Annika's office,
Annika's cabin,
As soon as Shivaay opened the door with so much force "Splaasshhhh".....

He drenched in water. He looked around baffled. But no one was there. Again few drops of water falls on his head. He looked up and confused as there was hanging one bucket with the help of rope.

Annika who was under her table as her dress was stucked in the table. She was trying to remove her dress from table when she heard that voice. She immediately took her dress out from table and came outside. She laughed looking at the scene in front of her.

Shivaay was standing at the door fully drenched and he was looking around in confusion.

Shivaay sensed her and looked in front of him.

Shivaay-"Annika I....."

He stopped in middle as soon as he saw her. She was wearing a maroon dress and looking breathtakingly beautiful.

(Annika's Dress)

He forgot everything and started checking her out. He was so engrossed in her that he didn't realize Annika came and stood in front of him. She snapped her fingers in front of his eyes. He came back from his thoughts and looked into her eyes. She smiled and said,

Annika-"I am so sorry Shivaay... Actually I was planning to keep flowers there" she said pointing towards that bucket.

A-"But I want to check ki door open hone pr flowers girenge yaa nahi.... And isliliye yeh water..... I was about to check it but aap aa gaye. How come you are here so early?"

Shivaay didn't answer anything. He didn't listen even. He was just looking at her face.

A-"Shivaay.....I am sorry. And mein koi majaak nhi kr rahi hu.... Look there... Flowers hai mein daalne wali thi."

She said looking at the flower basket near the sofa. He also looked at that basket but again looked at her. Now Annika was tensed. She thought Shivaay is angry on her.

A-"Shivaay, I am sorry. Actually I....."

She couldn't able to complete her sentence as Shivaay hugs her tightly.

He hugs her with so much force that she stumbled a bit. But she composed herself and hugs him back.

After sometime Annika felt wetness on her shoulder. She immediately broke the hug and looked at Shivaay. Shivaay turned his gaze at other side and wiped his tears. She turned his face to her and cupped it in her hands.

A-"Shivaay what happened? Why are you crying? Are you ok?"

S-"An..... Annika I am so.....sorry."

A-"Why are you saying sorry?"

S-"I know it's my mistake, tumse baat chupani hi nhi chahiye thi. But mujhe laga pata nhi tum kaise react krogi n isliye..... But trust me Om se accha ladka Gauri ko nhi mil sakta... He loves her so much.... Just like I lo....."

Annika was listening to him with a small smile playing on her lips. But she was surprised when he was about to confess.

A-"Just like....."

S-"N..... Nothing. Please don't hate me. Tum jo bologi mein krunga but please....."

Annika kept her palm on his mouth.

A-"Shhhhh..... Kitna bolte hai aap. Jo bolna chahiye woh nhi bolenge lekin.."

She said and kissed his forehead with so much love. She keeps her lips on his forehead more than required time. He closed his eyes feeling her touch.

A-" Now stop crying , ok?"

She said cupping his face in her hands again. He opened his eyes and looked at her eyes. He saw so much love for him in her eyes.

S-"Annika, so you are not angry on me na? Ab mujhse waise baat nhi krogi na phir kabhi?"

A-"Shivaay, pehli baat toh mein....."

She stopped and looked at his hairs and face.

A-"Oh... I am sorry Shivaay. I forgot that you are drenched. Wait here, mein abhi aayi."

She said and moved towards her desk. Shivaay was only looking at her without blinking his eyes. He was so scared now. As if he closed his eyes, Annika will go for forever from his life.

Annika came to him with small hand-towel in her hand.

A-"Yeh lo. Please dry your hair. Warna you'll catch cold."

He didn't react as he was still looking at her. Annika moved forward and started drying his hairs. He stood still.

A(mind)-"What's wrong with him? Ab toh mein naaraz bhi nhi hu, then what happened? I think abhi bhi lag raha hai Shivaay ko ke mein naaraz hu. Koi baat nhi jab mein woh sab bol dungi toh bilkul thik ho jaayenge."

