As the father-daughter duo were getting ready to start their tease fest, while the mom was walking to and fro giving random glares at them, they heard a car honking and coming to a screeching halt in front of their house. Their faces lit up and the three of them walked out.  Their wait was finally over!!!

"Bhaiyaaa.. Bhaabhi...how are you" Meera was the first to react. All the eyes shone with happiness.

Not that they had not met at all during the last few years, they did meet once in a while, but all those were short visits. And, mostly, owing to some or the other function in their town.

Well, speaking on the phone often was definitely not the same as meeting in person. And, for Harsh, he visited Mumbai just twice, that too for business reasons, whereas, Meera could not go even then, one reason being she had to administer her school, another being that she never wanted to leave Annika alone and go anywhere.

Having said that, Rohit was totally out of the question. After they shifted, probably after a year or two, Rohit had got an admit in Rajasthan. Soon after he finished his course, he went on to pursue his masters in Australia. He used to call his phupha to keep him updated about whatever he was doing with life. Afterall, he was closer to his phupha than his dad himself. That is how they were always well informed about details of Rohit and Annika grew up listening to all this much more than anything or anyone else.

"Mumma, Papa..are you guys going to even allow them inside or just keep them standing there only?" Annika asked her parents placing her hands on her hips.

"Anni??" Vanitha asked. The last she saw Annika was during her first year of college, almost five or six years back.

"hmmm...You seem to have lost a lot of chubbiness. How cute you look!!" She said pulling her cheeks, "Oh, and your course is over?"

"Haan aunty... Just about ten days back.. I was supposed to come back next week only. But, papa called me saying that you people are coming, and I am here already" she said all in one go and stood there excited. Annika always called her 'aunty', both of them preferred it that way.

"Oh .. I see" she said giving a very faint smile. Annika could not decipher the meaning of her aunt's reaction.

"So, madam... now are you also going to keep talking to her like this? Advices are only meant for your mumma?" Meera asked glaring at Annika, to which she just bit her tongue.

"First take her inside the room. Let them freshen up. You have an entire lifetime to talk to her"

Annika blushed at the remark, while Vanitha still gave the awkward smile which went unnoticed by Meera and Annika. Annika walked her inside the guest room that was set up for them.

"Aunty, you get freshened up and come.. I will help mumma arrange the dining table. We can have lunch " Saying so, she was going to leave the room, while her aunt called her,

"Annika?"Annika turned and was surprised, rather puzzled, at what she did next. She held her face gently and kissed her forehead. "You are very sweet" and smiled.

"Aunty...What happened?? All okay? Is something bothering you?" She finally asked not able to contain her curiosity.

She nodded her head slightly in negative "I will get freshened up and come. We will have lunch first"

Annika wondered if there was some problem and if so what it could possibly be. She brushed off such "unwanted" thoughts and went down to help her mom.

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Mumbai:
==========

"Bhaiyaa.. thank you so much for accompanying me.." Priyanka said as she and Om entered home.

"Anytime Prinku.. good the fitting was perfect" smiled Om.

"Oh haan bhaiya.. warna mumma would have killed me and made pickle" both of them chuckled at the comment.

"Omkara.. what is this girl complaining about me huh?" Pinky came staring at her daughter.

"Nothing Choti maa.. good news for you.. we are all set to leave. Her dress perfectly fits" he informed.

"I knew it. Thank you Omkara.. hey Prinku, learn something from him.. see he is so responsible"  Pinky remarked.

"Whatever.. you always favour Om bhaiya over me and Shivaay bhaiya" she faked an anger.

"Oh that is because he is the one who respects me and listens to me unlike you and your Shivaay Bhaiya and you know it already" Pinky frowned.

"Now go pack things soon. Let us try to leave earlier. I am really excited" she added.

"Prinku.. don't you think Choti maa is excited for something else, I mean something other than your wedding " Om asked and Priyanka nodded "Bhaiyaa.. I don't even think.. It is for sure.. and who knows bhaiyaa, her fantasy might come true too"

"Oye, what fantasy? It is not fantasy, it is a wish, not just for me, for all of us, hai na Om.. ok leave all this.. go get things ready. We will try to leave today itself" Pinky almost jumped.

"Haha.. mumma okok relax..I am going" Priyanka sighed.

They were all excited. All of them discussed the same with Daadi and decided to prepone their trip. They were anyway taking their own cars, so concluded that they could do an advanced check-in at the hotel..

Afterall, all of them expected this to be a life-changing trip. But, would it turn out like that??

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Meanwhile, in the hall, Raj entered home and Harsh and Meera were talking to Raj about their trip to here from Mumbai.

"All okay, but we had to stop by a roadside Dhaba for breakfast as your dearest son couldn't control himself after he saw our 'authentic' food " Raj said winking.

