Chapter 19: Invitations and Internships
Shivay was annoyed. First, Anika asked him to "Shut it", "How dare she?" he thought, and then it happened again. There was something about her that made him lose control. Shivay Singh Oberoi would never hold a woman against her will. But with Anika, the need to touch, hold and possess was just too strong. He did not know why, but he just wanted her to listen, to conform to him like the rest of the world did. But she did not conform, she would not conform, and he did not know how to make her. He literally had to hold on to her, to get her to listen to him. And then, there was that thing she did, the thing where she reached into his soul through his eyes and said things he did not want to voice. Then there were her eyes, those eyes... and her warmth that radiated through her and into him every time he touched her... and... "Ah Stop!" he thought. If Anika wasn't enough, there was that stupid consultant they hired who bungled big time at his office. He had to rush back right to work. Sprinting down the stairs he was ready to head out, and despite all that he told himself, he couldn't help but stop to look at her. But Shivay was anything but weak. He looked at her, but only for a second and then he ran outside.
Lately he developed an 'Anika' sense. Preposterous really. He could sense her, thats what it was, like with spider man minus the bite from the radioactive spider. Honestly spidy sense was lots more useful than Anika sense. Her mere presence within a 5 mile radius made his skin tingle and his heart race, like as though he downed 20 shots of the finest and strongest espresso at once. It made no sense.
And here, it was, that feeling again!. He could sense her. She followed him out of the doors and towards his car. Faking an important phone call, he tried to tune her out. "Mera Chaand!!" he heard her say. "Seriously what was wrong with that woman?what happened to the good old, honey or darling, wait what???why would she be calling me honey...dear god! I need to get away from her!" he thought. "Khanna" roared Shivay, "Too the office, Now!" he barked. Poor Khanna could do little but whisk him away even before Anika could bat an eyelid. "Billuji..." began Anika, but the speeding Bently signaled that all her attempts to retrieve her Chaand would be futile. "Anika didi, wow, I didn't know you are a sprinter" said Rudy, panting and now catching up with Anika. Turning to a dismayed Anika he said "So Shivay bhaiya is your Chaand huh?" he teased. "Oh Come on Rudy!" said Anika, "See my Chaand.." she said holding up her bracelet to show him her moon shaped charms, "This is my Chaand, that is probably with Billuji, you know when he pulled.." she halted, blushing, "Well you know, when we were talking from some time back". "Anyway Rudy," she said dismissing a now sniggering Rudy, "Let me get my bag and then I will head out!" she said making her way back into the mansion.
As Anika and Rudy walked back in the rest of the Oberois managed to get their laughter in control, only to erupt into fresh giggles once they saw Anika. "Anika!" said Prinku, before things got uncomfortable for Anika, "It is my birthday this weekend! and I was hoping to spend some quality time with my girls that day". "Oh nice!" said Anika still oblivious to what Prinku was implying. "So a slumber party here over the weekend then?You game?Please say yes, I am having Mallika over and Tia and you haven't yet had a chance to know Somu yet!" said Prinku. "Oh! Thank you for the invite Prinku, but..Sahil" started Anika, "You said he has a school trip!You can drop him off at the school tomorrow and head home, infact Rudy bhai will pick you up, directly from school!" squealed Prinku in excitement. "Of course! Anika didi, can you imagine how cool we will look on my bike?" chimed in Rudy. "Well...umm thank you Prinku, I will come, but Rudy need not come, I had to meet Mallika about something, we will come over together Ok?" said Anika. "Oh! Didi, you are depriving me off your company!" said Rudy pouting cutely. "Cry Baby, get a hint will you?No one has the bandwidth for you" rejoined Saumya. "Take that back Sumo!" said Rudy now walking up to Saumya and looking her down in the eye. "Will not Cry Baby!" said Saumya, "Oh you will! or else..." threatened Rudy. "Oooh I am so scared!" said Saumya faking fright. "Thats it Sumo!" said Rudy and proceeded to tickle her. "Rudy, stop!, stop!" squealed Saumy now running all over the place throwing anything that she could lay her hand on towards Rudy to stop his progress.
"Oh how cute!" exclaimed Anika. "Dadi, I will head out now!" she said giving the elderly Oberoi a hug. "Bye guys!" she yelled to Rudy and Saumya, who was now using Om as a shield to block Rudy from tickling her, in the process annoying Om to no end.
