Adit and Adya's temple visit went fine . Shivaay did not believe in God , well who can blame him after what all he has gone through , so he stood watching as Anika made the kids bow to take blessings from the almighty . Anika prayed for the well being of Oberoi family and eternal peace for Ranveer bhai and Priyanka bhabhi . For herself , she asked God to guide her in her decision to believe Shivaay or not . It was high time she decides something about his very obvious hints towards peace making .

The very same day at night time , Dadi had trouble breathing and was rushed to the hospital . It turned out to be a minor infection but doctor still advised her bed rest owing to her old age . With Dadi confined to her room , it became impossible for Anika to stay aloof from day to day running of the household . Though she was perfectly fine with taking up this responsibility , Shivaay's past disapproval on the matter made her very nervous . Well this time Shivaay did not voice any objection on her running the household , mostly because Anika was the best available person to do it and also he wanted to use this opportunity to convey that he did not mistrust her and seriously welcomed her into their lives . At last she also decided that if he wants to make things better between them , she'll not resist . She was never the one to keep grudges , and she is not going to start now .

Over the next month they gradually became friends . Not the sharing-everything kind of friends . But you-can-count-on-me kind of friends . With past bitterness fading and initial awkwardness vanishing , Shivaay surprisingly found himself opening to Anika more than he had expected . Anika behaved in the same respectful manner as earlier, but smiled more and made efforts to include him in her life .

Shivaay too made efforts from his side . He opened the doors of poolside adjoining his room for her . She was also given the permission to enjoy the garden that he so diligently maintained . This was the first time Shivaay had allowed Anika into his personal sanctuary , and him being such a private person , this particular gesture spoke volumes. Up till now she had seen only family members go there . After this , somewhere Anika's heart finally stopped doubting his sincerity about burying the hatchet .

In order to break the ice between them , some of Shivaay's charms came in handy . He started praising the coffee and food that Anika made at every given chance . And it did wonders . She was a novice in kitchen and was looking for patrons . So much so that after a while Anika started to wait for his verdict on her cooking like a movie producer waiting for box office results . Needless to say , according to her charming patron she was a hit , everytime .

Anika had always seen Oberoi's eat together . With Dadi taking her meals and medicines early these days, she tried to keep the tradition going by waiting for Shivaay on dinner . Shivaay in turn started keeping her informed about his arrival timings .

They had a very different outlook and perspective on things. Their opinions seldom matched . The more they interacted the more Shivaay realized it . He was intrigued by the way Anika dealt with the situations around her . She was worldly and wise , but not at all complicated . For her things were in shades of grey where as he had conditioned himself to see the world in black and white .

As the days went by , Shivaay saw the patience and cheeriness in her reactions towards any situation . In spite of her past , which of course he knew everything about thanks to his investigations , she was very positive towards life , Something he failed miserabaly to be in his life . This one thing made him actually LIKE her .

On the other hand , even Anika was amazed to see this side of Shivaay . He could be quite nice when he chooses to be .

She discovered that he was not very good with words until and unless he has some specific agenda . All these years she thought that he did not want to speak with her , well yes that too , but even now she was the major contributor in their conversations . She also liked his efforts with Adit and Adya . He was trying to accommodate and do justice to new relationships in his life , while mourning the lost ones . It goes to show how strong he is as a person . In the past he was very rude to her and that is why she avoided him at all times . But now if she thinks as his friend , she knew she can't blame him entirely for his biases . Anika was aware of oberoi family's past . Fame and Shame of rich people is always very public . Like any other person who was aquainted with OBEROI'S , she too knew a little about Late SHAKTI SINGH . Ranveer bhai had also mentioned few things about the family to her . These nice people were decieved badly . Shivaay was just looking out for his family , she understands that .

