Anika sighed as she felt the softness of the matress underneath her. It was feather-like and she wondered if she was in heaven already. Chuckling to herself, in her sleep, she snuggled into the warmth of her new-found pillow wrapping her arms tightly around it.

She felt something tickling her neck and arched her neck a little backwards. Her sleepy form frowned. How the hell did such a soft pillow have anything roughly ticklish. Her hands reached out, trying to figure out what it exactly was.

For a few moments she kept smoothly roaming her hands until she realised that something was really, really wrong. It had a nose and eyes and a fucking sharp jawline. Slowly opening her eyes, her heart beating quicker by the minute, she opened her eyes to the most gorgeous yet terrifying sight.

She was in bed with a man. A gorgeous, hot man. Her eyes travelled a little downwards to see a few of his shirt buttons open, his well-built sexy body visible.

She nervously looked down at herself. She sighed in relief. She was still dressed.

As more of her sleep-fog cleared up, she came to understand that she and he were a badly tangled mess of limbs and bodies.

Her eyes darted back to his face, only to realise that this was a complete stranger. Did she just pick any random guy from the bar last night?

She gasped when he suddenly wrapped an arm tightly around her waist, snuggling into her. She felt his breathing on her shoulders. In, out. In, out. She shivered.

If things weren't bad enough, she felt his lips move against her skin. She was sure she was dead already.

She heard him mumble something and pulled away, looking at him. He would wake up anytime soon. Every instinct in her body told her to run.

One problem. She couldn't. He was heavy.

"Ru, stop moving. I am sleepy."

Anika frowned. She just slept with a man who had a girlfriend he lovingly called Ru? Okay, they probably didn't do anything but just sleep. This wasn't good either.

Anika lightly poked his shoulder. He only ignored her and slept on. Anika couldn't help but stare. His hair messy and covering his forehead, his stubble that suited his so well, sharp jawline, perfect ninety degree angled nose. He was legit perfection.

Then, as if suddenly remembering that she was supposed to wake him up, Anika softly whispered, "Excuse me?"

Her voice didn't quite reach her own ears. She sighed. Taking a depe breath, she called out,

"Good Morning."

His lips curved up into a smile and Anika swore he looked a hundred times sexier and adorable at the same time. Then as he opened his eyes, Anika gasped. His eyes. Damn. Those cerulean ones were so beautiful.

It probably took him a few seconds to register her as his eyes widened, he tried moving away but failed, considering the jumbled mess that they were. So instead, he looked her right in the eye and asked, "Who are you?"

---

Shivaay was enjoying this new warmth. Damn, when did sleeping with his brothers become so comofortable? Whenever he would, he would end up with Rudra: The Rock carelessly crumbling Shivaay under him. This was new. This was soft and inviting and damn. Heavenly.

When he heard a sweet voice mumbling a good morning to him, Shivaay smiled. This was definitely a good morning.

He slowly opened his eyes only to be confused. As he finally registered that he was in bed with a girl, he tried moving away to no avail. Finally gulping, he asked her, "Who are you?"

While she stared at him blankly, Shivaay realised something. When he had woken up earlier in the morning, he had already seen her. Sleeping cutely with her arms around him. He had ignored it and slept off again. Shoot.

Then, as his sleep finally started to wear off, he remembered everything from last night. "The drunk girl?"

She was still clueless, making Shivaay chuckle. "Well, let's just say, we had an adventurous night."

He looked on with amusement as her cheeks turned bright red. "Ooh, I didn't know you had such wild thoughts."

Anika immediately pushed him away, making herself stand on the ground. Straightening her clothes, she looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Why did you bring me here?"

Before Shivaay could answer though, sharp pain shot through her head making her groan and stumble back on the bed. Shivaay got up and crawled towards her with concern, taking her in a hug.

"I never had such a terrible hangover before."

"Have you ever even been drunk before? Have you seen yourself drunk? You are a total nut-case."

"How re-assuring!" Anika mumbled, giving herself a head massage as he continued rubbing his hand on her back.

"I'll get something for you. Aspirin, maybe?"

"I have had alcohol before, I never lost control." Anika groaned.

"Maybe it was older?" Shivaay suggested.

"Probably. What's the time?"

Shivaay looked around and caught hold of his phone.

"Nine thirty."

"Shoot. I am late."

"Congrats, it's a Saturday."

"Duh, my job is for seven days a week, especially the weekends."

"Oh."

"Can you please bother telling me where we are and how did I end up here?"

"Like I told you, you are a nut-case when you are drunk."

"What did I do?"

"You were going to commit suicide."

"Oh.. WHAT?"

"Yep."

"Dude, I'll go around annoying people to deaths, probably shoot a few myself but suicide is definitely not my thing."

