A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

Annika will stay back in Mumbai

An eerie silence greeted Annika and Ruhi as they returned from the Mittal office. The bustling energy they left behind had vanished, replaced by an unsettling stillness. A quick look around confirmed their suspicions – the house was a mess.

Exchanging a worried glance, they set off on a search mission, their footsteps echoing in the hushed hallway. Finally, they found the source of the chaos – Advik's room. Inside, a tableau of exhaustion unfolded before them. Shreya, slumped on the couch in a sitting position, had succumbed to sleep. Aadhya, sprawled on the floor amidst her scattered drawings, mirrored her slumbering form. Advik had managed to climb onto the bed, but even he couldn't resist sleep's pull. Ritvik lay sprawled across him, oblivious to the world.

The scene was both comical and heartwarming. It was clear they had all fallen asleep mid-activity. Annika approached Shreya first. Gently shaking her shoulder, she whispered, "Shreya, wake up. You should sleep properly in the other room."

Shreya stirred and mumbled a drowsy thank you. Annika then carefully scooped up Aadhya, tucking her in beside Ritvik, whom Ruhi had already gently shifted from Advik's grasp. With a silent nod to each other, they left the children to their slumber, their own exhaustion finally catching up to them. They retreated to their respective rooms, grateful for a chance to freshen up and steal a much-needed nap.

An exhausted Annika stirred awake from her nap, the events of the day replaying in her mind. Padding towards the living room, she found Shreya and Ruhi already awake, their faces mirroring her own fatigue.  The children, thankfully, were still sound asleep.

Annika sank onto the couch, a tired smile gracing her lips. "Those kids," Shreya sighed dramatically, "are they human or little monsters? I'm absolutely wiped! It was so much easier with Ishita here to help manage them. Now, all I hear is 'Maasi this' and 'Maasi that' from morning till afternoon. Honestly, if I had to handle them all day, I think I'd cry and run away!"

Both Annika and Ruhi chuckled at Shreya's theatrics. "Hats off to you," Shreya conceded, playfully raising her hands in surrender. "You two handled them like champs."

Annika couldn't resist a playful jab. "We'll see how you sing a different tune when you have your own children to deal with!"

Their laughter filled the room for a few more minutes before the conversation turned more subdued.  Shreya eventually bid them farewell and headed home.

With Shreya gone and the house quiet, Annika and Ruhi finally had a moment to breathe. The two-month deadline for the Mittal report loomed large. Crafting the report itself wasn't the challenge; the real question was who would stay and collaborate with the Oberois until Arnav's return next month.

After conferring with their grandfather, Rituraj, a decision was made. Annika, with her familiarity with Mumbai, would stay back while Ruhi returned with the children. Advik, understandably, couldn't be pulled out of school for two months.

The plan solidified, they decided to end the day on a high note. Juhu Beach beckoned, offering a welcome escape from the day's whirlwind. Dinner at a nearby restaurant capped off the evening, a time for them to savor the rare moment of calm before the storm of collaboration hit.

The Oberoi mansion buzzed with conversation as the family gathered for dinner. Pinky's voice dominated the room, weaving tales of Shreya's visit and the lively children in tow.

Suddenly, the chatter died down as Shivay entered the room.  His unexpected arrival sent a wave of surprise through the family, but no one dared to question him. They simply watched in silence as he took his seat at the table.

Opting to break the surprised silence, Pinky swiveled her head towards her son."Oh my God, Shivay, you wouldn't believe it!" she exclaimed. "Shreya arrived with those children! And that little girl, what was her name again... Ah yes, Aadhya! She had Rudra wrapped around her little finger. She teased him mercilessly, and Rudra couldn't get a word in edgewise! But the most striking thing," Pinky continued, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "was her eyes. They're exactly like your's! If you had gotten married, I could have had a granddaughter just like her."

Shivay, who had been intently focused on his meal, perked up at Pinky's words. He couldn't help but recall the sharp, inquisitive eyes of the sharp-tongued little girl he had met at the hotel.

Shaking off the memory, he spoke to Pinky in a clipped tone. "Mom, if you want grandchildren, ask Om or Rudra. Or better yet, consider adoption. Don't expect anything from me."

His words sent a chill through the room, effectively silencing the chatter. The weight of his statement settled on everyone, leaving behind a heavy, uncomfortable quiet.

Dinner concluded, a restless Om found himself drawn to Dadi's room. Hesitantly, he knocked and entered.

"Dadi," he began, his voice laced with a nervous tremor, "I need to talk to you about something."

Dadi, ever perceptive, sensed the urgency in his voice. "What troubles you, Om? Tell me."

Taking a deep breath, Om revealed his theory. "Dadi, I believe Aadhya, Shreya's niece, might be Shivay and Annika's daughter, your great-granddaughter."

Dadi's eyes widened in shock. "Om, are you certain? Such an accusation shouldn't be made lightly."

"I understand, Dadi," Om replied, explaining his reasoning. "Three days ago, I was on a video call with Shreya. Annika came by and the call got cut. When I called back a few minutes later, I accidentally overheard Shreya talking to Aadhya. She said, 'Aadhya! You're even cuter in person than you were in those baby pictures! You know, I saw you when you were just a newborn.'"

He paused, letting the significance of the words sink in. "Today, Shreya arrived with the children. As far as I know, her cousin don't have children. When Pinky Chachi mentioned Aadhya's resemblance to Shivay's eyes, it all clicked. It could be a possibility, although I can't be absolutely certain."

A wave of sadness washed over Dadi's face. "If only Shivay hadn't thrown Annika out," she murmured, a tear glistening in her eye.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Rudra peeked in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. It seemed the conversation hadn't gone unnoticed.

Startling Om and Dadi, he plopped himself down on the bed. "I couldn't help but overhear, but I think Om's right. Remember the girl from the video call who left Shivay Bhaiya speechless? It has to be her! After Shreya Bhabhi left, I kept racking my brain, trying to place where I'd seen that girl before. Then it hit me – it was the same girl at the hotel!"

A smile tugged at Om and Dadi's lips, a shared memory lighting up their faces.

"Looks like Shivay has a knack for memorable first encounters," Om chuckled. "First Annika, leaving him speechless, and now his own daughter."

Their laughter filled the room for a moment before Dadi turned serious once more. "Om, Rudra, this must remain a secret. As much as we yearn to meet her, we have to respect Annika's wishes. Remember, we didn't lift a finger to help her when she was thrown out and until she chooses to reconnect with us, we must remain silent."

With a newfound sense of purpose, Om and Rudra retreated to their rooms, leaving Dadi alone with the comforting secret nestled in her heart – she had finally met her great-granddaughter.