ShiVika FF | Inaayat | Ishqbaaz FF

| P R O L O G U E |

Arranged Marriage - A marriage planned and agreed by the families or guardians of the couple concerned.

Love - 1. A strong feeling of affection.

      2. A great interest & a pleasure in something.

*

"I've never felt the need nor the desire to marry someone, to tie my life with someone else and to share it. I'm very fortunate to have a family who loves me unconditionally and I'm quite content with that.

  - Shivaay Singh Oberoi, CEO Oberoi Industries in an interview with GQ Men when asked why wasn't he married yet.

"Marriage would be a life long commitment.  I don't believe in all those tales about love but I do believe in respecting your partner and caring about him. If it happens, then great but even if it doesn't happen, I'd still be okay.

          

           - Annika Saluja's entry in her personal journal.

Writer: Ridhi

~ THE START OF SOMETHING NEW ~

Living in my own world, didn't understand That anything can happen, when you take a chance.

I never believed in what I couldn't see (oh) I never opened my heart (oh) to all the possibilities, I know that something has changed.

Never felt this way and right here, tonight this could be the start of something new.

It feels so right to be here with you, oh and now, looking in your eyes I feel in my heart (I feel in my heart) the start of something new.

Oh, yeah now who'd have ever thought that, mmm

We'd both be here tonight? OhYeah, and the world looks so much brighter (brighter, brighter).

Oh, with you by my side (by my side).

I know that something has changed.

Never felt this way I know it for real.

This could be the start of something new.

It feels so right to be here with you, oh and now, looking in your eyes I feel in my heart the start of something new.

I never knew that it could happen, 'til it happened to me.

Oh, yeah I didn't know it before, but now it's easy to see.

It's the start of something new.

It feels so right to be here with you, oh And now, looking in your eyes I feel in my heart, That it's the start of something new.

It feels so right (so right) to be here with you, oh.. And now, looking in your eyes (looking in your eyes) I feel in my heart (feel in my heart)The start of something new (the start of something new).

The start of something new.

*

| C H A P T E R   O N E |

"...And then I met you.

• - Anonymous.

"I don't believe in magic.

The young boy said.

The old man smiled.

"You will, when you see her.

• - Atticus.

*

Shivaay was a man of few words. When he spoke people listened, they payed attention. Except his family members, his Dadi to be precise ...who was very determined to see him tie the knot. He had been able to fend her off for years but this time his brothers and their wives worked in cohesion with Dadi. His family crossed out and showed to him that every reason (all of them legitimate) he had given over the years to postpone his marriage was not an issue any longer. More than that they made him understand that for him to find that right person he would actually have to look. But it wasn't his family's persistence that paid off. It was the fact that off late whenever he saw a couple he felt a yearning in himself for that sense of belonging. Within a day of him giving his consent his family managed to gather more than a dozen prospective matches.

A week later sitting in the balcony Shivaay could hear his Dadi's ringing laughter from the sitting room, the sounds children playing in street below, the honking of the cars stuck in a jam next street over and still all these sounds weren't enough to mask the the silence that was stretching between him and Anika. His prospective match.

Who would've thought that Shivaay Singh Oberoi, CEO Oberoi Industries would ever be so nervous that he couldn't talk to a girl. No, not a girl but a woman. Anika.

At first they made small talk about the weather, their elders not so subtle move to get them alone and for them to talk. But then all the general topics of conversation were exhausted in first five minutes and since then they had been sitting in this awkward silence.

Every few seconds Anika would clench and unclench her hands or smooth some invisible crease on her dress or pass him a smile that was more like a grimace. In short, they were both very nervous and just plain awkward.

Noticing the potted plants that lined the balcony he commented on them and was surprised when she continued the conversation by saying, "I like gardening but I can't have a garden here...so potted plants are enough to sustain my hobby.

"You can have a garden at the Oberoi Mansion. We have space. He promptly replied, without thinking what his words implied.

Realizing his faux pas he quickly added, "If this works out. And then cue the even more awkward silence.

He was contemplating how to break the ice when Anika spoke up.

"Enough of this.

