I am updating again and there are so many chapters. Let me know what you think. I love reading your comments.
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Chapter 5
The T And D Factor
"What is wrong with him? Tia asked Dushyant.
"I think artificial faade faded away in the light of reality.
"Dushyant!
"Chillao mat! You are playing with fire. If ever he comes to know about us, I don't even want to think about that moment. Why are you doing this? I am fed up of it, either give him up or spare me.
"Dushyant we both were in it together.
"No we were not. There is no "WE Look Tia in any world there are only two kings, the gangman and the business man rest everyone else is just the middle man. We are talking about Oberois here. Have you ever, and I mean ever heard a business man of his acumen going down just like that. Do you even know if this revenge thing is for real? Did you try to find out if your father was really murdered? What if your mother is under some wrong impression? Play with fire and not get burnt doesn't happen.
"Who was she?
"I don't know but who ever she is, she is close to Tej Singh Oberoi and Omkara. Why do you ask about her? Don't try to divert me. Think about yourself Tia before it is too late.
Dushyant left Tia in deep thought. It is not that she never thought of these things. Ofcourse assuming that she could fool the Shivay Singh Oberoi, who had brought this whole business empire to its current glory literally single handed was like saying Moon is as bright as Sun. She also understood that the day her carefully laid out game is uncovered would be her last day of life. All business empires and emperors hid darkest of secrets within their dungeons. She felt fear course through her veins. She steadied her train of thoughts and left for her home.
Tia Kapoor was the daughter of Mrs Kapoor who owned the Ktech Software solutions ltd. This company was established and nurtured by Tia. She was neither a bad person nor stupid. Infact she was very intelligent. It was her intelligence and hard work that had made her company Ktech one of the leading software solutions company in the country. She had been longing to launch another product but she was lacking funds. Shivay knew that her business had huge potential, though it was already big but with her new digital telecasting product in line it could be a major game changer especially in the world of digital telecast. So Shivay had planned to invest in it in turn for 40 percent stake in her company. This was the opening that Mrs Kapoor had always wanted; it was at this time that she told Tia and her sister Romi all the details of how their father was burnt to death by the Oberois to hide their crimes. Tia could not believe at first, but later on her mother shared a lot of evidence though they did not all connect but they did make sense on face value.
Thus Tia did a full research on Shivay, she learnt that Shivay was an extremely intelligent person. Oberois had once about twelve years back only owned pharmaceuticals and salt factories in Gujrat. It was Shivay who ventured into car parts industry, and then from there into construction and shipping. Come 2017 Oberois had under there umbrella a plethora of Industrial accolades Dyuti being the latest one. Shivay and Tej had kept their families out of all sorts of media glare hence their family was always out of picture and they lived considerably simple life due to which there were no stories attached to them either. Tia needed to come close to Shivay so that she could win his trust. SHivay had been off any female company since Mallika. The time was probably right and Tia was one of those non- stick female company that could just be there and then not be there too. It worked for SHivay and hence he sometimes started to mingle with her. They shared a friendly relationship, her demeanour was never too clingy and she respected his attachment to his brothers and family. She never demanded much from him, she was a very mature woman and this pulled Shivay towards her. He treated everything with a calculated approach and felt that Tia would be best suited for his life and thus he decided to marry her.
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Chapter 6
Anika meets Dr Samar Malhotra
"Hello Dr. Anika. Welcome to Tata Institute of cancer research.
"Shukriya sir. Aap ne iska mauka diya yeh mere liye badi baat hai.
"Anika you deserved it. It will be a big thing if any of the indigenous pharmaceuticals could support this research it would be great. Jitna bhi data humare paas abhi hai wo kafi promising hain.
"Sir mera intention sirf itna hai ki kissi tarah se yeh research india mein ho ho aur hum sabke kaam aa sake. Agar yeh vaccine successful hoti hai to we will have a breakthrough. Bahut saare logon ko relapse se bache rehne ki ummeed milegi.
"Lo Samar is also here. You both take it from here and I will see you in a while.
Anika and Samar nodded in agreement.
"How have you been Anika?
"Great! So we have to a standstill. We need money?
Anika had become too serious. She had come here because Dr Dhawan had called her to assist him in the final presentation to the various pharmaceuticals about the research that they had been doing on a medicine for braincancer. Brain cancer had one of the worst prognosis patients hardly crossed the five year mark once diagnosed with it. The main issue was that once the 1st rounds of chemo and radiation were successful the cancer remained in remission for very little time. It mostly relapsed within the first three years and it became vicious and deadly. Dr Dhawan's team had been working on this medicine to prevent relapse for quite some time now. They needed to go into large scale clinical trials. The clinical trials are to be supported by pharmaceuticals who in turn acquire patent for such medicines. India has seen very little research in the field of modern medicine especially for cancer. Since most of the cancer medicine came from abroad they were mighty expensive and hence out of reach for most people. If by any chance this medicine could be researched in India and then the formula patented, Dr Dhawan was sure this could help with many other cancers. Anika was the most important member of his team for the research as well as in the initial trial done at various participating hospitals in India and it had been pretty successful. They now needed to go into full blown clinical trial. Not only that, if this one dream of hers could be accomplished she would have the purpose of her life served. She would no more need to justify her birth.
