Recap: Ishwar refuses Nancy to go bring Anika back.

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Ishwar reached the office and walked in long strides to reach his room. Lilly rushed behind him and greeted him only to receive a curt nod in response. His jaws were gritting and his face reflected nothing but fury which made her gulp to face him. Jerry entered and saw Lilly hesitating to speak to him and started the conversation.

Jer: Lilly, get coffee for boss and also get all the appointments for today. 

Lily excused and came back with a coffee and placed it before Ishwar who sipped but next second he dumped in the trash can and took the file from the desk.

Ish: Should I take your appointment to know my schedule Ms. Lilly ?

Lil: sorry boss, we have a review meet today on the ongoing projects and HR departments wants to meet you on recruiting more employees for the central government project. they have placed the requirements based on the inputs from the project managers and Techincal team.

Ish: and ?

Lil: The election for the president of the Association of builders and contractors is in 4 days boss. Your nomination has been filed already. As an existing president and nominee you are expected to join the board meeting and results are on the same day.

Ish: Clear of the schedule for that day and Inform Nancy to take over the meeting with HR. Call up the project leads for the review meet in the next one hour with every details. 

Lil: sure boss.  We have new clients from Jaipur for construction of heritage type buildings for tourist attraction and they want designs prior to sign up us.

Ish: Bull shit, no designs will leave this office before signing up. Call them and be strict that they can have a look on our previous projects and later they can decide if they want to work with us but we are not sketching prior to them.

Lil: Sure boss. The plants which you have ordered for Anika madam has arrived at the site boss. Just want to confirm if we can proceed with the plans or do you any changes ?

Ishwar turned his gaze to the side where Anika's table was set. The empty seat remainded him of Anika sitting and leaning on the table playing with the paper weight.  

He waved his hand to dismiss Lilly who left immediately and he moved to the couch and laid on it just reminiscing the sight of Anika sleeping on it with her parted lips and him kissing her senselessly. He took the chocolate wrapper doll and butterfly which was made by Anika after she finished eating them.

" Mama, if you give me chocolate I will work or I will just keep playing all day like this and I will not let you work too. Decide what you want and remember you have a meeting in 30 minutes" 

Ishwar remembered how she blackmailed him to get chocolates when he refused to buy chocolate for her as she had started eating too much of chocolates. He got suddenly and left his room while Lilly started running behind him.

Lil: Boss 10 more minutes left for meeting.

Ish: Let them wait until I m back.

He took the keys from the driver and started driving to the nearest hyper market not before hiding his face with his handkey. He moved to the chocolate section and saw all the variety of chocolates and picked the choco stick box and then moved to the stuffed toys section and picked a cute teddy with sorry and I love you. He paid the bill and returned to his car and placed the doll in his back seat and reached his office. He placed the choco stick box on her table and before he could enter the meeting room he received a call from Boris.

Ish: Yes, Boris, did they reveal about him ?

Bor:  No boss, looks they really don't know about Valery's place this time. I have killed 2 of them and even cut off their legs still they gave same answer. 

Ish: Inform Mark to check the details of the employees of all the companies which are under Valery. I want him Boris...Send message to every gang that whoever gives information on Valery will get 1 billion from Lazovsky and whoever brings him alive to me will get 2 billion or any amount they ask for. Lazovksy will grant their every wish in turn.

Bor: I will do as you say Boss.

Ishwar was back to his raging form and moved to the meeting room where the managers were waiting for him.

The meeting started and he was trying hard to focus but his already furious mind did not help in any way. When one of the project manager informed that his projects were behind the expected progress Ishwar bursted at him.

Ish: what is the fucking reaosn that you are not able to complete the project. This was supposed to be completed last month and the same was discussed in the last meeting. 

Proj Manager: Sir, there are problems from the local people who keep troubling every now then. Recently they were troubling that we should hire them to work in the sites instead of our regular labors.

Ish: So, Why could you not solve that quickly or why didn't you involve them to work to solve ?

P. M: Sir, their pay off was double than what we pay for the regular labors of ours. 

Ish: that is not your fucking problem. Just because that damn money you let my reputation down infront of the client. ......Lilly..what was the feedback from the client on this ?

Lil: Boss, he was supposed to inaugurate the building last month but due to this delay he wants compensation of his loss for not being able to operate his business from new office. He is demanding 1 crore for it.

