The blooming Magnolia

Chapter : 5

Anika placed the pizza dough on the tray and gently flattened it with her hands. Her daughter sat cross-legged on the kitchen counter top, all excited. Anika was making up for scolding her daughter like that in the morning. By now, she had convinced herself that it was just a co-incidence that she saw Vansh at the mall. He lived in Bangalore and he can go where ever the fuck he wants to. It was also a co-incidence that her daughter actually bumped into him, considering her restlessness. It could have been anyone else too.

Anika gently spread the pizza sauce over the dough and instructed her daughter to put the little pieces of olives, bell peppers, onions to sprinkle over the top. Ahana, out of sheer excitement, picked up the black olive pieces one by one and put them on the top and did the same with the other vegetables as well.

"Now, time for the chicken pieces, go one, put them over too." Anika said.

"Okay mumma." she nodded and did what her mother said.

She was eagerly waiting for the ultimate ingredient to be put on it. THE CHEESE.

Anika put the grated cheese on top and slid the tray in the oven.

"Mumma, give me some." Ahana asked with a pouty face.

Anika put some cheese on her little hands and she instantly put the handful inside her mouth, relishing every bit of it.

They both high-fived after their joint accomplishment.

When Ahana threw tantrums to have pizza again for dinner, Anika couldn't allow her daughter to eat junk anymore so she thought of making pizza herself.

You need to be a superwoman when it comes to being a mother of a five year old, rather her naughtiest five year old. Anika had learnt making almost all kinds of dishes at home to satisfy her daughter's needs. And not to forget, her regular lunch at school! Earlier, when Ahna was still a toddler, it was so difficult for Anika to feed her properly as she just would not eat anything that she made. So she had to learn to make all these fun dishes that her child loved to avoid making her a habit of having food from outside. Hearing the phone ring, Anika put her daughter down and told her to do her math.

"Hello?" Anika picked up the constantly ringing phone in the bedroom. It was an unknown number.

"Anika?" A woman asked.

"Yes, Speaking." She replied.

"This is Vanshika. How are you?"

Her eyes widened with shock. Vanshika? Why would she call her? After about 5 years? How did she get this number?

Vanshika is her ex- sister-in-law. After a few seconds of silence she gathered herself and answered,

"I am fine, Vanshika. How are you? How did you get my number?" Anika asked.

"I will tell you everything, but please can you meet me tomorrow?" She said.

How did she know that Anika was in Bangalore? Did Vansh somehow notice her in the mall? Did he understand that Ahana was his daughter?There were so many questions going on in her mind. She didn't want to meet her. Fear crept inside her heart. She didn't want her in-laws to know about Ahana.She didn't want to go back or share her daughter with anyone. After all she was all she had now.

"How can I meet you Vanshika, I am not in India, I am currently in Canada." she lied.

"Anika, I know that you are now in Bangalore. I request you to please meet me tomorrow." She said.

Shit. She was right. Vansh probably recognised Ahana in the mall. What if they now wanted to take Ahana from her? What will she do if Vansh and his family files a case against her in court that she had hidden the truth of having a daughter after marriage.