Together Forever

Chapter 20

Anika's POV

Next day I was at the bustling market with Masi, weaving through the colorful stalls as we tackled some last-minute shopping for the wedding.

The big day was tomorrow, and excitement buzzed within me. After all the planning, the anticipation, it was finally happening.

"Masi, come on! What else do you need to buy?" I asked, trying to keep up as she examined a stall with careful consideration.

"Wait, Anika," she replied, engrossed in a tray of delicate trinkets.

"Masi, the wedding was postponed to tomorrow, and you still have shopping left?"

She shook her head, smiling at my impatience. "You don't know how many small things are still left to get. Weddings are about details, and I need everything to be perfect," she explained, completely unfazed by my protest.

I sighed, trying not to let the boredom show, when my phone suddenly buzzed in my hand.

Glancing at the screen, my heart leaped, and a smile instantly crept onto my face as Uday's name flashed across the screen.

"Masi, I'll be back in a minute. It's a call from... college," I said, biting my lip to keep from grinning too widely.

She nodded, barely glancing up as I slipped away from the crowd to a quieter corner, quickly answering the call.

"Hello, Mr. Malhotra," I greeted, unable to suppress the smile in my voice.

"Hi, Mrs. Malhotra," he replied, his tone equally playful.

"Not yet," I reminded him, rolling my eyes at his cheeky greeting.

"But soon," he countered with a chuckle that made warmth flood my cheeks.

I shook my head, a fond smile tugging at my lips. "So what are you up to, Mr. Malhotra?"

"Just thinking about you," he replied smoothly, his voice softening. "What are you doing?"

"Shopping with Masi," I answered, glancing over my shoulder to make sure she was still occupied. "She's making me run around the market, looking at every tiny detail. I'm pretty sure she'd drag the whole market to the wedding if she could."

He laughed, the sound warm and comforting. "Sounds exhausting. Want me to come rescue you?"

"Very funny," I replied, feeling the corners of my mouth lift.

"I was thinking," he continue, "Pranav and Nitya's wedding is happening tomorrow anyway, so why don't we just take our vows, too?"

"Oh, really?" I shot back, stifling a grin. "Not so fast! I want a proper proposal if we're getting married. I'm not going to marry you that easily."

"But in my mind, I've already made you my wife," he replied smoothly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Oh, so that's what's always going on in your mind, huh?"

"Not just that," he said. "There's a lot more in my mind that's already happened. Want to know?"

"Shut up, Uday!" I said, feeling my cheeks warm. "You're so shameless."

"Hey, I didn't say anything," he replied, laughing. "Seems like you're the one with the dirty mind, Anika."

"Me?!" I gasped, pretending to sound scandalized, but before I could retort, Masi's voice called out to me.

"Okay, Masi's calling," I whispered into the phone, feeling a bit disappointed to cut the call short.

"All right then," he replied, his tone warm. "See you tomorrow."