One week later

Annika woke up yawning as the alarm rang. She tried to move but couldn't because of something around her waist. Heavy yet comforting. She smile being quite familiar with the arms and turned her face.

She found her husband sleeping with his face almost near her neck. He mouth was slightly open and he was taking even breath telling her that he's still sleeping.

"Shivaay", she poked his shoulder but he didn't bulge. She patted his cheek lightly to earn a groan and he buried his face in her crook.

"Shivaay wake up! It's 7 already", she said looking at the wall clock.

"Let me sleep Annie. Show some softness towards your husband", he mumbled in his half sleep.

"I didn't asked my husband to do over-time at office, get up now else you'll be late for your office and me for hospital", she gently shook him this time.

"I have nothing scheduled till 12. Let me sleep", he whines.

"Let me go then", she said making him frown and he finally open his eyes looking at her and pouts. She chuckle and pecked his pout.

"Good morning, sleep. I have few important appointments", she informed. He sighed softly with a nod and let her go reluctantly.

She got up and kissed his cheek making him smile and he went back to his sleep. He came back almost at 2 in morning after completing his video conference with Japanese delegations.

She rushed to bathroom brushing quickly and took a quick shower. She dressed up into a simple pastel pink patiala suit with mirror work over it. She wore her basic make-up with her mangalsutra and sindoor. She kept her hair open and brushed.

As she came out after an hour, she saw Shivaay waking up, rubbing his palms over his face and leaning back to headrest.

"Good morning, hubby", she wished wearing her balley sandals. He looked at her and smiled widely.

"A very good morning, gorgeous", he wished making her chuckle. She walked to him taking her phone out from charging.

"I am running late today but I have taken out your burgundy suit with black shirt. It's on the couch of your side. Your handkerchief and wallet is also there, watch is on dressing table, shoes are at 2nd shelf from right and I made up a tie already so you don't have to tangle with it", she said putting things inside her handbag.

"I love you", he grinned making her chuckle. She turned to him and kissed his cheek and rolled her eyes as he forward his other cheek, nevertheless she kissed it and he pecked her lips.

"Your breakfast?", he asked as he saw her giving herself a last look on mirror.

"I will have it in my cafeteria", she said earning a glare from him.

"Nope never, come with me", he said getting out from the bed and went to her, grabbing her palm.

"Shivaay please na, I am running late", she whined as he dragged her to dining area.

"Nothing will happen in 10 minutes Annika! You care for everyone except you. If I would have been doing this, I would have got a deadly glare", he muttered last line and made her sit on the chair. 

Pinki came there and saw Shivaay scolding Annika serving her juice and asking one of the servant to bring breakfast.

"Why you both have to be same", Pinki chuckled making couple look at her.

"Ma, see na, Shivaay is not letting me go. I will get late", Annika whined.

"Accha! And when I give the same reason, you literally stuff breakfast in my mouth. Shut up and eat", he said placing the plate in front of her.

"He's not wrong Annika. Leaving without breakfast is very wrong, have little bit", Pinki said. She pouted and started eating her breakfast.

Pinki smiled as she looked the way Shivaay fed her while she was complaining about getting full. He gently wiped the corners of her mouth and involved her in talks making her eat her entire breakfast.

"Okay, that's like my good girl. Take care, call me when you reach", he said as she got up. She nodded and hugged him. He hugged her back and gently pecked her forehead.

"You have breakfast and leave else you know me", she narrowed her eyes making him nod and raising her hands in surrender.

"Bye ma", Annika said giving a quick side hug to Pinki and left from there. She waved at her and turned back to her son.

"I never thought I would see you like this", she said confusing him.

"I didn't get you mom"

"You're so caring, particular about your wife. When I used to think about your marriage, I thought you'll be like a husband who is just fulfilling his duty but you love her and care for her, wholeheartedly", Pinki smiled.

"She's my life, mom. When I thought about marriage, even I thought that I will be that woman's husband, she's my responsibility and I have to fulfill my responsibilities and take care of all her needs. She changed my perception. I just can't stop loving her. Woh mera sabkuch hai, mom", he said smiling. His eyes were shining with the love and adoration for Annika.

"I am happy for you and Annika", Pinki cupped his cheeks who smiled at her.