Ish: Bull shit....Involve our legal and PR team to handle this matter. Fire this fucking man who couldn't handle a project for me. Appoint someone else and I want that building to be completed by this month no more delays in it.

P.M: Sir, I m sorry..please give me chance...I won't repeat.

Ish: fuck off....I not running a charity here to listen to all your craps. I do business and you are all paid to work for me and not to have some fucking leisure time.

Ishwar stormed out of the meeting room and the whole day everyone was scared to enter the den. Jerry and Nancy felt very bad and even Lilly trembled to enter his room. Nancy informed Lilly to get coffee for Ishwar and as she brough it Nancy mixed sleeping pills and took herself to Ishwar who was sitting on Anika's seat holding her photo from the table which was next to his.

Nan: Bro, have this coffee now...I m not taking a no now...so please...

Ishwar did not deny and took the coffee from her and sat on the couch sipping it. Nancy ruffled his hair and left from there knowing he will fall asleep soon. While he was sipping the coffee his mobile pinged with a unique notification which he had set purposely and he open it immediately. The next moment his breathe hitched looking at Anika's picture which Kanmani sent him.

Cladded in a yellow silk saree with braided hair adorned with jasmine flowers she looked ethereal but her eyes which used to twinkle with joy anytime was having no emotions in it rather he could see only pain it which he dreaded to see anytime. The other picture where she was looking at the floor and the picture taken from side angle but the single drop of tear from the corner of her eyes felt like someone stabbed his heart with a knife. He swiped to next picture where she was leaning on the car window lost in thoughts and the jasmine flower was on her shoulder. He kissed her picture and pressed it to his heart as sleep took over and he closed his eyes with Anika's picture in his mind.

At Village:

Kanmani, Anika, Arul and Veera reached Kanmani's home and her father welcomed them. Kanmani introduced her father and they entered inside the small home which had only one bed room and a kitchen with a small hall.

Mee: Anika, sorry ours is small home please adjust. We will leave after breakfast.

Ani: size of the place doesn't matters Kanmani. You have a wonderful heart which has so much of love everyone. I love you for that and i love your home very much. Its very cosy and lovely.

Kan Father: ellarum okkarunga naa sapadu eduthu vekkuren. ( All of you sit and I will get the breakfast)

Kanmani tried to spread a mattress for Anika to sit but Anika stopped her and sat on the floor with a wide smile and saw the wal which photos of their ancestors along with Kanmani's mother. Kanmani helped her father and served the breakfast for everyone.

Kan: My father cooks very well. I know to some extent.

Vee: Aama aama enna dhan theriyadhu ( yes, yes she knows is there anything she doesn't know)

Aru: Shut up nonsense don't disturb while eating.

Anika ate the idly sambar and kesari made by Kanmani's father and smiled at him.

Ani: Uncle food is very tasty. Thank you so much.

Aru: Sister you should not call him uncle...just call him appa...

Anika hung her head and tears left her eyes remembering her father and the moment Ishwar stood without replying her about her father.

Ani: I don't remember calling that word for many years may be I forgot that word in my life...

Kan: Anika call however you want but now try this star dosa my father prepared for you.

Kanmani placed the star shaped dosa and Anika chuckled at its irregular shape but ate it happily.

Kan Father: Marumagane ...dosa sooda tharava ya ? ( son in law shall I get you hot dosa ?)

Vee: illa mama..enakku podhum...yarukachum sanda poda thembu venum na avangalukku kudunga..( No uncle, I m full..give it someone wh needs energy to keep fighting )

Kanmani scoffed and stood with her plate and moved to the kitchen. Arul gave a glare to Veera who also stood and moved to the kitchen. A few minutes later Veera came out burping and wiping his mouth with a towel while Kanmani was moving out in fury.

Aru: did you fight her again ?

Vee: Vera vela illa paru engalukku..( like I have no other work ) I m going out and will return by evening.

Veera threw the towel on Arul and left the home. After their breakfast Anika stood fidgetting with her pallu and Kanmani, Arul watched her waiting for her to speak.

Ani: Kanmani, can you do me a favour please.....

Kan: Order me Anika, what do you want ?

Ani: Can you take me to lakshmi paati ?

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A/N:

Now let us proceed the plot on Anika's return.

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