Chapter 36: An interlude
"Does he want to kill her?" Asked Saumya, to Rudy as they watched Anika run up the flight of stairs that led to Shivay's private study. It took about a good mile to get from Anika's office, i.e the pathetic tiny room Shivay put her up in, to the base of the said staircase. There were about 25 slippery winding stairs that lead to the study. And Anika had made the trip 5 times already. Also, the last time he summoned her, she barely had a sip of water in before Khanna ushered her away and her lunch and water lay forgotten. The same had happened to her breakfast and morning snack too.
"Stupid Oberoi men!" Sighed Prinku, as Saumya giggled at that. Even before Rudy could defend said men, Om stalked in, and in one of his rare displays of temper said "Where is Shivay? I need to see him." Silently, Saumya and Prinku nodded towards the top of the staircase. Giving him a five 10 second head start, they followed him.
Knocking and not waiting to be let in, as it was between the brothers, Om walked into Shivay's private study. Facing each other from either side of the long, shiny and glossy rosewood table were Anika and Shivay. If looks could kill, both would have killed each other, but they stood and stared daggers, in kind of a Russian standoff.
"Mr Oberoi, you are being unreasonable. You cannot, I repeat, absolutely cannot risk intimidating the plaintiff." Yelled Anika. "And you are an incompetent lawyer dealing with this. I am terminating you, right this instant." Said Shivay. "Once, again Mr Oberoi, I do not work for you." Spat Anika. "Hell you don't, and you never will. I would have fired you for your ridiculous advice." Retorted Shivay.
"Shivay," interrupted Om, "What crap is this?" He said flinging his tablet on to the table. "Om, unfortunately, we have to do this." Said Shivay mellowing down a little. "Are we seriously having the semi-annual Oberoi social, at OM, despite all that is happening?" Asked Om "and,.." He added, "How dare Svetlana email me the dress code with her notes, signing herself as the hostess. A role that is often done by mom." Thundered Om.
"We are keeping up appearances, under the expert suggestion of Bade Papa's ridiculous legal council." Said Shivay in disgust. "They are under the opinion that till enough evidence is procured, Svetlana must not sniff our plans out. That would include pretending normalcy, like some ridiculous movie plot." Continued Shivay. "I for one, would never let someone give orders to an Oberoi. Fearing the enemy, is losing the battle. I am calling in Daksh today." Said Shivay, turning to face Anika as he said the last sentence.
"Mr Oberoi, we have no issues with Daksh. However, we still believe Svetlana should not find out that we did not start digging in on her past. Having Daksh as your legal council and by extension as Mr Tej Singh Oberoi's should let her think that things are going as per her plan." Said Anika, trying to reason with Shivay, once again. "What about this ridiculous party then?" Asked Om and Shivay in unison.
Breathing deeply, and mustering as much patience as possible and trying to ignore that ache pounding her head, Anika said, "Svetlana threatened Mr Tej Singh Oberoi to go public with pictures that would really embarrass him and by extension Mrs Oberoi. This, because despite all that she had said so far, Mr Oberoi has not sent formal divorce papers to Mrs Oberoi. We have been able to stall that process, in a way that she believes it to the best of our ability. We are buying ourselves some time before we can move ahead with our plans. Mrs Oberoi is well aware of this. Infact she insisted that Svetlana be in charge of the event, fanning the gossip mills that a divorce between Mr Tej Singh Oberoi and Mrs Jahnvi Oberoi is underway."
Turning to Om, Anika said, "Om, please go talk to your mom. I am sure she will explain this to you." ************************************************************************
"This is going exactly as planned. Daksh Khurrana is getting an invite." Said Svetlana as she served up tea, the way madam liked it. "Interesting. Do you think he fell for it." Madam asked. "Well, seems like it. He is still yelling and breaking phones at work. The old Oberoi and the young are constantly yelling at each other. The young Oberoi pain in the butt, is still not buying out the dried up prune's stocks." Said Svetlana.
"Hmm, so the young Oberoi, has a brain. How unlike his mom, and maybe his dad. You sure he has no girlfriend?" Asked the Madam. "None. Just the fiancee, no side piece in any country that I know of. He doesn't love the fiancee. She is a plastic doll. Does as she is told. Smiles too much." Reported Svetlana. "Strange,...well, Tej trained him well, but..." Trailed off madam. "Yes...?" Enquired Svetlana. "Well nothing, get back to what you are supposed to do, else you will be wearing this maid's outfit for longer than you like. Thats all." Said the madam dismissing Svetlana.
