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Finishing her shift by 1 pm , annika planned to rush to some good restaurant nearby . Poor girl didn't have anything since morning , bound with her own thoughts ,she actually didn't realize how time flew off . So deep were her inner talks which was certainly a nice quarrel between her heart and brain . Before she could know which organ among those won, she realized that her very grumbling stomach won over everything. Deciding to halt her overlapping thoughts for now ,she called her dearie Elizabeth, ordering her to join for lunch. One soul who is all capable of handling her madness is her friend , she knew .

Eli- tho phir my dear baby , marriage life kaisi hai teri, apni prince ke saath !?

Sipping some water, she asked wriggling her eyebrows with a sheepish smile covering her face to soon receive a deadly glare from annika .

A- Eli ...! Just shut that smile of your's orelse ,

Passing a daring look, she gripped the glass of water watching which Eli gulped at once , knowing very well what awaits her if she continues. Letting a huge sigh, she concentrated on the food ,when her mobile rang . But she wasn't just attending that call which rung for more than 3 times .

A- Eli ki bachi , pick up the phone you idiot!

She reacted being frustrated and Eli shook her head,

E- I won't .

A- arey who's is it ?

E- who else ? Zahir ,

She replied and rolled her eyes ,while annika grew eager .

A- what's wrong with you? You guys fought with each other ?

E - tum hi kaho ani , you know right? I was planning to talk to my parents about Zahir this month end during their anniversary party, I thought of introducing him to them . But he just spoiled everything !

A- what did he do ?

E - he fought with his manager on something and resigned his job. How can he be so irresponsible ? If he had thought about me once , would he have had done that ?!

She ranted in anger and annika let a sigh .

A - why didn't you tell me this before?

E- you yourself have so much to handle, I ( interrupted)

A- bas bas beth , don't act as if you're so sweet . Chal , attend the call . I know about Zahir , there must have been something really serious orelse he wouldn't have taken that step .

E - don't try to defend him annika . I'm already scared of revealing about our marriage to my parents, and if he sits without any job ...then with what confidence will I face them ?

Annika sensed her worry , and suddenly something striked her mind.

A - fine , don't be tensed. I'll do something.

E - matlab ?

A- matlab muje bhi nahi pata hai , but I'll try .

There's no other source by her side to help with such things rather than shivaay . She thought of seeking his help , he may or may not agree too ,so it's better to tell Eli about this after speaking with him , she decided.

Indeed ,she doesn't want any sort of favours from him but just that she would feel satisfied if she asks him once ,so that she doesn't regret later for leaving a chance . She went to his office ,

A- excuse me , I want to meet Mr.Shivaay .

' I'm sorry mam , he's busy in a meeting . We aren't supposed to interrupt him now, it's an order ?' said the receptionist.

A- it's ok ,I'll wait .

S- ok gentlemen ,This area is present outside the city sector so it won't suffice our criteria . So I would want you all to take a look at this one ,...

He presented standing infront of the screen ,while the others were gathered in two streams of lines centered by a broad table.

As he proceeded speaking further , his sight fell on the door casually when the screen mesh moved aside on being hit by the slow wind .

His pupils bulged slightly witnessing her seated at the waiting lounge , fidgeting her mobile .

' Annika ? Yahan ?'

He stared at that side being baffled . Then he sensed the people there observing him keenly awaiting his speech .

Excusing himself, he went to his cabin and called the reception .

' yes sir ? '

S- when did annika come?

' annika ?.... ohh yes she came here by 3 pm . What happened sir ? Any problem?'

He watched the clock striking 5 now, the very soul of attitude annika is waiting for him since last 2 hours ...!

Not very sure if he would have acted the same if it was someone else other than her , like leaving the meeting halfway and all . Never happened in the history of SSO . Being the man of his own principles ,he dislikes to wait for someone .

Maybe , his inner self already seeks her to be his half that he didn't want her to wait for him even .

S - she's waiting for 2 hours and you didn't care of informing me ?

The receptionist shuddered slightly listening to his dominant voice.

' I'm sorry sir ,but you had asked me not to disturb you ' she was confused by this  sudden change in him. He was the one who put orders declaring not to interrupt his  meeting and now ,he himself was questioning for not informing about that not - some - random - visitor. Must be someone important ,she thought .

S- ok leave it , send her here .

