OS: FREEDOM AND NEW BEGINNINGS OR......

OS - FREEDOM AND NEW BEGINNINGS OR...

Anika looked at the gift box with great trepidation. Another gift from SSO. Now what, however, instinct kicked in and she thanked him. SSO in his customary arrogance responded that the gift be opened before extending thanks. Om studied his brother's body language and winced. A body blow was expected and he was hoping Anika's frail constitution would be strong to take the punch in the gut and weather it. Dadi and Rudra's egging to comply did not help. Tia was hanging to Shivay's arm like a cat who had just gobbled a jug of cream. He watched Anika unfurl the black ribbon with apprehension and opened the box. The artist in him yearned for a charcoal and paper to capture the range of expressions on Anika's face. Fear, nervousness, hesitation, dread changed in a matter of seconds to pave way to immense relief, delight, exhilaration & pure bliss. While Shivay's expression changed from aggression to confusion.

Anika: Really, really, Thank you so much.

Shivaay: Dekho lo, Phir se dekho aur phir kaho thank you. Patha hai tumhe ye kya hain, Anika? (Look, look again and then say thank you. Do you realize what it is, Anika?)

Dadi: Aissa kya diya puttar, jo tu itni khush hai. Billu, dekho tu uska rang itna khil gaya hai. Hum bhi to jaane aissa kya diya toone. (What did you give Shivay? It is a pleasure to watch her this happy. What is it?)

Shivay: Dadi maine, mujhe aazdi ... I mean, tohfa hai divorce papers. Divorce ke saath, yeh tumhare ghar ke sale ke deeds hain. Ab woh ghar bhi tumhara nahi hain. (Dadi I want my freedom... I mean, I served her with divorce papers. Along with the divorce notice, these are copies of the sales deed of the house where they lived.)

The announcement resulted in an assortment of reactions from the attendees. Squeals of glee from Tia and Pinky. Tia proprietarily enveloped Shivay in a bear hug, much to his discomfort. Pinky giddy-headed, effusively started planning for the wedding. Mom, Mr. Oberoi & Shakti had somber expressions. Devastation was etched on the faces of Rudra, Priyanka & Saumya. Dadi watched all the happenings with resignation knowing that she had no say or control in the matter. While, the primary recipient, Anika Singh Oberoi, morphed back into Anika, bore that blissful expression on her face yet to dim, and the peace on her face radiated from within.

Anika: Phir se Thank you. Thank you... mera wajood lautane ke liye. Thank you so much. Meri yeh khushkismati hai ki saara Oberoi khaandaan maujood hai taki phir aage jaakar koi galfemiyaan ko panah na de. Aaj hi yahan se chali jaoongi, lekin jaane se pehle, Dadi ye rahein aapki ghar ki amanat. (Again thank you & thank you for returning me to myself. Thank you so much. I am very fortunate that the entire Oberoi clan is here witness to all the happenings today, so that there is no reason for any misunderstandings to rise on a later date. I want to square all accounts before I leave today and return everything that has been in my custody. First things first.)

Everyone watched, Anika dropping the gift box on the center table and divest herself of off all the jewelry conferred upon her and the wedding chain (MS) with a relish.

Anika: Dekh kar aur check bhi kar leejeyga. Aur abhi hai, aayee main. (Please check everything while I get the remaining things from the room)

She sprung up and quickly ran up the stairs two at a time. In no time, she came down attired in her denim top and black tights armed with three jewelry boxes and a sheaf of papers. The bright vermillion in her parting the only evidence of her being married. The ornament boxes were added to the jewelry pile.

Anika: Yeh baaki ki jewelry Dadi - check kar lena please. Aur Pinky aunty aap bhi. (Dadi, here is the remaining jewelry, please check and Pinky Aunty you too.)

She brought out the divorce papers from the gift box, and quickly added her name, Anika, with a flourish after skimming through papers and handed the papers to Shivay that were snatched by a jubilant Tia.

