A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

The day of event

The Oberoi mansion buzzed with activity - the grand Maha Aarti was finally here! Scheduled for 3 pm, the ceremony would be followed by a gathering for all attendees. Dadi, determined to make it a success, had pulled rank and insisted Shivay and Tej take leave from their offices. Though reluctant, they conceded to working from home until 2 pm.

Outside, the sprawling gardens of the mansion bustled with preparations. Workers had arrived with their equipment, eager to begin setup under the direction of their event manager. However, the one person they were waiting for, Annika, was conspicuously absent.

The day before, a whirlwind of excitement and nervousness had kept Annika up most of the night. Oversleeping without Rohan (who was at a friend's sleepover) to wake her, Annika woke up at 10 am - a full hour behind schedule. She had promised to meet the workers at 11 am.

Hurriedly throwing on clothes, she sped off on her scooter, determined to reach the venue on time. However, Mumbai traffic had other plans. Stuck for half an hour, she fielded calls from the workers, each time assuring them she'd be there in 5 minutes. Finally, emerging victorious from the traffic snarl, she arrived - a good 30 minutes behind schedule.

A quick, "Sorry bhaiya, stuck in traffic for one hour!" masked her tardiness. The crew leader, familiar with Annika's ways, simply chuckled and said, "Alright, miss, we'll let you off this time. Let's get to work - you won't believe how massive this garden is!- it's bigger than we imagined!"

Annika, caught up in her earlier fib, hadn't even laid eyes on the mansion yet. As she turned the corner, her jaw dropped. The sprawling estate was far grander than she had anticipated. The realization dawned on her - her client wasn't just wealthy, they were incredibly wealthy.

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Annika recommitted herself to the task at hand. This event, she decided, would be nothing short of spectacular.

Less than three hours later, Annika had transformed the garden into a breathtaking paradise. Crimson hues dominated the theme, imbuing the space with the elegance of a bride adorned for her wedding day.

Inside the Oberoi mansion, the family prepared to greet their guests who would soon be arriving at the transformed garden. They were a vision in coordinated lavender attire. Priyanka, who'd spent a significant amount of time assisting Annika, had revealed her secret talent - she was a final-year fashion design student. Annika, recognizing Priyanka's potential, had encouraged her to design outfits for the event. Initially hesitant, Priyanka had risen to the challenge, and with her family's unwavering support, their attire today showcased the shy princess's blossoming talent.

Kanika and her family arrived directly at the mansion, bypassing the garden entrance. Still fuming over the Oberoi's decision to choose Annika, she declared to Dadi, "You'll regret this, Dadi. Your little event manager wouldn't have been able to pull off something as magnificent as my friend could have!"

Dadi, ever gracious, replied, "Let's see the results before we judge, beta." With that, they proceeded towards the garden.

As they stepped into the transformed space, a collective gasp escaped their lips. The sight before them was a masterpiece - a heavenly spectacle that surpassed all expectations. The stage, adorned with the idol, seemed to radiate a divine presence, as if the gods themselves had orchestrated this spectacular gathering.

Rudra, unable to contain his awe, turned to Kanika and quipped, "So, what were you saying about our event manager, hmm? I don't think your friend could have achieved this level of brilliance." Kanika, speechless, could only offer a tight smile.

With the introductions complete, everyone dispersed to welcome the arriving guests. Dadi, choosing a spot near the entrance, settled down to observe the festivities unfold.
After a whirlwind of welcoming guests, Rudra and Om found themselves beside Dadi.

"Dadi, I'm tired!" Rudra declared dramatically.

Om chuckled at his younger brother's theatrics. "You'd think you decorated the entire garden yourself."

Rudra, ever the instigator, countered with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "This tall giant doesn't appreciate my efforts! But wait, Dadi, I have something interesting to show you about Shivay bhaiyya." He whipped out his phone, eager to reveal a video.

The clip captured the now-infamous temple incident between Annika and Shivay. It turned out Rudra, planning to sneak out of the event, had stumbled upon Shivay's prized black Mercedes parked in the garage with a shocking sight - a shattered windshield. Knowing how much Shivay valued his car and wouldn't let anyone else touch it, Rudra was flabbergasted. He questioned Khanna, the head staff, who in turn showed him the video, leaving not just Rudra, but now Om and Dadi speechless.

"What... how?" Om stammered. "Who is this girl who silenced Shivay?"

"Dadi, what do you think Bhaiya will do to her if they meet again?" Rudra asked, relishing the drama. "Will he yell at her or worse?"

Dadi, ever the voice of reason, chuckled. "I don't think he'll say anything at all."

"What?!" both brothers exclaimed in unison.

Suddenly, Rudra pointed towards the entrance. "Let's make a bet!"

Enter Shivay, looking dapper in his lavender suit, deep in conversation on his phone. From the other side, Annika approached, visibly exhausted from the day's preparations. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her hair a mess, and her clothes slightly stained. She juggled a glass of water in one hand and a plate overflowing with flower petals in the other.

The three observers - Dadi, Om, and Rudra - were captivated by the unfolding scene. Lost in her own world, Annika tripped over a misplaced stone, sending the water from her glass flying. It landed squarely on the person face walking towards her, showering them both in flower petals. Annika, regaining her balance just in time, mumbled an apology simultaneously with a disgruntled "What the f**k?" from the other party.

As they looked up, their eyes met - the last person they wanted to see. An awkward silence stretched for a few seconds before they both sidestepped each other, disappearing into the crowd without a word.

Dadi, Om, and Rudra, mouths agape, watched the scene play out.

"I thought Bhaiya would lose it," Rudra whispered, bewildered.

Dadi offered a knowing smile. "He probably thinks Annika is beneath him. Not worth his time."

Om, surprised by this revelation, inquired, "Annika, Dadi? Do you know her?"

Dadi's smile widened. "Yes, puttar. Annika is our event manager."

A mischievous glint ignited in Rudra's eyes. "Well, this event just got a whole lot more interesting!" he declared, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.