Annika

I woke up feeling a strong pain in my head. Clutching my head, I groaned massaging my scalp and got up clutching my hair tightly trying to reduce it.

I remember having huge amount of alcohol last night, the result is this hammering hangover. I danced, drank a lot last night. Having Shivaay along was fun, he didn't left me even for a moment, he took care of me like a baby, as he calls. I initiated our kiss for the first time. He was surprised but that kiss was different, it was more passionate than his usual soft kisses. I smiled remembering it.

"Anu!! Wake up it's 11 in morning, your chooda ceremony is left to be done, now get up", I heard mumma shouting making me close my eyes feeling the pain coming back.

"Haan mumma, I'm going to freshen..", I stopped feeling a bile forming in my throat. I rushed to the washroom and threw my guts out feeling suddenly weak. Alcohol effects!

I washed my mouth, brushed it and came out. I was wiping my mouth when I heard my phone ringing. I looked around to see it near my study table. I took it to see it as a spam. Rejecting it, I looked aside to see a glass of lemonade with a note under it.

Hey baby!
Good morning love,
Rise up and shine! It's finally
our wedding today. Just going
wait for evening today. I know
you must be having a strong
headache, have this lemonade
with medicine and relax today.
With love,
Yours, Shivaay

A wide smile came on my lips reading it. I saw a strip of medicine beside glass and consumed it with lemonade. I smiled remembering his care last night. I don't remember properly but I remember him bringing me home in his arms and tucked me in the bed like a kid kissing my head. I don't remember ahead as I think I passed out.

Finally its the day! I sighed realising it. I was excited, nervous, little sad as I had to leave my home, happy to start my new life with Shivaay. Taking a simple red kurti and palazzo, I went to take a warm shower relaxing myself to lessen the headache. A last important pre-wedding ceremony, chooda, was left.

I went downstairs to see bhabhi and Malika sitting in the dining area. Both were sitting holding their heads, bhabhi looked little sober while Malika was still looking tipsy.

"Hey girls", I said looking at them. They nodded looking at me.

"Why you look so sober?", Malika asked me frowning making me chuckle.

"First as I didn't had too much alcohol knowing my tolerance, second I took medicine and lemonade", I said remembering Shivaay.

"Haan even Arnav gave that to me, feeling better", bhabhi said nodded.

"Don't make me jealous you married and almost married people", Malika sulked making me and bhabhi chuckle.

"Find someone soon then" , I teased Malika knowing his certain disliking towards men, for her every man is of same kind. She literally took each and every information about Shivaay from me.

"Thanks for your suggestion Ms. Annika, you focus on your wedding", she said rubbing her temples making me chuckle.

"Ohho Anu here you're! Come we need to do chooda ceremony, then a small puja your dadi has kept after that your beauticians will come so you won't have time", mumma came from behind instructing me with a worried face.

"Mumma calm down! Everything will be fine, you rest. Bhai, bhaiya, everyone and workers are there to handle na, even papa is looking after", I said trying to calm her down.

"Aree you won't understand Anu! It's my only daughter's wedding, I want to fulfill all my wishes for it", she said caressing my cheek making me emotional. I hugged her.

"I'm going to miss you so much mumma", I said hugging her, my eyes got teary thinking about staying without her.

"Me too baccha, but remember na what me and papa said, you can come her any moment you want", she said patting my back and kissed my head parting from me. I nodded smiling lightly.

"Malika, mumma is coming right? Ceremony is starting", mumma asked Malika who nodded.

"Chalo then, you all bring Annika to temple area, preparations are done there", mumma said and went.

After sometime, we went to temple area, I was made sit in between. One of my maternal uncle (mama) did the rituals of chooda. In this, uncle of the bride makes bride wear bangles, usually of red colour dipped in milk. Then ties a cloth over it till wedding. They looked really beautiful. Mamu did the ritual and blessed me for a happy life ahead.

"Annika, now go and wear this suit, then we'll have puja. Malika, Khushi, beta help her", we nodded and went to change into it. Bhabhi and Malika helped me because of choodas. It was a blood red patiala suit. Later we had puja and finally I got some free time.

Just that my phone started ringing, sighing I picked it up to see it's Shivaay.

"Hey Annie", came his soft voice.

"Hey Shivaay, how are you?", I asked sitting in my balcony. My comfort place, I'm gonna miss it. I sighed.

"Baby are you, okay?", he asked gently.

"Hmm Shivaay, just got little tired but it's worth for today and you know, pre-wedding jitters", I said smiling lightly not wanting to worry him.

