Chapter 36 - What's in the Trunk?

A/N - Sorry I was not able to post for a long time due to some personal issues but now I'll be posting daily as per schedule (Every Tuesday and Thursday). Happy Reading!

***

Annika and Bhavya stood in the entrance of the Oberoi villa, cluelessly.

"Di, andar chale ?" ("Shall we go inside ?") Bhavya asked after a minute.

Annika nodded and walked inside while Khanna ordered a guy to carry the luggage.

"Aayiye." ("Come this way.") Khanna said as he led them inside the villa.

Inside, OmRuRi AriTya were waiting for them.

"Welcome." They all smiled as soon as Khanna entered followed by the Rathore sisters.

Annika and Bhavya smiled at Aryan and Bhavya ran into Nitya giving her a hug, then she caught Gauri in a hug.

"Bhavya ?" Rudy amused when he saw Bhavya for the first time.

"Rudra ?" Bhavya gave a confused smile. "Tum yaha kaise ?" ("What are you doing here ?")

"Yeh mera ghar hai ?" ("This is my home ?") Rudy replied but it came out as a question.

"Tumhara ? Matlab tum Shivaay Singh Oberoi ke..." ("Your home ? Means you're Shivaay Singh Oberoi's...") Bhavya trailed.

"Sabse chota bhai hu." ("Youngest brother.") Rudy smiled.

"Oh." Bhavya nodded in understanding.

"Aur tum yaha..." ("And you're here cause...") Rudy trailed off.

"Annika di meri di hai." ("Annika di is my elder sister.") Bhavya jerked a thumb at Annika.

"Oh." Rudy said and chuckled.

Rudy looked up at the chandelier with a big smile and said into his mind, 'Thank you God, thanks a lot ! I had requested you to help me befriend Bhavya but you're so kind that you directly sent her to live with me.'

Om nudged Rudy, before leaning toward him.

Rudy came out of his trance and saw that Bhavya had busied herself in talking to Gauri and Nitya.

"Daat kyu dikha rahe ho ?" ("Why are you showing your teeth ?") Om whispered asked.

"K.. kuch nahi O." ("N..nothing O.") Rudy blushed a bit.

"Aj kal bada sharma rahe ho Mr Rudra, kya baat hai ? Hume bhi toh batao." ("You're blushing a lot nowadays, what's the reason ? Tell me as well.") Om teased.

Rudy just blushed more making Om chuckle.

"Chalo Annika, Bhavya, mein tumhe tumhara room dikha deta hu." ("Come Annika, Bhavya, I'll show you both to your rooms.") Aryan smiled making Annika and Bhavya nod and follow him.

♠

Bhavya was just unpacking her stuff when a knock sounded on her bedroom door.

She mumbled a 'come in' and Annika walked inside with a stressed face on.

"Di ? Kya hua ? Aap itni stressed kyu lag rahi hai ?" ("Di ? What's wrong ? Why do you look so stressed ?") Bhavya frowned slightly. "Kisi ne kuch kaha aapse ?" ("Did someone say something to you ?")

Annika shook her head with a sigh and sat on Bhavya's bed.

"Kuch toh bolo di, kya hua ?" ("Say something di, what happened ?") Bhavya pushed again before placing a comforting hand on Annika's shoulder.

"Mujhe bahot tension ho rahi hai, Bhavu." ("I'm tensed, Bhavu.") Annika confessed. "Meine abhi tak Shivaay se maafi nahi mangi, agar unhone mujhe maaf nahi kiya toh ? Mujhse badla liya toh ?" ("I haven't yet apologized to Shivaay, what he doesn't forgive me ? What if he wants revenge ?")

Bhavya shook her head.

"Aisa kuch nahi hoga, di." ("That won't happen di.") She assured firmly. "Agar unhe badla lena hota toh woh apke liye goli nahi khaate." ("If he would have wanted revenge, he wouldn't have took bullet for you.") She stated.

Annika bit her lip.

"Di, Mr Oberoi bahot acche hai isiliye toh unhone apki jaan bachayi aur humari safety ke liye hume unke ghar mein rehne de rahe hai." ("Di, Mr Oberoi is a kind gentleman that's why he saved your life and for our safety he offered us to stay with him.") Bhavya said. "Aap jao aur unse sacche dil se maafi maango, I'm sure woh apko maaf kardenge." ("Go and seek forgiveness, I'm sure he'll forgive and forget.")

