"You what?" He exclaimed,almost laughing.

"Shivaay!" She dragged his name hugging him,shyly. He reciprocated.

She pulled apart looking at him as he lovingly tucked her hair. A sigh of contentment left her lips. He was her world summarized into a person.

"Sleepy?" He asked running his hand up and down her hair. It was slightly damp still.

"You should drop me..."

"No way!" He carried her bridal style in his arms.

"Shivaay.... What...what are you doing?" She asked her cheeks still flushing in red.

He smiled at her stupidly. She blinked. She was sure he barely heard what she said.

"I like how you call me by my name." He confessed as they neared his room now.

She blushed breaking their eye contact." Chodiye.."

He chuckled. "Not an option."

She smiled shyly. "Neeche utaariye..."

"Tum aaj raat yahin ruko gi. That's final." He said making her sit on the bed.

"Par... Main...aapke ..saath kaise... Daadi ko pata chala naa toh.."

"Anika you're blushing!" He winked chuckling.

She pushed him away getting up. He was quicker in grabbing her wrist and pulling her close. Her body collided against his. She gasped staring at his eyes.

"Kya kar rahe hain?" She whispered when he didn't let go her struggling hand.

"Ideas mat do."he whispered his gaze falling down to her lips.

She blushed, looking away for a moment. " Haath chodiye."

"Nahi choda toh?" He was thoroughly enjoying unsettling her. God only knew how he wasn't already kissing her.

She stared at him. Her heart couldn't beat calmly as usual. She blinked her eyes under his gaze. Slowly she felt her hand being released. "So jaao.."

He stepped back, before things went out of hand. He didn't want to scare her away with rushed intimacy. His hormones had to take back seat.

"I will sleep in the guest room. Good night!" She said turning to the door. But before her, he reached the door shutting it. In fast moves he picked her up and put her on the bed.

"Hum saath mein kaise?" She bit the insides of her mouth.

"Kyun. Pehli Baar saath so rahe hain?" He asked in a teasing tone trying not to look at her lips.

"Fine." Anika knew there was no point arguing. Today seemed to be his day.

"Acha, listen?" He said smilingly.

"Hmm?" She said placing the extra cushions in the centre of the bed.

"Will you marry me?"

She looked up blinking.

"Kya?"

"Shaadi karogi?" He asked irritated. "Wo... Reh gaya thaa.." He added grinning.

"Mere pass option hai?" She asked grinning.

"Of course. Live in relationship?"

She picked up the pillow hitting his face. "Anika... Haan toh bolo.."

"Haan.haan.haan. ho gaya. Good night." She smiled and turned pulling his blanket over her.

"Anika..." he whined sleeping beside her removing the cushions from between them .

"Aap kya kar rahe hain?" She asked her heart thudding as he came closer.

"Hug toh kar hi sakte hain."

Saying that he took her into a hug.

"Shivaay..!" Her voice came out as a whisper as he back hugged her.

"Hmm.."

She smiled. Her heart felt so much better. "Thank you."

"Hug ke liye?"

She laughed. "Kuch bhi!"

"Thank you toh mujhe tumhe...."

"Bas bas.... Ab senti mat kijiye." She grinned.

She felt his hand over the portion of blanket that covered her stomach. She held her breath.

"Anika..."

"Hmm.." She managed to say.

He smiled feeling the nervousness in his voice. "Hum kal shaadi kar le?"

"Kya!" She turned to face him, almost horrified.

"Acha roka..?"

"Aapko jaldi kyun padi hai. Kaunsi train chuti jaa rahi hain.."

"Jaldi? Eighteen months is jaldi?"

She laughed. "Aap kitne cute hai!" She pulled his cheeks.

"Aur bhi bahut kuch hoon.." He said tracing his fingers over her hair.

She took in a sharp breath.

"Good night. " he whispered, kissing her forehead and then walked out.

She looked perplexed. "Shivaay?"

