S H I V A A Y

••|••|••

With a sigh of relief, I finally completed the last page of the never-ending contract file. As I signed it, I shut it aside and sat back, my aching back grateful for the break. I reached for my reading glasses, feeling the strain in my eyes and the pointed pain shooting down my rib bone.

My half cabin was bathed in the warm, dusky glow of amber night lights, casting everything in a soothing, hazy light. On my side, however, a bright white light illuminated my workspace. To my left, the glass wall of my cabin revealed the outside world, illuminated by a soft, serene light. The view was a constant reminder of where I was now and where I wanted to go.

With hands in pockets, I walked to the window and looked outside. The heavy fog lent a sense of mystery and magic to the scene, with different lights and colors visible in the distance. It was as if I was standing above the clouds, on top of the world. I couldn't help but feel grateful for this moment of respite, even as I knew that it would be fleeting.

Silence had completely engulfed the entire room, as my ears picked up on the sound of my own breathing, the tick-tock of the clock, and even the faintest of faint noises. It's not typical for this floor to remain so quiet, but at this late hour, no one is around in the building except for me and a handful of security guards.

Life as the CEO of Oberoi Empire has brought me a lot of glory, power, and prestige, but it also has its other side, the side that is not so easy to handle. In short time I have learnt that people tend to gravitate towards me for my wealth, possessions, and status, and seldom do they take an interest in who I am as a person. It becomes increasingly evident that individuals come into my life with their own selfish motives, and as a result, it has become easy for me to treat them the way they deserve.

You might think that being super-rich guarantees a stress-free life, free from pressure and secure from every angle, but that is far from the truth. The higher your position, the more your work pressure increases, your responsibilities grow, and your security becomes a greater concern. It's an unnerving feeling to know that you are surrounded by enemies 24/7, waiting for you to slip up so they can take everything you have, even your life.

But now, it's become a habit for me to work tirelessly, day or night, regardless of the circumstances. At first, it was terrifying, a battle against myself, but once I conquered myself, I knew I could conquer anything in this world.

As I turn around, I catch a glimpse of the time and take a seat. This seat represents the immense responsibility I carry at this moment.

It's already past eleven, and I'm certain that if my Dadi found out, she would scold me severely. The thought of her made me sigh heavily. These days she lectures me about my working hours, saying that soon I will be someone's "husband."

The whole idea of being someone's husband is absurd. It's just another unwanted responsibility I'll be tied to.

The thought of marriage reminds me of Anika.

Thinking about her, I can't deny that she seems different from any other woman I've met. Most women tend to fawn over me, demand things from me, and butter me up to get closer to me. In her case, it's the complete opposite. Despite myself, I find myself drawn to her unique personality. It's hard to fathom that she refused this marriage proposal. She's the first girl to ever turn me down, and it's a strange feeling.

I wonder what her intentions are. Does she have some ulterior motive?

Only time will tell. For now, it doesn't seem like it.

I rub my face and palms before glancing over at the pile of work still waiting for my attention.

As I sat at my desk, pouring over the important project, a nagging feeling of suspicion crept up on me. It seemed that some information was missing from our files, and it left me feeling quite vexed. Whoever was responsible for this would undoubtedly regret their actions.

Determined to make progress, I decided to push through and complete one more file before calling it a day. However, my concentration was broken when my phone began to vibrate, indicating a call from Om.

I knew what he was going to say, so I set aside my work and answered his call. "Yes, Om?"

"Where are you?" he asked, his voice flat but with a touch of concern.

"Where else would I be?" I replied, balancing the phone between my ear and shoulder as I turned on my desktop screen.

"I was hoping you'd be at home today, Shivaay," he chided me, his tone although calm like his nature.

I was reminded of the heated argument I had with her earlier, and my temper had gotten the best of me. I had sought refuge at the office, where I could calm down and focus on work.

"I know, Om, but we have an important project going on," I reasoned, typing the name of a presentation file.

"When don't we have an important project?" he retorted.

I let out a frustrated sigh. "But this time, it really is a big one."

He continued, "Never mind that. I'm not listening to your excuses. Come home soon."

I rolled my eyes. "Has Dadi gone to sleep?"

"If only she had," he said with a chuckle. "She was asking for you, and I told her you must be with Anika. Man hearing that she was so happy for you. 'Acha hai, chalo Billu sudhar raha hai."

He mimicked Dadi.

I scoffed. "Hey!"

"Those were her words, not mine," Om protested, still laughing.

While anyone else is happy or not, Dadi was over the moon. As the wedding date drew closer, she only seemed to get more excited. 

"Yeah, I can imagine," I replied, scanning through the presentation. The estimates were completely off. I made a mental note to give whoever prepared it a lecture the next day. "Listen, I'll be a little late tonight--"

"nuh-uh Don't even think about using Dadi as an excuse to avoid coming home," he warned me sternly. "Rudy's not here, and I need to talk to you about something important. I'm waiting for you."

I stopped for a moment. "What is it? Is everything okay?"

"It's serious. Just come home soon," he insisted, not willing to divulge any more details.

I let out a sigh. "Fine, I'll be there in half an hour."

As my phone call with Om came to an end, my computer was shut down. I picked up my bag, and made my way out of the office. The empty office felt like a barren wasteland in the darkness of the night, with only the dim light illuminating my path.

The cold air outside hit me like a ton of bricks, and I could see the fog coming out of my mouth with each exhale. It was as if the world was hibernating, and I was the only one left awake.

With my driver in front of me, I made my way to the car, the engine purring to life as I settled into the seat. The drive home was a blur, my mind consumed with thoughts of the person who would soon be sharing my home.

••|••|••

As I walked down the stairs, I was greeted by the delicious aroma of food coming from the kitchen. Om was already there, taking out food from the oven when he greeted me with a casual "Hey man". I couldn't help but feel bad as I noticed the tiredness on his face.

"You don't have to do that, Om. And why are you up so late?" I asked, trying to hide my guilt.

"I promised dadi, else she would have been up this late," he replied with a small smile.

