"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!!"

Ashi snapped her head towards them.

Shivaay pulled off the hug and cupped her face.

"An... An... Anika. Whe... where were you? You.... I.... you..." he wasn't able to form sentence.

Surbhi didn't speak anything but just looked on.

"Dad what are you saying? She's...."

"She's Anika Ashi. Your mother." He cut her off.

Others had that gaint smile on their face.

"It's Surbhi Malhotra, Mr. Oberoi" she voice out - cold and dangerous. His brows scrunched but immidiately a smile crept on his face again.

"Shut up okay. Stop this drama of yours. Drama Queen" he commented rolling his eyes.

"Dad what're you doing? She is not her. She's Surbhi Malhotra. Their mother" Ashi said pointed towards Sumedh and Siddharth.

Shivaay snapped his head towards Sumedh and Siddharth who were confusing watching all that.

"Are they...." but Surbhi stood still looking straight in his eyes.

"Come on Anika speak up. Are they our sons?" Not waiting for her he added "What am I even asking? Of course they are. Look at them they look like me."

"Mere bache (My children)" pressing his lips on their forehead he embraced them. Both the guys look towards their mother who stood silent just looking at them.

Shivaay smiled hard with his watery eyes as the guys hugged him back. The senior Oberois had tears too. Rudra still being the childish ran to hug his sister in law followed by Om, Gauri, Soumya and Khanna. All sobbed and smiled but Surbhi stood still.

"Bhabhi, where were you? You know we all were waiting for you." Rudra spoke.

"Bohat der lagadi aane mein Bhabhi. (You took so long to return Sister in law)" Om said wiping his face.

"Yes di where were you? Didn't you miss us?"

All were bombarding questions but none were answered.

"Anika why are you silent? Speak up" Shivaay held her shoulders.

She chose to remain silent as usual to which Sarah shook her head. Her eyes drated towards a girl who did nothing but star her back.

"If she is badi ma then why did she introduced herself as Surbhi Malhotra?" questioned Ashnoor to Anushka who shushed her, breaking Ashi's trance.

"What? Why are you shushing me? Did I say anything wrong Ashi di?" The youngest spoke.

"Noori keep quite."

"Why Nushkie? She is right." Ashi spoke aloud gaining everyone's attention. "Say it aloud Noori"

"What happened Ash? Say" Shivaay asked his niece to speak up.

"Woh... bade papa I was...."

"Say it clearly Ash. What happened?"

"You all are saying she is badi maa then why she introduced herself as Surbhi Malhotra?"

"Cause I am Surbhi Malhotra. Not that Anika. It's Surbhi for you all."

"Anika sto....."

"I said it's Surbhi for you. Don't hear that? Or can I get some hearing aids for you?" She said sarcastically yet in a calm tone.

"Ani...." he stood quite recieving a deadliest glare.

"See she is not Mrs. Anika. I am sure there's some misunderstanding"

"She is Anika. But don't know why she is denying" she got a reply from her father who kept on staring the other lady.

"How can you be so sure dad? What make you think she is your wife?" She almost yelled completely irritated.

"Can you see this?" Shivaay lift Surbhi's hand a moment later, showing the ring and her tattoo. "She is wearing this ring I slipped in her finger and this tattoo. Though I don't any proof or signs to recognize her but only because you are asking"

Surbhi snatched her hand looking away. Sarah had a smile on her face she know only Shivaay could bring Anika back. The hard skined Surbhi have to tear apart letting Anika out in front of him. Only he is the one who can shut Surbhi, who allow none to speak before her.

"Anyways. Leave all these, now that you're finally back we'll not let you go. Come on in" Rudra held her wrist and tried pulling her but she didn't even move a bit.

He again pulled her all in vain.

"Oh how can I forget" he face plamed and turned towards Shivaay. "Bhaiyaa help please. Kyu ke hum se toh hoga nahi. (Cause we won't be able to pull her)"

Shivaay chuckle and hit his head lightly.

All the while a dark brown orbs were staring the older lady, as if waiting for her to come towards her, hug her, explain her why she wasn't there for her all the while and she as usual to throw some tantrums before accepting her.

But nothing of that sort happened. Instead she got no acknowledgement, as if she doesn't exist. She waited a little more before turning her face away angrily, more precisely - being hurt and disappointed.

All these was observed by those two grey eyed men who stood silent all the while. Passing a look towards each other, the elder one began to speak but was cut off even before his voice out anything.

Not a word Sumi.

Why mom? Ashi is...

I know that. Is there anything I don't?

Yeah. Mom always do everything for a reason Sumi. I think we should not interfere.

Other than Sumedh and Siddharth some one else too saw that sighed noisily. How she wish she could do something but nothing's in her hands.

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

You have got these beautiful eyes like mine and maybe well processing ears. So make use of it and STAY ALERT. Dear daughter.

What does she meant by that? Ever since she said this Ashi was left confused.

When she felt Surbhi proceeding towards her, a little corner of her heart felt happy but she managed to have straight face. Somewhere she thought the lady would apologise or hug her but she wasn't left disappointed - yet again.

Instead she found her leaning towards her whispering those words in such a way that it send some cool sensation down her spine.

She rather look and behave like a gangster or a Mafia - thought Ashi

But she can not deny the fact that ever since she is back, a smile on everyone's face never leave - a genuine one. Specially her father.

She have also noticed something about her, that she never smile, also she does not talk much, something father said she can never stop doing. Not only her Shivaay noticed it too but didn't ask her yet.

But why is she ignore me? Not for once she had talked to her either even looked at her after the first day, even though its been just a couple of days after she's back.

But the other lady, Sarah, she found her friendly and warm. But why her father was so angry on her? He even refuse to let her stay here but had to agree only because of her mother.

