Thanks for all the inline comments
chauhankrishna mumbaichic M0000S Andetheres arshi-suchi user41717447 hijk2017 titas2828 riyaaaravi Shraddhatu narbhi_fan anrawsnarayan jiya070 DiwakarMisra suryaarjuna missingmypassion ManishaJain650 Aspiramdoc user02759713 Neenu_neenu Tachiedadi pavithra82 ib123456 Labiqaazmi I think I have included all of you this time hopefully 😁

I am glad you all made good use of the weapons 😌😌 I was overwhelmed 💃

Since all of you almost guessed what's upcoming, this chapter is dedicated to all of you 😉

But, do you really think Billuji will show any Tadi to Annika madam?? 🤔🤔

Let's read to find out 😁

Happy Reading ☺️

Let me know your views in the comment box below !!

**************************************

Annika walked into her room and sat on the bed with a thud. The words of Niraj uncle kept resonating in her ears. Tears came streaming down her cheek.

"What are you saying uncle?Nothing makes sense to me" she had told him.

"Annika Beta..Your papa was going to buy that piece of land already from me..But, since your wedding was planned all of a sudden, he did not have enough funds and my situation was such that I was in urgent need of money. If Shivaay Beta had not come there at the right time, not sure how we would have managed. It was with his help that we were able to complete everything in a day. I thought I should personally thank him, Beta.. that's why I came after things settled down.." he had explained. Every minute detail that he gave had made Annika very guilty. He had left soon after as he had a train to catch.

Annika had quickly walked into her room saying she had to change. She could not get the incident out of her mind.

"How much more stupid can you get Annika?!" she cursed herself. "You did not even take a moment to think or confirm what that deal was all about and formed your own stupid theory on it!! Forget about Shivaay, you thought your papa signed a deal in exchange for your wedding?!! And you did not even bother to have a clarity on it?! Shivaay kept asking you about what deal you were talking to him and you still did not bother to clarify things.. And after what you spoke in the afternoon, how are you even going to face him Annika?! Did you think for once how it would have hurt him, specially when there was no mistake of his in this?!" she cried uncontrollably.

"You always want to be the best son, best grandson, best brother and on that line it was best friend yesterday" she got reminded of her own words.

"How rude can you get Annika? What are you going to do now? How are you even going to correct this mistake? Remember Mumma always used to say, words once spoken can't be recalled.." she repented. " of course this wedding means nothing to you, Annika.. Probably it means nothing to him as well.. But, he has always ensured to never publicize it. He did not even say anything when you spoke so much..what are you going to do Annika?!" she thought to herself as her eyes were moist and her heart was heavy. Little did she know that Shivaay was ready to give a chance to the relationship. However, that was not important now, she first had to apologize to him.

"Annika.. sometimes a simple apology is all that is needed to correct a mistake, to heal a wound" She remembered what her mom had once told her. Few years back, her dad was stuck in a property dispute when he had planned to extend his shop and few things went out of control when unnecessary words were exchanged between him and the land owner. Luckily, the landlord's daughter was her mom's student and his wife had huge respect for her daughter's teacher, that is, Meera. Finally, the two women had to intervene to solve the problem between the men. A simple apology had solved many problems that day. Annika still clearly remembered the incident.

"But that was a different case" her mind said.

"But, an apology still solved the issue" her heart replied.

"Hurting someone to this extent and simply saying sorry?! Do you even think you are right?!" her mind intervened.

"How could you decide even before trying?!Shivaay might accept your apology too" her heart whispered.

Finally, she had made up her mind. She would atleast try to talk to him and ask for an apology before concluding something stupid, just like how she had been doing so far. She wiped away her tears and got up with a new born determination.

***************************************

She walked down to the hall to find Daadi and Pinky engrossed in some discussion. She smiled walking away to notice Jhanvi coming from the opposite side with a tray that contained two cups of tea. As she was about to cross Annika, her phone buzzed.

"Annika.. ek help karo na.. your Tej uncle and Shakti uncle wanted this.. They are at the garden.. Can you just give this to them?" Jhanvi asked extending the tray towards her.

"Of course, aunty" she smiled taking it from them and walking towards the garden area.

***************************************

Shakti and Tej seemed to be discussing something really important.

"Good that Shivaay doesn't know the inside story, Shakti.. I am not sure how he would have reacted had he known the entire truth" Tej sighed.

"Now, the problem is completely in control right, Bhai sahab" asked Shakti.

"Hmm of course now it is resolved..Imagine Mishra telling him the whole story before he broke his phone. He might have even come back cancelling the wedding" Tej said and Annika was yet again shocked.

"But BhaiSaab.. do you really think Mr.Chauhan is innocent?" Shakti asked.