I took my plate and set it down, feeling my appetite grow with each passing moment. "I have told her hundreds of time to not stay up for me. Why doesn't she listen to me?" I complained, feeling frustrated.

"Because she loves you. And at least for her, you come back home. Otherwise, we all know you would have made your office your home only," Om said, shaking his head.

I furrowed my brows at his exclamation.

 "No, seriously, you go early then come late. Office home, home office. Don't you ever get bored or tired?" he complained to me, while his words were infused with boredom.

I rolled my eyes, knowing that this topic could stretch for the entire night. "Just like painting is for you, working is for me," I replied. I decided to change the topic and asked him, "By the way, where is Rudy?"

"He's at one of his parties, as usual," he replied in a bored tone.

As the plate came before me, I realized how famished I was. The food was warm and delicious, and I felt grateful to have such a wonderful family.

'You're lucky to have them'
I shook off my thought and  nodded to Om 

As I began to eat, Om started telling me about his tonight  exhibition and how it went overall. Since it was my habit to eat in silence, he didn't expect any verbal response from me. In the middle of his monologue, he went to the kitchen and prepared two cups of, I presumed, coffee. By the time he returned, I had finished my meal. As he wished, we made our way to our favorite spot - the poolside.

"So?" I asked, settling down on the slab, my back facing the pool. The pool was enchanting, with fairy lights casting a warm glow over the area. Every inch of the space was illuminated by bright lamps. For me, the pool had always been a source of calm and tranquility.

"So?" Om repeated as he folded his pajamas and dipped his feet into the warm water.

"Om, what did you want to talk about?" I asked, taking a sip of my coffee, which was perfectly to my taste. There's nothing worse than a coffee not made to my specifications.

He took a sip of his tea and then looked at me, "About you."

My brow furrowed. "About me?"

I had a sneaking suspicion that I knew where this conversation was headed.

Om's piercing gaze analyze me. He was the only one who could see right through me, the only one to have near idea of what really goes on in my life.

"You have already avoided this topic, Shivaay, but I want you to talk now." His eyebrows rose in a serious manner, leaving no room for escape. "What's going on? I saw it today. You and bhabhi don't seem okay." He paused for a moment, then asked, "Tell me one thing, how could you settle so easily for this marriage proposal?"

I knew this conversation was coming. I had been avoiding it for too long. Om knew me too well, and I didn't want to lie to him. Om hates lies, in any form. 

As I looked into Om's deep, understanding eyes, I felt how much it's going to hurt him. I averted my gaze as  I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's complicated."

I tried to avoid the topic, but Om was persistent. He had always been the one I could count on to be there for me, to offer guidance and support without judgment. His unwavering loyalty and steadfastness had been a constant in my life, and I knew that he wouldn't let me keep my secrets for long. Specially this one.

"Say?" He prodded me further, urging me to speak my mind.

"Om don't--"

He cut me off determined, "I'm waiting. We're not leaving until you talk."

As I took another sip of coffee, I tried to collect my thoughts. Om was waiting patiently for me to speak, and I knew that I had to tell him. 

A deep breath was all I could muster before I began to unravel the truth. It was like peeling off layers of an onion, each layer revealing a deeper truth. The silence between us was heavy, like the weight of the world was bearing down on us.

••|••|••

The warm water of the pool felt soothing against my skin, but the conversation with Om was anything but relaxing. His voice, usually calm and collected, had taken on a serious tone that I had rarely heard before.

I was aware of his disappointment, his hurt. Om was always the one who took relationships, emotions, and marriage very seriously. And now, his scrutinizing gaze made it clear that he was waiting for me to explain myself.

I took a sip of my drink, trying to gather my thoughts. "I will take care of it," I finally said. "Dadi doesn't have to know."

Om's incredulous look and scoff made it clear that he didn't agree with my stance. "Marriage isn't some game, Shivaay," he said. "It's a big deal. What about your happiness? What about bhabhi?"

"That's why we agreed to it," I replied, not seeing anything wrong with our arrangement.

Om shook his head. "You know what, it's better to tell dadi you aren't ready. It's better than forcing yourself like this. This won't make anyone happy. Instead, you and bhabhi will be sacrificing for just a promise!"

I couldn't let that happen. "No," I snapped. "You just can't go and tell her like that. Haven't you seen how happy she is now? And even Avantika aunty too."

Avantika aunty had been like a mother figure to me since she had treated dadi. I remembered feeling lost and alone, but her guidance and motherly love had helped me find my way. I couldn't let anyone take that away from me.

So for me, her happiness also matters.

Om crossed his arms and asked, "And then?" my mind began to wander. The thought had crossed my mind before, but I had never allowed myself to dwell on it.

"What then?" I responded, my voice low and cool, betraying none of the inner turmoil I was feeling.

"Okay Fine, you both are doing it for their happiness but what after then? You can't always pretend it, someday truth will come out." My brother's words hit me like a punch in the gut, forcing me to consider the possibility.

I found myself at a loss for words, my mind racing as I tried to figure out what would happen?  The thought of pretending forever was daunting, but the alternative was even scarier.

"Then we will see," I finally said, hoping to end the conversation there.

But my brother wasn't done with me yet. After a beat of silent moment, he sighed, "You're cheating like this." 

"Excuse me?" I asked, my amusement at his accusation barely concealed.

"Yes, because it's just like you're doing it for formality but not actually accepting it wholeheartedly," he explained, his tone growing more urgent.

"Why do I have to do that?" I snapped, my hands gesturing wildly as I spoke. "You know I'm only doing this for Dadi, and what happens after that is our decision. Why does everyone else have to worry about it?"

I felt frustrated and trapped by the expectations of my family, who had pushed me into this marriage. I had never wanted it, but I couldn't say no to the most important person in my life, my Dadi.

As I gazed out at the pool, my mind raced with conflicting thoughts and emotions. I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. The water in the pool shimmered in the light, taunting me with its beauty and freedom.

