|••|

Annika sighed as she saw rain pouring outside as she stood at front porch under shade after completing her night shoot by six of morning. Soon, her driver parked the car in front of porch and Annika got in.

As the car drove out, she saw paparazzi trying to click her pictures. She sighed seeing them in raincoats and shook head at their craziness for bollywood news but she realised it's their work.

Rolling down window a bit, she waved at them with a smile while her driver drove them towards her home. She smiled as her phone notified.

Good morning love❤️

She smiled looking at it and wished him back.

Good morning babe😘

A wide smile came on her face as clicked at his profile picture which she keep looking at, all the time these days. It was a picture of them from the photoshoot Om did. It was an adorable picture with her being in his lap and cupping his cheeks while he was holding her waist. Both were smiling with closed eyes facing each other with their nose touching.

Shivaay posted the same picture Instagram with a cute caption which spread like forest fire as him being rarely active on his feeds and second, it was the first time he posted something after their relationship getting official.

Caption: baby you light up my world like nobody else..🦋

[P.C: pinterest]

She blushed remembering the way their friends teased her next day as coincidentally he posted the picture on their 5 months anniversary.

As she reached home, she slowly unlocked it going inside silently knowing Gauri and Bhavya to be asleep in their rooms. Removing her sandals, she wore her home slippers and went towards her room flexing her muscles.

Taking a hot shower, she checked into her clothes and took out a pair of black knot top with green broad pants. Doing her usual make-up and hair, she got ready for the day in an hour.

[P.C: pinterest]

Getting her essentials for the day in her handbag, she got downstairs to see Gauri doing yoga in her gym outfits.

"Good morning Ri", she said and walked to her kissing her cheek from behind. Gauri smiled and looked at her.

"Good morning Annie, how's the shoot?", she asked getting up folding her yoga mat. Keeping it aside, she went behind Annika who was at the kitchen preparing coffee for herself.

"It was pretty good but tiring", Annika said sighing with a smile,
"it's outdoor shoot next month", she added. Gauri was going to say ahead when Annika's phone started ringing.

"It's dad", she smiled looking at Gauri who smiled and nodded. Excusing herself, Annika went to balcony.

"Hey dad!", Annika chirped happily.

"Hey tweety. How are you beta? It was your night shoot right, did you reached back home?", her father asked from other side making Annika smile.

"I am fine dad. Just came home and preparing coffee for myself. How are you?", Annika asked smiling.

"I am also good beta, was missing you so thought to check up on you", he said from other side.

"Aww dad, I will try to come Goa soon and meet you, even I miss you. Um, dad..can I ask you something?", she asked biting her lower lip.

"Sure Annie. Is everything fine? You and Shivaay?", she heard his serious voice from other side.

"No dad, don't worry. Everything is good between me and Shivaay. Actually, what's your thoughts on live-in relationship?", Annika asked.

It's been two days since Shivaay has asked her about them getting into live-in. She was confused though Shivaay didn't brought up the topic again but it was in her mind all the time.

"Why sudden Annie? Are you both thinking to be in a live-in?", he asked making Annika little shy over it but hummed.

"Yes dad. We don't get time to spend together, either of us stay busy when other one is free so Shivaay came up with the idea, only if I am fine with it", she said softly.

"Are you fine with it?", he asked softly understanding the turmoil in his daughter's mind.

"Idk dad. I mean I am fine because I don't think there's anything bad in being in live-in with him. He's the one for me I know, we both do and we're not even in a casual relationship. It's serious. But it's a big decision. What if it affect our relationship negatively?", she shared her worry with him.

"Tweety, think what if it goes positively? See as much as I have known him so far, I know I have met him only once but he is a really nice man, gentleman.. He loves you. So if you think that you have no issues with being in live-in with him, then go for it. He's right, you both will get more time to know each other, understand each other more, get to see into each other's life more closely and also, you'll understand your respective personal spaces too. And if you're thinking what if I don't allow it, then it's wrong. I am full supportive in it", he said making her smile softly at end.

The words of her father made her think over the entire situation again and she realised he is right. She should look at the brighter side and go for it.

"I think you're right dad. I thought over it again, I am ready to be in live-in with Shivaay", she smiled.

"You're sure and confident?", he asked again from other side.

"110% dad. I just needed an assurance. You gave it, thank you dad", she said smiling.

"Anytime tweety. But yeah, one thing on serious note", he said with sudden serious voice making Annika self-conscious.

"Yeah dad", she asked with serious voice.

"Just make sure you don't make me grandfather sooner. I am still young", he said making Annika nod in flow but then realised him teasing her.

"Daaad!!", she whined blushing making him laugh from other side.

"Okay I'll call you later. Gauri is calling", she excused making him chuckle from other side.

"Take care Annie, love you baby", he said softly making her smile.

"Take care dad and I love you so much", she said smiling and kept the call. Sighing with a smile, she went inside.

"How's uncle doing?", Gauri asked as Annika came back to kitchen. She started helping Gauri in breakfast.

"He's doing good, just called for casual talks", Annika said smiling.

"So? What you thought about Bhaiya's idea?", Gauri asked.

"I am ready to get in live-in relationship with him", Annika said smiling softly.

"What??", they heard a shrill voice making both of them startle and turn to see Bhavya standing there with shocked face.

"You're really going to get in live-in relationship with bhaiya?", she asked coming to her shocked.

"Yeah, it's surprising Annie. You're confused right?", Gauri asked.

"Yes I was but I talked to dad over it. He said I should look at brighter side and give into it. He also don't have any issue with it", Annika smiled making other two smile.

"Thank god atleast uncle made you realise it", Gauri said making Annika chuckle.

