Thank you guys for completing the target. Here you go with the next update.

I'm sorry in advance for the next update might be a tad bit later since I'm currently busy with studies. On top of that it's Ramadan too for which I don't really get much time and energy to write. However, I'll try my best.

Since I cannot guarantee when the next update will be, I'm not setting a target for votes. But please, do vote and comment because that encourages me to write more.

Thank you!
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Feeling her tears, Shivaay turned towards her at once and caressed her face, worried.

S: Anni. What's wrong?

Annika simply hugged him tight, still sobbing. Being concerned he slowly caressed her hair and picked her up in his arms, settling on the bed with her on his lap while Annika snuggled into his chest in tears.

S: Anni. Please talk to me. You're worrying me, love.

Shivaay spoke softly. Annika sniffed a bit before speaking,

A: She still loves you.

S: Who?

Shivaay asked confused.

A: Mallika.

S: So?

Annika turned her face towards him in shock while he wiped her tears softly.

A: What do you mean by so? What if you learn that somebody else is in love with me and wants me?

Annika asked enraged making Shivaay reply to her in a soft tone.

S: So? Would you go?

A: No, but...

S: Exactly, Anni. Even if she loves me, does it matter? For me, you're important. What you feel for me, that's what matters to me. Not anybody else's feelings for me.

Annika looked down understanding his point while he pulled her back into his chest, softly caressing her hair, making her hug him tightly.

A: Throw that tie away.

Annika spoke after some time making Shivaay confused.

S: Which tie?

A: The one she made you wear.

She spoke weepily making Shivaay chuckle.

S: Okay, baby. I'll burn that tie. Happy?

Annika muttered a 'hmm' sniffing.

S: What did she tell you, that triggered your tears?

A: Forget it.

Annika spoke snuggling into him more.

S: You know, I won't. Especially when it made my Annika cry. Tell me.

He spoke sternly in order to make her speak. Annika narrated whatever Mallika told her in the kitchen while Shivaay listened to her calmly. She also told him how she saw her kissing their old photo while muttering an 'I love you' to it. This left Shivaay stumped.

S: I thought she loved Siddharth.

A: They might be getting a divorce.

S: What?

Annika narrated whatever Mallika told her in the hospital including how Mallika's behaviour around him hurt her since the sangeet rehearsals day.

S: And when were you planning to tell me these?

Shivaay asked her sternly while she looked at him with a pout hearing his tone.

S: Don't act all innocent, Annika. You've been bearing so much and you didn't even think of talking to me once. I understood you were slightly insecure about her but I never knew she was hurting you to this extent.

A: I'm sorry. I was angry at you and she just triggered it more, that's why I couldn't talk.

Annika spoke looking down.

S: What did you say that day? That we, as husband and wife can vent out our anger at each other right? I do it every now and then and then you console me. Why couldn't you do the same? And wait, even yesterday, you made love to me just to assure yourself that I'm yours, didn't you?

Annika just kept looking down making Shivaay sigh in exasperation.

S: Look at me when I talk to you. You know I hate this.

He spoke sternly, making her look at him by holding her chin. Annika frowned and moved his hand and hit his arms lightly, before speaking,

A: Don't scold me. It's me who should be angry at you. Not the vice versa.

S: Angry at me for what?

A: Itni jaldi bhul bhi gaye? What did you do on the Mehendi day?

Annika spoke giving him a fake smile while he gulped.

S: I thought we sorted that out.

He spoke nearing his lips to placate her only to get hit on the chest, again.

S: Ouch, stop hitting me. This is domestic violence.

He spoke grumpily making her smirk.

A: You deserve more. I didn't forget the story of how you jumped onto her on your prom night.

S: Ughh, that was the past, Anni. And I was young. Obviously if a girl tries to seduce a guy by grinding against him, he's bound to get turned on. 

Shivaay spoke explaining to her while Annika smirked,

A: So you admit, you're old now, Shivaay Singh Oberoi?

Shivaay looked at her challengingly and hovered her taking her by surprise.

S: Should I show, how old I am?

He spoke nearing his lips making her smile. She leaned forward to take his lips in hers into a soft kiss, while Shivaay gladly reciprocated.

A: I missed this. My bagadbilla.

Annika spoke caressing his face once they broke apart.

S: I missed you too, love.

Shivaay spoke kissing her forehead. They lied entangled in each other's arms, blissfully, till sleep took over. Shivaay waited for her to fall asleep before slowly getting up and making his way out.

