Mumbai: 

A large white mansion was shown, away from the hustle and bustle of the Mumabi busy streets...inside that mansion, a small little girl holding a book went up to a woman on her phone.

Woman: yes Tia..this evening sounds perfect. I really cannot wait to meet you all. 

Little girl: mama?

The woman ignored her as she continued talking on her phone: is she actually planning to wear something from Gucci? So lucky. 

Little girl: mama?

Woman: one minute Tia...what Nivanya? Can't you see that I am on the phone?

Nivanya: I need help with this dot to dot. 

The woman snatched the book from Nivanya and looked at it. 

Woman: for this nonsense, you decided to disturb me?

Nivanya: sorry mama. 

The woman threw the book on the ground and continued talking on her phone. Nivanya made a sad face and went to pick up the book. She looked at her mother laughing on the phone sadly. 

Another woman: Nivi!

Nivanya looked at the entrance of the mansion to see her dad's best friend, Mishti smiling at her. Nivanya smiled and ran to Mishti, hugging her.

Woman: give me another minute Tia...Mishti, what are you doing here?

Mishti: well Svetlana, because you are too busy to be with Nivanya, I am taking her to her dad. 

Svetlana: be my guest. I don't need Nivanya annoying me. 

Mishti: I wasn't even asking you, I was telling you! Come on Nivi.

Nivanya: okay Mishti. 

She held Mishti's hand and they went out of the house. Svetlana sighed in relief thinking that finally that child was out of the house. She went back to her phone call.

...

London:

London...the street was glorious in its inception. The sidewalks were smooth grey stone, joined with such precision that the joints were almost invisible. The walls were concrete, but not like a villa in rural Spain; they were more the construction of a modernist skyscraper, all sharp edges and corners. The buildings were nothing short of monoliths.

The scene moved to a pearly white building, at the top in cursive gold handwriting it said 'Zoya'. Inside the building, the interiors were grand, it was so grand that it could be part of those interior magazines. 

The scene then moved to an office cabin, it was painted light grey and it had only one floor-to-ceiling window, which faced the beauty of Covent Garden. On the white desk sat an iMac, a notebook lying open, some pens and a pile of files which were in many colours. At the desk, was a cream coloured swivel chair. In a corner, the air conditioner was blasting at medium. 

A young woman entered her office cabin, she was dressed in striped 1/2 sleeves A-line knee length casual/elegant dress. Her long black hair was styled in a perfect and pretty mermaid-esque updo, her hazel eyes were outlined with eyeliner and her lips were painted with clear lipgloss. She was walking with ease in her high heels. 

She sat at her chair and kept the black handbag she was carrying on her desk. She went on her phone and looked at the missed calls. 

Woman: didi is going to kill me. 

With that said, her older sister came into her office. 

Woman: hi Prerna didi. 

Prerna: when did you get your phone?

Woman: January 2020.

Prerna: and it's the latest model right?

Woman: yes it's the iPhone 11....why?

Prerna: does your phone let you know when you are getting a call?!

Woman: it was on silence. 

Prerna: Gauri stop keeping your phone on silence. 

Yes that woman was Gauri. 

Gauri: sorry didi, I won't do it again. 

Prerna: you better not keep your phone on silence again. Anyway how come you are late?

Gauri: I was really tired from last night. 

Prerna: did you spend all of last night working on that deal again?

Gauri nodded.

Prerna: Gauri, I know that this deal is important like really important but you need to focus on your sleep too. If you don't sleep, then how will your brain work properly? Sleep also helps play an important role in your physical health, it helps you with repairing and healing your heart and blood vessels. If you don't have enough sleep, then you are at more risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. 

Gauri: didi, are you the internet? Why are you talking about the importance of sleep?

Prerna: because you deserve to know the importance of sleep. 

Gauri groaned as she picked up her phone and dialled a number: Olivia, I need you to get me a Dolce Gusto Latte Macchiato please. Yes bring it to my room. Thank you. 

She kept her phone now and went on her computer, then turned to Prerna.

Gauri: is there anything else you would like to tell me regarding sleep?

Prerna: stop being dependent on coffee. 

Gauri: tell that to Aastha or Anurag jiju. They drink more coffee than me. 

Prerna rolled her eyes. She got a message, once she looked at the message she said: I need to go. Dad wants me to send him some files regarding the American clients. 

Gauri: oh yeah the American clients, tell dad that I am nearly done with the presentation. 

Prerna: will do. 

Prerna turned to leave when Olivia came with Gauri's coffee. 

Prerna: now your coffee is here Gauri.

Gauri: great! Thank you Olivia.

Prerna left her sister's office cabin and Olivia smiled as she gave Gauri her cup of coffee then left. Gauri clicked on the presentation and went to the slide that she was working on. 

...

Mumbai: 

Mishti was in the car with Nivanya at the back in her car seat.

Nivanya: thank you for taking me to daddy.

Mishti: you are always welcome baby. 

Nivanya: ooo ice cream!

Mishti: do you want ice cream?

Nivanya: yeah but with daddy. 

Mishti: okay. 

She continued driving and then they reached a tall building. Mishti went out of the car then helped Nivanya to get out of the car. They went into the building then into the elevator. Soon they reached the top floor then Nivanya ran to Om's office cabin. Nivanya had been to her family's company building so many times that she remembered where her dad's office was. Mishti smiled as Nivanya opened the door.

