She was walking towards Daadi with the haldi tray in hand, when she almost banged into Daadi.

Daadi looked at her closely-"Kya hua puttar sab theek toh hain?"

She simply nodded in a yes. "Kuch baat hai?" Daadi asked, gently placing her hand on her elbow.

"Bas, kuch samaj mein nahi aar raha hai. Pata nahi kab tak bhaagti rahoongi. Jitna bhaagti hoon wahin aake ruk jaati hoon!" she spoke lost in her thoughts about him.

"Puttar, bhaagne se kaam nahi banta. Kisi na kisi din toh saamna karna padega." Daadi spoke, she din't know what was bothering her. But she was well aware that something was.

Anika looked at Daadi thoughtfully and smiled. Daadi smiled and asked her to come fast taking the tray from her hand.

Anika sighed. Was he okay? She was sinking in concern for him. Her face brightened slightly as an idea struck her. She quickly made a call to the doctor, disappearing into the rooms.

***

The celebrations were in full swing. On one side of the curtain was the bride on the other the bridegroom. Shivaay smiled as he applied haldi to his sister. Her eyes were moist, as memories came back to her head. Those stupid teenage conversations the four of them would have. Rudra would always tease of her leaving after marriage and Shiv-Om would hit him, taking her side. She still clearly remembered Rudra's animated face when he had described his plans for her wedding- he would color her yellow till people mistook her for the sun. Shivaay quickly wiped the tear at the edge of her eye before it could fall off, without making it obvious. He bent down and whispered, "Smile, Princess - it's your day!" Instantly a smile crept up her face; that was exactly what Shiv-Om would tell her when she fought with Rudra!

***

Shivaay sighed as he stood aside while everyone danced. He realised how much of his liveliness was because of her. He was getting impatient now. He was Shivaay Singh Oberoi, not the one to sulk in shadowed corner, but the one who would illuminate the room with his presence. But somewhere down he wanted to remain stuck in that melancholy and miss his brothers. The cheer and joy that they brought into his life was lost with them.

He was brought out of his thoughts by a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find her standing with a hand on her hip. She peeped around him. He looked confused.

"Aaj kal aap bhooton ke saath rehte hain?"

He looked perplexed-"What!"

"What, what? Sab wahan hain aur aap yahan. Kisi ka wait kar rahe hain?"

"No!" he replied, folding his hands.

"Toh, aapko Katrina Kaif aake invitation dengi phir aap apni behen ki haldi mein naachenge?" She narrowed her eyes. She still remembered he like Katrina Kaif in the movie! Things like that ladies don't easily forget.

He gave her the SSO-attitude-look, "Sunaa rahi ho mujhe?"

She gave him an animated look-" Aap ne kuch khaya piyaa hai kya? Yaan koi chakkar wakkar chal raha hai kya bhootni ke saath? " She tried hiding her smile. She knew she was speaking ridiculous stuff and his reactions were out of the box!

"What- bhoo...bhootni! Maine nahi tumne kuch khaya-piyaa hoga. Pata nahi kaisi bheki-bheki baatein kar rahi ho. And what is with your ne obsession with bhooth &bhootni? Like seriously!?"

"Bahut time waste karte hain aap!" She held his hand and pulled him to where everyone was dancing. He smiled, heartily as they danced. Things weren't that bad also.

***

Everyone was having dinner while Vikram joined Shivaay as he stood by the bar. "Shivaay!"

Shivaay-"Hey!"

Vikram sipping his juice-"Waise main soch raha tha...you should get married too!"

Shivaay coughed slightly- "Huh?"

Vikram-"I mean, you know... we all need someone by us. Abhi dhoondna shuru karega toh jaake ek- do-saal mein milegi koi!" He chuckled.

Shivaay chuckled.

"What? I am serious!" said Vikram.

"Don't worry about me, apne baare mein soch!" replied Shivaay, amused at Vikram's expression.

"Meri chinta chod bahi, apni kar. Dehk I am the happy-go-lucky-guy so you know women in general like me. But tujhe dekh, Angry-young-man ki image leke ghoomta hai."

Shivaay laughed this time. "Don't worry Vikram... I..!"

Vikram cut him off- "..tu toh aise don't worry bol raha hai jaise abhi teri dulhan wahan seediyo se neeche aayegi, shaadi ke jode mein, aur bolegi.."

"BilluJi! a voice interrupted their conversation. Quite magically a wide smile came on Shivaay's face, at the voice not quite unfamiliar to his heart. The smile even surprised Anika. She had been concerned about his gloomy behaviour and aloofness. She had spoken to the doctor regarding the same. The doctor had explained to him that it wasn't anything serious but common human behaviour. He had just asked her to keep him happy, to prevent depression that could be critical in Shivaay's case, considering his previous case history. Anika had done just that. Even she was tired of running. For once he was important to him then all her fears.

"Yeah! he turned to her. "Reception ke liye media!" She reminded him.

"Yes, right away!" He walked away a faint smile still adorning his face. She looked impressed.

"What did you talk to him?" she asked Vikram. She had indirectly spoken to Vikram about Shivaay's behaviour. Perhaps, a man-to-man talk would do better.

"Nothing much. Shaadi!"

"What?" she enquired more than interested now.

"I told him he should find himself a wife."

She registered it, "What did he say?" She did very much want to know what were his thoughts.

"Badi problem hai!"

"Kyun?" She asked interested.

"Kaun karega isse pyaar?"

Anika looked confused,'Matlab?"

"Matlab, he is so...Sadu Singh Oberoi!" He laughed mimicking her. She laughed. This cousin of his was a really funny man!

