Friday morning saw Rudra squeezing fresh orange juice and Bhavya making a huge batch of her special Bhavya-Style Egg Bhurji while the RiKara got the KiddOs ready. Shivaay got ready first since he would be dropping the kids to school and then leave for office directly. Everyone, except Jhanvi, Shakti and Shivani arrived at the dining table for breakfast.

"Ramesh, Jhanvi ka breakfast room mein bhijwa do." Tej told one of the staff members.

"Is mom okay?" Om asked.

"Haan, bas thodi weakness lag rahi thi so I told her to rest upstairs." Tej informed and Om nodded, making a mental note to check on his mother after breakfast.

"Shivani kahan hain hain?" Shivaay asked.

"Yahaan hain." Her voice came from the staircase. Shakti was slowly walking towards the dining table, holding the handrail with one hand and Shivani holding the other.

Shivaay immediately pulled a chair and went to take Shakti's hand. "Dad aap neeche kyoon aaye?! Dialysis hua hain na, aapko rest karna chahiye."

Shakti waved a hand dismissively. "Arey dialysis toh har teesre din hota rehta hain. Likin meri pyaari si poti, aur pyaare se pote ke saath naashta karne ko roz thodi hi milta hain."

"Dadaji, aapko pata hain aap mujhe kabhi bhi bulayenge toh main immediately aa jaaoongi." Shivani reminded, making Shakti smile fondly at her.

Pinky scoffed. "Achha? Tumhari maa tumhe ya tumhare bhai ko uske weeks mein yahaan aane dengi?"

"Mom!" Shivaay whispered yelled, to which Pinky twisted her mouth and took a sip of her juice. Shivani lowered her eyes, taking larger than usual bite of her toast to hide the discomfort she felt from Pinky's words.

Shakti clicked his tongue while Tej rolled his eyes. Taking a jab at their ex-daughter-in-law was a part of Pinky's daily routine. But she didn't have to say it in front of the little girl.

Sensing the rising tensions, Gauri spoke "Bacchon harharaike khaana kha lo. Rubi beta, tumri... oo ka kehte hain... drama club ki practice hain na aaj saam ko?"

"Theatre club, badi maa." Rubina corrected.

"Haan, theatre club. Rudy bhaiya tumko saam ko school se pick kar lenge. Humne tumhare liye ek paratha roll aur juice Tiffin mein de Diya hain." Gauri told her.

Rubina grinned. "Thank you Badi Maa! Now let's see who or what stops me from getting the lead role."

"Come on kids, get in the car. We don't want to be late." Shivaay ushered the KiddOs towards the car.

Since it was his Shivaay Sir's duty to drop the kids off today, Khanna was the one driving. The drive to school was a silent one since Shivaay wasn't big on radio, except the occasional chatter between the kids. They arrived and kids ran towards their classes, quickly wishing Shivaay goodbye.

Shivani stopped for a second and turned around to see Shivaay looking at them as they rushed to class.

"Raahil, tum chalo, main aati hoon." Shivani said.

"Papa!"

Shivaay, who was about to get in the car, stoped hearing his daughter's voice. Shivani jogged back to Shivaay and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead.

"Have a great day at school, sweetheart."

"You too, have a great day in office. See you next week."

Shivaay (unwillingly) broke the hug and Shivani went inside the school building.

