Anika POV
Rudra and Shaurya had made sure I got to lie down on the back seat and they were in the driver and passenger seats. My head was resting on Aarya’s lap. “Di…….I am so sorry about Shivani. I was so scared and I did not know what to do?”
My sister said in fluent French.
My mouth dropped. “Aaru?”
She grinned. “Well Di…….I did not just have an escort job, I was learning to become a doctor on the side. We had to take a language module and I took French.”
I tried to pull myself up. She held me down. “So you are a doctor? Tia will be so excited.”
She shook her head. “No……I could only complete 4 years of study then I couldn’t manage both.”
I squeezed her hand. “I will talk to Shivaay……” I stopped talking when I realised what I had said. “I mean Om. I am sure your boyfriend would want a doctor for a girlfriend.”
She squeezed my hand back. “No Di. I think he is just so used to me being a bimbo. He will loose his head when he comes to know that I have brains.”
I laughed.
Suddenly, Aarya stilled. “Di…..we are driving into the mansion.”
The two of us squeezed each others hands. The car soon came to a stop.
“Bhabhi….time for you to get out.” Rudra chuckled.
Rudra and Shaurya helped me out of the car.
Shaurya smiled. “Don’t worry. No one is at home.”
Shaurya took out his keys and was about to open the front door when it swung open. There was a lady standing there. She was dressed up.
“Oh! Sasuma…….your grandchild has arrived.” She said rather snidely. I felt Aarya bristle next to me. Was she Naveen’s mother?
“Shaurya…..”came an old woman’s voice.
She held Shaurya’s ear. “You had me so worried. Where were you? Your Chachima was sitting near the door all night.”
I saw the other woman’s face become a bit pinkish. “No Mom……I was just…..”
The older woman held her hand up. “Sunaina……quiet.”
Shaurya pulled at my hand. “Nani…..Chachima…..I have someone for you to meet.”
I slowly walked forward. Aarya had my hand held tightly like it was her last hope.
“Arre Anika beta……what are you doing here? And is this your sister? Hello Beta.” Our grandmother had a sweet smile.
“Nani….meet your grandchildren, Anika and Aarya Raichand.” Shaurya pushed us forward.
The younger woman looked shocked. “Ayesha?” She whispered.
Our grandmother looked shocked. “Where is Ayesha?”
Aarya stilled. I felt my heart clench.
“Nani……” Shaurya held our grandmother’s hand. “Mama…..passed away some years back.”
Our grandmother stilled. “No!” She shouted. “That is not possible.”
Our grandmother’s gave away and she slumped onto Shaurya.
“Maaji…….Radha call the doctor fast. Shaurya……take Ma to her room. I will call Papa and your chachu.”
I pushed Aarya forward. “I can check if you want.” she whispered.
Shaurya and Rudra looked at her puzzled. “Check what?”
She played with her fingers. “I learnt a bit of medicine.”
The boys’ eyes widened. “Medicine……as in doctor.”
She nodded.
Shaurya silently nodded while Rudra was gaping. “I have to tell Om Bhaiya…..he is going to be shocked.”
I stopped him. “No Rudra…..she does not want to. At least not yet.”
Rudra looked disappointed then he had a grin. “You know Bhabhi…….I am the only one that knows all your secrets now.”
I smacked him on the head while Aarya followed Shaurya and our grandmother.
I suddenly felt a pair of hands on mine. I turned around to see Sunaina standing there.
“Come Anika. You need to rest.”
She took me down the hall and into a room. “This was your mother’s room. I thought you would want to stay here.”
She did not seem mean and nasty like how she was to Shaurya.
“Aunty…..” I called.
She smiled. “Call me Chachi….Anika. After all I am your mother’s best friend and your uncle’s wife.”
She sat on the bed next to me as I lay down. “How are the kids?” She asked gently placing her hand on my bump. I felt like Mom was right in front of me.
I felt my throat clog. “They are okay.”
Sunaina wiped her tears. “I told Jia’s mom about your arrival. She is coming tomorrow.”
Sunaina held my hand. “I know what is running in your mind. You think I am nasty to Shaurya.”
I tried to have an emotionless expression. “Parvati was our house’s princess. Losing her took a toll on the family. Something Shaurya can never fill.” She trailed off.
I grimaced. “So you are punishing him for killing his love.”
Sunaina shook her head. “No, I am punishing him for hiding the truth.”
With that line…..she left the room.
Aarya POV
I saw the evil aunty come out of a room.
