To make it easy to understand- Part 13
Shivay and Anika had stepped into the ‘…and they lived happily ever after’ phase.
They were living the future, not the future they had dreamt of, instead the future they had never imagined… ‘cause the confessions they had made were not only made to each other, but also to their own selves. Now that they had accepted it, it’s hard for them to believe that they took so long!! So yes, they were living the future for The Future Is Here.
After that night Shivay didn’t suffer a hard day, since the next a few days, he always found Anika on his bed in the morning, and not only next to him but in his arms. Every morning he woke up smiling. Anika has never been beeter than what she was now!! They were leading a life which seemed to be normal like others’. But then, in their life normal comes with a different definition…
That morning everybody was cheerful in the breakfast table when Shakti arrived with the news. He switched on the TV which spoke…
“Breaking News!!!
Owner of Jindal group of industries, Ashuosh Jindal met with a deadly accident last night. Right now, we are standing outside the RSVP hospital, According to our sources, the driver has already expired and Mr. Jindal too is going through a tough time. Mr. Neotia who had many joint industries with Mr. Jindal is here too and according to our sources he’s the future owner of Jindal group of industries since Mr. Jindal did not have a family who can takeover his post other than a long lost sister. Will his sister appear to have the post? Who will takeover the Jindal group of industries? Or will Ashutosh Jindal survive out of it?”
“My God!!” Shivay asked out of shock. “I met him just a few days back. He wanted to give us two of his industries and…”
“What? He wanted to give you his industries? That also 2 of them?” Tej who stood surprised by the news till then, now was shocked with the news Shivay supplied “But how’s that possible? He had never done business before with the Oberois… not even joint allies, how could he just give you…”
“Somebody is dying… will you stop thinking about business deals now? “
“Let it be Mom!!”Om said to Janvi without looking up.
“Shivay, I think you should go there once, he doesn’t have a family to do the needed!”
Shivay understood what Anika was feeling by her tone in ‘he doesn’t have a family’.
Om seemed to feel it too… “Shivay, let’s go together. Rudra you stay back here because already Khanna will be going with us.”
Though Ru didn’t like the fact much that rest of the 2 brothers were leaving without him,still he obeyed.
“Mr. Shivay Singh Oberoi and his brother Omkara is here. We’ve never heard about any bonding or collaboration between the Jindals and The Oberois, then why are they here?”
Anika sighed at reporter’s words back there in the mansion. The morning news had made her uncomfortable without any such reason. Ashutosh Jindal looked familiar to her and she had no idea why… One thing she was sure about that he did not seem familiar just because he’s famous, it felt like she knew him personally…
Her chain of thoughts were broken with Khanna’s call on her phone.
“But Khanna ji, why me?” she asked surprised.
“Okay, I’m coming” were her next words…
IN THE HOSPITAL
Shivay was waiting near the Hospital door when he saw media crowding a car… he went outside.
“Sir, please tell us why is your family here? We’ve never heard of any bonding of yours with Mr. Jindal…but you, your brother and now your wife is also here…”
“Excuse us please, right now Mr. Jindal’s health is the concern not us…”
Saying that Shivay led Anika inside the hospital…
“But Shivay, why have you called me?”
“He wanted to meet you” Shivay replied without looking at her
“Me? But why? “
“I thought you’ll have an answer to that Anika” he frowned and opened the door to Mr. Jindal’s room.
Anika was surprised and for some unknown reason, scared to get inside the room.
She stepped in… Ashutosh Jindal lied down there on the bed with blood over him, especially on his left side and in a state at which nobody needed a doctor to inform the obvious. Anika knew him or not, his state made her eyes wet automatically. She walked over to him. He looked up at Anika intently and weakly forwarded his hand to her.
She took it out of instinct. He opened his mouth and said something which would have otherwise sounded gibberish owing to his weak state and the oxygen mask if it was not her name.
“Anika…”
A small smile of satisfaction came up on his lips he held her hand tight and that was it… his soul left his body, as if it had stayed till then just for Anika…
Her vision got blurry, she couldn’t believe what just happened!!
Shivay held her and let her keep her head on his shoulder. She looked up at him meaningfully
Mr. Jindal told me something before you had arrived. Surprise never left Anika’s face, Shivay gave her a flashback…
Mr. Jindal: Are you taking care of your wife?
Shivay: Sorry sir?
Jindal: Your wife. Anika. How is she? Are you taking care of her?
Shivay: Yes Mr. Ashutosh. I am.
Jindal: I…I want to see her. Bring her here. Fast, I don’t have much time.
Although Shivay had many questions, he chose to do the asked.
Jindal: And Shivay…
Shivay who was leaving to obey his request stopped and turned
Jindal: Take care of her… Always!! Promise me. Promise me you’ll always take care of Anika.
Shivay: I promise you Sir.
Om kept a hand on Shivay’s shoulder
Om: You stay here. I’ll ask Khanna to bring bhabhi here…
Anika was more shocked than surprised by the flashback. She had no idea.
“You knew Ashutosh Jindal? Like personally?” Shivay asked reading Anika’s expression.
“I don’t know, I mean he looked familiar. Yes. But all these… I don’t know. I don’t remember him. I tried a lot to recall who he is, but couldn’t…”
Precap – Ashutosh Jindal’s lawyer had come to the Oberoi Mansion.
“Sir, your deal.” He handed a file to Shivay.
“Deal? But he was supposed to sign the deal tomorrow!!”
“Sir he had signed it long back… almost 5 days ago”
“5 days? How’s that possible? We’d shown him our project only 2 days back. How could he approve it before that?”
Note:- While Leading Towards The Future, Shivay had faced a lot, and Anika has been there for support. Now when the future is here, is it the other way round now?