Kya Pyaar Karoge Mujhse....

Chapter 22- Everything Will Be Fine

"You have twelve meetings next week and seventeen the after that. That's twenty-nine meetings. You want all their documents?" Eva asked with surprise.

"I know and yes, I want all of them. Everything. Files, documents, research papers, menus, catalogues, lists, everything. Mail me or send them through Noah." Annika said referring to her latest employee.

"Okay...I will in an hour, bye!" Eva said and Annika could hear her apprehension before she cut the call. She knew why Eva seemed so tensed about her.

Annika had never worked from home or took any work home because that time was Shivi time, family time. She hardly answered work related calls after six pm as she wanted to spend ample time with her whole family and suddenly she was asking for so much work to do from home!

The reason was simple, she needed to be distracted or her mind would eat her alive while thinking about so many Oberois, specially a blue-eyed monster that featured in both, her dreams and her nightmares. Sleep forgotten, she got up and wandered around the apartment, trying to find something to do but in vain.

Everything was spick and span; she and Shivi had done it before leaving. She had thought to order some dinner for tonight as she had no energy to cook but right now she was in the kitchen, a colourful apron around her waist and rummaging through the refrigerator for ingredients for a simple and quick pasta with her favourite vegetables and Shivi's favourite white sauce. She was in the middle of cutting some bell peppers when her phone pinged with a message. It was Noah informing her that he was outside the door. She had told him to message her when he reached instead of ringing the bell as Shivi was still asleep. Wiping her hands on the apron, she quickly went to the door and took the small bag from her employee. After offering him some water, she took the bag into the living room and went on to finish her cooking.

While the pasta boiled, her mind inevitably reeled with the conversations she had had with her former family. Shivaay's strange behaviour; at first he seemed hopeful, then sad, then his face mirrored that of a heartbroken man and when she saw him last time, he looked defeated but calm nonetheless. She couldn't understand the meaning of all that. She had expected that he will ask her to come back but was relieved when he didn't. But her heart still wept for him, for them. Then she remembered the happy faces of Rudra, Soumya and Omkara, the excited face of Om's new wife Gauri. She had seemed very eager to know about her alleged bhabhiji, as if Annika was some long lost princess of an illustrious kingdom. She remembered Dadi's inaudible blessings, Jhanvi Aunty's joyful expressions while she told them about her journey. She remembered the love she saw in their eyes, the pride they all had, even Tej Singh Oberoi and Shakti Singh Oberoi. Although she hadn't talked much to them, which she kind of regretted now, she could still feel the positive vibes they sent, the silent support they had for her.

Where was all this love and support when you actually needed it?

Her mind cried and she shook her head, gulping away the sudden tears.

"Stop it Annika, what's the need to think all this?" She mumbled to herself. "Nothing matters now; it's all in the past. The last four years are the past; the last three days are the past. Focus on today."

Sighing, she quickly busied herself in the files as soon as she finished making dinner. Taking out the first file, she quickly worked on it, making lists, purchases and a few calls. Her mind was working so quickly that she finished a week's worth of work in flat two hours.

"Damn it!" She cursed as she finished the last file of this week. She had planned and prepared for five weddings, three birthday parties, two annual parties and two bachelor parties in one hundred and twenty minutes.

Shaking her head, she went to her room where Shivi was still asleep. It was six-fifteen already and if Shivi slept more the she wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

"Shivi, baccha." Annika cooed as she lied beside her daughter, cuddling her softly. "Get up baby, Mumma made pasta!"

"Mmm, my favourite!" Shivi mumbled in her sleep and Annika chuckled.

"Yes, your favourite pasta! Get up now!" She said softly and removed a few hairs from her daughter's face when Shivi frowned slightly in her sleep.

"Not pasta, my favourite is Mumma!" Shivi mumbled again and Annika's heart beat loudly at the sheer love she could hear in her daughter's voice, for her.

She loves me even in her sleep! How could that anyone could separate us?

"You are my favourite too darling and I love you so much! Today, I got the greatest gift of my life. Now I have you, Sahil, Aryan, Vikram, Siddharth, Sonakshi and a new baby, who are going to be mine forever! Oh I am so lucky! I will always be with you, will protect you, and will care for you. I will never, ever let you cry, I promise." She whispered. As she felt Shivi come closer to her, she chuckled.

I think I am going to be fine.

Hugging her daughter tightly, she let her tears flow freely for once.