Shivaay and Annika came downstairs.

H: Finally, you guys are here. How's your health beta?

A: I'm okay now, Papa.

Av: Shivaay, where were you?

S: Aunty, actually I had a conference call so I was in the terrace.

A(in mind): Jhoot toh aese bolte hai jaise sach ho.

She narrowed her eyes at Shivaay, which perplexed him and caused him to scowl. Shivaay turned to Annika after everyone got engrossed in the party.

S: Why were you glaring at me?

A: Soch rahi hoon. Fatafat kaise jhoot bol diya aapne, jaise aap ki adat ho.

Shivaay was shocked hearing her.

S: You always have to find my faults, no? And what is this fatafat?

A: Areh, you don't know fatafat? Matlab, jaldi jaldi. Jaise..

S: Haan ho gaya. I understood. And to answer your question, I had already thought about this excuse when my pyaare would be sasurji said he'll go and look for me. When you pushed me and I had to hide. Yaad hai?

Annika frowned before answering,

A: Haan, thik hai thik hai. No need to taunt.

Shivaay smirked hearing her. Suddenly, Ranveer spoke from the stage.

Ra: Anni Di, Shivaay bhaiya, ho gaya romance? Now can we announce something?

Hearing him both Shivaay and Annika started blushing and nodded their heads giving him the sign to go ahead.

Ra: So, as we know, both my sisters are getting married and it's a happy occasion, and one of them is a wonderful singer, I would request Anni Di to come forward and sing something romantic for us to mark the occasion, what say, Di?

Hearing him Annika got shocked.

A: Ranveer, kya zaroorat hai?

S: Anni, go. Main bhi toh sunu, meri hone wali biwi kaisa gaati hai? Or are you scared?

Annika looked at him with challenging eyes,

A: Annika Vardhan Kabeer never gets scared.

She then walked over to the stage, where a piano was already set up. Shivaay smiled seeing her.

Annika began playing the piano, and everyone was transfixed as they watched her confidently and expertly perform the song.

Kehte hain Khuda ne
Iss jahan mein sabhi ke liye
Kisi na kisi ko hai banaya har kisike liye
Tera milna hai us Rab ka ishara maano
Mujhko banaya tere jaise hi kisi ke liye

Kehte hain Khuda ne
Iss jahan mein sabhi ke liye
Kisi na kisi ko hai banaya har kisike liye
Tera milna hai us Rab ka ishara maano
Mujhko banaya tere jaise hi kisi ke liye

Kuchh to hai tujhse Raabta
Kuchh to hai tujhse raabta
Kaise hum jaanein humein kya pata
Kuchh to hai tujhse raabta

Shivaay was mesmerized by Annika's words and kept looking into her eyes from afar while she sang the lyrics.

Tu humsafar hai
Phir kya fikar hai
Jeene ki wajah hi yahi hai
Marna isi ke liye

They were still in eyelock. Shivaay nodded no as he heard the last line, while she smiled.

Kehte hain Khuda ne
Iss jahan mein sabhi ke liye
Kisi na kisi ko hai banaya har kisike liye

Except for Vikram-Ragini, everyone was compelled to dance when they heard her wonderful voice. Vikram was preoccupied with Annika, which Shivaay observed and frowned at.

Along with the piano, Annika heard the sound of a guitar, and she turned around to find someone performing the music on guitar. She got up with a big smile on her face and was ready to hug him when he stopped her and pinned the wireless mic to her dress before signing her to go to Shivaay.

Meharbani jaate jaate mujh pe kar gaya
Ghuzarta sa lamha ek daman bhar gaya
Tere nazara mila
Roshan sitara mila
Taqdeer ki kashtiyon ko kinara mila

Annika approached Shivaay and took his hands in hers. That's when Shivaay woke up from his stupor. They began to dance and exchanged smiles. Annika stroked Shivaay's lips with her index finger to mute him and pointed at her microphone as he was about to speak.

