Recap-Annika helps Rudra in his event. She hesitates for the photoshoot but completes it then, shivaay gives her a small piece of advice on handling boys.

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R- thank you so much! You really don't know how big this is for me, and you, you both were just amazing today.

Annika acknowledged him with a smile.

A- you did all the tough part . Congrats by the way!

Se- you know what, I should be thanking you first . I've been having a bad time recently, and this really did cheer me up.

Sejal expressed her gratitude, Rudra immediately pointed shivaay before he spoke.

R- all because of him.

Shivaay casually shurgged his shoulders and went back to his job of fidgeting with his mobile. Then Gauri who stood beside Annika exclaimed.

G- well well, I guess we all deserve a treat then.

R- definitely, I'll make the plan and

G- don't worry about it, we are gonna host one in our home this weekend. Everyone should join us.

There was silence for sometime, even Annika looked surprised.

A- what is that for?

G- really honey di? It's 11th !

At once her reactions changed into horror when she realized what day it is. Everyone around grew curious seeing that.

S- what about it?

G- it's honey di's 25th birthday.

Om- wow! She doesn't seem to feel good about it though.

He spoke seeing Annika's serious face.

G- she had promised papa that she would marry whoever he brings,once she's 25 . He had started the matrimony thing long back.

A- really! That's why he kept asking for my pictures.

She screamed in terror while shivaay almost laughed out seeing her reaction.

So - in that case this might be the last birthday you will be celebrating with your parents didi.

G- exactly why we've planned a grand event this time. And you all are invited, please do come the before night, it's midnight party actually. Di, what are you doing? invite them!

She insisted when Annika seemed lost somewhere.

A- hmm yeah, please come.

She drove to her home after dropping gauri, and rushed to see her father at once with a whole lot of excitement to share what all happened this day. Indeed the birthday topic kept disturbing her throughout the way but, she chose to push that conversation for later as today was really something special for her. She kind of tried to come out of her zone and do something. It means alot.

He was awake in his room, seemingly busy with his laptop. Annika hurried in , grabbed a pillow ,sat pressing it on her lap and started.

A- daddy, did you see the pictures  Ri had sent? Daddy I was really nervous today you know I even thought I'm gonna collapse , but I managed somehow. And the point is, everyone said I really did great ! The other photos were actually

Noticing that he didn't actually pay attention to her, she slowed down. He looked tensed with something, usual account tallying stuff she thought and continued again.

A- we'll check it later ok, now listen papa then I had to do my solo

H- honey will you please stop! I'm trying to focus here, have been staring at this thing for hours now and nothing is done properly.

Annika was taken aback when he shouted suddenly.

A- no I was just saying, today

H- you're all open hands to help everyone except your father, right!

A- papa we have people to take care of all this , you're unnecessarily taking tension.

H- is that how you run you're business honey? We can't blindly trust people when it comes to money , if only you had followed my advice and joined me I'd feel only half the burden now.

She shook her head slowly when he kept insisting the same.

A- you're wrong daddy. That's not my work, that's not what I want.

H- yeah exactly, everyone wants to be selfish. First it was your mom, now you.

Annika didn't want to stand there and argue anymore, she quickly picked the BP tablet from the drawyer, poured some water and passed them to him before rushing out.

P - Wow Rudy seems like you're already on the media. Om showed me the article. You missed all the fun Shakthiji, even the food was great. And look here, they've published an article about it so soon.

Shakthi settled on the couch while noticing the mobile screen , that pinky kept holding in front of his eyes throughout. Rudra felt more than content seeing the way pinky cheered for him. He hugged her from behind and stood in the same position .

Sh- congratulations Rudy!

R- thanks chotepapa.

P- now onwards I'm gonna give you all my salwar material for stitching. I don't have to run behind that stupid tailor who makes me wait and wait, especially during the festive seasons.

Rudra frowned immediately when she explained her plan.

R- chotimaa I'm not a tailor!! I'm a fashion artist.

P- still, I know everything comes down to tailoring work at last.

R- seriously!

Om giggled watching Rudra's grumpy face.

Om- and choti maa, there was another news about shivaay's latest project. Have you seen that?

P- really? No.

She pulled back shakthi to sit with her when he tried getting up.

Sh- I have to change.

P- two minutes won't do any harm.

Om then showed her that news . It was about his current project which was the biggest hometown project in India.

P- shakthiji, did you see this! Biggest in India, see, shivaay has been doing very good for himself. They've even mentioned about the award he won recently.

Sh- I'd rather be proud if he had been serving the Indian Army, not measuring the grounds and walls of Indian homes.

Everyone there immediately looked around to check if shivaay was anywhere close and sighed in relief on not finding him.

P- why would you say that? Can't you see , he's doing great. We should

Sh- you won't understand pinky. I asked one, one thing from him and I can't see anything beyond it.

S- that's because you're guilty!

