Dearest Shivaay, || Shivika AU FF

𝔸𝕤 𝕀𝕥 𝔸𝕡𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕒𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕤

Alas, it was Saturday morning. The day of the ShiTia engagement. Anika, Pinky, and Jhanvi were bustling about with final preparations. Ishana and Om were arguing about color coordinating outfits. Rudy was snickering to himself as he read some internet memes off his phone, least bothered about the engagement. It wasn't as if this ship was going to sail, anyway. Priyanka kept prattling on about her outfit for the evening to anyone who would listen. Dadi returned from the temple with Prasad for her dear grandson's engagement ceremony.

It was 9am when Shivaay stepped foot in the great hall of the living room, where Anika was decorating the banister of the stairs, for she didn't trust Amit Bhai with the color pattern. As soon as she saw him, she flashed a light smile, which he returned with a worried frown. He approached the staircase and looked up at her. "When did you get here?"

"Me?" Anika asked as she busily twisted the white and blue streamers and hung them around the banister. "No, Bansi Aunty behind you."

Anika looked at Shivaay with a confused look. "Billuji, Bansi Kaki lives here," she said as if stating the sky was blue. "I know that! Of course, I'm asking about you. When did you get here?" he asked again. Anika's eyes widened. Billuji was asking about her arrival? "Anika!"

"Huh? Yeah, sorry. I got here...sometime around 7 am."

"Did you even sleep?" He questioned again.

"Billuji, aapki tabet toh theek hai na? Aapne davai toh li, nashta karne ke baad? Ya kya aap abhi tak nashta nahi kare, toh aap davai nahi le paye. Rukiye," she looked around to find a free servant. "Ah, Gagan Bhaiya! Billuji ko jaake nashta karwaye. Bechare ne abhi tak apni davai nahi li, tabet thodi naram garam lag rahi hai," she instructed. "Gagan, stop. Anika, shut up. I had breakfast and my medicines. Now answer my question. Did you sleep last night?" Shivaay asked, at the height of his patience. 

"No, I—"

"I knew it. What are you doing here? You should be at home—" 

"I was speaking, Billuji," Anika interrupted. "Perhaps you're forgetting, today is your engagement ceremony with Tia. Uski hi tayarian chal rahi hai," she gestured to the streamers in her hand. "Toh? Ghar mein koi aur nahi kar sakta? Tum aisi kyun ho? Someone else could do it, couldn't they? Oh, sorry, I forgot. You are Anika. You have to do everything by yourself—" 

"Yes, because that is what I'm being paid for!" Anika shouted exasperatedly. "Mere toh yeh samajh mein nahi aata ke aapko meri itni parwa kyun pad rahi hai achanak? Kal tak toh ek baar mud ke dekhe tak nahi, aur aaj bade pareshaan bane ghum rahe hai." 

"Aisa kuch nahi hai, okay?! Mujhe koi farak nahi padta." 

"Dikh raha hai mujhe," Anika said with a tossed glare. "Move aside, you're blocking the banister," she said impatiently. Shivaay's face fell for a moment, but he threw up his attitude once again and moved closer to the banister, practically sticking to it. Anika looked at him, demanding an explanation through her eyes. "Go home, Anika." 

"No," Anika said defiantly. 

"Why not?" 

"Why should I?" 

"Because you're tired." 

"Not true," Anika accused him. 

"Have you looked in a mirror all day, woman? Your eyes are baggy and you're sporting dark circles!" Shivaay exclaimed. "Haan, toh theek hai na! Kya ho jayega mujhe? Baggy eyes and dark circles won't be the death of me, Bill—" 

"Shut up!" Shivaay screamed. "Billu, what happened?" Dadi asked gently, appearing behind the two. "Dadi, look at her! She looks half-asleep. Anika isn't fit to work in this condition. It's unhealthy." 

Dadi's teasing grin made him reconsider his words. "I mean, if she works like this, nothing will look decent enough." He looked back to Dadi to analyze her expressions. She merely smiled. "Anika, puttar, Billu is right—" 

"But Dadi—" 

"Go and rest, sweetheart. Thodi der ke liye hi sahi?" Dadi asked sweetly. Without another option, Anika smiled reluctantly. "Billu, take Anika to the guest room," Dadi instructed on receiving positive response from Anika. 

"Dadi, main khud jaa sakti hoon. Aur waise bhi, Billuji ko apni sagai ki chinta karni chahiye. I'll be fine," Anika insisted. "Theek hai, puttar. Jaa, jaake araam kar." 

Shivaay smirked as Anika passed him a dangerous glare, which went unnoticed by Dadi. Or so they thought. The old woman did indeed notice, and she laughed to herself at the crazy pair of lovebirds, who weren't even half-aware of what they shared. 

From what she had just gathered, Shivaay cared about Anika. The woman paced nervously. 

Sure, the boy had masked it well, but come on. It was evident in his marble-like orbs that he was concerned. How had he noticed Anika's eyebags and dark circles if he wasn't at least a little observant towards her. Heck, even she hadn't noticed it until Shivaay pointed it out. 

Anika was proving to be a hindrance to Shivaay's wedding. He seemed attracted to her, distracted by her, and this could prove to be fatal. Oh, she had to tell someone or her mind would explode from fret. Aha, she stopped pacing as a thought struck her. Shakti Singh Oberoi would surely turn a keen ear to hearing this information about his only son. 

The woman practically skid out of the room before another thought stopped her. Would Shakti be any help? Could she confide in Tia's family? Tia's mother, perhaps? No, no, that would just paint the Oberois in a bad light. She couldn't afford that. 

Perhaps Jhanvi? No, Jhanvi would probably side with Shivaay. Tej was out of the question. He might vent out all of his rage on Shivaay. She couldn't let that happen. Hm, left was...

Om was passing by his younger brother when his eyes fell on the phone screen. "Rudra!" he shouted, smacking the young one on the back of his head. "Ow! That hurt, O," Rudra said, rubbing the back of his head. 

Om snatched the phone from him. "It was supposed to, you idiot. What happened to informing—" 

"I already informed Bhaiya about the plan. Over text," Rudra said, snatching his phone back. "Did you tell him what we're trying to do in detail? No mess-ups, Rudy?" Om asked. After all, who was he talking to? Rudra Singh Oberoi, who couldn't get his head out of anything beyond girls, stupid memes, and partying. 

"I can't guarantee that there won't be mess-ups. Whatever happens will happen. But, I did my part. I told Bhaiya the plan, I invited him to the engagement, and I also told him about Anika Didi. Now, conducting the plan properly is on him, is it not?" 

"He'll do it perfectly, I have no doubt about that. The man's an actor, things like this run through his veins. I am worried, however, about you," Om said, tapping his finger at Rudra's (supposedly empty) head. 

Ishana appeared beside her boyfriend with an eager expression on her face. "Rudy, is it done?" she asked excitedly. Rudy pouted as Om nodded in positive. Did everyone here doubt his skills? Were they forgetting that this was mostly his plan? 

"Om Bhaiya, Rudy, Ishu Di, are we all set?" Priyanka asked as she approached the group. The three gestured to her to be quieter and pulled her into a huddle. One thing was for certain: whatever these three were planning was going to make the party tonight all the more entertaining.

A/N: This was getting far too long, so I split it into two. I hope you guys are excited for the ShiTia engagement and all the craziness it's due to bring!