★★

"Annika, we're done with packing everything. Are you ready?", Malvika asked picking up the thali holding Annika's lehenga for wedding and other jewelries.

"Haan Mumma we're also done", Annika said as Khushi and Gauri closed the make-up box while Bhavya took other essentials for Annika which she might need.

"Let's go then. After reaching you have to start getting ready too", she heard her mother's voice again making Annika sigh.

"Mumma relax. Calm down, everything will be fine, chalo", she said wrapping arm around her mother. She sighed and nodded.

Coming downstairs, Annika took blessings at their home temple and later everyone got assembled in different cars. On other side, Oberois also settled down in different cars and all drove towards Gurudwara.

The security arrangement were made top notch so that no intruder comes inside. Shivaay and Annika has not yet seen each other after last night as it was considered inauspicious by elders and they instructed both to directly see each other during wedding itself.

Annika was immediately taken by girls towards the one of the rooms at left side of Gurudwara to get her ready for wedding while OmRu went to help Shivaay get dress up. Arnav was helping elders to arrange everything.

After spending half and hour in getting her inside her heavy wedding outfit and fixing her hairdo, girls made Annika sit down in front of mirror. She had a nervous expression on her face which Khushi noticed.

"Kya hua?", Khushi whispered from behind holding her shoulder.

"It's just..I am feeling nervous. I mean, the relationship between me and Shivaay will change from today. He'll not just be a best friend to me, he'll be my husband and as much as it sounds good, it makes me anxious too", Annika said sighing in nervousness.

"Oh Annie, it's just pre wedding jitters. You'll be fine", Gauri said coming in front of her leaning to the dressing table.

"Exactly. You just think about positive points Annie. Like how you'll be living your life with Shivaay bhaiya forever, how amazing the life would be, living with your best friend who knows you inside out, who understands you the best", Bhavya said pressing her shoulder gently in assurance.

"Annika, just breathe in and breathe out. You'll be fine. I think Shivaay must be thinking the same at this moment", Khushi said making everyone look at her.

On the other side of the Gurudwara, Shivaay was getting ready with help of Om and Rudra. Shivaay looked at the mirror as Om moved aside fixing his pocket square while Rudra was fixing shawl on his shoulder.

"Bhaiya kya handsome lag rahe ho. Apart from bhabhi, today many hearts are going to break", Rudra said teasing in end making Shivaay shake his head in disbelief.

"Okay Shivaay, you are all ready and set to get married", Om said with a smile gently removing the slight almost invisible creases from his sherwani. Shivaay gave a small smile before exhaling.

"What happened bhaiya?", Rudra asked.

"I am nervous Rudy. I mean I know it's Anu but..", he stopped fixing his hair in nervousness.

"But what? Come on Shivaay, you should be happy. You're getting married to the only girl you like, of course not romantically yet but yeah", Om said patting his back gently.

"I know but I am nervous what if I won't be able to handle a the responsibilities properly, what if I won't be able to keep Anu happy as a husband should, what if-", he said nervously only to get interrupted by Pinki who walked in with Jhanvi.

"Ohho! Jethani ji, here I thought he will be cool and cucumber and what I am seeing, he's so nervous", Pinki said making Shivaay look down at his hands.

"Shivaay, more than you Annika must be nervous and even scared right now. Even though she's coming to us, the home she has been coming regularly since her birth, now she'll come as daughter-in-law of the family. She'll get many responsibilities as this position, society will have expectations from her but the only thing which can relax her is, you", Jhanvi said keeping the tray having his pagdi and haar.

"Shivaay, if you'll walk beside each other, helping each other in all the responsibilities, expectations, every new step in your lives, you don't have to worry. Just don't keep a huge expectations from her and do let her also have huge expectations from you because both of you will be new, you'll learn your relationship together", Pinki said picking up the haar and slide it around his neck smiling.

"Mom, woh khush hai na", he asked softly only to hear a stifling of laughter from Rudra. He glared towards him.

"Sorry but bhaiya, you're seriously idiot sometimes", Rudra said giggling, "main jaake Arnav bhai ki help karta hua", he said going out making Shivaay confused.

"What? Did I asked something wrong", he frowned.

"Shivaay a girl's happiness can be seen from a girl's eyes and since last one week, I have seen only happiness in those eyes", Pinki said gently patting on his cheek bringing a smile on his face. Everyone could see how happy Annika was since the time their wedding ceremonies have started.