Throughout my life, my parents were barely there to mold me into the person I am today, but I was fortunate to have dadi who took on that responsibility with passion and devotion. She instilled in me the values of life and gave me her valuable advice.

For the past six months, I could sense her growing tension about my future, as she constantly brought up the topic of marriage. Despite my reluctance to pursue it, she continued to present proposals, each one more disheartening than the last. However, as her health began to deteriorate, I realized how important it was to make her happy, even if it meant sacrificing my own desires.

Her wish was my command, and I pledged to marry whomever she deemed fit for me. Seeing her face light up with joy was worth it, especially after the week of seeing her bedridden and miserable.

But as the days passed, my mind started to wonder if I had made the right decision. I couldn't bear to think about losing her, and yet I had made this promise.

At first, I thought I could simply make the girls she presented deny me, but it was easier said than done. None of the proposals worked out, and I began to believe that dadi had given up on the idea.

However, two weeks ago,  she surprised me by proposing a girl. And not just any girl, but the daughter of Dr. Trivedi, who I will forever be grateful to.

My train of thoughts was abruptly interrupted by Om's passionate outburst, his words piercing through my detached demeanor. "Why can't it be given a serious chance?" His voice was like a siren, beckoning me to open up and let my guard down.

My heart clenched with pain at the mere thought of love and relationships. I could feel my mind racing with thoughts and memories I had long buried, never to be relived again. But Om wouldn't let me hide from my fears and insecurities. His words were like a flood, washing away my walls and exposing my vulnerability.

I let out a deep sigh, staring blankly at the pool, trying to calm the chaos in my mind. Om's words had struck a chord, and I felt the weight of his expectations weighing heavily on my shoulders. "Om, you know how I feel about relationships. I don't have time for this kind of thing, and I certainly don't want to waste my time on something that I don't believe in."

But Om was relentless in his pursuit, and he could see through my façade. "Don't lie to me. Talk to me, Shivaay. Why can't you give it a chance?" His voice was like a gentle breeze, pushing me forward and urging me to confront my fears.

I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I can't do it, Om."

His face fell, and his voice was tinged with sadness. "Can't do what, Shivaay?"

"I can't love. I can't let someone into my heart only to have them leave or hurt me in the end. I just can't," I said, my voice trembling with unknown emotions.

But Om refused to give up on me, and his words were like a ray of hope in the darkness of my thoughts. "Shivaay, I know you've been hurt before, but you can't let that stop you from finding happiness. You can't just shut yourself off from the world."

I looked at him, my expression blank, trying to maintain my detachment. "I'm not shutting myself off, Om. I'm just being realistic. Relationships are messy and complicated. I don't have the time or energy for that."

Om placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, trying to break through my defenses. "I know it's scary, but that's not a reason to give up on love altogether. Anika bhabhi is a nice and caring person. Don't you think she deserves a chance?"

But I was still hesitant, and my mind was clouded with doubts and fears. "I can't do it, Om. I'm not like you. I can't just open up and trust someone like that."

Om's grip on my shoulder tightened, and his voice was filled with concern. "But what about your own happiness, Shivaay? Don't you want to be loved and happy?"

I let out a bitter laugh, the irony of his words not lost on me. "Happiness? What's that? I've been so focused on my work and my image that I don't even know what it means to be happy anymore. And love? That's just a fairytale, Om. It doesn't exist in the real world."

But he refused to let me give up on hope, and his words were like a beacon of light in the darkness. "Love is real, Shivaay. It's not just some fantasy. And it's worth the risk, even if it means getting hurt. Don't you want to find out?"

As I looked up at him, my eyes betrayed my inner turmoil. "I don't know if I can do it." Straightening up my back and thoughts, I gazed at him with a  more composed expression. "Moreover, you're forgetting that Anika too has no desire for this marriage alliance. Therefore, I don't believe there is anything wrong with this deal, arrangement. We both agreed to it willingly." 

It's hard enough to know she is something takes my attention. The way she mingled with OmRu, Prinku that day and saved dadi from eating halwa which I knew could trigger her sugar levels and other medical conditions. Despite her animosity towards me, I knew she would be love  our family. Moreover, I had known Dr. Trivedi for a long time, and I knew that she was not the type to marry off her daughter for materialistic gain.

It was one of the reasons I didn't deny the proposal, although I had no other option. Dadi's hopeful eyes made it impossible for me to refuse her.

"Stop referring to it as a deal. It's a Marriage, not a game or a business transaction. You better be serious," Om stated with a hint of anger in his tone, reminding me of the first day Anika reacted similarly.

I admit I made a mistake in judging her for greed, name and fame. Her loyalty and sincerity were evident in her bright, fiery brown eyes, but my ego prevented me from accepting it in front of her.

"I know, and I am," I assured him as he sighed in exasperation. "All is sorted out, don't worry."

As my phone vibrated in my pocket, it was Mishra, my secretary, who was calling. Om's eyes rolled in annoyance as he saw the caller ID. He so dislikes my work habits. Well, everybody else in the family dislikes it too.

The clock had just struck midnight when he pointed out the time, but I ignored him and listened to the call. Mishra informed me about an urgent meeting with foreign delegates.

"Fix the meeting, tomorrow morning at 7," I instructed, and hung up the phone.

"Are you serious? Day after tomorrow is your engagement and here you want to attend meetings instead of taking off and relaxing." Om reminded me.

"What does work have to do with my engagement? It's an important video conference early tomorrow, and I can't miss it for anything. Plus, I have already taken the full day off on the engagement day," I said, shrugging my shoulders.

"Really?" He scoffed, raising his eyebrows. "It's on a Sunday."

I shrugged my shoulder at his unnecessary reminder.

"Let's talk about something else. What's going on with you and Gauri?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from me. 

As soon as I mentioned her name, Om's face lit up like a child's on Diwali night. His love for her was evident in the way his frown disappeared and a smile crept onto his lips.

See, love had  whipped him up into a frenzy.

"I might tell dadi soon," he replied with a nod and light grin that stretched from ear to ear.