Anika was an Orphan who had been treated by the society as orphans are treated with either pity or with abhorrence. She hated both. She had achieved a lot in the short 31 years of her life. Geting selected to AIIMS at a very young age of 18. She had done her MBBS with flying colors. When she got selected for her masters she could have just sat back and opted for some milder majors like ophthalmology or even gynecology but she chose one of the most mystical and mysterious neuro surgery. Dr Samar was her senior when she had joined MS. He was in the final year of his residency. It was then, that they had worked together under Dr. Dhawan a name to reckon with in the field of neuro oncology. For past three years she had been working on this research along with her residency. Tata group had agreed to fund the clinical trial now and to bring the research to Mumbai but they needed partners, that is what Anika was here for, today to assist Dr. Samar and Dr. Dhawan in their pursuit. Day after tomorrow they would have a conference with many executives of various pharmaceuticals in India. ORO Pharma a wing of Oberoi Group of Industries was to be one of them.
Samar observed Anika intently; it always intrigued him how easily she zoned out. He snapped his finger to break in to her day dream. This was their common point of laughter. They shared and easy camaraderie. Samar asked her to wait in his chamber as he had to go for a round and would take atleast 1 hr.
"I hope it did not take me too long.
"Agar der hui bhi hai to mujhey ussey koi pareshani nahi. Anika replied to Samar who was now taking off his coat. They needed to go through the numbers, figures to be precise, numbers of patients suffering with this disease in India and world, number of patients in the developing nations and then in the under developed nations, numbers associated with cost of research, numbers associated with the possibilities of research. They had to have that all on the tip of their fingers because this was not some game at Olympics where efforts won. This was a game of numbers, figures of cost and predictions of profit. They had covered all these topics before also but Anika as well as Samar never wanted to leave any scope for any guilt later on. They were not ready to leave a scope for this question "what if they had tried harder?
"Anika I think you should present this project.
"Me I don't even speak English properly. I will not be able to do it.
"Agar desh ke Pradhanmatri UN ko address kar saktey hain Hindi mein to yeh to bas ek business conference hain.
"Dekhiye Sir yeh batein kehne mein acchi lagti hain. yeh ek business conference hain aane wale industrialists ke liye hi nahi un logon ke liye jo zindagi aur maut ke beech mein naumeedi ki dor ke sahare joojh rahry hain. Hum yahan wo kya wo kehtey hain na badi badi baton mein apney itne bade project ko angrezi mein, ruin nahi kar saktey.
"What is getting ruined? Dr. Dhawan entered and asked in a serious tone. Well he was a very serious person. Not one to be taken lightly. He not only commanded respect he had earned it and extracted it from a society that is unforgiving, by his sheer desire for service. When he had sought applications from residents for his research, Anika had never in her wildest dreams thought that she would be selected. She had always admired him for his dedication and knowledge. He could be called a medical dictionary or a Medical lexicon, but she knew that in this world where positions were frequently bought and sold her getting a chance at this high level research would be impossible. She was but shocked or rather stunned when she was called for a personal interview. Since then she has been working as an advisee of Dr Dhawan. Their research was funded by the government but now they were in stage expansion and they needed more investment for a break through. This is what their team desperately needed.
"I was asking Anika to present this project in the conference.
"No, Anika cannot do it. This is not the time to play with ideals and things. We need this to be presented with clarity and precision without any fluff. No emotional appeals because this is about business and not emotions. I have called Dr. Raghav to present it as he is not directly associated with this research and hence his emotions will be at a distance and he will be able to address the concerns of the possible investors with objectivity.
Anika and Samar both had no option but to agree, for what Dr Dhawan said was absolute truth, while the research could prove precious for many lives if it stayed in India but it could stay in in India only if any of the big business houses would deem it profitable enough.
Raghav was the business head of City group of hospitals. At 35 years of age this was no small feat to accomplish. Wow so many young achievers all around her. When ever Anika came to Mumbai she came across so many young people doing so much with their lives that she always felt small. Quite a few of them came from simple families but made it big. Such was Mumbai a land where dreams flourished but she was also aware of a Mumbai where dreams came crashing down. Whatever it was the city enthralled her and gave her hope that some day a piece of this world would be hers. So what if she did not have a sur name to be proud of, there were many like her who inspired her. So what if she was all alone in this huge world, she had broken the walls of that loneliness by taking into her fold the very orphanage that had nurtured her.
