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It was nearly 7 pm when Annika picked a cab and rushed back to OM after attending Elizabeth's wedding. Well, travelling time seemed too long as the venue was really afar from home. She felt so tired and worn out because she has done nothing but frequently quick travels since yesterday. There was no minute for her to rest even at the wedding as she was there with Elizabeth throughout. She loved and enjoyed everything though . It's her Eli's wedding afterall !

At OM gauri's function was almost over and only a few guests were present here and there . Shivaay saw annika coming in , at once he reached out to her and collected the bag from her. Rudra who was clicking pictures jumped before annika in no time and engulfed her in a tight hug .

R - how are you bhabi ?

A - so good !

R - and bhabi , you didn't even

S - Rudy , let her meet gauri first.

He interrupted to insist this and Rudra immediate approved .

R - haa haan !

Annika noticed the straight faces of all the elders , she felt nervous and pulled shivaay's sleeve to have him closer .

A - did I make it so late?

She whispered slowly for he shook his head and held her hand.

S - no , don't worry you made it . Jao .

Annika went and stood infront of gauri who was seated on a decourated chair kept at the centre of the room. She bent down and placed her palm on gauri's womb .

A- it's been so many days since I met you and your mumma . I missed you so much !

Saying this she pressed a gentle kiss on gauri's cheek who grinned happily .

G - Thank God you're here. I really wanted you with me here today .

A - how can I miss witnessing you Mrs . Beautiful Gauri ? Then my baby would come running all the way to scold me after coming out to this world ' Ani maa why didn't you put bangles on my mom's hand on that day ? You were so rude ! '

Gauri giggled when annika imitated a child's voice while she adorned some pretty bangles around her wrist . After completing those rituals , she went forward and hugged Om who stood just near .

Then she walked towards Jhanvi and Tej .

A - aunty I'm sorry if you're upset because of me .

J - you could have been here a little more sooner .

A- aunty vo

T - yeah , we wouldn't have had to hear all those from the guests if you had been here sooner.

Annika's reactions changed when he interrupted like that .

A - kya huwa uncle ?

P - why don't you just leave it jethji ? She has just come .

T - did people ask you all those questions pinky ? So obviously you'll be alright. Maybe she really is upset because the first heir of this family is not her child , that's why she didn't come .

S /Om - badepapa! /dad !

Annika understood what gossips would have gone around during the function. Do people really not have any good job than doing such silly talks ? She hated such people .

T - I'm not blaming her shivaay , there's no place for such nonsense in our house , in our family . If she had been here , there's no way people would have got a chance to speak such things ?.

Shivaay stared at annika in concern while she blinked once at him and turned to face Tej .

A - I don't know whether you're able to understand me uncle. I see my sister in gauri and I feel the same with my friend even . Both were my priorities today . I know, as the elder daughter in law of this family I should have taken responsibility but at that time all I could think was , I should somehow make it to both the events so that none gets disappointed. I hope you didn't believe what others said , because you know me .

When she completed, there was a long silence . Even Tej couldn't say anything as everyone in the room knew how affectionate is annika towards gauri .

Shivaay came in with a glass of water which she immediately grabbed . After emptying it , she continued her task of removing those big hearings which swung around and remained fixed on her hair . He sat on the bed quietly noticing which she frowned.

A - why do you have that face ? as if someone had stolen your favourite food from your plate ! What's your problem?

Shivaay rolled his eyes and sighed , listening to her example.

S - my problem ? What about you ? Are you ok ?

He questioned staring at her image on the mirror .

A - kya ? Shivaay I haven't returned from any wrestling match , relax , I'm cool !

S - lo , what was I even thinking .Thank god you're alright . I thought you might be disturbed with what happened a while ago . But I forgot that you are the annika !

A - shivaay , elders aisehi hothey hain . What people say matters a lot to them . Chodo ,I didn't take it seriously.

As expected , annika has a unique way of reacting to things . Shivaay was totally impressed with the way she handled it .
As soon as she spoke , he had already hugged her from behind and held her close within him . She made a slight squeal right at that instant .

