ANNOUNCEMENT: Going to change the name of the story from “Falling in Love” to “A twisted tale of Love” as I feel that is a more apt name. Hope that goes well with everyone :-)

*

Next Day

“How am I looking?” She emerged out of the changing room twirling with the gown and there, he felt his heart touch his rib cage. He saw her in gown for the very first time after her fourteenth birthday as she had never worn a gown in his presence after that.

|Her|

“Tell me, how am I looking?” She asked with a frown and he nodded.

“B—Beautiful———magnificient——Gorgeous” He told confused with himself on which was the right word.

“Thank you thank you” She told with a wide smile and he kept looking at her following her movement.

“Go and get ready instead of staring at me” She told and he nodded.

“H-ha going” He told before rushing to the changing room while she looked at herself in the mirror. On noticing the door of the changing room closed, she covered her face as she chuckled shyly.

She quickly did some light make up and left her hair open. Well she didn't want make up to look beautiful.

“Are you ready?” He asked and she turned to him with a smile.

“Ya, let's go?” She asked taking her purse and he nodded.

As they walked downstairs, Jhanvi was standing there instructing something to the workers. She turned to them and smiled.

“Aunty, thank you for the gift” Anika told and Shivaay's eyes widened as he looked at Jhanvi's confused face.

“Which gift?”

“This gown” Anika told with a wide smile before hugging her and Jhanvi looked at Shivaay's pleading eyes and nodded rolling her eyes.

“Oh gown. I didn't know I had such good selection. I mean it's perfect for you. I wasn't even sure it was your size, right Shivaay?” Jhanvi told and Shivaay nodded quickly.

“It is perfect aunty” Anika told with a wide smile.

“Ya, certain people know certain people very well and pretends that they don't know anything” Jhanvi told with a sigh and Anika looked confused at her.

“Arre the designers! I showed your photo to them and they made this gown within hours you know. Afterall, Shivaay Singh Oberoi is a terror everywhere” Jhanvi told and Anika chuckled listening to that.

“Ya?” Anika asked chuckling and turned to Shivaay who was nearly sweating. This is why wise people say that one shouldn't lie.

“Let's go Anika?” Shivaay asked and Anika nodded.

Anika hugged Jhanvi once again before walking forward and Shivaay looked gratefully at Jhanvi who had a sheepish smile on her face.

“Gifts for wife. Not bad!” Jahnvi told in a teasing voice as she walked forward humming some tune while Shivaay looked in front of him to see Anika already gone. Mercy of God!.

He shook his head as he controlled his smile and walked to the car.

*

“Congratulations” They both wished Mr and Mrs Malhotra before standing for a photo.

“You look very pretty” Anika told looking at Mrs Malhotra who smiled.

“Not as much as you dear” Mrs Malhotra told and Anika chuckled.

“That's just your modesty” Anika told and Mrs Malhotra chuckled before briefly hugging her.

Shivaay and Anika got down the stage and chose to stand at a comfortable corner.

“Let's go?” Shivaay asked after two minutes and she turned to him confused.

“Why? Aren't we eating anything?” She asked and he chuckled.

“We'll go to some restaurent. I can't stand parties for long” He told making her confused.

“There's no such noises or anything. Then why?” She asked and he shrugged but then smiled.

“Ah right, I'm married now” He told and she looked weirdly at him.

“First reason I hate parties. See all those businessmen and their wives standing there. They had all tried to get their daughters hitched to me” He told and she chuckled.

“They come to talk to me, then keep praising their daughters. What should I reply back?” He asked and she controlled her chuckle looking at his face.

“Second reason, I don't drink and most of those people does. I will be like an odd one out standing between them” He told and she narrowed her eyes at him.

“Don't tell me. I had seen your worse. You and Bhaiyya couldn't even walk after drinking so much. Did you forget that I was the one who opened the door for you both and didn't say about this incident to anyone?” She asked and he shrugged.

“Just once when we were in University. I stopped with that because I couldn't walk a whole day with headache and I vowed I won't touch that thing in my life ever” He told and she smiled.

“Only these two reasons?” She asked and he shook his head.

“See that group standing there” He told gesturing with his eyes and she slightly turned to look who was it.

“Wherever I go, they'll be there in all the business parties. They're very good in business as well as in flirting. I literally hide from them” He told and she controlled her urge to burst out laughing.

“Why don't you flirt back?” She asked and he raised his eyebrows.

“I would have if it was harmless but if I flirt back, it's more dangerous. May be they'll rape me” He told and she gritted her teeth to control her chuckle.

“Don't make me laugh so much” She told and he smiled looking away.

“Let's go then. I don't want you to be raped now” She told and he rolled his eyes.

As they were about to head out, one of ladies from the group called him and he turned to her with a faint smile while Anika controlled her chuckle.

“Shivaay, you're going? Without even telling a hi to us? That's so mean” She asked making a pout and Anika pressed her lips to control her chuckle.

“Hi Tanya, meet my wife” Shivaay told and Anika smiled at her who didn't show much interest to look at Anika.

“What's her name? I heard it somewhere” Tanya pretended thinking and Anika smiled.

“Anika Shivaay Singh Oberoi. Don't think much. I'm sure you don't know. Afterall great people like you don't have time to watch news or read newspaper right” Anika told with a sweet smile and shivaay turned to her surprised, first at the way she addressed herself and second at her remark.

Tanya smiled fakely at her and by the time, the whole group was there drooling at Shivaay.

“Hey Shivaay! Who's this?”

“There another one, poor people doesn't have television or newspaper at their home. Otherwise they should know who I'm” Anika told looking at shivaay who was controlling his chuckle.

“She's my wife” Shivaay told and Anika smiled at them.

“Oh” They gasped together and Anika mentally rolled her eyes at their fake behavior.

“I saw the news I guess” One of them told and shivaay smiled at her.

“That's great. Now will you excuse us? We have some other engagement. Right hubby?” Anika asked and shivaay turned to her shocked before nodding.

“So soon? You just came right?” One of them asked and Anika smiled at them.

“We came here to meet Mr And Mrs Malhotra and we did. Like certain people, we don't want to irritate others” Anika told and Shivaay controlled his chuckle as he nodded.

“Let's go Shiv?” Anika asked looking at him and he turned to her shocked out of his wits.

“What are you looking? Come” Anika told and he quickly nodded coming out of his shock zone.

“We'll take your leave” Shivaay told before walking out with Anika, holding her palm in his, making her blush.

••|To Be Continued|••

A/N: How was it? ;-)