Annika watched in horror as the auctioneer declared that it was time for the final sale: Oberoi Mansion itself. She couldn't fathom the Oberois living anywhere else other than the grand establishment they had made so many memories in.
Annika kept her tears at bay as she watched Omkara and Rudra, the two that had always been there for her despite everything, break down in front of her.
The portrait of Gauri's was currently being admired by those that had managed to buy it. She felt her skin crawl as she noticed the stares many threw Gauri's way as the woman wrapped her arms around Omkara. Annika's heart broke for her sister-in-law, but she felt helpless.
She didn't have the ability to do anything or fix any messes. Shivaay had always done that. Speaking of—— she looked around for her husband—— who was nowhere to be found.
Annika walked towards Kalyani, wrapping an arm around the elderly woman who sobbed as she watched her late husband's pride being tarnished by their eldest child.
Annika closed her eyes, as the auctioneer counted to three. He was cut off by a familiar voice filled with rage and confidence, prompting Annika to snap her eyes open.
"500 crore!" Shivaay held up a hand.
Annika's heart expanded with the sheer pressure of pride and love as he bought Oberoi Mansion. She watched as the family crowded around him, hugging him while they shed tears of happiness.
Annika wiped away the single tear of happiness that rolled down her cheeks. Shivaay looked around, eyes halting once they met hers. She gave him an encouraging smile, watching as his grandmother and mother ushered Gauri and Omkara to bring the puja ki thali from the temple.
Rudra grabbed her arm and pushed her to stand beside Shivaay, ignoring as she protested that the honour should be Shivaay's alone. Shivaay rolled his eyes and intwined her fingers with his, squeezing tightly.
<>•<>
Annika walked through the halls, a lightness to her steps, as she hummed the tune of her favourite song. She chuckled, entering a store room where Kalyani had said that she kept a chest of treasures she wanted to bring out for celebrating the return of the Oberoi family's RamaurSita.
The key that Jhanvi Oberoi and Pinky Singh Oberoi had fought over before she and Shivaay had had to leave the family, now hung tightly from her grip. She inserted the key and looked at the ornately designed trunk which she'd been told was needed for the celebration.
She coughed, as she brushed the dust away from the top and tried to pull it out of the room.
"Nahi," she shook her head. "Bohot bhaari hain. Rudy ko bula leti hoon." Annika popped her head out of the store room and signalled a passerby servant. "Rudra sir ko zara yaha bulao." The servant nodded and scurried off.
Annika watched as the lights overhead flickered. The lampshade was beautiful: made with stained glass put together like puzzle pieces. Her eyes caught the initials SST, and she frowned. The first two Ss could apply to Shakti or Shivaay, but the Oberoi name began with an O—— thus it wasn't either one of them.
Annika startled as Rudra jumped inside the room with an excited shout, "MERI PYAARI BHABHI!"
"Rudra!" Annika clamped her hands over her ears, "My ears!"
He smiled sheepishly, "Sorry. Rohan said that you needed help?" She nodded and pointed at the trunk. "That one?" He asked. She nodded once more. Rudra pushed the trunk out, huffing as he did so. "This is really heavy!"
Annika chuckled, "That's why I called you Rudy."
He nodded and left with the trunk.
Annika followed shorty afterwards, before turning around to check nothing else was out of place before turning off the lights. Her eyes caught a key and a cassette lying where the trunk had just been.
She frowned and walked towards the object, picking them up: the key was rustic and designed intricately with roses and birds. The bow of the key had the letters SR with a cursive S cutting through the two.
She wrapped her hands around it, deciding to ask for a cassette player before she did anything. The key seemed strangely familiar—— something she found impossible.
She shook her head, blaming herself for her paranoia before turning off the lights, shutting the door and walking away from the room.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Not me adding this author's note months later 💀💀 but it is my FIRST story after YEARS and it's very dear to me 🥹
I've not got much to say except I hope y'all enjoy it as much as I did writing it 👀🫠 and that KM reveal was anticlimactic and disappointing AS FUCK 🙄 so here's my twisted take on it :)
