Part 44- Her Gift To Him.
He fixed his collar right looking at his reflection in the mirror. Whistling he took his watch and wore it in his left hand. Then set his hair right analysing himself. His face grew serious as he realized he had been whistling! He whistled again, o yes he was whistling the tune of "Nashe Se Chad Gayi". And the only thing he remembered was her dancing to it. Damn, that day she was on fire. He smiled as the memories of her cute antics in lift came yo his mind. And then came the memories of the night before. His attraction for her made him insane. He smiled by just looking at her. He lost himself in her. He loved the way she cared for him. He loved almost everything about her. Hell, he even loved fighting with her arguing with her.
" No Shivaay, think of anything but not her" he couldn't let her rule him. NO.
He sighed trying to think about his meetings. The day would have been exciting if his family was with him but things were perhaps supposed to go this way. But he no longer cribbed over the fact. Every time he would feel sad HER words would come back and leave him smiling.
"O aap aa gaye! I thought I would have to wait until tomorrow." Her voice rang in his ears and he looked up shocked.
He took in a quick breath. Reality or Dream? Hos thoughts ran and he squeezed his eyes analysing her. The chances of dream were more. He should perhaps see a psychiatrist. He was day dreaming too much.
"Let's Go..!" Her voice broke him out of his thoughts.
Only when she grabbed his elbow did he realise she was there for real.
"Anika Tum yahan ho!" He exclaimed looking more than surprised.
She gave him a weird look. Ever since yesterday night he had been acting weirdly funny.
"Aapke aakhon mein number to nahi aa gaya...Main..Main...Anika...yahan hoon...yahan aapke Obero Mansion mein." She spoke stressing on each word.
He looked sideway. "Yea I Know" he said trying to sound casual.
She blinked at him unconvinced.
"Let's go" he said before she could start her interrogation round, holding her hand.
"Ek minute" she said stopping him. "Are you okay? Aap theek hai?"
" Yeah, I m perfectly alright mere ko kya hua hai?" He said shrugging.
"Nahi are you sure, aapne apna sar kahin maara waara toh nahi...kyunki aapne mujhse ek baar bhi nahi poocha kahan? I mean MR. SSO..
" It's Shivaay Okay..! And yes..hum kahan... Where we going?" He asked cutting her off more confused.
She grinned, "Wo..Surprise hai! SURPRISE..!"
He looked at her suspiciously.
"What Surprise?"
"That's The Surprise." She gave him a stupid smile.
He finally pulled the car in front of an oldish gate of a big old fashioned bungalow. He had driver all the way here for his own surprise. She got off excitedly and pulled him along not answering any question he asked like the ones he had asked the entire way. It would be any day better to answer queries at a Call Centre than listening to his same questions framed differently each time.
The room they entered was dimly lit as the lights were switched off and the curtains drawn obstructing the suns rays from illuminating the room.
And the lights went on and lit up an old fashioned room decorated with balloons and ribbons. A crowd of old women sang for him. A subtle smile formed on his face. Until yesterday he thought he had none to sing for him and celebrate his birthday, celebrate his presence on earth, and now he had a group of unknown smiling races singing for him. His smile faded as his eyes rested on one familiar face from the unknown faces in the crowd.
"Daadi!" He gasped, shocked.
The next moment he was holding her hand making sure she existed for real. Yes she was real. She cupped his cheeks smiling as tears rolled down the older women's cheeks."Billu!"
"Daadi" he took her in a hug, tears rolling down his own cheeks.
While the other faces smiled witnessing the meeting, that very rarely happens to the ones that belonged to that place. There was but one face which too had tears,Anika's. She knew them both well and could relate how big the moment was for the two who had started living with the fact that other din't exist.
After exchanging a few words of concern the duo looked at Anika, who had rubbed of those Happy tears and now smiled brightly.
She explained how she had met his Daadi a week after his accident in a temple, and had brought her to the Asha Oldage Home. Only the previous night when she had seen the huge portrait in the Oberoi's living hall had she realized that her "Dream Girl"as she lovingly called his daadi was Shivaay's grandmother. She explained how she had planed to surprise him and Daadi.
She sighed completing the story. Shivaay and Daadi smiled at her. The older woman walked up to her hugging her." Anika puttar Rab tujhe humesha kush rakhe".
"Arey Dream Girl, Khush toh rakhega mere paas aap Jo ho..Kisi shaayar ki ghazal dream girl!' She winked at her taking her in a hug. While Shivaay smiled wide eyed. She was crazy, and he had started believing he was madly in love with her.
Anika looked at him as he came forward. " Thank You Anika, shaayad I can never thank you enough for what you have done for me."
"Your Welcome BILLUJI" she smiled cheekily, while he made a face. "Don't call me that!"
"Daadi, Billu Ji inka naam hai naa?" She turned looking at the older woman who nodded in affirmation, smiling widely.
"Kya haan daadi..!" Shivaay made. a puppy face at the older woman.
"Ab billu hai toh billu hi bolungi naa..!" Daadi replied.
"Haan..magarmach toh nahi bol sakte naa..!" Anika gave a mocking smile.
"Anika..! It Shivaay. S-H-I-V-A-A-Y. " he said scoldingly.
