Marry Me -Parts 78-129. Thread III Link Pg 1 Post 3

Chapter 78

BROKEN

Anika had moved on to an alternate world altogether, incapable of comprehending and unable to relate to her present situation, she took refuge in the world of her own slants and suppositions. She was wide awake, yet her mind denied registering anything or anyone. Shivay left her to her own devices in his room while the entire family was in the living room silently observing each other and hoping that someone but them would break the silence. Oberoi's had handled a lot in their short lifespans but they had never had to deal with a grief-struck person. Priyanka sat there next to her dadi and more than sipping the coffee that she held; she was looking for words to console Anika.

"I had never thought Anika didi would be so distraught.

"That is because Rudy bhaiya you don't know the gravity of her situation. I don't understand why someone would try to kill him? He was such a harmless person. He was one who went out of his skin literally to help others. Anika didi has lost a father figure who had been with her for nearly ten years now. I have seen them for past six years. They did not communicate much but the two people he really cared for were Dr. Samar and Dr. Anika. For us, he was a lot more than a professor. Her tone was somber and she was struggling to keep her tears at bay.

"Rudy she is an orphan her connection with anyone would be very different from the way we would connect. For her, every relationship in this world is crafted and acquired unlike us, who fortunately are gifted with a lot of people to call our own. We can distinguish between crafted and natural relationships for her it is all the same. Janhavi tried to tell him.

"Ab kya kareinge? Wo to abhi tak wahin baithi hai zameen pe. Chup hain bilkul.

(What do we do now? She is still there on the floor, absolutely quiet.")

Gauri came down after looking at Anika from afar. She was the only one who had known grief at close quarters.

"Billu ussey neeche leke aa.

("Billu bring her down")

Dadi ordered she was another one who had seen a lot of world.

"I am not going, Om tu ja.

"Main!! Arrey nahi main to Vaisey hi ...no I cant

For the first time ever Om was struggling for words to express himself.

"Pinky ussey neeche le aao.

"Jethani ji mere to muh se vaise hi kabhi koi dhang ki baat nahi nikalti. Main kya boloongi?

Pinky usually a loud mouth was finding silence a better friend today.

"Bolna nahi hai neeche lana hai. Bacche vaise bhi tumhari baat suntey hai.

Tej tried to reason with her or did he just acknowledge that she was good with children? Pinky tried to locate her tongue which in all likelihood had disappeared. She had never been so openly recognized and she did not know how to accept compliments, more over this was a very somber moment.

"Wo ghar ke bacche hain, jinko pala hai, Anika se main kuch nahi keh sakti hoon.

"I have brought them up. They are mine, I cannot say anything to ANika"

Pinky surrendered and Shivay looked at every one around.

"Hum jaayein choti maji?

(Should I go Choti maji.")

Gauri finally asked

"Gauri tum is situation ko nahi handle kar sakti ho.

Om glared at her adjuring her to be quiet.

"Bhabhi chaliye hum aapke saath chaltey hain.

("Bhabhi I will come with you.")

Priyanka said rising up from the couch. Shivay cast a concerned glance at Priyanka. She smiled reassuringly although at this moment he was anything but assured. Anika had gone silent and still in his arms after a few minutes. When he tried to talk to her, she obstinately looked away from him, settling down on the floor near the bed, she busied herself in picking out the like colored strands from the cream and brown leopard print carpet. He stayed there for a few minutes and then came down looking for Priyanka. Priyanka looked at her and tried to talk to her but she responded only in monosyllables. When both women reached her again she had already created two small heaps of fluff in each color cream and brown. Gauri stood for a few minutes contemplating on her course of action but finally slipped on the floor next to Anika and started plucking the carpet with her.

"Aap yeh bhoora wala kariye hum yeh wala karte hain.

"You do the brown one I will do this one"

Anika responded with a slight nod and continued with the job at hand. After a few minutes, she again said, "Hum ko kitna chahiye hoga yeh?

"Pata nahi. Anika gave a clipped response.

"Yeh aapke baal mein bhi lag gaya hai thoda sa. Yeh bada chipkoo hai

"It is in your hair too. This is so sticky."

Gauri tried pulling some lint from her hair but there was lot more. Anika reacted to her touch on her hair.

"Aur bhi laga hai. She said.

Priyanka came and sat on the bed close to her to assist her to get all the lint out of her hair.

"Aapke kapdo pe bhi lag gayai hai didi. Gauri again said.

"Laga rehne do.

"Let it be."

She was starting to talk a little at least and Shivay, Pinky, and Om who stood outside witnessing a very profound moment being shared by the three young girls from different walks of life with different experiences in life, trying to share each other's burden.

"Priyanka didi, Anika didi cancer ki doctor hain?

Priyanka nodded at Gauri's question. Anika flinched for a second and then stopped plucking the fluff.

"Mere chacha ko brain cancer tha. Wo doctor log kuch nam batate they. Glastoma...

"My uncle had brain cancer. The doctors called it gla..glastoma."

She struggled to recall the exact word

"Glioblastoma Multi forme one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer, that gives 15-18 months of median survival time.

"Haan wahi form wala. Aapne aage kya kaha wo nahi samajh mein aaya.

"That with a form in it. I could not understand the rest of what you said."

Anika now looked up at her.

"Main tab barah saal ki thi. Mere chacha ka operation hua tha wo sar mein se..

"I was twelve years old. he had an operation in his head to remove..."

She was again struggling with words or memories it was difficult to distinguish.

"Tumor hatane ke liye.

"Haan par wo fail ho gaya. Doctors bole bahut chota hissa nikal paye. Uske baad to sab kuch bahut jaldi ho gaya. Main unhe hospital roz ek baar dekhne jaati thi Priyanka didi.

"But that failed. Doctors had said they were only able to remove a very small portion of it. Everything happened very fast after that. I used to go see him every evening in the hospital Priyanka Didi"

Priyanka no more fought her tears allowing them to flow freely. Gauri was still holding on to herself exhibiting above ordinary mental strength. While she recollected those difficult days Pinky looked at her mesmerized. Om went back to join others he did not have the courage to hear any more of Gauri's plights. He knew that Gauri had a painful past but some people do have it hard.