Annika exhaled loudly and nodded.

"Tu sahi bol rahi hai." ("You're right.") Annika said. "Mein abhi jaati hu aur unse maafi maang leti hu." ("I'll go right away and apologize to him.")

"Ok. All the Best di." Bhavya gave Annika a quick hug.

♦

Shivaay was sitting on his bed in his room. He was still feeling a bit light headed and tired but due to painkillers he wasn't in pain anymore.

"Khanna ! Khanna !" Shivaay yelled.

Just then Annika walked inside Shivaay bedroom.

"Khanna bhaiya, market gaye hai kuch kharidne." ("Khanna bhaiya has went to market to buy something.") Annika replied softly. "Kuch chahiye tha apko ?" ("Did you need anything ?")

"Annika tum aa gayi ?" ("Annika, you're here ?") Shivaay asked rhetorically. "Tumhe kuch chahiye ho ya koi problem hui toh bejhijhak mujhse kehna, tum humari mehman ho, tumhe koi pareshani nahi honi chahiye." ("If you need anything or if there's any problem you can come to me without any hesitation, you're our guest, your comfort is our priority.")

Annika smiled with a nod.

"Aao na, andar aao." ("C'mon inside.") Shivaay smiled back.

Annika walked beside Shivaay's bed.

There was silence for what felt like ages which was broken by Shivaay clearing his throat.

"Kuch...kaam tha tumhe mujhse ?" ("Did...did you need anything ?") Shivaay asked.

"Haan woh..." ("Yeah... actually...") Annika sucked in a deep breath. "...mujhe apko sorry bolna tha. Meine bina soche samjhe, bina sach ki teh tak jaye aap pe itna bada ilzaam lagaya, I'm sorry, I'm really very sorry, please mujhe maaf kar dijiye." ("...I wanted to apologize to you. Without any thoughts, without digging out the truth I accused you like that, I'm sorry, I'm really very sorry, please forgive me.")

A couple of tears slipped down Annika's cheeks.

"It's okay Annika." Shivaay replied. "Tum please ro mat, mujhe bura nahi laga. Galati toh insaan se hi hoti hai na, it's okay." ("Don't cry please, I'm not mad at you. To err is human, it's okay.")

Annika wiped her tears. "Toh aap gussa nahi hai ?" ("So you ain't mad at me ?")

A small smile appeared on Shivaay's lips. "Abhi gussa nahi hu, lekin agar tum aise hi roti rahi toh mein gussa ho jaunga." ("I'm not right now but I'll get upset if you continue to cry.")

Annika exhaled a smile with a small chuckle.

"Nahi, mein nahi ro rahi." ("No, I'm not crying.") Annika replied and quickly wiped off all the tears from her face. "See." She smiled.

Shivaay smiled back. "Good... Annika kya tum please mujhe mera laptop dogi ? Waha coffee table pe pada hai." ("Good...Annika will you please pass me my laptop ? It's on the coffee table there.") He requested.

"Laptop kis liye chahiye apko ?" ("Why do you need laptop ?") Annika furrowed her eyebrows with a frown.

"Woh meri aj important meeting hai." ("I've an important meeting to attend.") Shivaay replied casually and adjusted all the pillows and his duet to make some space for the laptop.

"Ji nahi." ("No way.") Annika replied and narrowed her eyes at Shivaay. "Aapko discharge diya hai, uska yeh matlab nahi hai ki aap bilkul thik hai. Apko 1 month complete rest karni hai. No meetings, no office, no calls." ("You're discharged from the hospital not cause you're absolutely fine. You need complete bedrest for a month. No meetings, no office, no calls.)

Shivaay frowned.

"I can't miss the meeting. And anyway I'm absolutely alright. C'mon give me my laptop." Shivaay narrowed his eyes at Annika too.

"I said no." Annika glared at Shivaay. "Jab tak aapke jakham bhar nahi jaate aur aap bilkul thik nahi ho jaate, apko mein koi kaam nahi karne dungi." ("Until and unless your wounds are healed and you get absolutely fit and fine, I won't let you work.")

"Tum hoti kaun ho mujhe orders dene wali ? Shivaay Singh Oberoi orders leta nahi, deta hai, samjhi ?" ("Who are you to order me like that ? Shivaay Singh Oberoi doesn't take orders from anyone, understand ?") Shivaay snapped.

