FF: The Road to Redemption- Step 9- Negotiate from Nothing- Pg 38 - Page 8

Anika woke at 3am with a choked scream at the sound of her phone clattering to the floor. Heart racing, she grabbed the bat she kept beside her and stepped out of the bed. "Who's there?"

She ran to the wall and flicked on the lights, looked around. There was nobody.

That was when her phone lit up again and started vibrating noisily on the ground. Had it-? Was it possible the phone had just vibrated off the bedside table? Possibly. But she had placed it in the centre of the table, for the phone to have actually fallen off the table someone would had to have called her at least-

She looked at the lock screen as the phone stopped ringing.

Missed Call (49)

Mr Oberoi

Er...

She was just about to unlock the phone and call him back, when the device started vibrating in her hand. She picked up.

"Hello?"

"WHERE ARE YOU? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!"

"I'm at my house. I didn't want to come home and listen to your mum tell me how I must have manipulated you in to saying what you said at the press conference earlier."

"AND YOU DIDN'T THINK YOU SHOULD MAYBE CALL AND LET ME KNOW WHERE YOU WERE GOING? I'VE BEEN WORRIED SICK."

"Well that's your problem, isn't it? You've given me no indication that my happiness or safety means anything to you, so I felt no reason to inform you as to whether I am happy or safe."

"Anika." Shivaay sounded as though he was about seconds away from tearing out his own precious hair. "I assure you nobody will blame you for what I did or said earlier. In fact, we should all be thanking you. You inadvertently saved me from being tied to Tia financially or legally in any way and had I only listened to you months ago, I would have realised that Tia was already ma-"

"You know what, Mr Oberoi, I'm really very tired and I have work in the morning."

"Anika, I'm just trying to tell you that you were right all along."

"So? What exactly does that change? I've known that I was right all this time, the fact that you've now also realised the truth is all fine and dandy for you- but it doesn't really make any difference to me, does it?"

There was a moment of silence as Shivaay considered her words. "No. I guess not."

Again, Anika was thrown off by his reaction. But she would take it, because she really was very tired and she genuinely did have work in the morning. "Good. I'll see you tomorrow. I would appreciate it if you would kindly inform the rest of your family to refrain from either chastising or thanking me for the events of today, I've done nothing to deserve either. Goodnight, Mr Oberoi."

"Good-"

But Anika had already hung up.

"Stupid Singh Oberoi." She cursed, getting back into bed and closing her eyes. "Acting like he has any right to yell at me for not telling him where I am. Who am I, his wife?"

Okay. Yes. Technically she was, but it's not as though either of them wanted her to occupy that position.

She had discovered that the best way to actually affect Shivaay was not by yelling at him or insulting him, but by acting completely indifferent. She would logically and coolly cut through his arguments or just politely agree to disagree. If he stooped to insulting her, she would simply walk away and tell him they could continue the conversation when he was in a better mood, or not at all.

If he lost his temper, she kept hers.

If he raised his voice, she steadied hers.

If he tried to get a rise out of her, she deliberately flew further beneath the radar.

Whenever Tia and Shivaay rubbed their relationship in her face, Anika simply smiled and wished them happiness.

She had known this day would come. I mean, come on? How long did Tia think she could hide the fact that she was already married from the Oberois? Anika was astounded it had taken them this long.

Whatever. Enough losing sleep over Idiot Singh Oberoi and his band of gullible fools. Anika closed her eyes, yawned, and put them all out of her mind. Less than a minute later, she was asleep.

"""""""""""""

"Mishra?"

"Yes?"

"I'm going to give you a raise."

"Thank you, Sir."

"Yes. I think you've more than earned it, with all your work on the Kapoor & Kapoor incident."

"Thank you, Sir."

"I have a new job for you."

"Yes, Sir?"

"I want you to find out everything you can about my wedding planner. Anika."

"Anika what, Sir?"

"Singh Oberoi."

Mishra's eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline. So that was who Shivaay had- No. No. He couldn't let his mind wander, had to resist the urge to bombard his boss with an avalanche of questions. But Mishra knew that for once, his wife would not stop him from talking about work when he got home tonight.

He cleared his throat. "What would you like to know about her, Sir?"

"Find out everything you can about her family. Who are they, where are they right now? I want a phone number for her parents by the end of the day, Mishra. And then I want you to find out all you can about her work. Look into the two catering companies she's working with currently, and then dive into her Events Planning business: its financial status, upcoming deals and events, potential for growth. Everything. Once you've found out about her family and her career, just compile any other information you can find on her into some sort of order and put it in a binder for me."

Aman Mishra had seen Shivaay look like this before. It was how he looked before a project he was determined to turn into a success. He wondered if Anika too was a project for Shivaay, and felt a moment of sympathy towards the young woman. Shivaay, when he wanted something, was relentless. And armed with research provided by Aman?

Well.

Anika Singh Oberoi would be wise to watch out.

"""""""""

"Hello Sahil! How was your day?"

"It was okay, Didi. The kids are all really nice and my class is a lot of fun. But the maths teacher's breath smells like fish and he sweats like an otter in a heatwave."