"Of course Shakti.. I have done a proper background check.. His manager was the one who changed the documents.. You won't believe me he had changed the documents with seventy percent profits for them and thirty percent profits for us.. He was cheating behind his boss's back, and plotting against us along with the Malhotras. And you very well know how hard Shivaay had worked for this.. If not for him, the first two phases would not even have got completed by now.. Imagine how he would have felt when that credit was completely taken away from him" Tej explained and Annika was literally taken aback.

She slowly walked towards them, offered the tea with a smile and quickly got back to her room.

"Another misunderstanding?! Your crime rate is increasing Annika..and adding to your guilt..do something about it before it's too late" her heart signalled.

"Imagine someone taking away the credit from you for all the work you did.. You couldn't even take it when Shivaay had made fun of you a couple of times during Priyanka's wedding.. But, now?! What are you going to do this time? Whatever it is, do something, soon!"

****************************************

It was late night and Shivaay had not arrived. Annika was walking to and fro within the room waiting for a long time.

She even tried killing time by checking and rechecking her planning for the event. Everything seemed to be very much in place. She had got a couple of calls and managed to clear certain other things as well. But, Shivaay was yet to come.

She did have a long, tiring day - both physically and emotionally. She kept contemplating on her thoughts to come to a conclusion as to how to talk to him. At one point of time, she was too tired and unknowingly fell asleep on the couch itself.

****************************************

Shivaay returned at around eleven in the night to find Annika sleeping on the couch.

"Looks like she doesn't even want to share that bed" he sighed. He did not want to disturb her, and so he gently covered her with the duvet and left to change.

Her face glowed, yet it was pale.

"Probably she cried a lot thinking of her fate with me.. I am sorry Annika.. I am not sure if I hurt you sometime intentionally or unintentionally.. But, I think I should maintain some space now.. which is good for both of us.. I do not want to drain you or me emotionally, any further" he said and walked towards his bed, calling it a night.

***************************************

As Annika woke up the next morning, she was surprised to find herself on the couch. But, she facepalmed after she realised how she had fallen asleep when she had something so important to do.

"Why the hell do I always fall asleep at the most important times?" she cursed herself. Shivaay was nowhere to be found in the room.

"Probably he went for breakfast already.. let me check after a shower" she thought walking into the bathroom.

"Hello Mishra.. yes please schedule it for noon.. I will come in sometime.. Just starting in another five or ten minutes" she heard his voice as he entered into the room and she turned as a reflex.

When he looked at her, he could see a different kind of emotion in her eyes. Maybe a kind of uncertainty - like he saw on the day of Priyanka's Sangeet. He anyway chose to ignore it with a heavy heart and continued with his work.

She made up her mind with a lot of difficulty and walked towards him to talk, when they heard a knock on the door. Rudy stood at the entrance.

"Sorry Bhaiyaa. Did I disturb you guys?" he asked hesitantly.

"Not at all" Shivaay replied casually.

"Woh Bhaiyaa.. remember my friend Chubby.. He runs an NGO and he needed some financial help.. I have done what I could do from my part.. But, he wanted to talk to you as well.. Huh, if you could tell some convenient time, I would ask him to come and meet you Bhaiyaa.." Rudy explained.

"Of course Rudy..just do one thing.. today I am too busy.. ask him to meet me tomorrow.. I will go check and let you know an appropriate time" he said.

"Thanks Bhaiyaa.. by the way, Bhabhi.. come on let's go for breakfast" Rudy said looking at Annika.

"Huh I will come in some.." Before she could complete, Shivaay's phone buzzed again. She cursed her fate as she could anyway not talk to him anytime soon when he went busy on the call.

"Coming Rudy" she said and walked out of the room.

****************************************

After breakfast, Shivaay was all set to go to office.

"Shivaay..come on get us these items and then go.. Take Annika along" Pinky said extending a bag and a list towards him.

"Good idea..I will get some time with him..I can talk as well" Annika thought to herself.

"Mom please.. I am too busy for all this.." he said instantenously.

"Shivaay.. it wouldn't take long..you can.." before she could complete, he was cut off by her.

"Mom please.. I told you I am busy..there are too many backlogs at office.. I had to unnecessarily extend my leave by a week.. and, that is why this situation has arrived" Something pricked Annika, but she did not react. She did not have the right to react as well. He was in fact right in a way.

"What do you mean unnecessarily huh?" Pinky scowled.

"Mom please.. I really do not have time for all this.. I will try to settle down things by the end of this week.. And, then we can aaram se discuss everything, alright? I am leaving now" he replied bluntly and left.

"What's wrong with him? Annika, koi problem hai?" she asked doubtfully, when she found Annika thoughtful..

