A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

Viraj meet Shivay

Across town, Viraj simmered with rage. His elaborate plan to disrupt Annika and Shivay's wedding had crumbled, thanks entirely to Annika. Not only had she married Shivay once, but she'd also spent the night with him, thwarting his own attempt at intimacy with someone else.

Determined to sow discord, Viraj decided to exploit Annika's newfound marital bliss.  He "accidentally" bumped into her at a public event, feigning concern. His carefully crafted barbs dripped with insincerity: "Shivay seems aloof lately, Annika. Is everything alright in his paradise?" or "A wife deserves her husband's attention, don't you think? Don't let him take his wife for granted."  He even resorted to veiled threats: "Perhaps Shivay doesn't truly love his wife, that's why he keeps her identity hidden. A divorce might be imminent."

Annika, however, saw through his manipulative facade. Aware of his motives, she ignored his attempts to plant seeds of doubt. Instead, she took a firm stance, warning him, "Viraj, why do you keep following me? I told you, I'm just their event manager. I have nothing to do with Shivay or his wife. If you continue to harass me, I won't hesitate to file a restraining order."

Viraj's frustration mounted. He had less than a year to dismantle Shivay and Annika's marriage before a two-year clause rendered him powerless. Fuming in his hotel room, he was interrupted by Kanika's arrival. She had some loose ends to tie up before her permanent move to the UK.

Kanika, brimming with amusement, dropped a bombshell. "So, Shivay's married? Your brilliant plan went belly-up, huh?" Her laughter echoed in the room before she pressed further, "But who's the lucky lady?"

Viraj scowled. "Annika. The whole wedding fiasco - she saved his reputation. I've tried everything to manipulate her and drive a wedge between them, but it's like hitting a brick wall."

Kanika's amusement vanished, replaced by a surge of anger. "Annika? That little... Ugh! But how did Shivay marry her? I had a foolproof plan to get rid of her! Shivay was supposed to fire her after the wedding, not marry her!"

A glimmer of hope flickered in Viraj's eyes. He'd been desperately searching for a way to break apart Annika and Shivay's marriage, and Kanika's revelation offered a potential solution. Here was someone who had already attempted, and nearly succeeded, in getting Annika fired!

Intrigued, Viraj pressed for details. "How did you manage to get her fired?"

Kanika, nonchalantly fanning her nails, replied, "It wasn't a big deal. I simply fed Pinky Aunty a carefully crafted lie, and she swallowed it whole, convincing Shivay as well. Annika supposedly went to New Delhi with her friend Akash Shekhawat for some personal business. I just 'interpreted' the nature of that business."

She smirked. "You know Hotel Paradise? Every year they have a notorious event where powerful figures  go to indulge in... expensive pleasures for fun and money. I spun a tale of Annika attending this party with Akash. They contacted Akash's company to confirm his whereabouts, and since he was indeed in New Delhi, my lie became believable."

Kanika leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "If you want to break them up, fabricate a lie and tell Shivay. He's quick to protect his family's reputation. He won't investigate, he'll just jump to conclusions and make a rash decision." With that parting advice, Kanika left, leaving Viraj with a new weapon in his arsenal - deception.

Kanika's departure sparked an idea in Viraj's mind. He saw an opportunity to replicate her strategy. Wasting no time, he instructed his men to investigate Annika's whereabouts, searching for any potential ammunition.

Later that night, Viraj eagerly awaited his men's report. He was confident that the information would be enough to sway Shivay.

The intel revealed that Annika had gone to New Delhi two months prior. This time her company had organised that particular event at Hotel Paradise during her stay.

However, the report indicated that Annika had delegated the event's organization to her assistant Kavya while she focused on securing crucial investments for her company. These investments had enabled her to relocate her company from its modest beginnings to a prestigious high-rise building with well-furnished offices, shared by other important firms. Furthermore, Annika had significantly expanded her workforce.

Interestingly, the report noted that Annika had not yet informed Shivay about these developments.

Viraj, pleased with the information he had acquired, planned to twist it to his advantage. "Tomorrow marks the end of your marriage," he declared, staring at Shivay's photograph.

The next morning, unaware of the dark clouds gathering over their happiness, Annika and Shivay shared a steamy kiss before starting their workday. Despite a nagging premonition of trouble, Annika brushed it aside as exhaustion from the past few days.

Meanwhile, at the office, Shivay received a call from his receptionist. Viraj Oberoi was requesting a meeting, claiming it was urgent and concerned the Oberoi family reputation.  Furious and confused about Viraj's sudden reappearance after a year, Shivay instructed his receptionist to send him in.

Viraj entered Shivay's cabin with a knock, addressing him with a pointed "Good morning, Shivay Bhaiya. "Congratulations on your one-year anniversary," he continued, a mocking tone lacing his voice, "but who is this mysterious wife you haven't introduced?"

Annoyed by Viraj's presence, Shivay demanded, "Cut the formalities and get straight to the point. Why are you here? What's holding you back from returning to the States?"

Viraj, feigning righteousness, declared, "As an Oberoi, it's my duty to protect the family reputation. I haven't returned because I'm determined to prove my father's innocence."

Shivay inquired, "So, have you found any evidence? Any proof to exonerate him?"

Viraj, maintaining his charade, shook his head negatively.  He then launched into a fabricated story, "Speaking of protecting the family image, I've been keeping tabs on you and your staff. Unfortunately, I was preoccupied with business ventures for a while and lost track. But guess what I stumbled upon recently?"

Shivay, his patience wearing thin, listened intently.

Viraj continued his web of lies, "Remember your event planner, what was her name again... Ah, yes, Annika! Well, she's quite the gold digger, wouldn't you believe it? Two months ago, she was organiser of a notorious event at Hotel Paradise. From what I gather, she used the event as an opportunity to engage in a series of affairs, ultimately securing a hefty investment for her company. This windfall allowed her to relocate to a swanky new office and expand her staff.  And here's the kicker – I discovered she made a similar trip to Delhi last year, even before your wedding and you knew about it! Why didn't you fire her then? If her actions tarnish the Oberoi name, I won't hold back, Shivay. Don't believe me? Here's 'proof' to support my claims."

Viraj deposited a file containing his manipulated evidence on Shivay's desk and left him reeling, lost in a sea of suspicion.