Next day.
It was the engagement day.
Om and Gauri
Anika
Bela
Soumya.
Shivaay
Mahir
Rudra.
All were stunning in their outfits. The boys can't take their eyes from girls.
Om and Gauri were asked to sit on the sofa, which was on the stage. The hall was decorated beautifully.
Dadi: chalo sagai shuru karte hai
Tej: par maa. Mr. and Mrs. Sharma abhi tak nahi aaye. Bela, bete tumhare parents kahan hai?
Bela: woh uncle maine phone kiya tha. They said unhe late ho jaiyega. Hum engagement shuru kar dete hai.
Anika: we can wait right? Unke bina kaise...
Bela: I know par unhe der ho jayegi. So I think we should start.
Dadi: theek hai. Shuru karte hai. Soumya puttar rings leke aao
Soumya: ji dadi. Abhi lai.
She brought the rings.
The couple exchanged the rings. All clapped and blessed the couple. Then they cut the cake. All the guest were congratulating them one by one.
All were happy but Anika and Bela were little worried which was noticed by Shivaay and Mahir. They went to the girls.
Shivaay: kya hua girls? Looking worried
Anika: Shivaay chachu aur chachi abhi tak nahi aaye hai.
Bela: unka phone bhi nahi lag raha.
Mahir: don't worry aa jayenge.
Anika: par kab? Woh log kabse nikal gaye gai. Ab tak toh unhe aa jana chachiye tha.
Shivaay: ek baar phone try karo.
Bela: kab se kar rahe hai. Dono mein se koi nahi utha raha.
Mahir: ek baar aur try karo.
Anika nodded and tried to call once again. This time the call was picked up.
Anika: hello. Chachu kahan hai aap?
P. O. C. : hello. Aapke uncle ka accident ho gaya hai.
Anika(shocked): what??? Kab kaise? Kahan hai woh?
P. O. C. : abhi hum un dono ko hospital leke gaye hai. Aap XYZ hospital aa jaiye.
Anika: theek hai. Hum abhi aate hai
She hunged the call.
Bela: kya kaha?
Anika(stammering): Be...Bela woh cha...Chachu aur Chachi
Bela: kya ?
Anika: un.... unka accident
Bela felt like the land had slip under her feet and she stumbled but Mahir hold her. Her eyes started pooling.
Bela: yeh.... yeh nahi ho sakta.
Anika: Bela hume abhi hospital jana hoga.
Bela: haan chalo. Jaldi.
Shivaay: we are also coming
Anika: nahi abhi nahi sab guest chale jai phir aana.
Mahir: it's not important now. Waise bhi sab ja hi rahe hai.
Shivaay: Mahir tu ruk. Main jata hun.
They agreed and Anika Bela and Shivaay left to the hospital. While Mahir informed the rest family members. Gauri Soumya and Sahil were crying like hell. They too left to go to hospital.
In the hospital.
Niranjan and Geetanjali were in the operation theater. Bela was a crying mess. While Anika was expressionless but was consoling Bela. Shivaay was completely the formality. A little later the rest also came.
After sometime doctors came out. Anika and Bela ran to him.
Anika: doc...doctor how are they?
Doctor(sighed): I am sorry. Lekin Mrs. Sharma ko hum bacha nahi paaye. Bohat bloodloss ho gaya tha.
This news was not less than a disaster for them. But Anika composed herself.
Anika: aur.... chachu?
Doctor: he is also critical unke pass zyada waqt nahi hai.
Bela fell on the ground with non-stop tears. Anika was numb but tears were not ready to flow. Gauri Soumya and Sahil was a crying mess now. Om was consoling Gauri and Soumya was consoled by Rudra. Sahil hugged Jhanvi who trying hard to calm him. Mahir sat beside Bela and she hugged him.
Doctor: please apne aap ko sambhaliye. And who is miss Anika?
Anika: m... main
Doctor: Mr. Sharma aap se milna chahte hai
Anika nodded and ran inside. She saw Niranjan lying lifelessly with machines around. He saw her and lift his hand weakly. Anika ran and hold his hand.
Anika: chachu...
Niranjan(weak voice): Anika bache mujhe pata hai mere pass zyada waqt nahi hai.
Anika: aisa mat boliye please
Niranjan: theek hai nahi bolta. Par mujhe ek wada karogi?
Anika: haan
Niranjan: Bela aur Soumya ka dhyan rakhna. Mujhe pata hai tum karogi hi par phir bhi
Anika: promise chachu main unka bohat ache se dhyan rakhungi.
Niranjan smiled and raised his hand and hold her face. Anika kissed his hand.
Niranjan: kon hai bahar aur?
Anika: sab hai. Oberois bhi hai
Niranjan: un sabko bula lo.
Anika: ji.
She went out. Anika went to Bela and she hugged her.
Anika: Bela chachu bula rahe hai. Chal andar.
Bela: I can't see him like that.
Anika: please Bela. Tu unse nahi milegi? (To rest) aur Dadi aap sab ko bhi bulaya hai.
