Annika

After having moments with Shivaay in the closet, he went to take shower while I looked at my saree fixing it properly. I kept a simple look with just light make-up. My chooda, mehendi and mangalsutra was already making me look beautiful. My hair was opened, parted in two halves with my partition filled with sindoor. I was loving my new look.

I went out of the room and walked downstairs to see dadi sitting in the hall with her prayer beads thread reciting her prayers, I decided not to disturb her. Papa and bade papa were sitting near her reading newspaper and having tea respectively.

"Good morning papa, bade papa", I said with a smile to which they looked at me smiling.

"Good morning bete! You slept well?", bade papa asked to which I nodded.

"Where's ma and badi maa?", I asked looking around.

"They're in kitchen beta. Straight then left", papa said to which I nodded going towards kitchen.

I reached kitchen to see ma and badi maa preparing food with help of servants talking to each other.

"Good morning ma and badi maa", I said and was going to touch their feet to which they as usual stopped me.

"How are you feeling now Anu? You rested well?", ma asked making me smile hearing my nickname from her mouth.

"Yes ma I am feeling better, just some tiredness but it will go soon", I said to which she nodded.

"You should have rested more for sometime Anu, Shivaay didn't let you sleep?", badi maa asked teasingly making me blush lowering my eyes.

"Jethani ji..", maa said in disbelief making badi maa chuckle.

"I was just teasing you, but you should have rested more", she said to which I smiled sheepishly.

"It's fine badi maa, I'm feeling better now", I said to which she nodded.

"What can I do.. I mean I can help preparing breakfast", Annika said.

"Aree it's okay Annika, everything is done for breakfast. In lunch, you can prepare something sweet to do your pehli rasoi", maa said making me smile lightly.

"Okay maa", I said but still helped them to take out dishes to dining area.

"Anu beta, go and call Shivaay please, we'll start breakfast. I will call others", badi maa said to which I nodded and left upstairs to call Shivaay. No one was in hall right now.

I went inside the room when my nostrils sniffed an amazing fragrance. I opened the closet as the smell was coming from there only to see my breath hitching. Shivaay was standing there looking at his clothes, just in his trousers.

His back was looking damn sexy in the display. The way his back flexed as he moved his arms to take out his shirt and coat. Suddenly warmth started covering my neck making me feel hot. I blinked as I felt cold arms touching my waist making me realise that he is standing in front of me.

"Staring is bad habit baby", he said huskily pulling me closer to himself making me keep hands on his chest in reflex. I can feel his heart beating rapidly against my palm.

"I..I was not staring at you", I said gulping. His hair was still wet while his body was smelling delicious making me close my eyes. I felt his lips on my cheek making me grip his shoulders.

"What were you doing then? Eve-teasing?", he whispered in my ear. My breath got heavy feeling him so close to me.

"Shivaay", I whispered to which he hummed still against my cheek. He took my arms and wrapped it around his torso making me blush. I wrapped my arms around his back. He kept my head on his chest.

"You know how I feel now?", he asked to which I mumbled a no.

"Like I am in heaven, with my angel", he said pecking my forehead. I blushed hiding in his chest. He made my chin up and gently pecked my lips making me suck in breath.

"I love you my angel", he said making me smile widely. I hugged him tightly.

"I love you too", I said back smiling but parted from him realising why I came.

"What happened?", he asked tucking my hair behind.

"Badi maa and everyone are waiting for us for breakfast, you dress up and come, I am waiting for you in room. We'll go together", I said looking here and there shyly. He held my chin making me look at him.

"Okay. I don't make you uncomfortable right?", he asked again making me frown at him and shook my head.

"Of course not Shivaay, it's just I am all new for such things so I just get shy", I said blushing, making him chuckle and he hugged me again kissing my hair.

"Even I am, just I can't control in front of you, why you're such baby", he said running his nose to my hair. I giggled softly as his stubble softly touched my cheek.

"I am like such only", I mumbled against his chest inhaling him. He smells so good.

"However you are, you're mine now", he said holding my waist. I blushed humming.

"Now get ready, I am waiting out. All must be waiting", I said unwillingly parting from him. He feels so good!

I came out from closet and sat down on the bed waiting for him. In meanwhile, I called my family talking to them for a while. I am already missing them!

As I kept call, I saw him coming out in a dust pink suit with white shirt under it. I smiled seeing us matching with each other. He looked at me and raised his eyebrows. I shook my head smiling.

"Come", he held my hand and we both went downstairs holding each other's hand.

"Here comes are newly wedded couple! I thought you're not in mood to come out of your room bhaiya",  Rudy teased us to which everyone laughed making me blush and I looked down.

"Shut up Rudy! I was taking time in getting ready", Shivaay said glaring at him, pulling out chair for me to which I mumbled a thanks sitting on the chair and he sat down beside me.

"Now when everyone is here, I am thinking we can do post wedding rituals after breakfast and tomorrow we'll keep reception?", badi maa said looking at maa and then us. I looked at Shivaay who was looking at me. I shrugged lightly.

"I am okay with it, if Annika is okay", Shivaay said and looked at me again.