"So, you're finally ready?" I raised an eyebrow, teasing him.

"It's been two years, and we're both successful now. I think it's time to take the next step," he said confidently, his lips etched upward.

I couldn't help but chuckle at his sudden change of heart. He had always given excuses about their careers and being too busy to think about marriage. But now that he had proposed to her, he was suddenly "ready."

It was almost comical.

My brother had always encouraged me to find a partner, someone with whom I could share a soulful relationship. But I knew that his reluctance to get married had more to do with me than anything else.

I had tried to push him towards Gauri and convince him to settle down, but he had always been stubborn about it.

"I have a feeling that you and Bhabhi might end up falling for each other, too" he said with a teasing grin, causing me to roll my eyes.

"You're thinking too much, Om," I replied, shaking my head.

"Maybe I am," he said, still grinning. "But who knows what the future holds?"

"Well, don't get your hopes up too high," I warned him. "Expectations can lead to disappointment."

"But expectations make the world go round," he replied with a smile.

As we sipped our coffee, a comfortable silence enveloped us. Soon our topic went on from present to past. The cherished memories of our childhood flooded our mind, and I was lost in thought.

"It's amazing how dadi always had a solution for our every problem. She knew us better than our own parents," Om said, his voice filled with nostalgia.

A small smile escaped my lips, remembering how she had instilled the 'never give up' attitude in me, even when I was quick to give up.

"You were so impatient back then, Shivaay," he chuckled, "I remember how you tore your own pants because you couldn't button them."

I winced, embarrassed at the memory.

"And you were so emotional even when you were 10 that  if a baby cried, you would start crying too," I chuckled, reminiscing about the time when Om had cried along with a neighbor kid who had been slapped.

But our conversation soon turned to Rudy, and I couldn't help but laugh at the memory of his fear of girls. Dadi had pulled him out of his shell, and the next thing we knew, he had announced to the world that he had a girlfriend. The first of us to have girlfriend at the age if seven.

"She really knows each one of us well, better than our own selves, just like the back of her palm," Om said, giving me a brotherly pat on the shoulder.

I nodded, agreeing with him. But then he said something that made me pause.

"This time too, she knows what you exactly needed and what's good for you." A ghost of smile played on his tired face. His words held surety and eyes trust. "She understands you, even me, Rudy, and Prinku better than our own selves. She must have chosen the right life partner for you... who knows, this might change your life."

I was taken aback by his words.. The thought lingered in my mind, and I couldn't shake it off.

As we finished our coffee and the moment passed, I was left to ponder over Om's words, wondering if he was right about the girl dadi had chosen for me.

••|••|••

I woke up to the warmth of my comforter, feeling the freezing temperature outside. My eyes slowly opened, and I instinctively knew it was time to start my day. I stretched my body and stood up, ready to take on the day.

Without feeling any lethargy, I put on my track suit and headed to the gym. An hour of cardio and muscle training always makes my day more energetic. As I got ready for my conference call, I dressed in formal attire and prepared all the necessary documents.

Mishra called me, as he usually does, to remind me of the meeting I have with foreign delegates. The conference call went smoothly, and the delegates finally agreed with all our conditions. However, as the meeting came to an end, I realized that my schedule hadn't been sent to me yet. It was already 8 am, and I usually receive my schedule and meeting plans by 7 am.

I immediately dialed Mishra's number, who picked up my call on the second ring. "Mishra?" I asked calmly, my tone cold and monotonous.

"Good morning, sir," he replied attentively.

"Why hasn't my schedule been sent to me yet?" I asked, sensing his stutter and knowing that it must be something that would irritate me.

"Sir, actually, Dadiji asked me to keep you free from all office stress from now on," he informed me, making me frown.

Dadi? How could I have underestimated her? She was always two steps ahead of me. "Mishra, I'm coming in half an hour. Set my schedule till than." I informed him.

"But, sir, Dadiji--" he asked, his fear palpable. Even Dadi wasn't less bossy when it came to me.

"I'll see her," I replied, then remembered the Asian group presentation. "And why isn't the Asian group presentation completed by now?"

"Sir, Qarim, a new employee, was supposed to make it, but he took half a day off yesterday," Mishra replied.

"And with whose permission did he take that?" I demanded.

"S-sir, it was his wife's birthday, so I thought--"

"So? It doesn't mean you will ignore your work! I was in the office all night on my birthday," I interrupted, my irritation growing.

"I don't know anything, but I want that employee and presentation within two hours. Am I clear to you?" I asked, my tone firm and unyielding.

"Y-yes, sir."

"Tu toh hai hi aisa, logo ko toh apni zindagi jeene de" I turned around to see dadi standing there with her hands on her waist and glaring me hard.

"Dadi" I whispered, taking phone little away  and side hugged her. "Mishra I will call---"

Before I could say anything to him, she snatched my phone, "puttar, he is not coming today. Don't worry, he won't say anything to you anymore, you do your work now." I saw dadi consoling that Mishra making my mouth open jar apart.

After hanging up the phone she raised it in front of me making me frown. I studied her expression and well let's say, it wasn't the one pleased one.

"Billu?" she called me out sternly, gesturing for me to sit beside her on the bed. I took her hand in mine, hoping to ease her anger.

But her voice remained monotonous and unyielding. "From now on, until your marriage and even after that, you're not going to do any office work. You're taking a three-weeks leave now. Is that clear?"

I tried to reason with her, "But Dadi, I can't just leave everything. An important project is going on and how could I stay at home? I promise I won't overwork and-"

She interrupted me, "I don't know anything. Your shaadi comes once in your life and you care about your work. I have already talked to Tej, he said he will handle the work."

I protested again, "But I will become more stressed without work."

Dadi was unrelenting, "Who said you will be free? Ary bhai shaadi hai, hazarro kaam hai. You are the groom, you need to look good, not this stressful. And then whole shopping is remaining. Who will going to do your shopping? Obviously you want everything according to your taste."