All went inside. Anika Bela Gauri Soumya and Sahil hugged him and cried.
Niranjan: listen my babies.
They got off the hug.
Niranjan: pehle toh yeh aanshun pocho aur rona bandh karo (they wiped their tears)
Sahil: chachu aap kyu ja rahe hai?
Niranjan: tumahari chachi ke piche toh jana padega na? Tumhein toh pata hai woh kitni darpok hai. She needs me
Bela: and what about us?
Niranjan: tum ab badi ho gai ho. Apna khyal khud rakh sakti ho. Aur Anika hai na mera replacement....Om
Om came towards him.
Niranjan: beta tumhein kehne ki zarrorat nahi par phir bhi please Gauri ka khayal rakhna. Mana woh meri sagi beti nahi hai. Par usse kam bhi nahi hai. So promise me.
Om: I promise chachu
Niranjan: aur tum log. Mere jane ke baad rona mat. Be happy. Get married to your love. Promise me you all won't cry.
Soumya: thoda roenge.
Niranjan(chuckled): theek hai. Lekin thoda sa hi okay. Sumo Sahil tum dono khub padhai karna aur bada admi banna.
Sahil: okay chachu.
Niranjan: Tej bhaisahab, Shakti bhaishab.
They came towards him.
Niranjan: kya aap mere bacho ka dhyan rakhenge?
Tej: off course ab se yeh humare bhi bache hai.
Shakti: hum inka pura khayal rakhenge.
Dadi: aur yeh ab se humare saath hi rahengi. Oberoi Mansion mein.
Niranjan: thank you. Ab mujhe koi tension nahi hai. Ab chain se mar sakta hun
Bela: papa.. aisa mat boliye na
Niranjan: acha sorry.
Anika: chachu hume ek kahani toh sunaiye. Jaise bachpan mein sunate the.
Niranjan smiled and was telling them some stories. After sometime he fell in the deep slumber of death. Bela hugged Anika crying. Gauri Soumya and Sahil also joined them. The Oberois also had tears. Seeing their bond. But not even a single tear fell from Anika's eyes.
Next day.
All the 5 (Anika Bela Gauri Soumya and Sahil) completely the last rites of Niranjan and Geetanjali.
Dadi asked them to permanently shift to Oberoi Mansion as Niranjan also wants that. First Anika denied but lately agreed.
A month passed. Everyone got a bit normal. But Bela has reduced talking. All the while ShivOmRuHir has been the great support for AniRiBeYaSa
At Oberoi Office
Anika Shivaay and Mahir were having lunch.
Mahir: Shivaay kal ASR aur SSR aa rahe hai
Shivaay(happy): really?
Anika: wohi na number one businessmen of London? Woh India aa rahe hai?
Mahir: yes.
Anika: I would like to meet them. Infact Bela ko bhi unse milna tha.
Shivaay: off course. Kal milena.
Anika: theek hai. Bela ko bhi bula leti hun.
Mahir: haan.
Anika: Mahir tum leke aaoge kya? Bela ko?
Mahir: off course kyu nahi?
Shivaay and Anika smirked.
Shivaay: kab batane ka irada hai?
Mahir: kya?
Anika: that you love her.
Mahir(shocked): tum.... tumhein pata hai?
Anika: haan. Ab toh batado.
Mahir: haan par abhi nahi. Waiting for the right time.
Anika: okay as you wish.
*******
After dinner. Anika came to Bela's room. She was sitting near the window and staring the sky. Anika came and back hugged her.
Anika: Bela
Bela: hmmm?
Anika: it's been a month.
Bela: hmm
Anika: kab tak udas rahegi?
Tears rolled down Bela's cheek. Anika wiped it.
Anika: aur kab tak aanshun bahati rahegi?
Bela started crying. She nudged her head in Anika's neck. Anika rubbed her back
Bela: I miss them Annie. I miss them.
Anika: we miss them too Bells. Par aise udas toh nahi beth sakte. Aur chachu ne kya kaha tha? Be happy and no crying. Hai na?
Bela nodded.
Anika: then why are you crying? Stop crying
Bela: no Annie. Let me cry. Itne dinon se rok ke rakha hai. Please aaj nahi
Anika: okay.
She cried. Anika rubbed her back and rock her a little occasionally kissing her head. After sometime she stopped crying but still was in the hug. Anika broke the hug and gave her some water.
Anika(wiping her face): ab se no crying okay?
Bela: okay.
Anika: ek baat bataun
Bela: kya?
Anika: kal tujhe Oberoi office aana hai
Bela: kyu?
Anika: kal ASR aur SSR aa rahe hai
Bela(literally screaming): kya???
Anika(closing her ears): aee dhemee
Bela: woh dono aa rahe hai?
Anika: haan.
Bela: kab?
Anika: kal
Bela: toh main zarror aaungi. Par unke liye gifts lene padenge na.
Anika: woh maine leliya hai.
Bela: really? That's great. So chal mujhe sone de.
Anika shook her head and went to her room. While Bela slept hiding heeself in a soft duvet.
*******