"You both are okay with it? Your opinion is also important for me. We have been living together since forever now", Annika said looking at her either sides.

Gauri and Bhavya smiled wrapping arms around Annika. She sighed holding them. Both have been her strength since the time she has entered in the industry. They're not just her friends, they're her soul sisters.

"Come on Annie, you're talking as if you're separating from us and going far away from us. You'll be just at Bhaiya's and you can be here any time. It's your first home and you're always welcome", Gauri said.

"Exactly Annie. Nothing can separate us", Bhavya said squeezing her in her arm.

"Promise?", Annika asked.

"Promise", both shouted in her ears giggling making Annika close eyes and giggle hugging them closer.

|••|

Shivaay came out of his home locking the main door when he heard honking making him frown and turned face towards the direction.

"Baby??", he smiled widely seeing her in her car at porch with window down looking at him with a wide smile.

"Hey babe", she grinned making him smile and go to passenger seat and sat down beside her. She lift up the window and turned towards him. He hugged her tightly making her smile and hug him back.

"How come you here?", he asked still surprised.

"I thought why not pick up my handsome love, it's not important either way always right?", she said making him smile and nod.

"Definitely not and I loved this sweet gesture", he said and leaned in pecking her lips making her grin.

"Allure?", she asked making him nod holding her hand on the gear. She smiled and drove them out of the campus of his home.

"Babee..", she drawled calling him making him chuckle on her antic and nods humming.

"Actually I have to tell you something", she said stopping the car under a tree. He looked at her confused and slightly worried.

"Everything is fine Annika? Someone troubled you?", he asked frowning.

"No baba", she chuckled holding his arm, he sighed and signalled her to continue.

"I have decided my decision over live-in relationship", she said biting her lower lip.

"Ah finally! I thought you forgot so I also didn't brought up the topic thinking you're busy in shooting", Shivaay said.

"Sorry for taking time. I was thinking over it", she sighed making him hold her hand and kissed her palm.

"It's fine, atleast whatever your decision will be now, you'll be sure about it", he said making her smile softly.

"Don't be so understanding babe", she whined pouting and wrapped arms around him. He giggled pecking her head.

"Nothing such baby, your decision, point of views are important for me", he said making her sigh.

"Now tell me your decision, I am eager", Shivaay whined making Annika giggle.

"I am ready", she said looking up at him making him surprised.

"Really?", he asked surprised and shocked, she also had a wide smile on her face.

"Really Mr. Oberoi, I am ready to grace your home and live together with you", she said giggling.

"You're not doing it only for me right? Or in any kind of pressure", he asked looking in her eyes to find any discomfort or reluctance. He found none.

"Not at all babe, I am completely sure", she said making him sighs and hugged him tightly smiling.

"I am happy, so happy. You and me together, in our home", he said sighing dreamy. A wide smile came on her face hearing our home.

"Our home", she whispered making him hum hugging more closer.

"So when are you shifting?", he asked making her chuckle seeing eagerness on his face.

"By tomorrow. I need to pack well right? And I was thinking maybe we can shift it at midnight or very early morning, you know it will be out of media's eyes", she said making him shrug.

"As you wish pumpkin, your wish", he said making her nod and parts from her while she also sat down properly. She was going to starting driving again when his phone started ringing.

"It's dadi", he said confused making her worry and actioned him to pick up fast.

"Yes dadi...haan I am free..yes Annika is with me too..everything is fine?..okay coming", he talked with her and kept the call.

"What happened? She's fine? Tej uncle, Jhanvi aunty?", Annika asked worried.

"Relax baby, everyone is fine", he held her hand, "dadi just want to see us. She was asking if we're free so we could come. You said you've off today so we can go right? Sorry I said we're coming just like that", Shivaay asked.

"Shivaay, come on, of course I am free and we can go. Let's go, even I am missing everyone", Annika said excitedly in end making him smile and hum.

|••|

"Dadiii!! Your favourite Annika is here", Annika walked inside Oberoi mansion and saw dadi sitting on sofa.

"Annika puttar! Finally you're here, I was missing you", Dadi got up and hugged her making Annika hug her back tightly, she kissed Annika's forehead lovingly. Shivaay came inside behind her and chuckled seeing their meeting.

"Dadi! Even I am here, you have forgotten me after Annika has come", he pouted making Dadi chuckle and hugged him caressing his hair.

"Such jealous cat he is dadi, I tell you", Annika teased making him narrow eyes.

"I am a human fyi", he said making her giggle shaking head.

"You're cat, Billu ji. Right dadi?", Annika asked making dadi laugh and nod agreeing with her.

"Hey! Don't call me that", he said grumpy making Annika giggle more pulling his cheek.

"Accha leave all this, I called you both as it's been so many days I have seen you both because of your busy schedule", dadi complained making Annika sigh and side hugged her.

"Sorry dadi, now I promise I will take out time for you and meet you", she said bringing a smile on his face. The way Annika gell up with his family always warms his heart.

"Okay, so dadi, to compensate it I will stay here till night, is it fine?", she asked softly bringing a smile on the older lady's face.

"I would love it puttar!", she said caressing her hair.

"Okay my ladies, then let's start our day out with freshly squeezed juice by my hand and then I am preparing lunch for all of us", he said side hugging both his important ladies making them smile widely.

"I will help you", Annika said making him agree.

"And I will call others then, it will be a complete family lunch after so long", dadi said excitedly making smile on other two faces.

|••|

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♥️

ShivIka will now start their new journey as live-in couples. I hope you like this new experience in their life in upcoming chapters😁

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

Precap: Dadi's birthday celebration

Love,
K♥️