Annika opened her eyes only to be greeted by a set of questioning blue eyes. She was surprised at why and how did this little monster wake up before her and to top it off she was looking at her with a look of sadness. Annika woke up and took her two year old daughter, Anayka in her arms. She asked her in a babyish voice, "Niku, what happened? Why are you so sad. Did someone say anything to you ? Batao, I will take their class right now."
Anayka nodded her head in negative and cutely replied to her, " Dadda nahi, niku wants dadda ". Saying so, she kept her head on Annika's chest sadly. Annika now realized that Anayka had woken up early because she didn't find Shivaay near her. He was there when she had gone to sleep yesterday night and now he was absent. Anayka hated this. And now she was absolutely cranky. Annika dreaded what laid ahead of her. Shivaay had gone on a week long business trip to London. It had been his first business trip since Anayka was born. Ever since she was born, Shivaay had refrained from going out on long trips and managed everything on video calls. But this trip was unavoidable. There was a major problem in the London office and his presence was needed there. He had purposely not told Anayka because Shivaay felt that she would have reacted in a different way but Annika assured him she could handle their daughter without him for a week but it was just some hours since he had left and now she was exactly how Shivaay had predicted. Annika lifted Anayka's head and attempted to console her, "Niku, Dadda will come soon okay. We will also call him soon. Come now, let's have a bath. Then you can also play with Om chachu and Rudy chachu. Come. "
She took Anayka in her arms and went towards the bathroom. She placed Anayka in the bathtub and proceeded to give her a bath. But it was proving to be difficult for Annika. Anayka started jumping in the tub and started splashing water around. Annika's top was drenched and Anayka was constantly murmuring, "Dadda chahiye, dadda niku bath"
Annika with very difficulty managed to bathe her and get her dressed. She took her down to the breakfast table where the whole family was waiting for them. Om saw them coming down and seeing Anayka wriggling in Annika's arms, he went and immediately scooped her in his arms. They all went towards the breakfast table and Om asked Annika, "Bhabhi, what's up with Nika? Why is she getting so cranky early in the morning? She has never been this way. Is she not feeling well? Should we go to the doctor? "
"Her doctor is in London. And we cannot go there nor can he come here. So yeah, no use of doctor. "
"Jiji, what do you mean. And her doctor is Dr.Mehta, he lives here is Mumbai only. Why London?"
"Gauri, because the reason she is getting cranky is in in London. Actually, ..... "
Before Annika could explain, Anayka started pulling Om's long hair violently because she noticed no one was paying attention to her. Om looked at her and she stopped pulling his hair, her mission accomplished. "Niku Dadda chahiye. Chachu,dadda bulao. Dadda niku khana"
Everyone now understood why she was getting so cranky. Shivaay's absence was disturbing her. There hadn't been even a single morning when she hadn't seen him. He only went to office after he made Anayka bathe and fed her breakfast. And she hadn't got either of them this morning and she was absolutely hating it.
Annika continued, "Plus, she hasn't had a good sleep. Shivaay left for London at 2 in the morning. She had been tossing and turning in bed since then. I had finally put her to sleep after hours. That too, she slept because she was too tired and now she is getting all hyped up. I only encouraged Shivaay to go but I am regretting it now. She is very tough to handle without him. Waise leave it. I can't let her be hungry. Give her to me. I will feed her her food. "
She took Anayka from Om and asked Gauri to bring her food. Annika settled her on her lap and was trying hard to feed Anayka but given her mood since morning, she refused to eat food from anyone's hand other than Shivaay. "Dadda niku feed. Dadda dadda. Mumma, niku want Dadda"