Surprised he said, "Enough of what, Anika ?

"Enough of the awkwardness. We have to get to the point. Let's make it simple. I'll ask three questions that matter the most to me and you do the same. Okay ?

Relieved he just nodded his head in affirmative.

*

"I read one of your interviews a while back. In that you are quoted saying that you've never felt the need nor the desire to marry. If that is true then why did you agree to meet me ?

Shivaay found himself smiling at her question.

"Anika...never believe what the media quotes me saying...most of the time it's untrue. It's true that I've never wanted to marry but it wasn't because I've forsaken it.

"Then...why ? She asked puzzled.

"Same as any other person. I just haven't found the right person. And this meeting is an opportunity to find that person.

Hearing his answer she seemed to relax a little.

"Do you have any vices ?

Somewhat surprised at her bluntness and maybe a little pleased he answered, "No, I do not have any vices. I'm a social drinker. Sometimes I have a glass of scotch to unwind after a long day..but that's it.

For several minutes she didn't speak again. She looked to be debating something in her mind. He thought that maybe she didn't want to ask her third question but then she took in a deep breath which seemed to calm her and then asked, "What do you want from marriage ?

What did he want ? It took him some moments to contemplate and to articulate his thoughts into words.

"Honestly...I don't know. But...I do know this that I would want my wife to love and care for family as I do.

*

While answering her questioned had been somewhat easy, he felt strangely nervous asking her questions. He realized that he didn't want her to give an answer that would be unacceptable to him. He didn't want her to disappoint him.

Calming his nerves he asked her a question that had been running in his mind.

"Why did you agree to this meeting ?

Why did you agree to meet me ?

"Because Masi Ma asked me and I didn't want to say no to her- Hearing her answer he felt a twinge in his heart. "-I understand her reasons for wanting to get me married. She wants me happy and thinks marriage would do that.

Somewhat deflated he asked her the next question.

"I come from a joint family. If we end up together...would you be able to adjust ?

"Shivaay, Hearing his name from her mouth for the first time made him feel a little strange. A little warm inside. "-when you are denied something for so long, you cherish it when you finally get it. So... I know I would make your family mine. Her reply settled his mind but the longing he heard in her voice made his heart crack a little.

Only one question left. The one question that he knew would determine their fate. Steeling his heart against the disappointment he knew he would have to face he asked her the last question.

"Anika, I cannot promise you love. But I would respect you and care for you. Will that be enough ?

"I think...it would be more than enough.

And he let out a breath that didn't even know he was holding.

Ms.Anika Saluja. She had actually managed to surprise him with her honesty and bluntness.

*

Anika was a successful event planner. Her clientele had many famous names and she earned enough that she had managed to establish a lush little nest of money for the day when she would retire.

She was definition of a modern, independent, working woman. The closest thing she had to a family was her Masi Ma...who really was the head of the orphanage where she grew up. The one person whom she loved and respected above all was Masi Ma. So...when she asked her to meet man for marriage she reluctantly agreed. And hours after her meeting with Shivaay she was glad that she had agreed.

Shivaay Singh Oberoi. He was unlike any other person she had ever met.

~ Anjaana Anjaani ~

All the anjaana's say yea yea yea
All the anjaani's say yea yea yea
All the anjaana's say yea yea yea
All the anjaani's say yea yea yea

I met a boy and his name is anjaana
Anjaani raahon mein ek humsafar mili

I met a girl and her name is anjaani
Anjaana khwab tha, ban gaya zindagi

Yun hi hoti hai na
Sab ki kahaani
Shuru hogi kahan
Kisi ne na jaani
Itfaaqon mein, laakhon mein, milte hai ajnabi
Anjaana aa aa
Anjaani ee ee
Mil gaye eh eh
Toh bani ee ee
Kahaani ee ee
Anjaana aa aa
Anjaani ee ee
Mil gaye eh eh
Toh bani ee ee
Kahaani ee ee
[Chorus]