Samar once again snapped his fingers to bring her back, she looked up and found Dr. Dhawan had already left.
"No wonder he ruled me out. This time something was lacking in her laughter. Samar knew she felt a little overwhelmed whenever she was amongst people who were able to do so much with their lives. Samar himself was hardly 36 and was a name to reckon with in the field of medicine. He was known for his ability to connect with patients and to take risks. Opting to work in a field where success ratio is negligible, to persue something that is elusive, to seek life when all you get back is death, to live in such pessimistic atmosphere and still smile was a skill that Samar had exceled. His easy persona and comforting personality added to his charm, there was hardly anyone who was not in love with him.
"You know Anika he never ruled you out, but this is a fact that you think from your heart not mind.
"Yeah right, and right now I am thinking from my stomach. I am really very hungry and need food to live.
Samar laughed at how she had changed the topic for he was sure Anika was one of those people who had weird control over her hunger but none over her tongue. He was sure some day she would land her self in a soup or Raita as she called and wont be able to come out of it. He pulled her along with him to the hospital canteen.
They had been enjoying their sandwich and bread pakora in peaceful silence. Anika was googling something on her phone that he had gifted her on her birthday about 4 years back.
"A penny for your thoughts? He playfully smiled and successfully got her attention back to him.
"Guess guess khelne ka man hai? Chalo theek hai aap batao main kya kar rahi hoon and main aapke phone log mein top par kiska naam hai wo bataongi. She raised her eyebrows challenging him.
"Tum replay kar rahi ho Dhawan sir ka dialogue or thesaurus mein objectivity ki meaning dhoondh rahi ho.?
"Kya baat hai? Itni jaldi pakad liya. Wo kya hai yeh objectivity na main bahut baar sun chuki hoon par har baar object mein reh jaati hoon aur dimag ka dahi ban jaata hai. Ek baat bataiye sir yeh Dhawan sir thoda sadharan angreji bolein to kaisa rahey hmm.
"Ab tum batao.
"Kya? Oh Haan wo pehla naam. ...Ragini Kaul. Samar was taken aback when she said that name. He did not know what to say he had thought that he would tell Anika about his engagement to Ragini in his own way but she knew it already. He tried to figure out if Anika was upset. They had never said anything to each other but somethings are understood even without words. As was his attraction understood by Anika so was his reason to retract. Samar came from a huge family background. Like Oberois his family also had myriads of business, Samar was not into his family business as he somehow detested all this world surrounding practicality and money. He became a doctor and kept himself as scarce as he could in his family business. He had asked for his father's assistance but all he got was a denial laced in mockery. For his parents investing in possibilities that contained very little hope was waste of time.
"Anika main tumhey batane wala tha.
"ek message bhi nahi kiya aapne sir itna paraya kar diya bas itni shikayat hai.
"Meri mom bahut bimar hain. Unki baat nahi taal paya Anika
"Main aapko aisa karne ke liye kabhi kehti bhi nahi. Mujhse zada vaqat koi, ma ki nahi kar sakta aisa main nahi keh sakti. Par main itni vaqat to aapki ma ki karti hi ki aaoko aakar wish karti. Chaliye koi na aap engagement pe to bhul gaye par shadi mein zaroor yaad kijiyega. Mujhey lagega aapne mujhse apni dosti ka maan rakha. She said with absolutely dry eyes, Samar knew Anika never cried in front of people whom she considered acquaintances. She had only ever bared her soul to either Priyanka or him but today she parted her ways with him with such dignity that even the most highly bred and nurtured ladies would never have been able to do so. It is not so that he had not tried to convince his mother but then breaking the norms associated with name, lineage, and heritage needed unusual courage which his mom never had.
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.Chapter 7..
Realisations abound
It was nearly 6 PM the meeting had gone very well, much better than their expectations. The Oberois were pretty confident that they would be able to launch their Dyuti in US market very soon. They were all sitting in Shivay's Cabin. Tia was also there,
"Shivay baby I had lost hope that you would be able to go for this meeting. Without you I was fretting how would this meeting go.
"Well you were unnecessarily fretting, main nahi bhi jaata to OM RU would have managed it.
"Shivay you are irreplaceable and for once I agree tia without you it would have been a mess. Said Omkara. "agar papa ek bar meri aankhon mein ghoor kar dekhtey hain to main sab kuch vaise hi bhul jaata hoon so main to Vaisey bhi thoda flop show hoon. Said Rudra sulking .
"This calls for a celebration, Tia suggested.
"No not today Shivay has already had that dreadful attack in the morning I don't think we should be drinking any alcohol today. Om snubbed the idea of party right there.
