Hey guys! I am back😁

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Annika and Shivaay were sitting in the balcony of his room with her sitting between his legs. His arms were around her waist, chin on the shoulder. She was talking to him, playing with his fingers while she was listening and answering when needed, feeling peaceful with her in his arms.

"It's so serene here, you have great choice babe", she said snuggling back on his chest.

"Well I surely have", he said nudging his nose to her cheek making her giggle.

"Cocky much?", she said playing with his fingers.

"Umm no. Just being truthful", he winked making her shake her head.

"I love you", he whispered in her ear, kissing her cheek.

"I love you too, babe", she said with a smile.

Just then they heard honking of horn coming from porch area. He looked at her who nodded.

"Malika is here with her mom', Shivaay said.

"Let's go and meet her then", Annika smiled softly. He nodded making her sit opposite and then got up helping her to get up after it.

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"Pallavi ji. It's so good to have you here after a long time", Jhanvi said hugging Malika's mother, Pallavi Arora.

"Hey Aunty", Rudra cheerfully wished seeing her who smiled and both shared a hug. Om hugged her after that.

"Where's Shivaay?", Pallavi asked with a smile.

"I am here, beautiful lady", Shivaay said coming down from the staircase holding Annika along.

"Hey Shivaay. My boy you're growing up to a more handsome man", she said as he came ahead.

"And you're aging like wine", he said as both of them hugged.

"Thanks sweet of you. I heard you finally got a girlfriend, where is she?", she asked.

"Oh. Here she is", he said as Annika came ahead and held out his hand which she held with a smile.

"You must be knowing her but still a formal introduction. This is Annika D'souza, my gorgeous girlfriend and a very talented actress and Annika, she is Pallavi aunty, Malika's mom and a very amazing event planner", Shivaay said making ladies smile at each other.

"It's good to meet you aunty. Malika always talks about you and her father. She is really happy to have you here", Annika said sweetly with a warm smile.

"It's good to meet her after months too and her father is a workaholic man but he will be joining me soon. Oh! What happened to you?", Pallavi asked in concern at last.

"Ah..just a small accident at set. It will heal soon", Annika said and Pallavi carefully took Annika in a hug.

"You've great choice, Shivaay", she said looking towards him.

"Well I guess I am quite lucky", he said with a smile.

"Pallavi aunty", Gauri and Bhavya came from backyard and hugged her.

"How are my favourite girls?", she asked hugging both of them.

"We're great. How's you and uncle?", Bhavya asked.

"Doing good and busy in respective fields", she said.

"Which you two no longer need to do mom, I earn more than enough. It's your time to explore", Malika said standing behind with folded arms.

"Get married then I will do whatever you wish", she said turning her face making Malika sigh.

"Speaking of which, Malika you went alone to pick up aunty?", Annika asked.

"Someone else was going to join you?", her mother asked.

"No..no mom! Of course Annika, I..um went alone", Malika said with a fake smile towards her mother. Annika nodded sighing internally.

"Come Pallavi ji. Make yourself comfortable. Let kids talk", Jhanvi handled making girls give her a smile.

As everyone went to the living room to sit down. Annika took Malika to a corner along with girls.

"Now tell me what happened? Arnav was supposed to join you right?", Annika asked.

"Yeah. You were going to introduce him there itself", Gauri added.

"That man! He ran away giving an excuse of office saying he'll meet mom here", Malika said controlling her anger.

"What the! He chickened out? Seriously!", Annika facepalmed.

"He is sure about you right?", Bhavya asked in distaste.

"I don't know yaar! If he'll keep doing like this, mom will reject him straightaway", Malika sulked.

"Hey! What happened?", Shivaay came there and asked in low voice.

"Your best friend just chickened out at airport and went away", Annika frowned.

"What!! This man", he sighed when he saw Arnav walking inside with a bouquet in his hands. Shivaay walked to him making other look at the direction.

"Dude! Where were you?", Shivaay asked in disbelief.

"Umm.. Flowers? I went to buy flowers for Malika's mom", Arnav said with a nervous smile.

Malika came there and hit on his back aggressively making her hiss in pain.

"What woman! Always so violent", he frowned.

"And why did you ran away idiot! What were you even thinking?", Malika yelled whispered.

"What no! I didn't ran away Malika. I went to buy flowers for your mom", Arnav smiled. Annika rolled eyes.

"You really think we'll buy your this excuse Arnav. Seriously? Your supposedly mother-in-law has come and you ran away to buy flowers?", Annika said in disbelief.

