A yawn escaped her mouth when Ayaan went on speaking about the story of how he once caught a lizard with its tail. It was hot outside, the sun was up in the sky, making Annika sweat. She fanned herself with her hand to cool herself but it was of no use, the sweat beads kept trailing down her body. Gazing at Ayaan who was still so indulged in telling the story did not notice how bored Gauri, Rudra and Annika were, except from Sammer who was looking at him with great interest. 

Rudra nudged Annika by his elbow, signaling through his eyes to see at Sammer and when she did, Annika tried to control her smile, there was something but what exactly? "That is so interesting, I can't believe you would do something like this, I hate lizards" Sammer exclaimed with excitement laced in his voice but when he met with the everyone's eyes on him, he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. 

"How is that brave Ayaan Bhaiya? No one is scared of lizards, agar himmat hai toh go and ask a random girl's number and then we will think if you are really brave or not" Rudra suggested and Ayaan looked at him with disbelief, slowly turning his head towards Sammer who had a frown on his face. Ayaan gulped down before giving a small nod. Rudra smirked, he knew what he was doing and if things went the right way, his plan would be successful. 

Annika shook her head at that, she probably knew what was going on inside the small head of his. Gauri raised her eyebrows, asking Annika what was going on and she mouthed her with a 'later'. 

After several more minutes of boring everyone, Ayaan, Sammer and Rudra were out of Annika's room, leaving behind her and Gauri. "So, what's going on between you and Omkara?" Annika questioned as she watched Gauri lay flat on her back on the bed. At that question, Gauri's cheeks reddened. 

"We may have kissed" Annika's eyes widened, it was not a huge surprise to her, knowing that there was cooking something between them but still, she was taken aback by her answer. She squealed loudly, taking her into a quick hug as Gauri sat with her legs folded. 

"Alright, chill, girl. I don't think that kiss meant anything to him, he did not even bother to look at me after that" Gauri gave her one sad smile while Annika frowned, that was not possible, Omkara was anything but a jerk. 

"Maybe he thinks you did not like kissing him" Annika stated, this was the only thing that was going on inside her head, the only possibility, because as far as she knew Omkara, he would never behave this way with anyone, not with Gauri, at least. She had seen the way Omkara looked at Gauri, she knew how much he liked her, it was the same way how he used to look at her. 

Sighing, she sat down next to her. "Listen, just talk to him, alright? I believe that he would have loved kissing you. Don't create misunderstandings, okay?" Annika kept her head on Gauri's shoulder, playing with the ring in her finger. Gauri nodded at her, she was hoping she would talk to him soon. 

"How are you holding up? Do you want me to beat that jerk up? I saw the way he was looking at you yesterday while singing" Annika giggled at her words, she certainly did not want to see him beaten up, he had already had enough from his brothers. He felt so different, he wasn't the cheerful person she knew but now he wore a small smile every time, he was calm all the time. Back four years ago, he would have never stayed so silent, he was as chirpy as she was.  

"It's okay, I can handle it" Annika spoke, standing up and looking out of her window, the waves in the ocean were calm. Annika felt herself drowning into the thoughts of what took place last night. How he had made everyone spellbound by his voice and Annika did not miss the way girls looked at his way. 

Even if she didn't want to think about him smiling and talking to a girl last night, she did and poundred over the thought if he was interested in that girl. 

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Annika laid down next to Rhea in her bath robe, supposedly she was getting herself a tan but it was rather getting burnt under the sun. It was so hot outside that Annika was almost about to faint but Rhea sat there, with cucumber on both of her eyes. She was fast asleep as Annika heard her heavy breaths. They were sitting near the pool, on the beach chairs. 

There were many people out here, some getting tanned while some were in the swimming pool. Annika got up without making any noise, silently walking towards the pool. She sat down, dipping her feet into the water and moving her feet to and fro into the water. 

When Annika looked around herself, no one noticed her, it was a great thing, she wanted to stay like this but after yesterday night, she wasn't sure anymore if she was going to be unnoticed by anyone. But she saw a girl approaching her with her eyes fixed on her and a smile on her face. Annika sucked her breath in.  

"Hello, I am Maya, actually yesterday night, a guy was singing a song and it seemed like he knew you. Can you give me his number?" Annika looked at her with raised eyebrows, she blinked her eyes several times at the question of her's. Her pleading face made her realise how desperate she was to get his number and she did not blame her, it was Shivaay and his charm, the same charm he used on her four years ago.  

"Actually, I don't have his number. I don't know him" Annika wouldn't be lying when saying the last sentence, because she was no more aware of who he was now. Annika found Maya's face dropping and at that Annika only gave her a sad smile. 

"Well, take some advice. I bet he will try to talk to you because the way he was staring at you, I am pretty sure he likes you" Annika choked on her saliva, it was hilarious to hear that he liked her, still. That was not possible, Annika was sure, not after all the stunts he pulled. Annika rather gave her a small nod and Maya returned the gesture with a huge smile. If only she knew what really went down between the two. 

Annika watched her retrieving figure, would Shivaay have wanted to go for girls like her? Was that his new type? She shook her head, she did not care who he was with, no, she did not. Annika gazed back at Rhea who was still sleeping without a care in the world. Sighing, she slightly dipped her hand into the water, playing with the water with her hand. 

But hearing giggles from several girls and their heads turned into only one direction, she watched at the way they were looking at. And there he was, once again. At this point, Annika was quite convinced that he was following her. When she stared at him, his eyes were already fixed on her, it sent shivers down her spine. The way his deep blue eyes seemed to be staring at her, she was sure she was going to burn under his intense gaze. 

Annika avoided his gaze, if anything, she wanted to stay away from him, because of all attention she was getting right now. So, she decided to get up, unaware how slippery the floor was, and when she had taken her legs out of the water, trying to stand on her legs, she rather lost her balance and slipped into the water, splashing some water out in the process. Annika could not believe that when she had thought not to grab anyone's attention, she now had all the eyes on her. 

With her body immersed in water, she rubbed the chlorine water off her eyes before they started to burn. Her hair was wet and slick, the bathrobe she was wearing was soaking wet. Annika groaned, she had to fall into the fall again, didn't she? With a series of curses releasing from her mouth, she got out of the pool. "Need any help?" It was an unknown voice speaking from next to her. Annika turned around to find a shirtless guy, holding a smirk on his face. 

Annika shook her head, she certainly did not want him to help her. "This is the first time someone is standing wet in front of me but not because of me" Annika heard him say and her eyes widened at that. Was this guy hitting on her? 

"Excuse me, but there are like fifty other people who are wet right now" Annika frowned as she said. Hearing this, the person in front of her started laughing, the water droplets dripping down his entire body. "Well, aren't you something else?" Annika flickered her eyes from him to the person standing some distance away from where she was, Shivaay standing there, with a towel in his hands. But he gave her one sad smile before turning and walking away. Annika's heart fell, she did not understand him, at all. 

"Myself Rohan" He extended his hand and Annika glared at him but Rohan chuckled, taking his hand back. "You know people stare at me with love, passion, lust but you, you are glaring at me, a sight to see" Annika rolled her eyes, walking away from him while she was sure he was just trailing behind her. 

"Tell me your name, at least" Rohan shouted and Annika was sure everyone heard him, her eyes widened. She shook her head and went ahead, out of the pool area. And still, Rhea was sleeping like a log, unaware of the events that took place. 

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Q/A : Who is your favourite character so far?