Zimmedari?
Part 1
"Bhabhi! Bhabhi!" Rudra whined as he stomped into the kitchen like the little baby he could very well be when necessary... and even when unnecessary.
"Haan Rudra kya hua? Shivaay theek hai naa?" Annika looked up slightly panicked.
"Arrey Bhabhi! Billu gone crazy. Dekho naa I carried the soup you made for him and he is not eating."
"Kyun?"
"He's just on the phone terrorizing that poor Khanna. I left O with him to try to persuade him"
"Haan bhabhi, he didn't even listen to me. Just had two mouthfuls and then put me out of his room" Omkara chimed in as he walked into the kitchen, setting the tray down on the table.
"Iss Bhagad Billa kabhi nahi badalega" she said clenching her teeth.
"Bhabhi maybe it's time for Chameli's return" Rudra joked, dashing his hand outwards, almost hitting Om.
"Ayy control yourself Mr Dumbell Oberoi." Om playfully scolded and Rudra faked gasped before giggling slightly.
"Forget controlling Rudra, let's see if we can control Sri sri sri Bhagad Billa Shivaay Singh Oberoi Maharaj ji first"
Om and Rudra burst out into fits of chuckles, amazed at their Bhabhi for her humour even when they knew how sick worried she was for their bhaiya.
Annika sighed as she washed her hands and put the pot of milk on the stove top. She was preparing haldi milk for Shivaay. If she was his "zimmedari" as he called it, then she had some "zimmedari" to fulfill too she thought to herself, rolling her eyes and mumbling to herself.
"Bhabhi... uhh app theek hain na?" Rudra asked carefully, while poking Om, who then looked at her and glanced at her just as she stuck her tongue out to tease the pot of haldi milk.
Sheepishly she bit her tongue and looked at them.
"Haan bilkul! Ek dum theek hoon main" she gestured toward her face and then smiled giving them a thumbs up.
"Hmmm lagta hai Bhaiya ne kuch garbar kiya" O whispered to Rudra.
"Phir se?" Rudra said wide eyed.
"Arrrey tum dono kyun phusphusa rahe hain?"
"Uhh kuch nahi Bhabhi" Rudra muttered.
Before they could continue their chat, Dadi appeared, walking towards Annika with a smile plastered on her face.
"Annika, yeh Billu ki liye?" Dadi asked as she entered the kitchen.
"Haan Dadi"
"Shabash meri bachi. As long as you are there Shivaay will be taken good care of"
"Arrey Dadi, hum bhi toh hai!" Rudra said righteously, holding up the tray of soup.
"Yeh kya hai? Billu didn't finish eat his soup?" Dadi asked looking at the bowl.
"Nahi Dadi, bas phone mein busy hai!" Om scowled.
Before she could say anything, Pinky entered the kitchen with Jhanvi.
"Pata nahin Shivaay itni ziddi kyun kar raha hain. His dressings should be changes warna uske chot toh .. oh my mata ho gayi." She complained to Dadi and Jhanvi.
"Tum log chinta mat karo. Annika hain na. I'm sure Billu will listen to her, hain na?" Dadi lovingly placed her arm around Annika, much to Pinky's irritation.
"Haan Dadi, if he isn't listening to any of us, ab sirf Bhabhi use mana kar sakte" Rudra winked at her.
Like if. I'm only his zimmidari anyways. She thought. She saw them all staring at her expectantly and decided to smile in response quickly before they caught a glimpse at her annoyance which was spreading across her face.
Annika smiled at OmRuDadi but as her eyes came to meet Pinky's, she gulped nervously and lowered her gaze..
"Annika, what are you waiting for, jao na uske paas" Jhanvi noticed her predicament and smiled as she spoke to her.
"Ye lo Bhabhi" Om said handing her the tray with soup.
"Actually Om, I don't think he'd have any more soup. He's probably fed up of soup. Waise bhi, yeh haldi wali doodh bahut nutritious hain. And later I can make him something else if he wants"
"Dekha? kaise achi tarah se Annika usse samajhata hai." Dadi beamed proudly at Pinky and Janvi.
"Haan Dadi, aur waise bhi, when bhaiya is throwing his tantrums, Annika Bhabhi isn't any less na" Rdura teased picking up a glass of water and winking at Annika.
"Shut up Rudra" Both Om and Annika chided, and then the three started giggling.
Annika poured the haldi milk into a glass before heading to their room.
However she almost dropped the tray as she set her one foot down in the room.
"FHAT THE WUCK?!!" Shivaay yelled on the phone as he sat on the couch, facing away from her. She set the tray down on the table, ready to blast him.
"What do you mean they haven't any information as yet? "
"Listen Khanna this is very important. Aap jante ki meri parivaar meri liye priority hain. Their safety comes first. Why the bloody hell is this taking so long?
"I don't bloody care. You don't worry about me being stressed, just go check the footage again, go scold the new security guards, do whatever you can Khanna, I'm counting on you"
"Khanna one more thing, about that meeting tomorrow morning, it's very important so don't bother to postpone it."
"Khanna listen na, just do as I am saying, I will be .." Shivaay never got to continue as his phone was rudely snatched away from him.
He turned to see Annika looking at him, completely annoyed, as she put the phone to her ear.
"Khannaji, Haan Annika thank you soo soo much again for everything aap bahut sweet hain. Anyways that meeting Mr SSO was scolding you about, don't worry about that. Woh toh sirf taadi-"
"Annikaaa" Shivaay growled trying to snatch the phone from her but she yanked it back, and turned away from him.
"Aaap.. what are you doing just give it back!" he scowled again trying to grab the phone. He sorely failed as Annika held his hand firmly and spoke to Khanna turning away again, quickly before Shivaay could use his other hand to yank it from her hold.
"Haan Khanna, Postpone that meeting as he needs to rest. Also if there's any issue with the security, call my phone too because aapka kanji aankhon wala SSO aaram ki zaroorat hain. Haan bilkul. Thank you! Acha Bye"
She ended the call and let go of his hand.
"What is wrong with you ?What are you doing"
"What do you mean? I am just here to give you haldi wali doodh!" she smiled innocently holding up the tray with one hand and hiding the phone behind her back with the next.
"Give it back!"
"Nope not until you have this" she pouted.
"Don't be stubborn Annika" he said angrily.
"And that meeting is very important why did you tell him to postpone it" he shouted upon receiving no response from her.
"aap kyun itana chillaate hain? Pechle janam aap behra the kya?"
"What nonsense" he said pointing a finger at her, agitatedly.
"Listen mr Bhagad Billa." She said setting the tray down again and holding out the glass of milk to him.
"Drink this now. No excuses. Warna aap meri Chameli.." she gestured to her feet angrily.
"Acha theek hai theek hai" he said taking the glass.
"Good choice. Waise Pinky aunty was saying you didn't let her change your dressing. Kyun?"
"I don't need to. Besides you guys are overreacting, I have a lot of things to be done right now. And please give me my phone"
"Dekho, itna taadi mat maaro." He was about to protest about her language but held back as Annika raised her eyebrow and pointed to the glass in his hand.
He swallowed his attitude and took a few sips.
"Why don't you understand? You were shot Shivaay, that too because of me. I mean, because of your responsibilities toward me. You need rest, you need time to heal. If you stress yourself out like this, your condition will get worse only" she sighed, looking at him.
In the corner of her eyes something stood out to her.