"WO kya hua tha bhaiya ko aaj subah Taxi something. Rudra said
"Vestibular Ataxia. Shivay said recalling every bit that had happened in the morning today. It was truly weird that he had reacted the way he did. Of late his panick attacks were getting stronger. He was not able to control his anxiety. At times he felt he was crumbling under the massive pressure of everything especially since he had decided to marry Tia every thing felt so heavy and overburdening. He felt as if he some of his deal was going wrong. He was going to lose something big. He felt as if he was being consumed by some kind of a smoke, as if he was being catapulted into the unfathomable depth of an ocean. He once again felt suffocated and reached to his collar button to open it up. It already was opened he reached for his second button but that too was already opened. It was absolutely not done he attended a formal meeting with representatives of one of the world's biggest automobile Industry , with a shirt half unbuttoned. Omkara looked at Shivaya and then followed his fingers. He immediately understood what was going on in Shivay's mind.
"Shivay the meeting is over. Your buttons did not make or break it, you did.
"How could I be so careless? He as if questioned himself.
"Shivay Baby it is not your fault, you were having that attack so that nurse opened up your buttons. Then you were irritated by her so much that you went for the meeting without looking into the mirror.
It struck him not only open buttons but he went 50 percent wet. No wonder now his throat was feeling sore. He would now suffer from cold. He felt a surge of rage course through his veins as he recalled all that had happened in the morning.
"Shivay it was no one's fault and Anika is not... Omkara was rudely interrupted by Shivay.
"I don't care what that nurse...what is her name, yeah Anika, is or is not. I just don't want to see her again. Ask the agency to send another nurse for Dadi.
"Shivay Dadi is perfectly fine she does not need a nurse. I don't know who gave you this damn idea.
"Shivay baby I just wanted a nurse for dadi so that she would have a companion for all the time.
"She does not need a companion she needs company and we are good for that. Omkara was just short of kicking Tia out.
"I think having a nurse at all times will just be an added comfort for dadi. I don't see any thing wrong in that. Shivay said with a touch of finality in his tone. "Tia make sure you call up that agency and ask them to change this Anika with someone else. She was behaving as if she was a doctor. I hate over smart people. He said while leaving the room and Tia followed him. Had he waited he would have heard that Omkara clearly said that she is a doctor.
"Shivay baby it is just 6 in the evening lets go for some coffee. Shivay took a deep breath to control his irritation. As of now he wanted peace and to be left alone. Tia usually never hanged around unnecessarily and gave him his space. He for sure needed loads of that space. He also understood that it was her due right to demand some of his attention and time. He tried to balance his need and her due, in his mind and turned to face her. He looked in her eyes yet again, trying to see some sort of excitement, or anticipation for that cup of coffee that she had requested but what he got to see was confusion, indecision. He always read that in her demeanor. While he was not a romantic and believed in keeping everything as real as possible, especially relations yet expecting a little bit of excitement in a relationship at the beginning is pretty realistic, even in his world. He touched her bare shoulder tenderly with the back of his fingers, giving her long earing a playful flick, hoping to see some reaction from her or from him. He knew he couldn't blame her alone for this coldness that ran between them. He felt her shudder, for a fleeting second he felt as if he saw disgust in her eyes. Something made him feel happy, he felt relieved he was not the one to be blamed alone. He felt sad, for sure, but what he felt so sad for was the question he was unable to find an answer to. He was sure he was not looking for her affection hence her coldness was not the reason, moreover it was mutual. He was not a person who craved for female appreciation, or company, he had never been so. Females naturally were attracted towards him but he kept himself aloof. He was not a Casanova billionaire; he actually never got involved in frivolous relationships. He respected women in general and never flouted the basic rules of courtesy and social etiquette. This is one trait of his that can be attributed to his exceptional upbringing. His uncle or bade papa was a known womanizer and his father had been just his uncles shadow. He had seen his badi ma perish under the careless affiliations of his uncle, that badi ma who was an epitome of grace, beauty and intelligence. His mother had been the sole pillar of the household a simple woman with bright choices not only in dressing but life too. He knew his own mom was that bright shining star in the family who gave light to all. She had actually brought up all the four children with love and care so that none would feel the heat of the outside world. She was strong, selfless and loving, valued family above all. Shivay was a mirrored reflection of his mother. The only flaw in his personality was that while he was all gooey when it came to family. He was extremely arrogant when it came to the world outside. In zeal to acquire all that he could and then some more he had lost the beautiful sensitive part of his own self and had become ruthless but successful business man of this country. At a very young age of 36 he had achieved what many could never even dream of.
