"Anika." He softly called her name as she stared at the endless stretch of dark waters under the night sky.

"Hmm." She smiled turning to face him. He noticed the glistening moisture in her eyes.

"You okay?" He asked cupping her face fondly.

She nodded in a yes. Placing her hand on his wrist. He shifted closer to her, " This feels so surreal. " he whispered as his fingers traced patterns over her cheek.

She smiled. She was feeling the same emotions.

"It is not a dream, naa? It won't disappear?" She asked softly her voice lined with usureness placing her free hand on his cheek.

"We won't let it."

"Pinky promise?" She raised her pinky finger.

He smiled locking it with his pinky finger. "Pinky Promise."

She smiled widely and he beamed with the love he saw in her eyes. He moved his lips closer. Her eyelids drooped. Her hold tightened around his wrist. He brushed his lips over hers. Taking a sharp intake of air. He looked into her eyes letting her settle to the touch of his lips. Not moving them away.

The breeze blowing her hair, the scent of the earth when mud met water in the air. His touch and his presence. Everything transported her back intot time. To the first ever time their lips had made contact. To that incomplete kiss by the lake at Udaipur. She parted her lips in anticipation. He smiled a little lost in her beauty. Magic had graciously happened to him. She was the magic in his life.

He gently nibbled her lower lips and she gasped at the new sensations her body felt. Ever since he had stepped into her life she had experienced so many things she had never thought she was capable of.

He pushed his tongue into her mouth and Anika moved closer in response. If there was anybody she trusted more than herself it was him. His hands cupped her face as his desires took charge. He loved her taste. How he had craved for this moment! He pulled apart to let her breathe. She stared at him in awe.

He smiled observing the color of her cheeks. They were now splashed with the color of shyness. He let his hands move to her waist and back. Almost hugging her. His lips inched closer again. "Shivaay!" She gasped looking at him with confusion.

He stared at her slightly perplexed. "I don't know.." She whispered. There yet again a wide smile appeared on his face. He didn't wait but conquered her mouth again. This time making his movements very slow. He pulled back looking at her. "Do what I did." He said looking into her eyes. She gulped, but moved closer.

He didn't know what got into him. He pulled back when she was about to place her lips on his. He grinned naughtily. She turned away embarrassed, trying to get out of his hold. He brought his face closer to hers. She didn't acknowledge it. He turned her face and captured her lips. She gasped at the sudden impatience. Soon she started trying to mimick his actions. She was finally living in that kiss. She held onto his upper arm loving the new intimacy.

He broke apart breathing heavily. His eyes tainted with desire for her. Her chest heaved as she took in labored breaths. She met his gaze and stole it away quickly unable to look at him. He smiled jerking her closer hugging her. She was quick in hugging him back.

"It was beautiful! " he whispered. She blushed gald that her face was pressed against his chest.

"Anika, " he called to her and she finally pulled away to look at him.

"Chalein?" She asked.

"We just came." He said staring at her lips."little more?"

Anika gaped in embarrassment, scooting away.

"Anika!" He complained trying to pull her back and close.

"Aap ki tadi jaati nahi naa?" She asked trying to turn the topic.

"Tumahri sharam bhi!"

Her mouth was in the perfect O. "Mr.SSO aap bade besharam hai."

"Tum bhi bano naa, besharam!"

She blushed looking away from his gaze. "Chaalu cheez." She muttered.

He slipped his hand in to hers. She smiled at their entangled hands. He then took it up to his kips and kissed her hand. Anika's heart fluttered as did her eyelashes. "Aadat daal lo!" He said not looking at her but the wide expanse of water. Finally he felt he was living again. She had walked into his life and to become his lifeline.

"Anika, you have something to say." He asked noticing the different expressions crossing her face.

"Nahi. I am okay." She smiled. He knew that when she smiled her eyes shone. Right now it didn't. He rubbed her palm. "Bata skati ho. "

She stared at him. A million thoughts crossing her mind. "Dar lag raha hai!"

"Mujh se?" He grinned, trying to give her the courage by easing her tension.

"Aap se toh meri juti naa dare. " she chuckled.

"Phir?"

"Life se!" She uttered her eyes moistening. "Aapko cheen liya mujhse toh main..." She wiped her tears, looking away.

"Hey, Anika!" He spoke softly pulling her close for a hug.

"Don't runaway okay. I am here for you. Naa hi main tumse dhoor jaaunga naa tumhe jaane doonga. Samjhi!"

She tried smiling. He wouldn't understand. She had been the one who had gone through the separation from lobed ones.

"Anika, I've lost a lot in life. I understand... Jab ..chodo naa...itna acha mood spoil kar diya. " he said not wanting to speak out his pain as he looked at the stars in the night sky.

Anika smiled. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe he understood. Maybe she should dump her fears and trust herself with the new life that lay ahead of them.

She kissed his cheek. He turned to her surprised. "Chaliye ab!"

"Anika. I can't wait!" He uttered as they walked to the car.

Anika looked confused. "Shaadi?"

"Nahi!"

"Phir?"

He gazed at her fondly, "Tumhaare saath zindagi ke liye!"

She smiled. "Mr.SSO car apne app nahi chalegi!"

He rolled his eyes and focused in the road. He couldn't wait. Couldn't wait for the life that lay ahead.

* * *

Anika was fretting over it all. She couldn't believe it was the wedding day. She was a bundle of nervousness, excitement and unknown fears. But more than anything she was dying to see his face. Ever since the day they had finally shared a successful kiss she had cone to know another Shivaay. His another shade. That Shivaay who would find excuses to touch her, who would kiss her lips like he lived on them. As the celebrations of their wedding began Daadi had forbidden them to meet. She missed being around him.