'Just one week. It would be over soon.' Shivaay told himself. He got in the car and put his sunglasses. "Khanna, office."

~~~~

"Man mast magan, Man mast magan Bas tera naam dohraye. Man mast magan, Man mast magan Bas tera naam dohraye."

Shivani entered the class and saw Raahil, Aman, Ayesha and Faizan sitting on their seats. Raahil and Ayesha were singing as the music played from one of their phones while Aman and Faizan rhythmically tapped the table. Shivani set her bag down and began to dance the music.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"That's the way to make an entrance!" Aman commented.

"That singing is the way to start the morning... and end the week." Shivani stated as she took her seat.

"Javed sir is down with viral, he won't take class this weekend so we thought we'll get some practice in." Ayesha informed.

"Jam session? Okay. But if Javed Sir heard us call this "practice", we'll be doing riyaaz all of next week." Raahil pointed out, making Ayesha laugh but agree.

"Point. Though I think the "ishq ki dhooni" should go like "i~shq ki dhoo~ni"-

"You make me glo-o-o-ow, but I cover up won't let it sho-o-o-ow!"

Their singing session got cut off as a girl in back began to sing. While the rest of the class turned their heads towards her, the two pairs of siblings rolled their eyes.

"So I'm PUTTING MY DEFENCES UP! 'Cause I don't wanna fall in LOVE! If I ever did that, I think I'd have a HEART ATTACK!"

"Please have one." Ayesha murmured spitefully.

Faizan was about to ask her who the Pseudo-Demi Lovato was but the teacher came in, ceasing all singing, dancing and paper-ball-notebook cricket.

Four lectures later, lunch hour rolled around. The friends made their way to cafeteria. Faizan stopped back to talk to history teacher. He then headed out the door when someone knocked into him.

"Excuse me." Faizan said steadying himself.

"Excused." The person, who Faizan identified as Pseudo-Demi Lovato, sneered and walked away, not before rolling her eyes. Faizan scoffed as he joined his friends in the cafeteria, their lunch trays on the table.

"Why the sour mood?" Shivani asked.

"Bumped into Pseudo Demi Lovato." Faizan grumbled.

"Pseudo Demi Lovato?" Raahil asked.

"That other girl who was singing in the morning. Was rude for no reason." Faizan explained.

"Rude is her middle name." Ayesha scoffed as she stabbed her fork into the vegetables and aggressively took a bite.

"Who is she though? Oh and I got pesto pasta. Have some." Faizan asked and pulled his lunch box out.

The friends dug into Faizan's lunch while Raahil offered Faizan the school lunch of Mix Veg, Dal, Rice and Roti, and Shivani answered his question.

"She's Vini. Vini Vikram Thappar."

"Vikram Thappar? As in the Tech Giant Vikram Aditya Thappar?"

"Yup."

"But why the bitterness?"

Shivani laced her fingers and leaned forward. "Okay, story time, actually a little bit more of back story, Vini's dad is my mom's ex... and her mom is my dad's ex."

Faizan's jaw dropped while the others nodded in confirmation.

"No... way!"

"Yeah, humara bhi same reaction tha." Raahil said, taking a bite of his food.

"Is that why you guys have a tiff?" Faizan asked.

Shivani shook her head "No, not really, we learned this info long after things went sour between us. Anyway, back to our story: Vini joined the school in 6th grade. Back then we were all good friends. Ash, she and I were especially close, in fact we called ourselves "NiNiSha"."

Faizan raised an eyebrow. "NiNiSha?"

"Vini ka Ni, Shivani ka Ni and Ayesha ka Sha. NiNiSha." Aman explained.

Shivani continued, "Then last year Vini started hanging out with other students, seniors, the more "popular kids", leaving us out. We could come to terms with that but then started talking behind our backs, spreading gossip and even sabotaging our presentations and projects."

"Yah Allah! Likin kyoon?"

"Because there's only one top spot and she wants it. In everything. Which we understand, we're all ambitious and want to be best. But we work hard, we push ourselves, we do not make below the belt moves." Raahil snarled.

"Guys, Snake and the Charmer at 3'o'clock." Aman informed and hid his face behind his hand.

The four, from the corner of their eyes, looked towards Aman'a right. Vini walked into the cafeteria, her arms wrapped around a senior's arm and two  other girls were trailing behind them.

The five turned their gaze back their food.

"I'm gonna be sick." Ayesha mumbled and mimicked gagging.

"Who is that now?" Faizan asked.

"Ishaan Khurana. Cultural Secretary." Shivani replied.

"And do we hate him by association or..."

"That jerk is Ayesha'a ex." Aman revealed and Ayesha nodded in confirmation.

Faizan's eyes widened. "Why!?"