"Nothing Aunty.. don't stress yourself.. he has lot of work these days like he said.. huh..why not we both go instead, that is, if you are free?" she tried to ask as cheerfully as possible.

"Hmm.. defending your husband huh?! Also, good way to change the topic" Pinky teased and Annika tried to smile shaking her head. "Accha chalo.. let's go together today" she agreed.

**************************************

Annika loved spending time with Pinky as well.. Pinky kept telling her various stories about how she felt when she was married and came to Mumbai for the first time, about her fears, about her progression, how Jhanvi and Daadi had always stood by her. Annika was patiently listening to everything. She also told a lot about Shivaay's childhood and how naughty he used to be when Daadi or she used to take him to the market. Annika giggled at her comments. In spite of so many complaints, Annika could notice a sense of pride whenever Pinky spoke about Shivaay.

"Waise Annika.. hmmm.. I am thinking of making jalebis.. it is Shivaay's favourite" she suggested. "Yesterday itself he did not have that Kheer, he usually loves to have it.. I felt dejected when he came back so late you know" Pinky expressed sadly and Annika was engulfed with guilt again. They were in the super market.

Afterall he had come late because of her. She even understood, he was trying to avoid her. After all that she spoke, he just chose to avoid, instead of making it an issue. She had to definitely clear things as early as possible. Her trance was broken when Pinky asked her to fetch few items from the other rack.

***************************************

Annika's mind throughout the day was fully occupied with how she would go about talking to him, how she would initiate the talk and how he would react. She even thought she will send him a message or call him a couple of times. But, then considered against it as she thought it would be disrespectful to talk such an important matter over phone or a text message.

"It's ok.. just a couple of hours more, I will wait for him" she decided. She kept looking at the clock and waiting for him, just like the previous day but there was no sign of his arrival.

She suddenly woke up with a jerk.

"Uff. Not again Annika!! What the hell?!" she ranted to herself. She had once again fallen asleep waiting for him.

That was when she noticed some light coming from the pool area.

Looked like Shivaay was working from there, so that her sleep wouldn't be disturbed. She smiled faintly.

"Shall I go talk to him now?" she thought. Her sleep was anyway lost. Just that she needed to build some courage to talk to him. Looked like he was completely engrossed in his work..He did not even notice that she was up. His back was facing her. She decided to make up her mind before talking to him. That was when something caught her attention.

"It is two in the morning?? And he is still working? What the hell?" she thought. "Understand he is upset and all that.. Also, understand he is busy...But, what is this staying awake till so late? Let me go ask him" she decided walking towards the pool.

****************************************

As she stepped closer, she noticed that he was already fast asleep, in the most uncomfortable position possible. Files seemed to be scattered all over the place.. Looked like he was preparing some reports. She stepped furthermore when her leg tumbled upon something.

"What's this?" she bent down to pick up a small bottle. "Looks like some pills" she was startled. She could not make out what it was. She googled the name to find out more, when she found that they were sleeping pills. She was utterly shocked.

"Since when is he having these?" she thought to herself. "God, please don't make me more guilty"

The bottle anyway seemed to be almost full. She carried it inside and kept it inside her shelf. She did not want him to even set his eyes on it another time. She slowly came back and arranged the files carefully inside the room, on his table. She gently made him lie down there itself and covered him with a duvet. Since he was under the effect of pills, he was oblivious to whatever that was happening.

****************************************

As he woke up next morning stretching his arms, it was now his turn to be surprised. He was lying down and covered with a duvet. But, who could have possibly done it?? Just one name came to his mind - Annika.. He wished it was her, but, he knew that was completely impossible.

However, he also did not expect anyone else to have stepped into the pool area to do that. Atleast, he did not want that to have happened. Anyway, he decided to shrug off his thoughts for the time being and walked inside.

"My files are also inside? Where are they?Did I get up in the middle of my sleep and go inside by any chance? That is possible..Probably that was when I took a duvet too.." he convinced himself.

He was all ready and started looking for the files, but could not find them.

"Are you looking for these?" came her voice and he was baffled.

"Yeah.. thanks" he replied bluntly. He started looking for one particular file among them, as he had left his work unfinished at that point.

Annika kept observing his actions and understood he was searching for something. She tried hard to recollect what he was checking the previous night. She remembered seeing one blue file in his arms last. Assuming that is what he wanted, she walked a little closer and he was taken aback.

"Yeh waala?" she asked trying to pull out one of the files from the bottom of his arms.

He was completely amazed as that was exactly what he was looking for.

"Does she really notice me and what I do that much?" he wondered, but did not want to build any hope after the incident that happened that day.

"Woh actually.. I found them scattered. So, I just thought of arranging them" she stuttered.