Nodding, Svetlana left madam in her quarters. Taking the emergency exit and blanking out the security cameras, Svetlana quickly changed out of the wig and the maid's outfit. "Stay a maid! Yeah right!" Thought Svetlana in disgust. Some day she would bump off the madam as well. After all, she was a jilted lover at the root of it all. Most women were stupid and jilted women were the stupidest of the lot. To be fair, the madam wanted money and power more than love of the Jr Oberoi. He was a stupid man too. "God those Oberoi's!" Thought Svetlana in disgust. "If only hot-head Oberoi was not gay, yeah! He was a closet homosexual for sure. No wonder he was cold as ice around women and the only people he loved were those stupid brothers of his. If only he was not gay, she would have slept with him and trapped him. Now she spent all this time sleeping with the diffused Sr Oberoi, and he was not inventive even. With all the rage, the hot-head Oberoi could have done some amazing things in bed. But, she had to deal with the old Oberoi. Anyway, she would soon not need any of them. Even the madam." Thinking that to herself, Svetlana made a discrete exit.
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"Guys, please trust your parents and Khurrana uncle." Implored Anika. "But Anika didi," said Rudy, "No one tells us what is happening. We have been completely shut out. Last week, it looked like you and Shivay were making progress, and even worked together for a bit. Now you guys are yelling at each other. Mom and dad are always brooding over things. Choti ma is behaving really bizarre. More than her usual self. No one tells us anything." Complained Rudy.
Ignoring the queasy stomach and the pounding headache, Anika said "Rudy, it is a difficult time. Trust in your parents and brother. Everyone is working towards sorting out this mess. You Oberoi's have faced bigger threats. The only difference this time, is that Svetlana seemed to have known a lot more thing from the past. She is somehow connected to the family. If we find that link, I am sure Shivay will get you guys out this mess in a minute."
"Kids brighten up even the dimmest of homes. Please, go on as though nothing happened. Positivity from you guys will fuel the others. Talk to Om, make him feel at ease. Participate in the social, the way you usually do. That will keep spirits high. You can always keep an eye out for Svetlana that way too. I would suggest all of you participant in the social. Prinku and Somu, help out both Mrs Oberois and Dadi. Rudy, why don't you and Om calm down Shivay? Call Tia. She anyway has to be a part of the party." Suggested Anika.
"And that's why puttar, you are a true gem!" Said Kalyani. "Bless you beta. I pray you get all the happiness in this world. I.." Said Kalyani, when she was interrupted by Khanna, hurrying in. "Maaf kijiye Dadiji, but Daksh sir is here and Shivay Sir is asking for Anika madam." Said Khanna.
"Already?" Said Anika beginning to now feel a little dizzy too. Sensing her discomfort, Kalyani said, "Bring them here. Daksh is a friend first. Let him meet me and then the rest can talk shop." Said Kalyani dismissing Khanna.
Moments later, along with Shivay entered Daksh Khurrana. One look at the guy, and you would think he was a DJ at a notorious night club, than the notorious criminal lawyer that he was. His many ear piercings were a sore spot with the senior members of the bar. The closely shaved head and the ridiculous pony tail, further irked them. True, he removed the rings when in court, but nothing could be done about the hair. But above all, here was an amoral man. He would cheat, lie, and trick his way into anything and everything he wanted. Kalyani hated the vibe he emanated, but the respect for his father let her open the doors of her home to him. He was a trouble maker waiting to make mischief and she hoped and prayed to shield her Shivay from him.
Blessed with good looks and a certain brand of harami charm meant that Daksh had talked his way into every woman's bed he fancied. Except, for few. He really didn't care about them, not all of them but for one. His father's daughter'. It amused him to find her, standing right there, exactly the way he remembered. That full, seductive figure. The fine brown skin, long dark hair and that charm. Her outfits were bursting with color, just like always.
Turning to face Daksh and Shivay, Anika was sure that the god above hated her. Daksh Khurrana, much as she respected the dad, she hated the son. The brief time they ran into each other in law school, was enough for Anika to avoid him like the plague. Plus the time she caught him having sex with Sr Advocate Rai's wife, daughter and mistress, God!. He was in the middle of the act, when she walked in on him and the wife, wait the daughter, who cares! He had the gall to wink her way when she walked in on them in the empty classroom. And every single time he propositioned her with those crude remarks,... How she hated the guy!
"Well well, isn't it Anika. Just Anika." Said Daksh. Even before Anika could respond, the fatigue from the day took over. Her eyes went dark and the room began to spin. The last thing she saw was the blue of Shivay's eyes, and then she passed out.
"Anika!!" Yelled Shivay, crossing to her as fast as he could. Reaching her in time, he cradled her in his arms, breaking her fall.
Edited by writerff - 6 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