"Unki dava bahut mehengi thi papa ne jo chota sa khet tha wo bhech diya par hum zada din dawa nahi kar paye.

She stopped for a moment and looked at Anika who was now looking at her or looking through her no one can tell.

"Dheere dheere unhey dikhna band ho gaya unki awaz chali gayi. Wo mujhey chiraiya kehte they. Main unhey hospital sham ko mil kar aayi thi. Tab wo they aur maine unhe bahut baar bola ki mujhey chiraiya bulayein par wo nahi boley. Mujhey bahut gussa aa gaya main unse rooth kar ghar aa gayi. Agle din hospital nahi gayi bahut bola baba ne par nahi gayi. Meri akad thodi kam thi. Sach boloon na Anika didi bade bhaiya se bhi zada akdoon hoon mein.

Shivay turned his face to hide his smile, it was evident the girl had taken into idolizing him. Shivay could see a spark in her, quite like him. She could think rationally and connect dots in minutes. Even in the morning, she had been able to ease out his anger with swift thinking. He saw a glimpse of wicked intelligence in her. His chain of thoughts was broken by a hand that Pinky had placed on his shoulders.

"Par mujhey kya pata tha ki Ganesh ji ke papa humse itna gussa ho jayege ki wo chacha ko apne paas hi bula leinge. Humne socha tha ki hum agle din jayeinge unke paas, par, wo din aaya nahi. Wo to raat ko hi chale gaye. Anika didi pichli baar aapse jab mile they to aapne kaha tha ki shayad aapki dawa kuch aur na kar sake to bhi kuch saal aur degi hi patient ko. Agar mere chacha ko ek din bhi aur mil jaata to main unhe dekh to leti aakhri baar. Agar unki dawa itni mehengi na hoti to mere papa ko Bareily nahi aana parta naukri dhoondhtey huey. Hum apne gaon mein hi hotey. Hum bareily nahi aatey to, yahan nahi hotey. Us ek cancer ne humare ghar ko barbad kar diya didi.

"But I did not know Ganesh Ji's papa would so angry with me that he would call chacha to his abode. I had planned to go visit him the next day. The next day never came. He departed at the night itself. You had said Anika didi that your medicine could add atleast a few more years to a patients life. Had he got one more day I would have seen him. If his medicines were not so expensive, we would still have our and would not have to go to Bareilly. Had I not come to Bareilley I would not have had to come here. That one cancer ruined us all."

She looked across at Shivay whos gaze was literally fixed on her as if saying that she never wanted to behere, this is not her choice.

"Aisey bahut saare ghar hain Gauri jinhe tootate bikhartey maine dekha hai. Jaisey main orphan hoon vaise hi Glioblastoma multiforme ko bhi Orphan disease kehtey hain kyounki yeh itna common nahi hai to ispar research nahi ho rahi zaada.

"There are many homes like yours Gauri. Like I am an orphan, Glioblastoma is an orphan disease. It is rare and not much research is being done on it."

Anika had started to come back slowly but surely. Priyanka had by now removed all the lint from her hair and her clothes.

"Uthiye Anika didi She said to her.

"Kya hoga ab Priyanaka?, saari mehnat bekar ho jayegi.

"Mehnat kabhi bekar nahi jaati koi na koi raasta nikalega. Aap abhi uthiye aur ek baar hospital jaiye. Wo apne sir se ek baar mil lijiye nahi to zindagi bhar yahi ek dukh rahega ki kash mil liye hotey.

"Efforts are never wasted. You get up now and go visit your sir in the hospital or you will always regret."

Gauri said her tone carried strength, as promptly she had gone deep in her sadness, so swiftly she snapped back too. Pinky stepped in while Shivay went down back to Om. Pinky brought all of them down and they shared a quiet dinner.

"Bade papa I don't want to go to the hospital.

"I will go Shivay was always quesy when it came to hospitals he chickened out. Gauri had done the biggest favor by sending her off to see Dr. Dhawan while he was alive.

It was as if he was waiting for her before he said his final good bye. The media jam had been released and there were quite a few reporters outside the hospital for doctor's briefing when they reached. Anika and Priyanka met Samar and a few others there. She stepped into the intensive care unit. He had denied sedatives and was in great deal of discomfort. Every breath that went in took some of his life out of his slowly fading body. Amidst that excruciating pain he briefed his advisees and research associates the where about of every single document. He made Samar write all the passwords and user ID of his phones, laptops, tablets and desktops. That would make it easy for them to retrieve all the data. He had also documented every thing in a portfolio that was in his master bedroom safe. He handed his wallet which had a small note folded neatly into four. It carried all the details of his accounts except passwords. He had already got his will done in the afternoon and signed a power of attorney in Samar's favor.

Anika tried to ask him to rest. She wanted to tell him, not to go but she knew there was no chance. Once he had done all that he thought was important to hand over the baton to Dr. Samar, he asked Anika to get him some painkillers and sedatives. Which she did meanwhile Priyanka stepped closer to him.

"Princess! He exclaimed with a strained smile. Priyanka sat next to him on bed. Tej came and stood beside her.

"Do you have to go sir?.

"Not if you agree to marry me Princess. He smiled while she let out a chuckle. She placed her palm timidly on his chest, saying she could not promise him that.

"A princess needs to kiss many frogs these days before she can find the real one Her tone was shaky as she repeated his statement. He had addressed the graduation ceremony of the outgoing batch of of the year 2016. He had specially beseeched the girls to be strong, independent and free. They did not need to take just any one as their partners, their choice should be deliberate and based on reason. Life was not a fairy tale where every frog was a prince in disguise.

"You need to acquire precise scanning skills to be able to distinguish between a frog and prince frog. A princess needs to kiss many frogs these days before she can find the real one He had added in a lighter tone. She patted his chest lightly and he smiled back to her. Anika had come back with a nurse.

