CHAPTER 90: Life is indeed unpredictable
(Five years later)
Adhvik was sleeping on his bed…. He was lost in his sweet dreams…. Gauri entered the room and saw him sleeping peacefully…. A smile adorned her lips as she saw him…. She slowly walked towards him, careful enough not to make any sound that would disturb his sleep…. She quickly climbed the bed from the other side…. She looked at him debating with herself whether to disturb him or let him sleep in peace…. After a lot of discussion with herself, she decided what to do…. She looked at him and then bent towards him…. But before she could do anything to him, he wrapped his hands around her and she was on top of him…. He opened his eyes and looked at her innocent face…. He started laughing while she made a puppy face…. He smiled at her innocence….
Adhvik: What did you think Mrs. Malhotra it isn’t so easy to trick me?
Gauri: Not fair Adhvik, how do you always know it is me?
Adhvik: I don’t have to open my eyes to see you; I can always feel your presence.
Gauri was about to say something when they heard Naren calling for Gauri…. They looked at each other and smiled…. Gauri quickly planted a kiss on Adhvik’s cheek and got out of his hold and walked out of the room….
Adhvik sat up on the bed and smiled thinking how much his life had changed over the years…. Three years ago he was released from prison, and two years ago he got married to his love, his Gauri…. Over the years even Naren and Gauri’s relationship had changed for the better…. Adhvik had never thought that even his life could change into such a beautiful tale….
*****
Mishti was going through the files when the door of the cabin opened and she looked up…. A smile adorned her lips as she saw Kunal and Kuhu walking inside…. Mishti stood up from her place and walked to greet them…. Kunal and Kuhu hugged her and she reciprocated the hug….
Mishti: Kunal, Kuhu when did you both come to Mumbai?
Kunal: We came to Mumbai yesterday, and then thought when we have come, why we don’t surprise our lovely Bhai and Bhabhi.
They soon got engrossed in their talks….
Abir who was passing by heard the laughter sounds and peeked in and was surprised seeing Kunal and Kuhu with Mishti…. It seemed Mishti and Kunal were teasing Kuhu about something and were laughing at her….
Abir felt happy seeing the bond that had developed between Kunal and Mishti over the years…. In the initial years, Mishti had tried very hard to make a place in Kunal’s heart, but once Kunal realized his mistakes and learned Mishti’s nature, he and Mishti had become the strongest team in their house…. The two would team up against others and play pranks on them…. The once thought impossible bond had now become the most special bond in their family….
*****
“Maa, Papa hurry up, how much more time are you both going to take”
Prachi shouted for the nth time…. Ranbir only laughed seeing her irritated face while Prachi glared at him making him quiet…. Prachi and Ranbir had been waiting for Abhi and Pragya who were getting ready as they had to attend a musical event Abhi’s company had organized…. Ranbir pulled Prachi towards him and made her sit beside him….
Ranbir: Relax Prachi, they’ll come.
Prachi: When, the amount of time they are taking, we’ll definitely get late and I don’t want to miss any of the performances.
Ranbir was about to say something when Abhi and Pragya came down….
Abhi: You’ll not miss any performances; they won’t start the event without us.
Prachi: Finally, you both are ready. Come on now, let us go.
Prachi dragged Ranbir along with her…. Pragya and Abhi looked at Prachi and then at each other…. They smiled seeing each other…. Over the years, they had rectified the mistakes they had made in the past years, and now they were living with their children as a happy family…. Abhi and Pragya did not remarry as they had understood over the years that relations do not need a tag to remain forever, the emotional attachment they had with each other was more than enough to make their life happy and with Ranbir and Prachi, life seemed happier than ever….
*****
Shivaay settled back in his chair and dialed Anika’s number…. He had finished an important meeting, and could not wait to share his success with her…. Anika picked up the call in the first few rings….
Anika: Shivaay….
Shivaay: Guess what happened today.
The excitement and happiness that reflected in his voice made it easy for Anika to know what might have happened…. Shivaay Singh Oberoi was like a closed book to the world, and people who tried reading him could never decipher his exact meaning, but when it came to Anika, Shivaay was like an open book for her, and over the years she had learned him so well, that sometimes he wondered if Anika knew him more than he had known himself….
Anika: Looks like Mr. Oberoi got the deal.
Shivaay: Yes, how do you always know?
Anika: Well Mr. Oberoi, the world may not know you, but I know you very well.
Shivaay passed a hand through his hair and smiled hearing her….
Anika: Okay, now stop playing with your hair and concentrate on your work. I’ll talk to you in the evening.
Shivaay was surprised to hear her…. Anika laughed on the other side and disconnected the call…. Shivaay smiled seeing the phone screen; the wallpaper had a photo of Anika, Advay, and him…. Shivaay felt a feeling of contentment and extreme happiness looking at the two…. For years Shivaay had lived his life to keep up the reputation of his Oberoi surname, and for his family business, but ever since Anika had come into his life, he had learned to live for himself, and after Advay’s birth, his world revolved around these two…. He could do anything in the world to keep them happy….
*****
Chan….
Chan….
Chan….
The sound echoed in the entire studio as Ishana tapped her feet to the musical beats…. Her white anarkali swayed with the music…. Her jhumkas followed the musical beats…. Her curly brown hair danced with the breeze coming from the window…. Her eyes portrayed all emotions…. Her hands and legs moved in assigned directions, and she looked like an angel descended to the earth only to add on to its beauty….
The walls of the studio were all covered with mirrors…. Her reflection could be seen in all the mirrors….
