Frenemy Companions

Chapter-24

"And now you look like my princess" Swarna kissed her forehead affectionately.

Annika smiled feeling the warmth of motherly love. She was not fortunate enough to feel that often.

"Thank you " it slipped from her tongue.

She indeed looked pretty. Even though she had just gotten ready in twenty five minutes.

In which she took the quickest shower then got dressed up. Swarna did her hair. Then applied a moisturiser and concealer on her face. A little bit of blush on cheeks with her all time favourite shade of lipstick.

The line kohl and liner looked great too. Years of experience at it, Annika did her eyes the best!.

"Okay now I am going to assist didi. You come down soon." Swarna left the room and Annika kept looking at her direction.

She released a sigh and picked up the duppata from the arm chair. Keeping it on her shoulders she took a safety pin to pin it up.

And walked out of the room doing the same.

A small hiss left her lips as the pin pricked her skin but then finally it was done.

By then she had reached her destination.

Her mother's room!

She had decided to talk to her. Even though it was waste but Annika knew no way to be present in her brother's wedding. She didn't want anything to be unveiled, it will destroy everything.

She will request her. Or maybe agree to her any condition. After all someone had told her to fight if the thing is worth it.

And her brother deserved every happiness in the whole world. She didn't realise that her this step would shake her existence.

Hesitantly knocked on the door wondering if Madhuri was there or not. Why would she take her messages seriously?

But then a small 'come in' cleared her doubts.

"Say what do you want to talk about? " Madhuri asked leaning on the couch not facing her busy with the jewellery boxes.

Annika took forward steps towards her face but then stopped. It was easier to speak without looking at her.

"I ..wanted to request you" She was interrupted.

"To let you be a part of Adi's wedding! " Madhuri completed.

Annika stood there silent. She wasn't a surprise because Madhuri was always a step ahead her.

"What makes you think that I'll agree? To have 'you' a bad omen in my son's marriage?" Annika shut her eyes at Madhuri's words.

Taking her silence as her weakness Madhuri venomously said.

"What have you ever done to be here? This palace is not your place. The luxury, the fame , the property , the shares and everything you have was my son Aditya's right!

But you came in between. And your grandfather named fifty percent of the property on your name. What did Aditya get?

A mere twenty five percent!

I don't understand what they see in you? You are a mistake that couldn't be rectified " Annika couldn't hear more. Her heart felt constricted.

But Annika all her life had learnt one thing 'fake it , till you make it'.

And there surfaced her arrogant side. She walked in front of Madhuri and stood crossing her hand in front of her chest with an eyebrow raised.

"For information let me tell you mom. Dada ji knew your true colours mom. He knew you wanted the family to separated. You would have till now caused a drift between Adi bhaiya and kartik!" Annika scornfully said.

Madhuri looked at her with a tight face. And Annika continued.

"Mom, I came here with an offer, a deal. Black mailing me, insulting me would not do any good to you. So better listen to me." She looked at Madhuri's expression.

Seemed like Madhuri was taken aback by Annika's sudden confidence. After all Aditya was Annika's weak point.

"I will be a part of all the rituals of the wedding. And in return you can ask anything you want except the power of attorney! "Madhuri looked thought full.

"You will anyway do everything I say!" Madhuri spoke the obvious.

"No, Nada! Mrs singhal don't think that I bow down because I am scared. I do it because I don't want to hurt anyone.

Do realise once dad gets to know who the real you is how will he feel? What will he do after he finds out about me, about you and your behaviour.." Annika bit her lips to stop speaking.

Madhuri looked at her with hatred, something which is never in the eyes of a mother for her daughter.

"Do whatever you want Annika. Just be cautious , I will definitely not blackmail you this time. Take my words but you are going to get one of the biggest surprises of your life"

With that said Madhuri heed outside the room. And Annika stood there not able to comprehend what just happened.

*****

The performances were going very smoothly and everything was good too. The guest seemed to enjoy a lot.

Aditya and Sanam were sitting on the centre table. Shivaay sat either with them or with Omru.

The buzzing lights , music and smiling faces of people around her did something to Annika.

She had this intuition that something was amiss. She was keeping an eye on her mother knowingly being around her.

She waved at Gauri as she came back to her seat after the girl gang dance. The boys took the charge of the stage.

Her phone buzzed and she checked it to find Gauri's message.

Annika looked at her direction with a raised eyebrows. To which Gauri gestured to read the message.

Sameer is here! I met him

Annika had no idea what to reply. She knows that Sameer was there but she wasn't able to meet him. Courtesy goes to her mother dearest.

I know

She replied and kept the phone back. Glancing towards her father and mother once.

Now a lady sat opposite to her mother as they conversed smilingly. She clicked her tongue at her fate.

They got up and heeded to the stage as the performance was over. Annika felt her heartbeat pace up.

"Good evening to everyone. We are gratefull for your presence in this wedding as well as for the well wishes . It is happy day, the day of our son Aditya's sangeet. And in a very few days he'd be married to our Sanam." Adhiraj spoke, gazing almost everyone.

Then Madhuri took the charge and said "and to make this day more special we announce our daughter Annika and Mrs taneja's son Sameer's engagement."

The smile on Madhuri's face was mocking. While Adhiraj genuinely smiled unaware of the the truth.

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The next chapter is here!

Dedicated to virikasri for the correct guess.

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Seher