HOPE

CHAPTER 2

Anika ( thinking) :– Pinky aunty whatever u said is right & I myself believed in all the things but I just want to give Shivaay, myself & this relation one last chance. Even though I know Shivaay is going to declare Tia as his new bride, I still hope that whatever daadi said about marriage comes true & Shivaay realizes the importance of it.

But if still today my trust & hope breaks then I promise I will leave this house & this relation.

Pinky (on call):– Yes, hold the papers till the evening & do not inform Shivaay & she cuts the call.

(thinking):– Shivaay, even though u forced Anika into this marriage but this marriage is not legal till the marriage registration papers reaches the court. So, technically, u both are not legally married .

Thank god , the papers has some mistakes & Mishra ji, called me after him unable to reach u, otherwise, the papers would have been already submitted & all the divorce proceedings would have taken almost a year to be completed.

I cannot let u trap Anika in this marriage even though it it is name only. In evening Anika would get all the reasons she needs to leave u & then these papers would be my gift to Anika-"her freedom".

In evening , all the guest & media is present. Anika comes looking beautiful & Shivaay enters looking equally dashing. He announces to media & guest that he has invited them to meet his new bride . Here, Anika just prays to god in her heart to not shatter her hope. 

Here pinky is standing near stage looks towards Anika & sigh & thinks that it was necessary for a bright future ahead Anika. 

Then, Shivaay introduces Tia as his bride & all the media starts clicking there pictures. Anika eyes fill with tears & THINKS THAT WHATEVER HOPE I HAD FROM U SHIVAY IT ENDS HERE. Even though I knew it would happen , I still feels as if my heart is shattered. 

She then starts to leave. Pinky sees all that & leaves behind Anika. As Anika goes to Shivaay room , she breaks down & cry sitting on floor. Then she hears footsteps & dry her tears with her saree quickly. Pinky comes to Anika & sit beside her on the bed & give her the envelope . 

Anika is confused seeing the envelope & opens it to see marriage registration papers that she signed on the wedding day. Then she realizes that papers are not stamped by official seal . She looks towards pinky with questioning eyes.

Pinky:- Anika this is your freedom. The papers are incomplete & therefore can not be submitted but if u still want this marriage then we can rectify the mistakes in these papers & re-submit the papers & officially u can be Shivaay's wife & oberoi's bahu. Now the decision is yours, what do u want?

No matter what mummy ji or I said to u , u have to ask that Anika who was self reliant, what she wants to do ?

No matter what u choose I will stand by ur side but think wisely.

Telling all this she starts to leave the room when Anika holds her hand & ask her – can I hug u ?

Pink is startled at first & then hesistantly open her arms to which Anika embraces her tightly & murmurs- "Thank u aunty for showing me both the paths & the future ahead & I choose the one which a self reliant Anika would choose . The one where my self respect would be intact & I chose my success , my carreer & my future".