A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

Who do better hair flick

The next evening, Annika arrived at the Oberoi mansion bearing gifts. This time, she came prepared with two types of cookies: diabetic-friendly treats for Dadi and regular cookies for the rest of the family.

Dadi, ever gracious, questioned Annika's thoughtfulness. "Annika beta, there was no need to bring anything! You shouldn't have gone to so much trouble."

Annika, with a warm smile, replied, "Dadi, I never like to visit empty-handed, especially not family. Consider it a small token of my love."

Just then, Jahanvi emerged from her room, massaging her temples. A fight with her husband about his mistress that morning had her yearning for solace at the bottom of a bottle. Now, a throbbing headache was her unwelcome companion.

Annika, noticing Jahanvi's discomfort, inquired with concern, "Aunty, what's wrong? You don't look well."

Jahanvi, startled by the unexpected voice (she hadn't seen Annika yet), opted for a lie to avoid revealing her marital troubles. "Oh, nothing serious, Annika. Just a late-night drink with a friend. Dealing with a nasty hangover now."

Annika, ever the resourceful one, surprised Jahanvi with her next words. "Don't worry, Aunty! I know a special drink that can cure your hangover in a jiffy."

With that, Annika disappeared into the kitchen, reappearing ten minutes later with a concoction for Jahanvi. "Here, drink this in one go," she instructed, handing the glass over.

Jahanvi, skeptical but desperate for relief, took the offered drink. To her astonishment, she felt a noticeable improvement just a few minutes later. "Wow, Annika! Your drink works wonders! Usually, my hangovers last an entire day. But this? Gone in minutes! Please, share the recipe with me," Jahanvi requested, a newfound cheer in her voice. Annika simply smiled and nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Om and Rudra, who were also present, watched the interaction with a mix of surprise and a flicker of hope. It wasn't often their mother received such genuine concern. In fact, they could barely recall the last time they saw her smile so freely. But here she was, doubled over with laughter at a joke Annika had just shared. The sight warmed their hearts, a silent plea forming in their eyes – perhaps Annika's presence could be the change their family desperately needed.

Just as the mood shifted lighter with Jahanvi's laughter, Pinky entered the living room. Her surprise, however, lacked warmth. "Annika! Here again so soon after yesterday's visit? Don't you have any events keeping you busy?" she questioned pointedly.

Pinky's skepticism towards Annika was no secret. While she admired Annika's work ethic, her past clashes with Pinky's favorite, Kanika  left a bitter taste in Pinky's mouth. Annika's victories over Kanika only fueled Pinky's dislike.

The rest of the family felt a sting from Pinky's sharp tone. Annika, however, was accustomed to Pinky's barbs. With a calm demeanor, she replied, "Aunty, I had an upcoming event that needed planning, and from tomorrow onwards, I'll be swamped with it. So, I took the opportunity to visit today."

Pinky, sensing the disapproval in dadi's glare, backtracked slightly. "Oh, I was just curious, that's all," she mumbled.

Rudra, ever the mood-reader, recognized the tension brewing. "Since everyone's here," he interjected, "why don't we head to the garden and have some fun? Annika Didi will be busy for a few days, so let's make the most of this time with some games!"

With his usual enthusiasm, Rudra ushered everyone towards the garden. Even his father and Chachu, who had just returned from the office, found themselves swept up in his infectious energy. Rudra's quick thinking prevented the situation from escalating and brought a welcome change to the atmosphere.