★★

Shivaay looked at the mirror lost in his thoughts trying to button up the sleeves of his sherwani. It was night after Mehendi and also their sangeet/cocktail party.

All the events from Mehendi ceremony was going in his mind. The thought of something happening to her if he didn't noticed the glasses in juice haunted him and bring goosebumps in his entire body.

He groaned as the buttons were not ready to fix up. He left them huffing in frustration.

"Why the hell is this not happening"" he muttered angrily trying to fix them again. He suddenly felt a hand on his hand making him look up surprised.

"Because they need to be done with patience Mr.", Annika said ready in her outfit for the evening. She fixed the buttons immediately and looked up at him.

"Anu? What are you doing here?", he asked surprised.

"I think it's our party so obviously I will be here, won't I? You're expecting someone else huh?", she asked narrowimg eyes in teasing manner.

"Shut up. It's nothing such, I was just surprised to see you here. I thought we'll meet at patio", he muttered taking his hand back and looked at the dresser's mirror with a sigh setting his hair.

"What is it huh?", she asked wrapping arms around his arm pressing cheek against it. He shook his head muttering nothing.

"Shiv! I am not gonna attend our own wedding's party like this, with you being gloomy and lost in your thoughts", she said with a frown and warning voice.

"Don't then", he muttered frowning back making her look at him in disbelief.

"Fine then. Marry someone else too", she muttered holding onto her lehenga skirt and started to walk out. He closed eyes sighing in realisation on his words and came ahead her holding onto her shoulders.

"Sorry", he said making a puppy face making her glare and turn face other side. He turned her face towards his, again, holding her chin and then held his ears.

"I am so sorry Anu", he said softly melting her heart and hummed pulling down his hands from ears.

"What is it Shivaay? You're being so lost since Mehendi. I am worried now", she said holding his palm pressing gently. He sighed and pulled her in his arms hugging.

"Sorry for being such but I am just scared now", he muttered against her head confusing her, she looked up with same expression.

"But why? Everything is fine right?", she asked.

"Seriously Anu? Someone just tried to harm you by mixing glass and bits in your juice and you're asking, why??", he looked at her seriously in disbelief.

"I am fine na? That matters, relax now. It's a beautiful day, let's keep it in that way. I am in front of you, all healthy and active", she said parting from his arms and held his hands. He sighed humming.

"I guess you're right. I won't let anything happen to you, anyways", he said making her chuckle.

"I know", she winked making him chuckle. That's when his eyes went on her outfit. Unusual then her other outfits till now in their wedding ceremonies, she was wearing a gorgeous lehenga.

It was a coral blue lehenga set with blue and white thread embroidery over it. It consisted of a sweetheart neckline blouse with thin straps and thin back border giving it a beautiful yet bold look. The skirt was layered giving wide and heavy look to it's otherwise lightweight. Along side, she was carrying a dupatta with one side draped on her shoulder and other side around her arm.

She paired diamond necklace set along with diamond bangles to enhance the beauty of her look. Her hair was made up in a messy bun. Her make-up was giving more attention to her eyes, keeping them bold with blue eyeshadow and basic kohl, eyeliner and mascara. She completed her look with silver wedges.

"No saree this time?", he asked looking at her. She smiled shrugging.

"Pinki aunty personally chose our sangeet outfit, how could I refuse? And secondly, I fell in love with this lehenga the moment I saw it. Isn't it amazing?", she asked twirling a bit. He smiled seeing her happy.

"You look gorgeous in anything these days", he said in daze making her look at him, he blinked immediately and looked around shrugging, "maybe the dressing up and make-up effect", he teased.

"Hawh! So mean, billuji!", she saud playfully knowing him well and hit on his arm. He grinned teasingly.

"Waise, I think you're also looking handsome these days because of traditional outfits only", she teased back as she glanced him from top to bottom. He was dressed up in coral blue sherwani with silk white pajamas. His hair were in messy than usual and he completed look with a watch and mojari as footwear.

[By Girlwithhotlips 😚💗]

"Oh come on! I am handsome and I know it", he shrugged haughtily making her roll eyes.

"Shall we go down then, Mr. Handsome?", she asked with a sweet fake smile. He chuckled and nodded bowing a bit.

"After you, Ms. Gorgeous", he said dramatically which made her smile. She started walking ahead when he stopped.

"Oh wait. We're actually looking really amazing and that calls up for a selfie. Come here", he said pulling her closer by shoulder and took his phone from dresser.

She smiled excitedly forever ready for selfies and wrapped arms around him while he kept one of his hand around her waist holding phone from another and both smiled for a photo. They took some goofy and funny selfies too.

"Accha hey! Keep my phone also with you. I might drop it somewhere and this thing don't have pockets", she sulked at end.

"Aww my poor Anu", he pulled his cheek getting a smack on his palm. He hissed pouting taking her phone.