She again looked at him and was lost in his blue eyes. She saw love for her in those eyes. She smiled.

A-"Just wait here. I'll be right back"

She said and left from there not before pecking his cheek. She left her cabin and Shivaay looked at her when she went out. Tears formed in his eyes and he closed his eyes.

Annika came back with coffee mug in her hand.

A-"Here. It's not your espresso but simple black coffee. Drink this, you'll feel better."

He took that mug in his hand and took one sip. Annika smiled and held his hand and went to her desk with him. She asked him to sit on one chair. He sat. She smiled and came to other side and sat on her chair. Shivaay was drinking coffee silently. He looked at Annika and she was busy in reading some file which is in front of her. Then he looked around and then realize that the whole office is decorated with many flower-bouquets.

He looked at them surprisingly.

S-"Annika....."

She looked at him.

A-"What happened Shivaay?"

S-"Yeh sab..... Yeh sab kya hai?"

He said looking around. She smiled

A-"First you finish your coffee. Then I'll tell you."

Shivaay nodded. After he finishes his coffee , he looked at Annika.

A-" Actually Shivaay isi baat ke liye aapko yaha bulaya tha.....but then yeh sab ho gaya."

She giggled looking at that bucket.

S-"Kis baat ke liye?"

A-"I want to start one business with you."

S-"Business????" He was confused.

Oberoi Mansion,

All Oberoi family members except OmRu were present in hall. They were discussing something with the decorators. Gauri and Bhavya was looking at the door every now and then. Daadi noticed them.

Dadi-"Kya hua tum dono ko?"

They looked at each other and then at dadi.

Gauri-"K..... Kuch nhi dadi"

D-"Toh baar baar door ki taraf kya dekh rahi ho?"

Pinky-"Koi aanewala hai kya?"

Bhavya-"Na..... Nahi toh. Bas aise hi."

D-"Thik hai."

G(whispered to Bhavya)-"Bhaiya abhitak kyu nhi aaye?"

B(whispered)-"Haa hum bhi wahi soch rahe hai... Abtak aa jana chahiye tha. Annika bhabhi ka call aane wala honga na ab"

G-"Haa. Pata nhi kaha reh gaye."

OmRu came there. They was discussing something and laughing. Gauri noticed them and came to them.

Om-"Kya hua?"

G-"Bhaiya abhitak ghar nhi aaye. Ab toh Di ka call bhi aa jayega."

Rudra,-"Don't worry bhabhi, Bhaiya already bhabhi ke paas pahunch gaye hai."

G-"What?? But woh toh pehle ghar aanewale the na?"

O-"Haa but use bhabhi ka call aaya tha yaha aane se pehle hi. Toh usne mujhe yeh message kiya."

He showed his phone to Gauri.
"Om , Annika called me and ask me to come to her office... So, I am going. Is she ok? You talked with her?"

Gauri read that and looked at Om.

O-"Toh maine use nhi bataya ki bhabhi is ok now..."

G-"Good. I just hope Di ka plan acche se work ho. And Jiju proposal accept kre."

R-"Don't worry , woh toh hoga hi. Chalo hume party ki tayyari krni padegi na then....."

O-"Haa pehle shaadi ka kaam krte hai. Then party ki tayaari. Then Shivaay n bhabhi aane ke baad time nhi milega shaadi ki preparations ke liye."

Rudra and Gauri nodded and they went to the other family members.

Annika's office,

S-"Business??"

A-"Yess business"

S-"Kaisa business?"

A-"I want to start a new business with you. With 50-50% partnership. And don't worry, business profitable hoga." She said and smiled proudly.

S-"Annika konse business ki baat kr rahi ho? And yeh sab decorate kyu kiya hai? Jahatak mujhe pata hai yaha koi event nhi tha."

A-"This is for our new business."

S-"Kaisa business? Kya bol rahi ho? Kuch samajh nhi aa raha."

A-"Shivaay I want to start new business with you. With 50-50% partnership. And you know this is the most important n most precious business for both of us."

