|••|

Annika was sitting with her hands on her mouth while he was walking back and forth beside the bed. She startled as the phone started ringing again and she saw her mother calling again.

"Annika you need to pick it up", he said sighing and sat down beside her. She shook her head immediately moving closer to him.

"Baby listen to me", he cupped her cheeks making her look at him. He knew the moment is serious as he saw the fear in his eyes and anxiety on her face.

"Shivaay you're not understanding. My mom loves me but she always ignores my happiness, she does as she wants", she said with eyes getting filled with tears. He sighed pulling her to his chest.

"Baby you said right? You want to talk to your mom about us? You said right, you want to face her? Annika, this is the perfect time. Talk to her, talk to her about us", he said caressing her hair softly.

She looked up at him and sniffed blinking. He leaned kissing her between her eyebrows.

"I am with you baby, always beside you, holding onto you, on our relationship", he said softly making her gulp and nods slowly. At the moment, her phone started ringing again making her flinch but he was fast enough to calm her.

"I am here, just pick it up", he pecked her temple having her in his arms and she nodded taking her phone with shaky hands and picked up the call.

"He..hello..hello mom", she whispered clearing her throat. He was continuously rubbing her shoulder in comforting way.

"Hello Annika?!", came the voice of Lily D'souza, Annika's mother. Annika gulped licking her lips firmly hearing her voice.

"Yes mom it's me", she said meekly getting up. He sighed seeing her nervous face but didn't say anything.

"Where were you? I have been calling you since past 20 minutes", she heard her mom complaining from other side.

"I..I was in the bathroom mom, taking shower", she said excusing.

"At this time? Do you want to fall ill Annika? What if you get cold!", she sighed hearing her mom. She can complain or scold her on any topic.

"I won't mom, it was a hot shower. Why did you call?", she asked politely.

"Now can't I call my daughter? Is this what you have become Annika, talk to your mom like this?", she scolded again making Annika sigh and looks towards Shivaay who pecked her forehead gently.

"No mom. Sorry, I asked as you didn't called from few days. How are you?", she asked calmly.

"I am good and not good too. What am I hearing Annika!", she asked making Annika gulp.

"Wh..what?", she asked softly.

"That you're dating someone!", Lily said making Annika close her eyes tightly.

"Um..mom..I can explain", she said softly with a sigh.

"What will you explain? I always knew this will happen since we sent you to Mumbai", she said.

"Mom I didn't do anything wrong. He's really nice and he loves me!", Annika said sighing in disbelief.

"Annika but it's time for you to focus on your career. It's true I am still not fond of your career but that should be your only focus", Lily said from other side.

"Mom you're talking as if I married and going to have kids without your information and I don't have any career anymore. I wanted sometime before I tell you", Annika tried to make her understand.

"Oh! That's why your father already know this, right?", she stiffen hearing her mother's words.

"Um..I..I didn't tell him", she muttered in low voice.

"You don't need to lie Annika, I know you well and your bond with your dad. I like it but I deserve to know about your life too", she said with disappointed voice.

"How much do you call me mom? And whenever you call, you have complains with me. How can you except me to be open with you!", Annika said softly and gulped looking down. She felt Shivaay wrapping arms around her comforting her.

"Of course whatever I do for you, it's wrong to you. Well, let's leave that. I called you to inform that I am coming to Mumbai tomorrow and I want to see him, then we'll talk ahead about your relationship", Lily said from other side making her eyes widen.

"What do you mean by talk ahead in relationship? Mom I love him and hello, hello mom! God!!", Annika muttered at last as her mother kept the call before she could talk ahead.

"What happened Annika?", he asked softly as she sat down slumping. His arm was around her shoulder making her lean to him.

"I am so scared Shivaay", she looked at him worried making him frown and come closer to her.

"Baby, relax. What is it?", he asked softly caressing her hair making her hug him.

"Mom is coming to Mumbai Shivaay. She said she want to see you first then she'll think about our relationship. Shivaay what if she rejects you! What if you and me-", he stopped her keeping hand on her mouth.

"Don't say ahead because that will never happen Annika. We'll talk to your mom, come on! We love each other, your dad support our relationship. We'll face everything, trust me", he said softly cupping her cheeks and kissed her forehead. That indeed helped her in relaxing making her hum.

