Dearest Shivaay, || Shivika AU FF

𝕋𝕚𝕟𝕪 ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕤

Anika flopped on the bed, where a numerous amount of files and papers were sprawled about. She felt her eyes grow moist as she read the rejection letter off of Gauri's laptop. She had applied yet again for a leased office. It was small, but she would manage. She had even talked to the leaser about an extension for application, which had been approved.

Anika had used her monthly salary from planning the Oberoi wedding, cutting expenses for the bills and Gauri and Sahil's pocket money. Not to mention Mausi's medicines. And when she had finally touched it with the tips of her fingers, fate snatched it away again.

"Anika Di? Can I come in?" Gauri asked from the door. Anika quickly wiped her tears and made her way to the door. She released a sigh and opened the door, moving away to let Gauri in.

A faint smile lined her lips, her eyes moist and her nose slightly pink, which indicated she'd been crying. "Aap ko iss bare mein baat karni hai?"

Anika's smile faltered as she exhaled heavily, gesturing Gauri to sit on her bed. When Gauri obliged like an obedient child, Anika sat beside her sister as her fingers traveled up to her forehead and massaged it lightly.

"Phir se," Anika scoffed sarcastically. "Rejected. Aur pata hai kyun? Rich, big company decided they wanted it, so they took it. The owner just... not even thinking that someone else was just about to give them an offer. Tujhe pata hai, Gauri? Dadiji sach kaha karte the. Iss duniya mein, paisa sab kuch khareed sakta hai. You saw, right? It didn't even take a moment for all our dreams to be shattered."

Gauri wrapped her arms around Anika's shoulders, offering support as she cried. "Di, don't say that. I'm sure, Di. Shankar ji will help us for sure. He has a plan for us. And Ma and Papa are always with us, right? So don't worry. We'll find a way."

"Main prathna karti hoon ke tu sahi ho, Chutki. Ma ka yeh sapna ab humare taqdeer pe hi tikka hai," Anika muttered as she hugged Gauri tightly.

When Anika reached Oberoi Mansion on Tuesday morning, she had barely stepped foot in the great room when she was ambushed by OmRuPrinku, Pinky, Jhanvi, and even Om's girlfriend, Ishana.

"Niks, good you're here! Me and Om have a date tonight, and I have no clue what to wear! I need your expert fashion advice!" Ishana said the moment her eyes fell on Anika. "Ishu, leave her for a minute, I need Anika to help me with one of my paintings. She'll be out in like, two minutes, Ishu," Om interrupted, grabbing Anika's left arm and dragging her towards his room.

"Didi won't go anywhere! I need her to help me with the instructions for my new gym set. Didi, I can't understand anything they write! Please help me," said Rudra, blocking the door to Om's room.

"Ani, I'm in desperate need of a girls' talk. You know, yaar, you give the best advice!" Priyanka asked her best friend.

"Oh my mata! Anika, I am just so stresseds, na! My Shivaay is getting marrieds and the decors is so much bads! Tu hi dekh le! How irresponsibles!" Pinky shouted.

"Forget all that, Anika! Tia's beautician just called, saying that she's got to leave town for the next two weeks. What are we supposed to do, now? The engagement party is in four days!" Jhanvi said worriedly.

"Engagement se yaad aaya! Rings ka kya hoga?" Priyanka asked worriedly.

"Bas!" Anika shouted at the top of her lungs, drawing the attention of the nearby servants and Dadi, who had just entered from the prayer room.

"I will help all of you. One by one. Okay? First thing's first, the engagement preparations. The bride's ring is left, Tia already gave me the groom's ring. Jhanvi Aunty, since it's difficult to find beautician at the last minute, I'll fulfill my responsibilities as the wedding planner and the beautician for Tia. We'll just check with her when she gets here. Pinky Aunty, you are absolutely right, the decorations look awful. Amit Bhai, kem cho? Neend aa rahi hai?" Anika yelled at the man atop the staircase, who was decorating the banister. "Leave it, I'll do it. Sita Kaki, please go check the orders for the ribbons coming tomorrow."