"Dr Dhawan I promise I will do all in my capacity to let this research go on. Tej assured him. Priyanka felt him give up, within seconds the monitor dipped down and stabilized. Anika looked at the watch to note the time 9:35 PM. She came out with a heavy heart and so did every one else. Shivay had arranged to flex the visiting hours.

Chapter 79

O factor'

Shivay was going through some documents when Rudy entered unannounced well Shivay's doors were always open anyways. He was looking really confused.

"Are you alright Rudy?

"Bhaiya I know you may not be in a condition to talk.

"Rudy you don't need prefaces. Pulling a chair next to him he sat down, peeping into his documents and Shivay passed it to him. He had been going through the details of Saraswati steels, the case in which Anika was the eyewitness and the civil dispute regarding Sahil. He also had some documents associated with the cold trail of the air crash that had killed the Chaturvedis. Rudra scanned them quickly.

"Bhaiya you still remember this? When Shivay glared at Rudy, he understood his joke had had not gone down well.

"No, I meant we did not as much as discuss what had happened and then Anika bh..I mean didi's issue came up so I thought, this had taken a back seat.

"When you pursue Sauyma do you stop doing everything else. Om winked at Rudy.

"Common guys this is not a time to joke. I am not pursuing Anika.

"Yeah right, you flew the chopper today" Shivay

"Our pilot was on a holiday, what could I have done O."

"Arranged for a ticket in a flight, that is what people without choppers do. But we do have one."

"What are you trying to get at?

"How many times did you tell you had called her today? Fifteen."Om recalled Shivay's frustration in the morning.

"Fifteen calls bhaiya! I have not called Saumya these many times in total. "

His sentence was cut midway by a smack from both of them on his head.

"What?

"When were you going to tell us about your number of calls? Om asked.

"I came here to discuss that, when I got entangled in Saraswati steels.

"You are also becoming another Shivay. Om said.

"Is that a good thing or bad? Shivay asked Om raising his left eyebrow.

"Depends on which side of Shivay Singh Oberoi is he picking up on. You do have a grey shade to you and I wouldn't mince my words I don't like it at all. When you use means that are not so noble to achieve your end it sometimes edges towards getting hurtful. For you it always ends justifies the means.

"And it will always be so. I am not black I am just grey. It is my favorite color.

"Accha bhaiya tell me the other day the grey dress you had bought, it was for... Rudy intentionally left the sentence incomplete.

"Not consciously, but she did pass my thoughts for a fleeting second. I cannot deny that.

"In your passing thoughts, you go ahead and work to resolve a deadlock between medical students and Government, interesting. Om Smiled wickedly.

"She was on a hunger strike, not even drinking water. Shivay did not like his brothers ragging him. "Moreover Rudra had come to discuss some issue with Saumya. He said looking at Rudra for confirmation. Rudra became uncomfortable under his diagnostic scrutiny.

"Don't look at me like that bhaiya. I came to tell you, and she agreed to my proposal just yesterday and so much has happened since yesterday I couldn't tell you both anything.

"Proposal! Both of them exclaimed. Rudy ducked his head to avoid their smack but they were too shocked to utter the next word. Only Rudra, Om and Priyanka had the ability to shake the hell out of Shivay.

"Proposal for what? He finally came to himself and tried to make sense of what Rudra had just uttered. It might be a business proposal that he was talking about.

"Shivay, what do we give proposals for? Om said looking irritated.

"For business partnerships, mergers. He was forcibly stopping his mind from going in the direction that Om had already taken. Om this time smacked his own forehead.

"Explain Rudy what proposal did you give, Om said to him now in a resigned tone. Rudy knew that to an already messy board he was going to add his chalk dust too. He braced himself for a huge roar after his explanation.

"I proposed her for marriage. He said it without taking a breath.

"Marriage? Om questioned just to confirm if what he heard was right.

"to whom?

"Shivay has your mind taken a leave? Om said utterly frustrated, he was acting so blunt.

"To me, isn't that obvious bhaiya?

Shivay felt his entire body go into a stop mode after a couple of minutes passed he blinked and went to the window that looked over the garden in front.

"Rudra you just met her a month back maybe.

"Rudra had met her a long time back Om. They studied together. Shivay clarified.

"But we were not seeing each other then, I just wanted to set the picture straight.

"This was not a right time to do it, Shivay said feeling a burden setting over him. He hated to deny anything to his baby brother, he was most pampered one. Bhavya would not be an easy nut to crack but besides that Tia was still a looming threat and they did not what kind of a threat she was. He was keeping a close guard on stocks. Tej was maintaining a keen observation of every functional unit and operational facility that they had. Rudra himself had looked into the insurance cover of every employee. It was not a joke 250000 odd people worked with the Oberoi's in India and abroad. Their all the factories and manufacturing units had gone through a mid-year health check, any anomaly how so ever minor was being fixed. Every nut, bolt, lever, wheel, boilers were being inspected and every crook and cranny swept. This was usually their annual process but Rudra had gone ahead and raised a ticket for mid-year operational health and safety inspection. Most of their facilities had an employee's internal dispute redressal and complaints committee comprising of retired judges and jurists and the senior employees of that branch from both genders. Shakti had gone ahead and checked that every unit was in compliance with the guidelines of The Sexual Harassment Act, 2013. Internally they had fortified themselves against any casualty. Externally there was little they could do but wait and watch.

"Saumya can become the weak link Rudra, she is right in the vixen's lair, Shivay said looking outside trying to send his mind again into a frenzy to find a remedy for this situation.

"Rudra you could have been a little patient, Om said.

"It is Ok Om, this anyways is not a day or week or a month's issue. It is going to be a long drawn battle. Shivay said typing a message to Bhavya to ask about her return. He did not have to wait for a response, she told him she would be back on October 18^th.

"9 more days before Bhavya comes back. Call Saumya. He flung his phone at Rudra to catch but Rudy proved to be clumsy. If the phone had landed anywhere but the carpet it would have been shattered to pieces.