"Didn't seem like that to me." Shivaay shrugged.

Anika rolled her eyes. As she finally looked around, she sighed. Every inch of his room screamed rich.

Expensive wallpapers, a huge television screen, curtains around them from above the bed. Even the mattress was so soft with silken sheets.

"What are you, royalty?"

"Somewhat."

Anika ignored it, taking it as a joke. "Okay, please get a cab for me I really need to get back home."

"The home which is not a home but bricks and idiots?" Shivaay chuckled.

Anika tried to not notice the fact how amazing he looked, laughing with amusement. "What all did my talli self manage to tell you?"

"You told me I looked hot."

"Didn't."

"You did."

Anika shrugged. "I didn't know my drunken self was a liar."

Shivaay chuckled. As another pain wave hit her head, she held her head.

"Can I please get coffee?"

---

"So what is your fairytale, princess?" Shivaay asked as he watched Anika sipping the coffee.

"Minus the fairys, it's sure a tale." Anika mumbled.

She seemed to think for a minute, "I do have one evil step-mother whose evilness reminds me of the Duke of Weaseltown."

"Weselton." Shivaay provided and grinned. Anika grinned back.

"Her evilness is all about being self-absorbed and expensive clothes, make-up, jewellery, yada yada." Anika frowned. "Nothing exciting enough."

Shivaay looked on as she started smiling to herself. "On second thoughts, I might be the evil one. I once got her hair dyed green. She put Shrek to shame." Anika chuckled, enjoying the coffee.

Shivaay laughed. "So, are you so social? Being casual with someone who you've ended up with, God knows how?"

"I am trying to make sure things don't get awkward. Please co-operate." Anika gave him a thin-lipped smile to which he only laughed.

"On second thoughts," Anika curiously asked, "What all did I tell you last night? I mean, minus boring things like how my life is shit and annoying. You know things a girl is not supposed to tell a stranger guy?"

Shivaay thought for a moment. "Like how you haven't kissed anybody yet?"

Anika gasped. "I told you that?"

"No you didn't, wild guess on my part." Shivaay smirked

Anika gulped. "Like I told you, I didn't know my drunk self is a liar."

"Suit yourself." Shivaay got up and started moving around the kitchen while Anika stared at him. Had she mentioned he was hot? Shaking off her thoughts, she decided to focus on what all happened last night. Gauri's promotion party, drinking vodka, ending up on some bridge. Wow.

She remembered something with this guy holding her hand and pulling her off the edge. So she was going to die, afterall. Before she could try remembering any more details, he snapped his fingers in front of her.

"Still waiting for your story."

Anika smiled lightly. "Well, I also have two dumbass step-sisters. I mean, at most times I think they pretend to be dumb because how can someone be so dumb."

Anika looked on as he buttered bread for her, toasting it. "Thanks." Grabbing it, she ate hurriedly.

"Enough of me. Let's talk about you. Google says I am at the Oberois housing quarters so I am going to assume you are well off and working in the Oberoi industries."

Shivaay looked amused, waiting of her to continue. "How good must life be? Your house looks royal, like I mentioned already."

"It is. At times it does get difficult."

"Your boss must be some angry-young man of sorts."

"What makes you think so?"

"Please, every CEO is self-absorbed."

"Reading a lot of romance books, aren't we?"

Anika chuckled. "I called a cab for myself. It will be here any minute. Thanks for the hospitality. And tell your girlfriend I am sorry for crashing on her boyfriend's bed."

"My girlfriend?"

"Yep, the one you lovingly call Ru."

Shivaay looked at her with wide eyes. She grabbed her purse and phone, moving to the room to get her sandals.

"I won't lie though, your bed is so soft, I don't remembere the last time I slept so peacefully."

Realising that it didn't come out the correct way, Anika felt heat rise up her neck.

"So you'll just leave, not telling me your name or asking for mine?"

"I like mysteries." Anika winked, opening the door.

Shivaay got up and followed her.

"Guy with good manners." Anika chuckled.

"Can't help it. Plus, it's not so usual, having a girl over at my place."

Anika blushed a little, afterall, she was one of the very few who got to spend a nighr with this guy. When the elevator arrived, Anika smiled brightly. "Had fun staying over. I hope we don't meet again because I probably won't have so much of guts to even look at you in the eye." Anika mumbled.

"I'll give you an advice," Shivaay began as she got into the elevator. "Try romancing a real CEO someday. Or maybe even interact. Not all of us are arrogant."

At Anika's blank look he smirked. "The name is Shivaay Singh Oberoi."

Jeez, I am so excited to see what you guys have to say about this story.

If you are going to say, 'How is it Cinderella?' I have two answers.
One, it's contemporary Cinderella for a reason.
Two, wait and watch. ;)

BlackManiacx