It's been just 2 days the Malhotra brothers staying with the Oberois, but they gelled up so well that they didn't felt they just met 2 days back.

There was a pit of laughter echoing across the hall of Oberoi Mansion. Everyone enjoyed with Sumedh and Siddharth just like them.

"Ummm... Uncle Mom said she will be coming tomorrow" Sumedh declared.

All the colours drained away from Shivaay's face. The next day, it will be 24th year. Anika left on that very day.

"That's great. I am so excited to meet Miss Surbhi" Ashi exclaimed.

"Umm... excuse me. I am quite sleepy so I'll be leaving. Good night everyone"

He slipped off the scene without hearing any response. The elders sighed and looked at each other other.

"What happened to him?" Siddharth asked being confused by his behavior.

"He might be tired. Let's go we should also sleep" reasoned Khanna.

------------

A soft hand squeezed her shoulder, she know who is it so didn't care to turn.

"Yes Sarah? What's the matter?" Eyes glued on the screen and fingers running fast on the keyboard.

"You know what it is"

"Sarah I am so busy right now so don't disturb me and go"

She wrapped everything and stood up to go.

"Stop it now Anika!!!!"

Her feets halted and she turned around with no emotion on her face. It's been 24 years she heard that name.

"It's Surbhi Sarah - Surbhi Malhotra"

"That's for the world. Not me Anika"

"I said it's Surbhi, Sarah - for you, for everyone. Anika is dead long back." her voice was cold as ice. But it had no effect on Sarah.

She slowly approached her and held her plams in hers.

"No. She is not dead."

"She is. And I don't wanna talk about these stupid stuff. Let's just concentrate on our respective works" she tried to free her hand but she held her hand tightly.

"Till when are you going to run away Anika?"

She jerked her hand with a frown. "I said it's Surbhi. Anika's dead"

"No she is not. She is still alive but is imprisoned. You caged her within you. Such that even if she wants to get out, she won't be able to cross the zillion layered covers of Surbhi Malhotra. I beg you Surbhi. Please let that Anika be free. Let her go. Please...." She folded her hands before her.

Surbhi had no effect and she just looked on. She have trained herself well. Covered herself with zillion layers as Sarah said, so that no one can see the defeated Anika imprisoned in her. She exhaled and turned to go.

Sarah didn't hoped for any reply as she know she will never reply. She exhaled noisily watching her retreating figure.

-----------

He entered in the dark room of his...... theirs, which is closed ever since she left. He didn't had the guts to enter in cause her memories haunt him.

The room is completely clean. No one except one, most trusted house help was allowed to enter, not even the family members.

That room contains every single memory of hers. So many pictures of hers along with him and everyone. A sad tiny smile crept on his face remembering the moments he had with her.

How happy they were! Leading a perfect life but..... just one misfortune day snatched everything. Their perfect happy family got ruined.

Her every thing is still there. The room is same as she left it. Her clothes, her makeup products, her jewelries her everything.

He picked her photo frame. Didn't speak anything as he is tired, tired of repeating the same thing again and again. He kept staring at the frame with a blurred vision.

Few seconds later he closed his eyes letting those salty liquid roll down his lekin wrinkled face. He sat on the floor, placing the frame close to his heart and let the sobs out. After an hour or so he cleaned his face and walked out taking his keys.

(Please listen to the song above️ ☝️)

There goes my heart beating
Cause you are the reason
I'm losing my sleep
Please come back now

His heart was always beating for her - still do. He spent uncountable nights - sleepless. All he ask for is, her to come back.

There goes my mind racing
And you are the reason
That I'm still breathing
I'm hopeless now

I'd climb every mountain
And swim every ocean
Just to be with you
And fix what I've broken
Oh, cause I need you to see
That you are the reason

He didn't left any stone unturned to find her. He went to the sea along with Celestina but she wasn't there. So it's true that he swam every ocean in search of of.

He doesn't know what is broken but still he wants to fix it and want his Anika back.

There goes my hands shaking
And you are the reason
My heart keeps bleeding
I need you now

If I could turn back the clock
I'd make sure the light defeated the dark
I'd spend every hour, of every day
Keeping you safe

Every second he feel to go back and never allow her to go. If he would have known it before he would never let her go away from him and keep her safe in his protective embrace.

And I'd climb every mountain
And swim every ocean
Just to be with you
And fix what I've broken
Oh, cause I need you to see
That you are the reason

The attacked the brake in the middle of nowhere and got off the car. Started running madly. 

I don't wanna fight no more
I don't wanna hide no more
I don't wanna cry no more
Come back I need you to hold me
(You are the reason)
Come a little closer now
Just a little closer now
Come a little closer
I need you to hold me tonight

He fell on the his knees near the edge of a cliff. Miles away from the main city, in an isolated area where we can find no one around.

He is exhausted, now he can't lift that weight anymore. He fetched a deep breath and screamed his lung out. Now he can't tolerate that. He was fed up, fed up of controlling his tears, his pain just for his daughter.

He can't fall weak in front of her, he had to stay strong for his daughter. In those 24 years he have been dumping his every emotion inside him. But now there's no space left.

He wants to empty himself. He wants to scream so loud that even if he is so far, every person in New York can hear him. And he did. He cried, scream and broke down.

Leaning on a tree he curled up. No words came out of his throat. But his eyes longed for her look. Even the tears don't flow now. His eyes burning due to the hot tears that flowed. Driller machines running on his head but he didn't speak a word.

He just kept staring dark cloudy sky with horror silence, without blinking. He stayed there for how long? He doesn't know.