On the day of haldi he had sneaked into the room. Anika still blused at the memory. He had an excuse of applying haldi to her. But soon one thing had led to another. Anika's face flushed remembering his touches that left sparks in their awakening. Her heart still thudded as she remembered how in the heat of the moment she had fallen over the bed with him over her. How he had kissed her that day. Not gentle but hard. Not soothing but dominant.

"Huh!" She gasped almost.

"What happened?" Aastha looked at her. "Tu thik toh hai? Tab se bula rahi hoon. Do baar bulaava as chuka hai. Tu neeche jaa warns there SSO upar as jaayenge." Aastha spoke rubbing the back of her one month old toddler.

"Mujhe dar lag raha hai!" Anika muttered grabbing the galss of water.

"Anika you've already had three glasses of water. You can't use the washroom until three hours when you're down. By God itni lambi chalti hain.."

"Aastha. Mujhe nahi jaan!" Anika gulped.

"Paagal hai. Finally shaadi kar rahe ho. An problem kya hai?"

"Shaadi is a big deal. Main Kaise..." Anika wiped her forehead of the sweat.

"Aakhn band kar. Kar naa!"

Anika did as she was told. "Take deep breaths!"

"Ab tere SSO ko dehk. Poori life unke saath. Every morning starting with him. Every night ending in his arms. Carrying your child..."

Anika immediately opened her eyes widely. "Tiu calm kar rahi hai yaan dara rahi hai ? "

There was a knock on the door. "Anika Bhabhi, Bhaiya pooch rahe hain wo aapko neeche le jaane aaye kyan?" Priyanka peeped in threw the door.

"Dehka...itni tadi hai by God. Wo jaante hain mere fuse ude honge lekin phir bhi bande ki tadi.. "

"Jaanta hoon!" Anika's eyes widened as her groom walked up to her. His smirk slowly transforming to a heartful smile.

"Shivaay...aap yahan..aap..main.."

"Anika relax." He comforted her holding her shoulders.

"Chalo?" He held her hand.

"Shivaay mujhe.."

He didn't wait for her to complete. He copped her in his arms and started walking out. "Kitna bhari lehenga hai!" He commented.

"Tadi chodiye neeche utaariye, main chal rahi hoon."

"Bhag gayi toh?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Toh pakad Lena!"

"Pakad nahi paaya toh?"

"Saath mein baagh Lena." She grinned.

He smiled putting her down. She took a deep breath and surprisingly all her fears were gone. He bent down before her. She looked at him perplexed. He pulled her bridal skirt that had been folded up.

"Arey yeah kya kar rahe hain?"

"Ideas mat do!" He grinned standing up.

She blinked away as her cheeks colored up.

"I can't wait Anika."

"Mere saath..."

"Nahi, aaj raat ke liye!" He winked locking her arm with his as he walked.

Anika gaped at him and once again in the out of her stomach she had a weird growing fear. "Besharam." She muttered walking, matching his every step.

* * *

"Anika?" Shivaay entered his room after the oh-so tiring day. Aastha and Saumya took almost half an hour of his time trying to negotiate to let him go. He gave them an entire blank signed cheque but that wasn't what they wanted. Aastha literally made him make so many promises before everyone. He smiled. He intended to keep everyone of them.

His eyes landed on an already fast a sleep Anika. He got on his bed beside her. She had changed into a simple yet sexy red dress. He pulled the duvet over her and then kissed her forehead. "I love you Mrs Anika Shivaay Singh Oberoi!"

* * *

Anika woke up to find herself on something rigid yet soft. Her eyes widened as she realised she was sleeping quite literally on him. She moved away stealthily and sat up. She had no clue when she had slept off or when he had come in. She was exhausted after the wedding ceremony. She looked at her hands that were beautifully painted with mehendi. The color dark brown. Her hand reached her neck and she felt the nuptial chain. She grinned happily. She bent down and kissed his cheek. "I love you I love you I love you!" She muttered excitedly.

"Love you too!" He said pulling her down and hugging her. She was surprised that he was awake.

"Cheater. Acting kar rahe the sone ki!" She said trying to pull away.

"Dare you move away. Ab haq bhi hai aur permission bhi. Cheater tum ho. Akele so gayi!"

She giggled. "Meri Marzi!"

He Kissed her cheeks lazily. "Don't worry. Kuch dino mein dekte hain kis ki Mardi chalti hai."

"Chaliye uthiye. Aaj bahut kuch karna hai!"

He immediately flashed his eyes open. "Bahut much karna hai Anika!" He kissed her earlobe.

Anika smacked her forehead." Offo. "

* * *

Anika held his hand leading the way. He was unsure why they were here. From morning they had been busy with the wedding rituals and then the pooja at the temple. It was late afternoon by the time they left the oldage home and came here to a graveyard.

"Maa.." She said trying to blink away the tears that came to her eyes as she uttered the word. He looked at her and then down. She placed the rose she had got in the temple at the stone.

He hugged her as she began sobbing after a few minutes. "She is here with us always. "

She hugged him as her tears steadily creased. "You'll love me more than she did? "

"I will!" He smiled.

"You won't leave me?"

"Never. I will always stay in your heart, your mind and your soul."

She smiled. "Thank you!"

He grinned holding back his tears. He knew and understood that. Because he knew he couldn't thank her enough.

Woah!

Almost three years is what this took!

My first ever story, fan fiction, the first ever thing I wrote on Shivika! (Perhaps the last! )

This show gave me lot beyond entertainment. A part of it will always live in my heart. This is so overwhelming I finally finished this!💖

Hope you all enjoyed this story, which was a journey in itself, as much as I did!

Love,

~Anni .