This chapter takes place right after the wedding shenanigans; the next morning after their failed first night.

The newly weds were snuggling close to each other as the morning sun rays began to pierce through the curtains and hit their peaceful faces. Shivaay was the first one to wake up from the deep slumber. As soon as he opened his eyes, his gaze fell upon his beautiful wife. She was snuggling close into her custom-made pillow. Just then, before he could plant a kiss on her forehead as he wanted to, Annika stirred and woke up. She looked up to see his face the first thing after waking up.

"Good morning, Shivaay!" She wished him as she snuggled closer into his chest, deeply inhaling his scent.

"Good morning, Mrs. Oberoi!"

"Mrs. Oberoi?" She shot her head up right away and thought for a minute before speaking up.

"Why are you calling me Mrs.Oberoi all of the sudden?"

"Now that you've officially become Mrs. Oberoi, so it's fair that I call you by that name right?" He smirked as he pulled her onto him and began planting kisses on her cheeks as she tried pushing him away.

"Shivaay... we have to go and get ready!" She barely managed to whisper as their proximity was doing wonders to her in ways that words can't explain.

"Go... who's stopping you?" He asked very much innocently while tightly locking his arms around her waist.

"Shivaay! I can only go if you let me go!"

"But I want to romance with my wife!" Shivaay lazily stated as he tried to bite her cheeks.

"Mmmm... Shivaay please! Let's get up!" Anika cribbed, pulling a sad pout which tempted Shivaay, but he shrugged of the thought of kissing her without them both brushing.

"I don't feel like it! Besides, once we step out of this room, all the post-wedding ceremonies will begin and we won't get a chance to even talk to each other properly!" Shivaay sulked, like a child, earning Annika's chuckle.

"It's just for today and tomorrow, na! After that, I'm sure you would have already planned our honeymoon!" Annika blushed at the mere thought of them going on honeymoon.

"But still...!" Shivaay had to stop mid-way as his wife planted a kiss on his forehead, at the same time, provocatively touching him, which made his blood flow to be concentrated to the south of his body. Shivaay tried to calm himself by shutting his eyes tight and divert his thoughts towards Ahaana Authentics. The last thing he wanted today was to wake up with a boner.

"Stop cribbing my dearest hubby! Just two more days then, we will be able to have as much romance as we want. Okay?" Annika asked much innocently, without realizing the effect of her words on him. He took a sharp breath and opened his eyes.

"Okay!" He agreed and let go of his hold on her waist.

"You're the best!" Annika giggled as she gave him a sloppy kiss on his cheek and dashed into the bathroom.

Shivaay relaxed only after she was gone completely from his sight. They hadn't had any intimate relationship in the past, though Annika had once suggested it a few days back by getting all over him. Their make out was so passionately wild that ever since that night, it was the only thing that Shivaay dreamt of. He even woke up with a morning wood the next day and Annika, being herself, wasn't aware of the way she was affecting him. If only his siblings and friends hadn't kidnapped her last night, he would have fulfilled his long pending wish. But, unfortunately, they had to intervene with some nonsensical German ritual!

"You'll be the death of me, Annika!" Shivaay smiled as he finally felt himself  relaxing and free of the tension earlier.

*

Annika would have been the world's first bride to not shed a single tear during her 'bidaai'. Pinky was all tears but Anika managed to pacify her and with a little help from Shakti.

"Just take care of yourself and Papa. I'll be coming to visit you in Mussorrie soon. And, please help me to pack my things, would you?"

Pinky nodded tearfully. Soon, the Oberois and the De Cruzs bid farewell to one another. Shakti and Pinky left to Mussorrie and the rest of them got back to Mumbai. The post-marriage rituals were done back to back from the moment they arrived in Mumbai. Firstly, they went to pay respects and gratitude to God. In the temple, Anika was asked to leave one of her 'kalires' there as it was part of a ritual. The other one was a momento of their wedding which she was allowed to keep.

Shivaay was having a hard time to keep his hand to himself since his newly-wed wife was looking exceptionally beautiful in the red saree that his family had gifted. Her perfect curves looked more alluring than usual. Annika, on the other hand, wasn't helping him and was teasing him at every other chance that she had.

During their ride back to Oberoi Mansion, Annika kept poking on his waist, making him jerk on his seat. Shivaay too didn't let go of every opportunity he had to steal kisses from her. Next, it was Anika's 'Grah Parvesh' into Oberoi Mansion. Anika had a blast while performing the rituals as she was very much excited upon finally being able to do what she's always watched on T.V. and movies. Even though she was fully aware of how each and every ritual was performed, yet she listened diligently when Dadi explained everything to them.

It was quite late in the night by the time all the rituals were completed. Hence, Tej and Jhanvi had requested them to stay back for the night and if possible for a few days. However, Shivaay bluntly refused the idea much to Annika's dismay. However, she didn't voice that out.

