The conversation flowed easily between them, filled with laughter and shared dreams. As the sun began its descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Shivay excused himself for a moment. Annika, content to soak in the breathtaking view, hummed along to the gentle melody playing from a hidden speaker.
Moments later, Shivay reappeared, his face alight with a mischievous grin. He knelt before her, a velvet box clutched in his hand.
"Annika," he began, his voice taking on a tender tone, "there's something else I wanted to give you."
Annika's heart skipped a beat as he opened the box, revealing a delicate pearl necklace. The moonlight shimmered on the pearls, their soft sheen mirroring the luminescence in her eyes.
"These reminded me of you," Shivay continued, his gaze holding hers. "Pure, elegant, and timeless."
Annika gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh, Shivay! It's beautiful! But you shouldn't have."
He chuckled, his gaze filled with warmth. "Of course, I should have. You deserve all the beautiful things in the world, and this is just a small token of my love."
He gently placed the necklace around her neck, the cool pearls sending a shiver of delight down her spine. As he fastened the clasp, their eyes met, a silent understanding passing between them.
A playful glint entered his eyes. "Though, I must admit, I was a little surprised you forgot about our anniversary."
Annika feigned shock. "Forgot? How could I forget the most important day of the year?"
Shivay chuckled, his disbelief evident. "Then how do you explain the lack of a gift?"
Annika's smile widened. Without giving him response, Annika stood up, extending her hand towards him. "Come on, Mr. Oberoi. Let's get back. I am tired"
The return trip to their apartment was a lighthearted affair. Shivay, unable to resist a playful jab, couldn't help but tease Annika about her memory lapse regarding their anniversary. However, as they reached their doorstep, Annika reached out and surprised him by gently placing a blindfold over his eyes. "What are you up to now?" he chuckled, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Her voice, playful yet firm, filled the corridor "Just a little surprise, Mr. Oberoi. Now, stay still and trust me."
He stumbled slightly as she guided him through the living room, the familiar scent of their home grounding him. Shivay's breath hitched as Annika gently guided him forward. The playful blindfold slipped away, revealing a sight that brought a wave of emotions crashing over him.
The room, once familiar, was now transformed. Fairy lights twinkled like a celestial map overhead, casting a warm, romantic glow. A table in the center, laden with their favorite takeout and a bottle of chilled champagne, beckoned with the promise of celebration. But it was Annika, kneeling on a plush rug in the center of it all, that truly stole the show.
She held a small velvet box, its surface catching the soft light. Anticipation crackled in the air as she opened it, revealing two rings nestled within. Their simple elegance mirrored the honesty in Annika's eyes.
"Shivay," she began, her voice filled with a quiet strength, "we may have started on an unsteady path, a contract marriage binding us together. Back then, the future felt uncertain, devoid of any promise. But as time unfolded, something shifted within me. I didn't realize it at first, but slowly, subtly, I began to fall for you."
A soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Your kindness, your unwavering support, your simple gestures – they all chipped away at the walls I'd built around myself. And before I knew it, I was falling, completely and irrevocably, for the man you are. Shivay," she continued, her voice trembling slightly with emotion, "your past doesn't matter to me. You are who you choose to be, and the man I see before me is someone I admire, someone I respect, someone I love deeply."
Taking a deep breath, she met his gaze head-on, her eyes sparkling with a love that mirrored the fairy lights above. "Will you become mine, Shivay? Not just today, but for all our tomorrows?"
The weight of her words settled on Shivay like a cherished blanket. The room, with its fairy lights and takeout feast, faded into the background. All he saw was Annika, her eyes filled with a vulnerability that mirrored his own. His heart overflowed with a love he hadn't known he possessed. He never thought he'd find someone who wouldn't judge him for his past, someone who saw the man he was striving to be.
A choked laugh escaped his lips, a mixture of relief and overwhelming joy. "Annika," he said, his voice thick with emotion, "you have no idea how much this means to me. These past months, with you by my side, have been the happiest of my life. You've challenged me, supported me, and most importantly, you've loved me, completely and unconditionally."
He knelt before her, his gaze meeting hers. "Yes, Annika," he declared, his voice firm with conviction. "A thousand times yes! I will become yours today, tomorrow, and for every single day to come. You are the sunshine that chased away the darkness, the laughter that fills my days, and the love that completes my heart."
A radiant smile bloomed on Annika's face, tears welling up in her eyes. She slipped the ring onto his finger, the cool metal a tangible symbol of their bond. He mirrored her gesture, his touch tender as he placed the ring on her trembling hand.
They sealed their promise with a kiss, a kiss filled with a lifetime of unspoken emotions. It was a kiss of gratitude, of acceptance, and of a love that had blossomed from the unlikeliest of beginnings.
Pulling back, their foreheads resting against each other, they laughed, a sound filled with pure joy. The forgotten anniversary, the shock of the day, all melted away in the warmth of their shared love.
"So," Shivay said, his voice husky with emotion, "Mrs. Oberoi what kind of takeout did you order?"
Annika's playful nature returned, a twinkle returning to her eyes. "Your favorite," she teased, "with a generous side of extra spicy chutney, just to keep you on your toes."
Shivay chuckled, the sound echoing through the apartment. He helped her to her feet, and together they walked towards the table, ready to celebrate their love, their future, and the delicious takeout that awaited them. The forgotten anniversary had become a day they would never forget, a day that marked the beginning of their forever, a day they proposed to each other, not out of obligation, but out of a love that burned brighter than any fairy light.
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A Bargain Made with Frosting
FanfictionAnnika, a bright and independent orphan, finds joy in the simple things and dreams of opening her own bakery. Love is a luxury she can't afford. Shivay Singh Oberoi, a hardened businessman with a painful past, has built his success on cold logic and...
