Anika's Pov

I woke up when the cold air surrounding me, made my body shiver. Slowly, opening my eyes, I looked to the side but Shivaay wasn't there. His side of the bed was empty. And even though, I knew he was an early bird, I was still confused why he wasn't there waking up with me.

I took my time and got dressed. Weirdly enough, I felt very traditional today, so I decided to wear the saree, my mother got me as a wedding gift. When I walked out of the room, I suddenly heard someone chuckling.

I followed the voice and ended up standing at threshold of our kitchen. My eyes immediately caught up with my mother, who had a beautiful smile on her face. I turned my head and realized that the reason my mother was so happy, was my husband.

He was covered in flour and the both of them were preparing breakfast. My mother making some tea, while he was making aloo poori.

My heart warmed at the sight in front of me and suddenly, I couldn't help feeling very emotional. Shivaay turned his head and looked at me. I entered the kitchen with a smile and looked at them adoringly.

“Sleeping beauty's awake?”, he teased me but I just rolled my eyes at his comment.

“She's never going to change”, my mother mumbled and I gasped. Why did they have to assume the worst about me?

Before I could answer, a morsel of aloo poori landed in my mouth. I looked at Shivaay, who was grinning at me. I carefully started chewing on it, because it was still pretty hot. I didn't have to say anything, everybody knew that my husband was an amazing cook.

We sat down and had breakfast together. While I was just eating in silence, while my mother and Shivaay had a very long conversation over fresh vegetables and cooking shows.

Once we were done, Shivaay tried to clean the dishes but my mother wouldn't let him. I just looked at them arguing with each other. For a moment, I started feeling like an outsider.

Shivaay walked over and sat down beside me. I wasn't looking at him, nor had I noticed his presence. He intertwined our hands and rested his head on my shoulder. That's when I snapped out of my thoughts and slightly turned to look at him.

“We should come here more often”, he whispered while looking at my mother then at me. His eyes were shining so bright.

“You really like it here, huh?”, I asked him while fiddling with the leaf in my hands. Shivaay nodded in response.

“We merely get the change to go somewhere. You're mostly busy with college, while I have a huge business to handle. Sometimes I wish, our lives were a bit simpler”, he sighed and I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

“What's wrong with our lives?”, I whispered and he slowly pulled away to look at me.

“Nothing. It might be perfect from somebody else's point of view. But I just want to settle down in a small town. Have a regular job and spend a lot of time with you”

Shivaay smiled at me. He seemed totally fine a minute ago, but now his voice sounded so exhausted. I squeezed his hand.

“I don't know, this routine we have...it's tiring. I want to explore new things”, he stated with so much excitement.

“Then, why don't we do that?”, I asked him and he looked at me. A rain drop landed on our hands and I looked up. The sky seems crowded with dark clouds.

“I don't know if my family would like the idea. They need an heir for their business. Omkara doesn't seem to be interested and would never agree to leaving arts. Rudy is still very immature. That only leaves me”

He was right. Shivaay was the eldest son of the Oberoi's and had taken over business even before our marriage. If he'd just step back now, they'd might be mad at him. But the rest of their child's got to live their lives, so why not Shivaay?

Where we asking for too much?

“We could try?”, I mumbled, not looking at him but the ground. Shivaay wasn't talking anymore and all I could hear was the sound of the rain hitting the ground.

He grabbed my head and pulled me up. I looked at him with widened eyes. Had he forgetten about my mother? His hand was resting on my waist, while the other was holding my hand. And he started dancing.

“Let's just enjoy this moment, okay?”, he smiled and my cheeks started burning. Shivaay chuckled and twirled me around.

My head turned to the side and my mother was looking at us. She didn't seem to mind. In fact, her eyes held so much joy and she seemed very much... relieved.

Shivaay walked over to her and my mother looked at him in shock. He grabbed her hand and slowly pulled her into the rain as well. This had to me the most beautiful moment in my life. Watching my husband get along with my mother. My eyes teared up and thankfully it wasn't noticeable, because of the rain.

He had so much respect for my mother that it made me cry. Never ever could I have thought it get someone so considerate and loving. After a minute or two, he sent her back in, because he was scared of her catching a cold.

Shivaay turned around and I walked over to him. He looked at me a bit confused. I wrapped my hands around his waist and hugged him tightly.

“I love you”, I looked up and he seemed a bit stunned by my sudden confession. Even though we knew we loved each other, we hadn't expressed it verbally so often.

“So do I”, he smiled and I glared at him teasingly, before I started pouting, because he hadn't said the three words.

“You do what?”, I mumbled in a petty manner that made him laugh. He tightened his grip around me and kissed my head.

“I love you”

Everything seemed so perfect.
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Amna xx