Dearest Shivaay, || Shivika AU FF

𝕂𝕟𝕠𝕔𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕊𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕖 𝕀𝕟

"Billu, I want to talk to you," Kalyani said right as Shivaay was preparing to leave the dining table. "Dadi, I have a—"

"No excuses, Shivaay."

Shivaay? Oh, no. This was serious. 

Shivaay stepped into his grandmother's room nervously. "Dadi?" he asked.

"Baith," she commanded, patting the bed beside her. Shivaay slowly trudged over to her. He felt like a schoolboy who had just been called in by the principal for committing some grave sin, like cheating on an exam.

"Yes, Dadi—"

"Billu, ye koi mazak nahi hai. Shaadi ho rahi hai teri. Tu mujhe bataa. Meri parvarish mein kya galti thi, haan? Ya phir Pinky ki parvarish dosh ke layak hai?"

Shivaay shook his head violently.

"Marriage is a responsibility. It's a vow of forever, a promise of loyalty, a leap of faith, a bond of love. And here is my grandson, making such a grave vow for the sake of a business and false reputation?

"I didn't question your decisions at first, because I trusted my Billu to do what was right for all of us. I trusted him to do right by the Oberois, but in that, I meant you as well.

"You are an Oberoi, too. You can get married because that is what the family business expects of you. I, too, was raised in a business family. I married a businessman, Shivaay," Kalyani looked over at the portrait of her late husband and the love of her life. 

"The only difference between what I did and what you are doing," she continued, "is that I actually loved your grandfather. I didn't marry him for money or reputation. The fact that he was of a reputed family did contribute to our easy marriage, but I'd have loved him the same regardless of that."

"Do you love Tia?" Dadi turned to him.

"Dadi, you know I don't believe in trivial things like—"

"I take it, no, then?" she smiled lightly. Shivaay shook his head. "Tia and I are perfect for each other, Dadi. Same kinds of families, similar interests, and similar taste," Shivaay explained. "If I have to spend the rest of my life with someone, I'd like it to be someone who understands my thought process and opinion." 

"Understanding doesn't require them sharing the same thought process or opinion, now does it? Ek mayaan mein doh talwaren nahi samati. And you said if you have to spend your life with someone? That's the thing, Billu. Marriage isn't because you have to spend your life with someone. It is because you want to spend the rest of your life with someone. You want to share all your moments, all your success, and all your failure.

"In your name, before Oberoi comes Shivaay. That's what I want for you to implement into your life as well. Before the Oberois, think about Shivaay. Think about what Shivaay would want. Stay happy." Kalyani's face darkened towards the end of her statement. 

"I somewhere feel that it is my fault that you've become this man, Billu. I taught you to put family, this family, above everything else, and Tej made you feel that you had to join the business in order to do that." 

"Dadi, I love our family, and I will sacrifice all I own for them, including my life. That's nothing wrong, is it?" 

Kalyani shook her head helplessly. "It is something wrong when you forget that you exist, too, Shivaay. You go around giving everyone a slice of happiness, and when the pie comes around to you, the plate is always empty," the older woman cried. 

"I see your smiles, and my hunger is satiated," Shivaay said, taking his weeping grandmother into his embrace. 

"Di, I'm so so so so so so SO happy today!" Gauri shouted shrilly. 

"Gauri, my ears!" Anika and Astika whined together. Gauri and Sahil frowned. "Buzzkills," Gauri muttered under her breath, only audible to her little cousin, who grinned and shared a high-five with his less-favorite sister. 

"Anika Didi, today is your birthday! At least let us go for an outing today!" Sahil tried his master stroke–the puppy eyes. Astika giggled at her son's antics, as him and her younger niece tried convincing Anika for a special day to spend together. 

She couldn't blame the two, though. Ever since Anika had begun planning for the Oberoi wedding, she hadn't a moment to breathe, let alone spend time with her family. 

Looking at her brother's big, round eyes filled with childish innocence and that cute little speck of hope, Anika didn't have it in her to say no. No one did! She groaned. "Fine, let me get ready." Gauri let slip a loud shriek in excitement, and Anika and Astika simultaneously turned to glare at her. Gulping, she rubbed her neck, gesturing Anika to keep moving in the direction of their room. 

"Di, look! Golgappe!" Gauri pointed. Anika and Gauri rushed over. "Bhaiya, doh plates deejiye. Mera extra khatta aur Di ke liye extra teekha!" Gauri ordered for both of them. Anika smiled giddily. When their plates were in front of them, Gauri licked her lips before looking at Anika mischeivously. "Di," she sang. "Golgappa eating competition?" she challenged. 

"Hm, what are we playing for?" Anika teased. 

"When I win, you have to give me 800 rupees," Gauri said. 

"800 rupees?! What are you going to spend that on?" her older sister asked incredulously. 

"There's this beautiful red dress on sale for 1800 rupees. I already have the other 1000 saved up. I just need an extra 800," Gauri explained. Anika rolled her eyes. Astika, who had just arrived with her son, swatted Gauri's shoulder. "Haw! Apni badi behen se koi aise paise maangta hai, kya? Woh bhi, janam din par?!" Astika scolded. 

"Leave it, Mausi. That's only if she wins. What do I get if I win?" 

Gauri smirked. "In the off-chance that you win against me, I will take over kitchen duties for the next three weeks! More time for you to busy about your little life and wallow in the grief of losing to me." 

Anika laughed. "You're on, little sis." 

Soon, Anika and Gauri were stuffing the round flavor bombs in their mouths one after the other. They were smiling at each other through the mouthfuls of golgappa as Astika snapped a picture with Gauri's phone. 

"And seventeen! Anika Didi wins!" Sahil called out after four minutes of this sisterly chaos. Gauri chugged the bottle of water and Anika raised her arms in victory. "Kya keh rahi thi tu?" Anika nodded along. "You'll take over kitchen duty for three weeks so I can wallow in the grief of losing, right?" 

"Now I guess I'll spend the time basking in the sweet glow of victory!" she rubbed it in. Gauri frowned. "No fair, Di! Sahil just likes you better! Mausi should have been the judge!"

"Chup kar, nautanki," Anika lightly hit Gauri's cheek while pulling out 800 rupees from her purse. "Le, aish kar," she smiled. 

Gauri's eyes widened in delight, before looking at Anika with confusion on her face. "But you won!" 

"Take it. In celebration of my victory against Gauri Vardhan Trivedi!"

Gauri's lips broke into a wide smile as she darted away to her favorite store.