Sahil came and sat at the table as his Annika Di fussed about in the kitchen for lunch. He was back for a long weekend from boarding school, and it was so much fun. Annika Di is overdoing everything, probably because she missed him so much, despite talking to each other through the canteen lady's phone twice a day all week. A surge of love went through him for Di, for he can see how hard she is trying to keep it together. At least she has stopped crying.
He had never seen her cry like that night she arrived home after her divorce from Mr. SSO. She had furiously rubbed off the sindhoor and yanked off the mangalsutra, crying so wretchedly it frightened him, she sounded like someone was physically torturing and ripping her into shreds. He had held her tight, but he couldn't make the pain go away. He was so afraid his Di would die from her broken heart.
But the next day, she posted the box with the mangalsutra back to Mr. SSO.
The first week was awful. She wandered around in a black mood , often bursting into tears. She locked up the house and went to get him settled in school, making friends with the watchman, cleaners, cook, warden at the school so Sahil would have help for anything. He had insisted to come home to her, but she made sure he stayed there. This was one loan she was happy to bear and repay her whole life, it was his future. And for her, he will study hard, she was everything to him, and vowed never to make her efforts go in vain.
But when he came home, one month later, she was different. She smiled a little more, spoke more like her usual self. She had set up a business, a catering and wedding planner service. She had started getting calls from rich people , asking for the person who planned Shivaay Singh Oberoi's wedding. They had loved her arrangements, especially that she gave value for money. So, she got another 2 weddings, a house warming party and a baby shower to plan. Not only these, she found that middle class people also came to her for smaller parties because she had an eye for a bargain.
Dreams come true, with value for your money.. her spanking new name card said.
Ms. Annika , event manager.
Di was busy since then, always running here and there, arranging this and that. Even the house had changed. She had repainted the whole house, changed the layout, added grills with padlocks, bought some new furniture, and gave away those that gave her bad memories.
She was okay, Sahil thought. She wasn't happy, but she's okay.
***
Annika bustled about in the kitchen, making Sahil's favourite dishes. She stopped in between, answering the phone and arguing with the dress maker about how she didn't want him to cheat on the quality of the bride's dress, when she had already purchased the cloth herself.
"Don't you dare charge for the cloth Sharmaji ! The bride has already paid for that. You charge for your designing, stitching and pattern only. I know you are trying to swindle us ! You can swindle the rich people Sharmaji, they can pay easily, but not this one !!" she argued until the man had no choice but to agree to her demands. She had some expensive clients, and she knew Sharmaji was hoping to be her go-to person for bridal wear. The man was really good, but was trying to get rich too fast.
Annika served Sahil and listened about his week at school. His language was changing slowly, sounding like an upscale boy already, she smiled with pride. His English is sounding really good, When he grows up, he'll be talking like Shivaay, she thought wistfully. The sudden intrusion of his image in her mind made her frown. Putting on a smile quickly she simply denied her mind any time to think about that man.
God only knew, she remembered him all the time. Initially painful, she was soon able to push thoughts of him aside. But late at night as she tried to sleep , when she couldn't escape it. She taught herself sewing on the Internet (and found it quite easy) and it reminded her of him. She tried throwing away the business section of the newspapers to avoid his face, but he now featured on the glamour pages too.
Oberoi heir on the way !
Shivaay and Tia pose for photos!
Exclusive shots of the golden couple!
Needless to say, that edition of the papers found its way into the recycle bin unread.
She had heard small bits and details when Rudra and Priyanka visited every week. Rudra always brought cheer and tries to slip in some details of how his brother is doing. Apparently Bhaiya has a permanent frown on his face, throws an average of 3 phones a week. But when he tried to go into detail, Annika stopped him and changed the topic.
On the other hand, Priyanka was having a rough time with a persistent man, and she wouldn't say who. Annika cared enough to inform Omkara and Rudra about it , and left it to them. She had been burnt enough by meddling in other people's affairs.
But frankly , she suspected "Mr. Oberoi" did have something to do with her new rich clients, but didn't refuse the deals. She worked damned hard on his wedding, and it was her work that they came looking for, not his name. She got a nice deposit amount and made a down payment for an office lot in the next street; her office will be downstairs and their flat upstairs. Sahil was excited about it and they had met a few buyers for the house last week.
She knew "Mr Oberoi" had bought it from Sundari Bua for 30 lakhs, so she quoted a similar price and found there were buyers ready to bid competitive prices too. They were about to finalize the deal with one buyer for 40 lakhs soon, she was quite happy about that.
Then she can pay off Dadi ji for the loan on the house.
One loan off my list too, she thought. Only the 50 lakhs left for Sahil's school. Only.
She shook off the heavy thoughts and packed Sahil off for their trip to the funfair. Locking the doors, she turned and again saw someone looking suspiciously like Khanna, woh Oberoi security wala Khanna, ducking into a shop for cover. Dismissing the impossibility, she and Sahil rode off, with a nondescript black car following at a distance.
***
Oberoi Mansion, approximately one month ago.
After watching Annika and Sahil leave, a cold robotic calm came into Shivaay's mind. The very next morning, workers came and set up a simple mandap, devoid of fanciful dcor. A priest arrived soon after, harassed and unhappy, met by Tej Singh Oberoi. Quiet hushed voices discussed the plans for the morning as Pinky clucked like a chicken and informed Tia to get ready for her wedding immediately.
Dadi walked into Shivaay's room as he buttoned his jet black sherwani, devoid of decorative ornaments. His hair slicked back and sharp, a steely look came as he stared into the mirror.
