The New York Trip (Shivika SS)
Chapter One.
"How's it going Paanika?" Shivaay lazily teased her, as he shrugged off his jacket, draped it over one shoulder and entered the kitchen.
"ek dum jhakaas, Billuji" she said sarcastically, without looking toward him, her concentration inevitably transfixed upon the cupcake in front of her.
He cringed at "Billuji" and was about to protest when he noticed Om and Rudra, who were sitting on stools near the island where his wife was working, nodding negatively, indicating it was too late to start a petty fight with her. As much as he used to get annoyed when they took her side, he had to admit he loved their bond.
He smiled at them, adoring them for keeping her company. Their kitchen was now expanded, a project initiated by the three boys since they were now joined by their other halves. A larger island was constructed and there were stools along the length of the island. An additional sectional couch against the wall made it easy for the entire gang of youngsters to hang out and cook together in their new kitchen. Om was sketching absently in his scrap book, drinking probably a mug of chai made by Annika. Rudra was on his tablet perhaps reading notes for his courses. Yup, Rudra was actually a lot more serious now, studying ardently for his business courses, gearing up to co-head the Oberoi Industries with his beloved brother one day. And yet, though all occupied doing different things, there was this air of warmth and comfort. He could see the way they drew their energy from their Bhabhi the same way she did with them. Even silence was comfortable. It reminded him of the way the three Obros would be with each other, except this was different because she gave them a different breath of air all together. Annika was a mother and a best friend and a sister to them all in one and it so reminded him of his protectiveness and paternal instincts over the two.
He looked at his watch, it was 9:30pm. The entire kitchen was drowning in baking supplies and cupcakes everywhere, yet somehow she managed to keep it as clean as possible. No random smears of icing adorned the countertops to his relief. He figured he was beginning to rub off on his wife, a lot more than he expected. This was the routine for the past couple of jobs Annika had gotten.
Annika had decided to continue catering to a greater extent. Shivaay was busy with a lot of contracts and so, he all the more pushed her to pursue this. He had her enrolled in one of the best Culinary and Management courses which she completed in a month and a half. Since this involved a lot of English speaking and notes in English, Shivaay made it his job to help her improve her English. He secretly urged her into this because he had realized how much of a traumatic effect his own family drama had on her. Having to stay with another man was already bad enough, identical looks... yikes... that was just wrong on a totally different level. Not to mention his denial when Annika tried to convince him that Mahi was not as bad as he thought he was, not to mention his explosions when they found out that Mahi was his twin brother, separated and unknown to Shakti and Pinky at their birth. Speaking of Pinky, the road of her redemption was now bearing fruit. Tampering with Annika's childhood history and trying to get her out of OM had shown her what it would feel like to lose both her sons and basically her entire family. Slowly everything had begun falling into place. Mahi was encouraged by Shivaay to pursue his education. Education was the key to everything, was it not? Shivaay encouraged his brother to enroll in the same college he had studied, and eventually he had started Business and Management, and English of course because we all know how much English Mahi had known. He persuaded him since it was never too late to start. After all, many adults pursue degrees at that age, so why not Shivaay Singh Oberoi's brother. It took a lot of convincing, but the entire family's support did the job. Shivaay began loving Mahi as his own. His heart reached out to him in a way he could not describe. It made him even more emotional to see Mahi finally receiving the love of a mother and father. His heart pined however, because he knew how hard it was for Mahi to leave his newly found family to go to an unknown place, London. But they all knew it was for the best.
Annika was just like Shivaay, she put everyone's needs before herself. When Mahi left, Shivaay realized exactly how much time had been invested into his brothers and his family. Whether it be Mahi, whether it be convincing OM to understand Gauri and make peace with her, whether it was encouraging Rudra to decide on a career and to be kind to Soumya. Not to mention standing up for Jhanvi and advising Tej on his road to redemption. Handling Pinky was a different level all together. Needless to say, both Annika and Shivaay had been so busy trying to make things right, trying to show Dadi that her family was not shattered, that now when things were going well at their own pace, they should without a doubt be focusing on themselves. However, an expanding Oberoi empire and Annika's newly flourishing catering business seemed to have another idea. Seeing her busy with her own things calmed his mind, knowing that at least she would be occupied while he was.