"I am okay with it badi ma, it's good as soon as we finish our rituals soon instead of keeping them pending", I said to which all nodded making me smile.

Breakfast was a pleasant affair with general talks and teasings from Rudy. Not even for a moment I felt that I have come new to this family, I got so comfortable.

•~•~•

After breakfast, everyone gathered in living area for post-rituals. Both were standing beside each other when suddenly Annika felt his arm around her waist. She gasped lightly and looked at him who gave her a casual look.

"Shivaay, anyone may look, take back your hand", she said lightly making him shrug.

"Do it look like I care, wifey?", he asked smiling. She blushed hearing wifey and looked away.

"Okay, so this is the first ritual. Billu, Annika you both will be sitting opposite to each other and this bowl will be kept in between. We'll drop a ring in the bowl and whoever will find it, will be the winner", dadi explained to which both nodded and sat down against each other.

"We'll do best of three, whoever will take ring most is going to win and that person will have upper hand in your relationship", Pinki said eyeing at Annika with a smile making everyone chuckle.

"Choti maa, even if bhabhi doesn't win, she'll always have upper hand on bhaiya", Rudy said with a teasing smile.

"That's great then, anyways my bahu will win. Let's start", she said and Shivaay and Annika started searching ring. Pinki, Om and Rudy were in Annika's side while men and jhanvi were at Shivaay's side.

Annika found the ring first making everyone clap. Annika looked at Shivaay with a shrug and naughty smile. He arched his eyebrow and both started searching again. This time, it was Shivaay who won, for whom everyone clapped. He looked at Annika with smirk making her frown.

"Now it's last turn, both have scored one each, lets see who wins", dadi said smiling while they started searching again. Just then Annika found the ring and was going to lift it when she felt another hold on it from other side. Both looked at each other shocked and raised the ring together making everyone confused.

"They had tie dadi??", Rudy asked to which dadi shook her head looking at the couple.

"It means none of them will have upper hand, they'll go hand in hand, equally in everything", dadi said to which everyone smile. He looked at her who smiled at him lowering her eyes.

After the area was cleaned up and Shivika were standing again, dadi told about next ritual.

"So in this ritual, brother in law of bride sits in her lap. She blesses him and gives him gifts", dadi said making Rudy smile widely.

"Dadi, I knew it you loved me most. What a ritual it is", Rudy said side hugging dadi making everyone chuckle. Shivaay brought the gifts which Annika has kept in their room and placed it on sofa.

"Dadi, think about this ritual. I don't want Annika to have pain in her legs because of this hulk's weight", Shivaay said with a serious face teasing Rudra who frowned.

"Yes bhabhi, I will sit, this hulky will break your legs", Om teased along making Rudy make a whining face. Annika noticed this.

"Why you both are teasing him, Rudy can never hurt me. Come Rudy", Annika said and looked at Rudy with a smile making him smile widely.

"I told you both na, my bhabhi will be on my side. You two always teases me, now my bhabhi is here", he said poking out his tongue. Shivaay and Om shook their head in disbelief.

"Araam se", Shivaay said to receive a glare from Annika. Rudy smirked and sat down lightly on her lap making everyone clap.

Annika blessed him with luck, health and prosperity and lots of love. Later, she gave him gift. She also gifted Om as per the ritual.

"Dadi, I was just wondering, isn't there any ritual like wife sitting in husband's lap?", Shivaay asked looking teasingly at Annika. She gasped with open mouth and looked away blushing. Everyone laughed hearing this while dadi playfully hit on his head.

"Badmash! These rituals you can do in alone, we don't have it", dadi said looking at both of them making Annika turn red.

"Accha, now all post rituals are done. Anu beta, you can do your pehli rasoi after an hour", Pinki said to which Annika nodded with a smile and everyone left for their rooms to take rest for past night's tiredness.

•~•~•

Shivaay and Annika came back to their room. Just then his phone started ringing. She closed the door and looked at him to see him attending his call trying to remove his coat from one hand. She walked to him and held the lapels of it making him look at her.

"You attend, I will help", she said to which he smiled lightly and nodded humming to the call. She helped him in removing his coat. Keeping it on bed, she was going towards closet  when he pulled her back to himself wrapping arm around her waist.

She looked at him keeping hands on his chest in reflex. She raised her eyebrows asking what to which he shook his head talking on his call and kept it.

"Where were you going?", he asked wrapping both the arms around her waist. She blushed lightly shaking her head.

"I thought to arrange my clothes till you're attending the call", she said to which he hummed pecking under her eyebrow.

"You remember our first meet, we played 20 questions", he said to which she hummed looking at him.

"You told me about your favourite destination, where you want to go at least once", he said smiling to which she hummed again but her eyes widen with a smile.

"Are you trying to say what I am thinking??", she asked excitedly to which he chuckled shrugging making him squeal and hug him tightly.

"Shivaay you're not kidding right, we're going to which one from both?", she asked making him giggle and hug her back kissing her hair.

