Looking at all the happy faces Anika smiled lightly, her heart pained and tears begged to fall but acting stronger she hugged the youngsters and touched the feet of the elders. Pinky probably said things like taking care and eating food but the words didn't fall into her ear. She was lost in another world, nearing her own parents she couldn't handle it more and let go off her tears. Her mother hugged her tight and stroked her back, this came as a surprise to others as last time she looked more than happy to visit her husband but this time she was reluctant. 

"Why are you crying Anika beta? Are you going away forever huh? Be strong and we all would wait for your return, remember that" Pinky neared the mother daughter duo and caressed Anika's head.

Sniffing, she left her mother and tried smiling amid her pain. Something was pulling her back and she was opposing that force, the changes and her decisions came as piercing daggers. With every step she took near her flight her heart saddened more with invisible hurting cuts. Is she doing right to herself? A path she saw knocked darkness but somewhere her faith over her husband lightened her heavy heart and with a soothing smile she turned and waved to everyone before getting away from their sight.

She remembered every curt word her boss said before granting her resignation.

"You are mistaking Mrs. Anika Singh Oberoi, once you loose these opportunities you would be nothing what made you, yourself and would just be the daughter-in-law of some rich family" he wasn't irritated but a surprising confidence was there in his voice.

"I regret and miss the old Anika Mukherjee who took every challenge in jiffy and came out as winner, is the bond of your marriage so weak" he had questioning eyes.

She couldn't answer those questions because all she could see was dark future but that poked her determination to rise higher than before. Promising herself about the best future she left her boss's cabin and now she is adamant to fulfil what she has promised to herself, just hoping her Shivay's support always. 

As her hometown slipped beneath and the aeroplane flew higher, her eyes left the weight of tears that she tried holding back. Why is she crying? No answer satisfied her, resulting into more falling of that unbound flow. One thing she loved was the loneliness surrounding her at that moment. She needed time, the freaking time to grasp everything that will change her life further. And now she has her lifetime. Only two more months and few more days to her professional life before she settles down for her personal one. Is she seriously ready? Questions surrounded her like bullets. Her achievements, her big words of support to her parents and her banters about her job with her sister came crashing her memories. Everything seemed to happen yesterday, which is over now. She closed her eyes, but the feeling of hurt got deeper, more deeper than ever.

Shivay got the news of Anika's flight taking off an hour before making him way more excited than ever he was. Those distanced months seemed less difficult than the feeling he is going through at the moment. He just can't wait to be with her, this feeling of holding hands and loving is something he cherished when apart and he will cherish it further. The memory of she feeding him and he feeding her back and those random banters tickled his senses. He felt special, very special to have her in his life. He can't be more grateful than this. And those unforgettable moments of their special night, so special, so pure and so electrifying. He just can't wait to hold her in his arms and shower kisses over her like rain. He can't wait to love her as his own angel. He just can't.

Every passing seconds seemed equivalent to decades. And all those thoughts running into his mind made it even more difficult. How can someone fall so deeply, so madly and so purely in someone's love? Without experiencing himself, he would have never believed. His cheeks are the proofs and his restlessness is butter to that.

"You are so lucky Anika that you got this handsome hunk" words left his mouth followed by crimson blush "actually I am lucky to get you" his eyes roamed around the photo frame in his hand.

"Okay let's get ready" 

Without bothering the long hours still left for Anika's flight to land Shivay started checking his clothes to wear and perfume to use when he go to recieve Anika at airport. Discarding every suits, he sat holding his face on his hand.

"Why the hell you don't have any good suits to wear?" scolding himself more he looked at his messed up wardrobe and the shirts, pants and coats lying over his bed.

He remembered how Anika hates messed up room, thus getting upright he stuffed in every clothing and sat back leaving a deep sigh. Thinking what to do he lied down, just then a silly idea clicked in his mind.

"Let's go to shopping, we would buy new clothes for us and something special for my wifey" his eyes returned back to their marriage photo.

"Can't wait to meet you yaar, come soon" kissing over Anika's face he left the photo on its place and hurried towards his car. 

The hours to meet her neared slowly. With every passing hour he counted his fingers to register the minutes and seconds of the new hour, he remembered how he used to wait similarly like this for his childhood TV show counting passing minutes of twenty four hours of a day. This feeling came as thrilling to him ever again. In between he rang his family to pass the time but there as well everyone sounded dull. Anika is the life to the family and that life is coming to him now, happiness notched a level up and seeing two more hours left for her plane to land he rushed towards the airport. After all a perfect boyfriend and a perfect husband never makes their better half wait.

Slowly and steadily Anika came out of the airport. Her face looked dull than ever, although managing to shoot up a smile she walked further spotting her husband standing in the crowd and waiting for her.

"Why did you come? I would have managed" she walked further, trying to hide her face.

"Not done wife you should be happy that your husband is mad for you and how much he is happy seeing you here and see you have not spared him a hug also" she stopped listening to his words.

