Annika.. Ya.. Paanika??? Episode 21

EPISODE 21
Hello everyone….I know I’m very late with the update but have tried to make it up with a long one. Hope you all like it… 

The Man looked out of the Window into the moonlit night. He walked out to the balcony of his large room and sat there, his mind calming due to the cool winds blowing gently. He savoured this moment of peace and solitude. He loved loneliness better now. When he had got married, both of them were in love, maybe she was more in love with him than he was. She had eloped right on the day of her marriage with another guy, just because she loved him. They had been friends, and then slowly graduated to love. Her eloping had caused bitterness between the erstwhile friends .He tried to recollect what he had felt then. He had never been torn with the thought what his friend would be going through and his love for her. He had been happy that she had run away and they had got married. He realised that though his love had been true, there was an arrogance and overconfidence too because he had considered himself a prize catch. That was why the affair with his secretary had never bothered him at all. Over time, he had become someone who loved the thrill of chasing something than getting it. He now realised that the one he had taken for granted would never come back unless something could be done. He gathered all his courage and dialled the number he had managed to track from his sons’ numbers.

Tej: Hello?
Jhanvi: Hello? Who is this?
A sharp pang of fear struck him before he could actually talk.
Tej: Jhanvi, this is me.
Jhanvi: Yes,Tej?Or should I ask. How did you get this number? Who gave it to you?
TeJ: No one gave it to me, Jhanvi.I traced it from our sons’ numbers. They didn’t even tell me where you were. If I hadn’t eavesdropped into their conversation…
Jhanvi: Sorry to say, I’m not interested in your detective work. And since you have reminded me, I have something to tell you.
Tej: (Hurriedly): Yes, yes, Tell me. I am listening.
JhanvI: When are you going to sign the divorce papers? I want the proceedings to be over before our sons’ and daughter’s wedding. I think Omkara will get committed soon and I want your sign in the papers.
TeJ: Actually, that’s what I wanted to tell you. Should we think one more time about this?
JhanvI: Oh, there’s no need. Don’t worry about me.I’m absolutely fine with it. I want it to be done quickly. I have already wasted half my life due to my lethargy.
Tej:- (Shocked)What you did all these relationship was not lethargy, Jhanvi. It was….
JhanvI: My stubbornness? I should have listened to you when you wanted to give me divorce the first time. Then I could have been peaceful and happy. Instead I clinged on to you, sometimes threatened you, turned desperate and made a complete mess of myself.

Tej(Guiltily): You know Jhanvi, I’m sorry…
JhanvI: Not at all. Its I who should feel sorry. I didn’t make one right decision throughout my life. I married you. Then I sacrificed my self-respect for you and our house. Then when you drifted apart, I didn’t bring myself to divorce you and drunk heavily. My children didn’t get the mother they deserved and I, finally made mincemeat of my liver.
Tej: Will you even allow me to speak? Listen to what I say, at least. Wait, you know what, you should speak. Speak whatever comes to your mind. I’m all ears. You are my wife, you have suffered long enough, it’s your right to get angry and to speak your mind.
Jhanvi: Come on,Tej. Why are you so sweet to me today? Is it because you want it sooner? First, I am not your wife. You are just the father of my children. I have no right on you. I want to have nothing to do with you, but then, we got married together, we should get divorced together.
Tej: (Desperately) You do realise that we have two sons and a daughter who are of marriageable age. Should we get divorced now? We will get divorced after their marriages, what say? I think that is best. They will not be prepared for this.
JhanvI: Oh they will! I am pleased that you care a lot for them. I have already told them this .They have no objection to this. This will be the first best decision we have taken together,Tej.
TeJ: I know why you are doing this. You want to make me feel guilty. Tej Singh…………..(Call gets disconnected on the other side)

A message appears.
“Akira will come to get the divorce papers from you in 2 days”
Tej was shocked beyond words. The speed, the dexterity of the woman he loved threatened to ruin him now. He typed a reply.
“Ok.But I have lost the papers”
“No problem, Akira will draft them quickly”
SO she really wanted this. Not giving up, he typed.
“The first best decision we took together is not this, Jhanvi”
He sighed as he typed the next sentence.
IT WAS OUR MARRIAGE.

OBEROI MANSION ANNIKA’S HOME
Shivaay: Are you sure you want to do this?
Tej: Yes, there is no other way.
Shivaay: Somehow, I feel what we are doing isn’t
right.
Tej: Whatever I am asking you to do is in the best interests of our family.
Shivaay: And OmRu, Prinku?
Tej: They’ll understand eventually, I think.
Shivaay : Are you sure this is want you want to do finally?
Tej: Yes.
Shivaay: Maybe you should think about it one last time. The consequences are crystal clear and huge.
Tej: No, I have given it a lot of thought.
Shivaay: Well then, Good night, Bade Papa!
Tej: Good night, thank you. I just hope it all turns out right.
Annika: Are you sure you want to do this?
JhanvI: Yes, there is no other way.
Annika: Somehow, I feel what we are doing isn’t right.
Jhanvi: Whatever I am asking you to do is in the best interests of our family.
Annika: And OmRu, Prinku?
Jhanvi: They’ll understand eventually, I think.
Annika: Are you sure this is want you want to do finally?
Jhanvi: Yes.
Annika: Maybe you should think about it one last time. The consequences are crystal clear and huge.
JhanvI: No, I have given it a lot of thought.
Annika: Well then, Good night, Badi Maa!
Jhanvi: Good night, thank you. I just hope it all turns out right.