' ok sir '

She was about to knock the door when ,

S- yes amnika come in .

Scrolling her eyes through all directions in confusion, she sighed looking at the camera fixed at one corner of the ceiling .

' this man has got such a big business to handle , aur banda andar baitke CCTV footage inspect kar raha hai ...?!Whatever ,'

Sensing her entering inside  ,he traversed his sight from the laptop to where she stood and insisted her to sit .

S - what brings you here ?

He asked with a smirky face watching which she reacted at once .

A- I ain't dying to see you ,just that I want your help actually ...if you don't mind .

Her stern face just pissed him off . This girl has come seeking his help and look at her attitude .

S - I don't want to schedulize myself for others , I'm not helping you .

He responded in a deliberately  strict voice  and she rolled her eyes, is this the time to take revenge ? She did react rude this morning, but should he just punish her now ...?!

A- ok thanks then ,

Muttering these words she quickly got up to leave when he reacted immediately.

S- hey annika , I was just kidding . Come on sit , what's your claim ?

She sighed looking away and forwarded, taking a seat .

A - you remember Zahir right ? Elizabeth's husband...

S - how can I forget them , my first ever security signature for a register marriage happened for them.

He expressed and she nodded ,

A- haan vahi , he resigned his job on having some problem with his manager. He's a civil engineer, you've got a big hand in construction projects too, I'm sure there will be some  vacancies . So I thought if you could help,

Stating this she looked at him keenly while he thought for a second before replying.

S - see annika I never appreciate recommendations ,first . Then ,(interrupted)

A- before you start with your lessons , let me make it clear. I'm not recommending , I'm just referring . Like , prompting that one eligible candidate is there outside ,waiting for an opportunity . I wouldn't have come all the way here if I wanted to recommend him personally or if I was seeking any favour from you . I could have spoke to you about this at home right ? It's nothing personal, keep an interview , if he performs well then recruit him . Simple!

She shrugged off ,completing and he sighed huge . There's no way she could converse with few words ,take off of words straightaway till mountains. Kitna bolthi hai ...!

S- fine , I'll arrange an interview for him .

Hearing his words ,her straight face immediately played  an end to end grin .

A- really ? Thank you so much!

He shook his head watching her getting excited ,

S - ek minute annika ,I hope you heard me correct. I've just agreed to conduct an interview , I haven't promised to recruit him already.

She just blinked with a smile and replied ,

A- how mean ! Don't forget shivaay ,you're like their legal guardian now . We have to take care of them ,and moreover... chance milna bhi mushkil hai shivaay, agar chance hi nahi mila tho, how will you try to achieve your desire ?

He ,who sat rocking the chair casually all this time , stopped that motion gradually hearing her last few words.

S - fine , I'll see what I can do .

A- and one more thing ...

S- what now ? you want me to find a job for your friend Elizabeth too ?

She shook her head at once indicating that  his prediction was wrong .

A- not that, I behaved rude on you this morning . I'm sorry .

Her guilty face was clearly read by him ,he just stared her for a few moments .

S - it's ok .

She smiled faintly, and walked upto the door muttering a bye when he stopped her .

S- annika ,

A- hmm?

S- you're leaving to home right ?

A- nahi , have some stuffs to shop so ...why what happened?

S- that's ok, finish it up soon and don't be late .

He insisted and she just nodded randomly . Maybe ,he was strict like her father in such things.

She walked past the reception when,

' Mam...mam '

A- ji ?

' I'm sorry mam, I didn't know that you're his important guest . Sorry I asked you to wait outside . '

A- no ,it's fine . You don't have to be sorry .

' Sir had never done this before. Like , leaving the meeting halfway and all . Sorry mam '

A- that's totally fine ,but what did you say ? He left the meeting for me ?

She asked being surprised,

' ji mam, infact he was angry for not informing about your arrival beforehand'

Her eyes travelled here and there slowly, thinking why he did that .

' If you don't mind ,shall I ask you something?'

Annika just nodded,

' you're his...?'

She stretched the word ,narrowing her eyes in curiosity while annika smiled .

A- I'm his...no ,He...is my husband .

She liked it that way, it seemed like his pronoun fell dependent on her's as she emphasized it like that . Why should it be ,I am ....? I ain't dependent on him ,she shrugged .

