|- Part Two -|
Next Day:
It was the wedding, kept very simple. Just few family members and that was it. They finished the wedding and walked down.
"Stay blessed. Stay happy. Stay together." Anika's Grandma said, blessing the newly married couple a happy life together as they touched her feet. Anika hugged her Grandma before she left the house with her husband, Shivaay. Her Grandma smiled at her retreating back, satisfied with the place she had chosen for her granddaughter.
**********************
Shivaay's parents moved in one car. Anika and Shivaay got in the car, making their way to their home.
Shivaay hand reached out, to hold her. She wasn't crying. She wasn't even shedding any tears. But her that poker face was more than enough for him, to understand what she was going through. "It's alright Anika. It's going to be alright." He whispered to her, providing her the much needed strength and confidence. She just nodded.
Soon, Anika was at her new home. She was welcomed by her in-laws. Except the first ritual, in which she had to step in her new home through the KumKum, she had not been asked to do anything. Quickly following what her Mother-In-Law told, Anika officially started her new life.
"You two go now, and rest." Pinky lovingly caressed Anika's hairs, signalling Shivaay to take Anika to his room. Though Shivaay was surprised seeing, there were not much rituals Pinky wanted them to do. Pinky had always kept pestering Shivaay's ears saying she would do this' in his wedding, that' in his wedding. To say, being the mother of only son she had really great expectations wouldn't be wrong. Shivaay somewhat couldn't understand but didn't put it in appearance.
*****
"Anika you go and change inside." Shivaay pointed towards the washroom, as he pulled out his phone from pocket, putting on the charging. Silently nodding, she opened her bag, taking out a simple dress.
"Um Shivaay"
She had barely walked two steps when she stopped, turning towards him. His all attention shifted towards her. Slightly bending his face, he asked her to proceed just through his eyes. "Can you charge my phone until I come back?" she asked almost in a feeble voice. He just smiled at how delicate she was. The way she talked, the way she behaved, the way she every time walked around him was nothing less than amusing for him. He had seen many girls in his life but she was a kind of girl, he hadn't come across ever. She was beautiful. She seemed kind, delicate and gentle yet there were many things about her which were still a mystery for him. Of course, it would take time to know her, to understand her but his heart was flattering from inside, throbbing against his chest proudly screaming, that this beautiful lady was his.
"Shivaay?"
He was snapped out of his thoughts as she called for him. "Sure sure" he blurted out, with a sheepish smile and apologetic face for getting too lost to reply earlier. Her eyes narrowed a bit on finding him little weird but she soon mumbled okay' and went inside to change telling him that her phone was on the bed and charger in the first section of her bag.
"Oh god, what was that?" Shivaay shook his head, smacking himself mentally before he walked near bed to take her phone. A smiled instantly adorned his lips as his eyes fell upon the wallpaper of her phone. His fingers caressing her small figure clutching her Grandma's hand, he bent down and took out her charger from her bag and plugged in, slipping her phone on the table. Glancing back, he reassured if her phone was getting charged properly.
He couldn't help wondering what she was doing to him. She had that effect on him, which no one else had before. She may be one among a million but she was one and she was the only one, for him. He didn't remember when he did recheck any-thing last, but now, he wanted to make sure everything to be perfect... in fact better than perfect.
A small sound made him turn back and he was mesmerized to see the view in front of his eyes. Her long hairs cascaded down, sprinkling water droplets from them, her angelic face seemed more than ever fresh and she... looked divine.
She stopped in her tracks seeing him staring at her, which somewhat made her feel conscious. "I was tired. So took a shower."
And that was when he blinked his eyes, realizing what he was doing. Closing his eyes momentarily, he stepped in front of her. "Anika, from now, this home is equally yours. You don't have to explain things. You can do whatever you wish and like. I know this all is new for you and you'll take time to adjust. But all I want to say is... please do not feel uncomfortable. If you need anything, just let me know." He held her arm softly, as he tried his best to make the new environment easy on her. Knowing it wouldn't be that simple for her, he wanted to take out every hesitation of her. Somewhere, he wanted to make her feel best around him and it seemed like working too because he saw her lips curling in a smile.
