The next morning :

Saumya had gone to the airport and Dev supervised at the railway station. The families leave for The Leela. Anika and Shivaay also checked out of Lalit and go to the Leela along with the families.

As the cars pull up in front of a lake. Anika looked at Shivaay quizzically."Lake pichola..??" she read to herself.

"Hum boating karne aaye hain kya?" She asked as they walk up the wooden passage leading to the boats.

Shivaay turned to and held her hand, pulling her a little aside "See there, that's The Leela."

Anika looked in awe."O Bete Kii ! Paani ke beecho beech..!!" She was so busy in the other domains that she had not even seen the pics of the hotel. Shivaay had looked after all the technicalities.

Shivaay-"Ab chale ? We have loads of work."

Anika excitedly.."haan.." Shivaay grinned at her excitement suppressing his smile they get into the boats.

Anika-"Ab Sojal ka dulhaa jetty par aayega."

Aastha laughed. Both high-five laughing while their amused husbands look on.

Aastha-"Bhaiya wo kya hai..itni saare mahal ek hii lake mein.?"

Rower-"Wo leela hai...woo jag mandir hain...wo lake palace hai...yeh sab hotels hain...aur wo ...wahan ...city palace hain."

Aastha and Anika look on excitedly.

Shivaay-"Hmm yes..yeh saare palace have been converted into heritage hotels...owned by big groups...it has a high turn over, especially during the...."

Anika bored by his economic news indicates him to shut up.

Shivaay gives her an angry glare, asking her to shut up. Who did she think she was anyway!

Finally after aten minute long jetty ride which was beautiful,they finally reach the dock of Leela Palace.

While Anika tagged along with family members looking after every minor detail for the haldi rasam. A busy Shivaay saw to the hospitality and arrival of guests, was later joined by Saumya.

Anika was busy helping Anjali and Kalandi (the mothers) with haldi ka rasam aarangements. Shivaay looked to it the decorations were done as per plan.Anika then proceeded to help Sojal get ready.

Finally it was half-an-hour to the ceremonies to start when she received Shivaay's call, he had asked her to meet her at the lounge.

As she reached the lounge she saw that Dev and Saumya were already present with Shivaay.

Shivaay-"Finally, kahan reh gayi thii?"

Anika-"Yeh hotel itni badi hai kii..main gum gayi thii."

Shivaay-"Excuses!"

Saumya -"Ahh Sir, aapne hum sabko yahan kyun bulaya...uske baare mein discuss karee." she said trying to pit out the argument before it even started.

"Yes..." he said giving Anika a look.

He handed each of them a Bluetooth device."Okay where this at all time...and please keep a power bank with you and apne phones apne paas rakhna. He exaggerated on the last part looking at Anika.

Anika-"Issey acha toh hum walki-talkie rakhte."

"Shut up..please." He said wearing a straight face.

Anika made a face as he turned away.

Shivaay-"Saumya tum aur Anika bride ki haldi par hogey jo palace ke uss section mein hain... And main aur Dev iss taraf rehenge Varad ki haldi pee...Alright...! Koi gadbad nahi honi chaiye."

Turning to Dev-"Saare mehmaan aa gaye..nahi kuch aur abhi bhi aane hain..don't worry Sir maine uss sab ka bandobas kardiya hain."

Turning to Saumya-"And sab guests yahan settle ho gaye hain ?"

Saumya-"Yes perfectly...! As expected yahan ke rooms thode kam pade toh maine kuch guests ko Lalit mein hi accommodate kardia hain and their transportation and other requirements are well looked after. Aur haan yeh aapki aur anika ki room ki chaabi aap second floor pe hain ladke waalon ke saath yahin. Ladki waaley first floor pe hain. Maine aapka saaman rakh waa diya hai. Maine aur Dev lalit mein hi stay karenge for looking after things there."

Anika looked on shocked, but silently listened.

Shivaay-"Okay..lemme know agar anything goes off track. Aur haan wo haldi ke baad guests sight-seeing ke liye jaayenge...maine yahan se cars toh arrange kardiye hain..Dev ...arrange for some more cars from Lalit."

