A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

Project Select for Final Round

An air of restless anticipation hung heavy in the hotel room the next morning. Aadhya and Advik, wide-eyed and increasingly cranky, watched their mothers pace back and forth like caged tigers. For the past hour, the scene hadn't changed. Annika and Ruhi, glued to their phones, walked in tight circles, their faces etched with worry.

Aadhya, fueled by hunger pangs that gnawed at her stomach, could take it no more. Pushing her way to Annika, she grabbed her mother's leg, demanding attention. The sudden movement startled Annika, and a gasp escaped her lips. Advik and Ruhi, jolted from their worried stupor, looked on in surprise.

Aadhya, her arms crossed in a defiant stance, glared at Annika. "Mumma," she declared, gesturing dramatically towards her tummy, "food won't magically appear! There are rats running a marathon in my stomach. I. Want. Food!"

Caught up in their own anxieties about the results of the Mittal project announcement, scheduled for 9:00 am, neither Ruhi nor Annika had realized it was already past 10:00 am and the children hadn't been fed.

"Annika, let's get them something to eat," Ruhi suggested, her voice laced with concern.

Annika, shaken from her worry-induced stupor, nodded in agreement. Initially, she planned to order room service, but when both Aadhya and Advik insisted on going down to the breakfast buffet, she relented. However, a quick check on Ritvik revealed him still fast asleep in his crib. Deciding to prioritize the little one, Annika offered to stay back and order breakfast for her while the others went down to the buffet.

A wave of relief washed over Shivay as he received the confirmation – his project had been chosen! Tomorrow, he had a crucial final presentation, a two-part affair requiring two team members. With a renewed sense of purpose, he decided to grab breakfast before heading to the office to select his partner.

Making his way to the hotel buffet, Shivay settled at a table with his plate, quietly savoring his meal. Meanwhile, Ruhi and the children arrived, taking a seat nearby. The breakfast unfolded in comfortable silence until Aadhya, overcome by a sudden craving for juice, announced her need. Ruhi, leaving momentarily to fetch the beverage, entrusted Aadhya with the glass.

Aadhya, holding her coveted glass of juice like a prize, eagerly skipped back to their table. Aadhya, fixated on her juice and lost in a world of her own, didn't see him approach. With a small body meeting a large one, there was a bump, a yelp, and a splash. Aadhya's juice ended up decorating Shivay's shoes, while Shivay himself stumbled back in surprise.

He looked down to find a pair of familiar blue eyes glaring up at him, their fiery intensity echoing the color. "You!" they both exclaimed in unison.

Aadhya, puffing out her chest like a tiny warrior queen, clutched her now half-empty glass. Stomping back to her seat, she shot Shivay a withering look. Shivay, momentarily stunned by her reaction, felt a flicker of irritation. He contemplated yelling at her, but something held him back.

Advik, noticing Aadhya's ire, glanced back to see the source of her frustration. His eyes widened in recognition. "Bad uncle!" he exclaimed, directing his words at Shivay.

Shivay, caught off guard by the accusation, stammered, "Bad uncle? Why do you say that?"

Before Advik could elaborate, Aadhya chimed in, her voice laced with righteous anger. "Yes, you are bad uncle! You don't look where you're going, and you didn't even say sorry! And because of you, I have less juice to drink!"

Shivay stared at her, dumbfounded by her response. "Don't your mother teach you how to talk to elders?" he finally managed.

Aadhya, unfazed, puffed out her chest again. "She teaches us how to talk to elders, and you are a bad elder, not good!" she declared, sticking her tongue out defiantly before taking a satisfied sip of her remaining juice.

Just as Shivay was about to retort, his phone rang, breaking the awkward tension. He opted for a hasty retreat, hoping to avoid any further encounters with the firecracker of a girl.

After a few minutes Ruhi returned to the breakfast table, oblivious to the drama that had just unfolded. Finishing their meal, the trio headed back to their room. Upon entering, they found a scene of playful chaos. Ritvik, wide awake and brimming with energy, was bouncing around the room like a hyperactive ball of sunshine. Annika, caught in a playful chase, attempted to corral him and get him dressed.

Aadhya, ever the protector of her mother, barreled into the room and declared, "Baby, you can't irritate your Bua like that! Only I get to irritate her!" She then snatched clothes from Annika and, with surprising dexterity for her age, managed to dress the squirmy Ritvik.

Annika, tickled by Aadhya's possessiveness, playfully pinched her waist. "Acha, so you'll be the only one to irritate your Mumma?" she teased.

Aadhya, undeterred, puffed out her chest and declared, "No one can irritate you or hurt you as long as I'm here! I'll protect you from everyone, even if it means annoying you sometimes." Her response sent a wave of laughter through the room.

With the children entertained, Annika and Ruhi sent them off to their room for some independent playtime. Now alone, they delved back into their work. Annika revealed the exciting news – their project had been shortlisted! However, a new challenge presented itself – the final presentation would be divided into two parts, requiring two team members to present.

The next five hours were a whirlwind of focused discussion. They meticulously reviewed their proposal, dissected it strategically, and finally crafted a presentation that would be delivered in two seamless halves.

Emerging from their work-induced cocoon, they were met with a sight that both surprised and amused them. The living room resembled a scene straight out of a child's dream. The once pristine space was now a landscape of sprawled food, a switched-on television, and the children sprawled on the couches in various awkward sleeping positions.

Apparently, Advik, tasked with keeping an eye on his siblings while the adults worked, had encountered a dilemma when hunger pangs struck. Unsure of the proper amount to order for room service, he had resorted to a strategy of random selection.

Letting out a shared sigh, Annika and Ruhi tackled the situation with practiced efficiency. They carefully whisked the children away, tucking each one into their respective beds.  With their charges settled, the two women finally turned their attention to the living room. It took a good two hours to restore order, but once done, they succumbed to exhaustion and retired for some much-needed rest.