Shivay: And here is the check ... Settlement for signing the divorce papers.

Anika looked at the check cynically and tore it right before the entire Oberoi clan with fierce satisfaction and dropped the confetti in Shivay's hand. She turned right around and addressed Dadi,

Anika: Aur Dadi, maine woh Rs.15 lakh ka check encash hi nahi karaya. Shakti uncle thank you very much, iss loan pass karane ke liye, lekin ab mujhe iski zaroorat nahi. Mujhe pata hai ki ispar penalty lagegi, woh aap mere final settlement me se adjust kar leejiyega. (Dadi here is the remaining jewelry, please check. And I never encashed the check of Rs.15 lakh. Thank you Shakti Uncle for getting this loan sanctioned. I know since I am not going to use this loan, there will be a penalty. My final settlement check due to me can be used to adjust for any outstanding penalty.)

Shivay: What loan, kab...

Anika: Aap se koi matlab nahi hai. Yeh mera personal matter hai. (It is none of your business, this is my personal matter).

Shivay: Not when your married to me.

Anika: Back off!!!! I initiated this loan process when I was single, and you have no obligation or liability in this matter. So please spare me the testosterone deluge.

Tia: Shivay baby, it is really none of our business now.

Shivay: Shut up Tia, when I need your assistance, I will ask for it. Anika, am I going to get a straight answer or do I have to resort to my strong arm tactics to get the truth out.

Dadi: Shivay, why don't you ask me? Anika approached me for advice. As her work was being recognized and more jobs coming her way, she was having trouble juggling both home and hearth. Sundari Bua could not be trusted with Sahil's welfare. So, I suggested she admit the child in a boarding school. I completed all the admission formalities for the three shortlisted schools - Ekalavya, Holy Writ & Global International. In the meanwhile, I asked Shakti to put in a word for Anika & Puneet Nayyar at Axis came through for us with the loan.

Shivay addressed: To Daksh ne yeh paisse tumhe(So Daksh did not pay you)

Dadi interjected: O Khotya...Daksh kyon paisse dega. Daksh ko to maine loan ke paper Anika ko dene ke liye bheja. (Dumbo, why would Daksh give any money. I asked Daksh to give the copy of the loan papers to Anika).

Shivay: Tum us raat Daksh ke kamre main... Subah phir Saumya ne tumhari chai (That night you were in Daksh's room..., Saumya sent you your tea there)

Saumya: Yes bade bhaiyaa, Anika came back that night to keep me company in Daksh's room. She spent the night with me and I am forever thankful to her for that.

So, that's it, thought Om. Shivay Baby, you have been bitten big time by the green-eyed monster and have been rendered into this thoughtless monster. Jealousy fueled by mere circumstantial evidence can destroy lives. What did you do Shivay? And I know I'm going to hate it when I find what you did.

However, for the artist, Om, it was a treat to watch an array of emotions reflect on Shivay's face. The confident, smug aggressor, was now in sheer panic. But again, the brother in him was worried, and suddenly those kanji eyes looked at him for help. How does one salvage such a situation?

Om looked at Rudra to bail them out. A devastated Rudra looked forlorn. And Dadi looked broken, the think tank and the eternal optimist, when Anika bid her adieu. There was no way anyone could stop the downward spiral. Om looked heavenward for divine intervention.

As luck would have it, the security informed arrival of a visitor. Well that should give some time to think. At the doorstep stood Khanna with a boy on crutches.

Anika ran towards the door: Sahil, tu yahan. (Sahil... why are you here?).

Sahil: Anikadidi, aapke pag-pheron ke liye mujhe bulaaya dadi ne. (Didi, Dadi called me to take you home for pag-phere rasam with Rudra bhaiyaa)

Shivay walked towards Sahil and an ashen faced Anika hovered over Sahil like a she-lion protecting her cub.