"Waise Bhaiyaa, where is he? He still has not come inside" asked Meera.

"Hmmm.. he went to park the vehicle.. Who knows he might have got some official call in the meantime" Saying so, he left towards his room to freshen up "I will freshen up and come, I have lot of complaints about him"

Just after he left, Rohit entered inside the house with a wide smile. Harsh and Meera were on cloud nine seeing him, as he directly came, took their blessings and hugged both of them.

"How are you beta?? How long since we saw you?" Asked Harsh.

"You seem to have lost lot of weight. Do you eat properly? Did you even get proper food in Australia?" Meera expressed sadly.

"I have made lot of your favorite items. I am waiting to give them to you..You still like all that na??" She asked.

Harsh and Meera were so excited that they kept shooting questions at him, not even waiting for him to give back an answer. He kept looking at them alternatively not knowing what to reply.

"Oh gosh!! Your next target is him" Annika face-palmed looking at her parents' behavior.

"Will you let him breathe?!" she rolled her eyes.

"Hey Annika??? You are already here??" He came quickly towards her and gave her a side-hug.

"I thought you knew" came her instant reply.

"Haa I know you are in town.. I was wondering how my mom let you free, all through the way she was talking about you and you only" he stressed.

"Hey and you seem to have lost lot of weight..Like, like a bride getting all slim and trim before her wedding" he flicked his fingers and she literally rolled her eyes at his comment, her parents were just smiling at his remark, while she expected them to react.

"Hogaya?? Now, go get all fresh and come, we can keeeeep talking " finally, she smiled smugly and said it herself as she no longer had the patience to wait for her parents to say 'something'.

"okay okay" he said as he walked towards his room. He had a room reserved in this house from childhood. It had all his vintage items and was cleaned regularly by his bua.

Annika just smiled at his antics. He had not changed at all, not even a bit. They were meeting after close to thirteen years, but he still acted like they had just spoken even last night. No doubt, she was his first girl best friend and he was her first, in fact only boy best friend till now. Probably, that was why she never felt awkward whenever her mom said they were getting her married to him. It was something that was permanently etched on to her memory.

Added to that, his approach towards her was always warm and they loved each others' company. But, the only thing that kept her wondering was why they wanted the wedding so soon. Anyways, they would discuss stuff eventually, by today. So, she decided to keep that thought off her mind for now.

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The table was set and all of them settled around it to have their lunch.

Rohit was the most excited.

"Wow.. jalebis.. laddoo also?? " He was almost jumping like a kid seeing all his favorite items.

"Arre...aaram se.. no one will grab it from you! she has made it all for you" Annika retorted at his OTT behaviour.

"Pass me that paneer.. waise who knows?you might " he commented.

"Come on huh.. I am no more a kid to do all that" she said as she passed the paneer sabzi to him.

"So what if you aren't a kid.. somethings never change Annika. Like for instance, our relationship... Research says that any relationship that lasts for more than seven years lasts for a lifetime" he remarked.

"Whatever. And, that's a friendship quote " she facepalmed.

"It is one and the same thing..Anyways, leave that..now that your course is over. What are your future plans?" He asked.

"Huh??! The wedding is there now and..."

"I asked you about career plans" he clarified.

She and her parents were happy that he cared about her career too.

"Planning to look for a job after coming to Mumbai" she said though still unsure of the reaction.

"Hey, you planning to come to Mumbai??" He exclaimed.

What?? What was that dumb question?? What did he mean by that?

"Of course, what do you even mean by that?" She was confused while he was so calm.

"Are you planning to shift somewhere, beta?" Harsh quickly asked.

"Hmmm..Not sure yet. Depends on our future projects.." he smiled.

That's it..That was it. They got scared for once, while he casually continued speaking.

"By the way Annika, if you come to Mumbai, don't worry, I have lot of contacts. I can help you get in touch with them" he added.

Not again?!

"What do you mean 'if' I come?" She was confused as hell now.. Was she reading between the lines?? She hoped not!

But, even before he could answer, his mom cut them off "Guys guys. Listen.. eat first. You can talk later"

"Mom is right.. So many items are waiting for me.. let me give them my time now!! And after that, I am all yours.. I have so many interesting things to tell you and huh of course show you " he said as he continued to prey on his favorite items.

Indeed, so much was left to talk. The ones they had left incomplete many years back and the ones that had happened all through these years. For them, as well as for their families. And, of course, the wedding was approaching too!

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This chapter is Specially dedicated to pari220 ❤️

And, Oops I am late...was a bit occupied..

Well, so Rohit is here finally??
How do you like Rohit?? Any thoughts about him?? Need some in-line comments!!! Like your first impression of him 🙃🤔

Right,and most important thing, the wedding is fast approaching 😎
Will Shivaay still be able to meet Annika? Through whom do you think it is going to happen? Do comment...