"I will also go and get ready. I have to check some files before leaving for office", he dropped a kiss on her hair and left from there.

•~•

Annika was checking a patient's routine chart when her phone pinged. She smiled seeing picture of a plate full of breakfast.

It's their routine. Whenever they're not able to have breakfast together, they send each other pictures of their meal. They have immense trust on each other except in one thing, food. Both of them are careless when they have work and the other one has to take care of other one.

She smiled thinking about last entire week. Shivaay took a leave for an entire day and they spent their time at the treehouse. She blushed remembering the way they made love there. There was something intense in his touches that night. He always make her feel beautiful and loved.

On the other hand, Omkara and Gauri has yet not said yes to each other. They've agreed to think about them and has asked one month to tell their decision. Annika can notice that Om has already started liking her.

She heard a knock on her cabin door and permitted to see Bhavya coming inside. She smiled and asked her to come.

"Dr. Annika, the patient is ready with floss and anesthesia", Bhavya said to which Annika nodded and kept her phone away.

She walked to the dental area with Bhavya and wore her mask and gloves. They conducted the cavity removal explaining everything properly to Bhavya who listened everything carefully.

"Just rinse her mouth and give her the precautionary chart", Annika guided to which Bhavya nodded.

"Dr. Bhavya, to my cabin after it", she said before leaving.

She came out and went to her cabin to see her phone ringing. She picked it up immediately.

"Hello wifey", she grinned hearing his voice.

"Hello sleepy head", she teased and giggled imagining his frown.

"In my defense, I came back late night", he said making her chuckle.

"Of course, I asked you to stay at office till late night", she mocked making him roll his eyes other side.

"You called for some purpose?", she asked.

"Oh yeah! I have a meeting at a hotel near your hospital right now so I was thinking if we catch up for lunch", he asked making her smile.

"That would be great Shivaay. Anyways we're not able to have breakfast together. I am in", she replied.

"Great then. I will message you when I get free", she hummed.

"Okay I will leave then, love you", he said.

"Love you", she said and kept the call.

Bhavya came there after sometime and Annika asked her to sit. She sat down in front of Annika.

"Yes Dr. Annika, you had some work?", she asked.

"Ah! No need to be formal Bhavya, you can call me bhabhi when we're alone", Annika said making Bhavya smile and she nodded.

"Bhavya, I don't talk beating up bushes, I will come straight on point. Is there something between you and Rudra?", Annika asked.

Annika is a curious kid. When she wants to know something, she have to know it. She looked at Bhavya who was fiddling with her fingers.

"See Bhavya, Rudra is like a small brother to me. He's a kid to me just like for my husband. In a small time, you've become like a sister to me. I want to know if you guys are in dating or something", she asked again.

"Bhabhi I don't know I should tell you this without discussing with Rudy or not but as he consider you important in your life and you're my mentor, I will tell you. Yes bhabhi. We both are dating each other", Bhavya said and looked down. Annika squealed smiling widely.

"Really? I didn't know my Ru will be so chupa rustom", Annika exclaimed.

"Actually we are dating since an year now. We met in a cafeteria and then it got regular and we started liking each other, he proposed me on my birthday last year", Bhavya said with a shy smile.

"Wow! Why aren't you informing to families then? I mean if he has proposed you, I guess you're ready for it", Annika asked.

"Bhabhi we both are not financially stable now. We both are interns in our respective careers. He want to first complete his internship and join the fashion sector of Oberoi industries, get responsible and then he'll talk to mumma and your family about our marriage. I also want same", Bhavya explained.

Annika suddenly felt proudness rushing inside her veins. She never new the always so carefree and funny Rudra is so serious and responsible from inside. Shivaay would be so proud hearing this.

"That's nice. I will be waiting to welcome you in our family", Annika said making Bhavya smile widely and nodded.

Soon, it was lunch time. Bhavya left for her lunch while Annika received a message from Shivaay to come out. She came out of her hospital confused to see him waiting for her inside his car.

"I would have drove to the place by myself, Shiv. You didn't had to come", she said getting inside.

"Aise kaise! I am taking my wife on a lunch date", he said leaning in and kissed her lips. She smile without objecting as his car's windows are tinted.

"Where are we going then?", she asked buckling up her seat belt.