"I am not feeling well Tia, I need to sleep, tomorrow is again a very long day. He clearly felt Tia's shoulder slump but not in disappointment. Her eyes betrayed her, her body did not coordinate with her mind, she had just let out the breath that she had been holding and that too with relief. What were they doing even thinking of being together; he thought when they could not stand each other's company.
"It is OK baby; You take rest, today has been tough. She placed a chaste peck on his cheek and turned away faster than one could blink. Shivay saw her walk away contemplating the situation a little more but then shook his head as if to shrug off all the thoughts that plagued his mind. It has been days since he had not slept properly so it was time to sleep.
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Chapter 8
A RESTFUL SLEEP.
White always soothed his senses. There was something about white color that calmed him down always. His tired eyes were longing to shut itself to the world for atleast a few hours. His exhausted brain wanted to dwell on some endearing thought, something that was beautiful and the first thing that came to his mind was his Dyuti, while Dyuti as an idea was not his alone but his Dyuti was white with lovely white interiors too. The thought of his white Dyuti seemed to do its bit and his eyes lids closed to dream the same dream that he had dreamt every waking minute. He was Shivay Singh Oberoi who could command his dreams also.
Someone was tugging at his collar button, the touch felt like the finest silk or may be like delicate feathers or like the morning dew on the petal of a flower. He felt enveloped by this earthy fragrance like that which arises from earth after first showers of rain. He was still dwelling in the touch when he felt his collar loosen up. The fingers were resting gently on his face and the other was now headed down to the second button. His head weighed heavy and he wanted to let go of every other thought that was plaguing him for the moment all he wanted was to let these finger take control. A sigh of surrender escaped his lips as those fingers undid his third and the fourth button too. He tried holding the hands so that he could feel those feelings through his fingers too, but she jerked his hands away and then it felt like cool dew drops were being showered from the heavens to soothe his agony. He was so tired and the angel knew it. Something now touched his bare chest, it were not those same fingers, they didn't feel the same still it felt so refreshingly calm and cool and warm at the same time. He was confused and wanted to open his eyes to see what was going on but for the fear of it disappearing he remained still. He tried not to breathe for he wanted to feel her breath unadulterated on his skin, warm and invigorating. She was close to him and her heart beat was so stable that it felt like music but the problem was his own heartbeat was messing with the rhythm. He so wanted to command his heart to stop so that all he could hear would be her heart. He wanted his senses to be soaked in her perception. He wanted to feel nothing but her he tried once again to hold her hands to feel them but she was persistent in denying him that one cherished moment that would last him his life time. He opened his eyes and stared into the deepest darkest black orbs sheathed by longest and thickest eyelashes. He raised his fingers to touch those lashes but she lashed out and stopped him yet again. Showering him with water, he closed his eyes once again feeling safe and secure. He knew deep within that as long as she was there shrugging away from his touch he will come back to himself, to be with her to be around her and to be in her.
" Shivaay sab khane pe intezaar kar rahey hain uth bacche. He held her hand for a second and then left it. Pinky tried to wake him up again and this time he woke up with a start. He looked at his mom in her hot pink and golden attire that kind of glared into his eyes but she looked beautiful never the less. He looked around in a daze trying to figure out where he was and where was that angel? It took him a few minutes to recover from his white filled slumber. He reached for his watch to check the time.
"Ghari ruk gayi hai, Time stopped mom He said still trying to make sense of what he had experienced, he could not decipher if it was real or ethereal. One thing that he was sure of was that this dream came because of those damn medicines.
"Nau baj gaye hain tum 3 ghante se so rahey they.
"Aap chaliye main aata hoon. Omkara aa gaya?
"Nahi wo Kissi ko pick karne gaya hai 10- 15 minutes mein aa jayega.
.Chapter 8b
Resilience and acceptance
A heavy silence had precipitated between Anika and Samar. Anika did not know what to say as she had already closed this chapter with Samar quite some back.. Priyanka had once asked her if she had moved on so soon. Only if she could tell Priyanka there was nothing from which she was moving on. She was a girl who lived in the real world and expected nothing from any one, though she accepted every thing that came her way even insults and onslaughts because she believed every moment of her life was enriching. Every incident in her life was a teacher. She was out in this huge cruel but beautiful world to create her own space, to carve her own identity without any help. Her phone rang and she reached out for it seeking some reprieve from this unwanted stress between Samar and herself.
"Hey are you done with your work?
"Omkara?
"Yeah I am free now so I can pick you up if your work is done.
"Yeah pretty much finished here. She said without looking at any one in particular yet the message was duly conveyed to Samar. Samar did not even want to look at her for the fear that his promise to his mother would be thrown out of the window, for the fear that his weak hear would take over his strong brain.
"It will take me around one hr to reach you Anika.
"Look I will take a cab.
"It really is not an issue with me Anika.
