This is a long-ass update. Haven't proof read, point the mistakes please.

*

'Youngest Businessman of the year: Shivaay Singh Oberoi'

Annika read the article and she was proud of him. It had been fourteen years since she'd spoken to him but still, she was extremely proud of him. She might have not, but he had grown up to exactly what he'd told her he'd be and she was proud of him.

Sometimes whilst sitting in solitude, she'd replay their last conversation in her head over and over again, when he broke her heart. Well, now that she looked back, it was just that he hit puberty and went into that weird phase before her. She did not blame him anymore because everyone did go through the I-don't-talk-to-the-other-sex phase and that was exactly what had happened. Her Shivu would never purposely hurt her. And with the recent occurrences in her unfortunate life, she would gladly go back in time and get her heart broken by Shivaay, a thousand times over. She sombrely looked at her left hand where she'd worn her engagement ring. Shivaay would have never done that, to the least...

Annika shook her head as she shooed those thoughts away. She was going to meet Shivaay, in fact, the whole of the Oberoi clan when she went to Mumbai. She shouldn't have any of the 'what ifs' occupy her mind. But a part of her couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if she had kept her big fat ego aside and spoken to him; what would have happened if she didn't go off to boarding school in the UK; what would have happened if he was still her Shivu, after all the Trivedis and the Oberois had kept in touch all those years. Shakti and Pinky had come all the way to her engagement in London, three years ago too. She didn't know whether love would have happened but she knew she would have at least had her best friend when her life fell apart.

This was on Annika's mind as she got down her plane. She was going to stay with the Oberois till her house in Mumbai got ready. Here goes nothing...

*

Shivaay looked around his house. His crazy family seemed to have gone crazier ever since Amu aunty had called. They were elated and had completely gone bonkers amidst the preparations. Shivaay had to accept, he was a little excited too.

Okay.

He was very excited, but equally anxious.

Had it not been his stupid twelve year too-cool-to-talk-to-girls self, they would be still friends. And maybe... well, he decided not to go there.

He had offered to go pick Annika up but he got to know that she'd be going to the office first and she'd come herself by dinner.

It was almost dinner time and his palms were sweating.

What was he going to say to break the fourteen year old silence?

Was it going to be awkward?

And worst fear of all, what if she had completely forgotten about him?

Then he would probably have to go to a corner with his expectations and wallow there alone.

Ding-dong

Shivaay got up too soon and his cousin, Omkara, looked at him quizzically. Keep it cool, Shivaay. He slowly walked to the door slowly, behind everyone else. By the time he reached near the door, he saw his family gathered up around her, but with concerned looks on their face. He confusedly went there to only hear sobs.

"Annu... what happened, beta? Please stop crying." Pinky rubbed on Annika's back while she went on muttering how she felt stupid.

"Annika, please tell us. I'm getting worried. Should I call Harsh or Amala Bhabhi?" Shakti pulled out his phone and Annika immediately held his hand.

"I'm okay," She said while wiping her tears. "I'm really sorry. You'd think seeing your former fiancé after a year would be fine but flash news, it stings. Especially while he is showing off his new fiancé on your face." Annika smiled weakly.

"You met that jackass Daksh? Annika, you should have called us. I'm sure I would have trashed him," Shakti said with clenched fists and Annika gave him a tight hug.

"Well. He invited me to their engagement party. They used the design I chose for my wedding. He does not deserve any sort of attention, Shakti uncle. These are tears of self loathe. Pinky aunty told me he didn't seem nice, but I didn't listen to her; or mom, who hated Daksh's guts. Anyway, hello!" Annika proceeded to hug Dadi and Jhanvi. She muttered how sorry she was to worry them that way as she hugged.

"Aww... Baby Rudra is all grown up. You might probably not remember me, but I changed your diapers..."

"... Prinku, you are still very cute..."

"...Aah, Om! Look at you all handsome grown up. Who woulda thunk scowl-faced Oberoi would turn this fine..."

"...and." Annika stopped mid sentence. She was at loss of thoughts, words and probably her breath too. He cocked his left eyebrow in the way he always did and his lips had his iconic smile: slight twitch in both the corners. For someone who hadn't seen him for a long time, she remembered a lot about him. When he opened his mouth, she noticed how he didn't have a gap between his front teeth.

"Looks like you haven't stopped crying since the last time I saw you." He pressed his lips together but his eyes smiled to its fullest at her and she laughed. She came forward to give him a hug but damn his reflexes, he held out his hand. She looked at him taken aback before she held out her hand, but again, he had to come forward for the hug. Shivaay cringed internally, both at himself and the cliché.

"I told you it will be super awkward, O. Give me the money," Rudra giggled and Omkara smacked him. Rest of the Oberois laughed loudly while Shivaay and Annika stood there looking awkwardly at each other.

*

"Can't sleep?"

Annika turned back to the direction of the voice- his voice. He was standing a little behind her wearing a tight red T-shirt while holding a steaming hot mug. Shook her head and looked up again. It was around mid night when she wandered off and reached the porch. She stared into the sky and only God knew how long it had been.

"Want coffee?"

"Now?"

"It's decaf..." He handed her a mug and went back inside. A few minutes later, he came back with his coffee. Annika stood rooted. "I know it has been long, really long. But if you want to talk, I'm here."

Annika smiled at him, "I know... I'm just wondering what to wear to the party."

"You don't have to go, Annika. They don't deserve to be even in your vicinity."

Annika saw his eyes slowly filling up with rage. She had heard from her mom that sweet little Shivu had a temper now. She chuckled a little, "Your vein pops out on your forehead every time you get angry."