"Gauri is far better than you at fielding. He said spontaneously and Rudra and Om both looked stunned, though Shivay was again busy looking out the window. He was constantly gazing at those huge iron gates that fortified the tightly secured Oberoi mansion. It was not the most expensive private residential property in the world, but it was arguably the most expensive in India. With a price tag of nearly half a billion dollars, 12 floors, one helipad, 4 swimming pools which included one Olympic size pool, a heated pool, a bowling alley, a tennis court, squash court, did I leave anything out well you may add it because if there was a luxury on earth it was there in Oberoi Mansion. It could withstand an earthquake up to 8 Richter scale quite like most Dams. A keenly scanned and frisked staff of 250 people was needed for the upkeep of this somewhat ostentatious residence. Some were proud of this mammoth building and looked at it as an inspiration and a proof that India was beginning to shine. While others looked at it as a dark spot, with scorn, a symbol of typical nouveau riche, lacking class and dignity. Many questioned such pompous display of wealth in a country which had nearly 40 percent of its children underfed and undernourished. Whatever it was you could love it, hate it, or do both but you could never ignore it. Oberois had endured every look of scorn and love with endearing patience and strength. Their Internal solidarity brought in by the Junior Oberois kept this devil of a place strong and going.

"Bhaiya Saumya, Rudra handed over the phone to Shivay once Saumya was online.

"Saumya, Rudra told us about you. I am not very comfortable with this idea mainly because of Bhavya but also I find the timing not too conducive as well. Shivay said glancing at Om telling him, his point of dissent was valid. "Having said that what is done is done. Both of you need to exercise caution and control in your dealings with each other. You have another 8-10 weeks before this project goes for a launch. Once launched we can pull you from there, till then your relationship with Rudra remains a secret. I know you would be wondering why I, am telling you this? Well, it is because I address my family members without a middleman in between. Saumya tried to comprehend what Shivay said, did he just accept her as his family? Was it a done deal then? How could things go this smoothly with her?

"I will speak to Bhavya when the time is right though I do have an inkling of her response. Be careful of your surrounding at all times. Shivay said passing on the phone back to Rudra and gesturing him to go out and talk to her.

...

...

Chapter 80

The Darkness approaches

"I told you. Shivay said to Om with a glorious smirk gracing his face.

"But you still have to tell me what is going in your mind.

"Om I am walking on eggshells. I don't know how to approach this entire thing. Practically if I ask Anika to marry me she will think I am doing this for my personal gains.

"You did not have an issue like this with Tia. That was an alliance based on calculations of profit.

"Do you think I don't know the difference between Tia and Anika.

"You can't believe how relieved I am that you know the difference. But why come to marriage you could take your time.

"I want to so that the misunderstanding between us is resolved but my instinct tells me it is going to get worse, and I will not be left with an option but to do something silly.

"You will always have an option.

"I so wish this steel plant did not belong to Sahil or Anika was not involved in this but so it is. My first priority though is to acquire steel.

"Seriously Shivay? Om was appalled that Shivay could place steel over Anika. "A human being can never be compared to a material. Om's vehemence and repulsion hurt Shivay, he chose to pass this insinuation and Om knew he would get to any length to achieve his business goals. Had he looked deeper into it he would have known that Shivay's reason opting for steel over Anika was far nobler than empty talks of humanity.

Shivay saw Tej's car entering, he had already got a message from Samar about the situation.They would be preparing for an early morning funeral. Rudra entered just then and Om came to stand beside him. They saw Anika and Priyanka getting out of the car. Anika's feet twisted and she was about to fall.

"Careful! Shivay muttered and as if on cue Anika looked up. She walked without any limp and Shivay let out his breath.

"I think she should be careful of you more than anything else. Don't become him Shivay. He said looking at Tej, disgust once surfacing up involuntarily in his eyes. Om patted his chest,

"I am scared for this little thing in here Shivay, don't descend so deep that rising up would be impossible.

"O Stop it! You are being insensible. Whatever it is, this is not a time to question each other, it is a time to stand steadfast with each other.Rudra Said.

"I will not support anything grey Shivay especially not with Anika. She has not had an easy life. Don't make it any more difficult her.

"What has happened how did Anika didi come into question? Rudy asked.

"You won't get it you are still a child.

"Let him be a child then. At least one of us can enjoy a prolonged childhood. Rudra you go just don't forget your relationship remains a secret if not for anything then for Saumya's Safety.

"Bhaiya what is wrong? Before Shivay could answer they heard a knock at the door. All three of them looked towards the already open door simultaneously. Gauri stood there looking at Om.

"Badey Bhaiya Tej uncle aap logon ko lib...

"Libraray Rudra provided.

"Haan Library mein bula rahey hain.

A look of defeat had crossed her huge doe eyes, which she had pushed back with strength and raised her eyes with confidence once again. She had traveled from no honorific or form of address to badey bhaiya finally. Of course, Shivay's consent was there, he was not going to commit the same mistake he had with his mom and Anika. He knew she was all that Om needed and then some more. He had asked her to address him as Bhaiya or Shivay as everyone else did. She had come back with her own version by adding another bag of responsibility to his shoulders with that extra Badey. He had suddenly felt old with that tag. Om and Rudra noticed the change and looked at each other before leaving. Gauri waited for Shivay to come out.

"Tum around Twenty years ho na? Shivay asked walking with her

"Hmmm.

"Tumhara tenth ka certificate hain tumhare pass.

"Ji

"Theek hai you must continue your education I know going to school will not be very comfortable so you do 12th privately. I will arrange for the forms. He said with a finality in his tone. This was one of the most cherished wishes of Gauri. Had Shivay looked back he would have seen her punching the air along with that muffled scream. Gauri did not know he could see with his ears also and had a big smile on his face as he entered the library. Gauri came in a minute later and Shivay asked her to close the door behind her. He glanced at Anika, who looked somber and tired and Priyanka sported red swollen eyes. Tej discussed the funeral that would be followed by a prayer service after three days. At the mention of funeral tears rolled down Priyanka's eyes. Gauri came and sat on the armrest near Priyanka and placed a hand on her shoulder letting her very quietly know that she understood. Pinky gave a subdued smile.