Anika burst out laughing as she ascended the steps of the Oberoi Mansion and nodded to the guards as they opened the front door for her.

Sahil continued complaining. "And because I'm new he keeps coming up and asking me if I'm okay and if I understand everything and it's hard because yes, that's really nice of him to do... but I feel like I'm going to vomit every time he breathes anywhere near me."

Anika walked through the empty foyer and headed towards the kitchen. She was going to make herself a cup of tea and take another up for Soumya. "Are you okay? Do you understand everything?"

"Yes, of course. Who do you think I am?"

Anika laughed. "My little brother can do anything, right?"

"Of course. Super Didi's Super Brother. How was your day?"

"I think Mrs Shah might agree to sign a deal with me so we can have 'Clay Oven' cater for any events I plan in the future. They can do food from all over the world so it'd be perfect for any client requirements. Ah sorry, this must all be pretty boring for you, but today was a great day."

"Good. I'm glad you're okay, Didi. But if you ever do need me... just let me know, okay? I'll come straight back."

"I know you will, Sahil." Anika gave a small smile as she waited for the kettle to boil. "Anyways, it's late so you go to sleep soon, okay?"

"Okay, Didi. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Anika quietly hummed a song as she looked for the tea in the cupboard. It was as she was reaching into the fridge for the milk that she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise to attention. She was being watched.

Slowly, she took the carton out of the fridge, straightened and closed the refrigerator door. She knew who it was, could sense the shift in atmosphere that always seemed to accompany him, the charge in the air whenever the two of them were in the same room.

"I'll get out of your way," she muttered, not looking up at him. "I just wanted some tea."

She walked over to the counter where the two mugs of tea were steaming. She took the lid off the milk carton and lifted it to pour it into the first mug.

That was when his hands came down on the counter either side of her waist, boxing her in with his body. He wasn't touching her, but she could feel the heat from his body scorching her as though his body was wrapped tightly around hers. Hands shaking, she put the milk down on the counter so as not to spill it.

She didn't move.

Neither did Shivaay.

Anika didn't know how long it took for her brain to kick back into gear. "What- what are you doing? You think because your Jaanu is in prison I'm just going to fall into your arms as a replacement? Well, you've got another think coming, Mr Oberoi. Like I said-"

He took a sudden deep breath, right beside her ear. And she heard the rasp as it caught in a throat clogged with unshed tears. Anika spun around so quickly it almost made her dizzy.

"Are you crying?"

No. She realised as she searched his eyes. But he was close. They were bloodshot and looked so agonised that for a second, her resolve broke. "Is everyone okay? Did something happen to your family?"

Because surely the only reason a man like Shivaay Singh Oberoi would show this kind of weakness to her would be because something happened to the only people in this world he cared about. His family.

She had noticed that none of them were around. Her own heart started to fill with panic as she wondered if something truly devastating had happened.

Shivaay shook his head. "They're fine." His voice cracked on the second word.

Anika's defences slammed securely back into position. She placed one hand on either of Shivaay's forearms and roughly jerked them downwards so that he let go of the counter and she was able to spin away from him.

"Then go away."

"Anika- why didn't you tell me?"

Anika finished pouring milk into the mugs and then put it back in the fridge.

"Don't you dare try to blame me for this! I told you over and over and over again that Tia was bad news, that she already had someone, that you marrying her would be a huge mistake. And what did you do? You told Omkara that I was only saying that because I was obsessed with you. I was trying to seduce you and trap you in a marriage myself because isn't that all middle-class girls are good for? Trapping innocent umeed ladkas like you, your Royal Highness?" All the bitterness she had so resolutely kept bottled up inside, all the anger she had refused to express came pouring out of her in an explosive rant before she managed to take a few deep breaths and gather herself.

"I don't give a damn about Tia. I'm not talking about her. And I never thought you wanted to seduce me, where the hell did you get that idea from?"

"Don't lie to me, Mr Oberoi. Tia gave me the money you wanted her to pay me so that I would leave you alone." Shivaay looked genuinely baffled, which only caused Anika to lose her temper. "Don't give me that Hansel lost in the forest look, she told me. 'Baksheesh'."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Can we please stop using things Tia said and did as evidence? I think we can agree she's not exactly the most reliable source."

"But I'm not! Tia wasn't the one telling Omkara that I'm obsessed with you. That I made up the stalker as a way to try to seduce you. That was you!"

"I would never say..." Realisation suddenly dawned on him. "I was telling Om what Tia had said to me. I wasn't saying what I thought!"

Anika scoffed in disbelief and sidestepped him to pick up the mugs of tea. "You know what, Mr Oberoi, like I told you on the phone last night, I don't care what you think or what you thought. It doesn't make any difference to me. Hate Tia, love Tia. Hate me, lo- whatever you think about me. I don't care. I'll play this stupid game you forced me to start playing until you decide I'm allowed to stop, but don't expect anything more than the minimum effort from me. Goodnight, Mr Oberoi."

She spat the last three words with such vitriol that Shivaay truly felt as though he'd been slapped.

