Metaphor ||✔

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"Rudra would you prefer the brownies. Are you on cheat days?" Annika asked looking at him, who was in return staring at the dish placed on the tea table.

"Nahi. I will have them." Without further talks, Rudra dug into the food on the table. Rudra sensed something awkward about the air, yet he couldn't form words.

"Annika" she threw a narrowed look at her husband when he nudged her unnecessarily. She whimpered before diverting her eyes from him.

"You sit. Your toe is still healing." She pushed his shoulders down asking him to rest for a while. He deeply inhaled not understanding her moves.

"Okay let's not move out of topic." Gauri stood up pointing to the elders who were looking at their elder's daughter and son-in-law in adoration. "They met me a few days ago. Before seeing her, I never knew that our mother was alive. Why did you hide the truth?"

Anuradha simultaneously glanced at both her daughter. Gauri was all set to explode while Annika crossed her arms around her chest and gave a gentle look. The cold vibe arising from her scared a mother in her. Both her daughters were divulging into a heated argument for sake of her.

"Firstly, a mother never thinks of leaving behind her kids more than her own life. She left us for him" Annika pointed with her index finger towards Vipul. "She is not my mother, at least." Anuradha's heart broke into pieces when her daughter uttered those words with pure hatred.

"Second, my father was scared of his daughters future. He feared society naming his children as 'daughters of that woman'. He never had an option other than this. My mother died when she purposely neglected her daughter." The unshed tears rolled down his wrinkled skin. The tear droplet twinkled as the sharp light reflected through it.

Vipul noticed when she talked about her father, unknowingly her eyes showed immense respect, and love towards him. Harsh Trivedi was Annika's pride, however, he didn't have the fortune to live his life to the fullest.

"How could you all lie to me? Didn't I be entitled to know? After all, she gave birth to us. Are you my same Jiji? You are changed that you didn't even share with me, your sister." Gauri shrieked out crying. Mrs Bajaj finally found a ray of hope as Gauri spoke.

"Wasn't that the reason I married her? Well, my wife cared for her sister immensely that she agreed to marry me. Annika is too naive." Om watched his cousin, comprehending his words. When he had a clear picture of what he said, his eyes were wide as saucers. Realisation dawn upon him.

"Shivaay is it true? I'm asking you, Speak." Om marched to stand in front of them and questioned him firmly.

"Yeah. That is the reason she agreed. Well, she wanted to safeguard her sister." Shivaay shrugged his shoulders and spoke as a matter of fact.

"How dare you? You spoiled my jiji's life. She would have married Nikhil and led a happy life." Gauri spat angrily.

"First conclude if you consider Annika as your Jiji. And regarding our wedding, it was all about you. She is with me for you. She faced all this shit because of you. You and my family are the reason for mishaps in our lives." Gauri stumbled hearing his yelling. Rudra looked horrified but organized himself and went on helping Gauri. Om was rooted to the place, not showing his emotions.

"Gauri usane sachchaee ko chupaya kyonki use dar tha ki tum taane se, prabhaavit hogi." Chachi Ji began "It was all for your benefit. With an aunt like me, she would obviously take this step." She hung her head low, ashamed of her previous acts.

"That's is no valid reason. And what Shivaay did was very wrong. He can't decide bhabhi's life." Omkara declared pushing his tears away.

"What are you all speaking? Annika her life... Please tell us." Anuradha gripped the shelves beside her. Her legs were wobbly thinking of her daughter.