She too had been hurt by so many people in her life , her father , stepmother , mausi and her family , even strangers who knew she can do nothing to them . Of them all , Shivaay has been the only one who had hurt her but has come back to mend things . He was the only one who spared a thought to the fact that he might have done her wrong . Agreed he has his own reasons to do so , but it still means a lot to her . She was anyways indebted to Ranveer bhai and Shivaay had enough power to alienate whole Delhi city to her . He needn't come and befriend her to make her do what he wants . He had other means too . But he chose to do it in a dignified manner . And that counts for something . She has seen the ugly side of the world at a very young age and she can make out that Shivaay was basically a good person . A good person with a fierce mind and a short temper , as far as she could gather .

After initial trial and errors , Anika got a hang of managing things around Oberoi Mansion and it was a smooth sailing from there on . Only issue was that she used to get dead tired at the end of the day after taking care of Dadi , kids and the household . It was during their family time one night , that Dadi brought up the topic of Anika's work overload . Shivaay also agreed that she looked quite worn out . Anika assured them that she was fine, and in fact she was enjoying doing all this as she never got to do such stuff ever before in her life , but if Dadi and Shivaay think that she is not doing things properly she is fine with backing out .

Dadi looked lovingly at Anika :

Dadi : ANIKA you are doing great . I don't know what we would have done without you . You have put your career on hold for this house . I am worried about you and nothing else '.

Anika : It's nothing Dadi and I am fine .......

Khushi smilingly reassured .

If only her Billu was not so against getting married , she would have made Anika her daughter-in-law and kept her here forever , rued Devyani. At havan that day ladies showed a lot of interest in Anika , and why not , she is a gem of a person and very beautiful too . She decided that if some good proposal comes for her , Oberoi's will marry her off properly . She made a mental note to talk to Shivaay about it . Who knows how long she is going to live , so she better make sure that her wishes are adhered too after her . And Dadi did not believe in wasting time at all . So as soon as Anika left her room to settle the sleepy twins in their cribs in nursery , she got Billu off his laptop and in front of her .

Dadi : Billu , I want you to keep aside a decent amount , a few lakhs , in the name of Anika , she ordered .

Shivaay being Shivaay started working his brains overtime .

Shivaay : 'Why ?'

he doubtfully questioned........

Dadi : When Anika gets married I want that money to be used in her wedding . Such well mannered and beautiful girl should not settle for anything less than the best due to lack of money '

Dadi replied. .........

NOW THAT WAS UNEXPECTED !!!!!!!!!!!!

Shivaay : OH !...Ohhh...I mean...Ummm...Does she want... I mean is she seeing ...You know...Is...Is there a proposal for her ?'

Shivaay fumbled . His faculty of coherent speech seemed to have taken an immediate leave after hearing Anika and HER wedding in the same sentence .

Dadi : Not right now . But some time in future she will offcourse want to get married . Not everyone is stubborn like you . Use this money then , okay ? Even if I am not around that time , make sure nothing is lacking on her big day . You will do this much for me , right ?'

Dadi tried to extract a promise from her grandson.......

However , instead of making any promise to his Dadi about making Anika's wedding a grand affair , Shivaay made a huge fuss that she will not talk about dying and will always be there for him , and left the room hurriedly a few minutes later .

Shivaay (Self Thought) : ANIKA'S WEDDING ? Where did that come from ? Did she not want to study ? How can she change her life plans like that ? He will have to talk with her . Career is very important , right ? Now that he has taken Anika under his wings he will make sure that she does not rush into things . She should apply for her foundation exams NOW and appoint a nanny for the kids . With Anika around he was sure there will be no compromise in their care . Yes. This is what should be done . Marriage ? Where does Dadi get these weird ideas from ? Anika herself would not want this , or would she? NO NO NO . He will make Anika see sense . She has done so much for them . He will not let her ruin her career . Of course not . He will talk to Anika A.S.A.P.

It was a VERY LONG night for Shivaay Singh Oberoi that day , for reasons unknown to HIM !!!!!!!!!!! :)

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So guys next part is up !!!!!!!