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CHAPTER 20
Nishaad: You will!!You will… Thank you, Annika. You don’t know how much light I feel now; Cancer can take me any time, after I’m married to you! Now, I know, my baby will be in the right hands and will grow up to be a great guy!
Annika POV:
I stood dazed by all that I had just said. I couldn’t believe that I had taken such a monumental decision within a fraction of a second. But then things had been worse. This time at least, I was being asked for permission. Only one thought bit me. Could I never hope to have a plain, normal wedding like every girl my age dreams of? I never had, but then why was such a simple thing so impossible? During this entire hullabaloo, the baby in my arms woke up, rudely awakened by our soft conversation which might have been a bit too loud with the intensity of the moment. I gently rocked him, occasionally lifting him lightly. He gurgled a bit and drifted off to sleep. Don’t worry, Mom’s here, I said not aware of my surroundings. I realised what I had just said. Almost involuntarily, I looked up at Nishaad, who was smiling at me and said,” All the doubts in the tiniest corner of my heart are gone. I realise now that you always thought of him as your son.” Truth was, even my heart wiped of all doubts. If I could address myself as his mom involuntarily, I would always see him as my priority never my responsibility. The best part was, I had my whole life to exercise that.
It was him who got back to business first.
Nishaad: When do we marry then? I don’t believe in these auspicious dates. Let’s just have the basic rituals, the essentials that make a wedding valid. A simple marriage, neither do I have any family, nor do you, except Badi Maa and your sister and a few people in the apartment. Let’s have the wedding here, in my place. You have anything to add? How many days do you need to get ready for the marriage? We can do the arrangements for the marriage together.
Annika POV
I laughed. When this guy was really happy, he could speak a mouthful and be a handful. All his observations were right. I merely nodded. If life wants to do it with me, then I’m game! But then, my thoughts went back to the reason why we were going to get hitched and also to my ex-sasural.I replied back to him with a voice I had never used.
Nishaad, maybe, a few more guests will come for the marriage. And I’ll ask Akira to get the papers for the official adoption ready.
He nodded appreciatively.
Nishaad: So, let’s get married in a three days’ time! Let me go inform Badi Maa personally, now! She needs to know, like now!
He went off happy and in his excitement banged the door shut.
I was walking to the altar, yet again!
I placed the peacefully, asleep baby back into the cradle.
What have I got myself into?
I proceeded to make a call.
OBEROI MANSION
Akira: Are you mad? You must be seriously, totally, completely mad! Does anyway marry this way? Without any pomp, splendour, I understand, but in a very few days’ time? This is a marriage for God’s sake! People need to make preparations, for God’s sake! How can you do this, di?
The OBros happened to pass that way.
Om: Are you crazy, Akira? People live, eat and also sleep here.Please keep your voice down.
Shivaay and Rudra looked on.
Akira: Sorry, Om. Lost myself in the intensity of the moment.
Om: Don’t ever do that again.
Shivaay: Di? Is Annika on the Phone? Whose marriage are you talking about?
Akira(Holding the phone): No Bhaiya, not “Di” its “Di”. She’s my Tamil friend. We informally address her that way in Tamil. She’s getting married in three days. I have even stored her name that way, sees?
Annika laughed on the other side. Akira quickly turned the loudspeaker off.
Annika: You really know to lie authentically. Are OmRu there?
Akira: Yes, they are. Oh, you know Omkara and Rudra? How? Oh, you guys know each other from a long time? Great!
Annika: Give the phone to Om,I want to tell him this news. Only, Om!
Akira handed the phone over to Om.
Akira: She wants to speak to you, Om. She’s inviting you for the marriage personally.
Om and Rudra looked quizzically at her but she thrust the phone into Om’s hands.
Akira: Speak to her, already!
Om: Hello? Congratulations!!
Annika : Hello,Om.
Om was stunned. He stood rooted to the spot.
Annika: Hello,Om..Om??
Om: Bhabhi??I mean..Bhabita????What are you doing now? How’s everything? And you are getting married?
Annika: Om ,it’s a complicated story which I want to tell all of you. I have to get married this time, there’s no alternative. I’ve loved you ,Rudra,Prinku and Daadi as a lovely family which I never had.Will you come for the marriage.
Om: No,no way…Its pure betrayal you are doing to our brother.How can I?How can you do this?
Shivaay: What??
Akira: Oh Bhaiya! He means that my friends doing a betrayal by not inviting Rudra to the marriage. He’s their brother, no?He’s younger to both of them,right?Right,Om?
Om: Right! I have an elder brother too, Shivaay. I’ll give him the phone now, so that you can invite him too,Bhabita?
Annika: Om,no!Please,no!
Om handed the phone over to Shivaay. Akira murdered him three times in her mind for being this righteous.
Shivaay: Hello!
Annika looked around for a solution. All she could see around her was clothes.
Annika: Hello!(Covering the phone with a handkerchief)
Shivaay felt Goosebumps all over. ”Annika!” He involuntarily said. Akira face palmed.
Annika felt a surge of emotions sweep through. She wept silently at the irony of the moment. She lifted her phone near her mouth and kissed it silently, weeping all the while. Shivaay felt waves all over him, stared shocked into empty space and felt tears form in his eyes. He felt an overwhelming urge to kiss Annika, right now. He somehow controlled himself and spoke.
