|••|
"Annika, Mal is calling you. Oh! Someone is looking extremely gorgeous", Shivaay walked inside his room to see his girlfriend getting ready. He wrapped his arms around her from behind earning a wide smile from her.
"Is it?", she asked with a small giggle applying the last coat of lipstick. He hummed kissing her cheek.
It's been a month since New Year. Malika and Arnav were finally get married in a week at a beach resort in Goa. It was their engagement ceremony this evening as everyone will be leaving for Goa next morning.
Annika along with Gauri and Bhavya went back to their penthouse, much to Shivaay's dismay. He asked her to stay at Oberoi mansion till wedding but because of impromptu shoot at a location near her home, she went back promising to spend ample time after the wedding ends.
Her arm and leg were completely fine now and she was thrilled to take part in her friends' wedding. She came early morning to Oberoi mansion for helping in the preparations. Shivaay was more than happy to see his girl smiling.
"How do I look?", she asked turning and taking a twirl with a smile.
She was wearing a deep blue chiffon ruffled saree with full sleeves blouse having embroidery on the wrist areas and an embroidered belt around waist. She kept her makeup simple with smoky eyes and light shade of lipstick. Her hair was straight having partition in between. Along with that, she wore a choker set and heels to complete her look.
"As I said, my gorgeous", he said coming ahead and wrapped arms around her waist. She smiled widely and kissed his cheek. He smiled holding her closer enjoying her soft kisses.
"You look no less, babe", she said admiring him. He was wearing a blue kurta along white nehru jacket over it, with trousers matching his kurta. He smiled pecking her forehead.
"You get ready fast, I am going to see what Malika needs", she said taking the tissue from dresser and wiped his lipstick smudged cheek.
"Hmm. Don't strain too much, you just overcame your injuries", he said kissing her forehead. She nodded humming.
"Your packings are done for Goa?", he asked as she was wearing her heels. The bright smile on her face faded hearing him and hummed again.
"I will go and see what Mal wants", she muttered and went out taking her phone. As she was going towards Malika's room, her phone started ringing making her anxious seeing the ID.
It was her father. She is getting the calls since the day she has official their relationship and she is either ignoring them or rejecting the calls as she was not ready yet to discuss her relationship with her parents.
She rejected the call and went ahead towards Malika bringing back the smile on her face. Being an actress, she has got pro in bringing sudden smiles. As she enter the room, Malika was walking across the room in a bathrobe biting her nails.
"Mal, what is this? You're not ready yet. I heard from Shivaay you're calling me", she asked coming in front of her.
"Actually Gauri is busy with Jhanvi aunty and Bhavya is helping Arnav I guess so I had to call you. Oh! You're looking beautiful in this saree Annika", Malika said in fast anxious voice.
"Thank you Mal. It's from your collection only", Annika said making Malika nod slightly.
"What happened?", she asked again.
"I am nervous", she said sitting on the chair with a huff, "I mean, everything will change after today, right?", she looked towards Annika.
"Malika, but it will change for good isn't?", Annika asked kneeling down to her, "you love Arnav and you always wanted to marry him. Your dream is coming true. You love each other, your families are happy. What else is needed?", she asked cupping her cheeks.
"Will I be able to handle everything?", Malika said looking at her with nervous frown.
"Of course girl, you handle everything you take other yours, whether it's a grand fashion event or relationship, you'll rock in this too. Trust me, and you won't be alone right? Arnav will be with you", Annika said pressing her palms in encouragement.
"Hmm", Malika hummed still with a nervous frown and anxiousness on face.
"Mal, take a deep breath and relax. It's your day, grace it with smile", Annika said with a smile making Malika take a deep breath and nod with a small smile.
"You're right. I should be happy and positive. I can handle this", she said with a wide smile.
"That's like my Malika", Annika said smiling widely, "and also, if you'll roam around with this sulked face, media will capture and will say, Malika Arora was not happy in her engagement. You want that?", Annika said jokingly making Malika chuckle and hit on her shoulder lightly.
"I will get ready then. Thank you for the motivation", she said making Annika glare at her.
"We're friends idiot. I will ask Gauri and Bhavya to come fast and get done with your make-up and jewelries", she said getting up. Malika nodded.
"Oh Annika! You are from Goa. You know a nice bakery? We haven't decided yet for our wedding cake", Malika asked as she took her lehenga.
"Umm.. I don't know", Annika said with a faint smile, "but don't worry about it, we'll find one there", she assured to which Malika nodded with a smile.
"Okay. I will go and get ready", she said and Annika nodded with a faint smile.
"God please. Don't let me meet mom dad, I am not ready yet", Annika wished with a low voice, clasping her hands. Sighing, she went to call Gauri and Bhavya.
|••|
A round of applause was heard from the crowd as Malika and Arnav exchanged rings. Both had beautiful smiles on their face as they joined their hands together, showing their rings. Their friends hooted seeing them happy.