"Shivaay, you better be sure you know what you're doing. Because I am tired of your obstinacy. Maybe I am a foolish old romantic, who got her true love and wishes her family to have theirs. But I see that my wishes have no place in your cold business world. And I can't imagine how Annika..."
"You've seen her, Dadi?" a sudden blue fire burned in his eyes, eager for information. Dadi shook her head sadly and sighed.
"I don't know with what face I am to go see her , Shivaay. We have treated her very badly, every one of us. We must make amends."
Shivaay blinked and resumed his steely stance. Omkara and Rudra came in to tell him the pandit was ready, with none of the associated happiness. He looked at his two unhappy brothers, knowing where their heart leaned to, but he had to go through with this.
He walked out to the mandap, waited as Tia made an entrance in her hasty bridal wear, too tight for her, a garish red color unsuitable with the smug smile on her face. She and her mother were far too smug about themselves, he thought. But he let them be.
Walking up and sitting at the dais, he paused and looked insolently at Tia, a pointed look asking what the hell she was waiting for. She awkwardly looked about at the lack of ceremony around and walked up to the dais to sit next to him. Trying to diffuse her bubbling stress, she touched Shivaay's hand, and he flinched so hard, she got scared. Her mother patted her back, Just get this done right this time.
Dadi stood the furthest away, only registering her presence at her grandson's wedding, with Rudra and Omkara in disapproving silence. The mansion doors were closed, proceedings extremely private. Pinky Oberoi gushed enough for 5 people as the pandit began the rituals. One by one the rituals, were done with solemn disquiet. They signed a stack of papers with lawyers present and it was done.
Once finished, Shivaay got up and dropped the linked shawl at his neck. He strode off leaving a nervous Tia, to meet the suited men who had stood by and watched. He signed off some more papers and the men left. As Tia stood up and walked to get blessings, Dadi walked out of the room with her younger two grandsons. Jhanvi and Tej flanked the Kapoors on one side, as Shivaay and his team of lawyers came on the other side.
Tej Oberoi took point as Tia and her mother suddenly felt outnumbered.
"Right, now that it's done, let's talk business shall we?"
Puzzled at the abruptness, Mrs. Kapoor recovered quickly to indignantly question the propriety.
"There's no need for pretending, Mrs. Kapoor. We know pretty well, this baby drama is but a ploy to force your hand. No one here believes that this child is Shivaay's. So, since you are so desperate to be married to the Oberoi family, let's talk about the deal."
Pinky clucked and complained about the timing, and got silenced by Jhanvi.
" Among the papers you have signed today, is the documents pertaining to the merger of our two companies. You seem to have sufficient support to force the investors to insist that this marriage is part of the deal. "he paused for effect, to watch Mrs. Kapoor smile with satisfaction.
"Before you celebrate that, let me explain exactly what happened at the emergency board meeting we had late last night. The one your hidden politician uncle couldn't influence... " Tej continued, as Mrs. Kapoor stuttered in surprise, because she was not informed of this meeting.
"It was a meeting, where, WE, as in the Oberoi Group, informed the investors as to what we are offering in the deal. And since they are not very aware of the unbalanced scales at play here, which have been now cleared. And what our company is willing to do to go forward." Dangerous and cold, Tej moved to kill.
"Shivaay baby? What's going on?" Tia whined at him, only to receive a withering blast of cold blue ice in his eyes.
Shivaay spoke up. "Since Kapoor Ltd, has neither the cash nor the assets to put up any leverage necessary for a deal this large, the investors insist that Oberoi Group becomes the major stakeholder. Meanwhile, hearing of these details, several members of your board of directors came forward to sell their shares to us. "
Mrs. Kapoor went pale as sheet as Tej continued, "Between Shivaay and I, the Oberoi Group now owns 70% of your company. With this takeover, all your offices, businesses and employees will be transitioned into our company as of 12 noon today. Kapoor Ltd, as you know it, no longer exists." His ominous voice boomed as tears of anger rained down the older Kapoor woman. Tia burst into tears as Pinky stared aghast.
"We also know that you never had a son called Robin. In fact , cross checking Tia's name in England, revealed that she is registered as married to a certain Dushyant Malhotra, who turns out to be your missing Robin ! You are a FRAUD ! Your husband ran away with his mistress and you are playing with high stakes businessmen like an amateur ! " Tej scolded the pair. Turning to Shivaay, he let the young man finish the two.
" You should have known better than to pass another man's child as mine. But I am not a cruel man, just don't push me further. You will pack your bags for the midnight flight tonight, heading for Switzerland. You will stay there, provided for, out of the media's sight, until you deliver this child. After that, I will send divorce papers and we will end this sham discreetly." Shivaay turned his back to Tia as he spoke to the weeping woman.
Pinky sat dejected , shocked with all the huge revelations before her. She realized the reason Shivaay sat brooding in his room, calling one person after another, tirelessly planning something, shunning company or food. She realized how smart her son actually was, and felt a huge relief. How could she have known Tia was such a fraud? And a married woman too!! Oh my Maata...
Shivaay went off to his room and barricaded himself. All alone in his room, he whipped out his phone, wanting to hear Annika's voice. To tell her everything will be okay, his plan worked, and that she was right all along.
Unable to get a ring tone , he sat at his settee redialling over and over, anxiety bubbling with the lack of response. Frustrated, he put down the phone, and spotted his mail sitting on the coffee table. Among it, a small package addressed to him in handwriting.
A small box was inside. Opening in, he felt an unimaginable pain. She had sent back his mangalsutra, with no note attached. All the tension of this week came in a rush to this climax of agony, spilling out hot tears from his eyes.
His brothers found him like that, his head in his hands, shaking and sobbing, for the love he'd lost.
***
Part 3
