★★

Annika passed a fake smile towards one of her aunts as the elder ladies in her relatives surrounded her while she was getting ready.

It was her Mehendi ceremony and girlfriends were helping her to get done with her make-up and hair.

"Yaar, do fast na, bua and all will start again with their marriage guidances", Annika muttered looking at her friends who were controlling their laugh.

"It's good na, they're telling you how to please your husband and keep him happy", Gauri said teasing controlling her laugh earning a glare from Annika. Bhavya chuckled

"Ri, Bhavu, Annika is ready?", Khushi walked inside making Annika sigh in relief.

"Ye..yeah bhabhi! Let's go. I am completely ready", Annika said getting up immediately moving fingers inside her hair.

"Ohho..look at Annika's excitement for her mehendi", one of her aunt said making Annika mentally roll her eyes and looks at Khushi with pleading eyes to save her from their talks.

"These days kids are always eager about their wedding, didi. It was our time when we used to shy away even on the mention of marriage", her another aunt said chuckling.

"Bua, mumma are looking for you guys, she needs some help. Can you check on it? I will come along taking Annie", Khushi said bringing a smile on Annika's face.

The ladies nodded and went from there talking about their time and wedding in those days. Annika sighed slumping her shoulders and shook head.

"Thank god bhabhi, you came on time, they're going to make me mad in sometime", Annika said hugging her making Khushi chuckle and patted her back.

"Now let's go, if we'll take more time your mehendi will also take time to dry up, it's your sangeet tomorrow", Khushi said fixing her hair properly and smiled making Annika smile and nods.

"Khushi bhabhi, you came on wrong time, it was fun looking at Annie getting all frustrated", Bhavya commented getting a look from Annika and slap on arm. All of them chuckled looking at each other.

"Let's go now. Even Shivaay has reached, it's not good to make your groom wait so long Annie", Khushi teased making Annika look at her whining face.

"You all are so bad yaar! What's this groom, main jaa rahi hun", she muttered at end going out taking her phone making other three giggle and went behind her.

★★

The backyard was decorated with red and yellow roses along with marigolds. Stalls were arranged for snacks and drinks, there was area for photoshoot session. Plush cushioned sitting areas were made for ladies and specially, Annika for comfortable mehendi ceremony.

[P.C: pinterest]

Annika came out with her friends when Bella came there barking. She was kneeling down when Gauri stopped her.

"Annie, she'll lick you. Your make-up", she exclaimed.

"Come on Ri, it's not like she'll lick off all my make-up. Come here Bella", she cooed in end and bent down making Bella jump in her arms and snuggled to her barking.

"See..my Bella is so sensible, she knows I am having make-up so she'll not lick me", Annika said cupping her cheeks and shook her gently, Bella wiggled her tail barking.

Getting up with Bella still in arms, she went ahead towards the ceremony area. Shivaay got up seeing her and smiled softly but frowned immediately seeing Bella.

"Anu yaar! Keep her down na, please keep her away", he whined moving away making Annika roll eyes and dropped Bella back on her paws who barked towards Shivaay. Girls chuckled seeing this and Khushi took her in her arms.

"Such a scared cat", she muttered moving towards her making him narrow eyes as he heard her.

"I am allergic Anu, you know", he twisted mouth making Annika chuckled.

"I know I know", she gave him a teasing look making him pinch her waist making her hiss and poked her elbow in her stomach making him hiss back.

"Waise, what's with these sarees these days?", he asked eyeing her frame.

She was wearing a green satin saree with black sequined thin strapped blouse. The end of her pallu had ghungroo attached in them. She kept her look simple with just oxidised jhumkas. Her hair was made up in a messy bun with braids around her scalp so that it don't trouble her while mehendi getting applied. She completed her look with black wedges as her footwear.

[Moodboard by
Girlwithhotlips, 🤍<3]

She just shrugged smilinand looked at him properly. He was wearing black kurta-pajama with golden leaves made on his kurta. His hair was in a medium pompadour and black loafers. He kept his sleeves folded till elbow.

