Mallika didn't talk much while they were on their way to Mallika's - Om tried asking why she looked so worked up, she only muttered that she was busy planning something - Shivay and Om looked at her curiously - but she didn't let anything else slip. When they finally reached, before taking Om and Shivay inside the house, Mallika grabbed Shivay's hand and stopped him.

"Remember, you're not Shivay, you're Rudra - Priyanka's boyfriend. Mom knows about Shivay from di, she won't be happy to welcome you right now!" Shivay gulped and nodded and they followed her inside.

When Shiela came to the living room, she was pleasantly surprised to see so many kids around - she wasn't expecting them -after all the roka was arranged in such a rush, she never expected that Anika's friends would be able to manage.

Mallika hurried to her and introduced Shivay as Rudra and Shiela smiled at him - After all Priyanka had told her all about Rudra the other day - there was something in Rudra's goofy smile she thought - it was very childish and lovable. When they had met Shiela and Anika's daadi, Shivay was feeling agitated again, it had been an hour that they had arrived, yet there was no trace of Anika - where was she? And after reaching home, Mallika seemed so involved in celebrations that it seemed to him that maybe she had forgotten that there was a roka to stop!

"Oi cartoon!" he hissed at Mallika and she raised her eyebrows in order to argue. "Did you forget that we are here to stop the roka, not help in its preparation?" he asked.

"Be patient! When there was so much time, why couldn't you propose my di? You think you're Shah Rukh Khan of DDLJ?" she hissed back. Om laughed, "Don't worry Mallika I have punished him enough for being late - lets go on with the plan and not waste time - where is Anika?" he asked.

"Uff Om, we can't just directly take him inside and give them privacy. Our friends and cousins won't let her be alone with him - what is the use then? I have called up our other accomplice, she will come and only she can ensure their privacy!" she replied with shiny yes eagerly awaiting praise.

"Who is this new accomplice?" asked Shivay curiously.

" Why Priyanka, my bestie Priks, and your girlfriend too!" she replied laughing.

"Priks? Who Priks? And I don't have a girlfriend - Anika is my, would be girlfriend!!" he replied indignantly.

"Uff! You are Rudra! Remember?? And Priyanka is Rudra's girlfriend! Mom doesn't know that Di has met Rudra, so Priks will excitedly take you inside to introduce di to her boyfriend, and with that she can shove others outside!" she chirped excitedly.

"And what about Priyanka?? What about her? She will be with us inside while I propose my Anika??" asked Shivay irritated." Om smirked and Mallika just couldn't leave this opportunity.

"Oho Shivay, what if she is there, you are just going to propose nah? Or is there other plans? Ahem ahem..well all other plans need to wait huh" she laughed as Shivay looked at her darkly.

"Let this mess sort out, I will get back at you!" he replied crossly.

"You have all your life to get even with me, I would be your sister-in-law after all" she laughed.

"Sister-in-law, how so?" all three got tensed hearing Anika's mothers voice from behind.

"Mom actually the thing is..." she mumbled when she heard a voice from behind, "Uff Badi Ma, Malli will be a sister-in-law only nah, of my future husband?" she spoke happily and came and hugged Shivay.

"Awww Rudra baby, how are you??" she squealed much to Shivay's astonishment. Om just about managed to turn his snort to a cough as Mallika stole murderous glances at the boys for making fun of Priks.

"Mad girl! Romancing in front of me!" their mother feigned shock and lightly patted Priyanka's head.

"Um hi Priyanka, how are you?" Shivay muttered, and then glanced at the older woman uncomfortably. Anika's mother, Shiela realized he was uncomfortable with Priyanka displaying affection around her, she thought of letting them be and was about to leave when Priyanka chirped loudly, "Come baby, I will take you to Anika di, bet she will be surprised to see you!!!" she almost pulled Shivay towards Anika's room when Shiela stopped her.

