Love or Gratitude

2||Love: Feeling or Commitment?

Sitting in the hotel room bed still in her bridal dress, Annika had no idea what her life held. Not even in her dreams she would have thought that she would be married to The Shivaay Singh Oberoi, the person she had read about in her business case studies.

He had been her idol since she read about him, she dreamed to be a business tycoon like him, so successful yet so grounded to earth but all her dreams were let down the day her parents dropped her from her college to get her married.

She felt so low of herself for being a burden on him. He must have dreamed so much about his life partner and here just for the sake of her respect he married her out of pity. A tear escaped her already stained face thinking about this. No matter what she will always have this undying gratitude for his decision to marry someone who isn't even one percent of what he is.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Shivaay who just arrived inside the room locking the door. As a reflex Annika stiffen because technically it was her wedding night and as taught by her mother she have to give herself to her husband. She can't even object especially after what he did for her but at the same time no matter what he was still a stranger for her.

"You haven't changed Annika, must say you are really tolerant to this heavy lehanga. I would have choked out by now." Shivaay joked with a smile as he removed his coat.

Annika just kept looking down with her veil still on her head and Shivaay looked at her through the mirror confused. "What happened?"

Annika again didn't said a word just fumbled with her fingers when Shivaay realized what she must be thinking "Annika relax, we don't even know each other for now. Let's just begin with being friends shall we. You get changed and then we will discuss it."

Annika nodded and taking a salwar suit from the two suitcase of her basic needs, she had got along as Shivaay refused for anything else. She went inside the washroom to change. Once she came back she saw Shivaay lying on the bed fiddling with his phone.

She just stood there not knowing what to do ahead when Shivaay noticed her and smiled. "Come here Annika let's have a buddy talk." Annika bit her lips, something she do in nervousness before going and settling down beside him at the farthest corner possible.

"Annika are you scared of me?" asked Shivaay with a raised eyebrow to which Annika just fumbled with her actions again "Trust me I'm not a man-eater." He joked and a small smile formed on her lips.

"Keep smiling wifey it suits you."

Shivaay commented in a loving voice and unknowingly a blush came on her face listening to his nickname for her.

"Okay Annika we will leave for Mumbai tomorrow early morning. I'll introduce you to my family. I haven't informed them still because it's something too big to be told on phone but trust me they will love you. Also I have asked my lawyer to get our marriage certificate made we will sign it tomorrow. If there will be any problem I will be there for you." he assured holding her soft palms into his much strong and warm ones.

Annika nodded when Shivaay continued "Ok let me tell you about myself, I am Shivaay Singh Oberoi, eldest son of Oberoi family. I am 29 years old. My parents name is Pinki Singh Oberoi and Shakti Singh Oberoi. The dearest person to me are my brothers Omkara Singh Oberoi and Rudra Singh Oberoi who is more like my child. Then I dearly love my sister Priyanka Singh Oberoi and my grandmother Kalyani Singh Oberoi----"

Shivaay continued and Annika looked at him with a small smile. "So I am professionally the owner as well as CEO of Oberoi Group of Industries----" he was interrupted by Annika.

"You are one among the hundred most influential person on the world, also the one who brought hi-tech dairy in India. You are also the founder of Oberois telecommunications sector and Oberois Housing sector. You run many NGO's for physically disabled and also for the education of economically backword kids under the name of your grandparents Late Mr Prithiviraj Singh Oberoi and your grandmother Mrs Kalyani Singh Oberoi. You are one of the richest person in India as well as in world. You also run an environment program for preservation of rivers and animal habitat which is head by your brother Omakra Singh Oberoi. You have done your MBA from Standford Graduate School of Business and are one of the youngest achievers featured In TIME cover. You also invest for the well being of martyr's families and soldiers who get physically disabled on duty under a joint program with the government named protectors-----" she stopped realizing Shivaay's intense gaze on her.