"Coming to Daksha the next hearing is on 11 November. If all goes well we might get a breakthrough and a compromise could be initiated. We can dictate our terms explicitly and implicitly. From what I have learned Curtz was in talks with Jayant Vardhan and government, to fund the research though I think it was a diversion. They never really intended to invest. Tej said sipping his coffee. Gauri tried hard to make sense of what he was saying but later resigned.

"We are a party to the FIR so I think we can use our weight to get a fair investigation, Shivay said looking confident on that front. "Fortunately this falls in the Jurisdiction of a friend and Maharashtra Government is also favorable badey papa

"Kya hua Om you are looking distracted, Janhavi asked. She could read Om like an open book. Om shook his head to say nothing but Janhavi knew better and had made it a point to discuss with him later. Pinky too noted Om's discomfort and was concerned.

"Coming to the civil dispute about Sahil Chaturvedi, I think Anika you cannot hide him any more. If you do so Swastik Chaturvedi will dispute the will and the entire remaining assets of Saraswati steels will be frozen till the dispute is decided. It will take years I hope you understand that. Saraswati Steels is already in huge debt. With this dispute, banks will try to liquidate it to retrieve their funds. Sahil will have very little left to himself. I know this is not a time to discuss all this but you are running very short of time. Shakti said. "Saraswati steels need to start functioning again.

"Yeh kaise possible hai Shakti Uncle. Sahil bahut Chota hai aur use business ki samajh bhi nahi hai.

"We can file a petition to reopen the air crash case and cite that Sahil was kept undercover because of threats. We are in a far more influenceable situation than we were nine years back. A fake attack on Sahil would be enough to prove our point.

"Mr Oberoi are you out of your mind. Dont come near Sahil at all. Anika was distraught with fear and Om rushed to her giving an accusatory glare to Shivay.

"I am not planning a real attack Anika, we have to think practically here. If we continue to hide him or parade him as dead, he will be considered dead for all legal purposes. Shivay was getting irritated he hated all this sentimental gibberish. He always thought from his mind and it had always worked, never failed him.

"Have you lost your mind Shivay! Stop! This is just so insensitive, literally cruel. How many times have you used that bloody word!

Om and Shivay had never had a verbal spat in open. Pinky felt like ground from under her feet had been pulled and Rudra rushed to a pale looking Dadi. Tej looked absolutely confused this spiraled out of hand in just a minute.

"O sit, sit down O. Rudra forced him back into the chair. "Listen to me carefully whatever bhaiya has said is a hard cruel reality. We will also be guilty of perjury and fraud if we continue to hide Sahil like this. Our name will come out in open if not today then tomorrow.We have better means now we can work this out in our favor.

"Our favor as in? Om roared in utter disbelief.

"I cannot understand what you are talking about. Anika said puzzled "Tej uncle Please tell me what this is all about I am really scared. Yeh to vaise sarfire hain.

"Anika think before you speak Janhavi could take it no more.

"Badi ma let her be. Shivay got up from his chair.

"Anika you need to listen to us patiently, we have taken care of this issue for so long. Rudra is right I have literally put not only myself but Janhavi also at stake here. For all this Janhavi and I both can be tried for fraud. You should have at least have that much trust in us. I understand that you are going through a lot but today the court has asked Bhaskar to file in some evidence of Sahil being alive. Even presenting that in court without having substantial proof that he had a valid threat to his life will have us in trouble. When Tej talked to her patiently and calmly, understanding dawned upon her. There is a way to approach things and with Anika, Shivay always lost that way. The minute the name Janhavi was dragged in Om fizzled out like froth.

"Agar ab sab log paanch minute shanti se meri baat bina beech boley suneinge to hum is pareshani suljha payeinge.

"If every one could listen to me for five minutes without loosing control, we will be able to find a solution."

Shakti said beseeching every one to sit down back in their chairs.

"Anika you need to think how long can you keep Sahil in hiding? We are in a situation today that we can twist a lot of things in our favor today. Had our situation been like this nine years back bhaisahab would not have had to resort to hide Sahil. Think about him also he has spent his time in complete oblivion and without much to himself. How long should he live like that? This fake attack will help you and his grandparents justify our stand and also be able to reopen the case. This will end the dispute permanently about inheritance and even if Swastik Chaturvedi chooses to continue his fight then also we are better placed. We have a way in which Khurana's will be busy managing their own front and they wont be there for chaturvedis. Alone they don't have any standing. Now coming to business, the debt is mounting. If we formulate a trust with his grand parents and Tej Bhaisahab and Bhabhi as trustee, we will be able to bring the steel plant back into function. We have looked into the documents there is enough steel and Iron in the plant to bring it back into business. If every thing goes well which I assume it will the plant will be able to pay off the debt in some time. This will keep Sahil's inheritance safe. All the profit will go to the trust and Sahil as beneficiary will get a fixed amount for his expenses till he joins business. We can dissolve the Trust once he is capable of taking care of his business or he is a major. Once Shakti finished speaking Shivay looked at her expectantly.

"Ek kaam kartey hain Anika ko sochne ka waqt detey hain vaise bhi court ne bhi time diya hoga kuch to

"Let Anika Think about it. Court also must have given us some time to file our response."

Pinky said trying to find some reprieve for Anika.

"I think mom is right. But I want to add something here. Anika does not have a locus standi or a right to take any decision on Sahil.

"Shivay!!!

"Bhaiya!!!

Om and Ru said it simultaneously.

"I am just stating a fact. His face was devoid of any emotion because he knew this truth had hit Anika in the worst kind of a way but beating about the bush was not his habit. Anika felt like clawing at his face this man was beyond her understanding. She closed her eyes still sitting on the floor next to Tej.

"Shivay yeh badtameezi thi.

"Shivay this was extremely rude of you."

Tej spoke up.

"Billu kabhi kabhi lagta hai ki tu bilkul patthar hai.