"I'm a doctor. And as a doctor, I'll be watching over your health myself." Annika replied and without another word she collected Shivaay's laptop, mobile and tab and left the room.

"Annika ! Annika ! Bring my devices back !" Shivaay yelled after Annika but she had already left.

Shivaay grumbled under his breath.

"Bhai, aap kyu chilla rahe the ?" ("Bhai, why were you yelling ?") OmRuAritya came running inside Shivaay's room.

"Accha hua tum sab aa gaye." ("Good that you all came.") Shivaay said. "Woh Annika mere devices leke gayi hai, please woh sab wapas leke aao, meri important meeting miss ho jayegi." ("Annika has my devices, please bring them all back, I'll miss my important meeting.")

"What ?" Om mumbled.

"Annika di ne aapke devices seize kar diye ?" ("Annika di seized your devices ?") Rudy confirmed, trying his best to not laugh out loud.

"Yes." Shivaay grumbled.

"Wow." Aryan exhaled. "Jo kaam hum nahi kar paate woh Annika ne kar diya." ("Annika did what we couldn't have done.")

"Yes. Very good. Annika ne accha kiya verna toh Shivaay aaram hi nahi karta." ("Yes. Very good. Annika did the right thing or else Shivaay won't get proper rest.") Nitya agreed.

"Haan aur hum chahe kuch bhi kar le, bhai kabhi bhi apne office ka kaam nahi band karte." ("And no matter what we do, bhai wouldn't have stopped doing his office work.") Om added.

"Om tu bhi ?" ("Om, you too ?") Shivaay amused, and looked at Rudy for support.

"Meri taraf mat dekho, mein bhi inhi ki side hu." ("Don't look at me, I second them too.") Rudy replied.

"Tum sab bik gaye ho, ab meri side kaun lega ?" ("You all have changed sides, who'll support me now ?") Shivaay made a crying face.

"Koi bhi nahi. Ab aapko sirf aur sirf aaram karna hai aur jald se jald thik hona hai." ("No one. Now you'll take rest and will get well soon.") Rudy said and made Shivaay lie down on his back.

OmRuAritya left with smiles on their faces, leaving behind a grumpy Shivaay.

♣

Rudy was just lying on his bed while checking Bhavya's instagram when he was disturbed by a knock on his door.

Rudy quickly closed the app on his phone and sat up. "Come in." He yelled.

The door slowly opened and Bhavya walked inside with a smile.

"Hi Rudra." Bhavya waved.

"H..hi." Rudy stuttered. "Aao na, baitho. Welcome to my bedroom." ("Come in, sit. Welcome to my room.") He smiled.

"Thank you." Bhavya chuckled and sat before Rudy on his bed. "Actually..I need a favor."

Rudy nodded, encouraging her to go on.

"Woh meine abhi abhi college join kiya hai na toh mujhe kuch notes chahiye the." ("I have joined college just today so I need your notes.") Bhavya told. "Agar tum busy nahi ho toh kya tum mujhe notes ke sath thoda maths bhi pada doge ? Please." ("And if you're not busy will you also teach me some maths ? Please.")

"Arey please kya ? Tum meri friend ho, meri mehmaan ho, anything for you." ("Hey don't say please. You're my friend and also my guest, anything for you.") Rudy replied and went to his desk to get all the notes.

Bhavya followed Rudy towards the desk and took some books from his hand.

To make some space for Rudy to walk back towards the bed, Bhavya took a couple of steps backward and accidentally stepped on Rudy's rollarskates.

Rudy was walking towards the bed.

Bhavya tried to step forward but she rolled on the rollarskates towards Rudy.

Unable to stop the rollarskates, she yelled. "Rudra, move aside !"

Rudy turned around to face Bhavya and just then Bhavya banged into him making him fall on his back while she landed on the top of him.

Now Rudy was lying on the floor while Bhavya was lying on her front on Rudy. Their faces were inches apart from each other.

Bhavya opened her eyes ever so slowly only to find Rudy's eyes boring into hers.

They both were lost in each other's eyes yet again.

No matter how many times they tried to take their eyes off of each other, they failed.

After a minute, a paper softly landed on Rudy's face and Ruvya's trance was broken.

As soon as senses returned to Ruvya, Bhavya stood up abruptly and helped Rudy stand on his feet too.

Both of them blushed and couldn't meet each other's eye. Rudy slowly burst into chuckles and Bhavya couldn't help but do the same.