Shivaay: Bhabita ji?I don’t know you in person but here’s wishing a happy marriage to both of you. I have an urgent meeting to attend in three days and might not be able to come but my brother will. I’ll hand the phone back to Om now.
Annika POV:
No, Shivaay, you don’t know me in person or as a person.
This moment on, you don’t know of an Annika who was once your wife.
Shivaay walked with rapid strides, wiping off the occasional tears that dripped and disappeared into the dark corridor.
Om and Akira looked at him, with sadness and concern while Rudra didn’t understand what was going on. He took the phone and started talking to the person on the other side.
Rudra: Hello, Didi, Rudra Singh Oberoi. Naam to suna hi hoga.I’m sure you must be beautiful,gorgeous and what not, because that’s how you can know me and this lambe baal wala prani at the same time.But I don’t remember you name you know? Maybe because I have lot of people to remember,you know,Logic?
Person: Rudra Singh Oberoi, We need to talk. Atleast ask who the person on the other side is before you start your nonsense. Is this how you talk to a girl who’s getting married?
Rudra: Mom?How can you do this?Why did you change your name to Bhabita?Is it because I have sisters like Kareena and Karishma JI? And you are getting married ,mom?I don’t have the clothes for your wedding yet.
Om gave him a death glare.
Om: How dumb can you get, Rudra?
Rudra: I’m not Dumb. And you need to be deaf to not hear properly, mom was speaking to Shivaay Bhaiya, mom is speaking with me, now. So isn’t it Mom getting married.
Om: How do you know it was mom talking to Shivaay?
Rudra: She’s speaking now.
Akira: You know, a phone is a transferable entity which can be transported from one person’s hand to the other?
Om looked at her in confusion and said: Exactly!
Rudra looked at them and only scratched his head in reply.
Om took the phone and nodded, walked out of the room, bringing back Daadi and Prinku to the room. He shot a concerned glance towards Shivaay’s room. Through the window, he saw Shivaay sitting in the pool, legs immersed in the pool. He hurried back to Akira’s room.
Om opened Facetime and accepted a video call from his mom. Jhanvi and Annika made an appearance. In Annika’s hands was a baby.
Rudra: Now where did this baby come from? My life has become a daily soap. Babies are popping out from nowhere!
Omira: Shut up Rudra!
Rudra: Hmm..
Jhanvi explained everything to them in detail. There was pin drop silence for a moment. Akira knew her sister was sweet, kind soul in all of one month, but every time she thought so, her sister did something even better. This would have to go to the top of her do-gooder list. Om stood stunned .Rudra was moved. Daadi wailed again.
Rudra: My only regret is that you aren’t my Bhabhi permanently.
Om: In a world full of spite ,dishonesty, lies, where did you come from, Bhabhi?
Annika smiled dryly.
Annika: I guess from nether world to Earth since,I don’t know the ones who gave birth to me.
Om’s gaze drifted towards Akira, who was gulping silently and trying to wipe off the few drops which threatened to come out. Om felt a warm feeling all over him that instant and rested his hand on her shoulder, squeezing her a bit. Akira looked back at him with tear filled eyes and their eyes met for some time.
Daadi: This is why I wanted you both to be together. It seems god has other plans!
Akira: I’m …proud of you, Didi!!
Annika: I didn’t want to hear praises about me at this time. I’m seeing the people I’ve loved to the bottom of my heart as a family. Despite knowing that you are Shivaay’s relatives, I wanted to ask you all if you would attend my marriage. It’s the most memorable day of my life and I want you all to be there. Is it Ok,or do I ask too much, to be with me and perform all duties that family members do in their sister’s or daughter’s marriage? This marriage was fixed in a fit of urgency; I don’t want it to stay that way.
All was silent for a moment.
OmRu looked at each other and said: Allow us to introduce ourselves, we are the bride’s brothers.
Priira: We are the Bride’s sisters!
Daadi:I’m the bride’s grandmother.
Jhanvi: I’m the bride’s mother.
Om made a mental note to inform Saumya too. Annika looked, with tear laden eyes in front of her. How could these wonderful people love her so much?
Rudra: Are you sure you can’t come back to Bhaiya?
Annika: Rudra?
Rudra: I get it. But you could give him some more time,right?
Om: Are you sure you’ll get all the happiness you deserve?
Annika: Yes,Om,Happiness,trust and respect too.
Om: What about Love?
Akira: Love doesn’t exist. At least Romantic men-woman relationship doesn’t!
Om: I asked my Bhabhi..Sorry..My didi.
Annika : He’s enough to give me all the love I want.(pointing at the baby in her lap)
The baby cried lustily in reply.
Annika stared at the screen, then at her house and finally at the baby.
Her kal, aaj and kal were technically, in the same room!
Precap: Shivaay: Where are daadi and prinku going?
Om:With us Shivaay,to Bhabita’s marriage.
Shivaay: But prinku doesn’t go to a random stranger’s marriage?
Prinku: I know her well,Bhaiya !Don’t worry!
Shivaay: OK,then!
Who is this Bhabita who everyone except me knows?
He picked his phone to make a call.”Khanna!”,he said..
Please do point out the mistakes,if there are any…!