"Yeh samay aur petrol dono ka wastage hain. Mujhey pata hai petrol ki aapke liye koi value nahi par samay ki to hogi.
"Accha to half way millein. She could read insistence as well as determination in his tone. There was no point in arguing with these Oberois this much she has learnt as she had had an overdose of overbearing Oberoi males. She felt like she was done for the life time interacting with them.
"Samar Sir yeh apni chui mui ne apne teen Bahubaliyon ko mere peeche chod diya hain. Mera sar ek din mein hi apni jagah se hil chukka hai do din aur kaise jheloongi.
"Aur meri samajh mein yeh sab kyoun aa raha hai. Samar was totally taken aback by this sudden change of mood but then this was Anika never dwelling on anything more than a few minutes.
"Chui mui... apni Priyanaka, usko bhi bhool gaye. Anika could not believe that any one could forget the forever flustered Priyanka.
"Priyanka Oberoi?
"To aur kaun wahi aur usne apne teen veeron ko mere peeche chod diya hai... Nahi matlab choda to ek ko hi tha par baki do bhi mil gaye aur Kattapa bhi..I mean...
"Tej Oberoi. Samar said trying to control his laughter.
"Mujhey nikalna hoga warna wo Omkara Bahubali mere ko aur do char options de deinge aur meri itni simple life mein kabhi koi option nahi hota sirf compulsion hota hai. Actually options mujhey confuse kar detey hain. Ek din mein hi maine itne orders jhel liye hain utne poori life mein nahi liye kissi se. Sir subah sab se pehle Omkara Singh Oberoi ne phone pe order diya ki mujhey unke saath jaana hai. Unke office mein unke bade Bahubali Shivay Singh Oberoi ne to aisa dhoya ki bas poochiye mat waise main bhi koi kam nahi hoon Balti bhar bhar ke pani daala maine bhi real wala.
"Shivay Singh Oberoi pe tumne pani dala as in water!! Asked Samar totally shocked. He knew Shivay very well and some one messing with him was nearly impossible. He was a man born with a perennial scowl on his face. The only time any one could see him smile was when he was with his siblings.
"Ekdam W.A.T.E.R, nehla diya maine acche se
"And he let you do that? He was more than shocked now.
"Arrey wholesale mein jo dawa milli andar le li phir wahi Vestibular Ataxia kya karti koi aur option hi nahi tha. Waise ab main chalti hoon nahi to Kattapa sir bhi Naraz ho jayeinge unka pehle hi message aa chukka hai aaj ka dinner Mahishmati mein hai matlab Oberoi Mansion aur maine yahan dher bhar key yeh pakode uda liye hain She got up and was about to leave when Samar placed his hand on her hand she looked back at him and smiled a tired but genuine smile. He understood that Anika did not harbor any hard or sore feelings against him. Anika had no close friends except Priyanka and all others were mere aquaintances. Who saw a faade that she had built to hide her sorrow her pain. Even Priyanka was not aware of the depth of her pain. Samar did have some inkling for in between her nonsense banter she sometime gave him those glimpses. The only one person who could peep somewhat into her sole was denied that right today in other words Anika was left alone today. He felt as if someone clutched his heart.
"Aap jaantey hain,jo hua accha hua, issliye ki agar jo hum soch rahey they, Jo humne kabhi kaha nahi, accha hi kiya, kyounki mujhey aapki nazron apne liye sympathy dikhti hai. Yakeen maniye mere liye kissi ki aankhon mein gussa ho ya chidh ho ya nafrat, yeh sab bahut asani se bardasht ho jata hai par daya nahi sympathy nahi. Issliye lets keep things as they are. I don't like complications. She smiled at him and gave him her trademark 240 volt smile and left. Samar saw her going but there was something about Anika she never left a person feeling sad. He smiled to himself and went back to his chamber.
Chapter 9...
Hurried conclusions and strange equations.
Shivay was coming down the stairs feeling much better after drinking his favorite Americano. He loved coffee and till date his coffee had never let him down. So his Americano had not only refreshed him but his huge, giant, ego with a capital E was also refreshed and invigorated. His phone on his ears he was coming down, this man never lived in peace himself and neither did he let any one else live in peace. He had a close group of employees who had everything that anyone could want, but time, sleep and peace. He was on the first landing of stairs and giving instructions to his Company secretary about the next day schedule adjustments. When he felt a sudden pull, something tugged at his heart and at distance on the main door he saw Omkara walking in. He was not sure if he saw a translucent white cloud fluttering behind him so he squint his eyes and what he saw next threw him absolutely off guard. Even before anyone could blink his eyes he was in front of Omkara.
"Why is she here? I told you we don't need her.