"Thanks" he replied in a monosyllable again. He was indeed impressed, but did not want to express his joy.

He remembered how Om had once told him - "Relationships are like glass dolls Shivaay.. We should neither hold them tightly nor too loose. Either way, they break.. Sometimes, a vacuum, a space is what is required to set right few things"

He had shrugged it off then thinking it to be one of Om's usual boring advices, but never knew, it would come to use now!

Before she could speak another word, he stepped out of the room quickly. She was very disappointed, but convinced herself thinking she was just getting back what she had given him.

"Try harder Annika...Your sorry should not just end up being a word.. it should be the right emotion.." she quickly wiped her eyes that were turning moist and walked down.

***************************************

At the breakfast table, she received a call from Mishra's home and they requested her to come to their house for some discussion. Unfortunately, Om and Rudy had work that day and had already left early.

"Billu..drop Annika at their place.. it is on the way right?" Daadi asked him.

He looked at her for a moment and felt she would obviously not be comfortable with him. He decided that before she could think of some reason to give, it would be better if he himself volunteered.

"Sorry Daadi.. I have a meeting in sometime... I am already late.." he replied and Annika felt very dejected. She was almost confident that he wouldn't avoid her this time.

"Annika knows the route.. she will manage.." he added.

"Haa ..haa Daadi.. I know the route.. I will handle..it.. myself" she said with a faint smile.

"Billu... what great time is it going to take you in just dropping her?" Daadi cross-questioned him. She found his behaviour weird.

"Daadi.. he said na.. he is already late.. I will manage Daadi.. koi nahi" she replied.

Shivaay did feel a little guilty, as his meetings were already postponed to late afternoon and he was left with hardly any work today. It was just that he wanted to avoid her for sometime, though his heart was against it. But then, he chose to stand by his decision, atleast until he himself was convinced.

"Alright then.. bye all..." he said in general and walked away quickly.

"Annika.. sab kuch thik hai na Puttar?" Daadi asked doubtfully on seeing Shivaay's activities and Pinky joined in too.

"Of course Daadi.. what makes you ask all this?" she tried hard to chuckle, suppressing her emotion. "Accha.. it is getting late for me as well.. I will leave, so that I can come back soon and spend some time with all of you" she smiled side hugging Daadi and Pinky.

****************************************

Annika had no idea about the route to Mishra's house. She did have the address in her memory, but very faintly. Even the other day, OmRu had taken her there and so she had not bothered to notice the route. But, today, to her bad luck, they were not there to help her too.

She made up her mind and hired an auto. She was kind of confident that she would manage to navigate once she reached the main locality. Even otherwise, she decided that she could call them up and reach the destination.

About twenty to twenty five minutes later, she had reached the main locality. She decided to check the exact location, with the address she remembered, using the map.

She took out her mobile and her eyes widened in shock.

"Phail gaya raitha...it is dead" she mumbled. Her phone was dead and she had forgotten to charge it, as she was preoccupied with other thoughts.

She quickly gathered some courage and looked around. Though the area did seem familiar, she had no idea if they were following the right route. She had just been there once and obviously, the details were not clearly registered on her mind.

"Bhaiyaa.. this left.. and then that right" she said randomly and the driver kept taking multiple diversions.

"Madam.. are you sure this is the way?" he asked doubtfully.

"Haa haa Bhaiyaa.. I came this way the other day.. you go na.. I will tell you" she convinced him.

But, even after multiple twists and turns, Annika still kept giving random instructions which clearly irked the driver. After a few more minutes, he was fed up and stopped the vehicle in one corner.

"You first get down Madam.. I can't take you anymore" he scowled.

"Bhaiyaa.. I am sure it is somewhere around." She tried convincing him.

"Just get down madam.. get down now.." he screamed and she got down immediately, and he followed her behind.

"Either you should call someone and ask for the address.. or atleast should have made sure of the place before coming...I would have completed like two or three trips by now if not for you.. Early in the morning, I got a useless customer..nonsense" he sounded very irritated. Annika did not know how to react, when the fault was absolutely on her side.

"How dare you?" came the most familiar voice and her face immediately brightened.

****************************************

Ok, this is an unedited chapter.. Hope there are no major errors 🙈

So, how many of you are kind of satisfied with Shivaay's behaviour now??
Did you feel he was rude at any point of time?? Let me know :)

What do you think about Annika madam's behaviour now? What do you think is her mind set at this point of time??

Now, most of you would have guessed who came to help her.. But, what do you think will happen next? Will Annika reach her destination ?? If yes, how?? If no, why?? 😉

Make Guesses having the author in mind 😛

Happy Sunday and a Happy upcoming week 😊

Will try updating next sometime in mid of this week!!

Hit vote if you liked it 🙂