Thank you for completing the target guys. Managed to write this bit for you all. Please do vote.

I'll update once the target's completed.
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In the morning, Annika woke up to find herself caged in someone's arms. Without even turning, she knew who that'd be. She knew very well that Shivaay would bring her back at night if he found the door unlocked.

She turned slowly and lied down, looking at him. She raised herself, slowly placing her lips on his forehead. She lied down again and stared at him ruffling his hair lovingly with a smile. He was snoring softly, deep in sleep. She was entangled in his arms after a long time due to their recent fights.

She sighed knowing they'd have to talk soon. To add to that, Mallika didn't make her feel good either. Her whole expression changed the moment she remembered how she pulled him away from her, how she tried to interfere between them. All those thoughts were enough to bring her anger back.

She slowly disentangled herself from his hold without waking him up and left to freshen up.

***

Shivaay woke up to find himself alone on the bed. He sighed realising that he missed looking at her in the morning once again. He was tired and upset of her ignorance. It hurt him a lot and he promised himself to make it up to her.

He got up and sat on the bed, checking his phone for recent emails when Annika walked in, draped in a beautiful yellow saree. Shivaay looked up at her and smiled at her which she did not return.

He walked up to her and took her in a back hug while she was wearing her earrings standing in front of the mirror. Their eyes met briefly on the mirror before Annika started wriggling in his hold. However, he further tightened his hold on her and whispered slowly,

S: Stop wriggling. You know I won't let you go.

A: You're wasting my time, Shivaay. Haldi will start soon.

Annika spoke sternly making him upset again. He composed himself before speaking,

S: We won't be late. How did you wear the saree though?

A: Maa helped.

Shivaay slowly turned her towards him. She was looking down. He raised her chin with his index finger making her look into his eyes.

S: I thought I make you wear it always. You could've asked me too, no?

He spoke softly, clearly upset. He loved the times they spent together doing small things.

A: So that you blame me again? This time for wasting your time maybe?

Annika spoke looking down again making him sigh. He didn't know what to tell her. He did mess up big time. He shouldn't have blamed her and shouted at her in front of everyone. He simply took her in a bone crushing hug to which she equally reciprocated.

S: I'm sorry, love. I'm really sorry.

Annika hugged him tight and was about to reply when someone barged in making them move apart. Both of them turned towards the door to see Mallika and Bhavya standing at the door.

A: Bhavu, what's this? You should've knocked, right?

Annika spoke annoyed at her while Bhavya pouted at her tone saying,

B: Di, I didn't do this. I just followed Mallika di. She barged in.

Hearing her, Annika got angry and was about to rebuke Mallika, who did nothing but looked at their hands holding each other when Shivaay stopped her.

S: Anni, let it be. We're getting late anyway. You guys carry on. I'll be down in a bit.

Saying this Shivaay left to the washroom while Annika took a deep breath calming her nerves.

A: What were you guys here for?

Mallika who was now out of her reverie replied,

M: We came to call you guys for Haldi. Everyone's waiting.

Annika nodded at her and left the room without speaking anything while they followed her.

As usual, a partition was placed in between with Om and Prinku on one side while Gauri and Ranveer sat on the other side. Annika smiled reminiscing her Haldi day - how they were still fighting then, how she refused to sit near him, how he got irritated hearing about the rule that they cannot meet each other before the wedding.

Shivaay walked in and stood beside her, taking her in a side hug which surprised her.

A: Shivaay. What are you doing? Sab dekh rahe hai.

Annika spoke blushing, looking at everyone's teasing glances towards them. Shivaay simply shrugged his shoulders and spoke,

S: So what? If I can shout at you in front of everyone, why can't I show my affection in front of them?

A: Still. Mujhe sharam aati hai.

S: Jhansi ki raani sharmaati bhi hai?

He asked smirking while she blushed more. She wriggled to come out of his hold while he held her tighter and spoke,

S: Stop wriggling or I'll make you stop my way.

He spoke eyeing her lips while she widened her eyes, standing still at once, making him chuckle.

***

After the haldi, Annika was in the kitchen making coffee for Shivaay when Mallika walked in.

M: Hi, Anni. What are you doing?

Annika gave her a small smile and replied,

A: Kuchh nahi. Just making bagadbilla's espresso.

M: Bagadbilla?

Mallika asked confused making Annika chuckled.

A: SSO, aur kaun?

M: Huh?

She was still confused. Annika shook her head sighing,

A: I meant Shivaay.

Mallika at once widened her eyes speaking,

M: He lets you call him by these names?

A: He hates it but no one can stop me.

Annika smirked and chuckled. For once, she forgot all her insecurities and felt like she was finally talking to her dear friend again. She poured his coffee and kept it aside, covering it before starting to knead the dough she made for Aloo poori.

M: Wow. Unusual of Shivaay Singh Oberoi. God. He didn't even let me call him a simple 'baby' when we were together.

Mallika spoke chuckling while Annika slightly smiled. Just then, the man in question walked in with a tie in his hand calling out for his wife.

Annika immediately looked at him confused seeing him all dressed up in formals and spoke,

A: Where are you off to?

S: I got an urgent meeting. It was sudden.

A: I just brewed you some espresso.

S: I'll have it later. Please help me with the tie.

He spoke fidgeting with the tie not even noticing Mallika there. Annika sighed and was about to move towards the sink to wash her hands when Mallika intervened.

M: Anni. Let it be. You continue your work, I'll do it.

That is when Shivaay noticed her presence in the room. Annika was about to stop her but by that time she had already walked towards him taking the tie from his hands.

S: Mallika, it's okay. Annika will do it.

Shivaay spoke feeling a bit uneasy at her touch.