"Beta Anika is getting ready, how can you take Rudra betaji now? She will get late for the function" she told Priyanka gently.

"Offo Badi Ma, nothing will happen I will take five minutes pleaseee" she coaxed and Shiela allowed.

Shivay's heart was hammering inside his chest as he followed Priyanka. He turned around one last time to see Om and Mallika showing him thumbs-up, he smiled and walked ahead.

Priyanka knocked her door, and called from outside, "diii...are you done, look who has come - Rudra! He wants to meet you!!" she said loudly.

Anika who was ready with her plan of action, stopped suddenly, what was Rudra doing here? She was almost tempted to open the door, but she stopped, she didn't have time now - she had to hurry.

"Two minutes Mallika, I am tying up the dupatta" she shouted back. A smiled escaped Shivay's lip hearing her voice. Her voice was so melodious he thought.

"Stop smiling at her voice! You will give away the plan" Priyanka hissed from beside. Then she shouted back, "Okay di, I am taking him to the living room, call me once you're done". Then she caught hold of Shivay's hand and led him away - as much as Shivay wanted to protest, he knew standing like a lovesick puppy outside Anika's door would give him away, so he followed her unwillingly.

***

She thought this hoodie would work the best as it completely covered her face, as much as that made life easier, but it was also disturbing her line of vision - she slowly pushed up her hoodie and scanned the backyard, other than the helpers and attendants, no family member was outside - she sighed in relief. Then she tip-toed out of the balcony attached to her room into the backyard and soon she jumped over their low fencing and ran as fast as her legs could take her. When she reached her destination, she saw him sitting on a bench in the park, looking distantly at nothing in particular.

"What is wrong with you man?" Anika asked in anger.

Dev slowly looked up at her, his face was drooped, clearly he was sad, very sad. "Sorry Anika, I know I shouldn't have been so impulsive, but it's in my head ever since I saw her - I thought I was over her, it's been years and it was purely one-sided - but last week when you guys came over for dinner and I saw her, I was back to square one - I was feeling hopeless for never having confessed my feelings to her - what if there was a chance. I know I am late, she was telling me she has a boyfriend, but..." Dev sighed.

"Dev! Why are you thinking all this now?" asked an exasperated Anika. "I thought you had given it a thought when you said yes to me? I had asked you! But you made me belief we are going to work out - and yes she has a boyfriend and he is here too - he arrived today morning. Dev stop tormenting yourself - imagine how shocked I was when you texted me saying you want to runaway? I must be the first bride to be in the history of Indian brides to have run away from her own roka, to try and stop the groom from permanently running away!!" she breathed hard.

"Sorry Anne" Dev mumbled holding Anika's shoulder gently. Anika flinched, "Dev, just one thing, NEVER EVER call me Anne EVER" she said breathing hard, Dev sighed, "Sorry Anika, I know..he use to call you that right? I wont. I promise - and I wont run away either - come I will drop you home and then go get ready - I have to be at yours this afternoon for the roka, remember?" he smiled.

11:23a.m. [Shivayiiii - get Om and Priks and come out in the backyard like NOWWW]

11:25a.m. [Why cartoon, what happened?]

11:26a.m. [Uff this serious you monkey!! Come now else I will tell mom that you're Shivay and not Rudra. Hmph.]

11:28a.m. [Okay fine woman. Coming!]

When Om, Shivay and Priyanka reached the backyard, Mallika hurriedly took them towards the balcony attached to Anika's room, they saw the door wide open and Shivay rushed inside - only to find it empty. He looked at Mallika questioningly.

"Oyi, where is your di?" he asked her.

"Exactly Einstine! Di has run away!!" Mallika replied in excitement - "Isn't it proof enough that she loves you??" she laughed.

"Genius! If she had run away for Shivay, wouldn't she have called him??" asked Om exasperated. With that her face fell. "Om then where did di go???" asked Mallika panicking. "Maybe I should tell mom that di has run away with an unidentified entity. MOMMM" Mallika had just begun screaming when Shivay grabbed her and shut her mouth.