"Baby! Everything will be fine, we'll fine, I will always be there for you. I know, living your home behind and coming to an unknown family is tough. I can't even imagine. You're so strong baby, you can come back to your home anytime you want, it will always be your home first", he said softly bringing tears in my eyes. I sniffed.

"Thank you Shivaay, these words means a lot to me. I know you will also be with me", I said being overwhelmed by his words.

"You can trust on me", he said making me smile. That's what I do most on him.

"What were you doing?", I asked smiling.

"Preparing to bring my bride home, you?", he asked teasing making me blush.

"Pampering myself for my groom. You know my hands are looking so beautiful with these choodas, mehendi, I will be wearing more jewelries", I said looking at my hands screaming about me being a bride.

"I'm waiting to see you, here preparations for your welcoming is going on. Just 4 more hours", he said making an excitement rush inside me.

"Yeah just few more hours", I said smiling widely.

"Baby relax for sometime. Okay? Take care and I love you", he said to which I hummed. I really felt good after talking to him.

"Yeah.. You too, I love you too", I said and kept the call.

•~•~•

Shivaay

I was super excited, nervous and happy for today. At night, the marriage is scheduled and I will be a married man, a person will be there in my every decision, my day will start and end with her. From afternoon, I was tiding up my closet and room in every way so that it be comfortable for Annika. I've cleared some shelves for Annika's stuffs.

After getting free, I called Annika only to find her dull. Well, I can't feel her but I can understand it's tough to leave her family for someone else and live in a completely different family adjusting herself in them. Girls are indeed strong. I promised her to always be with her and she felt little better.

After keeping the call, I saw mom coming in my room with Gauri. I looked at Gauri asking the matter who just shrugged.

"Hey Mom! You had some work?", I asked to her who frowned.

"Why? Can't I come just like that. Btw, yes I came with some work", mom said making me smile.

"What is it?", I asked smiling side hugging her, she nodded and called some house-help who came inside with few cloth bags.

"Shivaay, we have a tradition in which family gifts some clothes and jewelery to their new daughter-in-law, set them in your closet", mom said making me nod.

"Okay mom, I'll set them. Gauri please help me", I asked to Gauri who nodded.

"Haan do it faster then you've to start getting ready, its almost evening, after that we've to do last ritual too", mom said to which I nodded.

"Now can you relax? Everything will be fine", I said seeing her running here and there since morning for Annika's welcome rituals.

"How can I? My only son is getting married and you want me to calm? I want everything perfect. I still can't believe you're finally getting married Shivaay", she said getting emotional at last caressing my cheek. I squeezed her shoulder in hug kissing her head.

"Believe it, your wish is finally getting fulfilled", I said to which she smiled widely.

"Pinki aunty, it's all Annika bhabhi's magic, else your son would have been still unmarried eating my head", Gauri said making me narrow eyes at her who giggled.

"It's true though, Annika really have something special in her that this man agreed to marry", mom said bringing smile on my face. That's indeed.

"She's different mom and exact the way I wanted my life partner", I said to which she smiled.

"I just want you and her to be happy together", she said smiling.

"Okay now you set her things fast and start getting ready, I'm sending Om and Rudy as soon as they get ready", she said coming back to her hyper self making me sigh but I nodded. She went from there patting my cheek.

I set the things with Gauri. They're really beautiful sarees and kurtis. I realised they're just like Annika prefers in her favourite and comfort colours. The other side of closet looked beautiful now.

"Okay bhaiya, I will go now, even I have to get ready", she said excitedly making me nod. She went and I decided to take a shower.

•~•~•

It was finally evening, both the families were ready for the wedding. Annika and Shivaay were getting ready for their big day.

The beauticians were doing a medium bold bridal make up of Annika enhancing her face curves. She was sitting with a nervous smile when Khushi came inside and frowned seeing her face.

"Anu, what happened?", Khushi asked standing in front of her.

"Nervous", Annika mumbled. Khushi understood.

"Take deep breath, inhale and exhale, it's nothing just cold feet", Khushi said caressing shoulders. Annika nodded following the breathing pattern and looked at Khushi with a pout.

"It's okay it happens, happened with me too it's jitters. You just enjoy Annika, finally you'll be marrying the love of your life right. Relax", Khushi said to her to which Annika nodded.

"Ma'am kindly wear your lehenga, we'll fix jewelries and hairdo after it", one of the beautician said to which Annika nodded and went to wear her lehenga. It was red heavily embroidered lehenga with fine gold thread work over it. Annika came out wearing it and the girls started making her hairdo and making her wear jewelries. At last they fixed kalires and her dupatta over head.

"Ma'am you're looking so beautiful", they said looking at Annika. Annika smiled looking at herself in the mirror. She was looking like an indian princess.

