Hey guys... thank you all for understanding last night and yes, I'll keep all your advices, loves and hugs close with me. You guys made my day with all your lovely comments. So thank you! And this one's for you guys ;).

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Shivaay was shocked beyond words when Anika has imposed such a punishment on him. But since she hurt his ego on the process, there was no way he's backing off. He accepted the deal with full on tadi.

Shivaay was at the place allocated for such traditional cooking. He saw a few large firewoods there and thinks he got lucky today. He can use that itself for his cooking and proceeded to lit them up.

He took the matchsticks and camphor and began the process of lighting it up. He lights up the match and camphor and places it on top of the firewood. He expect it to burn right away but it didn't.

'No problem! I'll do it again. The first try might not be successful but the second and third may!', he exclaimed excitedly and went on trying again and again and again.

'Why isn't this catching fire???', he thinks out loud. He was pretty fed up trying hard to make it lit. Just then, he heard a little giggle from the corner.

'What's so funny Mallika???',he literally shouted out frustrated and turned to find Gauri instead of Mallika.

'I'm sorry Jiju, I didn't meant to disturb you! I just wanted to see how you're doing. Trust me', saying this Gauri was about to leave.

'Gauri wait. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted out like that. But I was pretty much annoyed. You see here, this firewood is just not catching fire. Let alone catching fire, ot doesn't even gets lit. I seriously don't know what else to do!', Shivaay complained to her.

'How will it lit up if you set fire to such a large piece of wood, huh? This piece here, you can break it into at least six more parts you know?', Gauri told him.

'Oh! But in movies, normally they just burn firewoods like this', Shivaay voiced out.

'But Jiju, that's in movies. This is reality. Look there... there's an axe. Take it and cut this into tiny pieces. Then start a fire with twigs and dried leaves first. After that only you should put these firewood. If possible pour a little bit of kerosene. Just a little to ease the process of catching fire', she explained to him.

'Wow! You're talking like you're very well experienced in this!', Shivaay exclaimed.

'I was the head of girls scout in school back then', she said proudly.

Shivaay applauded for her and says, 'wow! It's indeed a very huge thing'.

'And wow jiju! You're praising someone!!! Don't you used to feel michmichi while doing that?', she asked him.

'Nothing like that! If your work is good and praiseworthy, definitely I'll... actually not just me... but anyone will praise right?', he explained and went ahead to get the axe and started chopping the large firewood.

'But I heard differently from someone!', Gauri spits out her thought spontaneously.

'I know who's that someone! Anika right? (Gauri grinned and nodded childishly) see... I knew it. Do you know Gauri, she has the ability of understanding things the exact opposite way we mean it. I mean people say that its difficult to understand a girl right? But Anika turns out to be the most difficult. I gave her such a huge surprise last night and see where I am now. Chopping firewood after this I have to prepare breakfast too. Then even then her list wouldn't stop, she has made a long list of task... you see she'll get me killed by all these things...', he went on cursing and bickering about Anika while chopping the firewood.

Gauri was just plainly smiling at the irony of the situation.

'Two months ago, I saw Anika cursing him while doing the works he loaded on her and now look at the irony!!! Seriously, pyaar tune kya kiya??? (What have you done love?)', she thought to herself as she listened to his cribbing.

Just then, Shivaay chopped it the wrong way causing the axe in his hand to get stuck on the firewood itself. Gauri went in and helped him, just like his knight in shinning armour. With her help, they managed to take the axe and within minutes, the firewood was chopped into smaller pieces.

'Wah Gauri! You're such a great multitasker. Exactly the way Om had told "Dabangg Gauri!!"', both had a little laughter. After that, they started the fire together and Shivaay begin to cook. Then, the breakfast was served to all of them. Anika was quite shocked when he managed to complete the punishment she had given to him.

'Now you eat it first and then you praise me!', he instructed.

Anika wanted to argue but she was too hungry to do that and hence she dug into the food first.

'Mmmm... this is too good!!! I mean this is just awesome!!!', Mallika praised.

'Shivaay! My man!!! If only you were a woman, I would marry you!!!', Advaay said out gaining awkward states from everyone. 'I'm very much straight! It's just that the food is fantastic!', he cleared unwanted speculations.

'As always Shivaay! Epic!!!', Om told in between his munches.

'Jiju!!! I've never had such a delicious breakfast before!!! Awesome!!!', Gauri also praised him.

Shivaay smiled satisfactorily and looked at Anika. She was eating while fidgeting with the fork. She was relishing each and every taste of the food by closing her eyes. Shivaay smiled at her childishness and whispered into her ears.

'Isn't this lovely? (She nodded as a reply) Do you want more? (She nodded harder) Praise me then! (She immediately opened her eyes and turned to find him really close to her face. She got a little shiver run through her spine. She blushed and lowered her head.

'Its nice! Thank you!!!', she said, nearly whispering.

'Okay, so where's my reward???', he demands.

'What gift do you want???', she asked him.

'Anything you think is suitable!!!', he said out flirtatiously while slightly brushing his index finger on his lips. She pretends to not get it initially.

'I don't get it! (She pretends to think for a while and her face brightens up) But anything I think is suitable right???', she asked making him think that she finally got it.

'Your reward is that you'll I getting no more punishments!', she said out grinning which frustrates him a little.

'That's fine! But I was expecting something else!', he got back to the previous track.

'What is it that you're expecting???', she asked bluntly.

'I know you know what I am expecting!', this statement of his made her blush.

'In front of them? Openly like this???', she reprimanded him.

'They're busy in the food! You proceed! They wouldn't even know!', he urged her.

She went closer to plant a kiss on his cheeks when they heard someone clearing their throat. She pulled away and Shivaay got further from her as well. Only then did they realize that all of them were actually watching their romantic moment.

'I can get it that you guys are new couple but please do it privately! Not openly like this!!!', Advaay teased them.

'Yeah! Someone's getting jealous!', Om teased him back making all of them to burst out laughing except for Advaay. He was trying to prove that he is really straight. Then, their conversation changed to many random topics while relishing the delicious breakfast that Shivaay has prepared. It was as if they're one big happy family. Teasing, laughing and blushing... all went on along with the breakfast. A morning which was light, full of memories, love and friendship. One of the perfect ones.

PRECAP : Couples race and the vacation continues.

-To be continued-

P.S. Guys, in a way I think it's good that yesterday's chapter got deleted. I like this one better than the one I wrote yesterday and yes... I have a something upcoming in the next chapter... something I haven't done in this book... which is writting from a character's POV. So, whose mind do you want to invade? ANIKA OR SHIVAAY? You know where to let me know. Till then, signing off. Happy Reading!