"Billu at times it looks like you are stone hearted."

Dadi also felt very upset at the way he dealt with Anika. Pinky felt like an utter failure and Shakti looked at him with disdain.

"Hadh hoti hai duniya mein har things ki par Shivay Singh Oberoi ke egos ki hadh nahi hai.

"Every thing has a limit in this world except Shivay SIngh Oberoi's ego."

Pinky said leaving the room a flabber ghasted Shivay as well as many others.

"Anika puttar tu Priyanka aur Gauri ke saath sona. Dadi also said to anika before leaving. They all dispersed for the day. A day at Oberoi mansion always so happening that time never stops there. It was nearly 11 PM and seniors needed to get their sleep. Juniors definitely had a lot to ponder.

...

Chapter 81

The first disagreement

Gauri came to Om's room to fill in the empty water jug. She saw him standing next to his easel and splashing colors on the canvas without any real direction. Using his bare hands, he started mixing them. Mars Black, noir, onyx, eerie black on already wet white canvas. Picking up white he merged them further till he had the most beautiful hue of grey on his canvas. Gauri looked at him, intently studying is hand movements. He used his hands when he needed to channel his own feelings into the painting. Watching Omkara paint like that was like observing rivers flow. He started turbulent and restless; it looked like he would take down with him every obstruction. As he progressed, his strokes became calmer, gentler. The tenderness that Omkara was started to take over once again. The strokes less visible and colors more pronounced from strong his influence now became more subtle, more implicit. He mixed the white with some linseed oil making it more fluid, dipping his fingers in it he started drawing. As his fingers moved so did the painting came to life. Adding the final touched Omkara looked exhausted and his fingers mere swayed as if the river ready to merge itself in the see. He used some black to add texture and bristles but before he could finish it he gave up and resigned himself to the emerald green chaise that sometimes Gauri napped on when she watched him paint peacefully. Shivay would have looked glorious on that canvas had Om completed it, dipping her nimble fingers in some red paint she added the lost touches. The lips, the edges of the eyes, the earlobes all tinted in transparent crimson, looking almost white, she scrutinized the piece to figure out the missing links, finding none yet when the painting looked in complete she went to Omkara.

"Isko poora nahi kareinge?

"Won't you complete it?"

Omkara rarely left his work incomplete.

Om looked up at her and knew she was in her own peculiar ways trying to make some sense of all that was happening around her. She was not used to all this, a girl who had such a simple life was forced to live such difficult and haggard life. She did not know where she stood still she dared to stand. She herself was helpless still she tried to help whenever she could. Unlike him she did not wear spectacles of righteousness, she let people be. If you'd ask her she would say as long as Kali Thakur was ready to repent she would forgive him. Omkara pulled her to himself and held on to her, crushing her in his arms, as if he held on to his diminishing sanity.

"How can you be so unassuming? He asked her. Struggling to make sense of his question she again urged him to complete his work and he came back to the canvas. Adding spots of white to the deep grey irises he made the eyes look sinfully ruthless. He further added a deeper shade of crimson to layer his lopsided smirk making him look distractingly beautiful. The tints of pink that Gauri had given to his marble white skin made him look soft but the dark backdrop and the unusual spark in the eyes make him look the Shivay Singh Oberoi he was. Gauri saw the man who intimidated her coming to life.

"Omkara Ji aap bahut pareshan hai, aapko bade bhaiya se naraz hai? Kyon?

"Shikayat kya karien uski, Yahi to pareshani hai ,

Jisne keval humare liye hi likhi yeh kahani hai,

Gauri Shivay jo bhi karta hai wo humare liye karta hai. Har baar kuch aisa hota hai humare ghar ke bado se jiske saza ussey milti hai.

"Main nahi samajh paa rahi hoon Omkara Ji

"Itna assan hota samajhna to dukh hi kya tha. Jane do. So jao jaake.

"Why would I be so sad if it had been so easy. Go sleep."

The difference between Omkara and Shivay was that Shivay wanted to see all who were associated with him as successful as he was. He measured happiness in terms of success. Where as Omkara just cared for the comfort of his loved ones, did not expect them to be extra ordinary. For Shivay being ordinary was the gravest sin one committed. He had heard Shivay asking Gauri to pick up her education from where she had stopped. He knew Gauri very well, she had the same penchant for perfection as did Shivay. He also understood she had developed a strong fascination for him even though she felt intimidated by him.

"Bhaiya aaj Anika didi pe itna gussa kyoun they?

"Wo us par nahi khud par gussa tha.

"Khud par?

"Shivay ko adat hai, hum sab uski baat bina kissi argument ke man letey hain, galat sahi sab. Anika ussey hamesha takra jaati hai kabhi jaan kar kabhi anjane.

"aapki baatein samajhna itna mushkil kyoun ho jaata hai kabhi kabhi? If Gauri had been slightly confused when she came in she had lost all her lucidity now.

"Hummein to sirf itna samajh mein aaya ki Anika didi bhi baat ko nahi samajh rahi thi. Humko Rudy bhaiyane bataya sabkuch. Mana Shivay bhiaya thoda zada bol gaye par bole to sach hi.

"Kya yeh sahi samay tha yeh sab bolne ke liye.

Om felt very upset when Gauri tried to defend Shivay. His question shut Gauri up.

"Kya wo tareeka sahi tha?

"Was his approach the right approach?"

He again asked. Gauri realized that what Omkara said was right.

"Aur abhi tumko ya Rudra ko andaaza bhi nahi hai ki aage kya ho sakta hai. Shivay ki zidd se bura kuch nahi hota.

"Badey Bhaiya aisa kuch nahi kareinge jisse Anika didi to kya kissi ko bhi dukh ho.

"Badey bhaiya will never do something that will hurt someone, not Anika didi not anyone else."

Gauri was clearly in a state of denial.

"Mujhey Anika ya kissi aur dukh se zada khud tumhare badey bhaiya ke dukh ki chinta hai. Wo kissi aur ko nahi par khudko humesha chot pahunchatey rehtey hain. Gauri iss bare mein aur nahi discuss kareinge please.

