He searched the opposite side with his hands. Not feeling her, he opened his eyes startled.

“Anika” He called sitting upright only to realise that she wasn't there in the room.

He got on his feet before checking the washroom but not finding her there, he checked the time to find that it was just seven in the morning. His eyes widened in shock.

“Anika woke up before seven?” He asked to himself shocked.

Shaking his head, he went to washroom to fresh up. He walked out after sometime but she still hadn't come.

“Good morning patidevji” He heard her voice and turned to the door to see her standing there with a cup in her hand.

His eyes dilated in shock seeing her in saree. She looked breathtakingly beautiful and he couldn't find adjectives to describe the beauty standing in front of him. It was only when she extended the cup and snapped in front of him that he came out of his trance.

(PS: I'm obssessed with this look of Anika so don't blame me if I used this pic in another FF of mine😆😂)

“Where did you do early morning?” He asked and she gave him the cup.

“I woke up very early today. Don't know why. So I first went to the kitchen to drink a cup of coffee. Jhanvi aunty was there and we talked while having our coffee. Now here I'm” She told with a smile and he shook his head before sipping the coffee.

“Why saree all of a sudden? Anything special?” He tried to act casual but there was curiousness filled in that question.

“Simply!” She told shrugging and he looked at her.

“Really?”

“Will you come with me to the temple?”

“Temple? Why?” He asked confused.

“For praying. What else will we do in temple? Suddenly I feel like going to the temple. Will you come or shall I go alone?” She asked.

“I'll come. Give me five minutes” He told turning to the mirror, keeping the coffee on the table.

“I'll go downstairs” She told and was about to go when he stopped.

“Wait! Come here” He told and she walked to him.

He took a pinch of vermillion from the pot and spread it in her partition making her shocked.

“Perfect” He told looking at her with a smile and she looked down blushing.

“You told you don't mind” She told softly.

“Trust me I don't but suddenly I felt like making you wear this. Saree, Mangalsutra and sindoor. You look perfect now” He told and she smiled a blushy smile at him.

“Let's go?” He asked and she nodded.

*

He turned to look at her who was praying with closed eyes as her lips moved inaudibly. She opened her eyes and he quickly turned with closed eyes. Turning, she looked at him with a smile as the Panditji came to give them prashad.

They took the blessings before walking out of the temple.

“When I feel happy, sad or angry, I come here” She told softly and he turned to her.

“I know. We came here before together with both our families and you told the same thing” He told and she nodded.

“What was the emotion today?” He asked and she smiled.

“Happy” She told smiling.

“That's great”

“Hmm, you know chanda right? My best friend” She asked turning to him and he nodded.

“What about her?” He asked confused and her eyes twinkled.

“She's pregnant. She told me not to tell anyone but if I don't, then my mind will burst” She told and he chuckled.

“She didn't tell her husband yet so she was asking for ways to surprise him. What should I say? I don't have any experience right” She told sadly and he turned to look at her as they settled in the car.

“Won't he know? I mean fatherly instincts?” He asked and she turned to him confused.

“What is that?” She asked confused.

“How did Chanda come to know?” He asked and she shrugged.

“She had morning sickness, drowsiness blah blah blah and she told that she had this gut feeling that there was a life growing in her. How sweet!” Anika told with a wide smile.

“Just like chanda got to know, won't her husband know too?” He asked and she shrugged.

“I don't know but I'm very excited” She told with a wide smile.

“You like babies a lot don't you?” He asked as he turned the ignition and she nodded.

“Who doesn't like babies? Don't you like?” She asked turning to him and he shrugged.

“Babies are so cute. If you play with them for a few minutes, you'll forget all your tension. Babies are such cute beings you know” She told with a contented sigh.

“I want many babies. May be five or six. Aww how cute! They'll crawl around the whole house, giggling, crying, Oh My God, when will that happen” She blabbered and his voice got stuck in his throat. She was doing a family planning without him, her husband.

“It isn't so easy” He told softly.

“What?” She asked confused.

“I mean first of all, carrying a baby is not so easy, then giving birth to the baby. Isn't it so painful? And then taking care of it, you know babies cry a lot, they vomit, pee, poop!” He told, his face scrunching and she frowned.

“You didn't do all these when you were small? What is it with carrying a baby? I'm carrying it right? I have to give birth too. I'll tolerate the pain. You don't worry——” She stopped as her eyes widened realising to whom she was talking.