"I'm sorry." Bhavya said after a moment.

"No harm done." Rudy smiled and started picking up his books which had fell off with him.

Bhavya too started collecting all the stuff and after a while they both settled on Rudy's bed to study together.

The study session had numerous moments where both of them stole secret glances at each other and just adored each other's features.

The flower of love had started blooming and it was just a matter of time before it blossomed to its fullest.

♥

One month later...

Shivaay strapped his watch on his wrist before looking at his reflection in the mirror with a satisfactory smile.

A lot had changed in this one month and the reason behind this change was none other than the Rathore sisters.

Oberoi villa was now more of a home than just a bunglow.

Annika and Bhavya had given the real meaning to the O'bros home.

Annika had taken charge of Oberoi villa from the 2nd week itself. She took it on herself to discipline the O'bros (not that O'bros were undisciplined but they had some weird typical boys' habits which Annika wished to change) and took care of Shivaay alongside.

While Bhavya made sure the house was kept clean and everything was in its place and looked after the payments of the daily expenses.

O'bros had become accustomed to the Rathore sisters would be an understatement cause O'bros had become completely dependent on them.

For example, Shivaay now yelled for Annika if he didn't find his socks or tie instead of calling Bansi kaka to find it for him.

Om now told Bhavya what he wanted for dinner beforehand instead of the chef.

Rudra now spent his evenings with his Annika di and shared everything with her and seeked her advice if needed.

Shivaay and Annika had now become friends but they still bickered over small things time and again.

They were like Tom and Jerry who cannot live without each other and at the same time cannot stand each other.

As stated, Annika had made Shivaay take proper rest for an entire month.

Now after a month, Shivaay's wounds were completely healed (all thanks to Annika's love and care) and he was allowed to attend the office.

"Finally..." Shivaay said to his reflection in the mirror. "...finally aap apke office jaa rahe hai Mr Shivaay Singh Oberoi, pure ek mahine baad." ("...finally your going to office after an entire month Mr Shivaay Singh Oberoi.")

"Shiv-" Annika walked in to see Shivaay already ready in his suit and stopped in mid sentence. "Yeh kya, aap ready bhi ho gaye ?" ("You're all ready ?")

"Yes." Shivaay smirked. "I'm excited to go to office."

"Nice." Annika commented and adjusted the pocket square (the lil silk handkerchief peeking out of Shivaay's blazer pocket) before smiling up at him.

Shivaay smiled back at her after mumbling a quick 'thanks'.

"Office jaate jaate mujhe bhi chhod denge ? Mera office raste mein hi aayega." ("Will you drop me to my office too ? My office is on your way.") Annika asked.

"Sure. Chalo chalte hai." ("Sure. Let's go.") Shivaay smiled.

Shivaay and Annika sat in Shivaay's suv and Shivaay started driving them both towards their office respectively.

Annika still worked as a reporter in the same channel house which was owned by Shivaay.

On the way, Annika saw a school van on the roadside and realised that it's tire was punctured.

Annika made Shivaay stop their car and asked Shivaay to help the van driver.

Shivaay asked the van driver what the problem was and got to know that the driver didn't have tools to replace the tire and hence he was stranded on the road with all the school kids getting late for the school.

Shivaay offered to lend the tools which he had in his car and the driver gladly accepted it.

Shivaay opened the trunk of his car to retrieved the tools but his eyes went wide when he saw what was inside the trunk.

"Shivaay jaldi kariye, itni der kyu lag rahi hai apko ?" ("Shivaay be quick, what's taking you so long ?") Annika asked after chatting with the kids in the van.

When she didn't get any reply, she walked upto Shivaay and followed his eyes to see what had left Shivaay so astonished.

When Annika's eyes landed in the trunk, she too became speechless and wordlessly stared at whatever it was inside the trunk.

Both, Shivika, looked at each other with same amused faces before turning towards the trunk once again.

-----------------------------

Hey bubblies !

Bum bum bum !
Aren't the cliffhangers fun ?
😂😂😂

I hadn't planned a cliffhanger here but when I realised I could give a cliffhanger, I thought why not ?

Ok, don't hate me for that.

The next chapter will be based on most awaited subject... Reunion of Oberoi's !

So stay tuned and don't get mad, alright ? ALRIGHT ?

Good. 😁

Until the next update,
Have a safe and great life 😇