Several days elapse. It’s a fine day and Ishika is getting ready for the day. It’s a big day for her; her designs will become a reality. Well, Anamika has already given her consent, and now they’ll need to try them. She has designed an ethnic range for both men and women and the other one consists of one-piece floor-length gowns. The fashion show that Anamika is organising will showcase all kinds of dresses and there’ll be an exhibition where people can buy the same dresses.

Ishika is a little scared at the moment. She finishes combing her hair, picks up her files, handbag, and phone, and walks out of her room. She finds the housemaid setting the table for breakfast. Before she can ask about her sisetting upster and her husband, Anamika walks out of her room and smiles warmly at her.

“All ready?” Anamika asks and she nods.

“Yeah, lekin mujhe darr lag raha hai.” Ishika says it, while looking at her.

“Kyun? Tumne itni mehnat ki hai, aaj toh tumhe apni mehnat fabric pe dekhne ko milegi. Aur ab toh saare designs ready bhi ho gaye hai.” Anamika says cheerfully.

“Aap sahi keh rahi ho, Di, lekin fir bhi, pata nahi jo bhi maine design kiya hai, vo kaisa lagega?” Ishika expresses her fear.

“Vo acha hi hai. Maine approve kiya hai na, phir tu kyun pareshan ho rahi hai? Aaj hum designs final karenge jo hume fashion show mein showcase karne hai. Models ko final karna hai. Aur haan, tu Naman ko call karegi aur uske time ke hisab se usey office bula lena.” Anamika says counting the tasks and instructing Ishika.

“Huh, main kyun karun? Aap hi kar lo, Di.” Ishika makes a face.

“Mujhe aur bhi kaam hai, Ishu. Chal abhi nashta kar, phir office chalenge toh raaste se usko call kar lena.” Anamika says and makes her sit for breakfast.

Ishika’s first trimester has ended. She’s surely carrying a baby for Anamika and Vineet and she’s super happy. The couple are taking a very good care of her. Meanwhile, Vineet comes out of the room and reminds them that they have an appointment with Dr Anjali on Sunday.

“Mujhe yaad hai, jeeju. Main aur Di Sunday ko jayenge. Dr Anjali keh rahi thi, agar possible hua toh vo unke ghar mein jo clinic hai, vahan check up kar lengi.” Ishika assures him.

“Acha thik hai, mera matlab hai ki tum dono bhool mat jana. Meri toh shooting hai toh main nahi aa paunga. I am  sorry.” Vineet apologises while looking at his wife and Ishika.

“Vineet, tumhe aana chahiye, maine kaha tha na tumhe.” Anamika says, reminding him about something.

“I know, Ana, lekin us din long shoot hai, main bhi aana chahta hoon, lekin possible nahi hai.” Vineet says, trying to convince his wife.

“Fine, par next appointment pe tum hamare sath chaloge.” Anamika glares at him and he nods.

“Aww, you’re so cute, Jeej! Baby ko itna busy mat banana aap.” She says this, keeping her hand on her belly.

“Pehle baby ko aane toh do, tum toh abhi se na jaane kitni planning karke baithi ho.” Vineet teases her.

“Han toh, aapko kya problem hai? Main kuch bhi plan karun, aap ko involve nahi karungi main, haan!” Ishika says it teasingly.

“Arey, main kya karunga akele?” He makes a face.

“Aap! Aap cooking karna. Di kehti hai ki aap achcha khana bana lete ho. Baby ko papa ke hath ke khana pasand aayega.” Ishika says it teasingly.

Vineet glares at her playfully, but Ishika giggles. Meanwhile, Anamika breaks her silence. She’s been looking at them and bantering about the baby who’s yet to come.

“Abhi argue karna band karo tum dono. Baby ko aane mein time hai abhi. Tab tak mujhe pareshan nahi karo. Chalo nashta karo.” She instructs them.

The three of them have breakfast together, after which Vineet leaves for his shoot while Anamika and Ishika leave for their office.

*****
The sisters reach the office and Ishika sets the things on a table in the corner of the cabin. Since she joined the office with Anamika, she has changed the settings of a few things in her sister’s cabin. She has placed a table across Anamika’s work desk where they keep their handbags, which they carry to the office and any other things that they need to carry home. She’s arranged the couches and armchairs in one corner. The desk has now two chairs as they work from this very cabin.

The staff of the boutique are in awe of the relationship that Ishika shares with their boss. They know the accident that happened with Anamika and how she ended up in Anamika’s house. Yeah, there are some people who don’t like this because they think that Ishika is taking advantage of her condition, which is wrong. But no one dares to say this in front of Anamika.

As they settle in the cabin, the manager informs them that all the designs have arrived and they should check them. Anamika glances at Ishika and asks her to check the designs since she’d understand them better. Ishika is overwhelmed; she wants Anamika to check them out, but on her insistence, they both enter the room where all the designs are showcased and kept.

Ishika is in awe of the designs that have come. Her eyes fall on the lavender-shaded sherwani. The fabric has a touch of velvet and it looks beautiful and serene to the eyes.

“I just can’t believe that I have designed it. This is so beautiful, Di.” Ishika chuckles.

“I knew! This will be the dress for the show stopper. Tune Naman ko call kiya?” Anamika asks as they look at other designs as well.

“Uska phone nahi lag raha tha toh maine message chhod diya hai.” Ishika informs.

It takes them an hour until they finish checking the designs. Anamika is satisfied and Ishika is super excited, to see her own designs in front of her. It’s the first time that her designs will be launched nationally and Anamika has even thought of a name for the ethnic ranges. Ishika is surprised to see the nametags as Anamika shows it to her.

“Mosaic by Ishika”

Ishika is so overwhelmed at the moment and she looks at Anamika and holds her hands. She’s emotional as well.

“Thanks, Di, for believing in me. Sach mein, agar aap nahi hoti toh ye sab kabhi possible nahi hota. Yahi sapna lekar toh main Mumbai aayi thi, lekin phir na jaane kitni saari cheezein ho gayi.”

“Meri mumma mujhe hamesha ke liye chhod ke chali gayi, lekin mujhe tum mil gayi, Di. Literally, I am living my dream with you. Bhagwan ne mujhse meri asli family chheen li, toh ek aur family bhi di, and I am thankful for that. Aur sabse zyada, tum wajah ho ki main yahan hoon.” Ishika says it emotionally.

Yeah, for a girl from a small town, working with a star designer like Anamika is certainly a dream. Circumstances and incidents have brought Anamika and Ishika together and now they have formed a small family. Anamika understands her plight and wipes the tears that are trickling down her face.

“Main jaanti hoon tum kaisa feel kar rahi ho. Ye pal meri zindagi mein bhi aaya tha. Aur ab tumhari zindagi mein bhi aaya hai. Maine kaha tha na, Ishu, jin logon ko milna hota hai, aur jinke bhagya jude hote hai, vo zaroor milte hai. Aur han, khud ko akela mat samajhna, main hoon na, tere sath, hamesha.” Anamika tries to convince Ishika, who in turn hugs her, for she finds solace in her arms.

The two ladies are oblivious to a familiar presence in the office. It’s Naman, who has just witnessed the sweet moment that these two ladies share. He enters the cabin, taking the ladies by surprise, and says something that leaves the two ladies touched.

To Be Continued.

What did Naman say?

Stay tuned.