"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life."
- Richard Bach.
No hard feelings but anyone can get jealous by looking at the Oberoi family, happy, safe and sound. The girls were in the kitchen preparing everyone's favorite snacks while Gauri said
G: Bhabhi, are you okay?
B: Yeah bhaiya handled the media in a good way but you guys had a conversation right?
A:(smiles) Yes we did and thank you so much for being this supportive
B: We are family bhabhi, no need to thank us, even you and bhaiya are always there for me and Rudra it's our duty to be with you
G: And what about the case?
A:(saddened) Yeah I just need that pen drive at any cost, you know Meena's face often come in front of my eyes nowadays
They hugged and gave her the strength to fight back.
A: Now let's prepare otherwise papa and Rudra will come right here
They giggled and resumed their work when Bhavya noticed something
B: Bhabhi this bracelet is so beautiful, is it new?
Anika looked at her wrist and blushes
A: Ohh this one is a gift
G:(happy) Shivaay bhaiya?
A: Yess
G/B:(singing) So romantic
B: Wait a minute, is this your third anniversary gift?
A:(blushes) Yes girls now back to work
G/B: Okay ma'am
They giggled and got back to cooking while Anika recalled their anniversary day when Shivaay gifted her this bracelet.
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It was the time when Shivaay and Anika were on yachts the previous night, they danced on the Tum Se song and were standing in each other's arms wishing each other
A: Happy 3rd Love
S:(smiles) Can't believe it's our 3rd, happy anniversary life
Anika hugged him and thanked her stars for being so kind to her, for giving her, him. While Shivaay wondered what he might have done in his last birth that he got her. They parted from each other and Anika said
A: So this was the surprise
S: Actually, no it's not
A:(confused) What?
S: Firstly let's cut the cake
The servant brought the cake on a decorated table, which was arranged by Rudra the cake said,
"Happy 3rd to ACP AND SSO. "
A:(laughed) Oh my God Shivaay
S:(annoyed) Nhi sudhrega ye
Anika kissed his cheeks, they cut the cake and fed each other.
A: Now tell me what's the surprise?
S: Let's go upstairs
A: Pr waha to bilkul andhera hoga
S: Iss liye toh
Anika looked at him confused while he dragged her to the topmost floor of the yacht. Anika was stunned to see the view from there, the wind was smooth just like the waves and the moon light was lightening up the area.
A:(amazed) This is beautiful Shivaay
Shivaay came from behind and hugged her from back kissing her neck while she closed her eyes in anticipation. The sound of waves were melodic music to them. Anika turned and looked at him when he forwarded a box to her, a small one, she smiled and took it.
A: Jewelry?
S: Have a look by yourself
She opens the box and finds the chand bracelet. It consists of small stars and a crescent moon, shining bright in the moon light.
A: This is so sparkling and beguiling
S:(smiles) You like it?
A:(exciting) I love it, thank you jaan
S: Wear it now
She was about to wear it when took it from her hand and made her wear it, she smiled seeing his love, it was looking perfect in her hand, he kissed her hand while she kissed his forehead.
A: But I don't have anything to give you
S: You have already given me the most beautiful thing on this planet
A: What?
Shivaay traced his finger from her forehead till her cheek and sliding it down more giving goosebumps to her, he stopped her finger on her heart and she looked at him.
S: Your heart, this is the most special thing and mean world to me
Anika's heart skipped a beat she didn't think anything and put her lips on his pulling him closer to herself. She roamed her hands in his wild hair while Shivaay put his hands under her shirt. He moved his hands upwards and found her bra's hook and opened it in a go. Anika broke the kiss, she wasn't prepared for this while Shivaay got a little scared, did he do something crossing his limit? Although she never stopped him from doing anything but her reflex over this says something else and he too didn't do it purposely, it happened in the heat of the moment. They were breathing heavily due to the kiss when Shivaay said,
S: Anika I am so sorry that wasn't intentional
Anika stopped him by keeping her hand on his mouth
A: Why are you sorry? I know it wasn't, just that I was not prepared for it and to be precise I don't know what to and how to react in such a situation, I am sorry for behaving this way, I am yours and you can do anything you want
She said it in the most innocent way possible and shivaay went all aww age his lady. One moment she is this boss lady turning the globe upside down and then here in front of him she is this innocent and loveable.