  I begrudgingly accepted her point, "okay, but Dadi--"

"No par var." My grandmother's voice was firm and unyielding as she looked at me with serious eyes. "Today, you are going somewhere else."

I couldn't help but wonder where she was sending me. She smiled for the first time all day, and I had a feeling I knew what was making her so happy.

I asked her curiously, "Where am I going?"

"You have to go with Anika," she said with enthusiasm, "and you both have to select your outfits. They need to be color-coordinated for tomorrow."

"But dadi, everything is already prepared," I pointed out.

She shook her head and explained to me that our outfits were still with the designer and we needed to try them on to ensure that they fit comfortably. If there were any issues, they could be altered before the big day.

"And then," she continued, "you both can spend some time alone. Go out, roam around, get to know each other. This time will never come back Billu. Enjoy it's every moment."

I  rolled my eyes mentally. Anika and I always seemed to argue whenever we were together. I didn't know if spending more time with her was a good thing or a bad thing.

Dadi didn't give me a chance to argue, though. She made it clear that I was going with Anika, and that was that.

But I did have one condition. "I will do all your work if you, in return, let me work from home since you won't let me go to the office. At least let me work a little from here."

She shook her head. "No."

"Dadi, please," I pleaded, using the one weapon I knew she couldn't ignore.

She frowned. "Nothing good will come of you."

Translation: You can work.

I agreed to all of her conditions, as long as she let me work. I knew that if she had her way, she wouldn't let me have any gadgets that could help me work.

I exhaled and informed my office that I would be taking the day off. I also assigned them work for the next two days and let them know that I would be working from home going forward.

I had already taken Sunday off for the engagement, so now I was wasting another day. Doing shopping and all. But wait, how was I supposed to inform Anika if I didn't have her number?

I dreaded asking Rudy or Om, knowing they would revel in teasing me like mischievous monkeys. Even dadi, if she got to know, we didn't exchange numbers till now,  would surely  question our intentions.

Prinku!

Of course, my dear sister would surely help me without  mockery or suspicion.

With renewed hope and determination, I made my way downstairs to the dining room. It's eight and everyone must be there for the breakfast. As I headed towards it I saw dadi waiting for all. 

It's been habit for all of us now, that we eat breakfast and dinner all together. Dadi says that atleast this one time all our family should be together. Though I make sure to have breakfast with all but then due to hectic schedule of mine, dinner is mostly on Sunday that I could attend with them all.

"Good morning everyone," I greeted, observing the drowsy figure of Dumble Singh Oberoi. He is always grumpy after a night of partying, returning home around four in the morning, exhausted and in misery. He would rather continue sleeping, but due to bade papa's fear, he had to be up early.

One by one, everyone arrived, occupying their respective seats and exchanging pleasantries. Om and Rudy were indulged in their usual banter, while badi maa and Prinku were engrossed in dadi's conversation about the upcoming engagement. Bade papa had informed me of a three-week break, to which I silently nodded without any arguments.

As I noticed dadi, bade papa and badi mummy finishing their breakfast and preparing to leave, I realized that I had to ask Prinku about Anika's contact information.

"Prinku" I didn't feel embarrassed or nervous, why would I. This is just weirdness in my body due to food. Prinku  was listening to Om- Ru's conversations when she heard me and turned her face my side. She frowned and brought her ear closer to hear me out.

"I need a favour," I asked her, and she looked at him suspiciously before nodding. Perhaps she was wondering what task I could have for her, when it's usually the other way around.

"Could you please send me her number, your..." I hesitated for a moment, cleared my throat,  about to say 'Bhabhi's,'  but the word felt weird on his tongue. 

Before I could continue,  Prinku raised her eyebrows, and not at all her voice low as mine, "you want my friends' number? For What?"

I looked here and there to see that none hear us out. Or else, the brothers of mine will tease me till me ears wear off.

"Oe, slow down. Not your friend's number---", I asked her holding her hand and signing to lower her voice.

Before I could explain myself, Rudy's ears perked up and he turned to face us with a grin.

"Wait, Bhaiya, are you trying to get a girl's number?" he teased, his voice rising in excitement.

I groaned inwardly as Rudy and Om started teasing. I looked at far. Dadi was nearby. And these two are knowingly saying loudly. 

"Haww Shivaay, how could you? You forgot about bhabhi?" Om teased with a sly smile on his face.

I tried to interrupt, but Rudy beat me to it. "Firstly bhaiya is asking some girl's number and then that too when he is getting engaged. Bhaiyaa are you alright? You know I would have helped you a week ago but Anika bhabhi is best for you, you know, trust me."

I rolled my eyes at Rudy's over-the-top reaction, but before I could say anything, Om chimed in. "Exactly, Shivaay, this is what you get from our last night's conversation? I told you right she is perfect for you! You-"

I cut him off. "Shut--"

Suddenly I didn't realize that we're so loud that Dadi suddenly chimed in the conversation and cut me off. "Billu! Ye sab ho kya rha hai! Kiska number chaiye tujhe? Kaun ladki?" she asked, catching me off guard.

I sighed and took a deep breath. It was inevitable.

 "Anika," I answered finally, glaring at Om, Rudra and Prinku for putting me in this mess.

Dadi's eyebrows raised in confusion. It seemed like she had finally figured it out. "Oe khoteya, Anika ka number? It's been more than a week and you didn't have her number till now!?" she scolded me, disappointed in my lack of effort.

I couldn't believe my siblings were enjoying my predicament. "Now stop glaring at them, answer me," Dadi demanded.

I tried to explain, "Dadi, I didn't get a chance to have it," hoping she would leave the topic there.

But Om couldn't resist teasing me, "Hadn't got the chance or your ego didn't allow you?" he snickered. I glared at him, but he was undeterred.

" I was asking about that only and they all misunderstood it," I clarified, noticing my brothers' and even my sister's amusement. It seemed they were all enjoying my discomfort.

"Nothing can happen of you. For once let my bahu come then see how she will change you for good," Dadi said. "Prinku send him Anika's number. And Shivaay, don't just save number, You're her to be husband so use it, call it and know each other. Understood, or should I teach you this much?"

