A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

What's your price?

As dawn painted the Oberoi mansion with golden light, the household stirred to life. One by one, members woke, showered, and readied for the day's challenges. In one room, Shivay, buzzing with an agenda, bounced out of bed. Today was the day he'd teach Anika a lesson! He quickly dressed, eager to call her to his office. But a glance at the clock revealed a mere 8:00 AM. Deciding it was too early, he postponed the call, heading straight to the dining room for breakfast.

Descending to the dining hall for breakfast, Shivay spotted Rudra in the kitchen, still clad in his sleepwear. Water gurgled down Rudra's throat, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight of his brother.

"Rudra!" Shivay chided. "How many times must I tell you, the kitchen is off-limits until you're presentable? Germs, remember?"

Rudra, ever the drama king, choked on his water. "But Bhaiya," he sputtered, "my water bottle was empty, and I was parched! If I'd freshened up first, I might have fainted!" Shivay sighed, accustomed to his brother's theatrics.

But then he noticed something unusual – Shivay was smiling!

"Whoa, Bhaiya, early morning smile? What's up?" Rudra inquired. Their playful banter was interrupted by Kanika's arrival.

"Of course, Shivay's happy because I'm here! Right, Shivay baby?"

The term "Shivay baby" always made Rudra cringe. His brother was no baby, but a handsome young man. Why Kanika called him that was beyond him.

Shivay, however, was taken aback. "What are you doing here so early?" he asked, clearly surprised..

Kanika, expecting a different reaction, was thrown off. She thought Shivay would've known she was staying at the mansion for three days now, her parents being out of town.

"I came to stay for a day," Kanika explained, "but there's a puja for our future the day after tomorrow. Pinky Mom insisted I stay here."

Shivay simply nodded. The use of "Pinky Mom" before their marriage irked him. He grabbed a quick breakfast and left without a glance at Kanika, who stomped her foot in frustration.

Rudra, unable to contain his amusement, burst out laughing as Kanika retreated to her room. Entertained, he too headed off, his day already made. Shivay, meanwhile, arrived at his office, his plans for Annika still on his mind.

While Shivay plotted his revenge against Annika, blissfully unaware, Annika slept in after a late-night celebration with Rohan.  A pesky scam call woke her up, she declined their offer but they were continuously calling her from different numbers. At last getting irritated by spammer and with a mischievous glint in her eye, she decided to teach the spammers a lesson, pretending to demand a huge sum of money.

Meanwhile, at his office, Shivay prepared to call Annika. The moment she answered, her bold demand for a crore of rupees shocked him.  He couldn't understand how she knew it was him – he hadn't revealed his number.  Furious at her audacity, he misinterpreted the situation. He thought Annika, after swindling his grandmother with the event bill, was now targeting him for an even bigger sum. Fueled by his misunderstanding, he sent her a message to meet at a cafe, pretending it was about a payment.

Annika freshened up and headed towards the kitchen when her phone buzzed.The message instructed her to meet him at a specific cafe by noon to receive her payment. The phone nearly slipped from her grasp – Shivay had her number!

Annika's savings had taken a significant hit.  Having not received her payment from the Oberoi event, she dipped into her personal funds to settle dues with vendors and staff.  The delay in payment forced her to prioritize clearing these debts to maintain her reputation for future endeavors.

Getting ready to meet Shivay, a bigger concern arose.  Annika needed to book an appointment with a renowned physiotherapist, Ms. Shreya, for Rohan's treatment at Amrit Hospital.  The hefty fees, 25 lakh upfront with 15 lakh as a deposit, were a hurdle.  Annika would have secured the appointment already, but her depleted savings told a different story.  The hospital receptionist coldly informed her that only one slot remained, and a full payment today was necessary to secure it. Otherwise, she'd face another year-long wait.  Desperate not to miss this opportunity for Rohan, Annika conceded to their exorbitant demand.

Meanwhile, Shivay arrived at the cafe early, smugly instructing the waiter to seat a soon-to-arrive "Annika" at a specific table.  Annika, dressed in a yellow top and blue jeans, entered right on time.  The pre-arranged seating guided her to the table where Shivay observed her from afar.

Annika grew impatient.  The cafe's location was inconveniently opposite the hospital, jeopardizing her chance to book Rohan's appointment.  Twenty minutes ticked by, marked by her incessant watch-checking and phone-scanning, a silent plea for a confirmation message or any update from Shivay.

Shivay, savoring his coffee and her agitation, finally approached.  Without a word, he sat across from her.  Annika, expecting an apology for his tardiness, was met with a chilly silence. 

"Do you have the check?" Annika blurted out, impatience dripping from her voice. "I'm running late."

Shivay, taken aback, perceived her only concern to be money. He retrieved a check, his voice laced with irritation, "Tell me first, who should it be made payable to?"

"Annika," she replied curtly.

"Your full name. I know your name is Annika," he countered, his annoyance growing.

Annika met his gaze with pride. "It's just Annika. Sirf Annika."

This revelation stunned Shivay. Annika had no surname? His misplaced assumptions fueled his condescension. "Miss Annika, now tell me your price. How much money do you want?"

Annika bristled at his remark. "Mr. Oberoi, I'm not a commodity. I'm simply requesting the remaining payment for my services."

"Stop this charade about not being money-minded," he retorted. "I know your type. People with no family name play the innocent act to swindle the rich."

Annika's temper flared. "You have no right to judge my character! A person's worth is defined by their actions, not a surname. If you intend to pay, then do so. Otherwise, I'll leave."

She stood up, her defiance irking Shivay. He couldn't tolerate being challenged. With a signature flourish, he threw a blank check at her. "Take this blank cheque and never darken my doorstep again," he declared, flicking his hair back in a display of dominance, and stormed out of the cafe.

Annika, speechless, stared at the check lying on the floor. Her initial impulse was to tear it up. However, a message from the hospital urging her confirmation for the appointment swayed her. Swallowing her pride, she picked up the check – a means to an end. Shivay, peeking from outside, watched intently, hoping she wouldn't take it. But seeing her pick it up, he felt a surge of vindication, solidifying his negative perception of her. He smirked and drove away.

Annika, having secured the appointment and deposited the check, returned home.  She informed Rohan about his upcoming treatment and retired to her room.  As sleep beckoned, the afternoon's encounter replayed in her mind.  A determined glint replaced the initial shock.  "Mr. Oberoi," she thought, "you may have won this round, but the game is far from over.  Prepare to see me again tomorrow."  With renewed resolve, Annika drifted off to sleep.