Looking at her now, he bit back a smile as she held her piping bag and gracefully piped a perfect rose with the tube of frosting onto the cupcake. She grinned as she released the pressure on the bag and moved to the other. She was a perfectionist. Just like him.
In different ways of course, but she was indeed similar to him. Why couldn't he see this before? She was a workaholic, a busy bee. She was an endearingly, self-dependent woman who would never let anyone, or any man tell her what to do. No one, no one, could cross Annika. Dabang Annika. The difference was her method. Where she was all Tadi, he was all threats and money. What a duo!
"We'll leave you guys to it then Bhaiya" Rudra grinned, breaking Shivaay out of his drooling session.
"Uhh yea it's fine, you guys can go to bed now, it's quite late already" he replied sheepishly, resting his jacket on the stool next to Rudra.
Before the duo could reply, the girls chimed in. They had been watching a movie, which the boys deemd too much of a "chick-flick". Besides, they saw it as an opportunity to spend time with their Bhabhi.
"Annika Di, are you done?"
"Almost. I have one more dozen to get through. Come see na Bulbul. Soumya tu bhi!"
All giggled slightly, and Gauri rolled her eyes. It was once a joke, but Annika made sure it became a habit to call Gauri, Bulbul.
"Waw Di they look amazing." Soumya cheered, looking at the perfectly frosted cupcakes in amazement.
"But of course, made by the one and only Annika Shivaay Singh Oberoi." she beamed proudly, shifting the cupcakes from the rack into the prepared storage containers. Gauri and Soumya took over and helped her pack the rest while she got back to frosting the last dozen.
"Waise Bhabhi, I never thought I would see you calling yourself an Oberoi with that proud expression on your face. In fact, I think your nose was at a 90 degree angle, straight up like Shivaay's, no?" Om teased.
"Haaan, I mean you teased Bhagad Billa Oberoi," he bit his tongue as Shivaay glared at him and folded his arms, "... sorry I mean you teased Bhaiya a lot for showing you so much Tadi just because he is an Oberoi, now you yourself are one." Rudra said comically
"OmRu are right. I thought you were "Just Annika"?" Shivaay teased as he sat next to his brothers on a stool.
"Shut up!" she chided, biting her lip, as she moved her piping bag in a circular movement, gently applying pressure, then releasing after she was pleased with her rose. She placed some silver beads in the center of the rose. Soon enough she was done.
After the girls helped her pack the containers, the boys stacked the containers on the table near the dining room.
"Thanks so much you guys! For keeping me company and packing them. You are the besttt" Shivaay almost melted when her smile exploded as she hugged his brothers and their wives.
"What about me?" he asked softly, but they all heard.
"Hmmm..." the girls sang while Rudra winked at his Bhabhi and Om cleared his throat.
"You'll get yours after you help me clean up." she barked.
"Ahh you have no care for your pati parmeshwar who's just got home after such a long and tiring day" He exhaled deeply, wiping his forehead.
"one brother is an artist and the other, ek dum dramebaaz." Gauri muttered.
"And the other one? Crybaby!" Soumya rolled her eyes.
"I heard that."Rudra snapped.
"Anyways you guys go to sleep. I'll help your Di clean up. Its already late go guys."
"Goodnight Bhaiya, goodnight Bhabhi"
Soon they were alone.
"I was joking, by the way" Annika said absently as she packed her ingredients back into the pantry.
"No it's fine I'll help you." He smiled grabbing her decorating sprinkles and edible glitter and handing them to her as she packed them back.
"I know you had a long day Shivaay, go freshen up, I'll heat up some dinner for you."
"I said it's fine. When you're done here we'll both go freshen up and go to sleep."
"Fine, I'm too tired to argue with you. I scrub, you rinse?" She asked.