A - shivaay ! Kya huwa ?

His rough stubble which traced over her neck brought tickles and made her giggle in his touch . Still , he didn't halt but took all his time to leisurely comfort his head on her shoulder .

S - nothing.

A - how will I remove this if you keep me arrested . Chod na !

She tried to escape from his hold but he didn't let go. Annika closed her eyes and arched her neck aside when she felt his lips on her jawline .

S - you know annika ? I've been in this room for like almost all my life but I had never felt lonely . But ... the past two days , uff ! I can't even think of it . Even this very familiar room looks uncomfortable without you .

Annika was surprised when expressed everything so honestly. She smiled on witnessing the truthfulness in his eyes . Just when he was going to add more , she wrapped her palm behind his neck and pulled him against her . She then tilted her head sideways to plant a gentle kiss on his forehead. A kind of peace engulfed him as soon as her lip buds touched his skin , and he could do nothing but smile , facing her image .

Adi looked worried on noticing a dull and weak charu coming out of the office .
He got down from his bike and reached near her.

Ad - charu , what happened ?

C - nothing , come let's go .

She hardly whispered clutching onto her stomach .

Ad - you don't look good . What is it? Stomach ache ?

C - hmm , it happens . Please come now , take me home.

Saying this she didn't even wait for him and just sat on the bike .

Ad - fine , we'll go to the hospital then .

C - adi please . It's nothing , just take me home.

As soon as he hopped on the bike ,she encircled her arms around his abdomen and leaned on his back entirely to seek some relief .

Though adi was reluctant in taking her home , he did it for her sake and planned to make an appointment with the doctor in the next day .

The next day

P - he got hurt by getting into a fight?

Pinky was shocked after listening to all those goa stories which annika recited her .

A - yeah .

P - I never knew my son was a fighter , I mean thugs ki tarah road mei fight karna ... he has never done that .

A - trust me , I'm not lying . And I was so angry on him for that you know ?

P - really ?

Pinky questioned with a smirk on her face for annika already surrendered , showing a blushy smile .

A - matlab , aunty ... I grew up watching so many movies so obviously I love it when the hero stands for his girl. And when it happened for real in my life ,how can my heart just stay idle ? I did feel butterflies and dinosaurs in my stomach after knowing that he fought for me , but how can I let him get wounded for the sake of my selfish heart? Bas , hogaya gussa .

Pinky laughed out after listening to annika's innocent confession .

P - how on world did god even produced this kind of girl, I don't know !

Annika made a cute grumpy face on hearing pinky's comment. That's when shivaay entered the room and sat beside pinky .

S - mom , this time aap aar rahi haina mere saath ?

Both the ladies looked confused .

A- koi secret picnic hai ? Why aren't you inviting me ? Is it like any place where only moms can go ? I don't

S- meri maa ! Please listen to me first .

Pinky chuckled watching her son whine like that while annika actioned to zip her mouth .

S - I'm leaving back to goa tomorrow. You said you would come with me right ?

There was a plain look on annika's face when he completed .

P - haan zaroor !

Shivaay , the mumma's boy grinned hearing her reply . But soon his reactions changed when annika spoke .

A- shivaay, the dean called me . I've to report at the hospital tomorrow.

His face fell in misery on hearing her words . Both totally didn't expect this coming with all the issues going around .
He kept staring at her silently .

J - pinky ...

P - haan aa rahi hoon , ek second beta .

Pinky left the room when Jhanvi called her from outside.

S - I entirely forgot that you even work. Aadat hogayi na .

He muttered slowly with a hesitant smile on his face to pretend he was ok , but annika already sensed every bit of his uneasy heart through those shrinking eyes of his. She instantly sat with him and wounded her arm into his elbow.

A - shivaay , god has given us a perfect opportunity actually.

S - matlab ?

A - I proposed to you even before we were mere friends ,you proposed to me when we were everything of a married couple . And now if we just turn back and look, we didn't ever live the life of a couple in love. I mean , for lovers there will be so many restrictions . We have got a chance to live in that stage . Let's endure the happiness of it together! Hmm ?

