Anika was fretting over everything. The Mehra's event was just a day ahead. The packing was almost done. Her father had picked up her mother a while ago and she had left. Pinky and Shakti were to board the night flight to Amsterdam. It would roughly be a twenty hour flight. Anika did not know how Pinky would survive. She was checking whether she had packed everything. They had decided to drop them after dinner. Dinner was done and Anika was just going through last checklist. She was wondering his she'd manage the entire mansion. If this had been when they were at the other home it would have been still better. Bit here- this was a huge place. Anika was glad that there maid- Radha - whom she addressed as Aunty was back from her village. She hadn't known that Radha used to work for the Oberois at the mansion. She had no clue Radha was such an old maid. But nevertheless she was happy. With Radha Aunty she'd be able to manage the mansion without Pinky. 

"Bye Papa Mumma, Enjoy!!" She smiled seeing their excitement. She hugged Pinky.

"You both enjoy too. I wouldn't mind coming back to a pregnant you!" Pinky whispered in her ears.

"Mumma!" She whispered back giving her rotten egg look. Pinky laughed. Kissing her she whispered a "take care" giving her hand a warm squeeze.

"Shivaay take care of Anika and both of you don't forget to put alarms at night!" Pinky chuckled. Shivaay and Anika shared a sheepish smile. As soon as Pinky and Shakti had walked away and entered the airport, Shivaay's hand curled around her shoulders sensing her become emotional.

"Anika, they are going on a vacation, they will be back soon. Besides, you can sleep as much as you want. Mom won't be there to pass comments or wake you up like she did today."

Anika frowned. "I will miss them." She laid her head on his shoulder. Her life had become so small. It only revolved around these few people she called family. She wasn't liking the idea of going back to an empty kind of home. Last time when he had left it was an empty room and that made her go nuts. This time it would be an empty home. 

At least when he wasn't around there were Pinky and Shakti. She had grown more close to them when he wasn't there. She would miss them so much. Those crazy arguments over breakfast, the debates of what to make for lunch and dinner. Those banters, as to how much sweets Shakti ate and how many rounds Pinky skipped walking. Those after dinner times- when sometimes she gave them both a champi and at other times Pinky giving her a champi.  She'd miss playing cards game with them at nights, watching old movies on Sundays. She would miss them so much. 

Shivaay walked her to one of the benches by bushes. She did not take her head off his shoulder. She'd do it only when she was upset. He steadily rubbed her shoulder. "Anika, it's a part of life. Besides, they have only gone for a tour. Like we went for our honeymoon. " he ended it in a whisper. Anika grinned. He was comparing Shakti and Pinky's tour to a honeymoon?

"I see a sexy smile!" He whispered in a playful voice.  She shook her head, placing her hand on his chest and looking at the people biding farewell to each other. Saying goodbye was so hard. Her lips straightened again. They sat in silence for sometime. They were waiting for Shakti's call. Once the two would make it to the boarding hall, they'd leave. Shivaay slowly slipped his fingers between hers entangling their hands. "Anika."

"Hmm.." 

"I am here. Always with you."

She smiled a little. She was trying hard not to be mad at him for what happened in the past and just enjoy the moment with him. But it was hard. At times such as this, she wanted to snap back at him and give a sarcastic reply. Yes, she was hurt. And every time she was reminded of it she felt the pain. But showing him her scars was giving him pain. She loved him a lot, to give him pain. A part of her felt guilty also. At times she felt she was so wrong, being unforgiving for something he had done for everyone's betterment. 

She pulled her self away from him when she heard his phone ring. Soon after, they drove back home. Both silent during the drive while soft romantic numbers played on the radio. 

They were greeted by Radha, she hadn't slept. Anika asked her if she'd locked up the place and packed the kitchen. She nodded. Wishing them a goodnight, Radha made way to her quarters. 

Anika lay on the bed. It had been a long day and she knew the next would be longer. Memories of last night haunted her. She hated when he went away from her. Unconsciously, she shifted closer to him. He shifted closer in response and pulled the duvet over them. She rested her head on his chest and whispered a good night. He smiled, kissing her forehead, "Good night!" She immediately fell asleep in his arms, while he remained awake thinking about her. He was now more than ever scared to bring out what had gone so wrong in their relationship. He knew sooner or later he had to talk it out. So, faster the better. He now waited for her to get free from the Mehra's wedding. 

The next morning she came out of the washroom and hurried downstairs. He wasn't in the room when she woke up. When she reached the kitchen she saw him cooking while chatting with Radha Aunty. She couldn't stop that stupid smile from appearing on her face. While the older woman was cooking lunch, he was frying eggs. With that apron around he looked yummy enough- who'd even look at what he was cooking. 

As though almost knowingly he looked up. She looked down immediately. Did he know she was almost close to checking him out? She tucked her hair behind her ears and looked up once again. Great! he was staring at her. That only meant he knew? 

She greeted the older woman and them him. "Madam your breakfast is almost ready. Here taste and tell me how it is!" He took a small piece on a fork and extended it to her mouth. Slightly embarrassed that there was also another person in the room, she hesitantly ate it.