' ohh , I'm sorry mam I'm really sorry . I didn't attend your marriage so I didn't know. '

A- I told you right? It's ok . Your boss didn't allow you to take leave yesterday?

' no mam , he invited us but I couldn't make it . Socha tha ki atleast reception attend karoon aaj raath'

Annika's reaction changed listening to her . The reception was actually pre planned for today but now ...

A- vo actually, we have postponed it for some reasons. Reception aaj nahi hai,

' ohh '

OM

It was nearly half past six when she returned . Entering inside ,for a second she was just bewildered ! The whole mansion was been decorated with beautiful lights and flowers hung flaunting the area in pleasant colours.

She saw gauri arranging things ,and called her name .

G - aap aagayi ! Chaliye, it's already late . I've chosen some dresses for you ,select one . Aayiye mere saath ,

Saying which she dragged annika along who stopped her halfway .

A- ek minute Gauri, what's happening ? Decoration and all?

G- arey even we didn't know anything bhabi, we were just having our lunch when the management crew came and mentioned that shivaay baiya had called them to inform that the reception isn't cancelled . Baiya must have thought before deciding on this ,so pinky aunty ne bhi  mana nahi kiya .

Hearing this annika stood confused ,what was running in his mind ? In such circumstances ...reception ?

Witnessing him making way into the hall ,she rushed out from gauri's room to question about his sudden decision.

He ,who was engaged in a call hung it up watching her staring at him, standing right infront .

A- what's all this shivaay ? You didn't even care of telling me and you've made all decisions by yourself?

S - annika ,you don't have to react so serious .

He spoke casually which confused  her.

A- what do you mean ? How can this reception happen ? What's the need for it now shivaay ? Problem ho jaayega,

She insisted, palming her hand on her forehead which he immediately pulled down .

Holding her wrist, he looked at her for a moment.

S - annika , tumhare saath injustice nahi kar saktha hoon na mein . Don't you remember what badepapa said this morning ...? And even my reply for that wasn't just to stop his words at that minute annika , you stood by me ...taking such a big decision so it's my part now , trust me .

He admitted looking into her eyes where she was loosing herself in .

He didn't seem the one to be convinced on this . She behaved numb realizing that he had actually decided to leave back everything ,for her sake .

He noticed  her holding an anarkali suit in her hands and passed a questioning look .

S- so you're wearing this for tonight ?

Slipping away from her world where only they both existed , she bent down to look at the dress and then him .

A- uhh...vo , gauri selected this for me .

S- choose one which you like annika.

That breezy tone stored in his voice did something to her as she felt her hands still clutched in his grip and looked at him.

At once he left her hand and moved from there leaving her to dive through those thoughts again .

She would never want him to loose his respect in process of standing for her. Because, if that's the case then there was no need for them to have got married only . She can't leave him like that , she made up her mind . Once again, he has started affecting her much .

Ofcourse he must do this , their secret can't be hidden throughout as it's about her dignity . She must be selfish now but ...she couldn't act as one because it's about him too.

God!! she's falling for him all over again, and she could do nothing about it rather to just sit and feel on her damn fate .

As time moved ,people started  arriving and the hall even had a few members from media . The Oberoi clan was busy ,seeing to their guests . Indeed they were all worried ,what has this night instored for them ?

It was already time when Om marched  up on the diass with a mic.

Om- so ladies and gentlemen ,I would like to thank you all on behalf of my entire family for gathering here , and making this day a memorable one . With no further delay I hereby  call upon my bhai and bhabi, couple of the night ...Mr and Mrs. Shivaay Singh Oberoi .

He expressed his declarative words and immediately the spotlight cylindered to fall upstairs at the place where the duo stood .

There ....they stood centered ,for the stairs to follow way down . The light beaming boxes arranged at every steps, avoided the darkness there paving a stream of light .

They looked extremely ethereal together  as they stood close  ,brushing their shoulders .

Neither big grand costumes nor sparkling accessories, but still they looked so pleasing .

Both complemented the other in such a way that, a glow of royality was what everyone witnessed which indeed amazed them .

When you meet the other half of your soul ,you'll understand why things didn't work out with anyone else 💘

Precap

The press questions about annika ,
Shivaay is amazed .

Chapter dedicated to
Labiqaazmi  EthikaOrin03  Ann_zzz himanshi_99  suryaarjuna  ReginaHussain  ❤

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