Early next morning, Shivaay was shocked as he saw Omru dressed in Kurta Pyjamas,Prinku in a lehenga and Daadi, her usual attire with a not so usual glittering necklace. They all saw him with an uncertain glance.
Shivaay: Am I missing something here? You all are dressed up?
OmruPri: We are going to Akira’s friend’s marriage!
Shivaay: Prinku, Daadi, too? But Prinku, you don’t go to a random stranger’s marriage.
Priyanka:- (Stuttering) I know her well,Bhaiya.
They all make their way to the car.
Shivaay(In mind):Who is this Bhabita everyone except me knows?
“Khanna”, he said.
Go find out where everyone is going, whom they are meeting and inform me. Mind you, you can even disguise yourself, but I need the information.
Khanna: Yes,Sirji. Mein Bond James banke aapka kaam karoonga!
Shivaay: Khanna,its James Bond.Aur tum Khanna hi rehna aur kaam karo.
Sigh! When did I sign in for this thriller series?
Annika’s Home:
The girl: People, people, move apart! Please ,flowers for the wedding coming through!

AKIRA POV:
Finally,it was the day of my sister’s marriage!How nice it was to be related to the bride.I was always busy and everyone,including my nag of a sister was screaming out for me.How nice it felt to be admired and wanted!I was presently holding the flower petals to be distributed before the bride and groom took the pheras.I stuck upon an idea,took my phone ,clicked a picture of me with the plate with Nishaad jiju in the background since the bride was getting ready and Captioned it”A Flowers carrying flowers”,searched for “M” in my contact and sent it to the first contact there.In all the commotion I didn’t notice our neighbour making a dash in my direction.My toes were held to the long lehenga as I slipped.I’m headed for a nasty fall!I closed my eyes.
Few seconds later I opened my eyes.I didn’t feel pain yet?My lehenga?And the flower petals?.When I opened my eyes ,I saw that there was another pair of hands supporting me and another pair of eyes looking at me.It was the first time I had stared so deeply in someone’s eyes.I didn’t hear a sound in midst of the marriage hullabaloo.We stood there,as to romantically put it, frozen in time!!
Rudra: Om, Akira didi knows how to stand .Her mom and dad would’ve taught her years ago.
We stiffened.

Om: (Looking at Akira from top to bottom) No use saving you, the damage is already done.(Looking at the flowers)
Akira(Looking at him): Yes, I think the damage is already done.(Shifting her gaze)I must get new flowers now!
A lady walked towards her :Hello my dear, actually, the groom invited me. Can you please introduce me to some family member of the bride? I want to bless the bride before the marriage.
Akira: Oh please,come! The bride’s my sister .And her room is there.
She sped away, not realizing that the guest had entered into the room ,silently taken her sister’s picture and sent it to someone.

Person 1: Your job is done.The bride,I should say is very beautiful.
Person 2 : Thank you Patni ji,Mr.Oberoi will pay us well.
Person 1: I hope saab does.
Khanna;(Making a call) Sir ji? Please look at the video and the picture I sent now.
Shivaay: Khanna,not again!What did I ask you to do?
Khanna : Sirji, please.What we see is not what actually happens and what happens ,we usually do not see. Bye,Sirji.
Grumbling,Shivaay proceeded to see the video.
Pinky was screaming her heart out to the driver who was trying hard to negotiate the crowded ,narrow road.
Pinky: Whats this? Why do we give you salary? So that you can drive a car in this shoddy way. Expensive cars this is.My skins too My Maata!Will I die of sweats? Will I reach home in one pieces? Driver, am I reading Ramayan that you listens to me now? Do you know, in childhood my Shivaay used to drive cars pushing them from backs. He drove better when he was six than you do nowadays…Oh My Maata! Driver,stop the car.
Driver: Yes Maa’am.
Pinky: This is what you do properly. Isn’t the car on that side of the road ours?

ANNIKA’S ROOM:
Jhanvi: 15 mins left Annika, the rituals are going to start.
Annika: Yes, Badi Maa.
Annika looked at the room around her. Here she was all decked, looking perfect as the ever blushing bride .Except that she was already married. Or rather,had been.The memories of her previous marriage flashed through. She drank water from the jug kept nearby. She asked herself to be happy. There was nothing to be unhappy about this marriage ..or not? She looked into the mirror and attempted a radiant bride style smile.
As if in answer, a slim figure entered her room whose face she saw in the mirror.
Dishevelled appearance, intense eyes boring into her soul with love, passion, anger,hurt at the same time.
She shuddered.
It was Shivaay Singh Oberoi.

I am not going seperate Shivika so all of you chill…Try guessing how this marriage is going to stop,people!!