S-"....."

A-"Shivaay aap na.....rehne dijiye.....kahi bhi dimaag lagate hai but jaha chahiye waha nhi."

S-"Annika..... Annika mere kuch samajh nhi aa raha hai. N tumne is stupid business plan batane mujhe yaha bulaya hai. I thought you called me because....."

A-"Shivaay don't call it stupid business. I told you na, this is most important for both of us."

S-"Annika I want to talk to you about something very important. Yeh jo bhi tumhara business hai na, just keep it aside. And listen to me....."

A-"No..... You listen to me. This is most important thing. And I want to say that right now. I wasted many days and now I don't want to wait anymore."

S-"Annika, mujhe bahut important baat krni hai."

A-"No way. Aaj mein bolungi... N aap sirf sunoge. Manjoor hai?"

S-"Annika....."

A-"Agree or not??"

S-"Ok fine. Tell me"

A-"So I was saying ki I want to start new business with you and....."

S-"Annika, aage bhi toh bolo....."

A-"Bol rahi hu. But aapke samajh nhi aa raha."

S-"Kya samjhu mein? Out of nowhere you came with this business thing. I don't know what you are talking about."

A-"Mallika ne thik kaha tha, 'Aap pehle bhi idiot the, n ab bhi idiot hi ho'....."

S-"Ok I am an idiot. Can you please tell me. Which business you want to start? Kaisa business? What are strategies? What is aim? What is....."

A-"Shivaay..... Relax relax. Look I want to start a new business. With 50-50% partnership. And it's a life time business. Dono me se koi bhi nhi chod sakta ise. Phir chahe kuch bhi ho jaaye. And things required for this business are these....."

She said and gave him a bunch of files. He looked at her confused.

A-"These things we have to give as a input/capital in this business. If we worked together on all these things then our business will be successful with 100% profit."

Shivaay looked at her confused. Here he wants to talk about them to her and she was talking about some stupid business plans. He didn't get one thing,that from where this thing came in her mind. As she was very happy with her event management company. And she told him many times ki she only wants to run this company successfully. She don't want any other work other than event management. So, now why she is talking about some new business. And why she wants to run that with him. He was so confused about her behavior. Plus the decorations here..... He was unable to conclude anything.

Annika was looking at his face and his expressions which are changing in every few seconds. She chuckled in her mind.

A-"Shivaay....."

S-"H..... Haa"

A-"I know you are so confused right now. Please look at those files. Sara confusion door ho jaayega."

He looked at her for more than two minutes and turned his gaze towards that bunch of files.

He looked at that bunch of files and opened one file but it was empty....he opened another and that was empty too. He did with all the files. All files are empty not a single document or paper was there. He looked at Annika who was smiling.

S-"What's this....."

A-"Files.... These are the things which needed for our business. So that our business will be successful."

S-"....."

A-"What??"

S-"These are empty files Annika"

A-"Yeah I know. Abhi humne diya nhi na input...dena hai..... Just look at the file names. Jo name hai wahi dena hai hum dono ko. Iss business ke liye."

He looked at her confused.

A-"Look at the names Shivaay."

Shivaay shakes his head as he was frustrated now and again looked at those files. He took first file in hands.

There was written " TRUST " ......He looked at her , she smiled.
He took another file...there was written "RESPECT ".... He took another "CARE"........ Next one" PASSION "......
Another one " PARTNERSHIP " .....
Next one " COMMUNICATION " ..... Next one was
"TOGETHERNESS" ......

He was so confused now. He looked at her. She smiled widely and asked him to look at the last file through her eyes. He looked at her for sometime trying to conclude what she wants to say. And then moved his gaze to the last file. The name was that file "LOVE"

He read it more than once and looked at her. She smiled and looked down. He again looked at all files and read again all the file names. Then he looked at her.

S-"Annika....."

Annika's face turned crimson red now. She hummed.

S-"What is this? Kya hai yeh sab?"

