Red roses adorned the main entrance of the beautiful holy place Shivay Anika just stepped in. Holding her hand protectively he walked inside to see their god Guru Nanak Ji. The idea of Gurudwara marriage at morning was proposed by Mrs. Pinky Singh Oberoi, also known as Shivay's mother. Knowing the fact that Bengali marriages are always very much bright she decided to get her son and daughter-in-law married in both ways. First the Gurudwara marriage and then bengali marriage according to rituals and customs.

Haldi got completed the day before in the most calm yet joyful way in both the families along with flow of numerous emotions at the same time. Most importantly the groom was dying to see his bride with haldi applied over her and thus he messaged her asking for a photo but unfortunately Ishana read the message and teasing followed the entire day while the red hue stubbornly sticked over Anika's cheeks making it warm and brightening her up.

He held her hand more protectively and turned his face towards her to see her staring at the big photo of Guru Nanak Ji kept at front. She also looked at him feeling his stare over her and their eyes spoke enormous number of vows of holding onto each other forever. Walking close to the priest they folded their hands and prayed for their good future and their togetherness in every sweet yet bitter situations.

"Never leave my bhaiya's back bhabhi, I am handing you over the most messed up person of our family" they heard Rudra speaking trying to be mature.

"No matter what Rudra, your bhaiya won't be left alone from now" Anika assured keeping her hand over Rudra's as the smile adorned everyone's lips.

Shivay's heart felt warm. He indeed dreamt of his marriage with Anika but never understood that he would have to face these many emotions together. He was willingly giving the sword of his own life in her hand with all the trust and he believed that she won't ever break that precious bond of trust.

Chanting the Lavan their marriage ceremony started as they took rounds around Guru Granth Sahab Ji to get tied in the most precious and beautiful bond. Everyone rejoiced but all they could hear was the sound of their rising heartbeats. Their heartbeats synced magically, altogether a different kind of feeling swept through them. It seemed as if every God was blessing this couple for the happiness of lifetime and after.

"I promise I won't leave her hand ever in any situation" he said the line looking into her eyes slipping off into an entire different zone where the nature had only them and their feelings for the other.

"I promise to be the strength to his weakness and motivation for everything he does" she spoke breaking the trance making his lips curve in a simple smile.

Four rounds around the Guru Granth Sahab Ji completed with high voiced counts and siblings asking them to decide again before the completion of the rounds that if they wanna step out. But an excitedly defeated cheer lighten up the place as siblings declared that the rounds are completed.

"The marriage is done" the Guru ji said smilingly looking at the happy faces of the couple and their family.

"Celebration is something which isn't completed without God's blessings, Guru ji please bless my children a happy future" Anika's mother voiced out happily with happy tears in her eyes looking at her daughter taking up the responsibility of becoming daughter-in-law of one's house.

Everyone together clicked photos and the bride and the groom took blessings of God and then the elders.

"Now you both will have to go apart, so leave hands of my Di" Ishana chirped not exactly meaning what she said but trying to tease.

But for Shivay it was as if someone asking him to leave and let go of his other part which he feared, he got scared and tightened his hold.

"Never ever I will leave her hand" his baritone sounded magically different and everyone chuckled teasing them more.

But owing to the fact that they themselves were enjoying the teasing, they denied to leave other's hand. And then they had to sit inside different car because one car was to go to Oberoi Mansion while the other one to Mukherjee House. Reaching to their respective houses they waited, not so patiently, for their bengali wedding at evening.

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"Anika beta" mother walked in calling her name.

She was sitting over the bed and was staring at her mehendi which had her and her Shivay's name together. The mehendi darkened more in the last night and the colour of love touched her heart making her believe in that exotic concept although not sure whether to name her feelings as love. She was scared, scared to ask him about the same thinking he would smile at her questions because they seemed stupid to her.

They are getting married, so trust should be the main bond between them. But love, what about that poor feeling? Is it really not there in their relation? Is it really not what Shivay feels for her too? She came out of these thoughts feeling her mother's hand above her head.

"Be in whichever situation beta, never ever lose hope. When it feels like no one is there to support you just close your eyes and share your pain with me. I will understand it from every distance" mother completed slowly brushing Anika's hair.

She felt special, she hugged her mother by the stomach and sobbed silently realising the decreasing hours of her departure. She indeed stayed in hostel for her graduation but leaving her family behind forever is making her sad, very sad.

"You are getting a bigger family beta, and being the eldest daughter-in-law of that family always remember your responsibilities. They will always be there to take care of your's, always trust the elders and respect them as your own mother and father. Never lose hope over this sacred relation of marriage and trust Shivay always. And you will see that he will never break your trust, I have faith in him" the last sentence did something to Anika's heart, she became more proud to take the most correct decision of her life.

She glanced the wall clock and her photos with her sister since childhood. The smiles, the mischiefs and everything flashed like a movie in seconds in front of her. She smiled with years in her eyes. Previously she had a hope of Ishana getting married to Omkara but now analysing every situation this seemed impossible. She will miss her more, her secret keeper, her partner in crime.