Then Anika turned back to the family. "Now, Rudra, of course I'll help you with your gym set, just before lunch, okay? Om, I'm guessing you need more inspo?" to which Om nodded. "How about tonight, we have another inspiration session with a cup of coffee, after I finish the rest of my work? Ishana and Prinku, we can have a girls' talk while helping Ishana choose her date outfit this afternoon. Sounds good? Kisi ko kuch aur chahiye?" Anika asked, looking around.

Pinky opened her mouth to speak after a moment of silence, but Anika beat her to it. "And Pinky Aunty, don't worry. I've personally spoken to the designer, and she'll be ready with outfits for every Oberoi by Saturday." 

Pinky just smiled and nodded. Dadi, who had just witnessed all of this, couldn't help but chuckle at the promptness and professionalism that Anika possessed. She could handle a multitude of problems effortlessly, ensuring that she had everyone's input and everyone's mutual agreement. She was the type of daughter that held the family together like duct tape, and Dadi knew she'd be a fantastic daughter-in-law to the family she wed into. 

If only that family had been ours, Dadi thought to herself as Anika proceeded to the foot of the stairs to scold Amit Bhaiya on his careless decoration. "Kya kar rahe hai aap, bhaisahab? Arey, my Chandni doesn't break as much as this pattern! Blue, white, blue, white. Yeh purple kahan se tapka?! Did you forget?" Anika asked. Amit looked confused. "Anika, who is Chandni?" he asked. 

"Ab aapko Chandni ki padi hai? Arey, aap yahan gappe ladane ke liye aaye hai ya kaam waam bhi karna hai?" Anika scolded. Shivaay stepped down from his room only to see Anika lecturing about the importance of decorating properly. 

"Bhai, guests will notice the decorations first, na? And if they don't like the decorations, party ki vibe hi pheeki pad jaati hai. Decorations are the life of the party, so please do it properly. And waise bhi, yeh Oberoi khandaan hai. Thodi toh shaan waan banti hai, na. Pata nahi, kab Hrithik Roshan aa jayega, ya Shahrukh Khan, ya Siddharth Malhotra, ya..." As Anika continued to list names of actors who were possible VIPs at the ShiTia engagement, Shivaay felt a certain prick in his chest. 

Why was Anika listing only male actors' names? There were good female actors who were friends with the Oberois, too. Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and even Kajol. But no, Miss Trivedi only listed Hrithik Roshan, SRK, and...Siddharth Malhotra? Shivaay's eyes widened as he realized that the famed Indian actor had been invited to the engagement party. Where Anika would be able to meet him. 

"And then, don't even get me started on—" 

"Anika, leaves him, na. Chal, aa mere saath. Mere paas kuch importants hai tujhe batane." 

"Ji, Pinky Aunty. Aayi," Anika called. "Bhaiya, do it properly, haan? Remember, blue, white, blue, white!" Anika said as she ran away behind Pinky. Amit just looked behind her meekly. "Who's Chandni?" he muttered. "Anika's chappal," Shivaay answered involuntarily. He looked up to meet the widened eyes of his servant. Did Shivaay Singh Oberoi pay attention to such tiny details? 

No, not often. But with Anika, it was...different. 

"Um, do your work," he muttered before pulling out his phone and calling his PA. "Mishra, I want you to cancel the engagement invites for Siddharth Malhotra," he said in full tadi. 

"Siddharth Malhotra? But sir, they must have already received it," said Mishra, thoroughly confused. Why was Shivaay Singh Oberoi altering his guest list for just one person? 

"Then tell him that we decided to cancel the engagement for that day. Do what you must, but I do not want to see Siddharth Malhotra at that party. Do you understand?" he asked rhetorically. Before Mishra could respond, he was already interrupted by the long beep, indicating that his boss had cut the call. 

He allowed himself to ponder once again. Why was Shivaay Singh Oberoi bothering with such tiny details? The answer to that question was once again, simply because it concerned Anika. And Shivaay was never the same "Singh Oberoi" when it came to Anika.