Sadiyon se tarse hain
Jaisi zindagi ke liye
Teri sohbat mein duayein hain usi ke liye
Tere milna hai us rab ka ishara maano
Mujhko banaya tere jaise hi kisi ke liye

Kuchh to hai tujhse raabta
Kuchh to hai tujhse raabta
Kaise hum jaanein humein kya pata
Kuchh to hai tujhse raabta

Tu humsafar hai, phir kya fikar hai
Jeene ki wajah hi yahi marna isi ke liye

Kehte hain Khuda ne
Iss jahan mein sabhi ke liye
Kisi na kisi ko hai banaya har kisike liye...

Shivaay grinned as Annika sang the lines while looking into his eyes caressing his face. Among this, both of them could sense sparks between them.

They came out of their eyelock when everyone clapped as the song ended. Annika turned off her microphone and walked up to the person who had given her the mic and hugged him.

A: Zain! Tu kab aaya? I thought you won't be able to make it.

Z: Teri shaadi kaise miss karta. And also, this was a surprise planned by Ranveer, Bhavya, Gauri and Maya Di.

Everyone smiled seeing their bond while the Oberois remained confused. Seeing them, Annika came forward with Zain.

A: This is Zain. We have been friends since grade 2 and we use to sing together during school days.

Annika introduced everyone to him while Shivaay shook his hands with him.

R: Anni Di, during school days matlab? You didn't sing after that?

Rudra spoke.

Z: Madam busy ho gayi. She didn't get time in between cutting open human bodies.

A: Shut up, Zee. Rudy, I did sing with him afterwards. In fact, on many occasions before sir decided to move to Mumbai to pursue a career in music.

***

When Vikram and Ragini approached, everyone was engrossed in their chats. Shivaay grabbed Annika's waist as he saw them, shocking her. Annika flushed and began to speak,

A: Shivaay!

S: Hmm.

A: Kya kar rahe hai?

S: Kya kar raha hu?

Hearing his stern replies, Annika frowned being confused.

A: Sab hai yaha. Kya sochenge?

S: What? I'm holding my fiancé, Annika. And let that Vikram see. He should know who you belong to.

Annika flushed and stayed mute when she heard him.

V: Hey, Zain. Long time.

Zain looked at him without expressions and spoke,

Z: Hello, Vikram. Thankfully, long time. And hopefully, next will be never.

V: Kya?

Z: Nothing. Kaisi ho, Ragini?

R: I'm good, Zee. How are you? You've become big hit in Mumbai.

Z: Firstly, it's Zain for you. And thank you. Now if you both excuse us, we're busy.

He gave them a false smile and walked away. Except for Shivaay and Annika, everyone followed him. Annika took Shivaay's hand in hers and walked towards them, his hands in hers. Vikram grimaced when he saw this.

A: Khana kha ke jana. Agar already, pet bhara nahi ho, toh.

Hearing her Vikram frowned and Ragini was about to speak, before Annika forced a smile at them, turned towards Shivaay and spoke,

A: Let's go, darling?

Hearing Annika's endearment, Shivaay simply nodded in surprise.

***

After the party was over and everyone left, the families were talking in the hall.

R: Anni Di? Waise apko pata hai, apne bhaiya bhi achhe guitar baja lete hai.

Hearing this information, Annika turned to Shivaay.

A: Sach rudy? Yeh apne employees ke band bajane ke alawa bhi kuch baja sakte hai?

Everyone burst out laughing as Annika smirked sheepishly at Shivaay, who narrowed his eyes at her.

S: Shut up guys. And you, can you ever say something good about me?

A: You're saying as if I don't? Waise, sarcasm toh aap bhi bohot dikhate hai. 'I'm not paralysed, Annika.'

Annika spoke mimicking him while everyone was confused.

Om: Matlab?

Annika was taken aback when she realized what she had done, and Shivaay gave her a cold stare.

A: Kuch nahi, Om. Rehne do.

R: Anni Di, waise aap sach mein bohot achhi gaati hai.

D: Areh kya didi didi laga rakha hai? Ab toh bhabhi bol use.

Shivaay and Annika reddened when they heard this, which Avantika noticed.