The growing warmness off my ears told me how embarrassment actually feel. "Ji Dadi"

As Dadi went on her way, I glared at these three laughing stocks. They're enjoying too much for their own good. 

"Okay, now you three...shut up," I shouted at them, receiving teasing gazes in response.

"Don't be shy, bhaiya. It's okay to miss her and call her. After all, she's going to be your wife," Rudra chimed in.

"One more word, Rudy, and forget your new sports car," I warned him, knowing his weakness. He quickly zipped his mouth and walked away with Om, both of them laughing.

"Bhaiya, I have sent the number," Prinku said as she got up to leave. She turned around and gave me a teasing smile. "Enjoy your time," she said before giggling and running off to her room.

I couldn't believe it. Was this the same sweet and innocent Prinku that I knew? My family was driving me crazy. They were all acting so out of character.

I left the room, feeling annoyed with everyone, and headed straight to my own. I needed to get this shopping done as soon as possible.

As I unplugged my phone from the charger, I opened up the screen and saw Prinku's message with Anika's number. I saved it as 'Anika'.

As I scrolled through my contacts, I came across her name and Google contacts displayed her photo. Without my permission, my thumb pressed on her picture and it filled my phone screen. Her face was simple, without any makeup or filters, and her honey brown eyes twinkled with life unlike others. She was beautiful, incomparable to all those cake-faced superficial ladies.

I found myself staring into her honey brown orbs, which held a warmth and familiarity that was unknown to me. The first time I saw her in her casuals, I was already tense about the marriage alliance that Dadi was insisting for weeks I meet. At that time when she banged me, the first thing I noticed were her honey brown orbs. They held an unknown peace and warmth that distracted me from everything else. I shrugged it off and walked away, uncharacteristically not hearing what she was saying until she called me a "douche jerk."

But the truth was, I was lost in those honey sickle eyes like an idiot.

This photo was from that evening. The same evening we met. She was standing there in Gazebo in same bottle green colour suit, the evening sun glow making her eyes shine bright.

Saving her number quickly, I dialed it while getting ready to go shopping. As I hit the call button, her ringtone, 'Something just like that,' began to play, but before it even got to the first line, the call went to voicemail.

My eyebrows shot up in amusement as I realized she had cut me off. I dialed again, but once again, her phone rang for a few seconds before going to voicemail. I couldn't believe it, did she really just ignore my calls? 

I swear this is the last time I'm calling or else I'm telling Dadi---

"Hello"  I heard her deep soft voice,  like she has just woke up from her sleep, somewhere she sounded strained.  But before she could even say anything, my room's door opened, and in walked Om, Ru, and Dadi, all grinning from ear to ear. Of course the Perfect timing.

 I looked away from them and heard her, she was breathing soundly. Definitely woken up just now.  "Anika?"

As Om Ru heard me they gave me that teasing grin and doe eyes expressions,  in return only getting my hard pinning down glare. Dadi watched me and encouraged to speak like I'm a toddler. They all took their  seat there on my  couch staring at me like some movie show was going on. Even Rudra has his popcorns, wow.

I didn't hear any reply for seconds but when checked line, it was on. Has she slept on me? "Hello, Anika?" I asked her with last remaining patience while showcasing smile to Dadi to not make her suspicious.

"Oh shitt.." she muttered under her breath, sounding shocked. "Devil..," she added under her breath, but I heard it before the line went dead again.

I couldn't believe it. She hung up on me once more!

Frustration and annoyance began to bubble up within me as I checked my phone once more. "Fhat the Wuck," I muttered under my breath, feeling like I was being toyed with.

As I glanced up, I saw Om and Ru grinning wildly at me, while Dadi observed me with a knowing smile. "Oh ho!" Rudra exclaimed, giving Om a high-five. "It seems like bhabhi doesn't like bhaiya's voice."

"Koi nahi puttar, try once more," Dadi encouraged, taking upon her seriously to teach me how to talk to your fiancé 101. They were clearly enjoying my discomfort, but I knew I had no choice but to make the call again.

"She must be busy, dadi, let's try again later," I suggested, hoping to get out of this situation.

But before I could say anything else, my phone rang with Anika's name on the screen. "Now pick up, what are you waiting for?" Dadi urged, leaving me no choice. Meanwhile Om-Ru added, "And talk nicely"

"I am already" I shot back and answered the call. "He--" I began, but Anika cut me off.

"Hello, wo I am sorry... By mistake I said it to you...your number was also not saved so..." she spoke quickly, her words tumbling out in a hurry.

I didn't have a chance to respond before she changed the topic, asking me, "Anyways, something important you called for?"

My audience of three were still watching me eagerly, waiting for me to respond. I tried to keep my calm and told her, "We need to go shopping. I'll be there in an hour. Be ready."

"What shopping? And you want to go with me? Why?" she asked incredulously.

"Dadi wants it," I replied, earning an "oooh" from Anika.

"But why so early? And where are we going?" she asked, bombarding me with questions. It was starting to feel like an interrogation.

My patience was wearing thin. Why did she have to ask so many questions when I had already given her the reason? I decided to cut her off before she could complain any further. "It doesn't matter, just be ready. I'll come pick you up in an hour."

"Koi jaldi nahi hai, Shivaay. Take your time," Om chuckled, passing me a knowing look. He is overly putting effort to link Anika and me since our last night talk. 

"Aryy, but--" Anika began to protest, but Dadi interrupted her. "Laa, give me the phone, I want to talk to my bahu," she said, taking the phone from me.

I breathed a sigh of relief as the attention shifted away from me. Dadi and Anika exchanged pleasantries, and I could hear Om and Ru talking to her in the background like old friends.

Dadi's voice echoed through the phone as she filled Anika in on our shopping plans. She went into great detail about matching jewelries and footwear, while I rolled my eyes and heaved a sigh of relief, glad to be out of the spotlight for a few minutes.

