Her eyes were a pool any man would love to get lost in; it window to her heart. He was able to see through her soul, which was pure, untainted, wild and fierce; like fire, which glows to illuminate a place to destroy darkness but also can burn down a whole country. Holding her in his arms he wondered, all his life he felt that he needed a woman who was worthy enough for him. But here she was, making him question if he deserved to hold a cabochon like her for the whole of their lives.

"You kanji eyes change colors Shivaay... Blue? Green? or Grey? I don't know" Anika whispered, unable to breathe properly in this proximity.

"Now, what's kanji? Is it Chinese?" Shivaay whispered back confused, making Annika chuckle.

"It is Hindi. The fact on how Shivaay Singh Oberoi doesn't know something is amusing!"

"I do have lot of things to learn Annika. About this language, about you and probably about me too..." Shivaay replied thoughtfully.

"Ahem ahem... Bhaiya?" Rudra cleared his throat making the couple straighten themselves embarrassed. God knows how long these two were standing like this! Rudra had come looking for Shivaay who had gone away when a call had come. But then, his brother was off romancing his future Bhabhi.

"Did you HAVE to spoil their cute moment? Such a spoil sport" Bhavya chided, who had come to see what took Annika so long. Seeing her saint like cousin look at a man with a tinge of crimson covering her honey like tanned skin was such a beautiful sight to behold! She and her Gauri Di would have paid millions to see that, but her Jiju's brother had to snap them back to reality! Bhavya already hated this man.

"Well, I didn't want any one from family to see the romance of two people who had just met! And with that position, do you want the old bones to be scandalized?" Why was no one in this world sensible? God had to give all the brains to Rudra alone, right!

"It's funny to hear this from Rudra Singh Oberoi!" Bhavya replied sardonically, she knew this guy called himself a lady killer. Had he really been concerned about elders, he wouldn't change girlfriends every week.

"What on holy heavens..."

"Ahem, Rudy, I think people are waiting for us! After you Annika..." Shivaay, as usual brought things under control. Annika always loved the fact that Shivaay was one of those people who turned savior at any given situation.

True to Shivaay's assumption, Annika knew every single detail of his life. From the day she had turned to a lady, she knew that if she was to marry a man, it would always be Shivaay. Her mom and her whole family went on and on about their damad ever since the beginning of time. Also, at a few social gatherings, Annika had met a few of the Oberois, who had always treated her as family. Thus every time she saw any news on new girls in his life, she was crest-fallen. No, she did not love him, she knew that.

He never thought in his life that with THE Rajveer Advani seated in front of him, he would spend his time stealing glances of his to be bride. He felt a need to memorize her every single move, smile, word. He did not know what the conversation was, but he had never seen his mom throw back her head and laugh at a joke as if she was laughing for the first time at something Annika had said. There was a child-like excitement brimming in the face of his other-wise composed Badi Ma. This girl was surely a win, thought Shivaay as a small smile slowly crept his lips.

"Well, it is amusing to see Shivaay Singh Oberoi smile like loon whilst staring at a girl, you might want to look somewhere else Shivaay" Chuckled Omkara. He had met Annika before. In fact, she had been to one of his galleries with Mallika, when Siddharth Rana had cancelled his plans in the last minute. Deep down, he knew that Annika was the one for Shivaay. Knowing both of them separately, he knew they made the best dyad. But Omkara refrained from saying anything to Shivaay all along because he knew that things would be good only if Annika was solely Shivaay's choice. He had a lot of influences from the rest of his family, and Om did not want to add to that.

"Omkara ji? I hope you are done with your tea, shall I take away the cups?" The sweetest voice he had ever heard woke him from his thoughts. Her intense questioning gaze made him let out a sigh as he registered her long eyelashes. He knew it wasn't just bodily beauty, but the beauty of her soul attracted him. If Raja Ravi Varma was alive, his muse for all his paintings would have been her. If all the great poets had seen her, they would have gone doolally and sung only about her. With a small gaze of hers, he felt a part of his soul sought her's.

"You can take away the cups Gauri, I am sure Om is done with his chaai.(after Gauri leaves) Are you sure Om, that you are the right person in advising me on gawking?" Shivaay grinned like a Cheshire cat, if things worked well, he would not be the only one to have an Advani bride!

Buzz... buzz... buzz... buzz.

Bhavya was getting worried when Annika's office phone buzzed for umpteenth time. Her Amala chachi had given both the personal and official phones of Annika to her as she didn't want them to hamper her time with Oberois. Bhavya gestured Gauri to come and informed her that it was Professor Burke who was calling. They both knew he wouldn't call second time unless it was important. They had to somehow get Annika to answer his call. Omkara was noticing all these, he understood with the worried lines of the girls' forehead and eyes directed toward Annika, that there was something important and Annika was needed. He decided to jump in.

"Ermm... Annika? Do you remember when we had last met, you were telling me about one of the oil paintings in your house which was here for many generations? I would love to see that!" Omkara tried his best to get Annika out of there, but Amala insisted Gauri and Ranveer take him there. On other chances, Om would have jumped at the opportunity, but he needed to get his Anni Bhabhi to Bhavya. He had to think of something else, he thought worriedly and that was when Rudra came in for rescue.

"Yay! We would finally get to see the painting Om has been rambling on and on about. Chalo Shivaay Bhaiya!" Rudra too was noticing all the happenings and understood why Om, out of the blue asked Annika to take him. If Shivaay was to go, there was no way Amala aunty would not send Annika, and he was right. With the mention of Shivaay, Amala ushered Annika to take them upstairs. Bhavya and Gauri could not be more grateful. They both knew how this was a great deal to Annika and thanked the stars for giving Annika amazing devars. However, while Gauri acknowledged happily, Bhavya did it grudgingly. All she could do was to pray that Rudra did not become her didu's favorite.

While Annika went to the balconet to attend the calls,
"You both have no idea how much big of a help you did for Didu. Do you still want to see the painting though?" Gauri asked.

"There is actually a painting Di? I thought O just made that up to cover Anni Bhabhi" Rudra asked earning a face-palm from the rest.

"Do you actually think Amala Aunty would have sent us all here if there wasn't one Rudy boy?" Shivaay asked chuckling. His baby brother was the cutest, but of course, certain Advani thought he was dumb.

Shivaay turned to Gauri and asked, "Is it the same Professor Burke who invented 'One click appliance' for the disabled and paralytic people, Gauri?"

"Yes Jijaji, he is the one. He is Anni Didu's mentor and inspiration. After attending one of his seminars only, she took rehabilitation engineering. In fact she hunted down the whole of Germany just to meet him after she got to know he shifted there, just to show him one of her ideas" This added another laurel in the list of why Annika was the best in Shivaay's brain. Man! What is this girl!

"So, did he approve?" Rudra asked curiously, and Bhavya's reply made the Obros' jaw hit the ground.

"He now works for Didu"

When Annika returned to the squad, there was a new found respect in the eyes of the men. Their body language seemed as though they were intimidated by her. Certainly, Ri and Babi had sung her praises, Annika thought flustered.

Time for a little distraction...

P.S. One touch appliance is actually something which might be found in the future, I did not mention anything related about it because its not right to claim the work of someone else even for a fictional purpose right! I'll update tomorrow :)Bye.