New York

Vineet calls Anamika to wish her for her birthday. It's midnight in India, while it's just 3 PM in the afternoon in New York. It's lunch time in the boutique and so Vineet made a quick call. How ends up the call and turns to find his mother looking at him.

"What happened mom?" he asks.

"I was just waiting for you to end the call Vineet." She says.

Vineet looks at her. He's fearful that she might have seen that he's calling to India. He can't risk it letting anger engulf her. His trance is broken by Devika's words.

"I'm going for a meeting, Vineet. And I want you to handle the boutique in my Absence. There might be some clients, so you can either ask them to wait or you can give them an appointment. " She says.

Vineet sighs. He could go for the meeting, but he forgets that only his mom knows what's to be talked in the meeting. He can stay indoors and manage clients. His expressions didn't go unnoticed by Devika.

"You'll get to handle the whole thing, Vineet. Because this business will be handled by you in the future." She says.

"You're gonna push me into this business? Noo!" he says.

Devika laughs.

"You will, Vineet. I mean you will handle the meetings and clients. And the inner work will be done by my team. You just need to supervise them." She says.

He nods his head in affirmation. He might not have knowledge of fashion, but he can gain it and, moreover, it's his duty to take forward what his mother has set up for him. He knows that this is the dream of both his parents. He has heard Devika telling him that how his father wanted to fulfill her wishes, but could not. Life snatched him away from her, that also in those days when she was pregnant. That's the reason when her son was born, she named him on  name of her late husband. Vineet smiles at his mother and nods affirmatively. Devika smiles and leaves the office.

Vineet takes a check around the office. The staff is busy with their respective jobs. He moves to his desk and turns on the laptop. He checks the mails, there's none, so he can do some personal work. He tracks something on his phone and smiles.

"You'll be so much surprised, honey!" he murmurs to himself.

Meanwhile, there is a customer and he gets busy with his work.

*****

India, Singhaniya Villa

It's morning and the birds are chirping. But the only birdie of the house is fast asleep. Her father is watching her from her door. She locks the room  but her father keeps a spare key, so that he can wake her up in the morning or take a silent glimpse of his princess.

"Why are you standing here? Go and wake her up!" it's Naina, who came by his side.

"Shh! Can you speak slowly, naina? She's sleeping." Rajveer scolds her.

"Arey! It's 8 already. It's her birthday and we have to go to the temple. Papa will also not have breakfast without her."Naina says.

"It's her birthday. Let her sleep na!" Raj says.

Naina glares at him at which Rajveer purses his lips and walks towards his daughter's bed. The girl is sleeping soundly with a smile on her face. He settles beside her and ruffles her hair.

"Ana, wake up." he calls her softly.

Anamika grimaces and tosses on the bed in her sleep.

"Let me sleep, dad. There are no classes." She says.

Rajveer smiles.

" Yeah I know! But we have to go to the  temple. Wake up! Otherwise your mom will scold both of us."  he says.

Anamika opens her eyes and looks at her father, who makes an innocent face.

" Mum always keeps on scolding. All mums are like that. They don't let us do anything. His mom doesn't let him go anywhere and same is mine. " She says making a face.

Rajveer raises  his eyebrows at her .

" Who? Whose this guy?" he asks.

Anamika realises what she spoke. She meant Vineet as his mom isn't letting him come to India. She feels her father's intense gaze on herself.

"dad! I have a friend in New York. He's my classmate. I was talking about him. His mom still considers him as a kid."  She says covering up.

" she's right. You guys grow up, but for parents, especially moms, you'll always be little kids." It's Naina who enters the room.

Anamika looks at her and Naina smiles.

" But you let me go! Why?  And you didn't even come up to meet him. Only dad came, that too, twice." Anamika asks.

Naina kisses her forehead and cups her face.

" Yeah! Because it was for your good. How could I stop your father. After all, all he did was for your good. "  She says.

Anamika nods her head like a small kid while Naina pats her cheek and asks her to get ready. She agrees and hops down the bed, straight into the washroom. Naina settles her things and makes the bed.

" You never wanted to let her go. Then why did you say that?" Rajveer asks while reminding Naina of her words.

Naina looks at her.

"When did you hear me Raj? Tell me, remind me of that one moment,when you heard me?  When you took me seriously? Never!" She says glancing at him.

Rajveer falls silent. He doesn't know what to say. Also, his wife is right. He never heard her.

"You didn't hear me 25 years ago, Raj. I tried explaining, but you didn't listen. You had your stupid ego in between. Also, you didn't ask me when you decided to send Ana to New York. So, it was always about your good, not mine." Naina says sternly and leaves the room.

She certainly reminded him of some incident which brought sadness for Rajveer and  rage for both of them. He sighs. Meanwhile, he hears the click sound of the washroom door. He asks her to come soon and leaves the room.

On the other hand, Anamika is left in thoughts. She heard what her mom was saying. But she doesn't know the reality. She's standing in front of the mirror and thinking.

"Why is mum angry with dad?  What happened! But no one tells me anything." She pouts to herself.

Meanwhile, she hears Naina calling her and she shushes herself for over thinking and  finishes dressing up and rushes down the stairs. As she reaches in the dining space, one servant gives her a big parcel. She's astonished, but opens it, and the contents of the package leave her surprised.

*****

New York

The day passes in a blur. Devika and Vineet return home. She's is elated that her meeting is successful and Vineet also managed the office well. She's happy.

"I'm glad, you decided to join me." She says as Vineet gets two cups of coffee for her and himself.

"That's what I am supposed to do Maa. After all,it's yours and dad's dream." He says.

She smiles.

"Yeah! Your dad didn't fulfill his promises."  Devika says turning emotional.

" I'll do them for you, Maa." he says softly holding her hands.

Devika smiles and looks up at him.

"I know. You'll do all that is left unfulfilled, Vineet. It's a list of long 25 years."  She says.

Vineet looks at her, and Devika says something that leaves him surprised.

To Be Continued.

About which incident is Naina talking about?

What's in the surprise package for Anamika?

And what left Vineet surprised?

Stay tuned.

Anamika_anu I hope you like this. ❤️❤️