★★

Shivaay looked around as he walked through the corridors of college to find Annika. The last lecture just ended but she and Gauri left before as they're called by Cultural committee.

He reached by corridors near auditorium of college and smiled seeing Annika little away talking with Gauri and one of their professor.

He started to walk towards them when suddenly out of nowhere Tia came there with one of her friend. He sighed internally and brought a formal smile.

"Um..hi Tia?", he said and started to walk past her when she stopped him again.

"Hi Shivaay! Long time..how are you?", she asked with cringey enthusiasm in her voice.

"I am good. I see you're back to India", he said glancing towards Annika continuously who was still busy in her talks to notice this.

"Yeah. Well dad wanted me to complete last year here so that I can handle his business after that. And after all even I missed many things here", she said looking at him at last.

"Um..sorry?", he asked burrowing his eyebrows even though he understood her intentions.

"I mean, this city, college, people here", she trailed at end with a smile at her who just fake chuckled, "so, I was thinking if you're free this evening we could catch up in you know, any cafe", she offered.

Shivaay was going to deny when he looked up to see Annika has finally noticed and her expression looked sour. He sighed in relief.

"Umm..I am sorry Tia but I am not free. Also, excuse me", he said and walked past her towards Annika, who was smiling seeing him.

"Where were you? I am looking for you since 20 minutes and you're not even picking up your call?", he asked draping his arm around her shoulder. She took out her phone in confusion and then gave a sheepish smile to him.

"Sorry it was on silence and then I was busy talking to principal sir, you know, party for welcoming of new students", she said making him hum.

Annika glanced towards Tia who was clutching the strap of her bag firmly gritting her teeth. A smile came on her face seeing Tia sulking. She wrapped arms around his torso making them in a side hug.

"I am not leaving you Gauri", she tore her gaze from Tia hearing Shivaay who was twisting Gauri's ear, gently though, regarding last night.

"Ah! Sorry bhaiya but come on, it would have been no fun to have a boring night after knowing that you won't do anything", she said in whisper tone making Annika gasp.

"You talk a lot, Gauri", she said making Gauri giggle seeing soft blush on Annika's cheeks.

"Yeah yeah..of course, but I talk truth, and bhaiya it was not just me but even Bhavya and Khushi was part of it. Infact, it was Khushi's plan", Gauri said and rubbed her ear pouting as Shivaay left it.

"This time when Khushi is coming, I won't leave her", Shivaay muttered making other two chuckle.

"We will see because if you forget, Arnav Bhai is always by her side as you're always by Annika's side", Gauri winked.

"Yeah yeah, we'll see. It was so tough to sleep last night in that small couch, do you know!", Shivaay said grumpily making Annika chuckle.

"It's okay bhaiya, a person should take experience of everything. You never know, we might have many things planned ahead", Gauri said rubbing her palms together.

"Gauri! I am warning you, agar tum ya tumhari gang-", he stopped as her phone started ringing.

"Okay guys! Om is calling me. I will hear your lecture later bhaiya, bye Annie", she said picking up the phone walking towards entrance of college.

"This girl!", he muttered and looked towards Annika who shrugged.

"What? I can't do anything. They're your sisters", she shrugged making Shivaay sigh humming.

"Waise...what was that Tia talking to you about?", she asked making him chuckle.

"You can say, indirectly for a date?", he said making her face contour in anger.

"What? How the hell did she!", she started walking towards Tia who was going after stomping her feet seeing him and Annika together.

"Aree are, meri jhansi ki rani", he stopped her by pulling back. She glared at him making him chuckle.

"Come on Anu, I didn't agree. I was coming searching for you", he said looping arm around her neck while walking towards the outer campus.

"Yeah yeah", she muttered twisting her mouth. He held her hand making her stop from going ahead. Turning her towards him, he moved closer before leaning till her ear. She blinked hard feeling him so close.

"Annika don't forget, I am a married man now", he whispered softly making her suck in breath. She looked at him biting her lower lip who shrugged smirking.

"I..I think we should go home now. I am tired", she said shuttering looking here and there and started walking towards parking area making him chuckle and went behind her.

★★

Annika and Shivaay reached Oberoi mansion by evening because of the traffic. Pinki smiled widely seeing them and kept her magazine away.

"Annika, Shivaay..aagaye tum log! How's the day?", she asked taking Annika in a hug.

"It was really productive but I am very tired now. I just want to change from these clothes", she said complaining to Pinki like usually does making Shivaay chuckle lightly.

"Then go and change na, infact both of you change and rest for sometime. I will send something to eat for both of you", Pinki said making Shivaay nod.

"Aree no mom, I will be fine in a while. You remember na, I didn't cook anything in morning so I want to prepare tonight's dinner", Annika said making his eyes widen.

"Annika..beta you don't have to do it. Just prepare something sweet", Pinki said.

"Ha..haan Anu. You don't need to cook, servants are there. You said right you're tired? You should rest", Shivaay said immediately.

One thing which everyone should know around Annika is cooking and she don't go along well. She can prepare food like, noodles, sandwiches, aloo Puri, French toast omelette but proper full course meal cooking will only leads you to disasters in kitchen. Though, she's an amazing baker.

"Aree..ek second why? This is my family right so I will cook for family. Also, it's my pehli rasoi", Annika said making Pinki smile softly while Shivaay sighed.