"Exactly bhai! You can accept that you chickened out", Bhavya added.

"Okay fine, I got nervous suddenly", Arnav sighed.

"What if I would have told about you to mom before itself. She would have rejected you for being such Arnav", Malika said keeping hand on her temple.

"Accha shh.. Calm down Mal. Aunty won't reject him, you didn't told right. Arnav be confident, she is your love's mother, you should be sure and confident enough to ask her hand for marriage", Shivaay said making him look at Malika who had a worried frown.

"Hey! Everything will be fine Mal. I love you and I am sure about you. I know I got nervous before but I promise, everything will go perfectly this time", Arnav said taking her in a side hug.

"Promise?", Malika looked at him with worry on his face.

"Promise", he smiled and kissed her forehead bringing a slight smile on her face.

"Aww! So cute guys! How good you guys look. Just make it official", Annika gushed making everyone giggle. Shivaay smiled taking her in a side hug.

"Okay, now go and meet her, Om and Ru won't be able to handle for long", Shivaay chuckled making others nod.

"You guys go ahead. I will come with Annika in a moment", Malika smiled. They nodded and went ahead.

"So...you're good?", Annika asked with a smile.

"I..uh.. I am little nervous. I don't know how will mom react", Malika said with a nervous chuckle.

"Don't worry. You love him, just confess it to her and get together guys", Annika smiled widely.

"Yeah! Still mom is easy to handle. Dad is really protective", Malika sighed.

"Every father is such, Mal. If he'll see how good Arnav is for his daughter, he will be happy for you", Annika said making Malika nod with a smile.

"Hoping so. You're lucky Annika", she said with a smile.

"Huh? I don't get you", Annika replied.

"Duh! Shivaay is so in love with you. I mean who make their girlfriend meet his family in a week itself, he is so sure and confident about you", Malika said.

"Malika, I met his parents before we came in relationship", Annika replied.

"Haan, I know but as soon as you guys came in relationship, he told it to everyone close to him. Ab look at Arnav, since last night he is thinking how he'll explain to his parents. I know he loves me a lot, I can see in his eyes. But you saw right, how he chickened out in matter of meeting my parents", Malika said.

"What are you trying to say Mal?", Annika chuckled not getting her.

"My darling, what I am trying to say is, Shivaay is so confident about you that when your time will come, he won't hesitate even for a second before meeting your parents and ask your hand", Malika said smiling widely side hugging her.

The smile on Annika's face faded hearing about her parents. She faked a smile towards Malika with a nod.

"I..I think you should go ahead. Aunty must be looking for you", Annika said a slight smile.

"Yeah, let's go", Malika said. Annika nodded asking her to go ahead.

"I don't want Shivaay to meet my parents, ever in life", she said to herself and took a deep breath bringing the smile back on her face and went where others were.

She came and sat down beside Shivaay who looked at her with a smile. She smiled back which he catched being a dull one.

"All okay?", he asked softly.

"Huh? Yeah", Annika smiled making him nod and hold her hand.

"So you're saying the you both love each other and want to get married?", Malika's mom asked as to her as the couple told about their relationship.

"Yes aunty. I love Malika and I want to spend my entire life with her", Arnav said looking at her mother and then her. Malika smiled holding his palm.

"You guys know each other since years, love each other, what else would I want for my daughter. A loving husband. I am okay with this relationship, but I need to talk to your dad first", she said looking at Malika.

"Of course mom. You both are important to me. He is coming tomorrow right?", she asked.

"Yes, he is. Then we can talk about it. Arnav beta, when are your parents coming?", Pallavi asked.

"They're also coming tomorrow aunty. We thought all can celebrate new year together", Arnav said.

"That's great then. Everyone are gathering tomorrow. It will be perfect time to talk about their wedding", dadi said with which everyone agreed.

"I have prepared room for you, Pallavi ji. You can freshen up", Jhanvi said to which she nodded and both went towards the room. Tej too excused himself.

"Malika puttar, now you're happy right?", Dadi asked.

"I am very happy dadi. Just dad agree for it too and his parents like me, I am little nervous for that", Malika said slightly anxious.

"Tsk, don't worry. Everything will go fine", she said making Malika smile.

"Annika and Shivaay, just come for a moment", Jhanvi came there. Annika nodded and Shivaay helped her to get up. They both went behind Jhanvi.

"Yes mom?", Shivaay said as they walked to her at a corner.