"Really Anu, you're looking so beautiful", Khushi gushed at Annika. She applied the kajal behind her ears taking her balaiyan. Annika smiled widely looking at her in the mirror.

"Thank you so much, you guys did a beautiful job", Annika thanked the beauticians.

"It's our job ma'am, congratulations for your life ahead", they said and started packing their things.

"Omg! Is there any princess here?", Malika came inside shouting happily seeing her best friend. Annika smiled widely as Malika hugged her tightly from behind.

She was wearing a blush pink lehenga with minimal makeup whereas Khushi was wearing a maroon lehenga with subtle makeup.

"You two also look really beautiful", Annika said taking both women in a hug.

"You're star of tonight", Malika said kissing her head from side.

"Anu is ready or not girls?", Malini came inside and looked at her daughter ready as a bride to get married.

She came ahead and kissed her forehead smiling.

"You look beautiful", she said looking at Annika who smiled hugging her.

"So do you, mumma", she said looking at her mother who was wearing a designer green saree.

"Girls! Leave Annika here and come with me, we've to prepare for baarat's welcome", Malini said to which Khushi and Malika nodded going with her while Annika sat there keeping herself calm.

There, Shivaay was ready with help of Om and Rudra. He was looking like an Indian king ready to bring his bride. He was wearing a cream sherwani with contrast of red with it. He was wearing a red shawl, mala and mojri along with it.

"All set Shivaay, you look really handsome and dashing", Om said fixing his shawl.

"Haan bhaiya, you look really handsome", Rudy said smiling widely.

Just then dadi along with pinki and one of his younger cousin sister. The last ritual, sehrabandhi was done in which his cousin tied his turban around his head for which he gave her money as blessings.

"Now my turn", pinki said doing Shivaay's aarti and muttered something circling red chillies thrice from his head to toe keeping back in the plate. Taking kalgi, she fixed it on her turban.

"God bless you billu", dadi said taking his balaiyan. He smiled side hugging her.

"Now shall we leave? Muhurat ho gaya hai", dadi said looking at her watch. All nodded and went to the porch area from where they went for wedding with all band, baaja and baarat.

•~•~•

Annika's house was all decked up with sparkling lights and decoration to welcome baarat.

The lawn was set up with the mandap to witness the wedding and with all arrangements for guests. Annika was in her room sitting with all her friends and cousins. They're just teasing her and complimenting her look when Khushi came inside.

"Baarat is here", Khushi said and looked at Annika teasingly who smiled widely and blushed. Just the the bursting of crackers indicating that Shivaay is here.

All the girls left Annika there and went downstairs. Khushi winked and went behind them. Annika's heartbeat just increased in every beat.

There, Shivaay got welcomed with aarti by her mother. The ribbon cutting ceremony was done by him and he gave money to her cousin sisters as gift for the ceremony and he got welcomed.

Everyone were welcomed to lawn area where wedding will be happening. Shivaay was taken to the stage made for varmala.

"Nervous I see", Om came beside him. Shivaay looked at him and nodded sighing.

"Yeah a bit, life will totally change now, a good change though", Shivaay said to which Om nodded patting his shoulder.

Just after sometime, a soft music started and everyone looked at the entrance from where Annika was coming holding her father's hand along with Arnav, Vansh and few of her cousins holding phoolon ki chadar above it.

He felt so many emotions rushing inside him seeing her coming towards him ready like a bride. She had a small smile on her face, holding her father's hand, eyes down-casted. He felt so overwhelmed.

As she reached near the stage, she looked up at him and smiled lightly making him take a sharp breath. He looked gorgeous, beautiful, enchanting like a queen. He forward his hand to which her father gave her hand in his hand with a small smile.

He held it firmly helping her to come up on the stage. She mumbled a thank you with a shy smile and looked at him.

"You look really beautiful", he whispered in her ear making her blush. She looked at him.

"You look handsome too", she said looking in his eyes. He held her hand firmly in his hand.

"Ahem ahem, jiju shall we start with varmala, ab Annika is yours only", Malika said disturbing their moment making Annika blush while Shivaay smiled softly nodding. Gauri brought the garland for Shivaay while Malika brought it for Annika. Annika went first for the ritual.

As she was going to put the garland around his neck, OmRu picked him up on their shoulders making everyone laugh. Annika's mouth got wide open. She pouted looking at Shivaay who shrugged making her narrow her eyes.

"Bhabhi! At least try", Om said making Annika jump lightly just then she felt someone picking her up to see Arnav and Vansh picking her up on their shoulders. She smiled widely at them.

"Annika has her brothers with her too", Vansh said and winked at Arnav who nodded smiling.

