#Fun Fact- People are more creative in the shower. When we take a warm shower, we experience an increased dopamine flow that makes us more creative.

Shakti wasn't sure how to respond to his son's unexpected secret wedding. He was delighted for him but at the same time, he preferred Shivaay to function on his path out. It wasn't the precise juncture to get into serious relationships, at this age he was supposed to look after his studies or future planning perhaps his son was a step ahead, he was married at a tender age and was ambling into the tremendous realm fleeing his youth and dependable days. Years back he too had committed a similar thing, the indistinguishable wedding with his then-girlfriend and now wife and had dumped all the responsibilities, of course. He didn't want his son to do the exact. He wanted him to yearn his name that he couldn't, not that he was dissatisfied behind his Bhai Saab but he wanted his reputation. His identity. His fame which he lost somehow between juggling in the relations.

Like him neither Pinky was to be pointed at, both were inexperienced and maturity was far away from them, lucky his parents and elder brother stood in backing even when they were discontented with his acts. And today his son was in the identical circumstance where he had been years back, and as a father, he would happily comfort him sort out things.

"Mummy Ji see this is Tia Kapoor, hailing from a business family background. She would be best for Shiv." He snapped out this thought hearing his wife's rants. Widening his eyes he went on to grab the photo she was holding and tore it into perfect two parts.

"First Shiv was acting weird, now you are behaving so," Pinky yelled seeing her husband go mad.

"No one will search a match for him." He coerced with his unusual anger which Pinky found too amusing.

"Shakti Ji you look like an angry young man. Like Exactly Bachchan Ji." Pinky squealed like one of those fan-girls swept into her.

Shakti numerous moments guessed regarding his decision of being married to Pinky, while he thought of it as a crime. It was 'child marriage', supporting his reflections she too acted the same at times, irritating him to the core. However, regardless of that, he loved her, more than himself and also his son.

"Shakti she isn't in hurry, relax. She is just overthinking of upcoming days." His mother, Kalyani answered satisfyingly.

Not giving ears to their calls, he walked past swirling his car keys in his fingers. His tamed at his way while his thoughts revolving around his son. He definitely needs to have a physical talk with and know what he thinks of the situation.

•••••

He plastered a small smile on his lips at the apartment society associates. He was asked why his son was suddenly married and most precisely at this age, nodding his head continuously he answered all the questions thrown at him with a calm and formulated tone. His smile grew wider hearing about his daughter-in-law, apparently whom he hasn't seen yet. They praised her as a social friendly and helpful young girl. Somehow not even knowing her he was proud of her and suddenly felt attached. Collecting his positive vibes he waddled the stairs to the needed floor.

Knocking the door twice he stood waiting for the door to be opened. As expected his son opened the door, his one hand had a clasp on a red non-stick frying pan. Wearing a stained apron, he looked like a mess. Guessing on it, Shakti concluded that his son was readying dinner.

Precisely scrambled eggs.

"Hello. Papa? You here?" Shivaay stood rooted to his position with mouth wide open. He didn't expect his father at his doorsteps at this instant, just a few hours after his facetime.

"I wanted to see her." Not saying much, Shakti pushed him aside and went on relaxing reclining on the hardest couch he had seen ever.

"Did you say others at home? I don't want to-" Shivaay whispered audibly with a shameful fallen face.

"Shivi who was that?" Hearing his wife's shouts from the kitchen he clenched his jaw tight and exhaled trying to prepare himself for upcoming events. Whereas his father enthusiastically straightened his sitting position and smoothed his clothes.

"Shivi you should accept my suggestion. Going for our honeymoon isn't a bad idea. Shimla is common, let's go to Bali." Overhearing her words and bluntness Shakti coughed up, and widened his eyes.

Shivaay knew what was coming up next. Her footsteps were loud indicating that she was quite nearly the small living hall where he and his father were. His father eagerly awaited her to show up when she did, he was surprisingly comfortable with her. Being an introvert himself, he found familiarity with her.

As she walked into the living room, she stumbled by the sofa nook and cursed that metallic piece for hurting her since her day one over here. A newly purchased professional camera hung by her neck with the support of the strap, the black model matched with her olive green pyjamas and blacktop. She passed a sheepish smile to Shivaay when she heard him mutter 'careful' when she was about fall.

Shakti cleared his throat gaining her attention from his son to him. She was shocked but recovered it within seconds and passed on a bright smile.

"Opps we have a guest." She giggled and continued to speak by turning towards Shivaay. "Shivi you didn't say the flat owner is here. Didn't you pay the bills, but yesterday you went though right?."

"Annika my father, Shakthi Oberoi."

"What? As in your father? I'm fainting." Shakti giggled seeing his son roll his eyes at her overdramatic expressions.

"Baba. No, I call my father baba, so it's papa for you. Yes, papa, it wasn't me who forced Shivi into this. It was my Aai, also it wasn't her fault though considering my lies of having a boyfriend." Annika blabbered feeling self-conscious with constant gazes on her.

