chapter 7

Advik and Ishan left for their office as usual, even before Anika and Pragya woke up.Anika was on her way to the hall when she heard her phone ring. Curious, she quickly retrieved her phone and checked the notification—it was an email from the company. With a sense of anticipation, Anika opened the email, hoping it was something related to her new book

As soon as Anika opened the email, a wave of shock washed over her, draining the color from her face.

"Dear Ms. Anika,

This letter is to formally notify you that your employment with Sunrise Publications is being terminated. The company has decided to terminate the employment due to the following reason: Hiding your marital status. We don't think we need to give you more details about this; what you did is wrong. The company may take strict actions towards you. Note that the decision is final and irreversible.

Regards,

Sanjay Sharma

(Owner of Sunrise Publications)"

The words on the screen felt like a punch to the gut, leaving Anika stunned and speechless. The realisation that her job was now in jeopardy hit her like a ton of bricks, filling her with a sense of dread and uncertainty about the future.Pragya rushed towards Anika, her heart racing with concern as she noticed her sister's distress.

"Diii, I received a termination letter for breaking the company's rule. They found out about the marriage... But how did they?" Pragya asked, her voice filled with confusion and worry.

Anika, tears streaming down her face, was too overwhelmed to respond. She tossed her phone onto the sofa and made her way to her room, her emotions too raw to confront at that moment.

Ranya observed Anika's distress and called out to her, but Anika didn't acknowledge her. Sensing the tension in the air, Ranya turned to Pragya, her expression mirroring her concern for Anika's well-being."Pragya, what happened to Anika?" Ranya asked, her voice tinged with concern as she wrapped her arms around her daughter.

"Mumma," Pragya whispered, seeking solace in her mother's embrace. Tears welled up in her eyes, mirroring the distress etched on Anika's face. "Is everything okay, Pragya? You both are scaring me," Ranya expressed her concern, her voice trembling with worry.

"Our company found out about our marriage, and they sent us termination letters," Pragya revealed, her voice choking with emotion."Shh, it's okay, don't cry," Ranya comforted her daughter, gently patting her back, but Pragya was inconsolable.

"I need some time alone," Pragya declared, her voice quivering as she left the room, leaving Ranya silently contemplating the gravity of the situation.In her room, Pragya retrieved a box from her almirah, containing journals filled with her heartfelt poetry. Amidst the turmoil, she sought solace in the words she had penned, finding comfort in the expression of her deepest emotions.

At 10:30 PM, Advik and Ishan entered the house engaged in a conversation. Upon noticing all the family members gathered in the hall, Advik couldn't help but inquire

"What happened? Why are all the family members here in the hall?"Sanjay, their relative, responded with a dismissive tone, "Nothing serious. Your wives and our bhabhi's are overreacting a bit. So because of them, we had to gather here."

Advik, however, wasn't willing to brush it off so easily. "Well, Sanjay, you are not that important. Even the entire Sehgal family doesn't need to be affected by our family problems. So, you can go and sleep peacefully," he retorted sharply, defending his family's privacy and dignity.Reena, sensing the tension in the room, interjected with a disapproving glare at Sanjay, silently reprimanding him for his callous remarks.

Before Sanjay could respond, Ranya, with tears in her eyes, revealed the distressing news.

"Advik, Anika, and Pragya received termination letters from the company. Their company found out about their marriage. Pragya is on the terrace, and Anika locked herself in her room," she explained, her voice trembling with concern for her daughters-in-law.

"How did the company get to know about that?" Ishan queried, his brow furrowing in confusion as he tried to make sense of the situation."Don't worry, Mom, I will talk to Anika, and Ishan will talk to Pragya," Advik reassured Ranya, his voice calm and determined as he took charge of the situation.

"Then please take her dinner too," Ranya requested, her worry evident as she disappeared into the kitchen to prepare food for her daughters-in-law, hoping to provide them with some comfort amidst the turmoil.

Ishan made his way to the terrace and settled down beside Pragya, his presence a silent comfort amidst her turmoil.

"What, just because of a job? Then I will appoint you as my secretary," Ishan attempted to lighten the mood with a jest, but Pragya remained silent, lost in her thoughts.

"What, are you ignoring me now?" Ishan asked, his concern evident in his voice as he noticed Pragya's distant demeanour.

Pragya shook her head, unable to find the words to express her inner turmoil.

As Ishan began to rise, ready to give her space, Pragya's hand reached out to grasp his, silently pleading for him to stay. With a gentle touch, Ishan settled back down beside her.

Pragya rested her head on Ishan's shoulder, finding solace in his presence as she finally opened up about her feelings.

"It's my dream job. I worked so hard to get that job," Pragya confessed softly, her voice filled with emotion as tears welled up in her eyes.

Ishan wrapped his arms around her, offering her the support and comfort she needed, as Pragya leaned into his embrace, finding solace in the warmth of his presence amidst her despair.

"Ishan," Pragya spoke his name for the first time, her voice filled with vulnerability.

"Yeah?" Ishan responded, his tone gentle and attentive.

"I don't want to lose this job, and I'll be banned from other companies too because I broke the rules. I want to be a poetess " Pragya confessed tearfully, her dreams and fears laid bare before him.Ishan began to slowly caress her head, offering her a comforting gesture as he listened to her words.

"Eat food first. I promise they will call you back to the job tomorrow," Ishan reassured her, his voice filled with conviction as he sought to ease her worries. Pragya nodded, finding solace in his words."What if they don't?" Pragya asked, her uncertainty lingering in the air.

"Don't underestimate the power of the Malhotra brothers," Ishan replied with a hint of confidence, eliciting a chuckle from Pragya as a sense of hope began to flicker within her once again.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Advik made his way towards his room, but upon reaching the door, he found it locked. He knocked gently, and from inside, he heard Anika's voice. "Mumma, please, I don't want to eat. You go to bed. I don't want you to be ill because of me," Anika pleaded, her voice filled with a mixture of sadness and concern.

"I am Advik. Open the door," he replied softly, his tone filled with reassurance as he waited patiently for her response.After a moment, the door creaked open, and Anika stood before him, her gaze downcast and her expression troubled. She moved to the sofa and sat down, her posture tense and her demeanour withdrawn.

"Mom asked you to finish your dinner here," Advik said gently, placing a plate of food in front of her, his eyes reflecting his concern for her well-being.

Advik left for the bathroom to change clothes, hoping to give Anika some space to eat in peace. When he emerged, he glanced at the untouched plate, his frustration evident in his voice as he urged her to eat.

"Eat," Advik said coldly, his tone betraying his impatience with the situation.

"I don't want to. i am not feeling good," Anika replied softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "Fine," Advik responded tersely, his disappointment palpable as he took the plate away, his actions reflecting his frustration.

"He doesn't even care for me even 1%," Anika thought bitterly, her heart heavy with disappointment as she curled up under the duvet, feeling alone and neglected.

Soon, she heard footsteps approaching, signalling that someone was coming to check on her.

"Get up," she heard Advik's voice, prompting her to wonder what he wanted now.Reluctantly, she rose from the sofa and saw a glass of milk in his hand.

"If you don't want to eat, then don't. I will not force you, but you have to drink it," Advik stated firmly, his tone conveying both concern and determination.

Anika accepted the glass from his hand, feeling a mixture of surprise and gratitude at his gesture.

"Nobody was in the kitchen, so I prepared it by myself. I can't guarantee you about the taste," he added with a hint of self-consciousness, acknowledging his limited culinary skills.

"Thank you," Anika replied softly, touched by his effort, and began to sip the milk, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort enveloping her despite the difficult circumstances.