Days went, The place where every one of us living slowly became normal and safe. Everyone started knowing their value of life and most of us got to know the value of our surroundings which we usually ignore. In the case of anika, She moved to the US 14 years, After the death of her husband. Her two children continued their studies there. 

Staying with her in-laws after her husband's death led to as many confusions. And her heart was not ready to give a place to a new feeling called, Insecurity, So she left along with her children merely ignoring how much they cared for her and her children. Now staying with her for the past twenty days, She understood what she actually meant to them. She's not a daughter-in-law but a daughter to him. And she will be always grateful to her husband for giving this wonderful family to her. 

On the other hand, She found the new refreshment in these twenty days because of her old but new friend of hers, Shivaay. Whenever he calls or messages, Her face glows. Her mother-in-law noticed that but she didn't ask her about that. Shanaya and Shravan were too busy in their school admission to notice her. They ask anika for suggestions. Anika will make the decision. And that's where the flowchart flows in their family. 

"Bombay! After 30 years. Am I right, Ammu?" - Anika's father-in-law asked his wife by calling her by her pet name. 

"Yeah, 30 years. Went like a breeze." - Meena replied to him while packing. While then, Anika sneaked inside their room with a couple of new blankets that they got from Bangalore. 

"Yeah, Mom. Before 30 years, It's Bombay! Now it's Mumbai. Keep this in your bag, Mom. I am not having enough space in my bag."- Anika said and helped them in packing. While then, Her phone chimes. She smiled seeing the screen but didn't open the message, Continued helping them. But it was clearly noticed by them. 

"And yeah, Mom. Tickets are booked, We are leaving tomorrow. Please let me know If you want anything."- Anika said taking the phone and left their room. Meena smiled at her. 

"Prakash, Did you notice?" - Meena asked her husband who silently noticed everything. 

"Is that her friend from London?" - Prakash asked her. 

"Of course, Him. And I have never seen anika smiling like this in these 17 years. It's totally different. I hope..." - Meena was stopped by Prakash. 

"You know about anika. Please don't speak again like this. Remember, What happened last time when we build up the courage and asked her to get re-married. She burst it out. And please remember the promise, Ammu. We already lost our son, We are not supposed to lose our daughter, This time." - Prakash said. Meena nodded to him positively. 

"But we will support her if she thinks about herself at least in this point in time." - Meena said. Prakash nodded with a smile. 

***********

"Yeah, Everything sorted. But I am still not confident with my children's schooling." -  Anika said to shivaay, Who now knew everything about her, From where she going to live in Mumbai and about her children. For the past twenty days, He could clearly see the change in him. He wasn't a moody cat anymore. He smiles, laughs, and especially taking care of his physical appearance. His sister-in-law's Gauri and Bhavya almost got a heart attack when they saw him in the gym working out with Anirudh. 

Anirudh came to know about his conversation on that evening. From then, He was behind shivaay and grooming him and became the happiest person in the world witnessing the change in his father for a long time. And he knew the reason behind that. For shivaay, He's happy to be her friend and didn't expect anything. He wants her in his life, That's it. 

"If you have any problem, please don't hesitate." - He said.

"Please stop using the word, 'Please'. If I need any help in Mumbai, You will be the first person I will ask for help." - Anika replied in a hesitant. He smiled when he felt his old anika coming back alive in her words and action. 

"And you know right, You and Your family are invited for 20 years Anniversary function which will be happening in the next three weeks." - He reminded her for the seventh time on that day. Three times through messages and Four times in the call. He was inviting her so many times, Just because he was too excited to see her in the ceremony. 

"If you again invited me, I promise, Mr. Oberoi, I even drop the plan of moving into Mumbai." - Anika said in hesitation. 

"Okay, I will invite your in-laws when I visit your house directly after you move in." -  He said for the third time in the day. Anika heaved out a deep breath which was clearly heard by shivaay on the other end. 

"Okay, Yeah, Bye. I have to pack. Good night, Shivaaaaayyyy" - Anika rested the call when he started repeating the same thing again and again. Shivaay disconnected the call and turned around to see his son nodding in disbelief. 

"Seriously, Dad?" - He asked him, He chuckled. 