"Why I dated him? Why we broke up? Or why would he date her?" Ayesha asked.

"All of the above."

"He asked me out last year, when he was Head of Music Club. We dated for 3 months before he realised being with a classical music student wasn't as cool being with basically a rockstar." Ayesha explained, pushing the last bit of food around her tray.

"He didn't deserve you and you know that." Raahil told Ayesha.

Shivani huffed angrily, crossing her arms. "He toh doesn't even deserve your chappal. Which, now that I think of, tumhe phaink ke maarni chahiye thi use."

"... don't give me ideas." Ayesha playfully warned. The two best friends laughed and gave each other a high-five.

"So that's the deal with our one and only nemesis." Shivani concluded.

Faizan nodded slowly.

"Too much to handle?" Raahil asked, forwarding Faizan a glass of water, which he gladly took a sip from.

"Actually... no, I get it. I've had people befriend me because of my dad's connections and also hate me for the same reason."

"Same brother, same." Aman patted Faizan's shoulder and the others nodded in agreement.

"That's also why we keep our group small and closed now." Ayesha informed.

"Then I consider myself very fortunate." Faizan said and dramatically bowed.

"As you should. Also, just letting you know, if you hurt one of us, the other three will delete your existence." Shivani said with a scarily sweet smile.

"Duly noted!" Faizan acknowledged.

The five picked their lunch trays, put them in the wash area and headed out. On the way out, Shivani tripped over something and nearly fell but Raahil caught her.

"Watch where you're going!" Vini yelled in her unmistakable high pitched voice. Shivani realised she had tripped over Vini's foot.

"Vini, you stopped sticking your neck out for us long ago. How about you don't stick your foot out either." Shivani demanded sardonically .

Vini scoffed. "Excuse you, Shivani, you got in the way of my foot."

"Achha? Yeh passage tumhari Bua ka hain jo tum pair taan ke baithi ho?" Shivani questioned.

"What's that language? Mind your manners!" Vini thundered.

Shivani laughed. "Funny. Tum manners ki baat karte hue bahot funny lagti ho."

Vini smirked. "Oh right, you wouldn't know about manners. Your parents probably forgot to split custody of those."

"Mere parents pe mat jao Vini." Shivani warned.

"Or what? You're gonna complain to "mommy"? Or is it "daddy" this week?" Vini sneered.

"You..." Shivani stepped towards Vini, palm closed in a fist but Ayesha held her back.

"Chhod Shivi, let's just go from here." Ayesha insisted, pulling Shivani away.

"Haan haan, just walk away. That's what "mommy" and "daddy" did too. Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the rotten tree." Vini sniggered, giving a high-five to Ishaan.

Splash! A glass of water splashed on Vini's face, thrown by Shivani. Vini gasped as her group, and Shivani's, cupped their mouth in shock. Shivani glared at Vini as she wiped the water from her face.

"How DARE YOU!" Vini screamed as she picked up her lunch tray and threw it on Shivani.

"Ah!" Shivani shrieked as the tray hit her face.

The two lunged towards each other, pulling hair and collar. Raahil held Shivani back and Ishaan held Vini.

"YOU BOTH!" The head boy yelled and approached them. Raahil and Ishaan let go of Shivani and Vini. "Both of you to the principal's office. Right now."

Shivani and Vini looked at their respective friends, worry evident on their faces, before following the head boy, Aryan Kapoor-Mehra, to the Principal's office.

"Phail gaya raita!" Shivani thought.

Anika's cabin
Bandra

Anika was working on her laptop when she got a call.

"Hello, Anika Trivedi speaking... yes... she... what?! Yes, yes I'm on my way."

Anika quickly packed up her things and called her driver.

Within ten minutes, Anika was in the parents lounge of St Paul's International School.

"Excuse me, I was called here." A woman wearing yellow off-shoulder dress and oversized sunglasses called out.

"Ma'am aapka naam?" A peon asked.

"You don't know me!?" The woman shrieked. The peon merely shook his head.

"Ragini. Mrs Ragini Vikramaditya Thappar." Ragini told the peon, removing her sunglasses.

'Oh you got to be kidding me!" Anika thought to herself. She took a deep breath before getting up and facing Ragini, putting on her best fake-smile.

"Hello Ragini." Anika greeted as politely as she could.

"Hello Anika." Ragini, too, greeted her with her best fake-smile.

"Ma'am, aap dono principal ma'am ke cabin jaa sakte hain." The peon informed.

The two women made their way into the principal's office.

Inside, the principal was seated on her chair while the two girls stood beside the table, eyes downcast and hands behind their backs.