Shivay: Anika...Sahil ko (Anika ...what is wrong with Sahil)

Dadi intercepted Shivay and prevented him from reaching Anika & Sahil.

Dadi roared: Billu tu peechche hat. Khabardaar jo aage badha to, khair nahi teri aaj. Anika tu nikal yahan se. (Billu stop right there and don't you dare a step any further. One more step, and you will have to deal with me first before you get to her. Anika!!!!! Get out of here, now.)

Shivay: Dadi, mujhe Anika se baat karni hai. (Dadi, I just want to talk to Anika)

Dadi: Baat karne ka time gaya puttar. Ab kya baat karega. Aur is ladki ko main aur zaleel hote hue nahi dekh sakti. Jaane de usse. Enjoy karo apni azaadi. Usse apni freedom aur tum apni freedom enjoy karo. Anika beta, ja tu, rab rakha tainu. Meri baat maan Billu, apni zindagi ek naye sire' se shooru kar jaisse tu chahta hain. (What is the point now? You have shut every avenue I opened for you. Now I refuse to let you or anyone insult that girl anymore. Let her go. Go Anika, get out of here. May God be with you my child. And you Billu, enjoy your freedom. Leave everything behind and start your life anew the way you want to.)

Shivay: Dadi I just want. Anika ...Biwi hai woh meri. (Dadi, I just want to talk to Anika, she is my wife).

Dadi: Bus, koi nahi. Kaissi biwi Billu. Kal bhari duniya ke samne, tumne eilaan kiya, ki Tia tumhari biwi hai. Woh Tia, jo tumhare hisaab se sab mayne mein mel khati hai. To puttar sambhalo usse. (Enough, no more see-sawing Billu. Your wife is standing next to you. The world identifies Tia as Shivay Singh Oberoi's wife because you proudly announced that fact yesterday. And all the time, you have been telling me how well suited you are, so it is time to take care of her).

Anika's departure left a lull in the Oberoi household. Mid-afternoon brought an elated Mrs. Kapoor at the door, who dropped-in armed with an agenda - start the wedding preparations afresh.

The eager groom excused himself on the pretext of business. So did Tej & Shakti. Dadi along with her grandchildren and Saumya refused to be part of the ShiTia wedding preparations. And a half-hearted Pinky & Jhanvi sat entertaining the mother-daughter duo in the great hall while rifling through Anika's detailed notes.

The Kapoors refused to leave the Oberoi turf and the house coincidentally witnessed a deluge of ad-hoc visitors to wish the newly wedded couple. Early evening brought another shocker at the doorstep. Khanna announced the arrival of ACP Vikrant Rathore for Shivay Singh Oberoi. The announcement brought down the entire Oberoi clan and Kapoors.

ACP Rathore: Finally a pleasure to meet you Mr. Shivay Singh Oberoi.

SSO: I can't reciprocate your feelings, however, please do enlighten me of the purpose of the visit. Can we make it quick, I have a lot of things to do.

ACP Rathore: As of Thursday, I have been reassigned to the Gayatri Devi murder case. ACP Randhawa had to take off time because of a family emergency, hence I am the point of contact. I have more questions for you as there is more evidence. We also need your fingerprints and a swab.

Both Tej & Shakti exclaimed: What??

Tej: I want you out of my house ASAP ACP...

Tia: How can you do that to my husband, ACP?

SSO: Hold on Bade Papa, Tia. But ACP Rathore, I was acquitted. I had an alibi who testified on my behalf. And I am not going to say anything till my lawyer gets here.