“Why are we talking all these? You shut up and drive” She told turning to the window as her face turned red.

He was silent as if in some deep thoughts and she was thankful he didn't ask much.

“Anika, but babies will grow big right? And big kids are irritating right?” He asked suddenly and she turned to him.

“No, babies will always remain babies. They won't grow. All the adults come directly from the mother's womb, ready to go to work. How did you become so dumb?” She asked with a frown and he sighed.

“I'm asking my doubts right? Why are you getting angry?” He asked with a pout.

“Who asks such dumb doubts?” She asked and he didn't say anything for a long time.

They were about to reach the Mansion when she turned to him.

“Babies will grow up” She told softly and he turned to her.

“What?”

“Babies will grow up and become adults, if you didn't know” She told with a mischievous smile and he burst out laughing.

“Thank you for the information” He told as he parked the car.

“Anytime! Don't keep such doubts to yourself. I'm always there to clear your doubts ok” She told raising her invisible collars and he chuckled.

“Ok madam” He told and she got off the car chuckling.

He followed her shaking his head. As they reached the hall, a middle aged couple was sitting there talking to Jhanvi and Tej.

“See they came” Jhanvi told pointing at Shivaay and Anika.

“Shivaay, meet Mr And Mrs Malhotra. They're one of our old business partners. It's their twenty seventh wedding anniversary tomorrow and they came to invite us” Tej told and Shivaay and Anika smiled at them.

“Congratulations on your Marriage! Must say Jhanvi, they look perfect as if they're made for each other” Mrs Malhotra told and Anika looked at her with a blushy smile.

“We may not come as Tej has some other Engagement on the very same time but they'll be there” Jhanvi told apologetically and the couple nodded in understanding.

“We'll take your leave. It was pleasure meeting you both after a long time” Mr Malhotra told and TejVi smiled.

“Mom!” Shivaay whined as soon as they left and Jhanvi gave him a sweet smile.

“Go and enjoy the party” Jhanvi told and Shivaay frowned as he absolutely hated such parties.

“This is so not fair” He told as he went upstairs muttering something on the way making the trio chuckle.

*

“Listen, what should I wear tomorrow?” She asked tensed as she rushed to him and he looked confused at him.

“Clothes?” He asked confused and she glared angrily at him.

“I know I have to wear clothes but what? Which colour? We should be colour coordinated right?” She asked biting her nail and he shrugged.

“Doesn't matter. Wear whatever you wish” He told and she looked at him irritated.

“Thank you, it was of great help” She told irritated before rushing out of the room.

“Listen, what are you wearing?” She asked rushing inside the room.

“Anika, I have a name. My name is not listen” He told and she frowned.

“Your name is not important now. What are you wearing?”

“Suit. What else?” He asked confused.

“Which colour?”

“Whichever I feel like” He told shrugging and she looked at him highly irritated before opening his wardrobe and taking out a Pistachio green suit and keeping it in front of him.

“Wear this. I have a saree of the same colour” She told before digging her side of the wardrobe.

“God! Where the hell is that? When I want something, I can't find it anywhere. Stupid saree, where is it?” She asked angrily and he controlled his chuckle looking at her.

“Oh No! It's still there at my home. You do one thing, wear this blue suit, I'll wear my blue gown” She told taking his Navy blue suit and keeping it in front of him.

“Anika, what will I do with this gown now?” He asked innocently holding a packet and she turned to him surprised.

“What is this?” She asked surprised and he shrugged.

“It's a gift from mom” He told and she smiled widely before taking the packet from it and opening it.

“Wow!” She exclaimed seeing the bottle green gown.

“This is——Oh my God! This is so beautiful” She told taking the gown out of the packet.

“Aww! I have to thank aunty for this” She told with a wide smile and was about to rush out when he held her hand.

“You can thank her tomorrow. She might have slept now” He told and she thought for sometime.

“Ok, what are you wearing then?”

“Black suit. Is that ok for you?” He asked and she smiled widely.

“Very much ok. I'll go try this” She told before pecking his cheek and rushing into the changing room leaving him with a mini heart attack.

“God! She'll kill me one day” He told rubbing his cheek as his ears turned red.

••|To Be Continued|••

A/N: Hope it was good :-)