"Prithviji, aapka naam dekhiye kaha se kaha pahunch gaya?" I look into the camera, hoping my husband can witness with pride I have over our family.
[translation: Prithiviji, see where your name has reached?]
Only if my husband is here to clasp my wrinkly hands with the same amount of warmth.
"Aap yaha nahi hain par meri sab kuch mein mein aap hai." I say to the camera, deluding that the only man I ever loved will hear me.
[translation: You are not here, but in my everything, you are here.]
"Look at our daughter-in-laws." I point to Janhvi and Pinky sorting the lotuses, "They have transgressed from women who wanted to one up each other to lovely sisters."
What I am saying is partially true. The bitterness between the two surfaces sometimes but my husband did not need to know that.
"Aur aapke beta. Dekhiye aapka business ko kitne uhchaya tak le gaya." I turn the camera towards my sons who seem every bit of the businessmen they are known to be.
[translation: And your sons. Look at the heights they took your business to.]
"But the real pride of us is grandsons." I turn the camera to myself, knowing none of the three would be in sight. "They are incredible men with your upbringing. I tried my best with them and they are like you, Prithiviji. Especially Billu."
"Aur yeh aapka teen pothe ishqbaaaz nikle." I laugh. "Yeh Gauri, Om ka pyaar, aur yeh Saumya, Rudra ka pyaar. In donon ne Om aur Rudra ko kitna inspire kiya, ehsaas karvaya ki life mein sab black aur white nahi hota."
[translation: And your three grandsons turned out to be ishqbaaz. This is Gauri, Om's love, and that is Saumya, Rudra's love. These two inspired Om and Rudra so much and made them realize that life is not black and white.]
"Revathi aunty. Aap aa gaya! Aaiye." Pinky's shrill indicates that Shivaay's love is also here.
[translation: You came! Come.]
I bite my lip in part agony and part fascination, "And that is Annika, the woman Shivaay loves."
"When it came to Billu, I failed him, Prithiviji. Aap ki parchaiy samajh ke usse apne parivaar ka bhoj de diya." I try not to cry. "I do not know what is stopping him or what happened, but those two gave up each other for us."
[translation: I saw him as your shadow and gave the family's burden to him.]
"Dekhiye aapka badi potha-bahu." I turn the camera to the dazzling sight of Dr. Annika in a red anarkali. She looks so much like a bride that my heart yearns for Billu and her to get married right now.
[translation: Look at your eldest granddaughter-in-law.]
Seeing Annika come towards me, I put the camera aside.
"Namaste." She says a bit awkwardly.
"Puttar, aa, bet meri paas." I say affectionately, trying to comfort her.
[translation: Come, sit near me.]
She abides with a small smile.
"Bohot khoobsurat lag rahi hain. Kisi ki nazar na lage." I say and take her baalayaan.
[translation: You look very beautiful. May no one's evil eye reach you.]
"Thank you." She says softly, "Aap ki tabiyat kaise hain?"
[translation: How's your health?]
"Always fit and fine, puttar." I say and she laughs softly.
I could see why Shivaay is so madly in love with her.
"Mandir bohot khoobsurat hain. It is so pretty." Annika says.
[translation: the temple is really pretty.]
I smile proudly, "Prithiviji got it constructed. This was the land on which we got married. He believed that devotion and love went hand in hand."
"That is so beautiful. I heard that the temple conducts 108 weddings every year." Annika smiles, "That is a noble deed."
"It makes me feel like my husband is still alive." With that statement, Annika squeezes my hand in silent understanding.
Annika and I are very different in terms of experiences.
But one thing that does bind us is the yearn for our love.
I see it in those brown coloured eyes.
I try to keep my husband alive in my family, she tries to keep Billu and her love alive with her memories of them together. I see it yet I do not know how to tell her that the love they have for each other is going nowhere. That they are meant to be.
"Love is like that, puttar. It brings us so much happiness..."
"But it can also bring us loads of pain too." Annika completes the sentence.
"Your husband would be so proud of you, Dadiji." She says. "You did it despite the pain of him leaving you. He knows how strong you are."
Overwhelmed, I side hug her. Those words affected me more than I thought they would.
Annika awkwardly reciprocates the hug which makes me want to laugh. She is an introvert.
"Why are you hugging Didi like that?" Rudra asks, accompanying Billu and Om.
"Because I wanted to." I simply state, noticing how Billu's eyes do not waver from the sight of Annika.
"Hi Didi. Welcome to the Oberois' function!" Rudra excitedly comes to Annika, makes her stand up, and hugs her. "Only you cannot hug her, Dadi."
Annika giggles.
Oh, the woman is really lovely.
"Chalo Didi. I will show you the whole mandir. The ghat and everything." He says. "But before that drink some water. Raat thak kuch nahi milega."
[translation: you won't get anything until night.]
"Woh, puttar, pooja hone thak water ke alawa kuch nahi milega." I explain.
[translation: Until the pooja does not finish, you do not get anything other than water.]
"Ah, okay." She says and waits as the waiter brings the tray of water.
We all notice the poor guy's hands shaking. Reaching out, Annika takes the tray, "Are you okay?"
"Ye-yeah." He says and literally runs away.
Rudra and Om laugh, while Annika looks on in confusion.
"It is normal, Didi." He explains, "Everyone is scared of Bhaiyya."
"They are?" Annika questions, amused, finally looking at Billu, whose eyes are set on her.
"Yes, he is known as Stone Singh Oberoi. He seems so stoic and suddenly he gets so mad, you never know. That is why all of our workers and employees are scared of him. From no feelings to pure anger." He says.
Annika looks at Billu, "Shivaay Singh Oberoi does not show his feelings?"
The Shivaay she knows is so different from the Shivaay the rest of the world knows.
"Shivaay, contrary to what we planned, maybe you should show Annika around. We need to talk to the caterers anyway." Om gets the hint I throw at him and drags a pouting Rudra away.
"So chale?" Billu asks softly, too softly from the voice we are all used to.
"Sure." She says with a faint smile.
I pray to Bhagwanji that these two actually have a talk, at least take a step to become each other's again.
Precap: Shivaay's POV
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Dear Sweetheart!
Fanfic| shivika fanfiction | Shivaay Singh Oberoi, the most eligible bachelor of India, is 35 now. His mother is desperate to see him tie the knot, but he refuses to discuss the topic. Spending years in Toronto, bringing back past glory to the Oberoi em...