"Why did you refuse to stay back at Oberoi Mansion and insist on going back to your house?" Annika asked, once they were finally heading back to Shivaay's house.

"What do you mean by why?" Shivaay questioned her.

"Why means why. What do you mean by 'what do you mean by why?"

"Because, I don't feel much comfortable there. Our relatives are all still there and it's very crowded and noisy!" Shivaay replied truthfully.

"But they are family Shivaay. They would have really wanted us to stay back there. Besides, they're all gathered just for our wedding. To bless us and to be a part of our happiness. Now how would they feel when we, the reason why they are all here is not there? How would Jhanvi Mom and Tej Papa feel? Dadi also seemed a bit dejected, you know!" Annika explained her perspective to Shivaay.

"If it bothered you that much, why didn't you speak up earlier? And, they're my family. They do know how I am. I don't like people roaming around the house and poking their nose in everything."

"That's how people are! We can choose to either look at the bright side or the worst side, right?"

"You're right, but I'm not at all in the mood for all the nuisance they come with. So, please? Can we not talk further about this? I don't think we will go anywhere with us arguing over this."

"We are not arguing Shivaay. We are just voicing our thoughts out!" Annika corrected him.

"And our thoughts are not headed towards the same direction. So, please, can we drop this? Besides, do you really want to talk about them right now?" Shivaay asked as he leaned sideways towards her. That act of Shivaay rendered Annika blushing as she wasn't expecting the appearance of Cute Singh Oberoi.

"Why are you being so cute, suddenly?" Annika questioned as she slightly pushed him towards his seat.

"Simply! And also because I love you!"

Annika chuckled at his sudden confession and hummed as a reply while looking out of the window. She didn't want to look at him and blush further.

"What just hmm? Say that you love me too!" Shivaay demanded, once she remained silent after that.

"Why should I?" Annika asked, without even turning to look at him.

"Well, because you love me too!" Shivaay grinned.

"How sure are you that I love you too?" Annika asked as she turned around to look at him.

"Simple, you wouldn't have married me if you didn't love me!" Shivaay exclaimed while snaking his arms around her waist, pulling her closer towards him.

Annika looked at him scandalized as she hit him by his shoulder.

"The driver can see us. Put your hands off me!"

Shivaay reluctantly obeyed her order but didn't move away. He instead rested his head on her shoulder and inter locked their fingers.

"Say that you love me too!" He begged, literally in very imploring manner.

Annika chuckled yet again and refused only to have a much more adamant version of Shivaay.

"Please?"

"Oh good Jesus! You're behaving like a child, do you realize that?" She questioned him.

"I don't care. Say that you love me too!" He insisted.

"Okay fine! I love you too!" Annika finally said, much to his delight.

"I love you more!" He whispered against her neck and went on to plant a kiss there.

Annika's breath hitched when he did so. His warm breath against her soft skin was sending chills down her spine. She sighed at the sweet feeling and bit her lips together. However, it was short-lived as her headache and fatigue began to kick in. She finally realized how hectic and tiring it was for both of them. A wedding isn't all sunshine and rainbows, though she loved each and every moment of it. If she could, she would have lived that moments again and again for the rest of her life, but she wasn't ready for the exhaustion part.

"If I knew marriage would be this exhausting, I would have never agreed to it! Gosh!" Annika exasperated.

Shivaay immediately lifted his head from her shoulder to look at her. He couldn't believe how she had ruined the beautiful mood that he had created just now. He narrowed his eyes as he tried not to glare at her.

"Aren't you tired?"

"Do you... what was I saying earlier?" Shivaay asked her, being unable to believe how she was oblivious of the blunder she did earlier.

"What? You were just simply lying down!" Annika shrugged.

"Just forget it!"

"What?!"

"Nothing, I wasn't saying anything important anyways!"

"Alright then. I'm so sleepy, wake me up once we reach home, will you?"

"Sure!" Shivaay answered, trying to hide the sarcasm in his tone.

"You're the best! I love you!" Annika stifled a yawn and placed her head on his lap.

Shivaay, though was feeling very much agitated with how she had ruined their romantic moment, couldn't help but to adore her.

"People were so true when they said that wives murder romance! But why didn't they say that they will make you feel guilty for thinking so the next moment itself by acting so cute! God! This woman will be the death of me!"

By the time they reached Shivaay's home, he didn't have the heart to wake her up. He instead lifted her in his arms to their room. He had mentally thanked himself for cleaning the house before going to Mussorrie. A messy house was the last thing he wanted to face at that time.

"Good night Wify!" Shivaay whispered against her hair as he settled next to her, not before removing all her jewellery.

- To be Continued -