A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

A unique welcome of Shivay

Shivay, fueled by a desire to explain everything to Annika, arrived at her office bright and early after breakfast. However, his confidence was met with a locked door. Disappointment gnawed at him, but logic intervened. Perhaps she hadn't arrived yet. He decided to wait, pacing restlessly outside her office door.

Half an hour crawled by, each tick of the clock echoing his growing unease. Still no Annika. Finally, the security guard, who had been watching Shivay pace impatiently, approached him.

"Sir," the guard began cautiously, "the madam won't be coming in today. She's on leave."

Shivay's heart lurched.  Annika on leave? A flurry of thoughts bombarded him.  Was she alright? Did something happen at home? Or, a more unsettling possibility, had she already gone to the Oberoi Mansion?

Needing answers, he whipped out his phone and dialed Dadi's number.

"Hello, billu," Dadi's warm voice filled his ear. "What's wrong?"

Shivay hesitated.  How could he explain his situation.  Thinking fast, he fabricated a story.

"Dadi, did someone come home to meet us today?"

Dadi's response was immediate. "No, puttar, absolutely no one. Why do you ask?"

Shivay cursed his impulsiveness. "No reason, Dadi, it's nothing.  Actually, when I was coming to the office, I saw a black Mercedes parked near our house. I thought maybe someone was visiting," he lied, hoping to deflect suspicion.

Before Dadi could press further, Shivay ended the call, a knot of worry tightening in his stomach. He had to find Annika, explain the situation, and hope she'd understand.  The weight of his choices settled heavily on him, a bitter taste in his mouth.

Defeat hung heavy in the air as Shivay slumped into his car's back seat. He cast a defeated glance at Khanna, his ever-loyal bodyguard in the driver's seat.  "Khanna," Shivay rasped, his voice thick with worry, "find out Annika's address. We need to go there now."

Khanna, a man of action, wasted no time. With a curt nod, he whipped out his phone, his fingers flying across the screen. Ten minutes of tense silence ticked by, the rhythmic hum of the engine the only sound. Finally, Khanna spoke, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "I have it, Mr. Oberoi."

The car lurched forward, tyres squealing as Khanna expertly navigated the bustling Mumbai streets. Shivay, a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach, stared out the window. Every passing second felt like an eternity. Would Annika be there? Would she even listen to him?  He desperately needed to explain the situation, to plead for her understanding, but a heavy weight of doubt settled on him.  Would his explanation be enough, or had he already lost his chance?

Meanwhile, Annika had her own plate full. With the upcoming engagement and Rohan's surgery looming, she'd decided to take a two-week leave from work. Earlier that morning, she informed the security guard of her absence, instructing him to tell any clients she was on leave.

The afternoon stretched before her, and Annika knew she had to face the Oberoi mansion later that evening. To clear her head and avoid dwelling on the impending events, she turned to a familiar coping mechanism – cleaning. It was her way of de-stressing, a physical activity that helped her organize her thoughts. To ensure uninterrupted cleaning time, she'd sent Ishita and Rohan to spend the day with friends. Now, armed with cleaning supplies and determination, Annika set about tackling the house, hoping to find some solace in the process.

Annika decided to conquer the clutter, starting with Rohan's room. To her surprise, it took a full hour to tame the chaos. After a quick five-minute break to re-energize, she strategically opted for the living room, knowing her own room's disarray could easily devour three hours.

First came the dusting, a meticulous dance around furniture and knick-knacks. Next, she banished dust bunnies with a sweep of the broom, followed by a thorough mopping. Dipping and squeezing the cloth in the bucket, she worked her way across the floor, a sense of accomplishment washing over.

The floor gleamed, but the bucket of water told a different story. Grimy and spent, it needed to be disposed of.  Annika, with the absentmindedness of someone lost in cleaning, decided to utilize the dirty water on the entryway floor outside.  Door swinging open, bucket held high, she prepared to unleash the murky contents – completely oblivious to figure standing right there, hand reaching for the doorbell.

A startled shriek pierced the air. "What the heck?!"  Shivay sputtered, thoroughly soaked from head to toe. Annika froze, mortified. Shock gave way to a mask of forced composure as she stammered, "M-Mr. Oberoi? You... you here?".

Shivay's nerves thrummed as he pulled up to Annika's house. Every beat of his heart hammered a question: what would he say? How would she react?  He emerged from the car, each step towards her door a calculated move in a mental chess game.  The neighborhood was densely built, the houses crammed together with shared walls. Unlocking the main gate in the center of the concrete barrier, he sent Khanna off to park the car, leaving them momentarily alone.

Annika's scooter, adorned with drying laundry, occupied one side of the narrow veranda. On the other, two chairs and a miniature kitchen garden completed the limited space.  Shivay took in the single-story house, its modest size a stark contrast to the Oberoi mansion. He silently revised his estimate of the number of bedrooms, picturing four or five at most, unaware of the actual layout – three well-appointed bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, a surprisingly spacious kitchen that doubled as a dining area, a cozy living room, and a tucked-away storage room.

With a deep breath, Shivay reached for the doorbell. But before he could even press it, a creaking sound and a sudden deluge drenched him from head to toe. Startled, he looked up to find Annika, standing frozen in the doorway, a bucket of dirty water dripping from her hand.

A spluttering shriek erupted from his lips – "What the heck".

Khanna's ears pricked up at Shivay's yelp. In a flash, he was sprinting towards the entrance, concern etched on his face. The sight that greeted him was comical – Shivay, dripping from head to toe, and Annika frozen in shock. Khanna stifled a chuckle and dashed back to the car.

Moments later, he returned with a fresh change of clothes. Shivay and Annika, locked in an awkward silence filled with unspoken emotions, were jolted back to reality by Khanna's voice.

"Sir, here are some new clothes for you," Khanna announced, holding out the package.

Both Shivay and Annika raised surprised eyebrows at Khanna's foresight. Before Shivay could react, Annika's curiosity piqued.

"Does Mr. Oberoi always carry a spare change of clothes with him?" she inquired, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Khanna chuckled sheepishly. "No, ma'am. It was my decision to keep a spare set in the car. You never know when Mr. Oberoi might get himself drenched, do you?"

Annika's eyes widened. "Wow, you seem to care for him a lot! Does he treat you well in return?"

Khanna blushed slightly at the compliment. "It's my duty to take care of him, ma'am. As for treatment, well, sometimes he overworks me. But I consider it all part of the job."

Their conversation was interrupted by a pointed cough. Shivay, clearly fuming at being ignored, interjected.

"Khanna, if you're finished, you can head back to the car." He then turned to Annika, sarcasm dripping from his voice, "If you wouldn't mind, of course, I'd like to change out of these clothes. Seems someone here has a... unique way of welcoming guests."

Annika, momentarily speechless, could only nod towards the door, gesturing for him to come inside. The tension in the air hung thick as Shivay, a walking puddle of regret, followed her into the house not knowing what awaits him.