As they talked, I slipped away to change my clothes. When I emerged from the bathroom, Anika informed Dadi that I was ready. I stood there, listening incredulously as she shared every detail about me with Dadi. Why did she feel the need to divulge every minute detail of my life?

I exhaled and walked out, till than Dadi has hanged up the call.

"Billu, you will go now with Anika than Om, Rudra and Priyanka will join you later. They also need to pick their dresses." Dadi informed us. I gave her a silent nod.

"Ohho Dadi, what will we do in between a couple, we'll be kabab mein haddi." Rudra teased, saying to dadi, side hugging her, while looking at me.

"Hn dadi" Om supported him with teasing glint in his eyes, and hugging dadi from another side. "What will we do between the love birds!"

"Om-Ru--" 

"Chlo abb bas hua mazaak" Dadi cut me off, saving those two from me this time. " Shivaay you go with Anika now to jewelers, select a ring for her and Om Ru meanwhile you both will check upon the decorations and food items and when Priyanku will come back, you will go with her to boutique."

Seeing us still standing at our spot, she exclaimed then, "Now hurry up, tomorrow is my Billu's engagement"

"Woohooo, Billu's shaddi is on!" Rudra jumped up and squealed excitedly. Dadi chuckled, while I just shook my head, knowing that this was just the beginning of the chaos.

"Billu, give this to Avantika." Dadi gave me a white packet which she was holding from the time she had come in this room. It was a size of a4 size notebook and thick like that.

I nodded and she patted my cheek, a gesture that always warmed my heart and went outside.

Changing my formal shoes for a pair of sporty ones, I gathered my belongings and made my way outside. Stepping down the stairs, I  noticed the mansion's transformation. It was as if someone had waved a wand and turned the place into a wedding hall, with flowers and fairy lights adorning every corner. The living room had been transformed into a stage, with a sign backstage bearing Anika and my names in bold letters.

The sight,  It did made me feel something, an unknown feeling, a feeling of uncertainty washing over me. As my heart raced, I felt a lump form in my throat, realizing that my life was changing at lightning speed. With the prospect of a new responsibility on the horizon - that of a husband - I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. Though Anika and I had agreed not to fall into traditional marriage roles, the fact remained that she would be my wife, and with that came a certain level of responsibility.

As I made my way outside, my mind whirled with thoughts of the future. But I knew I had to push those thoughts aside. The weight of responsibility could wait for another day.

And Just go with the flow.

••|••|••

As I drove in silence, her house appeared in the distance. The usual deserted street came to life, buzzing with activity. Trivedi's home wasn't as grand as our mansion, but it had its own charm - warm, inviting, and cozy.

The driveway was lined with round pebbles leading to the main door, while on the left there was an open garden area with a small gazebo. In bold letters, "Trivedi's home" was written on the gate.

As I approached the doorstep, I saw Avantika aunty in the lobby scolding a worker. Despite her scolding, she remained sweet and kind-hearted. Her youthful appearance made it hard to believe that she was in her fifties. Her motherly love had made me feel closer to her in no time.

The lobby was decorated with crazy yet attractive designs on the walls. "Ary Shivaay, when did you come?" Her eyes lit up with joy as she saw me.

I greeted her with a smile, touching her feet in respect. She pulled me in for a warm hug. "How are you, my son?"

I chuckled and hugged her back, "I am all fit and fine. How are you, aunty?"

She beamed, "seeing you has made me even happier."

I nodded with a small smile and handed her the white packet Dadi had given me earlier. "Dadi has sent this for you."

She frowned, gesturing for me to explain what it was. I shook my head, not knowing what was inside. We made our way to the living room, which was scattered with various items and decorations.

The sound of hustle and bustle from Trivedi's house could be heard from inside. Both families were putting in extra effort to make this event a memorable one.

The packet was opened by her, and she smiled so wide that her eyes turned soft examining the contents inside. With gentle hands, she took out a shiny sleek box in royal purple colour. After keeping the white packet aside, I could finally see what it was.

A wedding card!

I inhaled sharply as I had no idea about it before. "Oh yes, Maaji must have sent it to check all the details," she exclaimed with excitement and quickly opened it up. I couldn't believe that my own wedding cards had been printed and I had no clue about it.

The silvery ink written on the royal purple card was grand, with our names, Anika and mine in bold letters and the date, 27th December, displayed elegantly. The card was thick like a box containing a small statue of gold Ganpati and a silver coin. Inside, there were five or six creatively designed pages titled as engagement, sangeet, mehendi, haldi, shadi, and lastly as reception. The first and last functions would be held at our place, while the rest would be in Udaipur.

Avantika aunty kept looking at the card and details while asking me for coffee, which I politely declined. "Aunty,  Dadi wants me to go for shopping with Anika," I told to her, looking around the house but not seeing any trace of Anika.

She nodded, but before she could respond a worker came asking for something. She stood up and kept the card back in the packet, looking at me with a smile. "Beta, Anika is in her room. You go and call her. I will just check upon the workers."

Saying so, she went with the worker. I didn't know how to deny her, so I just nodded and walked up the stairs with quick strides to her room, which was located at the last corner with three other rooms on this floor. As I walked nearer her door, all sound of downstairs seems to vanish, and it was eerie quiet here.

As I approached her door, I noticed the 'do not disturb' sign with a skull drawn on it. Anika and her quirky sense of humor.

The slightly ajar door, hinted a dim amber light that filtered out. The question of whether or not she was inside loomed in my mind.

I exhaled deeply before rapping on the door twice, my patience slowly wearing thin as I received no response, just like earlier in the morning.

"Anikaa?" I called out with a more forceful knock, but still no answer.

In the absence of any other option, I pushed the door open slightly and strode in. As I entered the room, my eyes were momentarily engulfed in darkness until they gradually adjusted to the dim light, revealing a sight that made me freeze in my tracks.

Despite my explicit instructions to be ready, Anika lay there, sleeping like a princess in her castle.

"Anika" I called her out loud but no, there was no response.