"Honestly Om, how do you plan to handle this one here?" asked Shivay earnestly, then he turned to Mallika, "Oyi cartoon, shut up - let's just lock this door from outside and try and look for Anika? What if she is around only?" he asked reasonably. A worried Mallika and Priyanka instantly agreed, and together then jumped off the fence with Om and Shivay and decided to search the nearby area for her.

When Soumya entered Anika's house, Shiela saw her and stared in disbelief - Anika had told her about Somz's transformation but never did she think it was so drastic! Soumya beta' was all that escaped her mouth when she saw her - Soumya went to her and hugged her and then turned around to introduce Rudra. "Aunty ji, this is my..." but Shiela peered at Rudra sternly and replied, "I know him, I heard a lot about him - just wondering why he is here though" she spoke darkly, it was obvious to her that this lost looking boy was Shivay for sure, who else remained in her daughter's gang of friends to turn up anyway?

Soumya smiled awkwardly not understanding why the usually cheerful Shiela aunty looked so displeased to see Rudra, she stupidly tried stirring the awkwardness back to norma, "Err..I hope you've heard good things about him" and Rudra shot her a confused look.

"Not necessarily betaji, but today is a holy day, my darling daughter is going to perform the first ceremony of her wedding with her beau - everyone is welcome to wish them goodluck" with that she motioned them to come in and she left. Soumya stood there awkwardly wondering what on earth was Shiela aunty talking about.

"Err..Soumya for some reason Priyanka's badi ma doesn't like me I think" Rudra spoke. Soumya convinced him that it must be a confusion and urged Rudra to follow her, they needed to meet Anika and sort her confusion. As Soumya knocked Anika's room, she heard Anika answering from inside, Soumya didn't respond, she just opened the door and barged in, as Rudra towed behind her.

"You sore loser, how dare you do this without even telling me!!!" she barked in anger.

"Oh Somu, I am soo glad to see you, I am so sorry, I should have told you at least - I soo need you here" brawled Anika, somehow seeing Somu there felt like she was closer to something related to Shivay, the silent knot in her heart she as ignoring was starting to loosen just by the mere presence of his sister.

"I HATE YOU ANNE!!" she hissed.

"Oh I love you too Somu" Anika kept mumbling and hugging her in relief. Soumya kept quiet, she was pacified seeing Anika's listless state.

"Why are you doing this Anne? You know this won't make you any happier! Did Om break your heart?" she whispered.

"Om? Why no..Oh no Somu, it's a long story - there is no time for it now - just know that Om and Mallika are happily together and I am very happy for them" as Soumya gaped at her, she just hugged Soumya and then hugged Rudra too, she was feeling high and low at the same time seeing them all there.

"Is there no way you are going to backout of this roka Anne? Are you happy?" asked Soumya in a scrutinizing tone.

"Ye---yes.." Anika stammered, but before she could talk further, Shiela called her outside.

"Yes Ma" she replied and ran away from there as Soumya sighed and crashed on her bed staring at Rudra.

"Where were you beta?" her mother asked concerned, she knew Soumya and "Shivay" were in her room, she wanted to ensure her daughter could take it - when Anika came out unperturbed, Shiela was surprised, wasn't her daughter head over heels about that Shivay boy, then why was she so unperturbed? Did she really move on? Well seems like she did - And Shiela wasn't complaining.

"Beta, did you see your friends? How nice of them to turn up in such short notice nah?" Shiela asked, clearly not bringing up Shivay's topic.

"Yes ma, Soumya and Om I would have understood, but even Rudra - I guess it will be fun" she smiled half heartedly - well if she was compromising anyway, it was better she was doing so with a friend like Dev who understood her and himself has been on her shoes - it would be that bit less difficult to forget Shivay now - wherever he was.