"I will drop you, Don't go alone" - Shivaay said when she became completely lost hearing the news. She heard everything partially. And about his parents, Shivaay will talk to them very rarely but never ignored their calls.

She didn't react but there were lakhs of question running inside her head, She didn't share anything to shivaay but he understood her every unspoken word. She was not shocked that they were talking about the marriage but shocked that they spotted this particular time when she wasn't ready to go to any public gatherings. She still has the fear. It won't fade off so easily.

"Ani. Don't worry, I will manage it." - He said when she stayed silent gazing the windows blankly. She didn't reply to anything but stayed silent.

"Shivaay drop there. If you drop me, they will ask me many questions, I don't want any drama." - She said in a low tone. And he dropped her at edge end of her street. He held her hand when she emerged out. She turned back with the same worried face.

"Tell me, What's bothering you?" - He asked.

She heaved out a deep breath and started, "I can't say it clearly, But if it happened before that incident, I might be in cloud nine, now. But now, I don't know. I am not ready to get into any gatherings. I told you before, Right now, I am so sensitive. I am there with you normally because you didn't show any difference even after facing everything with me. I can't expect any other people to behave like you and also I can't be normal for everything that nothing happened in my life."

"It's frustrating." - She screamed and leaned her head in his shoulder.

"It's okay. It's not now or never. Anyway, It has to happen one day, I will talk to everyone don't worry." - He said patting her back.

"No" - She broke the hug, "Don't come with me."

"You leave now, I will go half-a-way and come back. So that nobody has any doubt." - Shivaay said while patting her cheek.

"You go now." - He said, She got down from the car and waved him goodbye. Anika walked towards her house and shivaay called rudy as soon as she left. If everyone is there, Rudy must be there with them, or else he would have any idea about it.

Pinky was the first person to notice her when she walked into her house with much hesitation. She called her loudly so that everyone looked at her in the entrance. Everyone except her dad and sister gave her a pleasant smile. Anika could read the tension in their face.

"Anika beta, Come. Sit with me." - Shivaay's dadi asked her, She turned her way and sat next to his dadi.

"Had breakfast?" - Dadi asked her. She was about to nod, yes but when her sister glared at her, She composed herself to go with the lie.

"Just now came from the walk." - She replied, Initially she stammered. soon after the lie arrived with a flow.

"Have something, Beta." - Pinky offered the snacks in front of her.

"It's okay, Aunty." - She denied it patiently.

"I know beta. Full of carbs and it's too oily, right." - Pinky replied, Bhavya rolled her eyes but anika remained calm and composed. Shakthi who sat next to her glared at her when she made a silly comment.

"How's your work beta?" - Shakthi asked her with a slight smile in his face.

"Going good, Uncle." - Anika replied with the same smile. She didn't want to cut the conversation as much she can.

"Bhaiya is on his way." - Rudy said after excused himself to take a call.

"Then, Let's talk after he arrives." - Tej said when pinky was about to ask further questions to anika.

"I hope you know what's happening." - Shivaay'S dadi whispered in her ears.

"Bhavya said dadi." - Anika whispered back looking at the ground.

"You stay calm, We are there know, We will handle everything Including your fake-nutritious Mother-in-law." - Dadi whispered back. A smile knocked on the door of her lips when she heard those tender words from dadi. Not now, She has always been nice and playful with her since childhood.

"And, Shivaay's shirt fits perfectly on you." - She whispered over then she realized she forgot to get into her own clothes. She tried to manage it with a lie but when she smiled at her, She lost the game.

*********

"Last night chachu and chachu arrived in a panic state. When dadi asked them the reason They told them they have to get you married as soon as possible as there's some dosha in your horoscope." - Rudy said it to shivaay when he asked for the reason for their sudden visit.

"Oh my god, What got into their head?" - Shivaay asked in an instant.

"Yes, Dad tried saying you're too young, But they weren't ready to listen." - Rudy said Shivaay remained silent.

"Things became impossible when they convinced dadi to get you married soon." - Rudy added.

"Till yesterday, They were against me and Anika's relationship, Out of sudden, What happened?"- Shivaay asked him.

"Even we were shocked when chachu took anika's name as the bride." - Rudy said.

"Okay, I am on my way rudy, Keep me updated." - Shivaay said and rested the call. He roamed a little while and parked his car in the garage. He didn't wait for anyone but went inside. Everyone looked so different. His mom and his dad stretched to a wide smile when his eyes crossed them. He can read the tension in her father's face.

"Shivaay, Come, Sit next to me." - His dadi called him, He sat next to her in either side. He matched his eyelids with anika but she didn't give any spark of reaction.

