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Annika was seated in the dining area, having breakfast. She then received a call, it was her childhood friend. They were even neighbors once.

A- hey hi cheater!

' you won't ever forget that will you Vero? '

A- not happening.

' I guess you won't help me now, bye.'

A- stop your drama and tell what you want.

' I want the list of good cost efficient PG's in your area.'

A- we spoke of this already, you are staying with me.

' no yaar,maa doesn't want me to trouble you for this '

A- doesn't seem so, you want to stay near your boyfriend I guess.

' Shut, I've not even met him since we last fought. I know it's all my fault ,I behaved too possessive and silly like an idiot. '

A- 'but he's too good' God I've heard this a hundred times now. Just go find him already.

' I will, but first give me a space to settle please. '

A- ok, will send you the info today, yeah bye!

Jenny seemed too much worried, the food in her plate remained untouched. She didn't like the fact that pinky had asked annika alone to do those ritual stuff.

J- why not shivaay too? This is about his wedding also right!

Annika cringed and sighed in displeasure, already she was going through a lot and when her parents kept pestering deep. It did no good.

A- I don't know. She asked me, so I tried.

Jenny wasn't a strict one, she was ok with her daughter's love but with a Hindu guy is where all the problems started. Not like the usual ones who would oppose different religions rather all she worried about was annika's comfort in that house.

Their expectations would be different, and Annika might struggle to meet each and everything. That's not how life should be, Jenny wanted her daughter to have an easy life that's it. When she spoke to Herald her husband about this, he opposed this entirely cause he had other plans. Annika's marriage with someone else, the only son of his best friend George. Annika had a tough time making both understand what she wanted.

One didn't want this at all, and the other was feared. Jenny met shivaay and it didn't take her much time to realize what he felt for annie. All that's fine, love is crucial but life beyond marriage is what for all this actually is . If there's no peace in it, nothing is worth  then. She didn't want anmika to regret things later when she's forced to  get accustomed .

It was John, annika's sweet little brother who couldn't see his sister being sad , he joined in the mission - make mom agree. He would fill his mother's ears with stories, stories about how his friend's parents who also had this kind of relationship and are living very happily together now. Jenny would scold him though, why would he discuss such stuffs at school, isn't integration and differentiation calculus hard enough.

Annika's stubbornness is what brought victory then. She promised Jenny that she'll never adjust for anything unless and until she has consent on it. Herald followed Jenny quickly, he knew Annika was never going to agree to his choice so that part was done already. What he demanded was extremely weird though. Five random dates with shivaay, and it did happen too. Poor shivika had to do everything that was demanded of them to somehow make things ok .

After hearing what had happened at the temple, Jenny was hell bent on stopping everything now and right now. She disapproved. They didn't even have annika's horoscope to provide, they don't usually practice possessing all that. She could only give details of annika's birthday with the exact time and all  when pinky had asked. From the beginning she always had second thoughts on Annie's choice and when she heard the feedback of the whole astrologer thing she kept pestering Annika to back out.

Not that she believed it but this clearly showed, how extremely different both families actually were. It was enough for Jenny to confirm her point, she showed the red flag again .

J- see Annie I told you, listen to me atleast now. I don't blame them for anything, it's their beliefs, ok. But why should we bend to all that. You've done enough already and thanks to shivaay you weren't hurt last time.

John saw his sister's face shrink again, he felt bad. He liked it shrinky only when he's the reason behind it, when he steals her red velvet cake, not this.

Jo- mom you're being so mean, just let her do what she wants.

J- you shut up Jo! Finish your breakfast and go to school, dare you be late again. I won't sign your diary.

A- mom if you're angry on me , show it to me only.

J- when will you understand , this is not anger but I'm worried for you!

Annika kept watching her father curiously ,he should say something now. She couldn't comprehend her joy in words when he came back from his last date with shivaay and declared saying
' you both should be together'. She wanted that voice here again. But he seemed to have lost faith too, just like her mother.

Why is this so difficult? They aren't committing any sin, then why! After completing all those tasks, it's gonna be fine and easy she thought but didn't expect that hard climax though. Pinky grew even more serious about this after seeing her son's wounds.

Annika then uploaded both their birthdays with time in some astro app to check. And it didn't turn out any different,0% not a match, it said upsetting her again. She hated herself for even trying all these cause it hardly ever mattered to her, or until things started happening atleast.

Are these real? her head broke with these thoughts for she hardly even heard the ringtone . John nudged her shoulder and insisted.

Jo- if it's his mom again, before anything tell her that her son should keep fast and light a hundred candles at church today.

Annika smiled faintly when he passed the mobile and went from there saying this.

A- hello

S- are you ok with live in?

Her eyes grew big but she had this sudden grin on her face though.

A- no time for pranks baby.

S- I am serious baby. You think this marriage license is crucial for us to be together?

A- no but what about

S- ok or not, please don't talk about the parents crowd now.

A- O... K

She dragged the word watching her mom and dad alternatively who grew curious seeing her weird face.

S- come out then, I'll show you around our apartment.

A- what!

Jenny almost spat the water when Annika freaked out like that.

J- annie?

A- uhh nothing mom, I've got some important work. Bye!

J- what are... annie wait! Annie

A- I'll call you, bye mom, bye daddy!

Annika grabbed her things quickly and ran.

A- whose idea is this?

Shivaay smiled seeing her still talking to him over the phone even after just entering the car. She took a few seconds to realize this.

S- you think I'm not brilliant enough?

A- I didn't tell it's a brilliant idea though.