Vini's hair and shirt were damp and her kajal, or mascara, was running down her face while Shivani's shirt was stained with food splatters and a swelling was present on her cheekbone.

"Ms Trivedi, Mrs Thappar, please have a seat." The principal said, pointing to the two chairs in front of her.

The women sat down, eyeing their daughters.

"As you were informed on the phone, your daughters, Shivani and Vini, engaged in a physical fight in the cafeteria situated in the senior block. The fight was witnessed by the multitude of students present at the time and had to broken up by our head boy. Mr Trivedi, Mrs Thappar, as you and your daughters would be aware, such indecorous and contentious behaviour is unacceptable." The principal announced.

"Ma'am but Shivani threw water on me first!" Vini accused.

"And you, in turn, threw a lunch tray at her Ms Thappar?" The principal pointed out, instantly silencing Vini.

The principal sighed and shook her head. "Outrageous behaviour! You both  are seniors, soon you'll be out in the real world. Your behaviour will be the testimony of your character and morals. In this school, you are expected to lead your juniors by example. This is the example you are setting?" The principal reprimanded them. She took a paper with school letterhead and signed on it. "Both of you are suspended for a month."

The girls gasped and while the mother were equally shocked, the maintained their composure, only looking at their daughters with widened eyes.

"Ma'am a suspension would put a negative mark on our profiles permanently!" Shivani cried out.

"Then you should've given a thought to the consequences of your actions before commuting them, Ms Oberoi." The principal scolded.

"Ma'am, please, there could be another way. Shivani, and Vini, are good girls." Anika implored.

"Yes ma'am. Vini is excellent in academics, she scored 93.5% in the previous semester. She also partakes in extracurricular activities diligently. She's a Trinity Grade 8 certified singer and recently won 3 district medals in Track And Field, you felicitated her yourself." Ragini boastfully listed out her daughter's achievements. She then looked at Shivani before adding, "Shivani is... also a good student. Good in studies, can dance, plays sports too-"

"Vice captain. Shivani is vice-captain of the cricket team. She is a trained Kathak dancer and was the in the Top 3 list semester." Anika stated, loud and clear. Her daughter worked hard for everything she achieved and her achievements did not deserve to get discounted.

The principal cleared her throat. "These achievements are insignificant if their conduct is improper."

Ragini's mouth twisted slightly, then she looked towards Anika and politely asked the principal, "Ma'am, could we have a word? Privately?"

The principal nodded. "Okay Mrs Thappar. Shivani, Vini, wait outside my cabin. Quietly and properly."

Shivani and Vini headed out. Once the door closed, Ragini leaned towards the table. "Ma'am, I agree our daughter's behaviour was not right but is suspension necessary? They can be given a warning this time, can't they?"

"Mrs Thappar, this is a gross violation of the code of conduct. Physical assault cannot be-"

"Ma'am, could we not call it "physical assault"?" Ragini interjected. "It was a mere fight between two teen girls. It happens. At this age, kids tend to be emotional and overreact. They're still learning the ways of the world."

"I understand Mrs-"

"If I recall correctly, just last week 2 boys from their class broke into a fist-fight in the football field. They were sent to the medical room with a warning, were they not?" Ragini disclosed.

"Mrs Thappar, what are implying?" The principal questioned.

Ragini put on a fake-polite smile. "I'm not implying anything ma'am. I'm merely reiterating the values of the school; all students being treated equally. It would be utter profanity to even think that such a renowned school would discriminate students on the basis of gender in today's day and age."

Never, ever in her life Anika imagined herself saying what she said. "I agree with Ra... I mean Mrs Thappar. The girls made a mistake, which they deeply regret. They deserve another chance. As for their behaviour, we as their parents take full responsibility for it and assure you that it won't happen again."

The principal sighed deeply before calling the girls in.

"Based on your previous records, I'm withdrawing your suspension and letting you go with a first and final warning. Repetition of this behaviour will lead to expulsion."

"I'm sorry ma'am. It won't happen again." ShivANi and Vini apologised.

The principal dismissed the two. She formally wished the mothers goodbye and asked the peon to escort them out.