"By the end of the month, your visa work will be done and then we'll be leaving for Japan and South Korea", he whispered in her ear making her squeal in happiness jumping in his arms. He chuckled happily seeing her happy and held her in his arms who was busy squealing in happiness.

"Thank you so so so much Shivaay. I love you. You know I had dream to go to Korea and Japan since highschool", she expressed her happiness looking at him who smiled at her.

"I will fulfill all your dreams. I love you too", he said nuzzling his nose with hers. She smiled widely looping her arms around his neck.

"Baby..it will be our honeymoon", he whispered making her blush to which he chuckled kissing her pink cheek.

Just then they heard a knock, opening the door she saw some house helps standing there.

"Ma'am your stuffs from your home has arrived. Pinki ma'am asked to bring them here", one of them said making Annika emotional but covering up she asked them to come in and they kept the boxes near the dresser and left.

"Your things came?", he asked wrapping arm around her shoulder. She nodded lightly smiling. He smiled and kissed her temple.

"Let's arrange your things", he said to which she nodded. Opening the boxes, they started arranging her things in closet and cupboards.

She was keeping her files when she saw him taking an album. She closed her eyes as he opened it.

"Is this you??", he asked surprised looking at a photo. It was of a small girl sitting on sand, wearing a red frock with a flower in her palm. She was having two small pigtail and smiling showing all her teeth to the camera.

"Umm yeah.. That's me", Annika said tucking her hair, taking album from him but he held it and traced her photo.

"Aww baby, you're so cute", he cooed making her cheeks pink. She looked away smiling while he gushed over the photo and kissed her cheek tightly, wrapping one arm around her waist.

"I look funny", she said looking at the photo to which he frowned.

"You look adorable, get your eyes checked. Most adorable babygirl", he said making her giggle at last and side hug him. He turned page to see another picture in which she is hanging upside down on a branch of tree smiling widely.

"Such an adventurous wife I have", he said making her chuckle and closed the album.

"You'll keep looking at it only. We need to keep things if you remember", she said flicking his nose with her finger. He chuckled and nuzzled his nose with her nose.

"Okay, but I want to see it completely later", he said to which she nodded. Arranging everything, they sat down on bed. He picked her up making her sit in his lap and kept his head on her shoulder.

"Shivaay... I was thinking to do something with balcony, it looks so simple", she said to which he looked at her.

"Your wish baby, you own this room as much its mine. Do whatever you want love", he said to which she nodded smiling. Just then she saw time and parted from him making him frown.

"I need to go for cook something as the ritual. Please leave me", she said softly seeing him still holding her firmly. He pouted making her chuckle. She kissed his cheek making him close eyes signing and hummed.

"But at evening, you have to sit with me and we'll talk. I miss spending hours listening to your voice in between all the ceremonies", he said to which she chuckled and nodded.

"Done! Chodiye", she said so cutely that he went awe. Pecking her forehead, he left her who went outside towards kitchen while he started to do his office work.

•~•~•

Annika went to kitchen to see cooks preparing for lunch. Just then pinki came there.

"Aree Annika you're here. I was about to call you", she said.

"Maa, what can I prepare. Though I know only few dishes but I can cook", Annika said fiddling with her fingers.

"You don't need to prepare meal Annika, even I am not that good in cook so chill. For ritual, you can preparing something sweet", pinki said making Annika smile. Sweets are something Annika prepares perfectly.

"Okay maa, I will prepare kheer for everyone", Annika said to which pinki nodded and left from kitchen taking water.

One of helper gave all the ingredients Annika needed and she started preparing kheer. She was half done with it and was chopping dry fruits when Shivaay came there.

"What are you doing here??", she asked seeing him with narrowed eyes.

"Don't worry wifey! I won't do anything here", he said winking making her blush. Shaking her head, she continued chopping stirring the kheer. He stood beside her drinking water and looked at the the vessel.

"What happened? Is it not looking good?", she asked to which he was going to shake head but then thought to tease her. He shrugged making face making her eyes widen.

"This is kheer?", he asked making her hyper and she looked at him worried while he tried to control his laugh but burst in laughter seeing her worried yet cute face. She looked at him frowning.

"I am sorry, I was teasing you.. It looks amazing baby", he said and took her in a hug making her frown and hit on his chest while he kept laughing. She kept hitting his chest while he kissed her forehead.

"I got so scared Shiv.. You know I am not really good in cooking", she said wriggling in his arms. He kissed her cheek tightly giggling muttering a sorry.

"Accha sorry, I was teasing baby", he said cupping his cheeks. She pouted at him making him peck her lips softly.

"Shivaay...we're in kitchen anyone may see", she said pushing him lightly blushing making him chuckle.

"No one is here, freshen up then we will have lunch with family", he said adding dry fruits taking from her. She smiled seeing him stirring kheer to mix dry fruits in it.

"It was my ritual fyi", she said looking at him.

"And we both got married, fyi", he said wriggling his eyebrow at her flicking her nose. She chuckle and nodded.

Turning off the stove, he covered the pot and took her out with him to call everyone for lunch.

•~•~•

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

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

Precap: Shivika's night safari

Love,
K♥️