Pinky shook her head in horror when shivaay marched out from the dining hall.

S- You couldn't fulfill your father's wish, so you've been trying to dump it on me the whole time.

P- shivaay, shivaay stop it.

Sh- how dare you!

S- it is the truth dad. You're just guilty of your own incompetency .

At once pinky slapped him to keep him quiet. Shakthi quickly pulled her behind.

P- is this how you talk to your father! Apologize immediately.

S- mom did you even see what

P- do it shivaay, or it won't just be your father who ignores you hereafter.

His eyes grew big on realizing what she actually meant by that.

S- sorry dad.

He apologized without making any delay and walked out from the house paying no heed to Om and Rudra who kept calling his name. Pinky was still staring at the doorway while Shakthi touched her shoulder to grab her attention.

Sh- you shouldn't have.

P- then what? Wait and watch how World War three breaks out between you both? I had to stop him.

Saying this she vanished into her room .

She has been staring at the water for almost an hour now, standing by the shore. What could she do to make her father understand? This ate up whole of her mind now. It was completely dark, and only the white tide lines at the shore were visible . Somewhere she finds this soothing, the sound. Whenver things go wrong, she ends up standing here, wetting the legs.

Her mother never seemed to force her, maybe she did and does do with gauri, but her dad has been completely wanting his ideologies and theories to work on her. She was so happy to share how she posed and did well on the stage, for the pictures and all as this was her first time doing all that, with zero experience.

But he didn't seem to bother, she felt really sad about it.

And somewhere around the same place was this man strolling along the shore doing his calm down routine. During his childhood days, Shakthi would bring him to the beach whenver shivaay is sad , upset about anything, fought with his brothers, be it anything not ok he'd bring him here and both would play like anything for rest of the day.

It has become like a tradition for him since. He drove here before even he knew he did, habit does that. There was no specific reason like why this place is so special , it just is. And today an even more upsetting thing is, the slap from his mom.

His father is never gonna understand him, he had made up his mind long back . But the thought that his mother would rather stand by his father's side and not for him didn't sit well on him.

He felt let down.

It was getting cold, she decided to leave and turned back just to loose her right slipper to a sudden wave.

A- damn!

She then ran forward to reach for it as it still floated closeby. That's when his path met her's, he didn't exactly notice her but did see a figure approaching the water. He anticipated the worst and rushed to stop it.

Annika was just going to grab it, but suddenly she was being pulled from behind. And exactly then came a taller, stronger wave to drench and drag them both along with it.

A - oh my god!

S- you!!

She was shocked too.

A- are you a stalker? Don't you have any job to do!

S- and you're job was to do suicide ?

A- what! When did I ... you are such a dumb.

S- excuse me?

A- then what, I was searching for my slipper. But because of you I lost my favorite one.

They both kept arguing and blaming each other without even realizing they were being pushed, pulled and thrown by the water.

' Hey you both, come back. '

Someone from the daily squad dragged them to the shore then. Annika sat down catching her breath while shivaay stood dusting his clothes. Everyday the officers from the safety squad go on rounds at night as there's been many accidents happening. And today these two got caught.

' Do you think we're fools, even last week we collected two bodies on the shore. '

S- no, sorry we just slipped.

Annika kept coughing still.

' You, you wanna go to the hospital or something? '

He asked lending his hand,she looked up once, hesitated, and  took shivaay hand instead who was actually working to dust his pants. He almost fell when she did this out of nowhere, pulling all his self so that she could stand. He just frowned and wriggled out his hand at once she was up and continued checking his dress for sand.

A - sorry sir.

' Go on now, it's already late. '

Shivaay prepared to leave and started walking faster, but on realizing she was very slow he reduced his pace and waited for her.

A- do you know if there's any footwear showroom nearby?

He cringed at her question.

S- you wanna go shopping now? Have you even

A- wait! I walked till here , didn't bring my car.

S- you what?

He sighed and when they were close to his car, he quickly ran to fetch his blazer as it was freezing. She kept watching him keenly, he tried atmost to avoid eye contact knowing exactly what was in her mind.

S- what, I didn't feel cold at that time so I was ready to give but I'm freezing now.

Annika narrowed her eyes and looked away when he got into his coat seeking some warmth.

' papa please let's play fol some mole time please!! '

' we'll come tomorrow I promise. '

' But I lost the ball tolay,you have to buy me one. '

' I know loosing the ball was your masterplan Ritu '

' And then you have to buy me an ice cleam again tomollow '

Both of them remained still as they watched the father daughter duo enjoying their time this night. Somewhere between all that they were taken back to the mishaps they had at home.

They used to be like the same girl when once. But after growing up things have changed as they don't share the same interest with their parents anymore . The bond is very much different from the day it started, like they feel quiet distant now.

They just stood there adoring the scene until the child was  off their sight only to find each other smiling for no reason.