On the way to parking lot, Ragini lectured Vini but Anika walked silently towards the car, looking back to ensure Shivani was behind her.

Lalitji opened the car door.

"Shivani, sit in the car." Anika instructed.

Shivani wanted to say something but decided against it, opting to quietly sit in the car.

Anika looked over to Ragini's car, seeing she had done the same. Before Ragini got in, Anika went up to her.

"Ragini."

"Yes Anika?"

"Thank you for... doing what you did for our daughters." Anika thanked her.

Ragini chuckled and waved her hand dismissively. "Oh don't be silly Anika. Moms supports moms, especially when one of us has it hard."

"Kya matlab?" Anika asked, looking at Ragini sternly.

"I can't even imagine how difficult it must be for you. A divorcee, single mom raising a teenage daughter. The least I could do was bail you, and her, out this little mess." Ragini (fake) sympathised.

"I should get going now. Vini ko tuition class drop karke mujhe mere husband Vikram ke saath ek bahot important business dinner pe jaana hain. Have a nice day." Ragini wished, got in the car and left.

"Nagin ko 15 saal naali mein rakkho, phir bhi dasne ko tayyaar rahegi." Anika muttered and went back to her car.

She got in the back seat and sat next to Shivani. She took a small ice box and took out a cooling gel pack from it. She held Shivani's chin, made her face her and pressed the gel pack over the swelling on her cheekbone, causing her to hiss first, then sit still.

Gently blowing on the swelling, Anika asked. "Tumne us Nagini, mera matlab Ragini ke beti se jhagda kyoon kiya?"

"Mom...woh...main..." Shivaani stuttered.

Anika looked on, waiting for her speak but also letting her know she could take her time.

"Mom, woh Vini... aapke aur... papa ke baare mein bahot bakwaas kar rahi thi toh main..."

"Paani utha ke phaink diya, nahi?"

"Aap... are you upset?"

"Nahi, mere toh mann mein laddoo phhot rahe hain." Anika remarked sarcastically but her eyes softened seeing Shivani's glistening ones. She gently cupped the other side of Shivani's face.

"Main gussa nahi hoon ki tumhe gussa aaya ya tumne ladai ki, ulta main hi bolti hoon sahi ke liye aur galat cheez ke liye ladna chahiye. Likin beta, ek sahi tareeka aur galat tareeka hota hain. Galat tareeka..." she eyed swelling just below Shivani's eye. "...bahot khatarnaak ho sakta hain. Doosre ke liye bhi aur tumhare liye bhi."

Shivani nodded.

Anika held out her little finger to Shivani. "Pinky promise aisi wali ladai nahi karogi? No paani phainkna?"

Shivani tied her little finger with hers. "Pinky promise no paani phainkna... in school."

"Asli businessman ko beti ho!" Anika huffed.

"Koi shaq hain aapko?" Shivani asked cheekily, earning a light slap on her not-hit-by-lunch-tray cheek.

A little while later, the dispersal bell rang and students began rushing out of the school building. Anika got out and stood beside the car, waiting for Ansh.

Ansh came out and upon spotting his mother, bolted towards her.

"Mumma!" Ansh launched himself into his mothers awaiting arms, Anika hugging him tightly.

"Kaisa hain mera baccha?" Anika asked, ruffling his hair.

Ansh pouted and fixed his hair. "Main toh achha hoon, unlike my baal."

Abika gasped dramatically. "Achha bacchu, baal banane wali maa baal bigadne waali ban gayi?"

The two got in the car. Anika noticed that Shivani had opened her hair and a strand covered the now-reduced swelling on her cheekbone.

"Hello hello Ansh. Ab waapis apne room mein rehne ka iraada hain?" Shivani teased.

Ansh puffed his cheeks. "Didi, mein apne room mein hi rehta hoon. Aap ho jo poora time Ayesha didi ke ghar mein rehte ho."

As the siblings bickered, Anika asked Lalitji to drive home. On the way, their bickering got interrupted with growling stomachs. Anticipating that her munchkins would get hungry, Anika gave them each a juice box and biscuit packet that she picked on the way, despite the urgent call from the principal's office. Trouble or no trouble, her kids could never go hungry.

"Zyaada mat khaana warna dinner nahi kha paoge." Anika told them, taking one biscuit for herself.

"Mumma dinner mein kya hain?" Ansh asked.

"Kaddu." Anika replied and was immediately met with cries of complaint.

"Nahiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!"

"Mazaak kar rahi thi!" Anika revealed and pulled them close. "Friday hain na toh Shaahi Paneer banwaya hain aur dessert mein Kulfi."

The kids squealed in happiness and hugged Anika from either sides. Anika hugged them back, gently stroking their backs.

Life was chaotic, people were cruel sometimes, but it was okay. Everything was worth it for her two little bright stars. The light of her life.