 I approached her side of the bed. She was lying on her side, facing the window, with a faint light seeping through the curtains and illuminating her face. Her pink "Hello Kitty" top and brown "Scooby Doo" pajamas looked comfortable on her, but her half-covered face was irritating me. I couldn't resist tucking her soft brown locks away from her face and feeling the warmth of her soft skin under my fingertips.

Suddenly, my subconscious broke through my reverie, questioning my actions. What was I doing? Why was I acting this way? I stood upright, inhaling deeply and calling out her name, but she was completely unresponsive.

In frustration, I shook her shoulders, but she didn't stir. This was getting ridiculous. How can she sleep so heavily?

 "Anika Trivedi!" I shouted her name as loud as I could.

In a split second, she jolted upright with her eyes tightly shut, and began screaming for help. The blanket fell off the bed and her eyes remained closed as she continued screaming, "Help! Help! Oh my God, help!"

Her screams were like a siren, and I could feel the whole house shaking with the noise. I tried to calm her down, but her hands covered her face and her cries only grew louder.

I had to do something, so I reached out and held her hands tightly, forcing her to look at me. It took all my strength to keep hold of her, but finally, I managed to get through to her. "It's me, Shivaay," I said firmly, trying to get her to calm down.

For a moment, she was still, processing the situation. Then, recognition dawned in her eyes, and she backed away from me, still screaming. "YOU"

As she realized who I was, her eyes widened in shock, and she scrambled back on the bed, pointing an accusing finger at me. "What the hell are you doing in my room?" she yelled.

I couldn't believe her audacity. "I told you to be ready in an hour," I said, my arms crossed over my chest. "And here you are, still asleep!"

Anika looked at me with a frown of annoyance, muttering something under her breath. "It's just been five minutes since you called me!" she protested.

Hearing her words, I gazed at her incredulously and snapped my fingers in front of her, the sharp sound reverberating throughout the room. "Wake up, Ms. Anika," I admonished. "It has been more than an hour since I called you."

She peered at me with narrowed eyes before glancing at the bedside clock, verifying the time for herself.

As soon as she realized her error, a flush of embarrassment spread across her face, and she muttered some unspeakable profanities under her breath.

When she turned to face me, her eyes squeezed tightly shut as she vigorously scrubbed her face with her hand. She looked like a child caught red-handed sneaking a midnight snack.

"Oh!" she exclaimed before sheepishly adding, "Perhaps I overslept, thinking it had only been five minutes."

Then, something seemed to click in her mind, so she crossed her arms defensively and glared at me. "But that doesn't give you the right to barge in here without knocking."

I rolled my eyes in disbelief. "You sleep like a log. How could you expect to hear a knock when you didn't even flinch at my yell?"

She shook her head stubbornly, refusing to accept any explanation. "Regardless, you cannot just invade a lady's quarters like this."

"Avantika aunty specifically instructed me to come," I reasoned, hoping to get through to her.

Her retort was quick, "That doesn't mean you can barge in without knocking. Where are your manners?"

She mimicked me, reminding me of the time she was caught  staring me in a towel. I yelled the same at her.

My response was swift, "I knocked, okay? Don't shout at me now!"

Her comeback was equally fast, "I knocked too! And you screamed at me!"

I had to admit, she was right. I had lost my cool. I retorted, "And I let go at that time."

She laughed, fake. "Is it normal for you to go into any girl's room without their permission?" And without hearing me out, she continued, "What if... what if I was changing my clothes?"

I reassured her, "You weren't."

"But what if I was sleeping naked?" she asked.

"Do you?" I questioned.

"No, but what if?" she replied.

"Well, you saw me that day too," I pointed out.

"So you want to see me like that?" she exclaimed, her brown eyes widening.

"That's not what I said," I calmly told her.

"But you meant that only!" she accused.

I was taken aback by her accusation. "You're twisting my words, Anika."

It seems like her sleeps hasn't been completed. She is acting like a kid who is forcefully being woken up against his wish to go school. "I know you! You're like other man, You are a sick, arrogant, bast--oomph"

Before she could say anything else in her panic, I uncrossed my arms and covered her mouth, stopping her mid-sentence. She looked at me with surprise, her words muffled under my palm.

Her words were muffled under my hand as I held it firmly over her mouth, and her eyes widened in surprise. I locked gazes with her and spoke in a hushed tone. "Just shush. Quiet."

Her muffled protests continued, but I wasn't about to let her get away with insulting me. "Firstly, if you were in a compromising position, you would have answered my knocks," I stated firmly, my hand still covering her mouth.

 I then addressed the other issue at hand, the thought of her sleeping naked. "And secondly, if that had been the case, trust me, I wouldn't have taken advantage of you like that. Ever. You can take my words on that," I said in a low, sincere tone. "And if it did happen, it would have been purely accidental, like when you walked in on me that day."

 As her eyes softened, she attempted to remove my hand. I couldn't let her do that, not when I still had more to say. "Lastly, I'm not in habit to barge into girls' rooms," I explained softly, my tone barely above a whisper. "You're my to-be-fiancé now, not just some 'any' girl."

 I was surprised at myself for saying that last part. It slipped out before I even realized it. As I awkwardly ran my free hand through my hair, I felt something warm on my palm. I quickly withdrew my hand, disgusted at the thought of what she had just done.

 She was still staring at me, confused and dazed. "Did you just lick my palm?" I asked incredulously, holding up my saliva-covered hand. 

 She seemed embarrassed but also defiant. "You weren't removing it. I had no other option," she mumbled, still avoiding eye contact. 

 "That's disgusting!" I exclaimed, holding up my handkerchief to clean my now-salivated palm. 

She looked awkward as she picked up her blanket from the floor, and I took out my clean white handkerchief to wipe my now-salivated palm. We stood in silence for a few moments until my phone rang, shattering the cold silence.

"You just wait downstairs," she mumbled, heading towards her closet. "I will be getting ready in twenty minutes."

"Be quick," I murmured in response, accepting the call and hastily leaving the room.

••|••|••

EXTRA

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