Jee le yun
Jee le ek pal hi jaise jeena ho
Kal ko phir
Koi na jaane, na jaane kya ho
Gham kahan
Hum yahan hai
Hai khushi aur tu
Hum agar
Hum jo mil jaayein toh baatein hongi
Phir kahaan
Na jaane kab aisi raatein hongi
Ab jo hum, sang hain
Hai koi jadoo
Ab toh fikar naa ho
Gham ka zikar naa ho
Chal yunhi chalte hain
Khatm safar na ho
Lagne lagaa hai kismat ne hi sunli ho khwaishein unkahi

[Chorus ]

I met a boy and his name is anjaana
Anjaani raahon mein ek humsafar mili
I met a girl and her name is anjaani
Anjaana khwab tha, ban gaya zindagi
Yun hi hoti hai na
Sab ki kahaani
Shuru hogi kahan
Kisi ne na jaani
Itfaaqon mein, laakhon mein, milte hain ajnabi
Anjaana aa aa
Anjaani ee ee
Hum jaane shehron mein
Shaamo duphero mein
Doondho miley zindagi
Anjaana aa aa
Anjaani ee ee
Mil gaye eh eh
Toh bani ee ee
Kahaani ee ee
[Chorus ]1

*

| C H A P T E R   T W O |

| The Decision |

"Decisions determine destiny."
- Thomas S.Monson

"Lately I've been losing sleep dreaming 'bout the things that we could be."
- One Republic

*

Anika would be lying if she said that she had never thought of marriage. Like every other girl she had woven dreams about the man she would marry, the family and the happiness she would have.

 

 

As she had grown, her dreams and aspirations had grown with her. But life doesn't go as one dreams it. At the age of thirteen, merely a child, she had lost her parents. Her once happy and peaceful existence had been thrown into turmoil. Dreams forgotten, only surviving in the harsh world became her goal.

Anika hasn't just merely survived, she had flourished. Through sheer will, determination and sometimes through the skin of her teeth she had fought hard to make a life for herself. In the twelve years since her parents death her Masi Ma had been her only saving grace. She had survived the grief and pain only because of her. And now she had to decide whether she would choose to share her hard earned life with someone else. With Shivaay.

The proposal had been from his side. His Dadi somehow remembered about the girl that her friend Kartar had fallen in love with years ago. Having recently met her friend again she remembered how Kartar had praised that girl for overcoming her circumstances and coming out a victor. It was just plain coincidence that Kartar happened to be Anika's Masi Ma.

When she saw his picture for the first time, her first thought was 'Kanji Aankhein' and how one should never trust someone with 'Kanji Aankhein'. Her Masi Ma had outright laughed hearing her observation. But it were those same piercing blue eyes that had captivated her. The man was handsome, there was no doubt about that.

*

Shivaay felt like applauding his family's patience with him. It had been three days since his meeting with Anika. On the surface, his family was giving him the space to make a decision in his own time. But without much subtlety every member of his family had made it known how much they were in favour of this match. Leading the pack was his not-a-sneaky-bone-in-her-body Dadi. Every time he passed by her she would stop him, start a conversation and in between state some attribute about Anika. Then there were his brothers, Om & Rudy, who had tag teamed him. Every other hour they would call him alternatively and try to convince him by "praising the institution of marriage" or "how happy married life was" or "how he could not forever remain a bachelor". What was even more commendable ? That they both managed to do this inspite of the time difference in their countries.

His Dad actually sat him down and tried to use the emotional blackmail card. It was something along the lines of "how his mother would want him to marry and settle down and how she would have loved Anika for him."
His family really wasn't the for subtly.

If only his family knew that he had made the decision the same evening that he met Anika. These three days just helped him become more confident about his decision.

*

Finally done with his meetings for the day he thought back to when he had first seen her picture. He had planned on seeing it and then just be done with it but then he saw her and he just couldn't be done with it. Her wide, carefree smile had touched something in him. It seemed as if even her eyes were dancing with laughter. After that he just had to see her.

Coming back to the present he looked at his employee and felt his temper returning.

"Ankit, just get the work done. I don't pay you to complain. Do your job and bring me the results." He barked.