Av: Haan. Aur nahi toh kya. Aur tum log bhi,

Turning to Gauri, Bhavya and Ranveer,

Av: Shivaay ko jiju kehna.

Looking at Shivaay blushing, Pinky spoke,

P: Oh ho. Look who's blushings.

Everyone laughed teasing them. After a while everyone retired for the night.

***

Annika went into the kitchen in the middle of the night, desiring something sweet. Shivaay was making coffee when she arrived.

A: Shivaay. What are you doing?

S: Selling coffee. Wanna buy?

Annika rolled her eyes and replied,

A: You and your sarcasm.

S: Toh aur kya kahu? Dekh hi toh rahi ho, I'm making coffee for myself.

Annika walked to the fridge and replied to him,

A: Exactly. Itni raat ko coffee? It's not good for health. And why are you so irritated?

S: Nothing. I'm sorry. Woh, work related.

Annika came towards him and placed her hand on his shoulder,

A: Is it serious? Sab thik hai?

Hearing her, Shivaay turned to reply to her and was shocked.

S: How did you become a doctor?

A: Kya matlab?

S: Just now you were telling me coffee is bad for health. I think, so much sugar isn't good for health either. That too before bed.

A: What so much? Sirf kuch chocolates hi toh hai.

S: Kuch? Annika, I can see at least 10 varieties in your hands.

Annika narrowed her eyes at him and spoke,

A: Mr. Oberoi. Do not come between me and my chocolates.

Seeing her glare, Shivaay got scared. He gulped and spoke,

S: Fine. Let's go sit somewhere.

A: Hmm.

They went to the backyard and sat beneath the gazebo next to one other. Annika then realized something and said, smirking,

A: I noticed someone being possessive today when Vikram came to talk.

Hearing Vikram's name, Shivaay fisted his hands. Annika continued,

A: But why? I mean he came to talk just.

S: Thank god, I didn't break his face.

Annika was surprised hearing him.

A: Huh?

S: He was staring at you while you sang. Even when we were dancing. Bloody asshole.

A: Language, SSO. And I know, aadat hai uski.

S: What?

A: He used to be weirdly possessive when we were dating. I shrugged it off sometimes. But then he got obsessed with me. He had to know every minute detail about me. He even ordered me not to study medical because I won't be able to give him much time. He expected me to talk to him 24/7. And then, one day, I couldn't take it anymore. And I broke up. He blamed me for our breakup. He was my best friend first. I never imagined he'd do this to me.

Annika's voice was already breaking but she didn't let one drop of tear fall from her eyes. Seeing her, Shivaay held her hands.

S: What did he do?

A: He broke up with me innumerable times before. He separated me from my friends. I got distant with my family too. I shrugged everything off thinking I love him. After I broke up, I felt free. But I started hating love. I stopped believing in it. But then I saw Maa-Papa. Roop Bua's love for phupha ji even after his death. And I realised it wasn't love. Love doesn't hurt you. It was just friendship. Or maybe, just a responsibility. I can't still digest the fact that my first kiss was with someone whom I didn't truly love. With someone who disrespected me. I needed his support all the time, and it took me a long time to get over it. I don't want such support anymore. And in India, husband is considered a wife's support. That's why I always kept running from marriage.

She looked into his eyes and held his hands tighter, before speaking,

A: Before you happened. I don't know what type of husband you'll make. But I know, you'll never hurt me. I don't know if love will happen between us, but I believe, there will be something, you need more than love. Respect and loyalty.

Hearing her, Shivaay was dumbfounded. She kept so many things hidden inside her. And yet, instead of breaking, explained everything so beautifully.

Shivaay cupped her face and caressed her cheeks before speaking,

S: I promise you, Annika. I'll never let you down. I don't know about support but everyone needs a companion to walk with them. And I promise to be that.

Shivaay moved forward and kissed her on the forehead. Annika closed her eyes feeling something she never felt before. Bliss was what she could deduce.

After he moved away, she smiled at him with pink cheeks and hugged him tightly keeping her head on his chest. Shivaay smiled in contentment and caressed her hair.

_________________________________