M: Come on, Shivaay. It's okay. Annika's hands are filled with flour right now. And not like I'm doing it for you for the first time. You forgot the prom night already?

Mallika spoke a bit slowly at the end being upset while Shivaay looked here and there embarrassed. Annika looked on confused as Mallika knotted his tie and asked,

A: What happened in the prom night?

Shivaay turned to look towards her with widened eyes while Mallika looked towards her, excited to spill their secrets, completely forgetting that Annika was his wife now.

M: Oh god, Anni. Don't ask. This man was so much in mood that night. He totally jumped on me and ruined our look. After that, I had to tie his tie again before moving back towards the party.

Shivaay coughed at that while Annika looked at them without speaking anything. That's when Mallika realised and looked down blushing.

M: Umm, Shiv, done with your tie.

She spoke looking down and left the room. Annika did not fail to notice her endearment for him and looked on lost. Before Shivaay could move on and talk to her, his phone rang reminding him of the meeting and he reluctantly left the kitchen uttering a quick 'bye' to her.

***

It was late at night when Shivaay entered the room after attending the meeting. He saw Annika standing near the glass window looking towards the moon lost in another world.

He moved towards her and held her waist taking her in a back hug. Annika came out of her reverie and turned towards him, still in his arms. She caressed his face as if memorising all his features yet again. Just one look at her eyes and Shivaay knew something was bothering her.

He was about to speak when her lips stopped him. She had slammed her lips onto his, taking him in a wild kiss. She pushed him towards the bed while kissing him and hovered him, without leaving his mouth for one moment.

She left his lips and reached for his sweet spot in his neck while Shivaay spoke,

S: Anni.

Annika shushed him by placing her palms on his mouth and spoke,

A: Let's not talk, please. Make love to me, Shivaay.

Shivaay sensed some sort of vulnerability in her voice and decided to give in to her demand. He knew she wanted this to get her mind off something. As much as he wanted to talk it out, he knew she wouldn't speak anything until she was calm and decided to help her forget the issues for some time.

As they made love that night, Shivaay could feel how she was reassuring herself that he was just hers by kissing him everywhere, every now and then. He even saw tears in her eyes as she made love to him and he knew it was not out of pleasure, but pain.

They lied entangled in each other's arms after their deed when Shivaay decided to talk to her.

S: Anni?

He spoke caressing her hair as she lied on his chest while she hummed.

S: Do you want to talk about it?

Annika hugged him tighter and spoke,

A: Not now. Goodnight, Shivaay.

Shivaay sighed before deciding to ease up the situation a bit and tried to joke,

S: I feel used, baby.

He pouted while Annika turned to look at him. The moment she turned, Shivaay pecked her lips, lovingly speaking,

S: But it's okay. If it's you using me, I don't mind. Because I belong to you only.

A: Just mine?

She spoke emotionally.

S: Just yours.

He replied kissing her forehead.

***

The next day, everyone were busy in preparations considering it was finally the wedding day. The girls were in Prinku's room dolling up the brides while the men were in Om's room, getting ready.

Annika was getting Prinku ready when she saw her a bit lost.

A: Prinku. You're happy right?

Prinku looked at her and smiled,

P: I am, Bhabhi. Just a bit nervous. I never thought I'd have an arranged marriage someday.

Annika smiled at her speaking,

A: Arranged marriages aren't always bad, Prinku. It's a different type of feeling. Knowing your husband's traits slowly, adjusting to each other. It's not as bad as it looks.

P: If you're saying this, I totally agree, Bhabhi. If you could cope up with Bhaiya, Ranveer's no big deal.

She chuckled slightly making Annika chuckle too.

A: Woh toh hai. SSO's hard to handle.

G: No wonder, di. The marks on your neck shows how hard Jiju is to handle.

Gauri spoke teasing her while Annika widened her eyes and turned towards the mirror. She remembered concealing her hickeys but looks like she forgot a few spots. She blushed and got up to fix it when she winced a bit.

Ma: I have to agree with Gauri, it seems. Long night, Anni?

Maya spoke teasingly while everyone chuckled making Annika go all red. No one noticed that Mallika was looking at Annika teary eyed all the while. It was when she suddenly rushed outside, Annika noticed while the others were busy among themselves.

She followed her out and stood outside her room to see her holding a photo of her and Shivaay, most likely from their dating days. Since, her back was towards Annika, she couldn't see her. Annika was further shocked when she saw her kissing the photo and muttering an 'I love you' looking at it. She couldn't control more and just rushed outside towards the hall.

***

After the wedding was over and the couples were settled in their respective rooms, Annika entered the kitchen to brew some espresso for Shivaay when Mallika too walked in after her.

M: Anni.

A: Hmm?

Annika simply hummed hearing her as she was in no mood to speak to her.

M: I don't know how you'll take this but I feel I should warn you.

Annika turned towards her confused raising her eyes.

A: About what?

M: About Shivaay. I know he's your husband and you guys are happy. But are you sure your relationship is not just physical?

A: What do you mean, Mallika?

Annika spoke a bit enraged.

M: I mean, I have dated him for a while and I know his physical needs. He didn't even like me that way. Most of what we had was always physical. It's me who fell for him and got hurt. I don't want you to get hurt.

A: Exactly, Mallika. You dated him for a while, I live with him. I'm better aware of my husband's needs. Both physical and emotional. And I certainly don't like anyone commenting about him or our relationship.

Saying this Annika just walked away towards her room. She saw Shivaay talking on the phone standing near the window and immediately went towards him and hugged him from the back, letting tears fall from her eyes while he stilled feeling her crying.
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Target: 195 votes