Ohh it's her mother. What should I call her? Miss Surbhi? Mrs. Oberoi or...... no I won't call her mom. Then... urghhh leave it.

A growl of her stomach indicate her that she is hungry. It was late at night so she thought to get herself a chocolate or ice cream or some pastries if left over.

Late night ice cream feel like heaven and Ashi was enjoying her favourite Ben & Jerry's Belgium Chocolate Ice Cream along with a large piece of Chocolate Mud cake, she found in the refrigerator of their kitchen.

Cherishing the yummy cake and ice cream she moans in delight. But some noice broke her moment. She placed the left over ice cream and cake back in the refrigerator when slowly went out.

Where is she going in the middle of the night? She followed her. Seeing her entering the garage.

"No need to spy on me dear daughter." She heard her say without turning towards her.

How does she know?

"I was just...." she was lack of words. What should she say either?

She asked her to come with a hand gesture. Ashi was about to deny but went in.

"Why are you up at this hour of night?" Ashi asked but got no answer.

"I think I asked you something" she said quite irritated by her behaviour.

"And I didn't answer" she said with a shrug of her shoulder removing the cover of her bike.

Ashi coughed a little due to the dust which had layered over the whole cover of the bike. But soon see the bike she was left with a surprise.

"Who's bike is it?" Ashi asked curiously in her usual childish tone but got no response yet again.

"Wanna join me for a ride?" Surbhi asked settling on the bike.

Ashi looked at her then the bike. Surbhi guessed she want to just by her face. So she placed a helmet on her hand.

"I don't have whole life to waste." Surbhi's voice brought her out.

She quickly settle behind her on the bike, not before rolling her eyes. Surbhi zoomed it out of the mansion.

"Where are we going?" Ashi almost screamed to let her vocal reach her ears. Yet again her question was unanswered.

She prefer not to ask again as she will not answer any. After a while when Ashi felt bored sitting without talking. She looked in the rear view mirror and saw her face - emotionless.

She also noticed Surbhi was gradually increasing the speed.

"Slow down woman"

"Can I ask you something? Will you answer?" She ask sarcastically.

"Depends on the question and my will. If I feel like answering I will" Came a straight forward answer.

"Who's bike is it? I never saw this one before"

"You don't know about this bike? It's here since the last 24 years. How come you not see it?" Though she know the answer she asked.

"I don't know. I never went to the garage. The cars are always taken out by the drivers even if we were gonna drive"

"It's mine. Your father had gifted me."

"Really? I wonder why dad didn't tell me about this. He have told everything about you."

"He doesn't like bike much unlike me who love it" a merely visible smile crept on her face which soon was carried away with the strokes of the cold wind.

"You love bikes?" Her eyes lit up a little as she love it too.

"I think I just said that now" Surbhi rolled her eyes.

Ashi rolled her eyes to at her answer. Can't she answer straight?

"Where are we going?" Ashi asked being impatient. But her curiosity only increased when Surbhi took the bike out of the main city.

"Do you always sneak out like this at night?" Ashi asked curiously - yet again.

Surbhi didn't replied to this either but a smirk on her face gave Ashi her answer.

"What's your age?" She asked out of blue. "Because you are behaving unlike people of your age. Sneaking out in the middle of the night. And also you look young like somewhere near to my age." Ashi ranted.

A sudden creel echoes in the empty road. Due to the sudden brake Ashi fall over Surbhi's back clutching her black leather jacket tightly.

"Where are we?" Ashi asked asked scanning around. With a hand gesture Surbhi asked her to get off the bike.

"Where are you going?" Ashi jogged to her side. The moved silently towards the bushes.

"Don't tell me you are here to pee" Surbhi simply turned her head towards her. "People usually..... when they don't find any public restrooms. So I..... thought." She added in a low voice.

"If you want to then I'll wait there." She said haunting her feet pointing backwards where the bike was parked.

"Walk" Surbhi said in a little loud voice. Ashi continued with her head down a little like a four year old child.

"You didn't answer my question" She spoke after a few seconds of silence. "Waise toh you didn't answer any question but...." she added but later cut off by the lady walking beside her.

"As I said I will answer if I feel like"

"Did you ask dad before coming?" Ashi being unable to stay silent asked.

"I do what I want. I don't need anyone's permission."

Ashi frowned but shoved her hand in the pocket. "Let me just inform him"

"Where's my phone? Oh crap!! I forgot my phone. Can you give me your phone?"

"I don't have any" she replied with a shrug of her shoulder.

"What? How are we gonna inform them?" She panicked but Surbhi was still neutral.

"When will we return?"

"We've just reach."

"What if they...." she was cut off by Surbhi.

"We'll return before they wake up. No one will get to know about this." She said just giving a look to her. "None will ever know about this night ever exist." She added with a smirk and voice - low.

"That's okay. But how long is it? And where are we going in this jadiyan?" Ashi asked pushing away a branch that blocked her way.

Yet again she got no reply this time being frustrated she exhaled noisily and turned towards her.

"Can't you fucking speak?"

"Hey I am talking to you!! Answer me.... why can't you....." she gasped and her eyes went wide seeing the scene in front of her.

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

Hey people!!!!

Finally I got sometime to update. I am really really really sorry for not updating and thank you for your patience and support. Thank you!

I have been stuck with lot of things my study, family functions and to add more fucking online classes and test. Still I am piled up with lots of stuff but managed to update for what like a month.

Talking about the sequel, I would like to tell that it's about Ashi and Anika more precisely. There will be Shivika moments but not more. I am also gonna end it after few chapters cause I can't catch with everything.

I can't promise but maybe I would update the next chapter shortly.

That's it.

Do tell me how the chapter.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Love Love ❤❤

M. S.