"What's with you and Indian these days, huh?", Annika asked back making him chuckle and shrugged mimicking her making her nudge him.

"What do you expect me to wear on our wedding ceremonies? Three piece suit or casuals?", he asked making her chuckle.

"Nice idea. Different way to celebrate na", Annika said making both of them chuckle.

"By the way, you're looking really beautiful in this saree. This is complimenting you", he said softly making her look at him and smile softly.

She felt good hearing his compliments. She heard many while coming to to backyard from her family members, his family, infact even from Arnav but his compliment made her happiest the most.

"You look no bad Mister", she said making him raise his collar.

"Well..", he said haughtily making her roll her eyes and both giggled. Both were busy in their talks when ladies came there.

"Let's get started with mehendi then Anu, shall we?", Malvika asked making Annika nod softly.

"Yeah mumma", Annika said with a soft smile. Annika sat down on the plush couch kept for her. Elder ladies of family came and applied a bit of mehendi in between her palm as shagun and after that, artists came to apply mehendi on her arms and feet.

★★

Fixing the cushions under her arms for comfort, artists started applying Mehendi. Shivaay always stayed around her so that she stay comfortable.

"Which kind of patterns you want, ma'am?", one of the artist asked.

"Um..keep it like it look bridal but not really loud", she said keeping her college in mind. He, who was sitting beside her, smiled hearing her.

"Make sure it look beautiful on her hands", Shivaay said making the artists nod while Annika chuckled smiling.

Almost an hour later, Annika started feeling her back aching because of being on same position. Shivaay who was talking with boyd noticed this and rushed towards her making other three confused.

"What happened Anu?", he asked sitting beside her. She pouted arching her back a bit.

"It's paining. I am feeling all stiff and tired already. Abhi half of arm and feet is left", she muttered making him chuckle.

"Okay, wait a second", he said and pulled all the cushions from the behind and kept it just behind her back, "now lean back to it, you'll feel better", he said softly. She smiled softly.

"Thank you", she muttered making him pass her a look in disbelief and hit her forehead gently.

"Shut up, you wanna eat something?", he asked making her nod.

"I am starving", she said and Shivaay chuckled stopping one of the waiters who were serving snacks around the function.

Whispering something to him, he sent the waiter away. After few minutes, a waiter came with a plate having varieties of snacks and gave to Shivaay.

"Here", he said showing plate in front of her face. She smiled widely but pouted eyeing her hands.

"I am here right", he said and picked up a snack, blowing it gently he fed her making her smile finally eating something after long time. He kept feeding her while talking over college stuffs.

"Ma'am, aapke pati ka naam?", one of the artists asked making Annika look at Shivaay who was looking at the plate dipping the sauce. She blushed unknowingly.

"Shivaay", she said softly making him look at her humming. She smiled seeing him focused in feeding her.

"Nothing, I am full now. Please get me some water na", Annika asked making him nod and got up.

"No need to go anywhere Annie, when I am here", Arnav came there with a glass having rooh-afza. Annika smiled seeing this.

"Thanks bhai, I really needed something cool right now", she said looking up at the sun blowing her arms.

"Come on Annie, I saw you feeling hot from there. Chal, have this now", he said bringing the glass to her lips when he heard Malvika calling him.

"Bhai go, mumma must be needing something", she said leaning back hearing her mother's voice.

"Yeah but, this drink", he muttered looking at the glass.

"Main hun na Arnav. Go go, Malvika aunty is searching for you now", Shivaay said taking glass from her. Arnav nodded saying a quick thanks and went towards his mother.

"Come now, make me drink this, my throat is all dried up", she said exhaling dramatically.

"Such a drama queen you're, hmm", he forward the glass towards her mouth when he saw some particles inside it because of shaking.

"One sec, what's this?", he said looking at the glass carefully.

"What Shivaay? It must be the bubbles because of soda", Annika said looking at him confused.