"Billu..!" Daadi frowned.
"Arey Daadi aapko inka naam Baagad Billa Rakhna Chaiye Thaa...jab dehko gussa naak pe!" She twists her nose glaring at him.
"Dekha aapne Daadi...jab dehko mera naam bigaad ti rehti hai.. kabhi, SSO, kabhi Calculator Singh Oberoi, kabhi Stone Singh Oberoi ,Tadibaaz, Baagad Billa and Now BilluJi! Whatever!" He says giving her a glaring look folding his hands.
"Offo...Billu Anika se lad mat..." The older woman spoke, while Anika gave Shivaay a secretive winning look, "..aur Anika mere Billu ko tang mat kar!" Shivaay smirked, running a hand through his hair.
"Waise ...tu kab se mujhe Daadi bulaane lagi...waise toh jab dehko Dram Girl?" Daadi simpered looking at anika in the eyes. Shivaay hid a smile as he saw Anika fumble for words at the question. "Wo ye.inki wajha se..cake kaate Aakhir Humaari Madhubala ne Cake banaya hai!" She replied hugging the other older woman.
Talks,gifts and smiles were exchanged as they stood outside the oldage home as Daadi bid farewell to her friends and Anika ordered the other women to take care. The entire time Shivaay couldn't help but adore the way Anika was around with the older women. The place felt like home. They weren't Blood related but stayed like a family, that would any day embarrass any family. This birthday he made a new family. He only know understood what exactly Anika's words about a family meant.
As he walked Daadi to the car that was parked a little ahead on the opposite side of the road, Anika carried a few bags and covers in hand, biding bye to the other women. Hugging each of them and teasing each of them as well.
Making Daadi comfortable on the back seat Shivaay walked up around to his seat and looked up to see Anika coming from the other end. He smiled but his smile soon faded as he saw her struggling with the covers in hand and not paying attention to the car coming in her direction. He froze,his heart skipped a beat, "Anika" he shouted darting across the road towards her. He cleverly wrapped her in his arms pushing her to the edge of the road.
He had used his presence of mind in time and his fast running had saved a lot of harm.
"Are you mad? Can't see and walk. Dimaag nahi hai kya!" He spoke gasping, still holding her arms protectively in his. He was breathing hard, and she was shocked at what had happened. The bags and the covers lay scattered on the road.
Anika gulped in fear as he shouted at her. "Tumhe kuch Jo jata toh!" His voice shook with terrible fear. She looked at his eyes which were in unbeatable fear.
He hugged her tight. She still was shocked but placed her hands around him. She felt protected.
Daadi who had hurriedly got off the vehicle listening to Shivaay's scream now stood by the bonnet of the car sighing in relief. As she saw the duo she realised one thing. She sent up a prayer for the togetherness of the two. It din't take time for her experienced eyes to know. She had doubts when the two kept stealing glances at each other and fought. But now she was convinced.
Her Billu had fallen in Love with Anika. She was happy for them but feared the fact that the two weren't still aware. She knew her grandson well, but she had also know Anika well in the past almost an year. They were different but one thing was sure. "Dono Takkar Ke Ishqbaaz Thee"
She quickly got to Anika's side as Billu brought her near the car one hand protectively around her shoulder, only after examining her for wounds.
"Anika tu theek hai naa?" She aksed worried.
Anika smiled moving closer only to realize he still held her firmly by the shoulder. She looked at him her eyes telling him she was okay.
He looked unsure and when she blinked and smiled. He took of his hand. Daadi smiled as she noticed every bit of it.
Back at the Mansion while Daadi and Anika finished setting the room, Shivaay excused himself for some work. Not before noticing how much the two women enjoyed working together.
Anika walked around the pool by the garden thinking about the incident. Daadi had arranged a Pooja and asked her to stay. Getting some space alone she sat with her thoughts about the almost accident and his protectiveness for her. She felt happy. She felt home after years. There was finally someone to care. Her life mattered to someone. But with those thoughts came fear. Every time love had been snatched away from her. She was even scared to let anyone love her. She couldn't go through the terrible break down again. It took her time to be what she was. Time to be the Anika she was. Another terrible snatching of love would make her the shattered Anika again. She din't want to go back there. Today she had seen that in him. He showed that he loved and she did matter to him. Fear gripped her heart. She couldn't let him love her.
"Anika!" His voice broke the chain of her thoughts.
"Huh!" She responded.
"All okay?" He asked slightly analyzing her.
She nodded in a yes. Glancing sideways. He took a step closer. "Thank You." She looked up at his eyes.
He slowly bent closer and quickly pecked her cheek and left smiling.
On the way he asked her to come in soon for the Pooja, without turning. A playful smile adorning his lips and manner as cool as cucumber.
While she stood rooted at the spot, mouth open and eyes wide.
***
Special Dedication To Rainzz
Going to miss you around Dear. Hope to see you back soon😃
***
P.S
Hope You All Liked It.
Thank you for being ever patient.
Lately life's got too busy like I have said before. And its only going to complicate i guess.😕
So I might be still more irregular with updates but I will surely complete this one.
Cheers
Anni
⭐️
Cricket
Current Affairs
Udne Ki Aasha
