Anu's POV

Today's the which is going to change my life, literally everything. I'm going to be shashank's property in few hours, exchanging the rings and having his name beside mine. Yes, the day has arrived for us to be engaged officially.

All though this is just an ordinary engagement but I still belong to him as his better half. Everything is going perfectly as per the plan but just one hard feeling is that my niku, my lovable lollypie won't be attending this function. This is so hard to digest that your sister won't be around with you to share your happiness.

Finally, spending 2 hours for make up now I was completely dolled up, wearing my most favourite blue lehenga, with a heavy stoned work. But I still had to finish up with my hair style.

Guests and close friends of mine, shashank's all were arriving at, Park Hyatt Hotel. As the time was running, I speeded up myself to finish with my hairstyle. Just then, I heard a knock at my room door surely it's my mom.

Who else would knock when I spend so much time in styling myself. I got up from the chair, proceeding my way towards the doorstep to open the door.

I opened the door causally and found shashank standing, wearing his blue kurta smartly. I raised an eyebrow throwing a glare at him as I saw a playful smirk on his face.

"Woah! Look how gorgeous you're on this beautiful lehenga. Damn! Anu you're driving me crazy." Shanky said, making his steps towards me.

"What do you want here? Who asked you to come here?" I asked, a little reculantly.

"There's alot of things I need from you actually." He said, grinning widely.

"Shanky please go out before amma or appa comes in." I said, crushing my teeth.

"Baby, they're busy downstairs. No one will come. Just for a while and then I will leave this place by myself." He said, pulled me into his embrace.

I was trapped by his strong arm, around my waist line. He slowly starred to nipple around my earlobes giving sweet kisses. I couldn't do anything other than moan in shiver.

He's driving me crazy! I slowly tried my level best to get away from this trap but then I couldn't. I was so irritated with his antics.

"Shanky! Please you're my baby right? Leave me now and then you can do whatever you want to after the function gets over." I said, in a low voice.

He quickly turned me around in a swift moment and looked deep into my eyes with a serious look. I looked at him confused not knowing what he's trying to do.

"What's wrong with you nu? Why does your eyes look dull and you sound off? Where's your smile that always brightens up on your face." He asked, cupped my cheeks using his both hands.

I shrunk away from meeting gaze, looked down at the floor. I can't hide anything away from him. He knows me so well and he can find my pain just scanning my face.

I moved closer to him and hugged him, placing my head on his chest. Immediately, his arms were around me securely.

"I seriously can't be happy without having anika on my own engagement function. She's elder to me and without her how can this function happen? No one really understands my feelings. I just feel so numb for not having my own sister on this occasion." I said, brokenly.

"Others doesn't, but I understand your feelings Nu. You're upset because Anika isn't here right? Don't worry I will take care of this.Dont ask me how. You will come to know by yourself soon." He said, tuning my face to face him.

I starred at his eyes, in disbelief. I seriously don't know how I'm going to face my relatives and my close friends with this face. Faking a smile to everyone aren't gonna help me throughout the night of this function.

"Now, my nu should smile. Then only I will leave this place." He said.

Instantly, I forced myself and gifted a very bright smile, just for him lovingly. He cupped my face and gave a light kiss on the top of my forehead. I felt so rejoiced and elated with his insane kiss.

"Machann, Uncle is calling you downstairs." Iyyapan entered in, genuinely with a knock at the door.

And that parted us away. Shanky left my room gifting a sweet smile to me and I carried my work. But still I couldn't relax or feel relieved.

Anika's POV

Today's a very big day for my sister Anu. And I'm here sitting goofy munching the potato chips inside my mouth, starring at the plain big screen infront of me.

There is no one in Albuquerque except me and squirrel. Everyone is at anu's engagement and I'm here with my annoying anil, watching him work sincerely. I feel so bored to be at this dark den with freezing air conditioner giving me headaches.

I badly want to attend anu's engagement but this loosu not leaving me anywhere. I'm sure Anu isn't happy much. I have been watching her she doesn't feel that happy as I saw it in her face. I turned around and fixed my gaze at anirudh, trying to get his attention.

"Anil, bore adikudhu. Anu engagement ku pollam aah please." I asked, crossing my legs sitting comfortably on the couch.

"One more time I hear you talking about her engagement.I will end up being rude to you niku." He said, strictly.