"So, Shall we fix the date?" - Pinky started the conversation with a sudden question. Anika jerked in shock.

"Which date?" - Shivaay asked her in an instant.

"Your wedding date." - Pinky said.

"Maa, We both are too young, And our careers are still in the hold." - Shivaay raised his tone when he pissed off with sudden turn events.

"Shivaay, You don't have time. We both even don't want to get you hitched so soon but when we heard those words from the astrologer, We are lost. He said you have to get married within two months. We left with no choice." - His father clarified him when he became adamant.

When he was about to take another word, His dadi held his wrist and gestured him to stop. He stayed silent.

"Shivaay beta, I think your parents are right." - Anika's father said gazing anika who stayed silent.

"And careers are made after marriage also. We are open-minded. If anika wanted to work after marriage, We are okay." - Pinky said. Her words straightly hit everyone's heart. Tej looked harsh and nodded in a positive way.

"Mom, We are nobody to allow. It's her life, She has the full control to do whatever she wants, As a family member and Well-wisher, We can only advice, She's free to make her own decision." - She defended her as soon as she talked.

"Shivaay." - Anika whispered and asked him to stay calm. Pinky didn't say anything.

"Okay, Shall we fix the date?" - Jhanvi took control and asked them.

"But Ani." - He tried to talk but stopped when anika whispered to him to stop. His dadi remained in between them with a smiley face.

"So Jan 15?" - Shakthi asked Harsh.

"Only 20 days are there. How can." - Harsh asked but stopped by Tej.

"Don't worry about anything, Harsh. We will manage." - Tej gave him hope.

"So sorted." - Shakthi asked them with a smiley face. But shivaay and anika stayed sullen throughout the talk. When harsh asked them to have breakfast, They denied saying having many works to do. Shivaay left along with them but he never failed to sense the tension in Anika's face.

"Dadi, How can they decide for ourselves merely hearing some astrologer's words?" - Shivaay asked them as soon as he entered the car. He threw his keys to rudy and asked him to follow them.

"It's not some astrologer. It's our guru ji. He told me about this before a month. But I didn't take it seriously. When your parents forget everything and stepped into the house, I got to know about its seriousness. Anyway, you're going to marry her someday. Why can't someday be January 15?" - His dadi asked her.

"Do you think I am against this marriage? I am dying to get married to her. Even you asked me to marry before two years, I would be ready. But now, It's not normal. Yesterday, Anika said She can't make it om's birthday party, How can she handle the whole marriage drama?" - Shivaay asked her.

"So it's about Anika." - His dadi asked him.

"It's always about her." - He said.

"Her father who loves her to an extent got convinced. Before she comes, Her father said, Maybe it's the decision made by the god. He believed that you are the only perfect match for his daughter. And see in a positive side, She will be with you forever. You don't have to ask permission to meet her, Maybe it will help her." - His dadi said and tried to convince him.

"I don't know what to say." - He said looking aside.

"Are you hiding your blush?" - Dadi asked in an instant.

"Who's blushing?" - He turned around in an instant.

"My billu." - His dadi replied.

"I thought of proposing her romantically, Your son spoiled everything." - He leaned in her lap and covered his face.

"I just hope Your mom didn't let it go smoothly." - His dadi said while patting his back.

*********

"Where did you in the early morning?" - Her father asked her when she fell back in the couch as soon as they left.

"She felt like taking fresh air. Who predicted this will happen in the early morning." - Her sister defended her when anika stayed silent, thinking about something. Her father came to her side.

"Ani. I know it's too much to digest. But it has to happen one day, Why not January 15?"- Her father asked her.

"Papa. Marriage means lots of people. Lots of gossips. Lots of taunts, and."

"And lots of fun." - Her father completed her.

"Look at the positive side, Ani." - Her father added.

"I don't know, How can you be so cool"? - Bhavya asked him when he remained cool.

"For two reasons. First reason, My daughter getting married to the family I knew for a long time and the second and most important reason. Mermaid princess Ariel is getting married to Prince Eric. Then why can't I be so cool?" - He said. Anika and Bhavya chuckled in an instant.

"Prince Eric. I wish shivaay hears this." - Anika said.

"Thankfully, He's not here. Then What will happen to my image of being a strict father?" - He said.

"You called him an owl."- Anika chuckled.

"But dad, You deserve an oscar." - Bhavya said taking the seat in his lap.

"Think from January 15, We will be a family of four again." - Her father thinking something so deep.

"Don't why, I am hearing your mom's chuckle." - Her father added which provoke the tear from their eyes. At last, Everything happening in the correct time. Will anika cope it up and overcome that's was the only question.

********