"Annika, I was thinking if your parents also join us. I mean everyone is here, it will be great if they come, in that way we'll meet them too", Jhanvi said with a smile.

Annika looked at her as her smile went away. She looked towards Shivaay who nodded slightly looking at her and then looked back at Jhanvi.

"Aunty..they can't join. Actually it's Christmas week and it's really busy for us. I mean many relatives are there at our home back in Goa gathered for the celebrations. They can't come", Annika said fumbling in between.

"Oh.. I understand, it's important festival for you. Do one thing, atleast talk to them for one time. Maybe they can come for a day?", Jhanvi asked again.

Annika looked at her thinking another excuse and looked towards Shivaay to save him. He blinked.

"Mom, I actually talked to her father this morning", he said making both of them look at him. Annika looked at him confused who held her palm.

"Yes mom, I talked to him and requested but he really can't help. It's 31st tomorrow and they have to celebrate with family there else they would have joined us. Right Annika?", he said smiling and looked towards Annika. She nodded and smiled and Jhanvi.

"Yes aunty. That's the point. They really can't join", Annika said to which Shivaay nodded.

"Okay beta, I understand. Hope to meet them soon though", Jhanvi said. Annika nodded with a small smile. Jhanvi went from there.

"Thank you", she said looking at Shivaay. He smiled taking her in a side hug.

"Anytime love. But don't you think it's high time?", he asked confusing him.

"For what?", she asked.

"I meet your parents? We're together, we love each other, you've met my family. Don't you think it's good time I meet yours?", he said with a smile. She looked down fiddling with her fingers.

"I don't think so Shivaay. I mean, it's been only 2 months we're dating, let's wait for some more time?", Annika asked looking up.

"Why? Still not sure about me? Going to break-up?", he teased.

"Shivaay", Annika snapped clutching his arm tightly in fear. The fear she is feeling since two months now.

"Hey! I was joking. Annika, baby", he cupped her cheeks as he saw her eyes glistening with tears. She looked at him with tears.

"I was joking baby. I am sorry pumpkin. See, I am holding my ears. Sorry?", he said holding his ears as he saw tears coming out of her eyes.

"Shivaay, promise me whatever happen, you'll never leave me", Annika said and cried out making him wrap arms around her.

"Hey! I was joking baby. Of course I won't leave you. Hell, not even in dream. I was teasing you", he said hugging her close to his chest. She snuggled to him burying face to his chest.

"Just know it Shivaay, you're my everything now", she muttered against his chest.

"Of course I know pumpkin. You mean the world to me, too. You know it right?", he said against his hair, near her hairline. She nodded.

"It's just..don't even talk about it Shivaay. I will never leave you and never let yoy leave me", she said sniffling.

"Am I fool to leave the lioness. Marna thodi hai", he said making her chuckle and hit on his chest. He giggled pecking her nose.

"I love you", he said rubbing their nose.

"I love you too", she said back with a smile. He smiled widely pecking her lips.

"Let's leave this topic now. I get it something is running in your mind and I will wait till you want to share it with me. Okay?", he said.

"I am not hiding something from you Shivaay. I just want some time to clear my mind. I will tell you soon", she sighed out.

"It's okay, I understand and I am giving you time but Annika, just want to clear one thing", he said making her look at him.

"I will meet your parents, sooner or later. They should know about us, it's their right ", he said seriously making her look down.

"Yeah, I got it. It's just I want sometime. Firstly I will make you meet dad", she said looking at him. He smiled and held her hand.

"We've our entire life, however you like", he smiled bringing a relief smile on her face.

"You're standing since long time, come let's go upstairs, take rest. I need to go to Allure", he picked her up. She pouted looping arms around his neck.

"Don't go", she said cutely.

"Why?", he asked walking towards the stairs.

"I will be bored", she shrugged.

"Your girlfriends are there", he chuckled.

"But my boyfriend won't be na", she said melting his heart. He sighed joining their forehead as they were climbing the stairs.

"It's work from home then", he said making her giggle and kiss his cheek tightly.

"No.. If it's really important you can go. I was just kidding", she said smiling.

"Oh no Ms. D'souza, I am working at home and then, you my pumpkin is entertaining me", he said biting her earlobe making her blush and giggle against his neck.

"All my pleasure, Mr. Oberoi", she said making him wink and he walked inside their room.

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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♥️

I know I didn't updated since long. It was two busy weeks. The updates will be regular now, of all my books😁

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

Precap: Shivaay-Annika's special new year

Love,
K♥️