In past few days Shivay has taken over to that post and Ishana got subsided from it. Anika until now never gave a thought about it but now thinking that how Shivay is becoming most important threatened her.

"Maa, what if I blindly trust Shivay always and in that process end up hurting everyone else?" she voice out, fear and insecurity visible clearly over her face.

"You never will beta" her mother assured, although her heart did not calm down and this thought stuck inside her head.

Make up artists knocked from outside with Ishana marching at the front with a brightest smile. Maybe trying to hide the pain of extra happiness.

"No crying from now, learn to smile old ladies" Ishana chirped separating Anika and her mother.

'OLD LADIES' indeed Anika is going to get transformed into aunty zone the moment vermilion will touch her partition in front of the society, you know rules of society.

Makeup artists entered with their kit smiling wide and congratulating Anika. One girl commented over Anika's skin to be good and smiled. She become uncomfortable as the same makeup girl touched her cheeks in a different manner. Ishana smiled wickedly winking Anika from the make up girl's back.

"Let's start" the make up started.

Anika sitting still and getting uncomfortable at certain touches of that girl managed to keep smiling until the end.

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Fixing the sehra tears cascaded down Pinky's eyes.

"Mom" he wiped her tears nodding no, while his own eyes betrayed. The azure eyes twinkled in happiness seeing his mother so happy.

"Thank you beta, you don't even know how much happy I am today" she cupped his face, her tears betrayed again.

He locked his hand behind his mother's back hugging her tightly.

"My Shivay has grown up now, he has learnt to hide his tears from his mother" ruffling his hair she smiled more bright.

"I will always be your that small child who used to cry for chocolates, who used to fall down knowing his mother is beside him to catch him always, I promise maa, that I would be your son first and then someone's husband. I love you maa" he tightened the hold blinking his eye.

"Ohhoo bhaiya, now be romantic, enough of crying. Come I will do your tilak" Prinku walked in with thaal in her hand.

They completed the rituals and Shivay settled over his chariot, the horse. His family showered flower over him with blessings from elders and love from young ones.

Pinky saw them walking forward with the baarat because she cannot go as according to Bengali marriage rituals groom's mother can't see the marriage of her son. She smiled waiting for her son to bring her daughter-in-law, no... her daughter, elder daughter.

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"Groom is here, groom is here" everyone shouted with excitement in their voices. Anika heard closing her eyes imagining him.

He came, he came for her to take her away to their dream land, a dream which will have no ending.

"Do you love me Shivay?" her heart asked knocking her brain.

"No, it's the trust he has on me" the brain defender trying to sound superior.

Somewhere it hurt her thinking that it is only the trust they have between them as the base of their relation. She yearned for him to confess something else after his proposal of marriage. But... does she love him? Her brain knocked the question again. Cheeks grew red, is she blushing? Why it is paining her inspite of knowing that they are already one and it is just a ritual that marks the relation. Why is she feeling apart from herself? What is this feeling? Why is it hurting? What is happening to her?

She peeped through the window for just one look from him.

"Anika" familiar voice rang from behind.

"Looking for me in that crowd" she turned to see him dressed like a king. Shehra adorned over his head and that royal tilak made him more charming, he looked handsome, she thought.

"Don't let me enter into your dreams like that darling" since two days he is calling her darling, it made her feel more close to him, maybe another part of him.

"Do you love me darling?" he asked her, he at last asked her. But she is numb, she don't know what to answer, she don't know how to say an yes. She stammered.

"Anika..." she is jerked again from behind.

"Anika..." her trance broke and she looked forward, blankly... her friends standing at a distance. One of them jerking her to bring her back from her lost world.

I was dreaming, the thought raised the warmth of her entire body and the goosebumps are it's proof. A chill traveled down. One by one everyone came forward to hug her as they congratulated her. Mouthing a thank you seemed a pain to her throat. It pained thinking that the proposal is just her dream, he will never do such. An arrange marriage never has confession of those words, it pained her thinking such. For a moment she thought is she doing right? Is the decision of her's to marry him is right? If it is then why is it paining so much? What is wrong?

"Congratulations Anika" Ankush's wish and firm hold over her hand broke the chain of thoughts.

Is it seriously a correct decision? Wasn't she always wanted to know a person inside out before taking the decision of marriage? Then why is it different in Shivay's case? Thinking about the baarat at her doorstep she got scared, a future away from her own family. Should she run away or... she peeped through the window again.

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Will Anika's second thoughts change everything again? Ankush is back. What is Shivay thinking? What will win... confession of love or trust over the bond?

Thank You so much to everyone who read, voted and commented. Hope you have enjoyed this part as well. If so then please do hit the star button and leave your comment or criticism down.

NEXT EPISODE WILL GET POSTED ON THURSDAY.

-NILANJANA