"Pinky aunty... Shivu says I am not allowed to go and see Rudra." Annika pouted. Shakti lifted Annika up and glared at Shivaay.

"You don't decide that, Shivaay."

Shivaay looked at his mom with pleading eyes and Pinky just shrugged. He went on mumbling, "No one loves me anymore..."

Little Annika ran to him and tugged his hand. She led him to his parents' room to play with his brother. At least, Annika still loved him, even if she was the one who stole everyone in the first place. They played with three month old Rudra till the nightfall. Pinky fed the two kids. It had become a daily ritual for Annika to eat and fall asleep there. As on cue, clock struck 9 and Harsh had come to take Annika home.

***

The kids had their mid terms at that time and Annika's exams had gotten over a few days before Shivaay's, as they went to different schools. When Shivaay came home that day, he looked very furious. Pinky was sure that the exams did not go well, because her little Shivaay went straight to study for the next day's paper. Her son was definitely studious, but it was rather unusual for him to not beg her to let him play first. She went ahead and made him what had become his favourite snacks recently, aloo pakora. He silently ate. She started getting worried.

"Shivu, take a break baccha. Go and give this dabba to Amu aunty," Pinky instructed and Shivaay groaned. That was definitely a first. She looked at him questioningly, to which, he glared and left. Something was definitely wrong.

When Annika called Shivaay when she saw him go to her house, "Get out of my way, Trivedi," he barked and left behind a very puzzled Annika. He rang her big, stupid house's doorbell. He turned back and glared at her. Girls were stupid and one should never, ever, ever trust a girl. It was no doubt that Amala was surprised to greet a grumpy Shivaay. She took him to the kitchen and made him sit on the island. She had made milkshake before, which she handed out to him and asked,

"Spill it out mister. I don't like my Shivaay roaming around like this. Do you want a comic? Did mummy scold you? What happened?"

"I hate your daughter. She is very bad." Shivaay gulped in his milkshake, with the frown not leaving his face.

"What did Annika do now?" As far as Amala knew, they did not have any fight. They were also playing together the previous day for an hour albeit the fact that Shivaay had his math exam.

"She replaced me with friends from her school. She had forgotten me. Look outside, Amu aunty, she's happily playing with them. She doesn't care anymore..." Shivaay looked down sad, with tears forming in his eyes. Amala had to accept that her heart melted. She took the kid in front of her in a tight hug.

"No, Shivu. Annika loves you very much. She asks everyday whether your exams are over. She'll play with you like she used to after you're free. Promise."

"But Amu aunty, she did not follow me home today like she usually does..."

"That is because I scolded her yesterday for disturbing you. You had math, right?"

Shivaay pressed his lips and pondered. Amu aunty was very smart. If she says something, it must be right. "So, I'm still her best friend?"

"Absolutely!"

"Can you help me study today? Rudy will wake up and start crying..."

Amala nodded and took him to Annika's study room. She ruffled his hair and they began learning what verbs were. When Annika came to her house in the night, she saw him sleeping on her study table. She tip toed and switched off the light. She wanted her best friend to sleep well after all.

***

It was Diwali and both Shivaay and Annika were very excited. Both their cousins were coming home to celebrate with everyone. Annika was particularly excited to meet Shivaay's new born cousin, Priyanka. After all, they were going to be the only girls in the group. Shivaay was getting impatient because Annika's cousin, Vikram, had promised him that he'd bring his new cricket bat with him and let him play with it. Being seven, his parents had refused to buy him bats bigger than him, for obvious reasons. But Shivaay wasn't the one to comply. He knew he was a big boy. And he was going to play with a big boy's cricket bat.

"Maybe, we can burst the small crackers. Flowerpot?" Annika frowned when Shivaay was looking at the gates. "HELLO. DO YOU HEAR ME?" She screamed and Shivaay jerked, closing his ears tightly.