"Definitely." He agreed.
And so within no time they both washed up all the bowls and utensils she had used in preparing her 200 cupcakes for the big conference being held at Oberoi Empire the following evening.
This was their new routine. Whenever she had orders, his brothers, sisters-in law or his mom and Badi Ma would keep her company if she had to work late at night and he was not home. If he was around, he'd keep her company, even help her but in decorating, nope. He had to admit, he was talented in cooking and maybe baking even, but he couldn't do justice to a cupcake or cake the way his wife did. As of the last two orders she had, he had reached home late and insisted on helping her wash up and clean up the kitchen. And hence this slowly became a ritual. It was the least he could do after barely spending time with her. But what could he do? With the Oberoi Empire expanding, he rarely had a minute to spare. At least, they could spend time together this way. He grinned inwardly as he thought of the bomb he was gonna drop on her in a couple minutes. And the MAHA bomb he was gonna drop on her the next evening.
When everywhere was spick and span, she served him dinner and went to freshen up in their room. Once he was done he too went for a shower.
Shivaay came out feeling refreshed and smiled at the sight before him. Annika was standing near the window, similar to that time when he had mistaken her for Tia.
Living with Annika was a rollercoaster ride. She was loud. She was quiet. She was strong. Yet she was delicate at times. She was independent, yet he wanted her to lean on him. She was sharp with her tongue but she had a heart of gold. She was a walking paradox who graced his life every single moment, of every single day and he could not be more pleased at the turn of events life had brought his way. She was fiery and outspoken at times, she laughed too loudly and could not stop talking which seemed to be appreciated by his entire family. Then there was this avatar. The Annika standing before him, staring out at the pool, basking in the wind, enjoying looking at the soft ripples of the water. She was fire yet she was water. How could one feisty firecracker be so serene and angelic? Shivaay decided he was indeed blessed to have her in his life because in some weird way, they fit. Where his edges were jagged, she was there waiting to smoothen them out. When she was a whirlwind, he was there like her own personal tranquilizer.They never completed each other. They were both too strong-minded and two hundred percent not naive to be hung up on the cliche idea of someone else completing their life. However, they knew that they complimented each other in the most perfect way. Something warmed in his heart as he drank in the sight of this relaxed, weary Annika, stripped of her Tadi. The side of her that longed to lean on him and which he yearned to lean on him. The side of her that was powerful, yes, but also emotionally drawn to him. The side of her she had missed out on. It was not just Annika who brought out a Shivaay version two. Shivaay brought out the innocent, loving Annika who got lost along the road to her survival.
The moonlight made her outline look surreal, even more majestic that the woman she already was.
He walked towards her and stretched his arms out to take her into a back hug. With almost no resistance at all, she leaned back into him, the bricks of her walls falling one by one at his feet, interlocking his fingers with hers as his hands rested on her tummy.
"You have no idea how relieving it is to do this and know it's actually you this time." he said, inhaling her scent as a few tendrils of her slightly curly hair blew in the wind and caressed his cheek.
He closed his eyes as he was pleasantly greeted by the sweet frangrance of green tea and lemons and sweet pea, and all things Annika.His eyes opened as he felt vibrations from her body and realized she was chuckling.
"Back then you wanted to burn those forms for creating that entire situation. Now look at you."
"You enjoyed that, didn't you?" he shook his head, a whisper of a laugh escaping his lips.
Turning in his arms to face him, she replied, "I think you enjoyed that even more, seeing that you didn't want to let go of my hand."
"Hmm, you remember that night in quite some detail, now don't you? Pray tell, why is that?" he teased.
"Shut up." She chided, crinkling her forehead.
"Fine." He replied in defeat.
"Let's go to sleep" she sighed, finally resting her hands on his shoulders and giving him a slight squeeze.
"I know you must be tired too." She sympathized with him as she looked into his weary eyes.
"We're both very tired, we should get to bed." he said, "But I need to tell you something first"
"What's that?" she furrowed her eyebrows, wondering why his face contorted into such a grim expression.