ACP Rathore: Ok fair enough, Mr. Oberoi and Mrs. Oberoi, I will wait for your lawyer to join us. However, sorry to inform you that the case files contain no such details about such a witness. We do have your brother's testimony of your leaving home at around midnight, upon receiving a call from Gayathri Devi. And a verbatim of the dialogue between the two of you before you stepped out. The other family members could not confirm your presence at home that night, but saw you the next morning walking into the house. The Gayatri Devi murder case has turned out to be a high-profile case with you being at the epicenter, hence the media has become a bigger circus. I have been catching up on the media furor. Lots of hearsay but nothing has been logged about an employee testifying on your behalf, we have no details on our case files. I will give you the benefit of the doubt. I believe in the maxim, innocent till proven guilty. However, all the physical evidence points to you. The electronic foot prints, indicate your cell phone activity within the 20 feet of the murder scene. I am here to get your fingerprints and do a swab test. I assure you this won't take long.

SSO: What do you mean?

ACP Rathore: The case is wide open & you are one of our prime suspects.

Tej: You don't know who you are fencing with. I can get you...

ACP Rathore: ...transferred to the boonies in the next 10 minutes. Heard that often, Sir. And let me tell you, been there at the whims of people like you. In fact, I have just got back from one - Waigaon Gond, Deoli, Hinganghat, heard of them? Now let us get down to business shall we?

SSO: My...my ... my ... er...employee, Anika, had testified..., she lives at that Shiv Parvati Samadhan Chawl, Near RamJi Dhaba, in Maatunga (W). Here is the address.

Shivay rattles of the address. ACP Rathore looks & makes a call.

ACP Rathore: Patil madam, zara ha address check kara ani sanga baghoo, ho sarva details. Phone kara parat mala, lagech... Urgent ahe, hold karoo... ok. (Mrs. Patil, can you check the details of the address & get back to me. Yes all the details. Yes, yes... it is very urgent, you want me to hold, ok then, I will.)

The call was done in minutes. Meanwhile, high-price Oberoi lawyers, Palash Sen & Indraneel Bakshi make an appearance.

ACP Rathore: Mr. Oberoi, you bought the property owned by a Ratnakar Shinde from a Sundari Nath six months back. The property was due for demolition, however; a stay order was put in place by a Kalyani Singh Oberoi. As of yesterday, you have sold the property to a RaiSing Property Developers. Did you have tenants, this Anika, paying rent? I will investigate.

Palash Sen (PS): ACP, I will speak on behalf of my client now. It is a little complicated, bear with me. My client was no longer a suspect after the testimony of his employee, Ms. Anika. My client spent the night at her place that night. She testified and here is a copy of her signed statement and a copy of the press release. The same employee married my client on 11-30-2016 and their marriage was dissolved this morning. Here is a copy of the divorce notice that was signed this morning by Ms. Anika. My client will soon be married to Ms. Tia Kapoor.

ACP Rathore: Wait a minute, you introduced yourself as his wife and the press has been going on and on about your wedding. But you are not the wife?

Palash Sen: ACP it is complicated. Ms. Tia was kidnapped on her wedding day and hence we had a contract bride for a day. Ms. Tia was released for a ransom.

The lawyer ended his monologue providing the happenings of the two days, while the ACP jotted down all the details along with recording on his cell phone.

ACP Rathore: Obviously, you Oberois think you are above law. You did not feel the need to inform the police when the to-be-Mrs. Oberoi was kidnapped and the post rescue. I hope enough security has been provided to Ms. Anika, she could be kidnapped you know.

Palash Sen: Actually,

ACP Rathore: Got it... the expendable character that has outlived her expiry date. No need to explain. Let me get to my job. We have new evidence, a finger-print found at the crime scene. We need your client's fingerprints, a formality you know. Mr. Oberoi, shall we? My assistant, Dattu Waghmare, who is waiting will now get your prints and this won't take long. Please excuse me.

ACP Rathore summoned his assistants from the waiting vehicle. Shivay watched the ACP's sidekick appear with their gear.

Tia: Shivay baby, I am here for you and we will get out of this in no time.

The day could not have gotten worse for Shivay. He had managed to send his security detail to tail Anika & Sahil. But there had been no update. His anxiety had increased by a hundred-fold when the ACP announced of new evidence. He remembered lifting a piece of driftwood and pitching it. He was dreading what the day would bring about. Om watching the proceedings, Tia's patronizing tone and Shivay's body language was expecting an explosion from his brother soon.

