Matters of Heart

The Finale

1 hour before the Coronation Pooja, Annika's bedroom.

"Ragini you have to pick something, I can't stand here all day. The guests have already started coming in, I need to get ready. Shivaay will be even more cross if I am late. That man runs by the clock." Annika said rolling her eyes. She was feeling better, the soup made by Shivaay and the medicines prescribed by the doctor helped a lot but her sister was not being any help at all. She had rejected every single outfit she had chosen for the Pooja.

"I know Di! This is your and Jija sa's Coronation Pooja, you can't just wear anything and walk out. The Royal community is a judgmental lot. Maa sa needed to give us time to shop and you fell sick today otherwise we could have gone shopping in the morning," Ragini explained. "And most important I have seen Jija sa in his wine-colored silk Sherwani and golden safa. He looks absolutely majestic. You have to match him!"

"Shivaay is already ready!" Annika exclaimed.

"Relax Bhabhi, "Rudra said from the door as he walked in with Bhavya, Om, and Gauri, "Bhaiya is too busy ordering the staff around and checking over details of Pooja to come here and rush you" then he turned to Ragini, "And my Bhabhi always looks the best."

"Shivaay sent this for you, "Omkara gave Annika two boxes, "You might be the princess but you are an Oberoi Bahu first."

"Hold on a second! "Annika said taking the boxes from Om, something Ragini had said has been nagging her, "Shivaay tied his own safa?" She asked Omkara who chuckled as they both knew Shivaay was terrible at tying his own safa.

"Arre Bhabhi don't worry," Gauri reassured, "I tied Bade Bhaiya's safa."

"Bade Bhaiya ki Chamchi, "Omkara mumbled and then asked Annika to open the box.

Annika opened the first box to a beautiful Sabyasachi Gold Kanjeevaram Tissue Sari and the other smaller box held a ruby and diamond necklace with a note that said,

"My love for you is eternal like these rubies; for your golden heart that is mine and mine only. For my Queen, from her husband, with all the love in the universe. - Shivaay."

The Royal Hall, 30 Minutes Before the Veneration

Keep busy, keep occupied, and keep the temper in check. This was an important day for Annika and he was going to make it perfect for her. The world today will see a united front of Mr. and Mrs. Shivaay Singh Oberoi. His will put his anger on a back burner until every single guest has left with a smile on their face and a message that Shivaay and Annika are an unbreakable unit. He will deal with rest as he sees fit after everyone is out the door. He had just finished instructing Khanna to update the Royal Security on acceptable places Annika is allowed to eat at. Today will not be repeated again. He needed to give the man a raise for finding out where Annika is but he was also irked that he went to Bade Papa and not him with that information. Khanna was an asset which he was not willing to lose. He had heard the queen making an offer to him earlier this evening and he had politely declined by saying that his loyalties lie with Shivaay sir only.

The chapter of the past will be closed tonight and tomorrow morning will be a new beginning for everyone in Oberoi Family. But before it was tonight that needed to be dealt with. He was going to charm the socks of Indian Royalty. He had already set his immediate plan for the future. Mishra has already been instructed to hire a personal assistant and a publicist for Annika because his wife cannot be unleashed on Indian Media unfiltered. To borrow his wife's phrase, "Raita Phail Jaiga, if Annika went candid. He had already tightened the security here and at the Oberoi mansion due to Annika's uncle. Khanna had already reached out to his friends in Indian secret services putting him on their radar. Shivaay had always thought that saying the name Oberoi last name gets everything done fast but when you say the word Royalty in India things get done instantly and he was not going to complain about that.