"Anika! Thank you for coming. Even before Omkara could reply Tej's voice rang strong clear in the foyer. Anika stepped ahead and crossed the foyer as well as The great wall of Shivay Singh Oberoi to reach Tej. Knowing his bade Papa's temperament once again Shivay came to a conclusion that disgusted him to the core. The way Tej was exerting his familiarity and concern about about Anika made him think that she was one of his latest affiliations. This was the first time he dared to bring his woman home. He felt as if he was betrayed, it was this girl who had tended to him today morning and it was this girl who had colored his dream. He felt sick to his gut and was about to leave when he heard Janhavi's voice.
"Anika what a pleasant surprise beta. When did you come to Mumbai.
"Aaj savere Janhavi Aunty. I am so happy to see you after such a long time. Aap kaisi hain? Anika was familiar with Janhavi also and she was so very welcoming to her this did not make sense to him. He still stood facing the door as if waiting for someone else also to come in.
"Main theek hoon, tum kaisi ho aur Priyanka ka kaisa chal raha hai. Pinki, mummyji, yeh Anika hai actually Dr. Anika. Yeh Neuro surgery mein MS kar chuki hai ab AIIMS New Delhi mein residency kar rahi hai. Anika folded both her hands and wished both the ladies of the family. Shivay was stunned beyond words, she was a doctor and Priyanka's acquaintance. A sudden mountain of guilt came and rested on his chest. He could not understand why he was so eager to discard this girl by labeling her something or the other.
"Priyanka ekdam theek hai. Pehli baar ek emergency delivery handle ki aunty usne aur wo bhi without seniors. Usko dekh kar lagta nahi panch sal pehle wali Priyanka hai jo ungli puncture karne mein hi behosh ho gayi thi She said with a laughter.
"Delivery and Prinku? Rudra said coming out from his room, even Shivay was now facing Anika.
"Badi Mummy issiliye I was against Priyanka going for this medical education. Kya kya karwate hain. Shivay said fear and concern and disgust smeared on his face. Anika wanted to give him a smashing response but she chose to remain quiet because she did not want to even look at this blue eyed man infront of her who was arrogance personified.
"Shivay! She is doing what she wanted. As you and your brothers had an opportunity for yourselves so did she. Tej once again spoke.
"Lets have dinner, we are already late. Rudra tried to dissipate the mounting tension. Every one took their seats on the table. Anika was already full so she mostly pushed the food around in her platter, while all of them were just enjoying the warm camaraderie that existed amongst them though in that warmth there existed some undercurrent of wanted and unwanted heat too.
"Tu Kuch kha nahi rahi puttar. Dadi's tone was laced with love when she addressed Anika though her eyes were fixed on Shivay, who had carefully chosen to sit right opposite to Anika and had been observing her keenly but discreetly. With his dadi's words his connection with her was broken. It was strange that he felt connected to someone but his family. He did not like this unfamiliar feeling that had settled in his heart and was unsettling him.
"You are a doctor. He spoked for the first time since they sat on the table. Anika chose to keep quite once again. Some how she felt intimidated by his presence, the morning was a different ball game, he was sick and thus the scenario was where she had taken the lead. He was the vulnerable lamb and she his protector but now she was on a back foot. Even though she was familiar with the eldest Oberois and they acknowledged her with a lot of affection since the early days of their acquaintance but that didn't mean that they were any less lethal. She did have quite a good inkling of how viscous and selfish business world could be. She, therefore, chose to keep a conscious distance from the Oberois since past five years.
"Are you mute? "He asked pretty rudely again and before anybody could come to her rescue from Shivay's barb Anika defended herself well.
"I don't speak with food in my mouth. Yes I am a doctor.
"Your parents must be doctors too? Anika was no weakling who could be brought down that easily moreover unlike Shivay she was never in a hurry to conclude anything. So she gave him the benefit of doubt and answered his question in negative with a curt and stiff movement of her head. In a way she had given him a silent message to retreat. Shivay did read the message clear and loud. His experience with the world had given him an edge that was razor sharp and could inflict wounds with precision and that was precisely what he wanted to do now. He disliked her self-respect and inherent strength. If someone asked him, why he himself would not be able to answer with clarity but all he knew was he wanted to break this person opposite to him apart or, she will. She appeared to him as an untold challenge on his control freak mind. She unlike others did not cave in front of his carefully forged aura and diligently fostered ego, instead she came in with her own vivacious vibrations set at frequency that they shot straight into his practical head and messed with its wiring. An unknown pull and push both is what he felt when he saw her and that too the second time in the same day, again at a proximity that was dangerous. He knew that he needed to lance her first or she will. His question had unsettled her; He saw a passing cloud of pain in her eyes. The lineage was messy he was sure not that it personally bothered him, but he knew that people with murky bloodlines or fractured lineage were very touchy about this and he chose to attack viciously right at this gaping wound.