"It's injustice with girls, idiot", she muttered at end and went out. He sighed in disbelief seeing her behaving as if it's his fault and went behind her descending downstairs.

★★

As the came downstairs, Pinky, Jhanvi and Malvika were standing near the stairs dressed up in their outfits.

"What happening mumma? Why are you guys standing here?", Annika asked confused.

They didn't say anything but came ahead. Pinky took some chillis and mustard seeds from a plate Malvika was holding and circled in around both of them murmuring something. Then Malvika came ahead and circled a diya around them muttering something and Pinki put the chillis and seeds in the diya burning it.

Annika and Shivaay looked at each other confused, coughing covering their mouth.

"Mom, woah! What's all this?", Shivaay asked in between, coughing.

"This is something which is important", Jhanvi said wrapping arms against her chest.

"Main samajhi nahi Jhanvi aunty", Annika said confused.

"You saw na Annie, how someone tried to harm you. We don't wanna take risks ahead so yeh sab uske liye", Jhanvi said ahead.

"Now my heart will be at peace", Pinki muttered sighing and signalled a servant to come and asked her to take the plate and throw diya with chillies away.

"Mom, these all are superstitions. If something has to happen, it will happen, we can just be alert", Shivaay sighed seeing the superstition of his ladies.

"Exactly aunty. We'll take care now. Don't worry", Annika said assuring all of them.

Just then Rudra came there frowning.

"You guys are planning to celebrate your sangeet here itself? Agar aisa hai toh bolo main O aur Arnav bhai ko bolta hun to somehow shift the dance floor here", Rudra said frowning earning a smack from Shivaay on the back of his head.

"Shut up Rudy! We're coming, chal", Shivaay said making Rudy pout. Annika chuckled and wrapped arm around his arm.

"Till enter with my Ru tonight. You see with whom you're going to come", she said looking to Shivaay and kissed Rudra's cheek bringing wide smile on his face.

"Hey you're my best friend", Shivaay objected wrapping his arm around her another arm.

"She's my didi and more over, my bhabhi too now", Rudra replied twisting mouth.

"Well my dear Rudy, she's becoming your bhabhi because of me! If that means then she's my best friend and moreover, my soon-to-be wife", Shivaay said making Annika look at him but then sighed at both the brothers.

"Come soon Annika", Pinky teased going out with ladies, giggling. She huffed and looked at both of them.

"Okay fine, we're going together, end of discussion", she said making other two quiet and nodded. She sighed in relief and went out along with them.

As they went out, entire patio was looking beautiful with fairy light and white/blue decorative clothes draped around the makeshift pillars. Props of moons and stars were dangling from the makeshift roof making everything look magical.

"It's so beautiful. Isn't it?", she asked looking towards Shivaay as Rudra went excusing himself towards DJ.

"It is. They have be preparing for sangeet since the day we came back from temple. They wanted to keep it the best. Let's go to them", he said smiling softly and kept hand at the small of her back. She nodded.

One side of the patio was occupied by the bar and cocktail area. Other side was occupied with dining and sitting area for the guest and the center held a large dance floor with in-built disco lights, a blue settee sofa was kept in front of the dance floor, at a distance, for the couple of night to sit.

"Hey guys! Everything looks so amazing", Annika said as they stopped near their friends and smiled widely.

"You're liking everything in your wedding functions na, Annie?", Arnav asked cupping her cheeks. She nodded smiling and hugged him.

"I am loving everything, don't worry", she said softly. He sigh in relief and nodded.

"Guys! You both being so loving to each other is tough to digest", Gauri said seeing the siblings getting emotional. Both chuckled hugging each other more.

"This moti is getting married, thoda pyaar toh chalta hai", Arnav said getting back to his teasing form. Annika with squinting eyes and punched his stomach gently. He chuckled and raised his hand to ruffle her hair, as habit.

"No!!", all girls shouted startling him. Others too looked at them confused.

"Arnav! It took an hour to make her hairdo, dare you even touch a strand of her hair", Khushi warned making Arnav raise hands in surrender.

"Okay, guys I think let's get started with sangeet performances", Om said clapping hands and went to the stage. Khushi went along from Annika's side.

"Hello, good evening and a big welcome to everyone", Om said taking the mick gaining everyone's attention, surrounding the area around the floor. Annika and Shivaay sat down on the sofa with smiling faces.

"I am Omkara, from ladkewale", he smiled and forward mic towards Khushi.

"And I am Khushi, from ladkiwale. And we heartily welcome you to celebrate an evening in happiness of the union of our lovely, Annika and Shivaay", Khushi said making everyone clap while their friends hooted.

"So let's get started with the performance by ladkiwale aka girl's team", Om said making girls hoot loudly.