There arose a slow smile on his face . She felt good. Though she was equally concerned and sad of this sudden situation, she somehow wanted to end his worry .

S - sounds nice but

A - it's ok Mr. Prince , we'll try to enjoy this adventure too . Don't worry !

She clung her arms around his shoulders and hit his forehead with her's lightly .

S - Prince se yaad aya , I've got something for you . Come with me .

He clutched her wrist and pulled her along to their room .

Annika could only show her sad pout when he passed her a gift box.

A - you've already prepared a farewell gift for me ? How mean !

Shivaay let a huge sigh and shook his head in disbelief .

S- what else can I expect from my impulsive wife !! Just open it and tell me whether it speaks anything about farewell .

Every other tooth of hers were visible when she opened the box and found a brand new mobile inside .

A - how different are we ! Thanks to your hobby of throwing phones, I get a new mobile for like every other month.

Annika chuckled as she spoke and unlocked it. There was only one name pre- saved in contact list , Prince , it read .

A - you did it ?

S - obviously. Only I know what I felt when you didn't save my number in that name during the previous time.

He complained like a kid for she looked all surprised .

A- you...you were actually expecting it the last time ?

Shivaay passed clean nod .

A- OMG !

S - why so shocked ?

A- nahi , I mean Awww !!! I didn't know you were such a baby , sorry man I didn't know why I ...ok leave it. Sirf Prince kya, I'll chance the ringtone everyday, with exclusive songs for you alone , happy ?

She kept popping bet brows , while he said nothing and just stared at her in keen .

A - bol na !

Within a blink she found herself pressed against his hard chest . Shivaay wrapped his arms her waist in firm and almost squeezed her in a tight hug .

S - I'll miss you .

Annika ran her fingers through his hair and smiled when she heard his whisper .

A - mein bhi .

Evening

Ad - hello , who's this ?

A- your to be father in law's daughter but not your to be wife , your best friend but as well as your to be sister in law .

Ad - annika , new number ?

Annika's smile deviated back on sensing his sad voice.

A- Adi , where are you ?

Ad - ghar .

She didn't like the monosyllabic answers which he used .

A- what happened? Did charu fight again ?

Ad - no . It's nothing , I'm ok.

A- teek hai , I'll be there in half an hour. Kahi mat jana.

Ad - hey annika , don't. I'm not at home.

A - dare you lie to me , huwa kya hai monkey ? Kahan ho tum ?

Ad - annika , mein...muje bahut dar lag raha hai .

His sudden cracking voice made her worry .

A - adi kuch nahi hoga daro mat ...pehle tell me what is it ?

She grew more worried when there was complete silence from the other side .

A - adi please !

Ad - I took charu to the hospital today.

A - kyun?

Ad - she was suffering from severe stomach ache since yesterday, isliye .

A - what did the doctor say ? Actually there's nothing to be scared , I've been with her through it . She'll get better soon , it happens just because of the heat .

Ad - galat .

Annika had a strong feeling that something big was coming as soon as he said it .

A - Ad...adi ,

Ad - I don't know ... the doctor said there's some complications in her uterus tho ...uski pregnancy ka chances bahut kam hai.

Her hand started shivering , and her eyes looked terror stricken as soon as she heard him. While he on the other side was in tears already .

A - adi...this can't happen. Did , did you check properly ? I'll do one thing , I...

Ad - annika , I personally spoke to the doctor when Charu was inside .

A - aise kaise ho saktha hai !

She cried .

Ad - I didn't tell her yet . I'm afraid to do it . I don't know how she'll react , I'm afraid she might start ignoring me . Kisi se nahi bathaya meine , muje bahut dar lag raha hai annika .

Adi broke out in the call itself, and annika couldn't do anything as she herself was feeling terribly sad .

I think I'd miss you even if we never met 💘

Precap

Annika does a blunder .

How was it guys ?

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