I gasped and slowly laid my body down on the couch firmly. I looked up the ceiling, blinking up my eyes. I started to hum a song of its lyrics in a low tone.

I wanna be with you but baby you don't know it.And when I look into your eyes I wanna show it.

I fixed my eyes at anirudh, finishing the line of the song. Hearing me sing, he turned around and glared at me in a fierce way. Did I sing the lyrics wrong or what? His looks like as if I have done some mistake. So dangerous!

I seriously couldn't take the boredoms in me and I just kept doing some stupid works around the room, like a mental person. I continued to sing, crawling my hands on the wall while walking around the room, restlessly.

And I know that we can be something real so baby give us a chance maybe you will see.

I turned around to face Anirudh and look at his reaction, deliberately. But then, there was no sign from him. I frowned and sat on the down on the floor, near to him sadly.

"It's so boring! Chaa, even this iyappan went to engagement. There is no fun here." I pouted.

"Can you stop with your mumblings?" He said, irritatedly.

"I'm pouring out my bored emotions! Unnaku varaa varaa yen mela pasaamae illa maa pochii. Pasaam irukuraa maari naadikira veraa."I said, shriekingly moving to another place.

Suddenly, I felt his strong soft hands on mine, gripping it tight. He pulled me and made to sit down on the floor, eye contacting him. I was cheered!

"Innum unnaku purilaya naa un mela evulo pasam vechi irukah nu. Nee en uyire ma apparam yeppdi naa nadipen. I'm doing things for your good." He said, cupped my face with his hands.

"Naa sonnadhu kapparm nalla sentiment dialogue ah vittu yenna maayakidu." I said, in a very buzzed tone.

Just on time, His phone toned a message and he was diverted with that. Thank god! He didn't hear what I said. If he did then he will come to know that his words effects me so much. I let out a big sigh and looked down.

"Okay, Come lets go out!" He said, grabbing my hand.

"Where?" I questioned.

"Besant Nagar beach! I wanna have ice cream over there." He said, getting up from the chair.

"Naa vaarala nu sonna maatum yenna vitturavaa poora." I murmured.

"Did you say something?" He asked, doubtfully.

"No!" I said, with a grin on my face.

I hopped down on the stairs case and reached out for his car at the porch. I unlocked the car and got myself inside to the front seat, comfortably buckling my seatbelt. I waited for anirudh as he was locking the doors and his office room.

Just then, in few minutes we started the ride. This time I was being so silent listening to the songs that was playing. Something fishy caught my eyes. I realised that anirudh had passed the route to the beach.

I turned around in jerk and faced back at anirudh. I looked at him confused and anxiously. Where's he taking me at this evening? He said he wants to have ice cream but where the hell is he going ?

"Anil, you want to have ice cream right? But why are you going somewhere else rather than to the beach ?" I asked, with a stern look.

He casually smiled and sighed!

"Plan change! Now we're going home then will go to beach." He said, grinned.

"Veetukah?? Adhuku nu Alwarpet eh suththi poonum aah veetuku? Nee yenna yemadhikitae iruka! Loosu." I said, shirked.

"Stop bombing with questions. You'll soon know why?" He said.

I threw a glare at him like anything and shrunk away from his gaze. I continued to admire the views outside as the sun was setting and the clouds turning its colour to grey made me to smile.

In few moments, I felt anirudh stopping the car at a corner of some random area which I have never been to.

I cautiously turned around to have a look outside,  some foreigners, many middle aged people's getting in. I wondered were am I at ? I lowered down the window glass fully, scanning the place from bottom to the top.

Right there, Park Haytt this name got my attention, it looked so familiar to the venue of anu's engagement. I turned towards anirudh and faced him cluelessly yet with an irritated look.

But he looked so calm and elated.

"Veetukula poorum nu sonna? But why are we at Park Hyatt hotel now?" I questioned him, confused.

"Don't you know the reason why? Or you want me to tell you." He said, raising his eyebrows.

"So, we're attending anu's engagement? Are we ?" I said, in an excited tone.

"Well not really but I have arranged a private ceremony for Anu. And this is for you too, I couldn't see you being so lonely when everyone are here. And you were upset too so that's why I arranged a small surprise." He said, earnestly.

Can I just hug him ? Oh man he deserves a bone crushing hug from me now but no, I can't hug him now. He understands me and my feelings so well. I'm awestruck, totally.