He looked at him and saw his confused state.

A-"Our new business....." She said shyly.

S-"What kind of business is this? And what kind of capitals/inputs these are?"

She looked at him disappointed.

A-"Shivaay, you didn't get it?"

Shivaay nodded negatively. She sighed.

A-"Thank god, I prepared a back up plan. But socha nhi tha ki woh use krna padega."

She was murmuring to herself but Shivaay heard that.

S-"What are you talking about?"

A-"I don't know aap itne bade businessman kaise bane? Ek simple business plan nhi samajh aata aapko toh"

S-"This is not any business plan. Kya tha kya yeh??"

A-"Kuch nhi leave it. Chaliye mere saath"

She said and dragged him outside with her.

(Shivaay was thinking something different and important. So he didn't pay attention to her business plan. So he failed to conclude what she is talking about.)

Annika came to the main office with Shivaay. He was looking at her only. She turned his face towards the main hall. He turned his gaze and looked at front.

He was dumbstruck by looking at all the decorations. He looked at Annika.

S-"What's this?"

A-"Did you like it?"

S-"Hmm....." He said looking at the decorations neatly.

S-"But why this decoration? Something special?"

A-"Yess..."

S-"What? Mera birthday toh ho gaya. Tumhara birthday bhi nhi hai. Office me kuch event bhi nhi hai and....."

Annika kept her finger on his lips. He looked at her. She smiled and removed it.

A-"Shhh..... Aapko abhi pata chalega ki what's so special today... I'll be back"

She said and left from there. Shivaay stood there looking at the decorations. She came back and held his hand. He looked at her. She smiled and dragged him to the cornet of the hall.

Shivaay was looking at her confused as she was blushing.

S-"What??"

A-"Shhh..... "

She said and blushed again. Shivaay looked at decorations and then at her.

S-"Now what is this?"

She then closed her eyes and took a deep breath. He was looking at her confused about her behavior. She opened her eyes and looked into his eyes. They both have an eye lock. Annika sat on the floor on her knees in front of her without breaking a eye lock. He was baffled by her action.

(Ignore that kiss)

S-"Annika.....yeh....."

A-"Shhh..... Let me talk please....."

He nodded and waiting for her to speak. She looked down once and took deep breath and again looked directly into his eyes. She took ring in her hand and said,

A-"Shivaay, will you..... WILL YOU MARRY ME ?"

She asked in a sweet tone. Shivaay stood stunned by her confession. He was shocked by her confession. He was not sure that she confessed. He again tried to remember her sentence. And her one line started ringing in his ears. "Will you marry me...will you marry me....."

He looked at her and then at that ring. He saw she was impatiently waiting for his answers. He remembered the incident where he proposed her in this same way in front of whole media.

Small smiled appeared on his lips as he remembered their moments after that proposal.... 'Do feet doori rule, longing for each other, challenges,vows, haldi, wedding and her confession on that antakshari day.'

His eyes got moist as he remembered that. He was so lost in his thoughts as he forgot Annika was waiting for his answer.

Annika was so tensed now as he was not talking anything. She thought she did a mistake. But she again remembered that how Shivaay was behaving with her in last 2-3 months. So she was sure that he also loves her. But then why he is not responding. Something strikes in her mind.

A-"Oh bete ki....."

She said loudly and Shivaay came back from his la la land and looked at her.

A-"I am so sorry Shivaay. Pehli baar tha na toh mistake ho gayi.... Kya bol rahi hu mein.....pehli baar?? Ek hi baar toh hota hai. Annika you are so stupid"

She said annoyed. She again looked at Shivaay and smiled sheepishly.

A-"I am sorry. I know why you are shocked.... Kaisi ladki hu mein, direct marriage ke liye propose kiya..... Uske pehle mujhe woh magical words bolne chahiye na....but mein toh direct shaadi tak..... Shivaay waise toh mujhse mistakes nhi hoti kabhi.... But pata nhi aaj hi kyu ho rahi....first that bucket and now yeh....."