"Actually... there's something I didn't tell you."
"Will you continue or are you just gonna keep the suspense going? Baat ghumaye matt." she said, agitatedly.
"Woh... kya hai na.. the conference tomorrow night, there's a sort of follow up conference for the top businessmen and I've been invited."
"Oh wow. That's great Shivaay! So yeh konsi bari baat hai ki itna suspense..." she was cut off.
"It's in New York." He bit out quickly.
"Ohh..." she said as it dawned on her what he was trying to say.
"I'll have to go for about a week."
"A week?" she shrieked, letting go of him dramatically.
"Shh you'll wake up everyone." He rolled his eyes at his loud wife. It still amazed him how alike she and his Mom were.
"A week?" she whispered this time.
"See, there's this contract I have been putting off signing because I'd have to travel to the US, so now I'm thinking to do it one time since I have to go for the conference. You know, kill two birds with one stone"
"Kill what?" her eyes widened.
"Oh right, I mean you know, do the two things one time, get it done and over with. English idiom. Another one you're learning, see."
"Whatever, now is not time for your English classes okay. So when do you leave?"
He kept mum wondering how to tell her.
"Just tell me." She demanded.
"The flight is Friday morning at 2am" he said sheepishly.
"Today is Wednesday." She looked up, working it out in her head.
"Yeah..."
"So after the conference tomorrow night, you'd be packing to leave? When I thought you'd have some free time to take me to see that new English wali film on Friday night, you'd be in New York?"
"Basically."
"Lovely" she said walking toward the bed.
"Annika..."
"It's fine Shivaay, I understand. I know how important your work is to you. I'll have Rudra download it for me to watch, don't worry." She said in a strangely calm tone.
"You're really not mad at me?" he asked coming closer to her. "Come on, get angry, taadi maro, shout at me, something!" he continued, incredibly stunned at her response.
"Oh hello, I don't need your permission to give you an earful, but try me in the morning. Right now, I have no energy to get mad at you, you waste of a pati parmeshwar." she said tiredly as she hopped onto his side of the bed.
"Uhhh, Anni that's my side." He said sitting on the edge, nudging her to scoot around to her side.
"Who's squashing plans to go away for a whole week?" In the moonlight, he could see her squint her eyes at him menacingly and he knew it was dangerous to do anything but let her have her way.
"Uhh koi baat nahin... in fact har raat app yahan so sakte" he mumbled quickly as he walked around to the other side of the bed and pulled the blanket over them both.
He came over to the middle of the bed and draped an arm over her trying to placate her.
She shrugged him off and muttered something.
When he gave up trying, he leaned over to peck her forehead before turning onto his side.
He smiled when he felt her arms on his chest as she spooned him and tucked her knees under his as she curled into him.
She must have sensed his reaction.
"Don't get too happy. This is only because I'm tired and this feels nice and comfortable. Tomorrow morning I'm so gonna go from this to Taadibaaz Annika. Or who knows, I may not even speak to you!"
"Best to enjoy this while I can then" he said softly and turned towards her.
"Finally, you have started using your brains. Guess that big head of yours is not totally khaali after all. Logic" she grinned and tapped her temple, in her typical Annika style.
Taking her in his arms, he raked his fingers gently through her hair while she ran hers down his back, squeezing the back of his neck from time to time. Soothing each other's weariness and stress of their long days of hard work away, they both fell into a sweet slumber.
I guess some nights you just know when to give up a fight and give in to each other. That's what they'd both been learning to master these past couple weeks. On nights where they were both irritated and tired, which were quite frequent, something as minute as doing the dishes together helped to mold their relationship which was blossoming at a quicker pace than anyone had ever expected. No verbal I love yous were exchanged, but sometimes every little action can pour ten times your normal serving size of love than three mere words.
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Feel free to check out these others written by me:
Helium (Your Love Lifts Me Up) Shivika TS
Kumkum Bhagya
Tu Dhadkan Main Dil
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
