After Virender left, there prevailed an awkward silence in the whole room. Almost every Advani in the room had a forlorn look on their face. However, what happened it the family stayed in the family right? Soon, they managed to diver the conversations. While the others shrugged it away, Omkara wasn't convinced. He knew, as a matter of fact, that Virender wasn't a regressive person. There had to be something that made him this way.

Shivaay looked at Annika's slumped shoulders and wondered how to cheer her up. His eyes immediately went to Gauri. After whatever Annika had told him, he knew she was one of the strongest people he had ever known. Her smile looked like a daydream, who would have thought that her life used to be a nightmare. Omkara caught his eyes, he was looking at Gauri with concern intently. His intuitive brother sensed something was wrong too. But Shivaay wouldn't tell him. It's for Om to find out himself.

"The invitations would be here in two days. We will have to start inviting out soon. Kids, we trust you to take care of other arrangements!" Jhanvi exclaimed and others nodded with her.

"Ma, this is why we should have hired a wedding planner like bhaiya had suggested!" Rudra said and immediately earned a whack from Kalyani.

"Kotiya, won't you work for you brother's wedding?"

Bhavya chuckled, "Nothing can make Rudy work Dadi, unless it's cardio!" While the rest laughed, hurt flashed over Rudra's face that made Bhavya regret what she said immediately. But he chose to remain silent, and suddenly, Bhavya wished he retorted.

"How come you didn't throw a fit for not asking your opinion for the invitation?" Annika whispered to Shivaay who grinned at her.

"I know your suggestions were brutally rejected. As long as you didn't get to do it, I'm good!" Annika slapped his hand and shook her head,

"Such maturity Mr. Oberoi! But yeah, two families ganged up against me when I said we want a simple one. They went for a velvet scroll! And apparently it will have Belgium chocolates, almonds, dates and few perfumes!" Shivaay's eyes widened for a minute, how was it possible in two weeks! But again, they were the Oberois and Advanis. He looked at the invitation's sample and understood why Annika didn't seem to complain. It was so breathtakingly beautiful that he couldn't have asked for something better than that. He unconsciously caressed both their names.

(Courtesy- Snuggle_bunbit aka Harshini for this very Royal Invitation! Thank you love!)

Annika- Good morning cute, oops sexy Billu Ji XD

Shivaay's lopsided grin never left ever since he read that text. Even though they were very comfortable with each other now, it felt nice when she texted him first. Her text told him that she also thought about him when she woke up, just as he did every day. Shivaay chose not to compare this side of him to his old self, who never laughed. The grim look was part of the package of being Shivaay Singh Oberoi. But with Annika, he was able to set himself free from his surname. For Shivaay, his obsession over 'Oberoi' was also just a way of reminding himself he had to be strong enough to be the 'Oberoi' son, it reminded him of his responsibility.

Rudra- I have sent the confirmation mail to the designer. We will have it ready on the 19th. I also checked over the fittings, Bhabhi can go for it any time from the 16th. If there is anything else, let me know.

Bhavya felt bad all over again reading this message. She knew that she had hurt him badly, for Rudra sounded very brusque, very unlike his playful self. She wished she could change it all back to how they were back in the beach. Bhavya had a tendency to say things before thinking twice, and in a rather curt way. But she decided, she would be more careful. She just hoped Rudra would return back to his normal self.

Gauri closed the box, this time she did not cry. The box was a burden she was ready to let go. She knew the time was coming that she had to face him again. The thought sent shivers in her spine. But she knew, this time she won't walk back. She would let him know she did not walk in circles anymore. She opened her phone and looked into the messages. There was a notification that read 'Omkara Ji'. She looked at the time, it had been only 10 minutes since he sent that. She didn't want to seem too eager, opening it soon. She decided to wait for an hour. Every minute went slowly and it made Gauri want to pull every strand of her hair in frustration...

Annika had split headaches by now. She did not expect things to blow up this bad. The whole office was in a catastrophe. She spent her whole time in front of her laptop, there was no way she would be able to go home. She sent her mom and Shivaay a text not to disturb her. This was going to be a long night.