His eyes twitched up as he noticed them laughing. He wore a straight face like it din't matter to him. But let's admit it, it did matter. Not that he was going to just stand and look, he was Shivaay Singh Oberoi!

After the diner slow music played for the couple dance. Anika stood beside Daadi smiling and looking on. She was reminiscing, that magical night at Udaipur when they had danced. The entire Udaipur trip would always remain as the best of all her memories. Magical it was! She had felt those things she had never felt before.

Soon her smile faded as she saw him dancing with another woman. She was dressed in a modern saaree and smiled as though she never knew what a normal face was. She couldn't help but notice his hand which was on her waist barely covered. Her breathing got slightly irregular. She din't care. Yeah, how does it matter. She looked away. In mere seconds her eyes were back on them, his face so close to that woman's. Anika ! It doesn't matter. she reminded herself, running her palm on her neck. The air conditioners seemed to have stop working. Daadi who had been looking at Anika from the corner of her eyes pressed her smile. Daadi soon retired for the night, after informing and instructing Anika.

Anika looked at their smiling faces. Look at that Baagad Billa showing his battisii!Abhi tak Bheegi Billi banke ghoom rahe thee, aur ab muskuraara rahe hain!Fine.I don't care. She looked away. In matter of minutes she found herself beside the lady requesting to take her place. Shivaay had just hit a sixer! His victory, quite evident in his hidden smirk.

"Wo...main.." she started. As his hand was on her waist and the other in her hand.

"Wo...tum?" his eyes twinkled, as he read through her confused face.

"Came to remind you- about tonight!" She smiled finding the perfect reason. "You remember right!?"

"Very much!" he said swaying gently." That's it?"

She nodded thinking.

"Oh, Anika you spoilt the dance for this much or you...wanted..to .." trailed his voice quite suggestive.

"Yes.that's it. Kyun? Wo..."

"I met her sometime back!" he replied, grinning. She narrowed her eyes. Wow! He just met her. Dance toh aise kar rahe thee jaise dance class ki partner ho!

"Hmm..okay then.." She said preparing to move.

He stepped closer, pretending to not have heard. " I had to ask you something. I have been thinking over it lately." he whispered.

Anika looked up at him,"What?"

"Shaadi ke baare mein kya khayal hai?" he said softly, cheekily.

She blinked. "Shaadi?"

He nodded smiling.

Color rose up her cheeks. "Main...wo...matlab..."

"Vikram was saying I should find for someone you know.. " he said,his face close to hers.

Panic hit her. He was proposing or something!?

"I need to ..." she said finding some excuse to move out.

"Yes. You need to tell me. I was thinking of you know something of the Bachelorette kind, as in Swayamwar in hindi."

"Aap Sawaywar karna chathhe hain? she asked shocked. "Aap apne liye pati dhoondnaa chathee hain!"

"Of course not!" he said quickly, mentally slapping her logic. 

"I was thinking of finding a bachellorrete through a reality show! Wo hota hai naa, celebrities on tv audition and selction ke through apne soulmate ko dhoondte hain!"

"Acha waise, warna toh aapka Aakash.."

"Hey, that's...that's not my'- Aakash alright! " he whispered slowly. "Don't say it again!"

She giggled.

"Very funny!" he rolled his eyes.

"Anyway baatao naa Anika idea kaisa hai? "he hid his smile.

"Ek dum-faaltu! she spoke animatedly.Aise koi kaise soulmate dhoondta hai! Matlab agar wo audition mein paas toh paas warna fail. Faaltu concept hai. " She put forward her opinion frankly.

"Hm..toh jaisi ladki mujhe chaiye waisi kaha milegi?

"Jahan aapki nazar pahunchegi! She smacked herself mentally for saying that.Waise kaisi ladki chaiye aapko? She asked as they continued to dance.

"Well, she should be an early riser, Fail! Anika thought.

"Health conscious , busineeswoman-so that we can discuss stocks she made a michmichi-face to that.

"Swimmer, certainly someone who likes to hit the spa, a great international cook- we can be couple chefs

By now Anika was irritated.Aapko biwi chaiye yaan SSO part 2?

He laughed softly. He had irritated her enough. But he was enjoying all along. "Kyun Anika, whats the problem?

"Problem naa-aap hain- aur aapkishaadi hai! Aisi ladki exist bhi nahi karti hogi! she said with an air of conclusion.

"Tum-naa jealous ho! he spoke changing the direction as they swayed.

"Main kyun jalungi, waise bhi aap apni faaltu baatein apne paas rakhiye, main chali she spoke rather annoyed.

As soon as she turned away she felt a tug, and was back into her arms. His kanji eyes looked deeply into her deep brown ones. She hitched in a ragged breath at his intense gaze. "Wait until the music stops, looks rude " he whispered into her ears. Lost in his eyes she simply obeyed.

He twirled her around at an arm's length, his eyes not leaving her. The song aptly sang the feelings of their hearts.

These threads of enchantment,Have got entangled in your fingers.

He parted from her and pulled her towards him, grasping her waist firmly yet gently, a move that stiffened her.

I have no clue,how to solve open this knot..

He turned elegantly, his body in tune with the slow music. His eyes magnetically gazing into hers. He was lost in her. His breathing synced with her heartbeats just like his steps synced with hers.

Every particle of my body is a musical instrument,that passes through the clouds..

The song climaxed but their eyes were still dancing to the tune, not wanting to leave the others. Dazed he gently pushed away her hair that had made their way to her cheeks when she was swaying. Only when she felt sparks of his touch did the gravity of situation sink into her. Gulping she stepped away, her heart thudding like a maniac.

No matter what Love did find a way out! It spoke through eyes.It reflected through the mere incidental touches of fingertips.

***

P.S

Love that song!

Hope you all liked it!