Dev-"Okay Boss"

Saumya-"Sir aap aur Anika ready ho jaaiye, here me and dev will look after."

They nod and disperse. Shivaay looked at Anika chale.

In the lift-"Hum dono ek kamre mein kaise rahenge ?"

Shivaay-"I haven't thought of that as of now."

Anika-"Toh sochiye naa."

Shivaay-"Well...tum wahan thhii naa...suna nahi saumya ne kya khaa. yahan par rooms sufficient nahi pade rahe hain aur tum ?"

As they walked out of the lift walking towards the room. Anika kept seeing the interiors, peeping down the railing of the corridors which looked down upon the fountain in courtyard.

Shivaay turned to see her-"Hey, tum koi alice in wonderland nahi hoo, jo aise har jaghe explore kar rahi ho...we have only twenty minutes to get ready.."

Anika-"Exactly sirf twenty mins hain...uss mein se aap 10-15 min apne baal banana mein lag aayenge aur bacche huya samay aise hii mujhe daatne mein barbaad karenge, chaliye." She walked ahead, leaving a Shivaay staring at her with his mouth in perfect O.

Shivaay-"main...forget it..!"

As they opened the door of the room. Anika went to the window and to see the beautiful lake view."Haayee.."

Shivaay too comes over watching the view. "Nice."

Anika then goes around to exploring the washroom when Shivaay speaks over the phone. As he cuts the line, he saw Anika no where.

"Not Again ab kahan gayi yeh..!" He moved towards the washroom and opens the sliding heavy glass door.

He found Anika in there admiring the huge mirror with golden border. She sees him through the mirror and turns.

Anika-"Aap ne yeh kaise khola...Phel gaya raita...iss ka lock nahi hai...itni badi hotel hain ek lock bhi nahi laga sakte."

Shivaay confused turns to see the door. Seeing no lock he sees the spacious washroom with two cabinets on the side one for a shower and other for lavatory. And then he notices the huge bathing tub on the other side with blinds over a glass which was a look through to the bed room. Realisation dawns him, he scratches his head with the tip of his finger.. 'It was a Honeymoon Suite." How the hell was he supposed to answer the queries which he was sure were on the way. He looked at Anika nodding his head in a no. But she had already undone the blinds over the glass wall of the washroom.

"No..!"He looked the other way.

Anika squealed in shock. " Cheee...yeh kya hainn. Yeh toh ! "She looks at him.

"...Honeymoon suite hai, that's why. " looking extremely confused.

Anika-"Hum aise kamre mein kaise rahenge."

Shivaay-"You know what hum sach mein bahut late ho rahe hain...you get ready... main bahaar wait karta hoon...alright make it fast. We'll talk about the room later.

Anika- "Lekin iss mein lock nahi hain!"

Shivaay-"Main room ke bahar wait kar raha hoon." he said exasperated. Like he was going to barge into the washroom.

Anika-"hmm"

Shivaay-"jaldi.."

He left the room.

After more than ten minutes or so he knocks the door, Anika opened it, dressed in a white short kurti with a yellowish Patiala and a matching chiffon dupatta on one shoulder, wearing minimal make up, and a huge set of bangles in hand. Her curls left loose. Shivaay turned and his gaze froze at her. She looked simple yet breathtakingly beautiful.

Anika wearing the jhumka in her ear, "aaiye..." she walked to the bed..zips her suit case. And turned to him-"maine neeche jaa rahi hoon Sojal ke pass okay."

Shivaay nodded. She was trying to were the Bluetooth but was unsuccessful."Yeh kya jhanjhat hain..isse acha toh walki-talkie hi hota."

Shivaay moved a step closer taking the device from her hand and put it on her ear carefully. Anika's heartbeat started racing. She stared at his face, her breathing becoming uneven. The way he looked at her, delicately.

"Done.." he said moving away, bringing Anika back to the real world.

"thank you.." she left before he would notice her slightly flushed face.

P.S

Hope you enjoyed!