He said laying down on the bed. When Gauri kept standing there ruminating on some other aspect of perhaps Shivay.

"Yahan sone wali ho kya? I am eagerly waiting.

"You going to sleep here. I am eagerly waiting"

His keen eyes on her face were enough to make Gauri disappear.

"Baatein karva lo bas. Kam kuch mat karna.

He mumbled before resigning himself to sleep.

Pinky Janhavi and Dadi sat in Dadi's room talking to her. Pinky could not believe how Shivay had lost his cool on Anika and his last comment was absolutely deplorable.

"Agar usey nahi rights hai to kissi ko Sahil ke baare mein sochne ka rights nahi hai.

"If she does not have a right thenno one else has a right to think about Sahil."

She declared.

"Pinky he was talking in the eyes of law.

"Law ki eyes mein to grow nahi kiya na Sahil. Nai Jethani ji koi aise baat karta hai kissi larki se. Anika to itni pareshan thi. Samajh hi nahi aata chahta kya hai?

"Pinky tasalli kar itna kch nahi hua hai.

" Mummy ji mujhey to lagta hai khhud ki hi nazar lag jaati hai uski khushi ko. Mera baccha kabhi khush reh hi nahi pata. Itni mushkil se us Tia se peecha choota tha to aaj Anika ki yeh sab

"Tia se abhi peecha choota nahi hai puttar. In bacchon ko yeh samajhna hoga ki inko nuksaan pahunchane ke bas teen tareeke hai kissi ke bhi paas. Ya to business ko nuksaan pahuchao, ya to ghar ko ya inke saath ko. Business ki mujhey chinta nahi, kuch bigad bhi gaya to phir ban jayega. par ghar aur inka saath agar toota to phir nahi judega.

"Tia is still lurking around Pinky. These boys need to understand there is only three way to destroy us. Either attack our business or family or their unity. Business can be rebuilt butif the family or their unity is attacked, neither family or their togetherness can be brought back."

Dadi was sad as she recalled the spat between Shivay and Om.

"Dadi Shivay entered her room. He had heard her speak and his mom also.

"Dadi aap ghar aur humari bhi chinta mat kijiye aise choti moti baton se humara saath nahi tootne wala. Tia aur Tia jaise hazaar milke bhi mera kuch nahi bigad saktey, Rudra aur Om naraz ho saktey hain mujhsey par alag nahi. Jab tak wo saath hain tab tak mujhey kissi ka dar nahi. Aap so jaiye late ho gaya hai. Aap log bhi.

...

Chapter 82

"Marry Me Anika

He wanted to go check on Priyanka and Anika but decided against it. He knew he had once again messed it up with her. Somehow whenever he tried to do something for her it always ended up just opposite. He was one of those creepy species of men who need caffeine to sleep as well as stay awake. Making himself an extra strong cup of Americano he stood at the window. He had asked The housekeeping to keep all the common rooms of the house and the garden well lit. What if Anika woke up and walked out to the garden. He turned to pick up his phone when he felt a weird sensation and he turned back to see her standing right in the center of the garden near the huge Violincello fountain. This was one of Omkara's very special pieces. He had chiseled it out of a huge Marble quarried from Makrana in good six months about 7 years back. Shivay had asked his architect to incorporate it into the house. The architect had got the piece converted to a fountain and the flowed down from the top in four tiny streams, giving the onlooker an illusion of strings being plucked by some invisible enchantress. It did not have a bow. A local band had been engaged to record 1440 melodies that gave every minute of the day a very different music. He saw Anika lower her self down onto the small ledge that surrounded the fountain. He shrank his eyes further to see what she was doing. The way her body shook slightly he knew she was sobbing. His legs could not carry his as fast as he had wanted. He took the back door from his room and entered the garden from behind. Anika was so distraught with sorrow that she did not notice him until when he came and sat next to her. On seeing him she felt a sudden need to just hug him and cry out all her tears in his chest and also a need to scrap at that same chest with her non-existent nails, so hard that they would be scarred for life. He was such an oaf. She remained still for a few minutes and then jumped up and lurched ahead to leave. Shivay had read her mind and she did not realize when instead of going ahead she was pulled into him.

"Angry? He said turning her forcefully without heeding her silent protest. He had come to wipe her tears and he would not let any one stop him from doing so, not even Anika.

"Anika you are a doctor do you mince your words when you tell your patients about their conditions. Tumne hi kaha than a bandage jhatke se kheechne se kam dard hota hai. I told you what ever I did, so that you are prepared for it, when tomorrow someone else takes the decisions for Sahil you are not shocked. He had once again touched the raw nerve.

"No you did not do it to prevent a shock Mr. Oberoi you told me that this is how you will get things done. You will bypass me because I don't have a legal authority here.

"Anika for how long are those poor grandparents supposed to endure in poverty. Bade papa told me the condition of the ancestral house they live. Do they deserve that? They need to take it easy at this age. The poor man is still some how managing to carry on with that school which is not having giving them much any ways.

"A fake attack? How do you know it would be safe? There is more to it I don't know the whole thing yet. Mr Oberoi I really am confused about you. You change colors so fast. One minute you appear so friendly and the other worse than the cruelest enemy.

"Anika I would not take an uncalculated risk with Sahil atleast.

"As if he means some thing to you. She spat back with vehemence pulling her self away from him. It had taken a few mintes for her to control her senses that had betrayed her and had wanted to marvel in his closeness. The touch that seemed to revive her nearly dead being, the words however cold fell in her ears and warmed it. The sight however deceptive looked censurably breath taking. Her depraved mind urging her to taste the forbidden fruit, had she stayed like that God only knows that she would have done the unthinkable. The trechrous cello in that back ground played tunes that were already making her long for sleep.

"Does he mean something to you? Perhaps your world, because had he been a mere liability you would shrugged him off at the chance you got tonite.

"You were testing me.Her tone was accusatory.