(Annika and no mistakes?? Not possible, hai na? 😜😜😜)

Annika looked Shivaay...he was standing there silently looking at her. She smiled.

A-"Shivaay..... I don't know about the past. But when I first saw you after my accident , I felt some strong connection with you. I noticed your blue eyes first and they were telling me that you are sad.... I don't know the reason but I felt very bad for you. Mere mann me khayaal aaya ki nhi mein nhi dekh sakti aapko sad. Mujhe kuch krna chahiye aapke liye."

She looked at him as he held her hand.

A-"Then you came to mandir and then at my home for Sahil and we argued first time. I don't know why but I felt good. Aisa laga bas life aise hi honi chahiye. Then you took me to the hospital. And then mujhe hosh aaya toh aap mere paas the mera haath pakadkr baithe the. And you were crying. I felt very strong connection with you."

Shivaay looked at her surprised.

A-"Then hum ladte rahe, but aapne meri kitni help ki office ke kaam me... Then mujhe aapke saath rehna accha lagne laga. Then Mallika aayi, pata nhi kyu I was so jealous jab maine suna ki aap dono ki shaadi honewali hai. Aisa laga sab khatam ho gaya."

Tears came from her eyes and she wiped it.

A-"Then aapne bataya ki aisa kuch nhi hai. I Was so happy. But mein apne feelings se anjaan thi. Then jab aap meri care krte the na, Maine khana khaya ya nhi, medicines li ya nhi...mujhe itna accha lagta tha. Then Aarav aaya tab....."

She stopped and looked at him as he again tighten his hold on her hand. She smiled.

A-"Aarav mera ek accha dost bana. But aapki jagah koi nhi le sakta na Shivaay... Jab aapke birthday pr hamari ladai hui toh mujhe ehsaas ho gaya ki aap mere liye friend se bhi bahut jyada hai. Then again maine aapko misunderstood kiya I thought you are engaged to someone else. I started avoiding you.But aapne.....aapne kabhi mera saath nhi choda hai Shivaay."

She again wiped her tears and looked directly into his eyes.

A-"Aapne aajtak mere liye jo bhi kiya hai na, kisine nhi kiya. Jo care, jo pyaar aapne diya hai kisine nhi diya. I am damn sure ki past me bhi hamare beech koi strong relation tha.... But abhi inn 2-3 months me jo hamara relation hai na it's best. Koi kisike liye itna kaise kr leta hai.... Aapke liye first priority mein rahi hu hamesha. Aapne kisi bhi wajah se mujhe ignore nhi kiya. Phir bhi jo maine kal kiya na Shivaay.... Mujhe khudpr gussa aata hai ab..... But aapne gussa nhi kiya mujhe samjhane ki kitni koshish ki..... But maine nhi suna..... Kya kuch nhi kaha aapko.... But aapne sab sunn liya..... Koi itna accha kaise ho sakta hai Shivaay..... Koi agar itna accha hai toh saamnewala pyaar kre nhi toh kya kre....."

She said and looked at him. He was also crying with her. She smiled through her tears and held his hand tightly.

A-"Shivaay..... I...... I LOVE YOU..... I LOVE YOU SO MUCH....."

Shivaay stood there surprised. Her words did something to his heart. Tears continuously falling from his eyes. 3 months...... From past 3 months he was waiting for this line. And now she said that but he was not ready to believe it as he thought he heard wrong. He looked at Annika who was still on her knees and looking at him with a wide smile on her face.

S-"What?? ......What did you say?"

A-"I love you Shivaay.... I love you"

Now his happiness has no bound he pulled her up and looked into her eyes. They shared a deep eyelock.

S-"Annika...... I..... I....."

A-"Shivaay..... Shhh..... Aapko kuch bhi kehne ki jaroorat nhi hai. I know you also loves me. Jitna mein krti hu utna nhi but more than that...... I know you loves me from many days. Before my accident also."

He smiled throgh his tears and was about to hug her but her next words surprised him.....