"I trust you most Shivaay but I don't want to live without you now", she said as he parted making him shake his head tucking her hair.

"That will never happen because you, Ms. D'souza is stuck with me", he said winking making her smile and hug him again.

"Isn't there any way which make your mom stop at Goa itself? I mean, next week when you'll be free, we'll ourself go and meet her. That would be more appropriate too and maybe by then she'll be little less upset from you for hiding?", he asked softly making her look at him and blinked.

"Dad! Only dad can stop her. I think I should call him", she said and leaned back searching for her phone which she threw. He saw it first and forward towards her.

"Call him, and talk calmly else he'll get worried", he said making her nod before dialling to her father. After three rings, he picked up.

"Hey Annie! How are you my bacha?", Joseph asked from other side. His voice brought a smile on her face.

"Hi dad. I am fine, how are you?", she asked softly.

"I am also good. Accha, guess where am I?", he asked confusing her.

"Um.. Panaji?", she asked.

"Seriously Annie? Then why would ask you to guess. Come on, try guessing. I am near you", he said smiling with excitement in his voice.

"You- don't tell me dad! You're in Mumbai?", she asked with wide eyes.

"Bingo my love. I am in Mumbai, I was missing you a lot and your mom is at your uncle's house so thought to meet you. You're free right?", he asked softly.

"Anytime for you dad. But if you're in Mumbai, where are you going?", she asked confused.

"You remember, there's an apartment we bought when you're doing your studies here. I will be there. Come up to meet tomorrow", he said taking the turn.

"Come on dad! Seriously? Your daughter is living here and you want to live away from her. Also, there won't be immediate facilities. Come here na, we won't have any problem if you're thinking that", she said softly.

"Annika, bacha I know you won't but you're a young couple. You anyway don't get time for each other and now if I will come, you'll get busy in me. I am just near na Annie, we'll meet tomorrow", he tried to convince her.

"Dad but..", before she could say ahead, Shivaay took the phone keeping it on speaker.

"Hello uncle. It's me Shivaay", he said politely.

"Hello Shivaay. How are you my son?", Joseph replied smiling softly.

"We both are doing good uncle. I heard, you're not willing to come here. Why?", Shivaay questioned.

"Come on son, you both are young, just have started living together. You both should spend time together, Annika has came back today. You'll get troubled", he said bringing frown on her forehead.

"Uncle you just called me son. Then how will a son have problem with his elder coming to home? Please come, we both would love to have you here. Annika is even missing you", Shivaay asked politely making Annika smile softly at her boyfriend.

"Okay I am coming. Annie, text me the address okay?", he said bringing smile on both of their faces.

"Okay dad. Come soon, drive safe", she said before keeping the call.

"Thank you", she whispered hugging him close. He wrapped his arms around her taking in his embrace.

"Why?", he asked pecking her forehead.

"For convincing dad to come here", she smiled looking at him earning a look from him.

"Seriously baby? He's related to me too. He's your dad, he calls me his son, he's family", he said making her smile more.

"I love you so much", she whined making him chuckle at her and kissed her forehead firmly.

"Come let's cook some dinner before uncle comes, and talk to him over your mom's call too", he said rubbing her back to which she nodded humming.

|••|

Annika opened the door smiling widely and hugged her dad immediately making him chuckle at his daughter and hugged her back.

"I missed you too baby", he said understanding her unsaid feelings. She smiled parting.

"That's why you're going to other place", she complained.

"Well..let's leave that. Dad is sorry", he smiled wrapping arm around her shoulder.

Just then Shivaay came out of kitchen wiping his hands and went towards them.

"Welcome uncle. Thank you for coming. It feels really good to have you here", he said to which Joseph smiled and hugged Shivaay.

"How won't have I? My son called me", he said softly making Shivaay smile widely. Annika's heart warmed up seeing two important men of her life bonding so well.

"Hawh! Matlab mere baat ki koi value hi nahi hai", she fake angered looking at them with arms crossed against her chest.

"No getting jealous love, you're still my first love after your mom", he said ruffling her hair making Annika smile and then looked at Shivaay nervously hearing her mom's mentioning.