"You're familiar to the place, baby", he said and started driving, holding one of her hand, over the gear. A habit which he has developed.

A smile formed on her face as she looked at the restaurant. It was the restaurant where they had their first date. She looked at him amused who smiled at her, winking.

"Here?", she asked.

"The first place we ever came together as a couple", he softly kiss her palm. They came out and went inside the restaurant.

Taking their seat, they ordered their lunch. She kept her phone away seeing the message her PA has sent.

"What happened?", he asked seeing her wide smile.

"I am free now. No appointments", she grinned making him groan.

"Lucky you. I have a meeting in evening", he frowned. She giggles holding his hand on table. He gripped it, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

"You know, I want to tell you something. Actually it's a good news", she said smiling. He nodded but decided to tease her.

"Omg baby! We're pregnant? You should have told before.. I am so happy. I know it's early but we're together in this", he said with a surprise tone making her eyes widen.

"Shivaay", she scowled blushing making him laugh. She rolled her eyes knowing him well.

"I am on my pills. Not possible. Bagadbilla", she said throwing tissue towards him.

"I just went in daily soap way, my jungli billi", he teased back making her blush. She slapped his palm.

"Okay tell, what were you talking about?", he asked.

"You know, Rudra is dating Bhavya and they're ending for their internships to end. After that, they'll talk to our families about their wedding", she told him excitedly, holding his palm.

"Really?", he asked surprised, "I never thought he will be hiding such a huge thing from us", he said.

"He wants to get financially stable before getting married, maybe that's why", she said and she can see his eyes glistening with proudness and a happy smile form on his lips.

"My baby grew up Annika", he said holding her hands. She nodded caressing his hands.

Their lunch came and they had their meal talking over random topics.

•~•

It was late night. Shivaay opened his eyes to see Annika sleeping wrapping her arms around his waist and her head was on his chest. He kissed her forehead and looked at the wall clock. Two minutes were left to strike twelve.

He slowly parted herself from him and went out of the room. Coming back, he had a plate in his hands and he kept it on the table.

"Baby..", he said softly in her ear making her squirm in her sleep. She turned and opened her eyes to see him in front of her. She looked at him confused but gasped as the next moment he joined their lips.

"Happy birthday my love", he kissed in between the kiss making her eyes widen. They parted and she looked at him in realisation.

"Shivaay...", she mumbled and got up. He sat down in front of her and held her hands.

"Happy first birthday with me, my love. I am blessed you have such a beautiful soul like you as my other half", he said and kissed her forehead.

Tears formed in her eyes and hugged him tightly. He hugged her caressing her back as she cried.

"I didn't even remember it's my birthday today and you're wishing me in midnight", she mumbled chuckling as they parted.

He wiped her tears under her eyes with his thumb and pecked her eyes. She smiled sniffing.

"Your birthday is very special for me, love. Today is the date when this angel came in this world who brightens my life everyday and makes me a better person", he said kissing her knuckles.

"I love you", she said still sniffing.

"I love you more, baby. Now let's cut the cake", he said getting up and picked up her taking to the couch where cake was kept in front on table. She looked at him with surprise. She was genuinely touched by his gesture.

"So that's why you're came late in room tonight. This is the reason", she said. He scratched this nape smiling sheepishly. She chuckled and kissed his cheek.

He lit the sparkling candles and forward the knife to her. She blew the candles and cut the cake while he clapped singing happy birthday for her. She giggled hearing his not-so-good-in-singing voice.

She fed him the cake smiling. He took the piece and fed her back and pecked her lips.

"Happy birthday gorgeous", he wished with a wide smile swooning her heart.

"This is my best birthday already", she said throwing her arms around his neck, burying her face in his neck.

"I will make sure you'll have your best birthday till date baby", he said wrapping her in his arms and kissed her forehead.

She smiled hugging him tightly. She didn't wanted any expensive materialistic thing to make her birthday special. Him, his love and the gesture he showed towards her by wishing her at 12 that too with her favourite cake, it already made her feel special.

She pecked over his chest murmuring a thank you. He caressed her hair dropping small kisses all over her hair and head.

•~•

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

It's Annika's birthday and Shivaay is planning something to make it special. Let's see how it goes😁

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

Precap: her birthday celebrations

Love,
K♥️