And as it happened, a week went by and though Janaki seemed intimidating to shivaay whenever he was around Anika, she did happen to like Shivaay on the process.

She taught Shivaay how to not mess up the laddoos. Tapped on his head when he had his hiccups. Took the same side while arguing why Manik was the most romantic pair in Kaisi hai yaaryan. And not to mention their coordination when they ganged up to tease Anika.

Anika was beginning to notice how Janaki tried hard not to smile at shivaay when she really wanted to.

"See, this is why is was saying, onions had to be cut in slices and not in cube." Shivaay pointed out.

"You jobless person can have all the time in the world to cut them in thin slices. Well i dont. Cutting onions into cubes is going to be the easy way" Anika reverts back.

"Cooking is not about making it easy. It's about relishing it. Feeling the flavour in your taste buds. That euphoric feel when you have your first bite" Shivaay narrows his eyes.

He quickly snaps his head to Janaki's side.
"You tell her Ma. You know it better than anyone else here that Im right" he pleads with his eyes.

Janaki looks to Anika and then to shivaay. She shakes her head and huffs.
"Haiyappa! Is this how you guys are going to be. Always fighting." Janaki breaths out.

"Who's fighting?" They both yell at the same time and look to each other. Janaki smiles.

"See this is how you shoul—AH!" Anika squeels as she starts punching her arm in the air. She had slightly cut her hand while she was trying to prove a point.

"Beta?!?" Janaki panicks.
Shivaay runs to Anika and is completely freaking out. He's everywhere.

"Are you alright?!? You should have been careful, Anika. Well, does it hurt? Shall we go to a nearby doctor? Or is ointment fine? Er.. what am i saying.. Let's check up on a doctor"
He speaks in one breathe examining every angle of the cut worrying as if Anika was terribly hurt. He looks up finally and raises an eyebrow.

"What!??! Are you okay?" He still asks with a worrying tone. While Anika gives a 'you are so cute' kind of look and smiles before she brings forward her other hand and pinches his nose.

"Cute singh oberoi, Im completely fine. That was such a small cut." She says as she starts to shake her fingers vigorously in the air.

He quickly grabs her hand and bends to gently blow air on the cut area. He wasnt convinved. He wasnt totally out the trauma yet and he wasnt ready to see Anika hurt again.

"You dont know anything. This could still go septic" he informs sternly and turns to Gauri.

"Gauri can you please bring the medicine box? It's in the bottom shelf near the ironing board." He asks and she walks away to get it.

Shivaay looks around in distress. When he locks eyes with Janaki he remembers how he was still under supervision.  But his stance never changed. He was sure he would be beside Anika no matter what. So he ignored Janaki and kept blowing on her cut.

Janaki was startled how Shivaay ignored her. Yet this was exactly what she expected Shivaay to do. She wanted someone to care for her daughter. Someone who would do anything to keep her daughter happy.

So Janaki slowly walks to Shivaay and smiles which did not get unnoticed by him. When he was about to prepare himself for what to say if Janaki confronts him, what Janaki did surprised him.

She gently stroked Shivaay's hair looked at shivaay. By now Anika'a attention was fully on what was happening. She couldn't comprehend what was happening.

"You take care of her so well" Anika's mother says and keeps stroking his hair. She takes in a long breathe and smiles again.

"You teach me that Kheer recipe soon. Im making that for Yours and Anika's wedding. And I want 2 granchildren okay? Boy is fine. But I'd love it if it's a girl. Just like Anika." Janaki says and smiles widely. 

Shivaay and Anika's jaw drops. Shivaay scoffs a second later.
"I wanted 3 ma" he complaints.
Anika gasps even louder now.  She yeets at shivaay and hits his shoulder.

"Are you kidding me?" She hides a smile beforehitting him again.

"Well, if you are not comfortable. How about a girl first, and then we'll have twins" he shrugs as if he stated something obvious.

"Fine by me!" Janaki joins in crossing her hands.

Anika was definitely enjoying, seeing Shivaay and her mother getting along. Also marriage? How were they talking about this so freely? She imagined.

"E- err.. W-what the hell are you guys talking about. I already have 3 babies around. Gauri the full grown Buffalo.  Vicky is an annoying brainy kid. And Hiccups is the best babyboy.  Im done baby sitting all day. I dont any other babies" Anika huffs dramatically and flips her hair.

Janaki squeezes her ears.
"Get back to work now. Your wounds are all fine. Dont pretend as if your are still hurting. I saw you playing with hiccups the other day. If you want to be baby'ed all day. Dont pester me anymore. You have shivaay now" janaki nods and twists her mouth.

Shivaay chuckles and in an instinct hugs janaki.  "Thankyou Ma!" He was genuinely happy.

Anika shakes her head and joins the hug.
"Shivaay's the best guy i could ask for, Ma. Thankyou for agreeing!"she says and hugs her tightly.

"I know. Ive seen enough to be convinced." She says and pats on both of their backs.

——————

Janaki was finally leaving. Gauri had to eventually tag along after literally pulling her out of the house. Shivaay pampered her with all the white chocolate he could get.

"Goodbye kanna. Take care okay." She says facing both Anika and Shivaay.

"Ill take care ma!" Anika says with a smile.

"Who asked you. I was talking to shivaay" Janaki gives a skeptical look. And anika rolla her eyes.

Janaki laughs before closing the door of the car. And in a jiffy the car disappeared in the corner of the street.

Shivaay turns to Anika and walks behind her to finally freely give her a back hug.
Anika slowly leans back to get comfortable as well.

"So?" Shivaay whispers to Anika's ears.
"...So?" Anika repeats taking in a deep breath.

Both haven't discussed about the marriage concept yet atleast not alone. So the awkward silence lingers.

"Woof woof" Hiccups barks.

"He doesnt want to see our PDA itseems" Anika informs.

"Oh— wait! You also understand what Hiccup speaks?" Shivaay gives a curious look and scratches the back of his neck.

Anika giggles and turns to encircle her hands around Shivaay's neck while his hands snake her waist.

"We have a marriage to plan!" She says and looks at Shivaay.

"Oh do we?" He asks still confused if Anika is really ready for all this.

She breaths out loud.
"It's time we called Advaay."  She says and Shivaay nods understanding.

She needs to Arrange a wedding within the next 15 days and she needs to give Mallika a proper surprise party.

"GET READY GANDHI JI. We have a war to fight!" She voices dramatically and shivaay facepalms.

**************

Hey. Sorry I ghosted you again. But ive been busy with life. Hope you understand. Im planning to spend time writing every night. So i better prepare myself for this.
Happy reading :) Do drop a vote. ❤