“Aarya beta……I thought you and Anika would want to share your mother’s room.”
She guided me to the room that she had come out of. Anika was lying down. I glanced at her.
“Take care of her.” Evil aunty whispered and left the room. I walked to the bed.
“Di? Are you okay?”
Anika nodded. “How is Naani?”
I smiled. “She is okay now. She wanted to meet you but Shaurya said that you were resting. Rudra told me to tell you that he will pick you up tomorrow and to be ready for the first thing on your wish list. What list is he talking about?”
Anika blushed. “Nothing. It is between me and my devar.”
She turned to the other side and lay down.
I smiled and pulled out my phone. There were 3 calls from Om and 35 calls from Jiju and so many messages as well.
I walked to the balcony and dialled Om’s number.
“Hello Aarya!” Came Shivaay’s voice. “Why didn’t you pick the call?”
I looked down at my phone. Yup! it was Om’s number. Is he okay?”
“Is anything wrong?”
Suddenly, I heard a lot of muffling. “Hello Aarya. I am fine. Don’t panic. Shivaay confiscated my phone. He is a bit annoyed with Rudra. He refused to tell us anything.”
I smiled. “What did he do?”
Om sighed. “Ran off to his room. Saying something about having to get up early.”
I grinned. “Probably to fulfil Di’s wish list.”
“Wishlist?” came a questioning voice from the background.
“Yes…..he mentioned something before leaving but Di would not tell me what.”
There was silence at the other end. “How is she?”
I grimaced. “I don’t know Long Hair. She seems a bit off. She needs Shivaay. I just know it.”
I heard a sigh. “Aarya……..go sleep now. I will call tomorrow.”
After cutting the call, i went lay down next to Di. “It’s been a long time since we lay down like this.” She said.
I silently nodded. “The last time we did, you had a crush on Michael.”
She turned around. “You remember.” Her face looked like that of a child on Christmas morning.
I reached over and squeezed her hand. “Yes Di…….I remember everything. The Green eyes you wanted and I promising you that you would marry a rich man.”
She grimaced. “Both came true.”
I kept silent before changing the topic. “Do you think they will be girls like us?”
She squeezed my hand. “I sure hope not, Aaru. I do not want them to become us.”
She then turned to the other side and after a few minutes, I could hear that she had fallen asleep.
Tears trailed down my face. My sister had gone through too much and yet I knew many more challenges stood in her way.
I finally closed my eyes to awaken to screams and heavy knocks on our door.
“Aarya……Anika…….Baccha open the door. Are you okay?” His grandmother yelled.
“Anika…..what’s wrong?” Shaurya shouted.
I looked to my side. My sister was crunched up next to the headboard and looked horrified and scared.
“Di?” I questioned quickly switching on the bedside lamp.
“It is because of me. I lost them Aaru.”
She was clawing her arms.
“Lost who, Di? Don’t cry.”
I quickly hugged her. “My child……….I lost her.”
I rubbed her back and tried to soothe her. “Di…..Calm down. Breathe in…….now breathe out.”
She started whimpering. Suddenly, the door burst open. Shaurya came in. His hair looked disheveled. Naveen, Evil aunty and his Grandmother followed close behind.
I felt my sister crunch further into my body. “Shhh…..Di….it is okay. It is just Shaurya…..your Shaurya Bhaiya.”
Shaurya had his phone whipped out. “Tia……come here now. I know……but Anika needs you.”
Within minutes, I heard a screeching halt outside the house. Tia walked into the room in her pyjamas but with her doctor equipments.
She slowly eased Anika from my arms onto the bed.
“I need you all to leave.”
I nodded and was about to get off the bed when I felt a hand clutch my wrist. Tia too noticed.
“Aarya…you can stay.”
The rest of them left the room.
Tia asked Anika some questions.
“Anika……I will give you something so that you can sleep peacefully.”
She clenched my wrist. “Don’t worry Di……..I won’t leave.” She finally nodded.
Tia injected some medicine.
Anika’s eyes started drooping. Tia got up and started packing all her things. I adjusted myself, so I could lay down properly as Anika had my wrist in an iron grip.
What she said next paused both of us.
“Shivaay!”
Author’s note: Sorry for the late update. I have been too busy to write anything. Hope you all like this chapter.
One thing that I specifically wanted to point out is how Aarya never refers to anyone in the house as her own. She says your Shaurya Bhaiya…..his grandmother……the evil aunt………she is having a tough accepting them as her own.
Please review.