"No wait..", he got and poured the little bit of drink on the ground to see small bits of glasses coming out of it. His eyes widen making Annika get up seeing his shocked face.

"What happened, Shiv?", she asked worried seeing his face.

"Who the hell made this drink", he shouted gaining everyone's attention towards him. She was going ahead but artist stopped him saying her mehendi will spoil.

"Shivaay, what happened will you say properly?", she asked. All of them came there hearing his angry voice.

"Shivaay, what happened?", Om also asked worried.

"Shivaay I brought the drink to you, you know that, is something wrong?", Arnav asked.

"There's glass particles in this drink. If Anu would have drank it she-", he paused gulping, looking at him. Gasps of shock was heard from everyone hearing Shivaay.

"Bu..but how, I brought that drink", Arnav muttered and went to Annika hugging her tightly, immediately. She sighed leaning to him.

"Of course it isn't you Arnav. You didn't made the drink, you just brought it. Who was the server that gave the glass to him?", he shouted and looked towards waiters.

"Si..sir it was me but I just took the glasses from bar area. I didn't made it", he said honestly making Shivaay rub his temple in worry.

"Bhaiya, someone tried to deliberately harm didi. We should check around to find any evidence", Rudra said making Shivaay nod and everyone started checking around and at the bar area to get any evidence.

Arnav was holding Annika close to his chest kissing her head. She sighed gulping, being scared on the thought of having that drink.

"Did you guys found anything?", Shivaay asked worried as everyone met again at the Mehendi area to which he got negative reactions.

"Pata nahi kiski nazar lag gayi hai humari bachi ko. That day chandelier on her birthday and now glass in her drink", Pinki said going to Annika and cupped her cheeks pecking her head.

Hearing Pinki, boys looked at each other connecting the dots with shocked face.

"Security", Tej screamed making the head of security come there.

"Increase the security of both the mansions and make sure none of the outsider get the entry inside without proper checking. From backyard doors to front door everywhere", Tej instructed him making him nod and does from there.

"Princess", Anirudh went towards her and sat down beside her, kissed her temple, "you're fine, bache?", he asked softly with worried eyes.

"Yes papa. Shivaay saw it on time", she whispered softly and snuggle to him as it made her feel better.

"Bhagwan ka shukr hai that Annika puttar is fine. I will lit a diya in front of god to thank him", Dadi said with relief face joining her hands looking up.

"Let's get done with ceremony soon, Annika will be able to rest then", Jhanvi said making everyone nod.

"Shivaay, did you apply the little Mehendi as shagun?", Pinki asked who was still in dull mood. Annika noticed this.

"See na Pinki aunty, he is not applying it. Saying, men don't apply mehendi in real life, I am no Ranbir Kapoor who'll apply it like movie", Annika exclaimed lying making him look at her with open mouth.

"Hawh! When did I refused you? Such a liar. Mom I will apply it now, was waiting for Annika to get done", he said narrowing eyes at her in end. Pinki chuckled seeing this.

"I am done with Mehendi, see. Excuses", she muttered in end eyeing her arms and lesmil

[P.C: pinterest]

He smiled seeing her excited and happy face bringing little peace to his heart and sat down beside her, wrapping arm around her shoulder.

"How are they looking?", she asked happily looking at him.

"They're looking really beautiful, Anu. They did great job", he said looking at the artists who thanked him smiling formally.

"Now write my name on his palm", she asked one of the artist nudging him to forward his right palm. He shook his head chuckling and gave his hand.

While artist was getting done with her name on his palm, Girls started an impromptu sangeet making everyone's mood lighten up. Boys also participated in it making everyone have a blast seeing their adorable and funny performance.

Shivaay looked beside him and smiled seeing her happy, enjoying the function. Later, boys and girls pulled them along with entire family making everyone happy and have a blast.

★★

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♥️

Hope you like the pictures I attached with the chapter, it's for your help to imagine things😊btw, who do you think is trying to harm Annika?🤔

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

Precap: Sangeet/cocktail party

Love,
K♥️