Annika was clapping happily when Shivaay came beside her bumping their shoulders. She looked at him and then looked ahead. A smile came on her face as she felt his arm around her waist.
"Annika, a trick question", he said.
"Ask", she chuckled looking ahead.
"You wear a ring from the time I confessed I love you", he said. She hummed smiling and looked at her hand where the ring was shining.
"When I will be engaging you with me, as in proposing you, you'll be wearing another ring here, isn't it?", he asked holding her left hand, rubbing over her ring finger.
She looked at him surprised and little nervously. He smiled shrugging, lacing their fingers.
"You..you're planning to propose me?", she asked confused.
"Not yet. It has some time for it. But answer, yes or no", he asked.
"Of course yes, what kind of question is that", she chuckled.
"Then where will you wear your wedding band?", he asked making her eyes widen and cheeks turn red.
"Shivaay", she said in disbelief nudging her elbow lightly to his stomach.
"What?", he said with a wide smile seeing her red cheeks, "it's an innocent question", he pouted lightly.
"Wh- from where it came now Shivaay? We'll see when the time will come", she said looking ahead with her flushed face.
"Hey! I need my answer. I saw their engagement and now I am worried over this. I want our wedding to be a perfect affair baby", he said making her blush more and look at him blushing with a glare.
"You..you don't have to worry over it. I can wear both the rings in same finger or wear my engagement ring in right finger", she said in soft voice, blushing deeply.
"Mhm? Then I can't wait to make you wear both of them", he said pulling her closer in his arms and kissed her temple. She smiled shyly and came more closer to him.
"Concentrate on your best friend's wedding for now and let me too", she said giggling softly and came out from his arm to go towards Malika and Arnav who were in the centre with their friends. He chuckled lightly and went behind her.
"Congratulations", Annika squealed hugging both of them tightly. They smiled widely hugging her back.
"Thank you so much Annika. Special thanks for pushing Malika to make me confess to her that I love her. Maybe I would have taken more time and Malika would have married- I can't even imagine", Arnav said holding her hand with a smile.
"Come on Arnav. You're like a brother to me and Malika has become my very good friend in only sometime. It's the least I can do for two special people of my life. No thank yous", she said glaring playfully at last. Arnav raised his hands in surrender and smiled at her.
"Oh hello! Take care of Malika from now onwards. You have Annika as your sister but don't forget this brother of your fiance. If you'll trouble my sister, you're gone", Shivaay said.
"Our sister Shivaay", Om said keeping arm around Malika and Rudra nodded along.
"Really? You guys are in her team now? Such big betrayal", Arnav pouted.
"Why to worry Arnav bhai? We're here na, your sisters", Gauri said looping arm around his arm and narrowed eyes towards Om.
"Exactly. You have three of us in your team", Bhavya added and Annika nodded coming to the side.
"Great! The teams are made here", Shivaay said shaking head.
"But- Arnav, never trouble our bestie", Annika said making Malika smile.
"Don't worry about that Annika. If I will offend or hurt Mali, I know I am busted. She herself will beat me to pulp before you guys even think of that", Arnav said eyeing Malika, making her shrug with a smirk dusting her shoulder.
"That's true", she said making other laugh.
They heard Jhanvi inviting guests for dinner. Annika and Shivaay looked at each other and nodded.
"Guys. You go ahead, me and Shivaay have to look after the last arrangements of the things going to Goa for wedding", Shivaay said.
"Shivaay we'll do it later. Let's have dinner first. Infact, we'll help you after that", Arnav said.
"Actually Arnav, the things are going now by road. We'll be back in sometime. And you're the to-be couple, just enjoy. We're there", Annika smiled.
"Exactly. Me and Rudy are going to help them. Girls, you be with them as guests are there", Om said. Gauri nodded.
"Fine, but call us if you need anything", Malika said. Annika nodded with a blink.
|••|
Annika, along with Oberoi brothers went to see off the staff taking the arrangements of wedding to Goa and check if everything is taken.
"We'll see the outdoor decor", Om said taking Rudra along towards the left direction. Shivaay nodded going towards the outfit section. An SUV was going taking Malika's and Arnav's outfits and accessories for the functions ahead.
"Sir, where we have to drop these?", the driver asked.
"Yeah, Panaji of course, there's some baker's colony, ahead that comes the beach banquet hall, you have tl drop them there. I am texting the address, but ask the route from locals", Shivaay said.
Annika who was looking at the outfits, snapped her head towards Shivaay hearing him. She came hurriedly towards him.
"Umm.. Why baker's colony Shivaay?", Annika asked gulping.