She can see the happiness reflecting through those ocean pair of eyes, she could feel the positive vibe around but still her heart pinched with pain. Her heartbeats didn't fasten like before, goosebumps didn't hit her and butterflies lied quite inside her. Is she falling out of his love? This single thought shook her core, she looked straight towards him like a statue and then melted in his arms. Holding him tightly near her heart she let go the flood of tears again.

"What is the matter Anika?" he carefully hugged her and tried calming her down.

The woman was shivering and looked dull. He didn't force her further and drove back to their nest. The drive was calm, she kept looking out of the window while he hummed songs. He even cracked few jokes to cheer her mood up but nothing worked, lastly he sat silent until they reached home. She hurried her steps to the washroom, is she avoiding him? If so then why? He got silent disappointment to his question.

Food was prepared by him, which they ate like two strangers. Who is this Anika? This can't be his old bold and bubbly wife, she is someone else who is trying to act like his wife hard and the face is same. Washing the dishes together they walked to their room to sleep. She lied at one side facing away from Shivay and he lied beside her looking her constantly. At the initial days of their marriage, they never behaved such strangers then why suddenly today? Sleep took over him, watching her tossing and turning constantly and trying to find his old Anika in her.

At the midnight suddenly her hands clutched his shirt tight and her head rested over his chest. Her body was cold and she was shivering.

"What happened to you Anika?" he got scared, tried soothing her down but nothing worked.

Suddenly few words left her mouth.

"Please Shivay, don't leave me" he watched her eyes shutting more tight and tears following the previous stains. Was she crying?

He wrapped her tight, close to him and showered kisses over her hair cooing soothing words. Slowly she calmed and slept caging him in her arms. This was his peace, sleeping in the arms of his love. He slept smiling wide promising to never leave this woman ever.

The morning arrived soon, in his time he got up to feel the weight of his wife above him. She looked so peaceful, probably she slept this much peacefully after months. He wrapped her close and closed his eyes not wanting to miss this moment for once. After some time, she woke up. It felt so good to be surrounded by his arms so protectively, she looked his eyes closed and smiled. She can leave every opportunity for these moments. Inching close to his face she kissed his forehead lightly letting her lips linger over his warm skin. Her finger then traversed the path down his face, until his jawline, very sensually leaving a quick chuckle and then she tried getting up. Oops how she forgot that she is caged between his arms.

"A kiss over here to get free" the naughty him pointed his lips making her eyes widen in shock.

"You were awake?" her mouth grew wide too.

His eyes opened slowly hinting a mischievous grin. He wrapped her more tight to push her more close, as if it was possible, and kissed beneath her ear deep.

"Good morning" he uttered rubbing his tickling stubble over her cheeks and making her gasp.

Her hormones were returning, the butterflies in her stomach were dancing and goosebumps were tickling hard. She chuckled trying to get up only to get caught more tight. He rolled over making her lie beneath him.

"What about a morning session wifey?" listening to his words she got up.

"Let's go and meet Mily first, then we will think" her words came as hesitant.

What is it that is stopping her from letting him love her? He denied to think and accepted what she said. But the following moments made him forgot the difference Anika was showing. They fought over who would bath first, and he suggested to bath together just to receive shock and blush as response. Although she managed and occupied the washroom first and called him names from the washroom aloud. She is the beautiful disaster of his life.

The moment when he came out after completing his shower took his breath away. His wife was wearing a saree, she is forcing him to loose the control which is already hanging at the edge. Controlling his urges he tried ignoring her presence and carried on with dressing himself up. She left the room as soon she saw him arranging his dress and mistakenly her eyes fell over his well toned chest. Her senses went dizzy but the feeling of reluctance shooed away the romantic feeling. The further day went normal with their visit to Mily and her husband and to few stores to buy fruits and veges. By the night, his control was hitting him hard.

Does she know how attractive she looks when she wears a saree? The perfect figure of her gets into more perfect shape making him go crazy. The day's work got over with washing the utensils of the night. Shivay has already went to sleep, rather say to ignore her so that he does nothing to regret. She slowly switched off the lights of every room and entered her room, her husband was standing in front of the mirror with no upper clothing on. As their eyes met, a sudden electricity rushed down their spine.

She stood still while he fastened his steps towards her and caged her between him and the door. His control broke very harshly and he started dropping kisses all over her neck and face. She felt wanted, the heat radiating through his figure made her melt with passing seconds but the thought of changes got her awaken from the sleep of pleasure and she pushed herself back.

"Don't you want us..."

"No, I am feeling tired Shivay"

His sentence was left incomplete just like his desires. He distanced himself from her and looked down. A cold shower might help his hot figure, thinking so he went to the washroom just to see his wife already sleeping when he returned.

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Extremely sorry dearies, for my personal problems I missed posting on the previous Sunday but now please do share what you all think about the following story? How would Anika be normal to their relation and how their anniversary would be? To know stay tuned. For now, bye.

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 SUNDAY.

-NILANJANA