It had been two whole days since Shivaay spoke to Annika, since she texted him she was busy. She did send him a few messages throughout the day, but he wanted to hear her voice. He tried calling her, but it directly went to voicemail. He wondered how Annika would be able to make it to the puja they had that day.

Few of the Advanis and the Oberois ran around the Oberoi mansion, arranging for the Kuldevta puja. Shivaay was disappointed when he got to know that Annika wouldn't be attending the puja. It was most unlikely of Annika, but that just meant Annika had her hands full. He hoped she ate and slept well.

Ding dong.

Shivaay looked around. Everyone seemed too busy to get the door, so he himself went. He was shocked to see the image of Annika in front of him. She stood there with her hand massaging her head, her eyes were sunken in. She was barely able to open her eyes, and it screamed to him she was in pain. Annika gave him a weak smile and went inside.

"Rudy? Rudy, can you put my phone on charger? And can I borrow yours?" Annika said, trying hard to open her eyes. Her mild headache, after three days, had become severe migraine in its full glory. And rest was out of question. It made her severely photosensitive, and every time she opened her eyes and saw light, her head throbbed so much. Worse was, she had to sit and work in front of her laptop.

"Hello Natasha? Yeah... Okay? I have checked that... Hmm... I think May. Okay, send me all the interactions between our company and theirs the last few weeks. Ask the IT guys to mail me asap. No, don't ask stupid questions, I'll scream at you. Very close to losing it!" Annika looked around to see everyone looking at her extremely concerned. "Don't ask or say anything please!" Annika begged and all Shivaay wanted to was hug her. But he silently sat next to her, for he knew she would probably behead him if he did anything else.

"Didu?" Bhavya called Annika. Gauri immediately signaled her a 'no'. Bhavya wanted to help her out, but Annika wouldn't like that. Annika hated to depend on anyone else. If something was to be done, Annika had to do it herself. Annika sat, trying hard to open her eyes and concentrate on her work.

"I don't see any loopholes! I have read this thing a hundred times. We can't afford to lose this deal!" Annika said the last line dejectedly. Nothing seemed to be in their favor. She rejected a deal with a great potential last week only because she was sure this one was suffice. Wait a minute, there was high possibility they lost their biggest overseas project because of Mr. Khurrana, whom she called out for being a chauvinist. She should have anticipated this. There was only one way to find out.

"Natasha, can you arrange a call with Mr. Weiss? Yes, connect Vikrant too! You be on mute in this line and translate to Vikrant. And yeah, record this call! Okay, call me again if it's done!" Amidst her hazy vision she now had some clarity. Shivaay held her hand, which made her look at him. "The puja will probably start soon Annika. Are you sure you'd be able to attend it?"

"Oh, I can't attend the puja Shivaay. Woh, Aunty Flow has visited!" Annika tried to hint him, but not everyone knew the girl slang. He looked lost, trying to figure out which Aunty she was talking about. Even though she was floating on a chaotic sea, she admired how adorable he was. "It's slang for menstruation!" She whispered to him and that's when he seemed to understand.

"Is that why you were walking funny? And you're having headache? And you keep shifting your position?" His curiosity frustrated her. Well, any girl on her period would feel that way! At least he didn't ask her whether she bled blue!

"Yes, I'm having cramps and back ache. The headache is probably because I haven't slept in three whole days, and I didn't eat the whole day today!" Annika saw his expression change, she knew he would probably eat her already fried up brains if she told him the last two things she said. She pleaded with her eyes, asking him not to tell anything. He simply took her laptop and lead her to his study. He made her sit and immediately left the room. Annika didn't have enough energy to deal with him. Rudra's phone rang and she immediately picked it up.

"Gueten Tag Herr. Weiss..."

(Greetings Mr. Weiss!)

"Natasha, we will have to let go! The wedding is on 27th, I can't be in Germany on the 30th!" Shivaay stood by the door with a plate of vegetable, soup and some rice. He couldn't see Annika with no spirit, sitting in defeat. He had to do something.