A- why are you smiling?

S- I wish I didn't grow up.

He spoke in a trance and she looked surprised as it was exactly what she has been thinking a minute back. She kept watching at him keenly while he added more .

S- I used to be of the same size then. I'd come here with dad and there was so much we'd do. Ball, kite, just the sea for sometime, again ball, we even had that thing, boomerang yeah we used to play with it. He was always there with me back then.

Annika clearly saw how his emotions gathered up to leave him with glistening eyes. It was indeed an emotional moment for him because his dad completely avoids him now. He rarely gives him any attention these days.It hurt him badly to think of all that, he quickly zoned back in and straightened himself , being embarrassed.

A- my story is the opposite, not a day I had returned back home without getting a slap from daddy whenever we visited the beach.

He chuckled immediately.

S- really? But I've heard dads are quiet calm and lenient with daughters.

A- yeah but at one point I was left with him alone, and Gauri went with mom . He chose to be strict because someone had to do it, I guess he'd have been a little wait, a lot different if we all actually lived together. And to my luck, just like today something would happen and I'd end up being dragged by the water, or I'll go in myself, I would slip and what not. That hard slap would paint my cheek red.

He slowly smiled as she explained the dynamics of her father's behaviour and shook her head in horror.

Annika stopped saying anything then, and kept staring at him intently. She didn't really know how to put it, but the truth is his smile did have something to have her go speechless atleast for a second . It took her sometime to come out of it and hear what he was actually saying.

A- uhh what?

S- I asked if you have booked the cab?

A- no I didn't bring anything with me so

S- you really are unbelievable, I mean who does this!

Once again he raised his voice , she went back into fighter mode.

A- I will do whatever I want, why do you care?

S- you know after all this you're gonna ask me to drop you, so I'm stopping you just here before you do anything you'd regret later .

A- you really don't know me.

Saying this she started walking quickly, barefoot ,shovelling the sand out of the ground.

S- I am also leaving then.

She walked away without paying attention. Shivaay got into the car .

A- rude predator, has no courtesy or anything!

Annika kept mumbling on her way until she heard his car giving up.

S- God damn, What happened to you now!

He tried again and again but it won't just start. He then noticed her standing there still, showing that smugly smile of hers.

S- I can still book a cab.

Annika once again felt defeated when he got a ride immediately as there were more cabs roaming in that area. She didn't completely give up though,instead ran and grabbed a seat for herself in the same car . 

S- and...?

A- cab is a cab, anyone can use it.

S- I booked it.

A- I will pay for myself so there's no problem is there ?

' no mam'

A- good.

Shivaay chose to not waste time after that . It was a silent ride until she started shivering.

A- switch off the AC please.

' sorry mam, there's some problem. Engine will also stop if I do that '

She twitched her lips making a noise and kept looking out while rubbing her palms together. Some more time went by, and then she saw him removing his blazer for her.

Annika acted to stay still while he tried to pass it without saying anything. By the time he came close and wrapped it around they had already reached her place. Just then the blazer flew in air to fall down as she had already stepped down the car. He felt totally embarrassed though.

A- uhh, was it for me?

S- no, I guess it slipped.

She was about to collect it for him, but after hearing that her hands automatically dropped it.

A- oops, it slipped again. I wonder what it's made of to be all slippin slippin today, banana peels? First it slipped from your body and now my hands, oops.

Shivaay clearly saw the sarcasm her face threw at him, he glared before stepping out to fetch the thing himself.

L- This is the last time gauri, I won't be cleaning you're room anymore.

Before they could even look up following the voice ,a big box came straight to hit his head from above.

S- why does she keep doing this!

Leka ran downstairs at once she saw them both there.

A- relax , I'm sure she was aiming for the bin .

L- not again!

A- mom wait, wait haan. We just shared a cab that's all.

L -  why are you both drenched by the way?

A- mom

L- shut, you. You, answer me.

Shivaay tried to escape but failed terribly.

S- uhh... at the beach.

L- that's it, it's high time I meet your parents.

S- what?

L- give me your mother's number.

S- what for?

L- she should know what her son has been doing these days. How he's been tailing behind my daughter everyday.

Shivaay was super confused though, what's running inside this lady's head?

G - wait daddy, yeah she's here.

Gauri saw Annika from the balcony and confirmed the same to Harsh who was on the line.

H- what's with the noise there?

G- don't know papa, I think maa is fighting with someone...di's stalker...

H- what? Gauri, is she ok? Go check on honey first!

G- no wait it's not a stalker, it's... Oh god, I'll call you in a minute daddy.

She ran downstairs immediately.

G - di, what happened?

A- oh Gauri thank god, help me here. That's enough mom.

She signalled him to run and dragged her mother inside with Gauri's help.

L- honey leave me , hey wait!

He used the chance and rushed from there immediately.

Precap

Annika's mother finds shivika inside the labour ward.

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