"Baby, the resort where the banquet is, comes crossing the colony. Why?", he asked suspiciously seeing her worried face.
"No..nothing", she smiled lightly. Shivaay signed the driver to leave and turned towards her holding her hands.
"Annika, is there something you're hiding from me?", he asked softly cupping her cheeks.
"No Shivaay. It's just I am not ready yet and Goa is hometown as you know. I am just worried if we come across my parents", she sighed looking at him.
"Annie, baby I promised you right? We won't meet them until you want. I will not force you to meet them or make me meet them. That's why I haven't told anyone yet that your parents live in Panaji", he said caressing her cheeks with his thumb.
"Thank you for that. Just sometime more. Maybe my dad will understand but my mom, she-", Annika stopped gulping the lump forming with tears.
"Shh! We're in this together and you know what, I will fight with you, for our love", he said with confidence in voice and smiled at her. She nodded and hugged him.
"I just hope we don't come across them", she mumbled.
"We won't", he said pecking her hair. She nodded and decided to go with flow, keep ignoring her father's calls and live the moments.
"Don't worry now, hmm?", he said and set her hair properly pecking her forehead. She smiled softly and looked towards him. He pecked her lips.
"Andar chalein? Let's have dinner and then we'll sleep soon", he said pecking her hair again and again. She giggled nodding.
They went inside and had dinner with their friends and family discussing about the wedding ahead.
|••|
Annika came inside his room to see him half laying on the bed, drooping on his arm. She chuckled seeing this. She was helping Jhanvi and ladies for the small puja they'll be conducting before leaving for wedding.
The pictures of the ceremony went viral on internet congratulating Malika and Arnav. Media didn't left the another couple by posting how Annika and Shivaay were complimenting each other at the evening.
She removed her earrings and kept on the dresser. She blushed on the look of his dresser. It was covered with her stuffs and jewelries as she was coming often. It looked as if she lived there, saying that some of her casual clothes are kept in his wardrobe.
"Finally you came", she came out of her thoughts hearing his droopy voice. She chuckled and turned around.
"Hmm. I was with other ladies", she said removing her neck piece, keeping it properly on the station. She moved to his wardrobe to take out her pair of shorts and his shirt. What's more comfortable than his shirt, she thought.
"Come fast. I am sleepy", he mumbled balancing on his arm. She shook her head in disbelief and went inside the bathroom.
"Change your clothes Shivaay", she said before closing the door.
After sometime, she came out messaging her hair because of the pain caused by hairpins. She sighed seeing Shivaay still sleeping on his arm balancing to not fall down from his palm.
She went to him and sat down on the bed taking his head on her lap. Feeling her warmth, he snuggle up in him. She smiled seeing his face like a baby while sleeping and gently kissed his cheek.
"Babe", she called out to hear his hum.
"Wake up, baba. Change your clothes and sleep", she said caressing his hair. Hee hummed and took her palm under his face pecking them.
"Change your clothes and sleep babe, I won't disturb you", she chuckled and leaned pecking his temple again and again. A full blown smile appear on his face with closed eyes and kissed her palm tightly opening his eyes.
He lay down properly in his lap and looked at her face. She smiled pecking his nose. He held jet head from behind her head dipping her head closer to his face and kissed her softly. She kissed him back with a smile.
"My angel", he muttered as they parted looking at her face, making her blush on his endearment and pecks his lips again.
"Go freshen up and change fast. I am very sleepy", she said with a pout at last.
"Help me na", he said teasingly making her blush and hit on his chest, "naughty", she mumbled.
"With whom shall I be naughty then, if not you?", he asked wiggling his eyebrows. She chuckled shaking head.
"No one. Uthoo!", she whined cutely making him giggle and get up from her lap.
"Okay, highness", he said went pecking her lips. She smiled and got inside the comforter and started scrolling through her social media for sometime. She smiled seeing a picture taken by media where all of them are standing together posing with the Malika and Arnav. She was smiling widely and Shivaay's arm was around her waist. She took a screenshot of that and liked the post.
"Pumpkin, pack your last minute things early in morning. We'll be leaving just after the puja and yes, I am telling you before itself. It will be just you and me in the car", he said walking out of bathroom and coming inside the comforter.
She giggled switching off her phone to ignore and disturbance during sleeping and nodded.
"Okay, my baby. It will be just you and me in the car", she chuckled and open her arms.
He smiled taking her in his arms and hugged her closer to his chest pecking her forehead. She smiled snuggling in his warmth and pecked his chest. Wishing each other goodnight, they slept having each other in arms.
|••|
Hey guys! Thanks for your votes and comments on the previous chapter. Keep reading, voting and commenting your views. They means a lot to me♥️
Hope you liked the update. Do tell me how it was😁
Precap: ShivIka in Goa
Love,
K♥️