"Nice."

"That's it?" He asked disappointed. She shrugged, taking an apple to cut.

"See Aunty, that's all I get for so much hard work." He said pouting while looking at her from the corner of his eyes.

The lady laughed. "Shivaay baba, your hard work will burn if you don't put down the flame." 

"Oh !". He quickly concentrated on the scrambled eggs in the pan. Anika grinned at his stupidity. 

As soon as the elder lady walked out, Shivaay was near Anika. He turned her and caged her between the platform and himself. She looked pretty, dressed in a simple sleeveless greenish blue kurti. Her hair as usual the natural waves. 

" just nice huh?"  He whispered huskily, breathing in her fresh vanilla scent. She stared at him. Her stomach was reduced to a puddle with bubbles everywhere. He was so close. His eyes that looked at him with so much passion that they tugged at her heart.

"No reward?" He asked playfully leaning towards her.

"Shivaay, Aunty will see. Move." 

"Reward?" He asked again, further leaning. Anika was now tempted. She wanted to anyway give what he was asking for, ever since she had laid eyes on him when she walked into the kitchen. She pressed her lips against his cheek. "It's yummy, but not as good as I make it!"

"Hmmmm..but that's it for reward?" He bent his head towards her shoulder. 

She quickly raised the knife in her hand moving it towards him. "Shivaay. Away. Now. Otherwise..." She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Otherwise?" He cocked up an eyebrow playfully. Then smirking he rubbed his cheek against the knife. Anika gaped at him, her eyes twinkling with affection. She wondered how he managed to make her fall for him every time. He was sexy, cute, emotional, sweet and stupidest man breathing on the planet. She felt she could never stop loving him. No matter what he did. No matter how many time he hurt her. No matter how much she feared loosing him. She couldn't stop loving him. Never.

"Now I will have to wash the knife!" She stated blandly. He gave her a baffled look. He was being as sexy as he could and she was worried about the bacteria his skin had left on the knife! 

"Ahh..mood spoiler!" He complained moving away to plate his scrambled eggs. He put it one huge plate. She stared at him. Wasn't he going to eat? Wasn't there too much on the plate for a single human to eat?

"Come !" He said. She quickly picked up the plate in her hand before he almost pulled her out. 

He made her sit and kept the plate between them. She smiled. There were these little things about him that made her smile without reason. At times she felt so stupid for smiling at nothings. Even his smallest gestures at times, left the widest upward curve on her face. Maybe that's why they called love a madness. 

She happily ate as he fed her. He smiled alternatively taking bytes, speaking about how he'd tasted different kinds of scrambled eggs in the US.

Only towards the last bite did she take the fork and feed him. He looked at her. He had been waiting. He quickly got up excusing himself for a wash and walked away. Tears made way to his eyes. He did not want her to see them. She behaved so differently now, as though she was holding herself back. Not allowing herself to be her around him. It did hurt. He was trying to keep things light between them. He knew she had professional responsibilities, he respected that. Once the Mehra's event was over he'd talk it out. Just a day more, until then he'd just be lighthearted around her and not drag her back to the emotional mess, they had left midway the other night.

"Anika come!" He said as she was instructing elderly caretaker.

"Where?" She asked confused.

"I will drop you!"

"You don't have to Shivaay, it's pointless. You have to go in the opposite direction. You'll be late. "

"I want to." He said softly. She nodded and sighed after he had turned. Why was he making it hard? She did not want to depend on him for small things again. 

The drive was spent in silence. He kept inviting conversation but she simply cut it short with nods and occasional Yes and No. Soon, he understood she wanted silence. He simply let the radio play music. 

He halted the car before the building where he once worked. He was proud to see her run it more efficiently than him. He was never the management person. He rather preferred drawing contracts and overlooking the functioning as administrator.

She turned to look at him, "Thank you." 

"You don't have to. " he smiled at her. 

She stared at him. The tension was unavoidable to her.  Her eyes rested on his lips. God! As if the emotional tension between them wasn't enough. She simply kissed his cheek and pulled back. 

He loved the way she looked at him. That look of a wife who wanted her husband. His hold on the steering wheel got tighter when she bent forward towards him. His wife had no clue what an unintentional turn on she was. But, he was left disappointed when she kissed his cheek. No. Not again. Before she could turn to leave he grabbed her arm pulling her back and smashed his lips on her, kissing her with need. She was quick in responding. Her hands finding the way to his face. His fingers grazing at her neck. 

They broke apart breathless. She turned crimson discerning the desperation she was kissing him with. In a minute of silence, their gazes dissolved into each others. Slowly this time around, they locked their lips. Kissing each other softly. Their tongues performing their own kind of waltz. In the fullness of time, they pulled apart. He sat back on his seat while she blushed breathing heavily. "Bye!"

"Have a nice day. Have lunch on time!" He grinned running his tongue over his lips as though to not miss out on the remains.

She nodded. "You too!" her soft voice left him with hope.

This book crossed Still Mine, in terms of votes!💜 Never expected this one to be so loved. 

-Anami!💜

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