***

Mallika was scrolling down her phone when a knock disturbed her. She got up to open the door and was delightfully surprised to see Shivaay at the door.

M: Shiv? You here?

She asked with a broad smile while he gave a small smile in return.

S: Can I come in, Mallika?

M: Of course.

Shivaay moved inside and sat on the couch in her room while Mallika sat in front of him with a smile.

M: Tell me, what brings you here?

S: Annika told me about you and Siddharth.

Shivaay spoke which immediately changed her expression to a sad one.

S: Divorce is not a solution to every small matter in a marriage Mallika. It's not a game. It's about two people's lives and many other's as well, connected to those two people. Anyway, that's not my place to speak. So, I'll just cut to the chase?

Shivaay looked at her questioningly while Mallika simply nodded not knowing where this is going.

S: You've been my friend. Then my girlfriend. Now my ex and my wife's friend. I know you were disappointed learning I never loved you. But I did make it clear beforehand that I was not into commitments, didn't I?

Mallika nodded.

S: Yet, you got hurt because of me and I'm sorry for that. From that day till this, nothing changed in my feelings, Mallika. I always saw you as a friend and a casual girlfriend while we were dating. I did not use you. Even after we broke up, I held no grudge against you at all for blaming me. But today, I do.

Mallika looked confused and was about to talk before Shivaay cut her off.

S: Annika is not just my wife. She's a part of me. You hurt her, you hurt me. I know she'll never speak about it to you, so let me do the honours. She gets hurt every time you come closer than expected to me, every time you try your chance at me and as she gets hurt, I burn. Our relationship started loveless too. We met, fought, knew each other slightly and got married. I always thought with time, love will blossom between us. But today, as I live every day, every moment with her, I realise how wrong I thought because, love is a very short word to describe what I feel for her. I can never be yours. Or anyone else's. Neither do I want to. Because she's my reason to be.

Hearing him Mallika was in tears as her heart was broken once again by the same man. Yet, Shivaay went on.

S: What I feel for her, I can never put it into words. Woh nahi hoti hai na, toh mujhe saans nahi aati. Use dekhe bina, mera din pura nahi hota. Chahein usse lad hi loon, lekin phir bhi usse baat karna zaroorat hai meri. Adhoora hoon main uske bina. Uske language mein, usne mere zindagi mein raita phaila diya hai par main uss raite ko kabhi sametna hi nahi chahta. Sirf uske hone se, meri zindagi khil uthti hai. It's clearly not love. It's beyond love.

Shivaay spoke smiling to himself, teary at the whole realisation. Mallika too was in tears, however for a different reason. She now understood the extent of love, this man had for his wife. She craved for it. For him to love her like this. But she knew now, that he can never be hers. She was almost losing someone who loved her similarly. Her husband. She came out of her reverie when Shivaay spoke standing in front of the door,

S: One more thing, Mallika. Don't call me Shiv or by any other nicknames. I don't like anyone calling me by such other than my Dadi and my Anni.

Shivaay spoke walking out her room and reached towards their room. He entered the room to find her in deep sleep, snuggling into his pillow. He slowly got inside the duvet and looked at her with a smile, teary eyed.

S: Beyond love.

He smiled whispering and slowly kissed her hairline, again smudging some sindoor on his lips before drifting off to sleep with her in his arms.

***

After the reception event, Annika sat in front of the dressing table, taking her jewellery off in all smiles. It's been a good day. As if Mallika didn't exist. Neither did her insecurities. Shivaay had to leave for an urgent conference call after the event which left her alone in the room. Just his thought could make a smile bloom on her face. She got out of her reverie when Mallika called her out.

M: Anni.

She turned to look at her. Even though she was disappointed at her friend, she was no more insecure, thanks to her husband. Annika gave her a small smile and stood up to reach her.

Mallika moved forward and held her hand before speaking,

M: I'm sorry for everything, Anni. I got distracted seeing Shivaay so close after so long. I even messed up my marriage because of it. But now, I realised my mistakes. I will mend Sid and my relationship. In fact, I have a flight tonight. But I can't do that unless you forgive me.

Mallika ended up in tears making Annika take her in a tight hug.

A: Shh. Don't cry. I'm glad you understood. And just because you're leaving, doesn't mean you're free. You still owe me a treat. After all, you're becoming a bua soon.

Annika chuckled making her chuckle too.

M: Thank you, Anni. And good luck with your Bagadbilla. Learn to use concealer properly too.

