The Abyss-Ishqbaaz FF by Aashi
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Chapter-7
The next day was hectic for Anika. In the last eight months she had worked hard neglecting her food and health for the sake of Sahil. After she had returned the loan papers she had realized the gravity of the situation. Her brother needed to walk free & she can do anything for it. By the amount paid by the Oberois for her wedding organizer job she filled the tender of canteen; a business which grew out well in the months that followed but she needed a much bigger amount. So to fulfill it, she started Tiffin-service, organized Pujas, gave tuitions & learnt English & Math. On the top of it all, she learnt cooking from online tutorials which was now worthy of appreciation after the hundreds of failed or unsatisfactory attempts.
The day for which she had waited for months had finally arrived, the day of Sahil’s first physiotherapy session. His operation will happen in the next week & she was really anxious regarding it. To avoid unnecessary tension, she had been working since six in the morning and has been blabbering constantly to herself. Around nine-thirty in the morning, a black car drove up to the canteen and the window-glass was rolled down. “Anika” a person shouted and she looked up to see the person she expected to see the least-Gauri. Looking at her shocked face, she smiled slowly “Can you pack me a lunch? I’m running really late for office & it’s my first day. Please.” Anika overcame her surprise before turning around and started packing a lunch-carrier for her. “I really hope you don’t mind having Shahi-Paneer, roti, dal-makhaani, salad & some steamed rice for your lunch. That’s all I have right now and can’t make anything new as you are running late”, she said busily packing her lunch. “That’ll be a hundred & fifty ma’am” she said smilingly really big looking at the latter’s shocked face as she took the lunch-carrier and paid. Nodding a final goodbye, Gauri moved out to her car & drove off. Anika sighed and turned to take the next order.
Late that afternoon, Priyanka went to the Shivaay’s office to meet him but stopped short to see a small, petite woman working at the front desk. As she approached, the latter looked up from her desktop and watched her inquiringly “Priyanka Singh Oberoi” she said confidently but in a low tone. The woman acknowledged her with a smile now and told her to move in as she suspected that ‘Mr. Oberoi’ wasn’t busy and wished her a good day. Before entering the cabin, Priyanka took a last look at her she seemed new and bright but a woman with guts. She smiled as she knocked slightly & moved in. “Bhaiya, how are you?” giving Shivaay a warm smile she entered. The latter looked up from his desk, astonished to see her there. “Prinku, are you all right? Is everything all right at home?” he inquired, almost alarmed to see his little sister there. “Everything is all right, bhaiya; I just got you some lunch as you didn’t have any breakfast in the morning. Come, we’ll have it together” she said laying out the boxes on the low table at the corner of his cabin. “Prinku, I really am not……”
he gulped at his words looking at the disappointed look on the face of his sister. “Very well, come let’s eat” he smiled and went to the adjacent washroom to wash his hands. After having lunch, he called a servant to clear the table. He had a feeling that Priyanka wanted to say something but was hesitant & she was preparing herself to spill it out throughout the meal. As he saw her disappearing into the washroom he called Gauri to know about his meetings and got to know he had none till four that day. Thanking her, he hung up the phone as he saw her coming back. He looked on as she seated herself, looking strangely nervous and calm at the same time. Biting her lower lips, Priyanka said “Bhaiya I went to meet Anika today.” The color drained from Shivaay’s face; had she told Prinku everything? Does she hate him? The question revolved around his mind. He looked at his sister, stunned.
“Don’t worry Bhaiya, she didn’t tell me anything but I & everyone knows the reason for her this attitude towards us is You. She refused to tell me the reason but Bhaiya remember you too have a sister, I really hope nobody behaves with me the way you did with Anika,” looking at him with tear-filled eyes Priyanka said the last part in a broken whisper as she got up hastily & went away letting the door swing itself back to the frame. Gauri looked astounded at Miss Oberoi as she breezed past her in a fast pace, her face downcast and it appeared as if she had cried. Gauri stared concernedly after her as the other woman disappeared inside the elevator.
Gauri is a woman who, at times, doesn’t give a damn about other feelings & lives for she considers HERS to be complicated enough but she felt a pang of remorse as she noticed her boss regaining composure facing the wall, running his both hands through his all-time-neat hair. Gauri experience a mild jolt of shock as she acknowledged she felt two things which were out of HER character: she liked the tiffin-service girl Anika & she felt concerned for Mr. & Ms. Oberoi. Confused in her brain, drained out at work & jumbled in thoughts, Gauri walked out slowly out of the building without acknowledging anyone, walked slowly to her car & drove off.
Om always shared a very different & special bond with Anika. She was a friend whom he never had, an elder sister who could be fun & strict at times without being offensive, a warm feeling of motherhood about her which he had no knowledge of, a person with striking personality, attitude, brain & beauty laced with sarcasm and weird tapori language. He had felt a huge tiff in between her & Shivaay but it hadn’t stopped him to meet her regularly. But that had made him a victim of Anika’s weird dish experimentations till she began cooking like a trained chef. As Shivaay cooked much rarely, it became Om’s habit to visit her canteen every Monday for an early dinner. As usual he went around at seven thirty only stopping short in his tracks looking at the sight before him. Soumya was sitting huddled in the corner with books & Anika was sitting beside her wiping the wetness off her cheeks. He went slowly to the table and looked silently at the duo. Sensing another person’s presence both looked up and became shocked to see him.
“Soumya, you here?” he inquired, astounded. “I thought you were in Pune”. “I WAS there, bade baalo waale bhaiya, but I came back. The dean called me back so I had to come back.” “But why did you not visit Oberoi Mansion? Where are you staying? Why did you not inform any of us that you are back?” he asked worriedly.
“Relax Om relax, take a breath and calm down. You are firing all the questions; let her answer” Anika intervened, keeping a hand on Om’s upper arm. “Actually she came back just last week. She was settling down so couldn’t visit OM & she thought not to trouble any of you so didn’t inform anyone” Anika informed him on Soumya’s behalf, sensing the latter’s discomfort. “Now sit down and talk till I fix you both something to eat” smiling at both she went away. “You both are hiding something from me. What is it?”
Om questioned in his usual direct manner. “Bhaiya, there is something I need to tell you but not now; I’ll call you tonight.” Once the food came all the three attacked it & ate at full speed amidst of different conversations, bickering and continuous laughter. After some time Om said “Soumya, come I’ll drop you. It’s already late & Anika you should pack up.” “Its okay bhaiya, I’ll go by myself.” “So you don’t want to tell where you are living?”He asked teasingly & laughed out loud when he saw her embarrassed and stuttering. “Nothing like that bhaiya, actually my hostel is in opposite direction.” “Come along, little cutie, I can do at least this for my sister. Anika…” “No yaar Om, I’ll take time. Go on you two” she said smilingly, clearing away the plates. It was quite late & only a handful of customers. Waving bye to them, Anika went away to settle the bills and the two proceeded towards Om’s car.
Rudra went to have a drink of water in the kitchen in about mid-night, finding the bedstead bottle empty but the scenario there scared the wits out of him. He saw Shivaay on the floor, sweating profusely fighting for breath and against tears. “Bhaiya……” the last word Shivaay heard and saw a flash of light before everything went black around him.
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Hi Everyone, it’s me Aashi again. I’m really very sorry for the irregular updates but my college has started this week and I’m flooded with work and assignments. Thank you all for being so very supportive and understanding. Please leave your views on the chapter.
Thank you, Everyone.
By Aashi.