"Why don't you freshen up uncle? The room is ready for you. We'll have dinner after that", Shivaay offered taking the luggage from his hand. Joseph nodded going with him not before patting his daughter's head.

After 20 minutes, all were sitting at the dining area while Annika was serving to all of them.

"Wow! Aloo puri, your favorite huh?", her father said looking at Annika.

"Shivaay prepared it", she said smiling softly taking her seat beside Shivaay.

"That's nice. Let's eat then", he said to which other two nodded and the three began to eat.

"Mm..I must say Shivaay, you cook really well. I would say this is one of the best food I have ate", Joseph said making Shivaay smile softly.

"I just enjoy and like cooking, uncle, specially for her now", he said glancing at Annika at last who smiled eating.

"That's good. A man should know how to cook because women are not only responsible for meals", he said to which Shivaay nodded.

"I totally agree with you uncle", he said making Annika smile at her men.

"I am so glad I have men in my life like you guys", Annika said finishing her dinner and looked at them happily.

"And I am grateful to have a daughter like you, who makes me so proud", Joseph said holding his daughter's hand. She smiled widely, which brought a smile on Shivaay's face.

Annika and Shivaay got up taking the dishes and walked to kitchen while her father went to living room area.

"Baby", he called as he saw her putting the dishes in dishwasher. She hummed.

"Go talk to your dad over your mom's call. It's better we find a way to calm her before things go out of hand", he said making Annika sigh and hum leaning to island.

"But I want you to come along with me. In a way it's about both of ours lives", she said turning towards him who hummed nodding and held her hand taking them out to hall.

|••|

Annika smiled sitting beside her father who wrapped his arm immediately around her kissing her hair. Shivaay sat down against them on the another sofa.

"Dad..", she drawled making him hum.

"What's troubling you bacha?", he asked making her smile. Her father always understand her mood by her voice.

"Mom knows", she looked at him making his eyebrows narrow.

"What she knows?", he asked.

"Mom knows about me and Shivaay. She got to know from somewhere even when she never looks after my news, I think someone told her", she gulped.

"But I clearly told all our relatives to not tell her about it till you're ready to", he said with worried face.

"I don't know that but she knows now. She even know that you know about it", she said slowly looking down. He sighed knowing how his wife is going to give him betrayal looks later.

"Uncle she's coming to Mumbai tomorrow", this time Shivaay said making his eyes widen.

"What? Annika is it true? You know if she'll come she'll reject Shivaay", her father said looking at his daughter.

"Then what could have I done dad? She didn't even listen to me ahead. I was calling you because of this only that if you're at home, somehow stop her", she replied making him sigh. He knew she wasn't in fault.

"Can't we do anything uncle?", Shivaay asked nervously.

"Shivaay I am not sure. I mean, there's only way after which she can't reject you, in any way", he said making the couple look at him curiously.

"What is it dad?", she asked eagerly, "Yes uncle, we'll do anything", Shivaay added.

"Before telling you that, I want to ask you something Shivaay", Joseph turned his face towards Shivaay. He nodded.

"Does your family love my Annika? Like everyone?", he asked making Shivaay blink for a moment.

"Uncle, Annika completes my family. My parents always wanted a daughter and they see her in Annika, my dadi has always be very particular about me but I guess since Annika has come, she loves her the most. My brother depends on her the way they do on me and having common friends, they adore her a lot. And me, Annika is my everything now", Shivaay stopped gulping lightly, looking at her who's eyes were looking emotional. She smiled blinking at him.

"Fine then. I want to meet your parents tomorrow", Joseph said getting up making both of them look at him shocked.

"Da..dad? But why suddenly?", Annika asked looking at him.

"Yes uncle. Is there any problem? Actually Annika and me wanted to make both you and her mother meet them together", Shivaay asked softly.

"But it won't be a good decision now, I need to meet your parents", Joseph said.

"But why are you so into talking to them alone?", Annika asked confused.

"Because you and Shivaay need to get engaged", he said aloud making both of them look with wide eyes.

"What?", both of them exclaimed.

|••|

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♥️

Annika's mom is going make an entry in next chapter. Also, tell me what you think about the chapter😊

Hope you like the chapter, do tell me how it was😁

Precap: D'souza and Oberoi's meets

Love,
K♥️