"Thank you, anil." I said, combining my hands together simplifying a vanakam pose.

He quickly holded my hand, cupping my cheeks and caressed it insanely with his soft thumb.

"Naa panna ma veraa yaaru unnaku panna poora? Now, go and visit your Nu. Let this be a pleasant engagement gift for her." He said, smilingly. " I will park the car and join you."

I got down from the car and entered into the hotel with so much of happiness in me. Straightly, I took my steps towards the lobby room where anirudh had mentioned. I reached the lobby, it seemed so quiet and no one to be found over there.

I turned to my left and right, yet again no familiar faces to be seen. Then, I faced straight feeling so desperate just in few seconds of time my eyes glanced at anu coming from a room along with a new face who looked so handsome and cute. I didnt bother to figure much about that handsome guy as all mattered me to hug anu and cry.

She looked damn gorgeous on that blue lehenga.

"Nuu" I shouted, tears dropping down from my eyes instantly.

Anu stopped her track in an utter surprise and looked at me bluntly. I quickly ran to Anu and hugged her with all my might. Literally I was crying, pouring out my emotions just within my tears and the embrace I can feel from her made me more emotional. I can sense anu's shock surprise as she stood silent wrapping her arms around me.

We both broke the hug and parted away. I saw tears in her eyes! She was on the verge of tears. But she didn't let her tears drop down. Did she turn emotional too? She wiped my tears and soothed me, lovingly as others joined in.

"Niku, How did you come here?" She finally spoke up.

"Anil, brought me here! Nu I missed you so much. I was so worrried that I won't be able to see your engagement. And you know what you look so pretty and gorgeous on this lehenga." I said, still smiling within my tears.

"I missed you too! I'm relieved and happy now that my niku will be there with me for my engagement." She said, smiling broadly. "But, Amma is here. How are we going to manage that."

That statement dropped all my happiness, smiles down. I didn't even think of that. And I didn't even ask anirudh about it.

"Anu, don't worry about that. I and Ani arranged a small engagement just between our friends like a private one.So, now you would have got the reason why I forced you to stay in this lobby?" Shanky said, coming up from behind.

Anu was paralysed with shanky's utterance and so was I. These guys are showering so much of love towards us.

I quickly went near to shanky and hugged him, giving him a sweet affection of sister love. He wrapped his arms around me and smiled.

Everyone gathered together and we all continued our talks and chit chats. As everyone was on their own, I admired Anirudh in one side and the other side concentrated on their talks.

He have done so many things just for me! I should do something in return for him, what else i can do other loving him? I could feel my cheeks firing up with blushes all over my face, by seeing the fact that I love him!

"I love you anil." I murmured, fixing my gaze at anirudh, blushing to myself.

"Idhaa konjam nalla loud aah solli irukulam la." A familiar masculine voice was heard from behind.

I bulged my eyes in shock. I turned around to look at the person who it would be, hoping that it's not Anirudh. Well, the persons voice didn't seem like anirudh so I wasn't much nervoused.

Sreyas stood right infront of me with a smirk on his face. I rolled of my eyes, letting out a big sigh in relief.

"Loosu ! You freaked me out." I said, crossing my fingers.

He chuckled !

"So, madam is falling for Anirudh?" He said, raised an eyebrow.

I didn't know what to reply other than stand infront of him blushing. I couldn't hide those blushes which is brighting up my face. He lowered down his gaze and looked at me, smiling.

"Woah! You're feeling shy? You're blushing." He said, trying to tease me, making me to rest in with blushes.

I shuhh him, keeping my index finger on  my lips. He didn't utter any word other than stare at me doubtfully.

"An-Ni!! Aniiii " he stretched his name, moving away from me.

Oh god this guy! I better follow him or else he create up stories. I ran behind him, trying to stop the crap that he was about it do. I bumped onto sreyas while he bumped into Anirudh, holding his waist.

"What's wrong da ?" Anirudh asked.

" Niku ..." Sreyas said, breathing out heavily.

"Aah! Hii! How are you? Btw, you look handsome." I said, sheepishly to the young man who was beside anirudh.

"Adipaavi!" Sreyas said, opening his mouth wide up.

"Yaaru ma handsome ?" Anirudh asked, suspiciously.

"This guy! Right beside you." I said, pointing my index finger at the young man.