Nivanya: daddy!

The laptop lid was kept down. His black eyes suddenly sparkled. His raven black hair laid poker straight on his shoulders with a ponytail tied in the middle. He was wearing a black suit and tie. He looked at his daughter and his lips formed a smile. 

Man: hi princess.

Nivanya ran to her dad and he kept her on his laps, hugging her.

Man: how is my princess?

Nivanya: I am very good. How you?

Man: I am very happy, want to know why?

Nivanya: why?

Man: because my jaan is here. 

She gave a big smile as she planted a kiss on her dad's cheek. Mishti came, saying: hey Om. 

That man was Om.

Om: hey Mishti, thank you so much for bringing Nivi here. 

Mishti: it is no problem. I need to go to work now so see you two later.

Nivanya and Om: bye. 

Mishti smiled then she left the office cabin. 

Nivanya: daddy can I watch cartoon on laptop please?

Om: no.

Nivanya: why? 

Om: because I need my laptop for work. You can watch cartoon later....here are your dolls.

He reached for his top drawer and got out some dolls that Nivanya had kept in his office on previous occasions. He gave them to Nivanya who smiled and went off his laps to the corner where she normally played in. Om smiled at his daughter and went back onto his laptop. 

He didn't know why but everytime he looked at his daughter, he didn't see Svetlana, he saw someone else, he saw Nivanya resembling someone else, someone from his past....a pure selfless soul, unfortunately her mother had to be a heartless, selfish soul. I guess there was a reason why he thought that Kaia reminded him so much of that someone. 

A girl's voice was heard, you couldn't see her face but you could see her heart shaped lips...she was laughing with a younger version of Om who had shorter hair back then. His arms were around the girl, they were talking and laughing then somehow the conversation came to kids' names. 

Girl: I would name my first daughter...

Om interrupting: you mean our first daughter?

Girl: yes  that's what I said.

Om laughed and said: fine anyway what name was you thinking of?

Girl: Kaia...I would name our first daughter Nivanya.

Om: why?

Girl: Nivanya means beauty, wonder, mystery and it means God Shivji like your name and my name means Goddess Parvati. It's the perfect name. 

Om kissed her forehead, saying: when we have our first daughter, we will call her Nivanya okay?

Her lips formed a smile. 

He gave his daughter the name that she wanted, that the girl wanted to call their daughter but she never got the chance to. 

...

London:

After a couple of hours, Gauri was finally done with her presentation. She emailed it to her dad so he could double check it for her and let her know of anything that needed to be changed. She went off her computer and stood from her chair, walking to the massive window to get a view of London. 

Gauri: imagine if we were in London together...you would be playing in my office, once I was done with my work I would join you. We could go and explore London during my breaks...I had so many plans for you, for us but life is so unkind. 

...

Mumbai: 

Nivanya: daddy it time to go! Time for ice cream!

Om: do we need to go for ice cream?

Nivanya: yes! 

Om: okay princess. 

He got off from his seat and grabbed his office bag. He held Nivanya's hand and they went out of the office cabin. Once they were out of the building and in the car, Om got a call from Svetlana. 

Om: what is it Svetlana?

Svetlana: baby, I was wondering if you wanted to go to a party with me.

Om: first of all do not call me 'baby', we spoke about that a million times and second of all, no I am in no mood to go to a party.

Svetlana: of course, you are just going to be with your darling princess and spoil her rotten. She is such a spoilt brat.

Om: my daughter is not a spoilt brat and is it a crime for a parent to spend time with their child. You can try spending some time with your daughter.

Svetlana: oh please, I have better things to do than clean up after a little kid. 

Om was about to speak when Svetlana cut the call. Om sighed but when he turned to see his princess, he smiled.

Om: should we go to Apsara Ice creams?

Nivanya: yes! That my fav place.

Om: mine too. 

He drove to Apsara Ice Creams. They went inside the shop. Soon they were at the front of the queue.

Om: I'll have a sugar free kesar pista and what will my little princess have?

Nivanya: my roasted almond ice cream. 

Om: and one roasted almond ice cream. 

The person at the counter nodded. He gave them their ice creams and the two went to sit on the chairs. 

Nivanya: why always sugar free daddy?

Om: I like sugar free princess. Why always roasted almond?

Nivanya: I love it! It nutty and chocolatey. 

Om smiled and then he started thinking of something. 

Girl: try some. 

Again you couldn't see her face but you could see her giving a younger Om a spoonful of roasted almond ice cream. Om took a very small bite then made a face.

Girl cutely: why are you making a face? It's amazing.

Om: how do you like this? I don't like it. 

Girl: you are so weird. This ice cream flavour is the best. 

Om: in your opinion! 

Girl: you know nothing! This ice cream flavour is amazing...simply amazing, the almonds are roasted to crispy perfection with a hint of chocolate. What's not to love about this flavour?

Om: I don't like almonds.

Girl: start eating almonds, it will benefit you. 

Om rolled his eyes as the girl tried making him take another bite of her ice cream but he kept making a face. Eventually she just ate her ice cream, Om ruffled her hair as she did. 

.

.

.

So here is the very first chapter of meant to be. 

Questions of the day:

Why is Svetlana cold to Nivanya?

Who did Om keep thinking about?

Who was Gauri talking about when she was looking out of her window?

Will Nivanya forever need to bear Svetlana's stone heart?

Target: 20+ votes and 10+ comments