"What's there to chuckle? You're miserably failing in flirting." - Anirudh said. 

"Anirudh, Go to your room." - He warned his son fakely, Who made his way towards his room.

***************

After three days. 

Anika and her family finally moved into Mumbai. The Lockdown is over finally (Imaginative) People started to go to the office, Working extra hours in the name of work from home finally ended. Anika moved into an individual house which was apparently owned by her father-in-law. And the first two days of moving in went with setting up the house. On the other hand, Even Shivaay didn't disturb her by calling her again and again. He called her two times just to know her that she needs anything in the new city but got satisfied with the answers. 

"Baby! Keep it in your room," - Anika passed the books to Shravan when he was setting up his room upstairs. 

"Just a min, Mumma!" - He said in a hurry. Shravan never sounds hurry until there's an emergency. Anika and others rushed into his room and he was scrolling the mouse pad in his laptop and rubbed his head in confusion. Shanaya rushed next to him and saw the mail. 

"What happened, Shanaya?" - Meena asked her in confusing tension. Shanaya smiled sarcastically and closed the laptop and Shravan was still tensed. Anika and others stayed confused.

"Nothing much, Paati. Our application in the new school got rejected nothing else." - Shanaya said looking at anika, Her gaze blamed her. 

"What the heck? But they told..." - Anika took the laptop from her hand and opened the screen. 

"They are asking me to repeat the year, Which is the last thing we could do. And you know the circumstances we will face after that. And it's all happening because of you, Mom. And thanks mom, For ruining your own children's future." - Shanaya burst out. 

"Behave, Shanaya." - Prakash her grandfather warned her. 

"How will I keep track of my words if she's responsible for the whole thing. Keep it in your mind, Mom. I scored 9 points GPA, We both are the brightest students. Because of adamant nature, We are here surviving. If any of it affects our dream, I swear mom, I will never forgive you." - Shanaya said and walked furiously to her room with teary eyes. Anika stayed stuck when she realized it's all her mistake. She shouldn't have taken the decision of moving back here immediately after seeing her in the adult's party. Her insecurities over her children ruined their life.

"Mumma, Relax. We will figure out something." - Shravan consoled her moving to her holding her shoulder. 

"I promise Shravan, I won't let you both repeat the year because of me." - Anika said. 

"We will speak to them." - Prakash asked anika.

"No, Dad. It won't work. I will figure out something." - Anika assured him. 

The only person she knew in Mumbai was shivaay, But she didn't have any courage to call him for help even he asked her to call him. She felt a little bit weird. She opened his contact but didn't call him in hesitation. Over that moment, Shivaay called her. And she attended the call. 

"Hi.." - He spoke out. 

"Hello." - Anika said. Her tone was low.

"Something is wrong, What happened?" - Shivaay asked her sensing the lowness in her tone. 

"Nothing, Shivaay. I am tired." - She hesitated. 

"Your tone saying you're upset." - Shivaay said to her. 

"How could you get it?" - Anika asked in surprise. 

"Leave that, Now tell me. What happened?" - He asked her. 

"Shravan's and Shanaya's application form rejected, School committee asking them to repeat the year."- Anika said. 

"What the heck? What happened, Then?" - He asked.

"My daughter is too furious with me. And some way or another, I am the one who's responsible for the whole situation." - Anika sounded so low. 

"Ani, It's just a small issue, Don't worry, I will sort it out. Why didn't you say it to me?  - He asked her. She was silent. But Anika couldn't able to say no when he offered to help her. She was ready to go to any extent for her children. She sends the details to him overnight, And the confirmation mail arrived in an hour. She didn't expect it to be so soon. 

"I don't know how will I thank you for this." - Anika said to shivaay. 

"Thank you, Seriously. Remember you are the one who asked me not to say please." - He remained her. 

"Okay, From now on, No sorry, No thank you, and No please." - She said with a chuckle.

"And my son, Anirudh studying in the same school." - Shivaay said. 

"Oh, that's great." - Anika exclaimed. 

"Listen Ani. I was your best friend, I am your best friend and I always be your best friend, Remember that." - Shivaay said. Anika realized it. 

***************