Dattu Waghmare, the antithesis of a police officer; zeroed in on the suspect, Shivay Singh Oberoi. He requested Mr. Oberoi take a seat while he spread his paraphernalia on the center table. Mr. Oberoi complied. Soon the inkpad was brought out and Dattu went about his business.

The Kapoor ladies could not believe their luck. Without having to do anything, SSO was being moved out of their way, leaving them with access to his entire fortune. Tia moved forward to stand behind Shivay to display her solidarity. And boy - she would rue her action at leisure.

Dattu Waghmare transmitted the prints to the forensic lab for further evaluation. As he collected and packed his gear, he watched a pair of feet in tan sandals come forward and station itself behind Shivay Singh Oberoi. Obviously, Mrs. Shivay Singh Oberoi, so he thought and lifted his gaze to acknowledge, but instead exclaimed at Tia,

Dattu Waghmare: Trishala madam, idhar kidhar? Aapke kapdon ko kya hua, phut gaye kya? (Ms. Trishala, what are you doing here? What happened to your clothes?)

Tia: Shut up, kaun ho tum? I am Tia Singh... I mean Tia Kapoor, Apna kaam karo aur niklo? (Shut up, who are you? I am Tia Singh... I mean Tia Kapoor. Just do your work and get out of here?)

SSO: Tia do you know him?

Tia: Him, don't make me laugh baby. I wouldn't...

ACP Rathore: Kya hua Dattu... (What happened?)

Dattu Waghmare: Shut up, kyoon Trisha madam? Saab mein inko jaanta hoon. Hamare Nagpur se hai, ladies beauty parlor ka chain hai inka, Nagpur aur Wardha main. Woh Empress Mall mein ek branch hair, wahan meri Mrs. jaati hain. Woh kya Chandra madam, inki mummy udhar khadi hain. Aap bhi idhar kya, Chandra Madam? Tumhari beti kaissa baat karti hai dekho. (Why should I shut up Ms. Trisha. Sir I know her. She is from Nagpur. Her family owns a chain of ladies beauty parlor in Nagpur and Wardha. They are very famous. My wife frequents their joint regularly located at the Express Mall in Nagpur. And there she is, Ms. Chandra, Ms. Trisha's mother. Ms. Chandra, you are here too. Please ask your daughter not to talk to me this disrespectfully.)

Mrs. Kapoor: Shut up, who is this man? I don't know you man.

Dattu Waghmare: Kya Chandra madam, aap bhi humko shut up. Sorry galti ho gaya pehchan-ne mein. Ab bolengi ki mera bhanja tumhara jamai nahi hai. Kahan hai tumhara pati, Dushyant, nahi pehchana, arrey Robin. (Ms. Chandra, you too are asking me shut up? Sorry if I mistook you for someone. Now you will maintain that my nephew, Dushyant, is not your son in law? BTW Ms. Tia where is your husband, Dushyant? ... no let me get the right name, Robin.)

The stunned silence did not stop Dattu's solo commentary. The Oberois were obviously stumped and stunned by Tia Kapoor's revelation and ACP Rathore decided to let the floor show continue.

Dattu Waghmare: Tia? apne naam ko aur kaat dala kya - Tia. Har do saal mein naam kaat-thi hai saab. Trishala se Trisha aur ab Tia. Aur humare Dushyant ka naam bhi satyanash? Waat lagadi saab - Dush bayana usko pehle. Phir ek din fataak se, Dush bana Robin. Robin ke kya t-haat saab, ekdum brand new saab, kya boloon, kapda - jacket wala, baal English salon cut aur hi-fi English. Dono ko aur koi kaam nahi saab, selfie nikal ke twitter pe chadane ka. Aap dekho saab, #T&D#. Kitne photo hai. (Looks like you have shortened your name again. Every two years, she shortens her name - Trishala became Trisha and now Tia. She did the same to my nephew's name, Dushyant to Dush to Robin. And when that happened, Robin changed overnight, he was forever draped in jackets, his hair was cut at a high-end hair salon and preferred speaking in English else was silent. The last two years, they have spent their time taking selfies and posting it on Twitter. Just Google #T&D# and see how many photographs pour.)

