★★

Malvika entered Oberoi Mansion to see a lady sitting along with Jhanvi and Pinki, talking over something.

"We're really sorry Mrs. Arora. Shivaay is not ready to marry anyone this soon. I mean, he is still in his last year of college", Pinki said politely.

"And Om, he already have a girlfriend and I think he is planning to propose her after their studies completes", Jhanvi said.

Mrs. Arora gave a slight smile and made faces in herself. Malvika smiled and walked to the ladies.

"Hello Mrs. Arora, how are you? I didn't saw you last night", Malvika said.

"Oh hello Mrs. Batra. Even I failed to notice you, it was crowded and how many people were there, I tell you. I am doing well, how are you?", she asked with a feigning a smile.

"Just great", she said feigning a smile back.

"Okay then, Jhanvi ji and Pinki ji, I will take a leave but do think about it. My daughter Dimple is very beautiful", Mrs. Arora said getting up and did namaste.

Jhanvi and Pinki just smile doing namaste in return. Mrs. Arora gave a smile to Malvika and went from there.

"Jaroor iss Batra ki beti ke kaaran mana kar rahi hai", she muttered walking out of the door.

"Malvi, thank god you came else that woman would have irritated us more", Pinki said sitting down on the sofa. Other two also sat down around her.

"What was she saying, anyways?", Malvika asked.

"As usual, same. My daughter will be perfect as Oberoi's daughter in law, she looks so good with Shivaay, Om also suits her", Jhanvi said rolling her eyes.

"She keeps roaming to all families. An year back, she came for Arnav too", Malvika said in distaste.

"Chado, you tell, why you wanted to meet us urgently?", Pinki asked coming forward with her palm over her cheek, arm resting on knees.

"You guys remember right? Next month is Annika, Shivaay and Arnav's birthday", Malvika said with a grin.

"Hayee! Yes. I can't even believe they're so grown up now", Pinki gushed.

"It's their 24th birthday this year, Pinki. Of they've grown up. It feels yesterday when we got to know that you both are pregnant with kids", Jhanvi said with a smile, side hugging her sister-in-law.

"Exactly! So ladies, you remember right, what pandit ji said about Shivaay, Annika and their 24th birthday", Malvika said in anticipation.

"Oh yes. We need to talk to everyone about that", Pinki said with a smile, "I have been waiting for it since years".

"Her father is okay with the thing, infact he already adores Shivaay a lot", Malvika said with a grin.

"And Annika is already a daughter of this family. Just their friends and siblings are needed to be informed", Pinki added.

"You guys are forgetting main, ladies. Shivaay and Annika, will they agree?", Jhanvi reasoned making other two look at each other with worried face.

"I think we should talk to Maa once. What's her views on this", Malvika said. Other two nodded.

"Chalo phir, mummy ji is in her room", Jhanvi said and the ladies went to meet the older lady.

There, in her room Kalyani Singh Oberoi aka dadi, was reciting her verses from Ramayana when she noticed the ladies standing on the door. She closed the book and touched it, keeping aside.

"Aree bachiyon, come inside. Why are you standing there?", dadi asked making them nod and walk inside.

"Mummy ji, actually we three wanted to talk to you about something", Jhanvi being eldest started.

"Of course, say", dadi smiled looking at them.

"Maa, as you know, it's Shivaay, Annika and Arnav's 24th birthday next month. Arnav is already engaged to Khushi but you remember right, what pandit ji told about Annie and Shivaay?", Malvika said.

Dadi hummed with a soft smile and recalled the time they took them to the temple, "I remember everything".

Flashback

As Shivaay Annika and Arnav were infants, they're taken to their ancestors temple. While making their kundali, Pandit ji smiled widely looking at Shivaay and Annika's.

"Pandit ji, what's the matter?", Pinki asked rocking little Shivaay in her arms as the family was sitting on the floor in front of him.

"Pinki ji, I have not seen such a compatible kundli since many years. Shivaay and Annika are going to have a great bonding, they'll be completely different for each other from others. Also, she is very lucky for him and auspicious from your family", Pandit ji said looking at the kundlis.

Malvika who had Annika in her arms smiled and caressed his daughter's head, who looked at her blinking her eyes.

"Kalyani ji, according to me, you should marry them when they grow up. It will be auspicious for both families also. Main thing, they're each other's protectors. They'll shield each other from every negative or evil energy", he said looking towards dadi.

"Umm, pandit ji it's a really good news but what if in future they like someone else or because of something they can't marry, what should we do then?", dadi asked.

"Only two things can be done. Either you tell them since childhood about it or then we can do a puja for that but trust me, they're made for each other. It's better if they come together. But one important thing, if they get together, get them married within a month after they turn 24", he said with a small smile.

"Ji pandit ji", dadi said. Ladies looked towards Shivaay and Annika who were looking at each other with toothless smiles.

