Shivika SS : The Ties that Bind

Part 7

  Khanna was plagued with conflicting thoughts. Shivaay Sir has lost his memory and can't remember his wife Annika Madam. He was given strict orders not to talk about Annika Madam to him, because it gave him terrible headaches. He did try to get creative, trying to jog his Boss's memory by driving by Annika Madam's old house and Sahil's school, but nothing worked.

Then Annika Madam herself appeared at the office and he still couldn't get it all back. Poor lady is hiding from Veer Pratap Chauhan and living at an orphanage. Shivaay Sir asked him to be quiet about Wednesdays morning meetings, but the way she looked behind her shoulder every few minutes on their way back gave him mixed feelings.

So he went to Omkara Sir and Rudra Babu. He told them everything, and to his great relief they followed him to the orphanage and were now waiting for Annika Madam.

***

Annika stepped out of the auto at the main road and immediately saw them, her two brothers. Om and Rudy. She stood silent and they both hugged her with tears in their eyes. Teary reunions and brotherly anger at her hiding from them.

"Nothing doing Bhabhi, you're coming home with us now. Bhaiyya will never forgive us for not keeping you safe after finding you. Nope. You're coming to Oberoi Mansion now. Have you any idea how upset and worried Dadi and everybody are?? "

She tried halfheartedly to refuse but Om too was having no two words about it.

"Shivaay is at work now. Just come home and we'll all figure out what to do. Together." And they took her home in their car, just missing by a minute, Shivaay's car arriving at the Home.

***

Shivaay swerved gently into the compound of the Hope Orphanage. A weird sense of familiarity hit him as he parked his car, like he just missed someone. Shaking his head clear, he walked into the main building of the orphanage.

Children were away at school and the place was quiet except for the nursery. Walking in he found the offices quickly and came to meet a serious looking old woman.

"Mr. Oberoi??" she got up in surprise. And Shivaay was equally shocked to being recognized , here of all places.

"Have I been here before...?" he asked tentatively.

"Why yes, you bought this place over personally, when you came enquiring about your wife, a year ago."

His head started pounding.

"My wife?"

"Yes, you said, your wife was an orphan and you wanted to see her adoption records..."

Pain sliced through his head and he swayed, holding on to the door for support. 2 other women ran up to support him up, and helped him into a chair, as he took deep breaths to calm the pain.

"I'm sorry, I don't remember... Argh!" he closed his eyes in agony.

" Tch, Mrs. B, at least ask the gentleman who he came to look for?" said a portly dark skinned woman with deep knowing eyes. Shivaay looked up at her, and she smiled at him. "Who are you looking for, Mr. Oberoi?"

The pain somewhat bearable, he sat up, "Ms. ... Mrs.. Annika? She works here? I came to find her. We had a meeting this morning? I need to see her urgently."

"Why?" they all asked in unison. "Was there trouble? She's not with you? Where is she?" She didn't come back yet!?" all questions flew at him from the 3 women anxiously. She hadn't come back here yet evidently. And the worry in these women, warned him that Annika, was in some kind of problem. He watched them ring her phone repeatedly, with no answer.