"Pinki, now let's get done with the work which mummyji assigned us, hmm?", Jhanvi said making Pinki smile and nodded.

She took the safa and started tying pagdi around his head while he smiled looking at her. At last, Jhanvi fixed a kalgi on his turban. Then a cousin sister of his came and did the ceremony of sehrabandi where she tied sehra around his pagdi.

"Hayee! Kitna sohna lag raha hai", Pinki gushed taking evil eyes off him. He chuckled at his super happy and excited mother.

At the moment, Dadi walked inside and smiled going to her billu. He bent down touching her feet with a smile and she held him kissing his head softly.

"You're looking like a true punjabi today", she said bringing a smile on everyone's face.

"Chalo it's almost time", Dadi said making everyone nod and everyone moved towards the main praying hall of Gurudwara.

★★

All the relatives were already sitting on the mattresses arranged when they arrived.

(A/N: I am not a punjabi but I am trying to type Anand Karaj for first time. I asked about the process to one of my punjabi friend but if you find anything wrong. You're free to correct me😊)

Shivaay went ahead removing his shoes and bowed down in front of Gurugranth Sahib praying for his happy future while gave rumaal sahib to the narrator who spread it around the holy book. 

Just the moment as he raised his head, he heard the commotion and turned his face to see Annika coming along with her friends. A soft smile appeared on his lips.

She was looking beautiful in the red embroided lehenga with heavy jewelries and minimal make-up. Her head was covered with beautiful dupatta and had a small smile on her lips. Even he was complimenting her well wearing a beige embroided sherwani with green haar and white with beige embroided shawl over his shoulder.

She came ahead and kneel down bowing in front of Gurugranth Sahib and gave another rumaal Sahib to narrator before sitting beside him. After that the soothing hymns of Gurbani started reciting while both of them were joining their hands in front of the holy book.

Soon, they were asked to get up and Shivaay's parents and Annika's parents came ahead to do ardaas for the new beginnings. After the ardaas, the narrator asked Annika's father to remove Shivaay's sehra.

Anirudh took out Shivaay's sehra and kept it on front of the Gurugranth Sahib. He came back and narrator asked her father to give the end of Shivaay's shawl in Annika's hand. He held it and looked at his daughter emotionally who had tears in her eyes. They knew what was going to happen ahead. He gently pecked her head before giving the palla her hand who held it securely.

It was time for laavan ceremony. The hymns of laav started reciting and by the end of it, they got up and Shivaay and Annika started taking the first laav i.e vow/phera. As they completed the first laav they came in front of Gurugranth Sahib and kneel down bowing in front of it, sitting in front. Then as the second laav ended, they took the second laav and again came in front completing it bowing down, sitting again.

As they took each laav, Annika kept looking at Shivaay and suddenly she realised the purity of the bond they're getting knot in. She felt a peace, soulfulness inside hearing the soothing hymns walking behind Shivaay.

As the laav ended, both sat down at their previous place still joining hands with Shivaay's palla still in her hand. The kirtan started with everyone sitting praying for the new beginnings and happy life of the newlyweds.

As the kirtan ended, everyone got up for pay ardaas and then hukum-nama was recited. After that, kada prasad was distributed to everyone and everyone ate it.

The marriage certificate was brought in front of Shivaay, he took the pen and glance at Annika who was looking down at her hands fiddling with her fingers but he didn't unnoticed the smile on her lips.

He knew it was once and for all, he was finally getting married to the woman he adore most. He signed the papers with a smile and looked towards Annika forwarding the pen towards her. She took it with a smile and looked at the papers.

Looking at their marriage certificate she knew she was ready. She was ready to be a married woman, she was ready to be Shivaay's wife. She took a deep breath and signed the papers.

All the elders had happy tears in their eyes, specially ladies as they saw their favourite ship finally getting married. As they signed the papers, Shivaay and Annika were officially announced as husband and wife.

Getting up, both took blessings from their elders who blessed their kids happily, for their happy married life ahead. Both walked out of the aisle to the threshold of the Gurudwara as married couple.

As soon as they got out of the main hall, Girls hugged Annika tightly making her eyes widen and chuckled hugging them back. Boys also hugged Shivaay who was smiling softly patting their back gently.

After parting from each other, Om and Rudra looked at each other and moved towards Annika hugging her together. She gasped lightly but smiled hugging them back.

