"This sounds so absurd. I mean she proposed you in your 12th grade. Tabka rejection ab tak nahi rakhegi." Abhay said.

"But thats only Nandita I can think of" Shivaay said.

"Surname kya tha uska?" Aryan asked.

"Shahane" Shivaay said.

"Its kulkarni here" Aryan said.

"Shaadi ki hogi" Shivaay said.

"Do you know where she is?" Abhay asked

"Last use mai apni shaadi me mila tha. And she was not looking much happy" Shivaay said honestly.

"But dude thats so immature. I mean bachpan ka rejection hai yaar" Aryan said.

"Ek baar dekh lete hai. Whats the issue?" Shivaay said.

"Yup, I think he is right" As soon as this words left Abhay's mouth, Shivaay and Aryan looked at him in disbelief.

"You think I am right? Mere kaan to nahi baj rahe" Shivaay chuckled while Abhay rolled his eyes.

"Let's get to work" Abhay said.

"Yaar jaldi karna hai. Tara se chupana accha nahi lagta" Aryan said.

"Aryan madly in love" Shivaay said throwing his hands up in the air.

"Its not about love, its about her trust on me. Shaadi me pyaar bhle hi kam ho jaaye, trust nahi tutna chahiye" Aryan said and then realized the grave he dug. Shivaay faked smile and got up to leave.

"He's gonna be fine" Abhay assured.

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Anika smiled remembering her day out with Shivaay. It was so good being normal with no complications around. But his way of concluding the unofficial date was kinda weird. He was in a hurry and it was kinda suspicious.

Anika went outside to stroll for a while and noticed the outhouse. Her feet dragged her to that closed place and she peeked through the window. Something clicked in her mind, like  she felt the Oberoi family there alongwith a male unknown figure but it was all fady images. She closed her eyes shut and focused on it but it only pained her.

Avoiding everything, she tried to find a stone to break the lock but Shivaay caught her in the mean time when she was about to faint.

"Anika..." He patted her cheeks and carried her in bridal style towards her room.

As they reached, he laid her comfortably and began sprinkling water. Abhay too came soon after Shivaay called him.

"Kya hua?" Abhay sat beside her.

"she was near the outhouse" Shivaay said and after a few minutes she opened her eyes.

"Just call the doctor" Abhay said but Anika held Shivaay's hands.

"I am fine. Just headache" Clear lie. She doesn't want to give anyone hope right now.

"Ek checkup ho jaaye to accha hai Anika" Shivaay insisted but she shook her head.

"Mai thik hun." She smiled.

"As you wish" he kissed her forehead and Abhay noticed the care in Shivaay's eyes which seemed real.

"Take rest" and the boys left

"Wo aadmi kaun tha?" Anika was now determined to know everything.

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Its been two days since the last days and as Shivaay noticed Anika spending some alone time exploring time in the Mansion. She even went to his office without his knowledge. Vinay, Aryan and Tara will be arriving soon for the final call. The Oberoi family too joined back.

"Anika, tumne kuch dino se sabko avoid kiya hai" Jhanvi told her.

"Maa, I wanted to spend some time with myself. Since koi mujhe batana nahi chahta so I need to find on my own" Anika replied. She looked confident, just like the Anika who came back for revenge, the emotionless less Anika.

"Waise, aapne kuch socha hai ki aap kya kahengi Uncle se?" Gauri asked and Anika nodded.

"Batana chahogi?" Om questioned.

"Not now. Sabko ek saath batana behtar hoga" she said when they heard footsteps approaching.

Thus arrived Vinay, Aryan and Tara along with Moksh.

"Vinay, aaiye" Jhanvi got up to welcome them.

"You must be Tara" Jhanvi said

"Haa Jhanvi Aunty" Tara replied with a smile.

The introduction session began and Shivaay - Abhay came downstairs giving a slight nod to Aryan.

"Anu, kaisi hai?" Tara hugged Anika in no time.

"Thik, I missed you and Moksh" she took Moksh in her arms. Shivaay's lips curled up to form a bright smile.

"Baithiye" Gauri said and they all sat down.

"I guess Abhay ne bataya hoga aapko" Vinay started.

"I know everything. Dekhiye Anika ne humse kuch kaha to nahi. Lekin hume apni beti ke decision pe bharosa hai" Jhanvi said.

"After all its her life" Aryan added.

"Beta, kuch yaad aaya tumhe?" Vinay asked her.

"Papa, I am thinking something else."

Her eyes met Shivaay's who was listening patiently.

"Past me jo tha usse ab kya hi matlab? We all moved on. Yaad aa bhi jaaye to bhi we can't change a thing. Let bygones be bygones. Present matters the most now. And I have decided to marry Shivaay considering my present feelings for him. Let's get married if you feel the same"

SHOCKED? HAPPY?

ANIKA'S DECISION CAN BE EARTH SHATTERING FOR BOTH THE FAMILIES BUT IS SOMETHING COOKING IN HER MIND?

YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO KNOW MORE.

THANKS FOR READING