Some days were truly exhausting but today wasn't that day. Shivaay had a smile on his face while leaving office. Seeing their boss' changing moods seemed to puzzle his staff.

Reaching home he was greeted by just the person he had wanted to meet. Putting an arm around her shoulders he lead her into the sitting room.

"So..Dadi how was your day ?"

"Jaisa roz hota hai beta. Tu bata...aaj itna smile kyun kar raha hai ?"

He felt slightly embarrassed that she had noticed.

"Nothing special. Just finalised a deal today, I'm happy about that."

At his answer he literally saw his Dadi's enthusiasm deflate a little. But his ever determined Dadi continued on the conversation and kept on dropping hints about his match with Anika.
Finished with dinner, just as he was about to walk out he called his Dadi.

"Haan beta ?" she replied.

"Tell them it's a yes from our side."1

He could clearly read the pleased astonishment on her face.

Embarrassingly rubbing his neck he continued, "Dadi...meri taraf se bhi haan hai."

*

He didn't get a wink of sleep the entire night and as a result he was a little grumpy the next morning. Tossing and turning he had thought about Anika and about her decision.

At the breakfast table he was busy checking his mails on phone when Dadi walked in.
She caressed his face all the while smiling.

"God has listened to me at last."

Somewhat puzzled he listened on.

"Ab mere Billu ki bhi shaadi hogi."

Stunned into silence Shivaay stared at her.

"Shivaay, Anika ki taraf se bhi haan hai."

She said yes ! Anika said yes to him.

Chapter Three |

'Love is sweet when it's new, but it's even more sweeter when it's true.'
- Anonymous.

'Your love was handmade for somebody like me.'
- Ed Sheeran.

Day 1
11:30 pm

Unknown number : Hi. This is Shivaay. Just...wanted to let you know.
Anika : Hello. BTW, how did you get my number ?
Shivaay : Your Masi Ma helped.
Anika : Oh, OK.3

OK ? That was all her stupid brain could come up with as a reply. But what else was her stupid brain supposed to do. She had spent the entire day or rather almost every moment since meeting him, thinking about him. Nope, thinking was too tame of a word for what she felt. Anika was obsessed with Shivaay. She wanted to know everything about him ( also the reason for her stalking his Facebook profile ).2

While she was still contemplating asking for his number, the man in question was a step ahead of her and texted her. It flustered her enough that she managed only a measly 'OK' as a reply. What was even worse ? Her sudden crippling bout of shyness where Shivaay was concerned.

~*~

DAY 2
7:30 am

 

 

S : Hey, good morning.
A : Good morning.

Anika was feeling rather unsettled. Like every other morning she had gotten up to the ringing of her phone alarm. After switching it off, she went to check her messages and lo behold there was a message from Mr. Shivaay - the reason for all her ruffled feathers.
It wasn't even an elaborate ( or romantic ) message, just a simple 'good morning' text. But that simple text was enough to make her feel all warm and bubbly inside. It made her realise that he thought of her ( maybe almost as much she thought of him ). So, with a shy smile on her face she texted him back.2

It was indeed, a good morning.

1 : 30 pm

A : Good afternoon. So...what are you doing ?
S : Just finished with a conference. What about you ?
A : My team is out scouting a location for an event and I'm in office stuck with all the paperwork.
S : Ahh ! Even I have to deal with the devil that is paperwork.
Anika, isn't it time for your lunch yet ?
A : It is and I've already ordered lunch.
S : Good.

Shivaay Singh Oberoi, the great CEO of Oberoi Industries, had always prided himself over the fact that he was a very focused person. Over the years his family had many times jokingly remarked that he was married to his work. So, he couldn't have ever imagined him being so distracted during a very important meeting. He had spent the entire duration of the meeting going over that little text conversation.

The conversation in itself wasn't very special but at the same time it still was something. He didn't have the words to describe the feelings coursing through him. He felt like a school boy with his very first crush.

Anytime that he wasn't thinking about Anika, he was probably busy admiring his new wallpaper, which just happened to be the picture her Masi Mahad sent to his Dadi initially.