"Don't. Call. Me. That." Shivaay gritted his teeth his building irritation.

"What?"

"That. Name."

"Shivi?"

"Don't. Call. That. Again."

"You shut up Shivi. Shivi is such a nice name. In my neighbourhood, everyone used to call my distant friend, Shivina as Shivi. That's so pretty." Annika cooed.

"Exactly that's a female inscription. My parents named me after Lord Shiva. My name is such a unique piece and you are spoiling it. That's Cheesy" Shivaay huffed annoyingly.

"Only for my husband." Shivaay groaned as she winked at him.

"She is the perfect daughter-in-law, for the Oberoi khandhan." Shakti happily shrieked watching her openly flirt with his son not caring about the surroundings.

[Trans- family]

His heart swelled as she addressed him as papa considering him as a father figure after her own. Seeing her he could differentiate accurately. She was blunt having no filters, unlike his sophisticated son who wanted everything to be perfect.

"Did you turn off the gas stove?" Ignoring his father, Shivaay asked to smell the foul whiff.

"I didn't. Fuck." As soon as the words settled in her pits, she ran again crashing to the wall. Shivaay's heartbeat, raised as he watch his newly purchased camera was about to be dropped. He thanked his stars when Annika safely carried it, within the next second.

He let out a sigh of relief.

"Shiv? I can understand your dilemma, I have handled your mom with outstanding ranks. You can do it."

"Papa?"

"True though. Thank you, I got a daughter."

•••••

It was past dinner time and having no dining table Shakti settled down on the sofa with crossed legs and a plate between his both palms. He simultaneously looked at both Shivaay and Annika with bizarre eyes as his son angrily glared at his new daughter-in-law.

"What's wrong?" Shakti asked unable to control the thickness of the atmosphere.

"She is clumsy. Very much.  I left her for only a few minutes to unlock the door, but within those minutes she created havoc with my kitchen." He turned his attention from his father to her and passed on an intensified glare at her. "Hidden Powers? To do that in a short span?"

"I wanted to learn cooking." Twisting her mouth she answered annoyingly.

"You don't know to cook? My God!. Didn't your Aai help you in learning?" Shivaay faked his amusement and gasped with enthusiasm.

"See, I am only a child. So that wasn't necessary for me. My parents consider me as a lucky charm." She shrugged nonchalantly.

"If that's the reason, then I'm a too only child." Shakti glared at his son discerning him prevailing green-eyed of his wife. Shivaay stopped his sentence in mid when his father nudged him to be quiet.

"Spoiled kid," Shivaay muttered under his breath.

"How did you find Mumbai? Is it creating you well?" Shakti asked diverting the topic to halt their banter.

"Well, I'm not new here. I previously stayed with my distant relatives for my graduation."

"That's so nice." Shakti put his plate aside and tried making her comfortable with his presence.

"How are you so sweet like ras malai and your son sarcastic like a bitter guard?" Without even her awareness the words slipped her tongue, and she bit her tongue the next second.

[Trans-an Indian sweet dish consisting of small, flat cakes of paneer (curd cheese) in sweetened, thickened milk.]

"You!" Shivaay trailed off as his father asked him to shut up.

"I know I'm sweet, that's the reason for my diabetics." Shakti curled his fingers around his face sensing the features. "But you see, an apple doesn't fall from a mango tree. Likewise, Shivaay is like his mother." Shakti jokingly added.

Shivaay sat with a wide variety of facial expressions hearing both talks like decade long friends. Rolling his eyes at him, he departed from there to clean up the mess his wife created a while ago. He mentally noted not to allow her to help him or even to switch off the stove. Groaning at the thoughts he stepped into his open kitchen.

Whereas in the hall, both Annika and Shakthi broke into fits of laughter with his joke.

"What's was that about the honeymoon? You wanna go? Shall I book tickets?" Shakti asked composing his breathings.

"Areee no papa. This evening Aai had phoned Shivi to terrorized him to take care of me. He scarcely talked against her, so Aai wanted us to go somewhere and spend time together." He tentatively nodded his head, carefully listening to her.

"And Shivi rejected it saying I have finals coming up. But I wanted to visit Bali." She explained rubbing her palms with each other and twisting her body to completely face him.

"You wanna make him agree?"

"Nah, Papa. He is right though. I need to study." She mumbled grumblingly with a low voice.

"Achha, you tell me how my son is treating you."

"He. He is fine but is a clean freak. Apart from being a bit sarcastic, he is okay. That's it. He is easy to handle. I have dealt with Aai so he is not an issue."

"College?" He questioned.

"Yeah, I go from here. It's five minutes walk. Papa, will you have tomorrow brunch with me? Like knowing both of us."

"That's so fortunate. Will Shiv join us?"

"No Papa, he is an old hag always into work. He is again managing one of Sid's birthday events, tomorrow."

"So he knows about you guys?" He looked up to the ceiling and prayed. "Mata Ji, don't know what and all I need to know about."

"Koi baat nahi! I'm here." Annika grinned looking at his startled face.

[Trans- don't worry!]

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