"Ahemm! " Anirudh cleared his  threat.

"But why do you look similar to shanky? Are you related to him somehow?" I asked, curiously.

" Haha yeah! I'm nishanth shanky's younger brother." He introduced, offering a handshake.

My jaw dropped down in utter surprise. I never knew shanky has a younger brother and that too he's way too handsome comparing to shanky. I gulped my saliva in and acted so coolly, pretending that nothing had happened.

"Hello! I'm Anika, anu's sister." I said, giving a handshake to him.

"Ermmm!! Niku, it's time for shanky and anu to exchange their rings. So, can we go join them." Anirudh said, breaking our talk.

I signed in absolute order and joined them. I know why Anirudh broke our talk as his face showed the awkwardness in him, when I was talking to another guy.

Everyone gathered in one circle leaving the bride and groom in middle. I stood beside Anu, excitedly to see her exchanging her rings with shanky.

Just then, shanky pulled the ring box from his pocket, held anu's hand and inserted it in widely. And then, anu did the same as shanky did.

I clapped in excitement, in happiness. I hugged Anu happily with lots of smile on my face. Everyone cheered and screamed their names.

I just couldn't be more happier than this. Im extremely happy and glad that I was at least able to see a sneak peak of anu's engagement. I wouldn't have asked more than this. I slightly turned to face anirudh and smiled.

He's all the reason for my smiles today. After a few moments, it's time for me and anirudh to leave. We both bid a goodbye to everyone and walked towards the car park.

While walking, I saw my amma at main gate coming with some things in her hand. I just like that left anirudh and ran to see amma. I was just excited and happy to see her after so long.

"Amma !" I called her, in a very low tone.

She starred at me with an angry look. I just stood infront of her waiting for a word from her.

"Who are you?" She said, in a very serious tone.

"Maa, Im your daughter Anika." I said, with an innocent face.

"My daughter? Sorry, I have no daughter named anika. I have only one daughter and her name is Anu." She said, leaving the place.

Her words just broke my heart like a sharp needle. I never thought or expected this from my mom. What wrong did I do to her to hate me this much? I just walked back to the car park, sadly but tried to act causal infront of anirudh as I didn't wanted him  to find about this.

Anirudh's POV

Everything was going perfectly and happily. Once again, I was the most happiest person to see my girl's smiles on her face. I'm happy that I'm the reason for it.

But then, when I was walking infront towards the car and turned around to find Anika missing. I quickly ran back inside the hotel and searched for her.

She was talking to her mom, who was hesitating to face her. Damn! Her words! Literally I felt like shout at anika but then I controlled it.

Who the hell even asked her to go see her mother? God? Why's she this innocently immature. Now, she's acting as if like nothing had happened.

How can she even act so well hiding her pain from me. I just couldn't stay silent without talking to each other throughout the ride.

"So, Niku did you enjoy at the small function we arranged?" I asked, with a fake smile.

"Yes! Of course I did. It was pleasantly amazing anil." She replied, with a smile on her face.

"Hrmm! It was untill you met your mom and got that smack from her." I said, reculantly.

She looked confused. I know I'm going to hurt her now but I can't be without teaching her a lesson. She needs to know which is right and wrong.

She can't be so innocent like this throughtout her life. I know that's what I like in her but at the same time she has to know how others treat her, by the circumstances she's living in. I calmed myself down and parked the car in a corner.

"Niku, Don't act that I don't know what happened between you and your mom. Who asked you to go and talk to her? Do you really need those words from her now? Why didn't you think for a second why anil brought me here?" I said, raising my voice to her for the very first time.

Immediately, She faced down and kept her face so dully, upset. I just don't know in what way I should make her understand but to be honest I seriously feel so bad to raise my voice to her. I moved a bit closer to hold her face in my hand but then she backed away, shirking her face.

"Niku, please try to understand me. I can't see you getting hurted from every people. It's hurts my heart too. Not because I'm your husband or loved one. As a person I feel so hurted when you're hurted. I'm saying this again I'm doing everything for your happiness only and please for my sake you also be the same to me. I'm not saying that you hurt me everyday I'm saying you to give me the same happiness to me as I do to you." I explained, clearly without breaking any silence.

She just reminded to look down, play with her fingers. I can see tears dripping down her cheeks, which just fall on her hand. I gasped! She's too sensitive! I didn't mind about anything and just cupped her face though she hesitated.