~*~

DAY 5
10 : 30 pm

If anyone asked Anika, was she waiting for a call ? She would deny it outright. She was holding her mobile, keeping track of the minutes, of the seconds ticking by, done with all her night chores, but still she would totally deny it.

But the fact was that she was, waiting for a call. She was waiting for Shivaay to call her.

What had initially started as a very simple but inducing-butterflies-in-her-stomach text exchange had morphed into nightly call routine as of two days ago. They still texted intermittently throughout the day but the call at the end of the day was special. She had started to slowly learn things about him. More than that, her heart had started to make space for him.2

A glance at the clock showed that Shivaay was thirty minutes late to call her. After a few seconds of deliberation, Anika decided to be the proactive one and rang him. Three rings later he picked up the call and with a sudden case of nerves she just said a timid, "Hey."
"Shit ! I was going to call you but I just lost track of time." Came his instant reply.
"It's okay. If you are busy we can talk tomorrow."
"No !" He stated firmly ( more like shouted ) at first and then calmly continued, "No. I am busy but I do want to talk to you."
Pleased and surprised that the supposed workaholic man would ignore his work in favor of talking to her she answered, "Okay, I'm here."
"So, did you finalise your location today ?"
"Yes."

And just like that Anika lost track of time and spent the entire night talking to him about anything and everything, curled on her bed, under her blanket, in the cover of darkness where it was just him and her.2

~*~

DAY 6
9 : 30 pm

A : How was your day ?
S : It was busy but good. How was yours ?
A : Same :)
S : What are you doing now ?
A : Waiting for my dinner to heat.
S : What did you make ?
A : Who says I made anything ? FYI, I don't know how to cook.
S : ???
How do you survive then ? :0
A : On takeout and eating out.
S: After marriage I'm going to make sure that you have three proper meals everyday. You should take care of yourself.
A : I do take care ! I'm not chui - mui like you.
S : Now, what's this chui - mui ? I'm confused.
A : Nothing. Gotta go. Food is ready. Bye :)

~*~

DAY 7
3 : 30 pm

Anika was hemming out some details of her latest contract when her phone buzzed signalling an incoming text. A smile blossomed on her face when she that it was from Shivaay.

S : You in office ?
A : Where else would I be ?

When there was no further text from him bemused she went back to her work.1

4 : 00 pm

She was busy checking the budget details for an event when there was a knock at her door.
" Come in." She answered distractedly.
She heard her door opening and someone stepping in.
"Ms. Anika, a delivery from Mr. Shivaay."
Hearing his name her head snapped up. There was indeed a delivery and what a delivery it was.1

As instructed the man left the 'delivery' on her desk. For a few seconds Anika could only stare in a confused sort of wonder at the bouquet of flowers, more precisely a bouquet of her favourite flowers, peonies. That he remembered something so trivial about her, something that she had so casually mentioned amazed her.

When her phone rang with his name on the screen she answered it in a daze.
"Shivaay...how...why ? I-I don't understand." She stammered out.
"Anika, you said that you love peonies, that you love what they symbolise." He stated.
"Yes, but I wasn't expecting you to send them to me !"
"Shh...just listen."
"These past few days I have been in sort of a daze. Everything in my life feels changed, refreshed. Whenever I take a decision...I find myself wondering about what you would say." With every word that he spoke Anika realised that she wasn't alone. That all this time he had been feeling the same things as her. "I've never hated my work but ever since meeting you, I curse it daily. It has stopped me from doing one thing that I want to do the most. " After a pause he continued in a slightly husky voice, "Ask me why I hate my work, ask me what it has stopped me from doing Anika."
"It has- it has stopped you from what ?" She asked hesitantly.
"You." He answered. "It has stopped me from meeting you."
"Shivaay." She breathed out in wonder.
"Anika, would you go on a dinner with me tomorrow ?"
"Dinner as in a date ? Are you asking me out on a date ?" She babbled.
"Yes, I'm asking you out on a date." She could hear the happiness and the nervousness in his voice.
"Yes. I would love to go on a date with you." She replied with her heart brimming with the promise of something wonderful and possibly life changing.