"What do they do? He asked this time with a smile that looked innocent but his eyes revealed it to her that he had shot the first arrow. It was up to her to either split that arrow with one of her own or bear wound in silence. She chose the former.
"Kuch to kartey hi honge zinda rehne ke liye, sahi, galat ya shayad dono, par mujhey pata nahi hai. There she had brought him down.
"Anika is an Orphan Shivay and our guest tonight.
"Of course badi Ma. Had I known it I would have never asked. He said looking straight in her darkest black eyes with his steel grey ones. He challenged her to come near only if she had the guts to risk all that she had. His cold and crooked smile said it all to Anika and she pledged to stay away from him. She could feel that strong undercurrent like a rip wave was pulling her towards him; she wanted to strangulate him, to suffocate him, to make him want his next breath with such desperation that he would cut this cord that was pulling her to him himself. She pledged to stay away from him on the food that she was eating and she digged her spoon in the rice but to her surprise there was none left. She knew it pretty well it was an indication of the nature itself that her pledge was going to be broken. She felt fear surge through her spine for she knew it very well if they remained in contact in any which way they were bound to bring each other down. Both were oblivious of the studious gaze that followed them. Dadi, Rudra and Omkara were reading them like open books. She had made Shivay drop his guard that was evident and Shivay had scrapped on her vulnerability, no her lineage was not her vulnerability but her heart was.
...
Chapter 10
Public sab jaanti hai.
The dinner ended mostly with no other questions and answers but there were people who were now intrigued and had their own questions and discussions.
"Rudy tu ne bhi vahi dekha jo maine dekha? Omkara whispered to Rudra
"Haan Tia ka option mil gaya.
"Pagal hai kya seedhe end point pe hi pahunch gaya.
"main to instant mein hi believe karta hoon dekhtey hain inki khichdi kaise pakthi hai. Rudy said in a hushed tone.
"Inki Khichadi mein ek kankad hai, Tia samjhey Rudy.
"Kya maloom Anika ki Taraf se haddi ho.
"to Ab kya karein.
"Pehle Haddi ko hatana parega, O.
"Pagal hai kya ?
"Duniya se hatane ki baat nahi kar raha hoon O!
"par Rudy dhoondheinge kaise Haddi?
" Jitna dimag yeh gadi banana mein lagate ho utna apne upar bhi lagate to ab tak Gauri tumhari gadi ki front seat pe baithi hoti. Priyanka bata degi.
"What if Priyanka does not know? Omkara once again raised the question which to him was logical.
"The way Mom and Dad are both familiar with her means she is quite close to Priyanka. Rudra once again tried to calm down his brothers suspicions. Someone knocked their door and then without waiting for a response entered.
"Why do you care to knock when you can't wait to be called in Shivay? Omkara laughed at Shivay as he settled down on the bed.
"When you would be having Gauri on this bed instead of this Rudradev then I will wait for your call to enter. Till then you can dream. Shivay answered with a wink to his youngest brother Rudra.
"I am glad the meeting went well. Omkara said on a serious note.
"Yeah it was our good luck that Prinku had asked me to pick Anika up and I did not have time to take her home and she landed up in the place she was needed the most. Omkara said to no one in particular but he succeeded in further distorting Shivays contours and mood. He wanted to abandon this topic right here so he started discussing their schedules for tomorrow. Amongst other things they were to have dinner at The Leela with the executives from the Ford America.
"What time is the dinner? Omkara asked
"7:00 PM why? You have planned something else? Rudra asked looking concerned.
"I can let you go if it is a date with Gauri and you promise to confess about your feelings to her. By the way had seen her paintings in the gallery today they were awesome. Shivay tried to sound casual and conceal his discomfort. He was trying hard to cover his feelings and not to bare himself. He was playing this hide and seek from not only his brothers but himself too. Once Anika was out of sight she was in his mind. He was unable to forget the way he behaved with her during dinner. He felt like a complete stranger to himself. He had never behaved like that with any one let alone a woman. He was extremely disciplined, control freak, super organized, arrogant, rude, extremely ambitious but he was also a well bred and well behaved human being. None of the employees could complain that he had ever misbehaved with them, of course overworking and overachieving were criteria to continue working with the Oberois but compromising with your dignity never was. Then what made him go out of his way to make that poor girl feel so intimidated was way beyond his comprehension. He felt wretched would be an understatement.
"Shivay you look perplexed? Om asked and Shivay looked upto him trying to figure out if he should confide in his brother who was much adept at understanding heart and it's weird ways.
"You are brooder, we do call you that but this does not mean you take this seriously that you start brooding even when we are around? Omkara said but he said that mostly to an already retreating Shivay.
"Good night guys see you at breakfast. Shivay yawned and left.
...