"You are MAD." He yelled back. Before Annika could come up with a response, Shivaay ran towards the gate where the cars had come. Amala and Pinky had decided to make the delicacies together at the Oberoi's house. Hence, Annika's family came there directly while one of their house helps took care of their luggage. Seeing Shivaay run, Annika had expected to see his cousins Omkara and Prinku with his Badi ma and Bade papa. She was a little disappointed that it was her cousin, and both of them seemed excited to meet each other than anyone was with her. She left inside without greeting her aunt and uncle, who found it rather odd. When Prinku arrived, she was sleeping and Annika was disappointed. Rudra preferred playing with kitchen utensils than her Barbie. When Annika had asked her Vikki Bhaiya, Shivu and Om, they laughed and said cricket was cooler. She took her Barbie and went upstairs, to Shivaay's room and picked up his Superman. They'd keep her company that day. She went to the terrace and sat down in silence. She didn't have friends anymore...

"The dinner is ready kids... Where is Annika? Shivaay...?" Amala looked around to find Annika not with any of the kids.

"I don't know Amu aunty. I'll go look for her..." Shivaay ran and checked in every room. That was odd. He slowly walked to the terrace, surprised to see the lights on. He was able to see the shadow of Annika. She was talking to herself,

"You prefer Batman now. Why would you want your Barbie?" She dragged her Barbie to the Superman with sadness written all over my face.

"But... Superman is always going to need his Barbie."

She turned to the direction Shivaay's voice came from and she threw the Superman at him. Shivaay caught it and looked surprised. He had exactly three seconds to duck before a small stone came on his way. "Woah, woah, woah. Annu. Stop."

"Go back to your friends and play. I don't want to see your stupid face. Go away!"

"You're asking me to go to my friend and you're asking me to go away. Decide." Shivaay smiled and sat beside her. Looking at her confused face, "It's you, you idiot. You're my best friend. Best-est friend."

"But you laughed at me..."

"Because you wanted to play cricket with your Barbie. We'll make a deal, okay? We'll get Superman and Barbie married again, in return, you have to play cricket with us."

"But they say cricket is a boy's game! I'm not a boy."

"No, whoever said that is wrong. Cricket is everybody's game. I think you can throw balls better than me, Annu." Shivaay got up and held his hand out for Annika. She smiled widely and Shivaay felt relieved.

He did not know why, but seeing Annika sad or angry made him feel like he was standing in the middle of a heavy thunderstorm without an umbrella; he was bound to hurt himself and fall sick that way.

But, when she smiled, it felt like the times his mom would let him eat ice cream in the morning while watching TV; it felt happy as if he'd seen a rainbow.

***

"I'm not coming!" Annika ran over to Shivaay's house and Harshvardhan ran behind her. "Shakti uncle, ask Papa to not take me back to Delhi. Pleaseee!" Annika started sobbing and Shivaay's Dadi, Kalyani, immediately hugged to console her. Shivaay sat beside her with a forlorn face. His Harsh uncle's work in Mumbai was over and they had to go back to Delhi. Annika was in a much worse state than she was when he first met her.

"Annika, meri bacchi, we will all visit you during holidays, okay?" Pinky placed her hand on Annika's head, which only made her bawl.

"But I won't be able to see you or Rudy baby or Shivaay or Dadi anymore! Shakti uncle won't take me to the park anymore." Her sobbing soon turned into wailing. Shivaay, who was sitting quietly beside her, also had tears cascading down his eyes. He tried being strong, but he knew his little heart was going to miss her. Those were the best two years in his short life because Annika had made it the best.

"Pinky aunty, why don't you have to be with your Mumma and Papa?" Annika hiccupped while she asked Pinky with her welled up eyes.

"Because I married your Shakti uncle. After the wedding, the girl comes to stay with her husband." Pinky replied and gave Amala, who had come there a little after Harsh's arrival, a look. They both knew what Annika was going to say next.

"So, if I marry Shivu, I don't have to go to Delhi?" Annika asked hopefully, making the elders chuckle softly. Shivaay was confused. Why were they laughing? Annika was asking a valid question. He knew his mom and dad stayed at the same house. They watched TV together. Annika and Shivaay did do that most of the times. He might have to share his room with her like his dad did with his mom, but that is negotiable.

"Annu baby, you are still a kid. You have to become big to marry anyone," Amala said as she picked Annika up. Annika was still wide eyed. She wiggled out of her mom's arms and ran outside, leaving everyone puzzled. She returned after a few minutes, now with her Barbie in her hand and said with innocence brimming in every word of hers,

"Shivu, Barbie married your Superman. She has to stay with you. After I become a big girl, I will come and stay with you forever!"

***

Not proof-read. Please point out errors :D

Loads of love,

silver_dustXX