The darkness was fading out gradually as the sun peeped out. The chirping of birds reflexively brought a small smile on his face.

Cool breeze kissed his face making him smile more. He drew in a deep breath and stood up clearing his tear stricken face.

He felt good taking out everything. He felt a bit relax and headed back to Oberoi Mansion. Coming back he saw all the youngesters in the kitchen.

Sumedh and Siddharth were cooking well the girls were helping and irritating them at the same time. He smiled seeing their bond. Everyone there feel so attached towards those two brothers.

"You know what Sumi. We always wanted a brother and you guys filled the gaps. Thanks for coming in our lives" Anushka said with smile.

Sumedh and Siddharth shared a look before patting there heads.

"I heard that the Malhotra are so strict and Khadoos but look at you...." Ashi tugged her hand around Siddhartha's and added "Making breakfast for us"

He smiled and shoved a piece of boiled broccoli in her mouth.

"Ewww" she made a disgusted face and hit his arms which did nothing to him. "Oww"

Shivaay felt happy seeing them and went to his room.

------------

"Sumedh when is Miss Surbhi coming?" Shivaay asked munching the delicious breakfast made by them.

"She'll be arriving in an hour or two" Sid replied.

"Okay good"

"But uncle she's coming here." Sumedh said.

"Ya so?"

"I mean here to Oberoi Mansion"

"What?" Siddharth exclaimed being surprised.

"What's the problem Siddharth? We know she'll come here" Om asked

"Cause uncle mom hate staying or even visiting anyone's home"

"Why?" Asked Ashnoor.

"That I don't know but she hate it" Sumedh said.

"Strange" Ashi commented under her breath.

-----------

As it was Sunday they all were sitting in the garden also waiting for Surbhi to arrive.

5 black cars entered through the laviah gate of Oberoi house. Everyone turned, Sumedh and Siddhartha's face caught a bright smile.

Everyone got up to welcome her. Gaurds got out from the 4 cars spreading around for the security of their master. From the passenger seat of the middle car another well body builded guy approximately 8 feet tall wearing a little different clothes from the other bodyguards, opened the door for her.

A lady stepped out wearing a Navy blue formal wear with her sunglasses on and a teeny tiny smile.

All the elder Oberois shared a shocked look to each other. But the cerulean eyed man was furious. He is still angry on her. Sumedh and Siddharth smiled to and shared a small hug together.

The lady headed forward and stood before Shivaay.

"How are you, SSO?" She said with mixed emotions. She was happy to meet him, the one whom she used to love, the whom whom she considered a friend. As well as upset to see the same annoyed and angry look on his face.

"Was much better before you came, Sarah" he snapped.

"You're still angry? Even after 30 years?" A pang of hurtful emotion hit her. She gulped a lump formed in her throat.

Shivaay hissed in annoyance. The words exchanged were hear by none. The younger clan were confused.

"Umm.. hello Miss Surbhi Malhotra. I am Ashi Singh Oberoi"

Sarah smiled at her and took her hand for a shake.

"Hello dear. But I am not Surbhi. I am Sarah Kloss."

"Oh I am so sorry I...."

"It's okay not a problem"

"I..."

"Why the hell are you here? After freaking 30 years? Why you want to destroy our lives now?" Shivaay cutted off Ashi.

Everyone were quite surprised to see his behavior.

"She is Head of Finance Department of Malhotras. She accompany me every where I go" a voice from behind hit everyone's eardrum.

He snapped his head hearing HER voice after those may years. Wasn't able to express what he was feeling. He saw her approaching towards him. She look the same no difference, not even a tiny one. But something was missing....

"Surbhi" her held her hand in the mid air not actually waiting for him to shake. With a shrug of her shoulder she took her hand back also getting her sunglasses off.

"Umm... Ashi. Ashi Singh Oberoi" she chirped with a big smile.

She dart her eye balls towards her. That Anika that's chained struggled to tear apart the multilayered Surbhi and hugged her daughter as tight as she could. But could not.

Surbhi tilted her head a bit and took her eye balls towards Sumedh and Siddharth as if asking something. The guys were about to stop Ashi but her hand gesture.

"Haven't your mom taught you manner? You should not poke you tiny nose when two elders are conversing" she pinched her nose.

Shivaay didn't heard what she said as he was busy staring her. Okay let's rephrase it - he waiting for his Anika to hug him.

But the other elders hell shocked. She never was like this. What happened to her?

"My mom left us when I was not even one. My dad brought me up." She had that Anger exploding in her eyes.

Surbhi passed a impressive smirk. She tugged a lock behind her ear.

"Itta gussa? Impressive!!" She leaned near ears. She leaned near her ear and whispered in a devilish dangerous voice, "I do not appreciate anger"

Ashi snapped her head as shr felt the icy cold words. She got frightened by her poker face.

Surbhi stepped back and looked towards Shivaay.

"Am I that beautiful Mr. Oberoi? That you can't stop staring?" She asked after snapping her finger before his eyes. He jerk out

"Huh?"

"What were you looking at?"

Not answering her question he jumped on her and caged her between his arms and happy tears flooded out his eyes. But Surbhi stood still.

"I missed you Anika!!"

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

Hello hello hello!!! Remember me? Surprisingly I am alive. Hehe....

I am really really really sorry for the late update but I hope you understand. I am in 11th Science. I just can't get time.

Sorry again and do tell me how's the chapter.

Please ignore the errors if any as I have not re checked it.

Stay safe take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Love Love

M. S. ❤❤