S: It's okay, it's our first time to feel all this, don't be sorry
Anika smiled a bit and tried to hook her bra back when Shivaay said
S: You need help?
Anika nervously nodded and Shivaay understood
S: Just trust me
A: I do, more than myself
They sat on the bed like thing which was set up as per his instructions, facing her back. He pulled the shirt up, while his hands touched Anika's skin sending chills current and what not in her body. Shivaay was having a hard time too, by seeing her bare back and her soft skin. He as quickly as possible hooked her bar and set her shirt back. Shivaay shifted close to her and whispered in her ears,
S: You are beautiful
She looked at him blushing and hugged hiding her face from him while he chuckled.
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Anika came to her world when she sensed someone calling her, she looked down and found Payal standing there with a phone in her hand. She kept the jar in her hand aside and picked her up.
A; What's this baby? What are you watching?
Payal: Tatoonnn
A: Oo cartoon right?
Payal: Yes
Gauri came and said
G: Let's go bhabhi everything is ready
A: Gauri payal is little sleepy, you take Om's phone from her and let me make her sleep then I will join you guys
G: Okay, doll now it's sleep time, give me the phone
Payal: Tatoon
A: We will watch cartoon afterwards okay
Payal: Okay
She gave back the phone to Gauri, she kissed her and they went to her room. Payal played for sometime with Anika, bursting her swollen mouth or clapping her hands at the noises Anika makes. Now she was sitting in Anika's lap with a photo album and she was pointing at everybody while Anika was telling her who is who, a moment came when she kept her hand on Priyanka's pic and said
Payal: Ye?
Anika doesn't know what to say but she can't hide things from her
A: That's mumma
P:(excited) Mumma
Anika was flabbergasted, payal said it so accurately
A: Yes baccha she is mumma
Payal: Ta dai?(Kaha gai?)
Anika smiled with tears in her eyes, she took her hands and placed it on payal's heart
A: Kahi nhi vo yhi hai, payal ke pass
Payal saw tears in Anika's eyes and hugged her, Rudra made her learn to hug when someone is sad or crying. Anika feels like crying loudly and shouting, she knows what dhe has gone through without parents. Shivaay came to call Anika to have snacks with them but he saw both his girls and got tensed. He came inside,
S: Hey, what happened?
Payal came out of her hug and said
Payal: Mumma
Shivaay got shocked he looked at Anika and then Payal who was showing him Priyanka's photos. He caresses payal cheeks and said
S: Let's sleep payal, we will play tomorrow okay
He picked her up in his arms and said to Anika
S: Go have something, we will talk later
She nodded and left while Shivaay patted Payal till she slept. He made her lay down and kissed her forehead before leaving. He came down and saw everyone sitting and having a great family time, he walked and sat beside Anika.
A: She slept?
S: Yes, are you okay?
A: I am
Their attention shifted towards everyone who were laughing at Rudra's stupid act of hiding Om's book, Randeep was laughing his heart out and he asked Shivaay
Deep: But Shivaay how you get to know where Rudra has kept the book?
S: It's simple Deep he always keep his private things in the locker which I have bought from Dubai, I was so sure that the book will be there
R:(annoyed) That's not fair, it was my secret which you announced in front of all
Jhanvi: Oh right! Your very big secret and the password of the locker is ShivOmRu
Everyone started laughing while Anika who was also listening to this, her expression changed, her heart started beating fast, the lines on her forehead became intense, she roamed her hand on her face. She looked at Randeep, he saw her and got confused looking at her expressions. She took out her phone and opened the chat box of Randeep. A notification popped up on his phone he looked at it and got shocked. Shivaay looked at Anika and said,
S: What's wrong?