His hands immediately touched his forehead and he let out a small laugh. It was nice to see her not crying. Previously that evening, he felt like he was standing in the middle of a storm when he saw her cry. After all these years? Yes. Probably, always.

They fell into silence but it was awkwardly... comfortable.

Annika had not planned on going to the porch next day but she couldn't sleep and she did end up going. Shivaay was already there, with two mugs of coffee as if he knew. He smiled at her warmly as he held a mug out to her. She took it gratefully as she smiled back at him.

"I'm sorry..."

"Why?" Annika asked as she sipped in her coffee. She usually hated decaf but Shivaay managed to make it taste good.

"For these fourteen years. When I heard about your break up, I wanted to fly up to you and let you know I'm there for you. I wasn't sure if I could or should. I wasn't sure if you'd remember..."

"You're mad. As if I'd forget you. And no need apologize, Shivaay. It is what it is," Annika reached out and squeezed his hand. She wasn't in the mood to continue that conversation and she wished to change the topic. "This house maybe nice but I kinda miss your old house..."

"Ha-ha, I do too, sometimes. But that house wasn't big enough for all of us after Bade papa shifted from Pune to here," Shivaay said as he made his way to the swing. He knew Annika would follow him and she did.

"How's work going?" She asked and the conversation went on to every topic under the sun until the two of them realized they should sleep before the dawn broke out.

*

"Om, are you single?" Annika asked as she sat in the dining table and all the eyes were on her. Shivaay looked back and forth at the two of them and Omkara could make out the hidden betrayed expression on his face as he replied to Annika with a yes. "Oh great! I have the perfect girl for you. Meet Gauri Sharma, my best friend in the whole world!" She handed out her phone to Omkara and Shivaay looked at Annika, now evidently betrayed. He was supposed to be her best friend. The fact that he was an ass to her and they hadn't spoken for a long time shouldn't change that, right?

"Do you have to do this in front of everyone?" Omkara asked silently but his eyes never left her phone. Annika just grinned at him and proceeded to chit chat with the rest of the Oberois while Shivaay sat there, wondering if he'd ever get back the best friend title again.

*

After several rounds of emotional blackmails from Pinky, tantrums from Rudra, pleas from Shakti and 'But you could,' from Shivaay, Annika ended up staying at the Oberoi Mansion itself. She was there in Mumbai for a good four months until her project got wrapped up and no Oberoi was ready to let go of her, not after seeing the state she was in when she first stepped into their house.

She was now part of their daily routine.

The highlight was of course the mid night coffee and her endless talks with Shivaay. Although, they did not talk every single day.

Some days, they would sit in silence or work or read a book. Whatever they were doing and however busy they were, they never put a hiatus on their everyday ritual. Sometimes, others joined them too. But no matter what happened, they never stopped going to the porch at 11:00 pm.

One such time, when Om, Rudra and Priyanka had joined, Annika was pulling Shivaay's leg.

"Oh please, you always preferred dressing up as a girl. You don't need to be macho, Shivaay. Man up and accept it."

"Excuse me! You MADE me wear a saree. Don't cook up stories, Annika." Shivaay scowled and she rolled her eyes.

"Why the heck would I? I'm telling you Rudra, he loved doing it. And he pretended to be your mom. However, now that I think of it, there is a high chance he did it only because he did not want me to do it."

"Yes, because Rudy deserved the best mother. Remember what happened to your Baby Sparkles doll? Om, she would dump it down every time she saw something, be it a flower or a butterfly or even funny looking stone." Shivaay threw her a dirty glance and continued, "I had to make sure it didn't happen to Rudra, right? So I had to abide to her silly games."

"You were the one who wanted to play 'Mommy', but okay."

Priyanka and Rudra looked at the two of them amused while Om wondered, as he texted his friend Gauri, whether he had gotten back in time because literally nothing had changed. If anyone ever bothered to try and sort Shivaay and Annika's arguments, those two would gang up against them.

*

Annika had decided to go to Daksh's engagement party because she wanted to come in peace with herself. Shivaay insisted to accompany her and she couldn't deny, although, she was secretly grateful she had him. When they approached the betrothed couple, Ragini- Daksh's fiancée, gave Annika a sympathetic look.

"This must be hard on you, Annika. We're sorry." She batted her eyelids and Shivaay already hated her.

"Oh not at all, Ragini. I am actually here to thank you for alluring Daksh away from my life. Although, the cheating part was a little... let's stick with nasty. Congratulations, you two. This is Shivaay, by the way." Annika gave them a charming yet a saccharine smile. Daksh was surprised at the mention of Shivaay. He obviously knew him because Annika had spoken a lot about him, a lot. Daksh was even more surprised when Shivaay pulled him into a hug and whispered, "Thank you!"

*

Four months flew away in what felt like a week.

In the last days of her in Mumbai, the whole Oberoi household screamed sombre. They all loved Annika and were used to her presence everywhere. The mere thought of her not being there in their house by the end of the week hurt like someone had ripped their heart into pieces. And she had grown to love every Oberoi.

Every Oberoi.

She always knew that a part of her heart would always belong to him.

But, now, he owned it all.

Blame it on the silly, innocent declaration she had made few years ago, but she did not want to leave. With him, she was safe. With him, she felt loved. With him, she was taken care of. With him, she was trusted and she could trust.

She knew it in the sharp jealousy she had felt when Shivaay had spoken fondly about one of his ex-girlfriends. She was in love with him. She had always loved him. But, now, she was in love.

Because,

With him, she was finally home.

°'°'°'°'°

Next up: Epilogue

But honestly, while writing it, I felt this could be a whole book by itself.

But I have four already, so I guess have to make peace with the TS.

Although, I might occasionally post up a drabble based on this.

Hope you liked it!

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