Flashback ends

"I remember everything ladies", dadi smiled at them.

"Then maa, what have you thought about it?", Malvika asked.

"I think we should discuss this with kids first, it's their life", dadi said making ladies look at each other and nodded.

"Keep a family dinner tonight and we're going to talk to billu and Annika puttar over this. I think they don't have anyone in their lives", dadi said.

"Ji mummy ji, Shivaay doesn't have anyone as per my knowledge", Pinki said.

"When do they even have time apart from each other? Of course maa, even Annie don't have anyone", Malvika said. Pinki chuckled nodding.

"Okay then, I am telling servants about dinner tonight. Let's talk to them", Jhanvi said excited.

Dadi smiled at them and went back on her reciting.

★★

"Anu! Choose fast woman!", Shivaay said as they stood in front of ice cream parlour where else were having their ice cream but Shivaay's best friend was still not able to decide the flavour.

"Ruko na! What's the hurry? We've to go home anyways after this", she frowned at him and went back to the chart. He rolled eyes.

"You can never choose yourself, give it to me", he said taking the chart from her and ordered a mint chocolate flavour. She shrugged focusing on her momos.

"Oh well, I didn't understood anything the accounts professor taught so you're helping tonight to understand it", she said taking a forkful of pasta from his plate.

"Ugh! You're again going to keep me awake till late night. Why don't you ask Arnav", he said and looked towards Arnav who was busy on a phone call talking to his fiance.

"Oh please, more than teaching me, the be clearing his own points. It's better if you teach if you want me to pass, rather than Aru", she said and looked towards her brother.

"Huh? Did you called me?", he asked keeping the call on hold. She sighed and looked towards Shivaay with a told you expression.

"Fine!", he said sighing. She giggled. By the time, her ice cream came and she took it, taking the first spoonful.

"Mmmm.. This is the tastiest ice cream I have ever ate. You always have great choice Shiv!", she said taking another spoonful with delight.

He chuckled as she forward a spoonful to his mouth, he took it gladly.

"You always say this whenever I buy ice cream of my choice to you", he said taking her in a side hug.

"You really have best choice, what can I do. Oh, of course you'll have after all I am your best friend", she said and chuckled.

He rolled his eyes making her narrow eyes. He nodded raising his hands up in surrender. She smiled and hugged him, wrapping arms around his waist.

Om and Gauri, who were sitting on the other side smiled seeing this and looked at each other.

"I am gonna hit him hard if he don't realise soon that he loves Annika, more than as a best friend", Om whispered softly.

"And I am gonna beat her bad if she don't wake up soon from this 'we're just best friends' thing", Gauri whispered back. Both chuckled hearing each other.

"O! If bhaiya and didi will come together, I will stop asking you to keep your hair open all the time", Rudra said adding in the conversation.

"As if I listen to you", Om muttered rolling eyes. He pouted.

"But on serious note bhaiya, it's better they realise soon as according to my intuitions, that Adarsh is crushing badly over Annika and.. either he'll propose Annie soon or he is going to have good beating from bhaiya", Bhavya joined.

They sighed and looked towards the said people. She was making him eat her ice cream more than herself, hearing to his rants about his cricket team.

"So guys? What's the topic?", Arnav asked patting Om's shoulder.

"Just thinking to have a bhabhi for us and a jiju for you, soon", Rudra said making all of them chuckle.

"What's wrong?", Shivaay asked looking towards them.

All separated from their semi circle immediately and shrugged.

"Nothing much bhaiya, just planning something for next month", Bhavya winked.

"Oh yeah! Shivaay! It's yours, bhai and mine 24th birthday next month", Annika exclaimed happily.

"Yes Anu and I have a surprise for you", Shivaay winked. She looked at him excited.

"What is it?", she asked.

"I think he said surprise idiot", Arnav said throwing a napkin towards her. She frowned throwing the plastic fork towards him.

"He is right Anu, it's a surprise for you. Wait 10 more days", Shivaay said making her pout and hum.

Arnav stick out his tongue towards her making her frown and stick back her tongue out. Just then her phone notified.

"Oh! It's mumma, wait", she said opening the message and smiled.

"What is it?", Arnav asked.

"We're having family dinner tonight", she exclaimed happily, "no it's more easy for you to teach me, Shiv", she added making him sigh and keep head on table. She giggled.

He raised his head a bit and looked at her. A smile unconsciously came on his face. His Anu is his entire world.

★★

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

Also guys, I have noticed that because of my schedule I take quite time to update and I hate making you guys wait for long so I have decided. I will be updating regularly, as in daily but the updates will be shorter than usual so that I type them fast and update it, when I will have much time, updates can be longer too. Hope you're okay with it😊

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

Precap: family dinner

Love,
K♥️