A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

Kavya become cupid

With Dr. Shreya's visit concluded, Annika felt a renewed sense of purpose. Excussing herself, she freshened up in the attached bathroom. Returning to the room, she found Ishita awake, both her and Rohan doubled over with laughter.

The sight warmed Annika's heart. Maybe they weren't blood-related, but theirs was a bond forged in love and shared experiences. "What's so funny?" she inquired, a smile tugging at her lips.

Ishita, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes, explained. "I told Rohan about the whole '#Kansh' couple name thing, and he thinks it's perfect! Apparently, Mr. Oberoi strikes him as a villain."

Rohan chimed in, a boyish grin on his face. "My first encounter with him wasn't great. Remember, di, when you broke his window shield? And then there was the water incident."

Annika's cheeks flushed slightly. Rohan's limited interactions with Shivay, colored by her own frustrations, had painted a rather skewed picture. The turmoil of yesterday's engagement news, momentarily forgotten in the wake of Rohan's successful surgery, threatened to resurface.

Regaining control of her emotions, she decided a change of subject was in order. "Alright, enough talk about others," she declared. "Ishita, I'm heading to Oberoi Mansion to help Kavya dismantle the decorations. Remember, she was swamped yesterday. From there, I'll swing by home to pack clothes for a week-long stay here. I should be back by lunch. Got it? You're in charge of keeping Rohan company until then, understand?"

Ishita's eyes lit up at the prospect of a week-long stay. Secretly, she planned to explore the hospital and its various departments, hoping to solidify her dream of becoming a doctor. With a mischievous grin and a thumbs up, she declared, "Yes, boss!"

Annika couldn't help but chuckle at her sister's antics. She ordered breakfast for both herself and Ishita, then helped Rohan with his own meal that had just arrived. As they ate, Ishita playfully teased Rohan about consuming "sick people food."

Finally, with a flurry of instructions about what to do, what not to do, and who to call in case of an emergency, Annika said her goodbyes. With a lighter heart, she set off for Oberoi Mansion, ready to tackle the day's tasks and face whatever emotions awaited her upon her return.

The clock struck eleven as Annika arrived at the Oberoi Mansion. Kanika and her family had already returned from breakfast, the morning bustle giving way to a quieter atmosphere. Om and Rudra were off to their respective destinations – the studio and college – while Shivay remained cloistered in his room, preparing for the day.

In the living room, Dadi sat bathed in the soft glow of her phone, a bhajan playing faintly. Annika approached her and greeted warmly, "Namaste, Dadi."

Dadi looked up, a smile lighting up her features as she closed the music app. "Annika beta, you're here! How was your brother's surgery? I told you to stay by his side until he fully recovers."

"Dadi, with your blessings, Rohan is doing well. He's not alone, Ishita is there with him. I just needed a change of scenery after yesterday's long day at the hospital. So, I thought I'd visit you and see if Kavya needed any help cleaning up after the function."

Dadi chuckled. "Kavya handled everything perfectly, beta. You've trained her well! She was so exhausted that she decided to stay here last night. She's in your usual guest room, go check on her."

Annika nodded, turning to head towards the room. But on a whim, she paused and looked back at Dadi. "Congratulations on your grandson's engagement, Dadi," she said, a hint of something unreadable in her voice. With that, she continued on her way to find Kavya.

Stepping into the room, Annika was met with a scene that mirrored the chaos within her own heart. Kavya stood frozen in the center, a vase precariously balanced in her hand, surrounded by a sea of dismantled decorations. The once-festive remnants of the engagement lay scattered like fallen soldiers – balloons tangled like deflated dreams, ribbons drooping like forgotten promises, and flowers wilting like faded hopes.

"Kavya, what on earth happened here?" Annika exclaimed, a hint of amusement battling with the weariness in her voice. "Did a storm pass through?"

Kavya, startled by Annika's arrival, let out a sigh of relief that morphed into a sheepish grin. "Didi! Thank goodness you're here. See, yesterday after the engagement, I took down all the decorations. But I was so tired, I just put everything wherever I could find space. I thought I'd sort it all out today, but… well, I don't even know where to begin!"

Annika couldn't help but chuckle at Kavya's flustered state. The image mirrored her own jumbled emotions – the relief of Rohan's successful surgery, the amusement at Ishita's antics, the lingering confusion about the engagement, and a strange undercurrent of unease towards Shivay.

"Don't worry," Annika said, her voice laced with warmth. Taking a deep breath, Annika devised a plan.. ""Alright, Kavya," she announced, "let's start by categorizing things. Lights over here, drapes over there, and flowers on that table. We can sort through each pile later."

With newfound purpose, the two dove into the task. Kavya, relieved to have help, worked with renewed enthusiasm.

As they sorted through the clutter, Kavya launched into a detailed account of the engagement ceremony, painting a vivid picture of the highs and lows of the day. In return, Annika shared her own experiences from the hospital – the long, stressful hours spent waiting, the unexpected encounter with Mr. Akash Shekhawat, and his kind gesture of delivering lunch.

Annika explained how Akash's thoughtfulness had helped ease her anxieties during the surgery, and how she was now planning to meet him for lunch as a thank you. Kavya beamed at this news. When she'd first told her family about landing a job with Annika, the one person who seemed most thrilled was her brother, Akash. He'd constantly inquire about Annika, especially after Kavya returned home each day.

One evening, curiosity had gotten the better of Kavya. She'd pressed Akash about his persistent questions, and to her surprise, he'd confessed to having a crush on Annika. Elated at the prospect of Annika becoming her sister-in-law, Kavya decided to play matchmaker. The previous day, she'd subtly encouraged Akash to visit Annika and offer some support, a plan that now seemed to be paying off.

"Annika di," Kavya teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "remember what Guru ji said about you getting married this year? Mr. Akash Shekhawat seems like a strong contender! This lunch date practically counts as your second one with him, considering yesterday's time together. I'm practically bursting with excitement! I can already start planning your wedding – 'Akashika' sounds like the perfect couple name, wouldn't you agree?"

Annika's laughter filled the room. "Kavya, stop your daydreams and get back to work! We don't want me to be late for lunch," she playfully chided.

"Yes, boss!" Kavya replied with a chuckle. "The faster we finish here, the sooner you can enjoy your lunch date."

Unbeknownst to them, Shivay had overheard their final exchange about the lunch date. His jaw clenched, and a flicker of anger ignited in his eyes. Without a word, he stormed out of the house, his steps echoing towards his office, a silent storm brewing within him.