The girls came up on the stage in matching fuchsia lehengas with black glasses. They started the performance with pallo latke, then moved to girls like to swing and ended the performance with kaala chashma. They pulled in Annika along with performing on Jalebi baby by the end. Everyone were standing hooting for the girls on their wonderful performance.

"Wow! That was some power packed, goofy performance by our very own girls", this time it was Rudra who came up on the stage, "but hum dashing ladke kuch kam nahi hai", he smirked making boys hoot louder. Even Shivaay hooted winking at Annika who shook her head rolling eyes.

"Okay then, let's welcome our ladkewale aka boy's team", Gauri who came up this time, announced making everyone clap in excitement.

Boys came up with silver half buttoned kurtas with sleeves folded till elbow. They started the performance with kukkad, then performed on most wanted munda and like girls, pulled Shivaay along performing on Palat at last. Everyone clapped hooting. Shivaay came back beside Annika who gave an impressed look.

"That was some hot performance, really killed it boys but we would still say girls were better, what say?", Bhavya asked making girls and ladies both hoot. Annika giggled hooting along.

"Well I don't think I will agree on this Bhavya, boys were more hot", Arnav said making men and boys hoot. Shivaay hooted along looking at Annika who twisted her mouth playfully.

Next came up elder ladies performing ude jab jab zulfe and elder men performed on main nikla gaddi leke. Everyone enjoyed it with a wide smile and lots of claps and standing ovations.

"That was a beautiful performance by our young family members", Rudra said with a goofy smile making everyone giggle.

"Now we request, the couple of the evening to come up on the stage and put it on the fire", Om and Gauri said together.

"Ready Ms. Batra?", Shivaay turned face towards him with a smirk.

"Always Mr. Oberoi", Annika said winking and both got up smiling. Wrapping the dupatta around her waist, she hi-fived with Shivaay and ladki kyon song started playing. Shivaay started performing on male vocals moving around Annika while she showed all her swag.

Hitting her waist with Shivaay's, Annika started dancing on the female vocals showing all her nakhre and adorable faces. Both started dancing together making everyone get up from their seats and started clapping loudly, hooting for the couple.

Then the song chanced to Tu hi yaar mera where both danced adorably like two kids, showcasing their friendship and togetherness. Both ended the performance hugging each other making everyone clap loudly.

"Hayee! Kitna adorable performance tha", Pinky gushed going to the stage and moved her hands around them taking off evil eyes from them. Both smiled at each other.

"Now what are all waiting for, hit on the dance floor and booze yourself", Rudra said going to the DJ and everyone came on the dance floor.

★★

Annika and Shivaay along with others walked towards bar area when Malvika and Jhanvi came in front of them folding arms.

"Kids, no excess drinking okay? Specially you two", Jhanvi said looking towards Annika and Shivaay at the end.

"Haan, tum dono ki haldi hai kal. Make sure you don't have bad hangover tomorrow morning", Malvika added.

"Mumma! We know, we promise to not drink a lot", Annika said holding Jhanvi and Malvika's hand. They looked at her and then others who also nodded.

"Fine, let's leave them Malvika, let them enjoy", Jhanvi said holding her arm. Malvika nodded and both ladies went away.

"Let's go now. I am going to be your bartender for the evening", Rudra said going behind the bar wearing the apron and started making drinks for everyone.

"Rudy! Make sure, mine should be mild okay?", Annika said to which Rudra nodded and served the desired drinks to everyone.

Slowly everyone started taking their drinks after drinks and went back towards dance floor enjoying the evening. Annika was also dancing along with others when a waiter passing by bumped with Annika making the champagne fall on her lehenga.

"Oh shoot!", Annika exclaimed looking at her lehenga. She looked up at the waiter with slight frown.

"I am so sorry ma'am, it was unintentional", he apologized sincerely making her sigh and hummed asking him to go. As he left, she looked at her lehenga and looked around to see everyone busy in dancing. She saw Khushi nearby.

"Bhabhi!", she called out loudly because of the music earning her attention.

"Omg! Annie, what happened to your lehenga?", Khushi exclaimed seeing her lehenga.

"Some champagne fell on it, I'll clean it up and come okay", Annika said.

"Come I help you", Khushi said coming ahead.

"Bhabhi, it's fine, I'll handle", Annika said and went inside to clean it with clean water.

As she was going ahead, she felt some movement behind her. She turned around but didn't saw anyone. She turned around and her eyes widen as a cloth pressed against her mouth.

"Umm", she tried to speak but her voice got muffled and felt a pull around her waist getting pinned against a corner wall.

"You thought I left your life, Annika?", a familiar voice came making her eyes widen seeing the face. The smirk on the face making Annika frightened.

"Ad..Adarsh?", she said shocked increasing the smirk on his face.

★★

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

So here's the update😌 as many of you guessed it right, it's Adarsh. Let's see what happens ahead😉

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

Precap: Annika in danger; Shivaay senses it

Love,
K♥️