A New Life (Part 9)

Part 9

Anika’s POV

Earlier that day….

“Sahil wake up. We’re going to be late for the Pooja and then Dadi will be mad at us. Sahil get up!” Anika woke up Sahil. Sahil lazily woke up and walked into the bathroom to freshen up. Anika got ready in a shudithar, and got Sahil’s clothes set out for him on his bed.

Once the two were ready they went to Oberoi mansion and was welcomed in by Dadi, Sowmya, Priyanka and Janvi. The rest of the family were sitting around waiting for the Pooja to start. She looked over to see Rudra laying his head on Om’s shoulder sleeping away soundly and Shivay sitting next to his brothers, Pinky, Tia and Mrs. Kapoor were standing to the side talking while Tej and Shakthi were sitting on the couch discussing something. She felt eyes on her and looked over to see Shivay looking at her. She quickly looked away and walked over to Dadi who was talking to the pandit. She could still feel him watching her but she ignored it like she usually does.

We sat together for the Pooja according to Dadi’s wishes and completed it together while the rest of the Oberoi family members joined in at various parts. As the Pooja was proceeding all I can think about was everything that has happened till now. I remember the last time the two of sat together like this and that was when he was forcing me to marry him. Everything was always according to him or someone of his family. First the forceful marriage then the forceful divorce, all was his choice nothing of mine, but I’m the one who gets blamed and gets the bad name. No one thinks I don’t hear the words of Pinky aunty as she taunts me when I’m not there. There were a couple of times when I came over to ask for something and I would hear Pinky aunty bad mouthing me. I wanted to go in and yell at her stop that none of it was my fault but what was the use, I was the culprit. What makes me sad is the fact that even after watching the video of her son forcing me to marry him, she still blames me.

No matter how much Dadi, OmRu, Janvi aunty, Priyanka and Sowmya support me in this situation, when it comes to the family, they stand together. I don’t blame them, it’s what family does and especially a family with a big name like them.

The two of us are conducting this Pooja together according to the pandit, but my mind is questioning me as to why I’m sitting next to him and doing this Pooja with him. In a few months I will leave him and this family. It will be like I was never a part of this family, then why am I doing all this drama? Drama…the drama that is only done within these four walls of this house. Everyone thinks that Tia is his wife and that I am just an organizer for the Oberoi family. When the world comes to play I am the organizer but with just us then I become the wife. What a family! What makes me laugh is the fact that my so-called mother-in-law who is doing all she can to get her son and Tia married, bad-mouths Tej uncle for relationship with Swethlana. I guess when you are part of a big family, double standards are usual. I really shouldn’t care, I mean in a few months I will be out and they can do whatever that is they want.

Finally the Pooja is done and everyone disperses. I walk over to Dadi and ask her if she can take care of Sahil. With her affirmative response I turned to leave and noticed Mr. Oberoi looking at me. I ignored him like I always do and walked out of the house. I heard him call out to me, but I just walked away. I don’t understand him. He wanted the divorce and I gave it to him. It’s not my fault that the judge said the divorce can’t take place until a year mark has completed. Now all of a sudden every time I’m in his surrounding either he’s staring at me or wanting to talk to me. All I want is for him to leave me alone. I trusted him many times only to have my heart and trust be broken, I can’t allow him to waltz his way into my heart again.

There are times when I wish that I had just walked away when I found out that Mr. Oberoi and Priyanka were siblings. I know then I wouldn’t have met OmRu, Dadi and Sowmya but at least I would have been happy the way I was. Now I’m living a life that I don’t want, and I can’t do anything to change it.

I was walking out of the house and was just about to exit the compound when I got a call from my manager to bring a file that he told me to hold onto. I walked back to the guesthouse and went to my room to get the file, that’s when I heard a noise. I didn’t know what it was. I thought maybe it was Mr. Oberoi who came to talk to me so I went out into the living room only to come face to face with my nightmare.

“Daksh?” I asked.

“Wow, Anika, I’m glad that you still remember my name. I thought you’d have forgotten about me completely now.” He taunted me. What was he doing here? I thought Mr. Oberoi had him arrested and committed in the mental asylum. What’s going on here? “Oh sweetheart, I know you’re wondering what I’m doing here, and how I knew that you were here. Now, that’s not something you need to worry about, but what you do need to worry about is….”

And everything went black for Anika.

“Oh good, you’re okay!” I felt hazy, dizzy and the room wouldn’t stop moving. My hands were tied behind me and I was sitting on a chair. I don’t know where I am, but something smells horrible. My body feels heavy, my head hurts. What’s happening to me? “Oh sweetheart” just then I felt his fist connecting with my jaw, then my ribs, once, twice, three times, I lost count, and I went unconscious again.

When I woke to, I heard voices, but I couldn’t put together the voices. I thought I heard Mr. Oberoi but I couldn’t be sure. I struggled to open my eyes but couldn’t. Everything went black again.

The next time I woke, we were moving. I could hear Daksh talking to someone, I don’t know who, but he sounded agitated. “Don’t worry, he won’t be able to find us. And if he does come after me to save her, well she isn’t going to live after today as it is, but she will definitely die if he comes for her, that’s for sure.” I heard him say. Then everything went black again.

Precap: Anika’s saved.