S- Annie please, I think this will definitely work out. I'm not convinced with that stupid's conclusion that we shouldn't marry, who is he to decide for us. And mom, I don't even want to talk about it. You on the other side always play  idle games with me, how can I fight with her alone?

Annika grew serious when he finished. She grabbed the stuffed toy from behind and smashed it on his face.

A- you think I'm backing out? You even know what's  happening in my house!

She leapt to pick another one from the backseat but he played quick and grabbed her waist, pulled her close for a kiss. A several punches landed on his chest and shoulder when she tried resisting , but when he showed perfect dominance she surrendered quick. Before she knew, she was halfway on his lap for he had completely pulled her to him. She didn't mind though, both were busy exploring each other deep, expressing their current dismay.

When she stopped to breathe, he took over and started kissing her eyes, nose and cheeks in different order each time. Her chest kept pounding front and back to hit on his hard one continuously. They remained like that, with their foreheads joined, Annika pecked his lips once before tracing her fingers through his hair softly.

S- I'm scared.

A- I'm scared too, what if something happens to you?

He twitched his lips in disappointment.

S- that's not what I meant.

Annika fell equally sad watching his upset face.

A- show me our home then.

His face bloomed with a wide grin immediately, he grabbed her hand to kiss her palm and started the engine in no time.

A- this could be distracting, wait.

S- I don't care.

He held her tight with him when she tried to move to her side.

A- shivaay!

She  protested but couldn't reach out to her seat so she just opened his side door and jumped out to bump with her brother who stood there. John looked at her for a second before peeping in to notice shivaay sitting there.

Jo- what were you doing?

A- when did you come?

She enquired while trying to check something, are these glasses tinted? Shivaay who read her face chuckled, ok Annie Veronika is damn cute .

Jo- I asked you first.

A- aren't you late already, mom!

Jo - devil! Bye bro.

He knocked on her head hard and rushed from there .

S- bye John.

She kept rubbing her head murmuring something to herself, cursing her brother  actually.

He stopped at the parking, she looked both , excited and sceptical. They got down the car and walked across the first block.

A- how did you find this by the way?

S- a friend of mine sold it .

A- furnished?

S- half.

Suddenly a car came in full reverse mode and tossed the both from behind, they fell. Thankfully the force was not very high, they weren't hurt badly. Her chin and his arm bled.

S- you're bleeding  , show me. Annie!

He picked his kerchief and tried to stop the bleeding but she jolted off his hold and rushed to pull the driver out from his seat.

' sorry I'm so sorry! I should've gone left, my bad.There's a clinic nearby I'll take you there, sorry! '

He yielded but she didn't seem convinced.

A- didn't you find anywhere else to practice your parking lessons  , dimwit!!

' I said sorry! situations happen '

A- no it doesn't, you do it!!

She grabbed his collar and screamed, shivaay tried controlling her from behind.

S- annika, wait. Annika don't.

She was going to slap him but shivaay pulled her away and signalled to boy to run.

' my car... '

S- run or I will kill you myself.

' mummy!! '

He ran singing that word.

A- leave me!

S- are you mad? You're bleeding dammit, come with me.

Both got their dressing done at the nearby clinic. Annika waited in the lobby while he left to buy some medicines.

S- yes for three days.

He passed the prescription and waited, just then he heard someone calling him from behind.

' Shivaay? '

Shivaay stopped moving when he saw her, Meera, his ex.

Meera- I didn't think I'll see you here, wait are you ok?

She was about to hold his hand, but he quickly folded his arms showing a nod.

S- I'm fine, how are you by the way?

M- good. I work as therapist here, staying at my aunt's for now. It's been years, wow, I still can't believe you're standing before me. I missed you so much.

He didn't reply to that. Annika came there after waiting for long, she was actually surprised on seeing Meera, her childhood friend talking with shivaay. Meera sensed someone approaching and looked that side to be surprised soon. Shivaay was shocked when Meera hugged Annika.

M- hey Vero!!

A- hi.

Annika reciprocated the hug while passing a sceptical stare at him.

M - what happened?

A- it's nothing, just a small accident. I didn't know you were already here.

M- came last night, staying with aunty but as you're going to help me sooner I won't have to stay there for long.

A - yes yes I remember, will give you that soon.

M- this day is one lucky day, full of surprises you know. This morning only we spoke of him and God already planned our face to face encounter here.

She peeped close to Annika and whispered, being fully excited. Annika's eyes grew wide when it actually struck her, she was dumbstruck and looked at him with the same reaction.

M- By the way , shivaay this is

Meera stopped when annika got a call just then.

A- hello, hello srushti can't hear you.

M- work related?

A- hmm.

M- the signal is weak inside, go that side and try . We'll discuss later  , I have a lot to tell him.

Annika watched the both alternatively seeing the way Meera acted . Shivaay was pissed off. He tried to make things clear here but Annika seemed more engaged with the call, she went and stood outside.

A- yes, I have uploaded it but do run it once. Take backup code before deployment. Ok srushti bye.

She hung up and looked back to find them both missing.

Her mind collapsed suddenly, why is she standing here at this moment?She should've been at the apartment, seeing around their home. Her chin hurt badly again, why did that stupid boy have to take right instead of left and toss them up ? Why is Meera working in this clinic? Wait, why is her friend Meera even shivaay's ex?

Before she even realized she had opened that app and started entering details, DOB with time - two blanks were seen in the UI. She entered his, and kept thinking for a while before filling the other blank .

100% perfect match , flower petals rained in the graphical UI.

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