THE VISITOR
Chapter 1 -- Page 53
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