Anika was about to answer him but Randeep stood up and said,
Deep: I am sorry guys, but we need to leave
Tej: What's wrong?
A: It's a case of emergency bade papa
All stood up
G: But what happened suddenly?
Deep: We don't have time, Gauri we need to leave, Anika inform Jay and ask him to take Coco with them
A: Copy that
She left and dialled Jay's number. Coming back she said to Shivaay
A: I am going to close this case soon, wish me luck
S:(smiled) Meena will be proud of you, break a leg, I love you
A: I too love you, thank you
She hugged him and took wishes from everyone they left. In Randeep car
Deep: How do you know where the pendrive is?
A: We hide our most important things to a place where we feel the safest, just like Rudra did. I remember Meena's last words
M:(smiled) Yes di... I... I.. Fo.. ught.. I fought till... I... Till i ca... I can....
A:(chucked) Yes, you are my brave buddy
M: I... i... can't... can't make...make..up n...ow dii
A: Stop talking nonsense nothing will happen to you okay, you will be fine
M:(tired) Di... Maa.. Maa
A: Yes, Ma is coming, she is on the way
M: Maa....ma... Du... du.. maahh......!!!!!
A: Meenakshi was a devotee of Goddess Durga, she was telling me something about Ma Durga she wasn't talking about her mother
Deep: So?
A: Doctors told me that she might have dragged her to the spot where we found her because her clothes have the particles of hibiscus flower which is offered to Ma Durga, I have a feeling that she might have hidden the pendrive in the temple
Deep: But Queen, there are so many temples in that locality, it's a village area
A: According to her condition, she must have dragged herself to an extent not more than that, we have to check the nearest ones
Deep: On it
He took his wakie talkie and started giving instructions to the other officers who are near that area. Within some time they reached that place. Anika came out and saw that the people of the village were performing rituals.
Deep: What's happening here?
Officer: Sir today is the 8th day of navratri
Randeep banged his hand on the bonnet in frustration.
Deep: Shit! How we will get inside and search the temple
Anika was standing quietly when her phone rang
A: Yes Jay?
J: Ma'am we didn't get anything in the other temples, we are coming there
A: Copy
She hung up the phone
A: They didn't find anything
Randeep signed and looked at Anika who was thinking something
Deep: What are you thinking?
A: Pen drive is not inside the temple
Deep: How do you know?
A: Meena bhag rhi thi, khud ko baccha ne ki koshish kr rhi thi but pe drive was more important and those traces of hibiscus flower
Deep: Yeah, right, itne saare flower andar to nhi hoge ya to shop pr which is not possible ya fir kahi dump
He didn't complete his sentence and they both looked at each other, as the whole thing started making sense, Meenakshi was running from the goons and might have fallen on the flowers which were kept to dump outside the temple, now the task was to find that dumping area. They ran to the backside of the temple with their torch light to find the area, all the officers started searching. Anika was looking everywhere when Randeep called her, she ran towards him and saw a big mountain of flowers. They started searching if they could get anything but all their work went in vain. She got disheartened and felt like crying, she heard the sound of the bell and mantras sung by the Pandit in the temple, the Mahishasura Mardini Stotra.
Ay Girinandini Nanditamedini Vishwavinodini Nandinute
Girivarvindhyashirodhinivasini Vishnuvilasini Jishnunute.
She closed her eyes and said
A: Ma, you know everything, please help me to give justice to that innocent girl
She opened her eyes and turned to go when her eyes falls on the marble kept at a distance which flashed due to torch light, she followed the way and found a very small cemented box structure in which some fragmented idols of Ma durga were kept she picked one which was little damaged and turned in around and found a thread attached to it, she pulled out with force and the thing came out.
A shape of rectangle with dry blood spot on it made of copper and a fibreglass as outer shell. Anika's eyes were blood red she declared
"Mujhe pen drive mil gai Meena"
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