-------------------------------

Mishra had come to him at 9, just as Shivaay had been about to leave the office. "Mishra? You're still here?"

"I-" the younger man's voice had broken and he'd shaken his head, unable to continue.

"Do you have all the information I asked you for already?" Shivaay's heart had started racing. Mishra was not an emotional man. For him to be close to tears, unable to speak...

"Some." He managed to choke out, and handed him a thin folder.

The first thing Shivaay had seen when he opened it was Certificate of Death. He had looked up at Mishra, his own heart feeling as though it had just been punched by an iron fist. As Shivaay had turned his attention back to the folder, to the pieces of the puzzle Mishra had managed to collect in just a day, the punches kept coming, harder and faster until he was sure it would eventually just stop beating.

He had known then that he would never really reach the end of his redemption track, would never be able to fully make up for what he had done. He also understood why Anika hadn't broken, hadn't given up or given in regardless of all that he'd put her through.

This changed everything.

Some part of him had definitely, secretly been hoping that if he did the right things, said the right words, Anika would eventually forgive him and they could return to that magical something they had had before. Now?

Now he finally erased that hope from his mind.

He didn't deserve Anika, and had been too stupid and conceited to accept what she had offered to him when he had.

And as he had read through the beginnings of what made Anika who she was, he knew that what she had offered once had been fragile and beautiful and pure and he had trampled and spat on it as though it were the dirt he had once called Anika. He made himself sick.

Anika had offered him her heart. Her love. Her trust.

She would not do so again.

""""""

"Crap!" Anika stumbled in the semi-darkness of the landing and spilled some tea on the floor. Sighing heavily, she put the mugs down on one of the random tables with a flower vase along the landing and searched in Chikni for a tissue. The last thing she needed was for Dadi to come along, slip on the tea and break her hip. Because Lord knew that if Anika's bad luck could get any worse, it would.

Speaking of bad luck...

It was as Anika was crouched down wiping up the spill with a tissue that the front door slowly started to open, as though the person entering was trying very hard not to make a sound. Two people walked in, a man and a woman.

The moonlight silhouetted them, but Anika could make out that the woman was definitely Priyanka. The man? He definitely wasn't any of the Oberois. So who was he? He was whispering something to Priyanka, who stammered back a reply, twisting her hands together and looking determinedly at her feet.

The man reached forward and placed a hand under Priyanka's chin, tenderly tilting her head up to look at him. Anika gawked at the scene from between the bannisters.

He said something else and Priyanka nodded. Then, without warning, Priyanka rushed forward and threw her arms around the man, whose arms immediately wrapped firmly around her waist. Anika clasped a hand over her mouth to keep from gasping.

As Priyanka and her mystery man hugged, the position of their bodies shifted slightly so that Anika could better make out what the man was wearing. Suspenders. She looked carefully at the silhouette.

It couldn't be.

No.

It was.

It really was.

The same ACP who had accused Shivaay of Gayathri's murder, who had been so suspicious when Anika had alibied him out of trouble... Priyanka Singh Oberoi was now hugging him in the foyer of the Oberoi Mansion.

Anika rolled her eyes as she quietly snuck backwards and away from the scene. Seriously, hugging him in the foyer of the Oberoi Mansion. Did this family honestly not have two brain cells to collectively rub together?

Only when she was certain that neither Priyanka nor her ACP would see or hear her, Anika stood up, grabbed the now tepid mugs of tea and headed off towards Soumya's room.

Not my problem. Not my problem. Not my problem. Not my problem.

Step Five- Small But Significant

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Thank you all so so so so so much for all the feedback and I'm so glad you're all enjoying this story. Seriously, the more miserable the show gets, the more I want to write this. The only thing getting me through the episodes is the thought that when Shivaay realises what a monumental asshole he's been all this time, he might set not just his hand, but his whole stupid head on fire. Though his head seems to be full of helium so I doubt it'll burn all that well even if he does.

Btw @Twerping- that last bit... hope you enjoyed your Eid Ka Chaand making a guest appearance in the moonlight 😆

Read the first and the last part. Priveer were awesome ! Would read the in between chapters soon !

Uff! The satisfaction this story is giving me (and I guess everyone else as well!) can never be expressed in words! Love Anika here! Sleeping through SSO's frantic calling and then hanging up on him! Too good! And then the kitchen scene! Why aren't the writers this sensible! Is there any other way our Anika would or could behave around that man than the way you've written it?! That's a rhetorical question of course!

Sahil's teacher btw! Felt bad for the well-meaning rancid breathed teacher!

And Mishraji and his wife! Haha! I feel there is a whole other story lurking in those lines, waiting to happen!

And finally my chand! You brought him and his suspenders bathed in moonlight! Oh my god! Now I am definitely going to have some ACP dreams!

Thank you for this update! Love you and your humour!

❤️

Thank you so much for writing this and bringing light to such a dark time for (former)IB fans like myself! Thank you for having Annika mind her own business and put herself first! This FF is so well written and there is never a dull moment. Hats off to you!