"Okay done. Prepare whatever you want to, but for now go and freshen up", Pinki said bringing wide smile on Annika's face.

"Thank you mom", she said smiling widely and looked at Shivaay before going towards their room.

"Mom! Why did you asked her to cook?", he looked at her as Annika went.

"What's the issue? Let her cook, she knows basic Shivaay", Pinki said assuring him.

"Mom! It's not about her cooking, woh kuch bhi banaye main kha lunga. It's just she'll try to make something extravagant to impress everyone and agar accha nahi bana, she'll get sad and I don't want her to get sad", he said sighing bringing a smile on Pinki's face. She felt happy seeing his thoughtful nature towards Annika.

"Shivaay, I can't stop her na? It's her pehli rasoi and she has to prepare something. You can do one thing, you can help her in cooking", Pinki offered making him look at her.

"That's a nice idea..infact even I got married so it should be both ways, I will cook along with her. Thanks mom", he said and pecked her forehead before going to freshen up.

★★

Annika came downstairs wearing set of her night t-shirt and pajamas. Jhanvi and Pinki smiled seeing her and Pinki cupped her cheeks.

"You're feeling better, Annie?", she asked to which Annika nodded with a smile.

"Annika, I have asked the servants to take out basic ingredients you will require otherwise a servant will be there to help you", Jhanvi said making Annika nod.

"Badi ma, no need for servant. I am gonna be with Annika as I will cook with her", Shivaay came from behind and wrapped arm around her shoulder.

"Aree..kyun? Meri pehli rasoi hai na", Annika said with a frown.

"Even I got married so it's mine too", he shrugged, "chalo ab, I am getting hungry and we should cook soon".

She sighed knowing he won't agree and went with him. Pinki and Jhanvi smiled seeing them.

"Jethani ji, I wish they come close to each other soon. They look so cute together ", Pinki said smiling widely.

"Pinki, our responsibility was to get them married seeing their compatibility now it's them and their relationship, it should go with it's own pace and comfort", Jhanvi said making Pinki understand her point of view.

"You are right, we should let them be the way they are", Pinki said and both of them smiled.

★★

Tying her hair into a ponytail, she turned towards Shivaay who was folding sleeves of his kurta. He looked at her raising eyebrows.

"Okay, what's in your mind to cook?", he asked looking at her who was thinking.

"How about some paneer butter masala, naan, vegetable pulao and yeah, some dal too, Om and dad loves it and some kheer as I have to cook something sweet too", she said looking at him who blinked.

"And you're planning to cook all these alone?", he said who shrugged.

"Now you're helping me", she reasoned making him shake his head.

"Okay let's start then. I would have suggested you to just prepare some Aloo Puri and Kheer. Everyone would love it" he said making her frown lightly.

"I always make that Shivaay, everyone has ate that when I make them, I wanna make something different", she said with a pout making him sigh and pecked her temple.

"Okay let's prepare the dinner and I am completely helping you to make them, it's too much to cook", Shivaay said warning making her pout.

"Okay baba, as you wish but major cooking is by me, you can help me with ingredients and chopping-washing", Annika said making him agree as eventually he knew he'll help her in more ways.

They started cooking and he helped her in everything she asked. In between, he smartly, kept adjusting the flavours in curry or cooked them in the perfect way in which Annika was not able to. He smiled seeing her cooking excitedly and happily talking to him.

"Anu", he called out making her hum chopping the tomatoes.

"When is the prom day coming?", he asked making her look at him. He took the tomatoes from her and pour them in the masala cooking for dal.

"Maybe by next month? It's exams from mid of this month na", she said stirring the curry.

"Don't let anyone ask you out", he said after a hum. She looked at him with narrowed eyes and teasing smile.

"Why?", she asked leaning to slab. He looked at her raising eyebrow.

Keeping the knife away, he walked towards her keeping hands on either side of the slab. She looked at his movements and leaned back to slab. He gently tucked her hair dipping his face near her ear.

"Do you think I will let anyone ask you out for prom? Taking you out is next to impossible", he said softly in her ear making her look at him. Their face was just inches away making her internally gulp.

"But why not, no one knows we're married?", she whispered looking at him just to tease him little more, he cupped her cheeks making her look at him properly.

"I know we don't talk openly over it Annika, and I know we married more because our family wanted us to but Anu, you are my wife. You have been my special woman since forever but now you're my woman. Nobody gets to look at you in that way, no one and you already know I am possessive for you, it has maximised", he said looking in his eyes.

She gulped hearing him and looked in his eyes as he intently looked at her. He gently caressed her cheeks.

"Let's go out. Food is done", he said softly, parting from her. She blinked and looked away nodding with pink cheeks. He smiled nudging her teasing who glared at him blushing. He chuckled and called out a servant asking them to take out the dishes to dining area.

★★

Hey guys! Thanks for your votes and comments on the previous chapter. Keep reading, voting and commenting your views. They means a lot to you♥️

I am sorry for a long delay, first college then diwali and after that I fall ill but now I am recovering and getting better :)
I know the chapter is not much long as compensation but I promise next will be a longer one♥️

Hope you liked the chapter, do tell me how it was😁

Precap: ShivIka and bathroom ;)

Love,
K♥️