Ishana finished her dance and sat down to take a break…. She was drinking some water when she felt two arms around her waist and smiled recognizing the touch…. Om placed his chin on her shoulder and looked at her through the mirror; they looked at each other’s reflection….
Omkara: You look the most beautiful when you are lost in your dance.
Ishana: Well, the credit goes to you Mr. Artist; you made me realize my potential and encouraged me to dance.
Omkara: I didn’t do anything; it is your talent that has made it possible.
They smiled looking at each other….
After their wedding, on one of their visits to Pune, Om had encountered the fact that Ishana was a trained classical dancer, and that she always wished to have her own dance academy, however, due to the responsibilities of her family and Devika’s education, she had done her graduation in journalism and then took up a job in Mumbai…. When Om learned about her dream, he talked to her and encouraged her to pursue her passion, her art…. Ishana had never thought that she would get someone like Om in her life, as her strength, her support and would always hold her hand when she walked towards her dreams….
*****
Soumya: Red
Rudra: Pink
Soumya: I said red and that is final.
Rudra: I said pink and that is final.
Soumya: I am the main in charge and I’ll decide and so red is final.
Rudra was about to answer back when the poor worker who had been witnessing their argument for the past half an hour interrupted them…. The two of them looked at him….
Worker: Ma’am, Sir, why don’t we use both pink and red flowers along with some white flowers, they’ll look beautiful together.
Rudra and Soumya thought about it for a while and then agreed…. The worker felt relieved and almost ran away from the place, he did not want to take a risk, what if these two again disagreed on something, and he would not be able to handle another disagreement…. Rudra and Soumya looked at each other and burst into laughter feeling bad for the poor fellow….
Rudra and Soumya had started this event management company three years ago, and with their hard work and dedication, and with Gauri’s time to time advises, the company had made a name in the market…. Their cute banter and some serious disagreements had become their daily routine, and made them an inseparable part of each other’s life…. A year ago they had got engaged to each other and were soon going to get tied in a relationship that would bind them with each other forever….
*****
Pankhuri and Sumitra were sitting in the living room discussing the latest designs that Pankhuri was going to launch in her next event when Arjun and Shekhar walked in…. They also settled beside their lovely wives….
Shekhar: So, kya baatein ho rahi hai Maa beti mein aaj?
Pankhuri: Nothing much Papa, was just showing Maa, the latest designs.
Arjun: Haa, spend all your time with your Maa only, pati ke liye toh time hi nahi hai.
Arjun whispered into Pankhuri’s ear and she glared at him…. The family discussion continued with both Sumitra and Shekhar praising Pankhuri while Arjun only adored their bond….
After the arrest of her father and her brothers, Pankhuri had gone through mild depression, when Arjun, Anika, Sumitra, and Shekhar had become her support system and had helped her cope up with the situations…. With all the love, care, and affection she received from her family, Pankhuri soon became normal again, and started leading a happy life…. When the investigation of Tia’s case had started, he had a constant fear of losing Pankhuri, but now after years of their togetherness, he was assured that nothing and no one would take her away from him….
*****
“No, no, no, I’ll only eat chocolate ice-cream or I won’t eat anything”
Little Prisha said folding her arms across her chest and turned her face to the other side…. Ranveer looked at Priyanka helplessly while she only shrugged her shoulders and walked towards the dining table to set up their dinner….
Priyanka smiled seeing how the DCP Randhawa who would order the entire police department and make them dance on his tunes, was now persuading his little princess to agree to him and have vanilla ice cream instead of chocolate one…. Who would believe that he the same fierce DCP in front of whom even dangerous criminals face defeat….
Life had changed so much over the years, Ranveer who had lost his family when he was young had never thought that one day he would have such a loving family and that the DCP who makes the criminals of Mumbai shiver with his words, would have to work hard to pacify his princess….
Priyanka smiled seeing the father-daughter and only wished that this happiness stayed forever….
*****
Life is indeed unpredictable and you never know what is awaiting you on the next turn….
Years ago, a murder investigation had brought them all into each other’s lives and no one knew then, that the case would change their lives forever….
The case did change their lives for the better, and they all got their share of happiness….
LIFE is indeed a play of lots of LOVE and many SECRETS, but in the end, all that matters is who was by our side in all our times, and who never left our hands in the journey….
“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” — Dalai Lama, because at the end that is all that matters….
*****
Hello everyone, I hope you all are doing well.
Here is the last chapter of the story, do share your views on the same.
It has been a year to the time I had started writing this story and I never thought it would get such an amazing response from all the readers. I would only thank you all for your great support, love, and appreciation for the story.
Thank you Shesha485, Lovely, Cheshu, Samaila, Fenil, Jasminerahul, Ruby_MarNy, Shaheer Fan, Reet, Khushi, Nandini, Vidha, Swati Mann, Neela, Bhuvaneshwari, Premmohan, Aanchal, Nikki17, Nikita_jai29, Arthi, Samheeta, Shweta255, Diksha, Amrita, Nikita, Noor09, Neha, Mish, Prevdha, Ria Sharma, Aarya, Gayu, Anjali, Samantha, Radhakrishn, Kruthika, Riya, Mishbir_fan, Riyan, Ishani, Sweet_Shadow, Ananya Singh, Ishana, Gayathri, Param Vashishtha, Aldy, Zoya, Anum, Christine14, Kathomi Lydia, and Hima and to all my silent readers, and also a sorry to anyone whom I have missed mentioning here, you all were an important part of the journey of this story.
And like I always say this is the end of the story, not the end of our journey.
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