Chapter - 32

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The seven days that followed were nothing short of a storm for Anika

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The seven days that followed were nothing short of a storm for Anika. Pain, sleepless nights, restless mornings all tangled up with heavy books, endless notes, and her determination to not fall weak. Yet, through it all, one constant stood by her side: Abhimanyu. He was her anchor, her silent strength, the calm she needed when everything else threatened to spiral into chaos.

And just like he had believed, she emerged victorious.

The final exam was done, and results came sooner than she had expected. When she saw her name at the very top of the list, her eyes welled up. She had done it. Despite the odds, despite the pain, despite every distraction life had thrown her way she was not just a survivor, she was a topper. The proud smile on Abhimanyu’s face that day was worth more than the entire world’s applause. For him, she wasn’t just Anika Khanna, the girl who fought through exams. She was his Anika, his wife, his Rani Sa, the one who could conquer anything she set her mind to.

Days passed, and now a new challenge awaited her a fashion show. Not as a model, but as a budding designer. It was her first time showcasing her own creations, a collection of sarees and Indo-western fusion pieces she had poured her heart into stitching and styling. Every cut, every sequin, every thread carried a part of her soul. She had spent hours imagining how the models would walk the ramp in her designs, how the lights would reflect against the fabric, and how the audience would see her story through the clothes.

The evening before the show, as she sat in her room checking through her sketches and material boards, her phone rang. Aadhya.

Anika instantly brightened. Picking up the call, she leaned back on the bed, her voice laced with warmth.
“Hello Aadhya, how are you?”

“Perfect, now that I’m talking to you,” Aadhya teased, laughter spilling through the line. “But tell me, madam topper, how does it feel to crush everyone else in the exam?”

Anika blushed even though her friend couldn’t see her. “Stop it! I just… worked hard, that’s all.”

“Worked hard?” Aadhya mocked. “You mean you studied through cramps and still managed to top? I swear, you’re not human, Anika. You’re a superhero in disguise. You should wear a cape tomorrow on the ramp instead of giving it to your models.”

Anika laughed, her voice bubbling like a child’s. This was what she loved most about Aadhya the way her friend never let her take herself too seriously, the way she always pulled her back into lightness no matter how heavy life felt.

They talked about the show, about the stress, about how Abhimanyu had turned into the strictest caretaker during exam week. But then, Aadhya’s tone suddenly shifted.

So, Anika…” she began, her voice mischievous, “the day after tomorrow, hmm? Do you know what day it is?”

Anika frowned for a second, flipping through her planner. And then realization dawned. Her birthday.

 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 (𝐎𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠)Where stories live. Discover now