But then, in a span of moment I saw her head on my chest, resting firmly, soaking my shirt with her tears.I didn't do anything else other than hugging her tight and soothed her.

I just felt so miserable to raise my voice to her, which turned to be like scolding her. She just continued to cry holding my shirt tight, this totally made me emotional.

"Yenna manichidu ani. Amma vaa paathathum yennae aariyama poi pesiten. Un kittah maaraichathum thappu thaan anaa nee yenna thittuvaa nu bayandhutu naa solla la." She said, crying.

I lifted up her face and made it to face me.

"Naa un naaladhuku thaan chellama thitruren. Yennaikumae naa un kittah harsh behave panna maaten. Appdi irundhalum adhu naa un mela vechi iruka pasaadhil nalla thaan irukum. And I'm sorry too." I said, pecking a light kiss on her forehead.

I wasn't willing to kiss her but I felt that she really needs that now. Quickly, I could feel her moving towards my chest, hiding her face in it and her hands wrapped behind me, firmly.

I just wanted this kinda moment once again in my life and now I feel like I have got herself for me,wholeheartedly.

Anu's POV

The engagement got over smoothly with no problems. Every guests who attended the function blessed us, wholeheartedly.

In between those happy moments, I struggled a lot to answer my relatives for their encountering questions. They bombed me like anything asking about Anika.

I was so helpless! I don't really know what to answer them. I had to avoid their questions which was like so wrong. I felt bad and I still do.

But other all that, which made me so happy and cherished was when my niku came to me surprisingly. That was the most best-est moment in my life, all the credits to my bubu shanky and anirudh. Without them I wouldn't have felt this happy.

I smiled to myself, glancing at the shinning diamond ring on my finger under this moonlight with chilled fresh air at he balcony made me fizzy.

Suddenly, I felt someone's hand around my abdomen, pulling me closer. I jerked ! I placed my hands on the person's hand to feel and I recognised that it's my better half, my baby, my purushan shanky.

I smiled, shyly!

"Yen anbu baby purushan ku yenna venum." I said, nonchalantly.

He turned me around, holding me in his arms carefully. I looked into his eyes with a romantic smirk on my face. I was just turning so intense as my love is right beside me.

"Neraiyaa venum but adhaalan apparam aah vaangikiren. But are you happy? Feeling relieved?" He said, smilingly.

"I'm so much so much happy today. I just can't find words to express my feels.And I seriously don't know how to thank you. I feel so blessed to be your better half. Today I have got so many things which I can't ask more." I said, clutching my hands around his neck.

"This is what i need to see from my baby pondatti. You happy, then I'm happy too. We're finally together with this I wish that anirudh and anika should come as husband, wife with our parents welcome for our wedding." He said.

"Is this real you shanky? You freakingly said what I have in my heart now. I terribly wish for that to happen soon. My engagement is done and now all I want to see my sister starting her life happily with anirudh." I said.

"This won't take months to happen nu. Trust me we will get a good news from both of them in few days. I'm so confident on this and never my hopes will wrong." He said.

"Woah, so you're that confident is it? Okay then let me see in how many days time I'm going to hear a good news from them." I said, releasing myself from his hold.

"Hmm!!! Ehhh, yenna appdiyae pogaa pakkuraa. Naa kettah thaa kuduthu tu poo." He said, pulling me back to his embrace.

"Nee yenna kettah ?" I asked back, with an innocent face.

He fold his fingers together, placed it near to his lips and sighed an action like give me a muaah. I blushed!

I moved closer to him, filling up the gap between us. Our body faced each other, intensively. I cupped his face, with a blush on my face, tuning it. I pecked a long kiss on his soft cheeks and I ran away from him, shyly before I could see his reaction.

To be continued...

A/N

A very longggggg chapter for today! Sorry, if I updated it late but this chapter took me two days to draft. And I hope you'all like it.Please do vote and comment.

So, What you'all guys think? Sreyas comes to know that anika has fallen for anirudh! So, will sreyas go tell this to anirudh or will Anika confess her love by herself? Stayed tuned for an exciting chapter. Sorry if I made the chapter bored.

And here's wishing everyone merry christmas ❤️ Let the spirit of Christmas warm your home with love, joy and peace.

Dedicating this chapter to my Nu KathyAR15 have fun reading this chapter babe :)