"I will be in the next room. Aaram karo. Aur mujhe miss mat karna, ...acha theek hai... kar Lena.... Haq hai tumhe." He winked walking out grinning. If he stayed in the same room he knew ...sleep would be inaccessible.

- - -

Anika couldn't believe this was the same Shivaay. The entire day he hadn't scolded her once. In the early hours of morning, he had dropped her back home then three hours later he had come to pick her up. Not to forget. The soft kisses on her cheek he had given at both instances. Anika was suddenly beginning to enjoy his small gestures of affection, instead of being a nervous wreck.

In the evening their Roka was held a small ceremony where they exchanged rings. Anika was asked to permanently move to hthe mansion, her home. Life couldn't get more soulful.

After dinner Shivaay had taken Daadi's permission to take her out for an ice cream. Anika had had a hard time controlling her laughter at the argument which she thought was hilariously cute.

"Daadi, I am just taking her out for an ice cream."

"There are three flavors in the fridge."

"But Daadi, Anika likes the cone ice cream." Shivaay answered smartly indicating Anika to keep her mouth shut.

"I like kulfi. Take me along." Daadi pretended to be naive.

"Daadi. You have diabetes. " Shivaay folded his hands.

"Billu.... Ladkaa Ladki...shaadi we pehle...raat..."

"Daadi. Main aur Anika legally married hain. Wo chodiye.. Hum ek saal se bhi zyaada se saath reh chuke hain. " he pulled Anika holding her hand.

"Okay deal...agar aap hummein jaane dengi...to main... Sugar free kulfi laaunga. "

Dadi smiled. "Khoteya. Sab samjti hu main. " she pulled his ear. "Jaldi lautna."

He grinned dragging Anika away.

- - -

She brought her attention back to the man driving the car when he snapped his fingers before her face. "Where you lost?"

"Things are happening fast. " she said looking at him. Her eyes suddenly taking all pleasure in lazily noticing his handsome facial features.

"I don't think so." He glanced her side and she immediately tore away her gaze from his face. 'What was I even thinking?' She silently asked herself.

Anika took a deep breath. He smiled.

"Do you want to delay the marriage?"

"Yes. " she grinned and then made a serious face.

"Oh...." He clearly didn't expect that. "Then when?"

"A year....year later...I mean... Abhi abhi.."

"Are you serious?" He shot a glance across to her.

"Of course, Billuji."

"Oh.." Shivaay was suffocating now. It was so hard to keep away from her. Now that their relationship was clear, it was even harder. One year? He'd die. The attraction was crazy. Every time she looked at him shyly, he was tempted to make her more.

"I will.... I mean..Since you...want it that way...I ..I will talk to Daadi." He finally got words out of his mouth.

She began laughing, he looked aside at her. "Mr. SSO ki sitti-pitti gul ho gayi."

He sighed in relief and then showed his irritation. "Paagal ho..Pannika!"

"Aye. Maine aap pe paani daala? nahi naa?" She asked as he parked the car.

He released his seat belt, hovering upon her. "Meri marzi." He whispered. She stared at him her body growing stiff. There again, from the morning she had notice his glance landing on her lips. It did make her uncomfortable but not in a way she'd not want it.

"Shivaay!" She took a deep breath. He pulled away unlocking her seat belt. "Let's go!" He got off the car cursing himself.

Anika silently walked with him not able to ignore his hand that was interwoven with hers. He surprisingly remembered her favorite flavour. They walked over to the isolated end of rocks. She couldn't help but smile remembering the day the mechanical SSO had become his old Tadibaaz self. The conversation they had had sitting on the rocks, watching the waves. Who ever knew that one day they return to the spot hands intertwined and hearts irrevocably in Iove.

----

P.S

Woosh.

Never has writing been so hard.

Finally after six months or so I am writing. I clearly have lost the old flow.

Anyway do tell me how was this. I will be waiting!