She chuckled teasingly making Annika blush. Mallika hugged her for one last time before making her way towards the airport while Annika smiled in contentment. Finally, everything was in place.

***

A month later, Annika entered home happily. She got off work early after a very long time. It was Karwa Chauth after all. Her parents and family were here too, for the event. She saw the men chatting away in the living room, sans the Workaholic Singh Oberoi who was still in office.

The men were also fasting for their respective wives except for Shivaay. Even though Shivaay tried very hard to convince her to let him fast, she did not let him, considering his medication and heart condition.

Greeting them, she moved towards the kitchen to see the delicacies being prepared by her mothers and aunts which made her stomach grumble. She saw Gauri, Bhavya and Prinku sitting on the couch, peeling potatoes and talking among themselves while the rest chatted away cooking. Pinky had strictly instructed that all the food for today would be cooked by them only and hence the servants were given the work of decorating.

Annika smiled looking at the scene. Initially, everyone had been upset after Prinku left for Dehradun, considering the state she got married in but all vanished when they saw her happy with Ranveer. Annika made her way towards the girls and sat beside Gauri, taking a potato to peel.

G: You're here already, di. Where's bade bhaiya?

Gauri spoke enquiring about her 'jiju' whom both her and Bhavya now lovingly called 'bade bhaiya' due to his insistence.

A: Aur kahan? Apne dusre biwi ke saath hi honge.

Prinku and Gauri chuckled hearing her while Bhavya was confused.

B: Dusri biwi?

A: His work. What else? God, he works so much. Pata nahi itna mann kaise lagta hai. Bagadbilla.

Annika spoke moving towards her mom to see what was she up to while others chuckled. Right then, the man in question walked in.

S: Hello, beautiful ladies.

Shivaay came in and hugged his wife from the back after giving a hug to his mother.

S: And my angry lady.

Annika jerked as soon as he held her, blushing. She started wriggling to come out of his hold when Pinky spoke,

P: Areh stops moving, Anni. You know he won't let you go. Don't worry, we have seen more of you both, after alls.

Pinky spoke teasing them, while the others chuckled. Annika blushed and managed to get out of his hold and ran towards her room, followed by him while the others burst into laughter.

***

Shivaay entered the room close behind her and closed the door, immediately locking it, clearly remembering how his mom once walked into them making out passionately. Both of them clearly remember the teasing glances they faced the whole week from all the family members.

He moved and held her waist from the back as she took their clothes out from the wardrobe, nuzzling into her neck.

A: Shivaay. Leave me. We're anyway late because of you, Mr. Workaholic.

She spoke trying to control her moans while he turned her around and slammed her against the wardrobe making her blush. He leaned towards her lips, closing his eyes and moved forward to kiss her only to be shocked for he had instead kissed the wardrobe door. Watching his face, Annika burst into laughter making him groan.

S: Anni. This is not fair.

He whined.

A: Everything is fair in love and war, baby. Plus, I'm fasting. So no hanky panky.

She spoke pulling his cheeks while he frowned, moving her hands away. He grumpily took his clothes from her hand and left to change muttering,

S: Dekhta hoon raat ko kaun bacha ta hai tumhe.

This made Annika blush, knowing a long night awaits them.

***

Once the fast was broken, everyone sat together on the dining table for dinner when Shivaay spoke.

S: I have something to announce.

Everyone looked at him questioningly asking him to continue.

S: Well, now that it's been six months since Annika and I have been married and we are well settled on our work, I think it's time we finally plan a honeymoon. Plus, it's her birthday soon, so maybe a getaway would be nice.

This brought smiles on everyone's faces and all agreed while Annika blushed both at the thought of honeymoon and her husband's hand caressing her thigh.

S: Also, Gauri-Om, this is for you. And Prinku-Ranveer, for you.

Shivaay passed two envelopes to Gauri and Prinku who opened them to see honeymoon tickets to Germany and Paris respectively. Gauri smiled broadly blushing while Prinku being the shy one looked down blushing.

Av: And where are you both going?

Avantika spoke making Shivaay look at her. He smiled and spoke,

S: Maa, we'll go to Turkey as per the tickets you both gifted us.

H: Oh you'll love it, son. It's a beautiful place. In fact, Avantika and I went there for our honeymoon too.

Harsh spoke winking at her, making Avantika blush while the rest chuckled at her expense. Overall, the family spent a good time together that night, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Shivaay Singh Oberoi having their own time, basking in their love, contented.

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