"No Anika I am just stating my observation. He could not tell her that he was stating it more to himself than to her. He knew that he craved for her to the level of insanity yet he cherished recounting her every honorable trait to his guilty self, in a way punishing it and reveling in the painful acknowledgement of his own misjudgement. His agony could end if he said a simple sorry but apology and requests did not go hand in hand with Shivay. The only thing that he knew was to either command or retrieve. Destiny chose that very moment for a total power outage. It would take a few minutes for the generators to kick in, the entire mansion had plunged into darkness, except for those strategic places that were lit by solar power, which included his room. Anika once again saw light diagonally above her, Shivay could hear her short gasps in this soundlessness as the music also stopped. He on cue moved close to her, cursing himself mentally for not bringing his phone atleast he could have switched on the light in it. Anika was trembling, even in the darkness Shivay could see the outline of her upturned face which took respite from the light emanating from his room.

"Anika come with me, but she stayed still as if the ground held on to her feet. Shivay noticed she was long gone and was once again headed towards her crazy hallucinations, Already uttering phrases that made no sense. She was past the state of protesting when Shivay picked her up and took long and quick strides to his room. He took steps bu two to bring her to light as soon as possible. The few minutes that he took to reach his room he had heard enough from her to want to kill Samaksha with bare hands. She constantly uttered Jalaja's name, for that was the only cognizable word. Even the first time Shivay had found her lying on the floor in the living room he remembered her uttering this word and could make no heads or tails out of it. It was such an unusual name. He placed her on his bed saying every thing he could to bring her back but nothing worked. He held her head close to his chest and slowly his steady and strong heart beat made its impact on Anika. A rhythm that she could always relate to, intrinsically and inherently. Her mind tunning in that steady lup dup sound, grounded itself in it and she slowly quitened. Once again she looked into his deep grey eyes which had taken a bluish hue at this moment. In her delirium she reached out to his eyes and mumbled,

"They change color. I looked into so many books to find out what this phenomenon is called but I could not find any thing that actually conformed to the way they took on so many hues. Her shaky tone and her wide eyes told Shivay she was still under the affect of the fit.

"Anika do you think you will ever be able to trust me.

"I already do Shivay. I know how lechers look like, have had a lot of experience with them. She said still under the influence of the last traces of her stuper. Shivay knew she would not accept this in her lucid state, atleast not yet but he commited this moment to his memory, for he knew it was as true and Sun is. He bent his head and raised her chin to mark her as his own. His first taste of giving all and taking nothing, his first time ever at being overpowering yet submissive. The power was restored and he could hear the music back faintly. He released Anika, though he still held on to her face in his palms, Waiting for her to come to her senses. Which she did and instantly retreated as far away from him as she could. She remembered lights going out and she knew she would have been a mess. She did not remember how she came to be so close to him. She licked her lower lips and tried to make sense of the bitter sweet taste on it. It had a hint of coffee, she had taken coffee with Priyanka a while back but this was such a different flavor. She again licked her lip to make sure what she had felt was not a figment of her imagination but was true.

"You lick your lips one more time and I will kiss you again. He had tuned into her thoughts and read them loud and clear. Anika blushed furiously, she was not so sure of what she might have done so she could not blame that entirely on him.

"You are not the gentleman I thought you were.

"With you, I never will be, you better learn to live with it.

"Oh no! there is no need for me get habitual to you. You are a ...

"I can supply you the words here but I don't think I would.

"Maro jake. She said frustration evident and tried to get up but he placed his hand right across her on the head board encasing her form with his. If she moved an inch she would once again be too close for her comfort. It was not as if this was comfortable. She was getting irritated and once again her face was heating up.

"Aap kis tangent pe sochtey hai aur kiss angle pe kaam kartey hain samajh hi nahi aata. Matlab main jabse aapse milli hoon mera dimag hil gaya hai. Mujhey pagalon jaise cheekhne ka man karta hai aapko dekh ke. Aap aise kyoun hain Shivay?

"Why are you like this? Blunt, honest, selfless, fiercly loyal, strong, innocent, independent, unapologetic, so forgiving, unassuming. He would have gone on and on had she not placed her hand on his lips.

"Arrey bas aadey se zada samajh nahi aya.

" I would have asked you after the prayer meeting but I don't see a reason to stall this any further. Marry me, Anika. He said as if entranced and her eyes were the size of a football field.

"Pagal hain aap apne dimag ka ilaj karvayi you need a psychiatrist.

"You are insane, you need help and treatment. I can look up for a good psychiatrist."

She pushed him jumping out of the bed but Shivay caught her hand right in the nick of time.

"I gave you an opportunity to opt for me out of free will. Don't blame if I have to coerce you to consent now.

"Are you threatning me?

"Nope asking you, I can go down on my knees if that can make you consider my proposal.

"I don't want to consider it. She said feeling scared and intimidated but yet held onto her ground.

"I will make you not only consider it but want me with such ferocity that you will betray your self. Don't make it hard for your self Anika. I don't play a loosing hand. I make a proposal only when I am certain that there is no escape for the other party involved.

"You are an incorrigible brute.

"Trust me living with me is not so difficult, I do come with perks some specially reserved for you alone.He pulled her close to himself so that she could feel his impact. Anika was no more a stranger to this mayhem on her senses but she was much more in control.

"Life is not a business deal Mr. Oberoi and I reject your proposal. You need to get your self checked.

"Then business it shall be Dr. Anika and you lost a chance at being able to like the most wonderful day of your life. You still have to learn I get what I want, even destiny conspires for me. I can't say the same for you though. He released her and she felt a strange emptiness wash over her. Too stunned by this sudden command she did not know how to respond.

"You may go now, tomorrow is the funeral and I will come with you. I am so sorry for your loss Anika. I truly am, I cannot bring him back but I will do what ever I humanly can as your future husband.

"Aap insaan hain!! Aap pagal hai.

"Since you seem to be quite comfortable in this room, you are welcome to sleep in with me.That was the last bit. It undid Anika if she had a doubt about him carrying his threat it was as clear as it could be that he would. She was a mess.