"Welcome to the family, bhabhi", both said together making Annika look at them in surprised.

"Om?", Annika said amused.

"I know I know, I have always called you Annika because you have always been the closest friend of mine but I just felt like saying it today. You have always been there for both me and Rudra, just like Shivaay. So from today, you're my Annika bhabhi", Om said caressing her hair gently who had tears in her eyes.

"But I am still your friend first", Annika said before hugging him again. He chuckled nodding to it and hugged her.

"Hey you both can't hug without me", Rudra whined hugging both of them who giggled taking him along in their group hug.

"I hope you guys remember that your brother is still here, Annika ke chamcho", Shivaay said with a sweet smile taunting them who shrugged still hugging Annika from both side.

"It's okay bhaiya, we're always in your team", Gauri and Bhavya said moving to his side bringing a smile on his face gently patting their head.

"But I am at my Annika's side", Khushi said going to her bringing smile on her face seeing her bhabhi.

"And I am definitely not in her side", Arnav said showing his tongue making Annika gape at him.

"Tu bahut bura hai", Annika twisted her mouth with a pout. Arnav felt emotional seeing her and moved closer to her hugging her closer.

"Still you're my jaan", he said making her close her eyes hugging him tightly. He pecked her hair.

"Offo, kitna emotional kar rahe ho aap dono, bhai kaunsa bhabhi aapse door jaa rahi hai. We are neighbors too", Rudra said in informing way.

"No one can even take my Annie away from me", he said looking at his sister who smiled nodding.

"Now all of you, let's come for family photo", Rudra said bringing everyone close to each other and the cameraman hired to capture every moment, clicked their family photo.

★★

After the photo sessions, everyone drove to Oberoi mansion. Annika and Shivaay was standing at the threshold of Oberoi mansion while Pinki was standing in front of them holding aarti ki thali.

"Hayee! I can't believe you both are finally married to each other. It feels like dream, by god", Pinki said making everyone chuckle at it.

"Mom, you can go happy over it later too. Let us come inside now? It's so hot out here", Shivaay said patting his palm on his forehead. Annika shook her head biting lower lip seeing the grumpy billu in heat.

"Pinki, now welcome them", Dadi said smiling and Pinki nodded taking their aarti and then put tika on their forehead. Putting the kalash in front of her, she asked her to come inside with her right foot.

Annika walked inside pushing the kalash with her foot. A plate filled with red water was kept there and she dipped her feet in them and walked inside the Oberoi mansion as their badi bahu of the family.

"Annika puttar, now you're not only the daughter of this family but also the eldest daughter in law. Dip your hands in this liquid and leave the imprints on this wall", Dadi said as Jhanvi brought a plate in front of her with a smile.

Annika nodded dipping her palm in yellow paste and pressed it on the first pillar on which the mansion was standing. She gulped feeling emotional and came back to Shivaay, he gently wrapped his hand around her hand pressing it gently. She smiled at him.

"Now a very important ritual is important, Shivaay Annika let's go to temple", Malvika said this time making both of them nod and everyone walked to the temple.

Both looked at each other as they saw mangalsutra and sindoor kept in front of god's idol. She looked down suddenly feeling shy over it. She knew she's now married to him but seeing them, the realisation intensified. She has always seen in serials, movies and even in her family ladies, mangalsutra and sindoor as signs of married woman.

"Billu, now tie this mangalsutra around her neck and fill her partition with sindoor", Dadi said and Shivaay looked at Annika before nodding and picked up mangalsutra from the plate and stood in front of her and slowly tied it around her neck.

While tying it, he kept looking in his eyes while her eyes were fixed on his. She saw an intensity in his eyes, a tinge of different emotion could be seen in them. She lowered her eyes feeling her cheeks turning hot and he moved aside tying it.

He then picked up the box having sindoor while Annika lifted her mangtika. Still looking in her eyes, Shivaay filled sindoor in her partition making Annika close eyes feeling the sudden completeness inside her.

She opened eyes and looked at him who was already looking at her, smiling softly. She smiled back while everyone clapped happily seeing the newly married couple.

★★

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♥️

Finally ShivIka are married🥳
I hope you liked the way I described the wedding, it was my first time describing wedding in this style.

Now the actual plot of the story will start where the best friends falls in love with each other and becomes each other's better halves♥️

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

Precap: their first night ;)

Love,
K♥️