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Dropping Sahil off for a 5 day school trip to Ooty and now wiping away the last of her tears, Anika stood in front of Mallika's condo. Swanky and cozy, Anika wished she could own a place of her own like this some day. "Not so big or plush, just a piece of my own!" she mused. "Mallika Chowdary, please!" she said to the concierge. With a smile, she was directed towards a set of elevators. Within seconds she found herself at Mallika's floor. "Anika!" squealed Mallika, "So glad you are here!, come, Sid is waiting for us!" she said hugging Anika and leading her into her home.
Amid light banter and genuine bonhomie, Anika felt relaxed. "Anika!" said Sidharth Vikram Rana- Sid, Mallika's fiance, "I thought it over, I think you will benefit immensely if you worked with Parmveer Khurana". "Oh!" began Anika in thought, "You know him, don't you?" asked Sid, "Yes I do, I used to take his classes. He was among those Professors who was kind to us scholarship types" she said. "Yes, him and you know, he remembers you quite well too, infact he was glowing when I spoke to him about you" said Sid. Smiling, Anika said "Yes, he always had a soft spot for me and kept egging me on towards Criminal law. But.." she began scrunching her face "Does he not work with his son now?" she asked. "Oh well, lets just say son and father don't see eye to eye. He and I both agree that you should go into training with him. I think Tax law will suit you. You can officially become an intern with him and then he can recommend your name to the State Bar Council once you clear the AIBE. Think about it, you will still be helping people. Plus he will pay you well. You can do well for yourself" said Sid. "Hmm" went Anika. "Yes, Anika, I think it is a good idea. Khurrana uncle is a sweet heart, a shark but with a heart of gold. I think you should go for it" chimed in Mallika. "Hmm, Ok!" began Anika, "Of course you can always come back and join the Rana Group, we will be more than happy to have an intelligent and qualified lawyer on our legal team" said Sid. "Aww! you are sweet! but I think I will do the internship first and then decide" said Anika. "Great! all you have to do is call him then, he is waiting for your call" said Sid.
Just then Sid's phone beeped. "Shoot! Mallika, didn't see the time, I have to head out in a bit!" said Sid. "Well Ok! we need to head to Oberoi Mansion as well!" said Mallika, at which Sid rolled his eyes, "How is it that the egoistical maniac has such a sweet family and such good friends?" he remarked. "Come on Sid!" said Mallika, lightly elbowing him. "Alright alright, won't say a peep, you have fun ok?" he said now lightly pecking Mallika on the cheek and enveloping her in a protective embrace. Anika watched them fondly and quickly turned away not wanting to intrude on their moment. She smiled ruefully thinking that she would never have what they had. But she did not complain. Life was letting her survive, thats all she cared about. Her Sahil would have all the love in there world. She would make sure he would. She would work hard and become a government lawyer, she would.. "Anika!" said Mallika slightly shaking Anika out of her reverie. "Lets head out!" she said. Nodding her head, Anika followed Mallika into her car.
"So how does Sid know Baagad Billa Oberoi?" asked Anika. "Dagad what?" asked Mallika cracking up. "Not Dagad, Baagad, Baagad Billa Oberoi" corrected Anika. "Well, we all went to the same school. They had a major rivalry going on, long story" said Mallika, dismissing the story with a wave of her hand. "So did you meet Saumya?" she asked. "Yeah, such a sweet girl!" remarked Anika. "Poor thing, you can see how much she loves Rudy, but he just wants to friend zone her" said Mallika. "I am not sure Mallika, he did mention her a lot!" said Anika. "Well its complicated with those two!" said Mallika.
"Here we are!", announced Mallika pulling into the Oberoi driveway. "God I hope the Baagad Billa is away!" muttered Anika. "What did you say?" giggled Mallika. "Nothing" said Anika. Fun with the girls, thats what they were looking forward to. Little did Anika know, it will be much more than that.
P.S I am no lawyer, please take all the law related theories/jargon with a pinch of salt, and allow me the artistic liberties associated with that profession.
P.P.S Thanks to vivacious_girl for her insight. I just want to say that Anika, needs to work with Parmveer Khurrana to get experience and contacts before she writes her state level bar council exams. Please imagine the story according to this arc.
Edited by writerff - 7 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