Dattu Waghmare's monolog was interrupted by ACP Rathore's pager's pager and peeling of the cell phone. The ACP read the message on the pager screen as he listened to the caller.

Palash Sen observed ACP Rathore's body language change and knew if there was a nail to drive into SSO's coffin, they had found it, and so did the entire Oberoi clan. He was glad that he had asked his able assistant, Raghav Mitra, to get anticipatory bail papers for Shivay. But with no other suspects and lack of the only witness, the situation looked grim for Shivay Singh Oberoi. The freedom he so coveted since last night, came with a heavy price.

The Kapoor ladies knew it was time to cut their losses and hurriedly took to the exit before the entire Oberoi clan descended on them like pack of hungry wolves.

ACP Rathore: Dattu, pakdo unko... (Dattu don't let them go)

Shivay: Stop ACP, let them go. Please don't run after a dead cause.

ACP Rathore: Mr. Oberoi the finger-print on the new evidence matches your finger print. You what this means. An arrest warrant will be issued against you for homicide. I will post two guards outside your house so that you don't flee the country.

Shivay: There is no way I am leaving the country ACP Rathore. You have my word for whatever it is worth. I made a colossal mistake in not informing the police of the kidnapping incident earlier. And compounded it by being careless about my wife's security. But I am known to learn quickly from my mistakes and make amends. ACP Rathore, as of now I am reporting two missing persons, my wife, Anika Singh Oberoi and her brother, Sahil Ratnakar Shinde. I want them to be found, and looking at your tenacity, I know will not be disappointed.

Shivay: Palash, you know what to do next on the legal front, get on with it. You have me as a resource available, but the rest can be handled by my gurus, Bade Papa and Dad.

Shivay moved to his cousins, and Saumya.

Shivay: Sorry Rudra for never recognizing and appreciating your instinct to read people correctly. Time and again you warned me about Tia. Sorry for all the occasions where I blindly defended Tia, when she had given me no reason to stand for her. And a million thanks for standing for your AnikaDi.

Shivay: Om, don't know what to say, thanks for all the times you have stood by me and my decisions even though you knew they were incorrect particularly with regards to Tia well before Anika came on the scene. You stood up to me always wakening my conscience, particularly; when my head over-riding my heart. Thanks for keeping my human side alive. The happenings of the past few weeks has reinforced my beliefs that family stands by you at the same time outsiders can be your well-wishers or otherwise irrespective of their class, creed or status. Another huge revelation that has come to light is that I don't have to be the rock. I can relax and one of you can & will take over if and when need be. That being said, you can be the conscience at the Oberois. Think about it.

Shivay: Prinku & Saumya, thanks for never wavering from your opinion of Anika despite my prejudices and pigheadedness. I don't know how much I would have heard your reasoning had you been vocal, however if there is a next time, please don't hesitate to speak your minds even if it means to call me a Class 1 Bellend.

Shivay: Dadi, yeh mere divorce papers. Aap inke saat jo chahe kar sakti hain. Sorry aapki baat nahi mani. Sochana chahiya tha, aap hamesha se meri shubhchintak rahin hain. Khair, agar meri in saari galtiyon ki saza jail yatra hai to koi gila nahi. (Dadi here are my divorce papers, you can do whatever with it. Sorry for not paying heed to your voice of reasoning and experience. I should have known that you have always been my well-wisher. If I am found guilty for this crime, this imprisonment will be an atonement of all my sins, then so be it.)