*****
"Hello, Ma," she spoke, as she dialled a call to her mother. First few moments, silent spread on both the sides. Niharika held the phone with her both hands, relaxing with Anika's voice. Even though, she had shown immense confidence on the decision of her daughter's marriage at such young age, a mother inside her was deep inside worried, thinking if Anika would really be able to cope with the new atmosphere soon. But Anika's voice took her all worries off.
"Are you okay Beta?" Niharika asked, breaking the silence."Yes Ma, I am fine. Everyone is really good here."Anika replied softly, assuring her mother, knowing many things must have running in Niharika's mind regarding the sudden change in her daughter's life. "Ma, can I talk with Dadi?"
"Anika, she just slept after having her medicines and you are anyway coming home tomorrow right." Niharika responded, her tone suddenly dropped, being very well aware of the fact that Anika badly wanted to hear her GrandMa. Anika disconnected the call, after saying good night'. Her fingers caressed the photo of her Grandma, opening the gallery, looking through the images.
Shivaay changed in comfortable clothes. He saw Anika sitting on the edge of the bed, lost in her mobile when he stepped out of the washroom. She is missing her family. Realization dawned upon him. He indeed felt very bad. Deciding to cheer her up, he sat beside her, walking near her with a determination of distracting her.
"I totally forgot to ask, how about your studies?"
Her head tilted to his side, hearing him. "I have got admission in the St. Fransis Institute of Mumbai. I have to join there in two days." She told him, remembering about her college.
"What happened?" she asked, being surprised as his eyes widen and he stared at her like anything, without speaking a word.
"Congratulations to me. You are in my college now. I don't have to stay away from you." He patted his back, grinning as he expressed how delighted he was, on getting the new piece of information. In his extreme happiness, he unknowingly uttered the last sentence.
She was taken aback hearing him. "Really?"
"Hmm." He nodded his head.
"So are you my senior?" she giggled. He couldn't avert his eyes from her, as he for the first time, found her more than ever normal and comfortable. Her giggles were so melodious to his ears. Without any doubt, he was falling for every second, every minute, and every moment.
"Of course not. We are in same year. Just a small difference, I have already spent two years there and you are joining now. But why you want to shift?" he replied, knowing well as he had little information about which year she was studying in.
"I always wanted to. But I wanted to be there on scholarship and not because of my Dad's money. I got scholarship now so yeah. That's it." She never failed to amaze him. "Well on that note, you would be glad to know your husband is there, on scholarship too." The words your husband' from him sent shivers down her spines. However, it felt so beautiful to hear.
"So you'll stay with me there. We have our own house there. I used to live there alone but now I have a company," he asserted thereby adding, "a beautiful company" in a voice which was only audible to him.
"Come, let's sleep now. It's late." His gaze first went on the clock striking 12 and later on her tired form. She agreed before lying down on the bed. Switching off lights, he laid his eyes on her in the dim light. She had already dozed off. The next day, she would probably wonder how she slept so easily. May be she was too tired. May be she was missing her family. Or maybe he was the reason. Maybe his efforts of helping her in adjusting worked out. Adjusting blanket, he covered her properly before he slipped beside her. Tilting on his shoulder, he looked at the girl he had married to. Looking at her that night, he promised one thing to himself that he would never let any problem on her. Neither he would ever hurt her, nor would allow anyone else to.
******
"Pinky..."
"Hmm?" Pinky Singh Oberoi replied to her husband's call of her name, adjusting the bed-sheet. She suddenly felt a tug on her wrist and her hands left the bed-sheet. "What happened?" she asked, waiting for Shakti to reply. "You were so fascinated with the word marriage' and especially of Shivaay's! I haven't forgotten how much your blabbers have pained my ears saying you would do a bunch of rituals, this and that... Then what is the case now? You did nothing."
Smiling at his curiosity, she stood up, freeing her hand from his hold. She knew it was coming. It was very obvious of him to wonder. "I know." She walked to the window side, her shoulder rested on the side wall, she gazed outside. "I still have many dreams about them. But I don't want both of them to just perform rituals now because they would not mean that much to them now, how much they should. They barely know each other. They still have such a long way to go. I will ask my daughter-in-law to do only much that is important for now. One day, you'll surely understand why I did, what I did."
There were still so many unspoken words, emotions beneath things. Probably, Pinky's one decision was also going to contribute in shaping up Shivaay and Anika's life.
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Edited by LoveToWrite - 7 years ago
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