Annika put the garland around his neck. Everyone clapped and hooted for that. He smiled and put the garland around her neck making everyone clap and hoot again finishing the first ritual of their wedding. Both were kept down on the stage.

Everyone left the stage to check about mandap and pheras. Shivika were sitting on the stage. He held her hand and smiled looking at her.

"It feels like dream", she said to which he nodded.

"I know, same I am feeling but its reality of our life baby", he said to which she nodded smiling.

Many relatives and guests came on stage to meet them and congratulate. Annika was feeling highly tired because of not having anything since morning.

"Are you okay?", Shivaay asked seeing her tired face. She smiled faintly nodding.

"Just hungry haven't eaten anything na that's why but just few hours more", he sighed and nodded clasping her hand with both his hand kissing it. They were not allowed to eat anything till wedding except water.

Soon it was time for the main ritual, pheras. Both were taken to mandap. It was an open mandap with a beautiful wall of flowers were made st behind in shape of ganesh ji. Two plush stools were kept in front of havan kund for them to sit for rituals.

Shivaay was sitting in the front of  mandap doing the prayers which were needed to be done alone. Annika was sitting near by with her and his cousins. It was already midnight.

As his prayers got over, she was called and sat down beside him. He smiled at her who smiled back. They did the prayers together. It was time for kanyadaan.

Annika's father and mother came and kept Annika's hand in Shivaay's hand. As panditji instructed, they did the ritual. Annika's mother kissed her head who got emotional seeing her parents.

"Shivaay, Annika is really precious to me. Please always keep her happy", Annika's father said caressing Annika's head.

"Don't worry papa, Annika is extremely precious to me now. I will always be with her and will never hurt her", he said, promising him and looked at Annika who smiled at him.

Blessing them, Annika's parents got down from mandap and panditji asked Shivaay and Annika to get up for pheras. Malika came and did their gathbandhan.

Getting up, Shivaay helped Annika to get up. Holding her hand, they started having pheras giving promise of friendship, love, togetherness, health and prosperity.

It was time for sindoor-daan and mangalsutra. Panditji gave a plate having sindoor and mangalsutra.

Shivaay took the mangalsutra and looked her whose eyes were glisten with tears and a smile. He tied it around her neck looking in her eyes who looked back in his eyes.

Picking up her mathapatti, he filled her maang (partition). A pinch of it fell on her nose. He rubbed it gently making her giggle softly with teary eyes.

"By the grace of god, all rituals and presence of your loved ones, I pronounce you both as husband and wife. Now you can take blessings from your elders", panditji said making Shivaay and Annika look at each other smiling.

They first took blessings from panditji who blessed them for a fruitful life. They took blessings from both their dadis and then other elders. Malika hugged both of them happily and congratulated for their wedding. Gauri did same congratulating them.

"Bhabhiii! I'm so happy. Finally welcome to our family", Rudy squealed hugging her and Shivaay tightly making them chuckle. Om too hugged them.

"Welcome bhabhi, remember you have two brothers at home with you", he said making Annika smile nodding. Arnav pulled both in a hug and kissed Annika's head.

"Congratulations little devil. Always stay happy and your bhaiya is always there for you", he said who again hugged him emotionally. He patted her head and kissed her forehead.

She moved to Vansh who was standing there with tears and a smile. She hugged him tightly.

"I remember the first time I took you in my arms Gudu. That small little doll is so big now that she's married now. Always be happy baccha, bhai will always be there for you, whenever you need me, just come to me", he said hugging her tightly and kissed her head.

"I will always remain your little gudu", she mumbled and parted from him. He looked at Shivaay.

"Shivaay Annika is like a daughter to me, you can say I'm infact Arnav and me are giving our everything to you. Please always be with her, she's really precious", Vansh said to which Arnav nodded keeping hand on her head.

"I promise both of you to hold Annika's hand throughout my life. She'll be really happy with me amd I will always protect her as now even she's my everything", he said wrapping his arm around her shoulder who smiled lightly.

After meeting everyone, they came back near mandap. Shivaay was searching his shoes when Malika along with some of Annika's friends and cousins came their holding his shoes.

"Jiju we need cash in return of your shoes", she said to which he gave them a cover of money making girls squeal. He wore his shoes hearing Annika's giggle seeing her friends.

"Hello wifey", he whispered gently in her ear making her shiver lightly. She looked at him smiling and held his hand.

"Hello to you too hubby", she said smiling back.

•~•~•

Thanks for your votes and comments on the previous chapter. Keep reading, voting and commenting your views. They means a lot to me♥️

Finally Shivaay and Annika are married. Now it will be a story of their journey in their married life.

Hope you liked the update. Do tell me how it was😁

Precap: their first night

Love,
K♥️