Thanks for all your inline comments
narbhi_fan suryaarjuna  Neenu_neenu Tachiedadi chauhankrishna sanaliaqat95 Titas28 jiya070 ManishaJain650 user78290620 ayatkhan97 pari527379 Aspiramdoc DiwakarMisra Archana1989 hijk2017 sufanazan user635991450274  pavithra82 anrawsnarayan jiya070 arshi-suchi   ManishaJain650 user78290620 ayatkhan97 pari527379 DiwakarMisra Archana1989 hijk2017 sufanazan user635991450274 Priya0706 pavithra82 anrawsnarayan jiya070 arshi-suchi Galaxy267 amiamuami   Andetheres Swarangimegha1802 and all others if I missed any..

Dedicated to Tachiedadi Andetheres and pavithra82 for your partial guesses 😁
Special dedication to narbhi_fan and mumbaichic as I miss their comments these days 😒

Happy Reading and a have a Happy Monday tomorrow 😬

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"Shivaay.. it is just two or three boxes..we can arrange them by ourselves in the loft" Annika said casually, with a smile when he suggested to wait for the help.

"Nooo.." he almost screamed and she was taken aback!

"Whyyy?" she questioned him sadly.

"No.. woh actually.." he stammered and she did not quite understand the reason for his hesitation.

"What's wrong?" she asked shaking her head but he did not respond.

"Ohh.. accha.. if you do not want to, that's fine Shivaay.. don't worry.. I will myself climb up instead.." she volunteered.

"NO WAY ANNIKA.. you are not doing any such thing.." he commanded.

"But Shivaay..it is easy.. please.." she made a puppy face while he continued staring at her.

"I said no.. and that's it" he replied patiently.

"But why??" she asked again.

"Huh.. I told you.. you are hurt and so.." his words stuttered again and she understood that was not the reason.

"And I also told you that I am fine now.. So, stop lying and tell me the truth" she said raising her brows at him. He liked that attitude, in fact he enjoyed it. But, if he confessed it right away, there were high chances she would become more conscious. He wanted her to come back to normalcy, come back to her old self. So, he chose to remain silent.

"Tell me" she shook him by his arms.

"Huh.. woh actually.." he hesitated and she looked at him intently waiting for him to complete. Those chocolate brown orbs were so captivating to him and he blurted the reason "Annika.. actually.. huh.. I am scared of such heights.. huh.. that's why.." he said softly and Annika's jaws literally dropped.

"Like really?! Shivaay Singh Oberoi is scared of heights?! He works in that huge Oberoi industries building and he is scared??!!" she blinked thinking to herself.

"Really???" she asked and he nodded slowly.

"So lucky..He is scared of something and god hasn't given him that" she murmured and he immediately stared at her.

"What?? What did you just say?" he asked and she quickly shook her head with a sheepish smile.

"I was just trying to say.. Accha koi nahi.. I will climb up.. And that was what I had already told right" she tried to cover up and he again denied.

"Shivaay.. you are scared.. but I am not..please.. I will be careful too" she said softly with a smile.

"Okay fine" he agreed reluctantly.

They had a four step ladder and Annika gradually climbed on top of it. She pointed at one of the carton boxes and asked him to pass it. As he handed it over to her, she turned towards the other side and slowly opened it to look inside for one last time. She gently smiled at the contents and placed it inside carefully.

"Pass that one, Shivaay" she pointed at another one and he shook his head.

"Huh.. NO Annika.. that one has my stuff.. needs to be kept down only" he said as he turned towards that side and looked at it. A small smile formed on his lips as he bent down and looked inside the box once.

"Thank god! She did not notice it" he sighed thinking to himself.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Haa haa.. Sure" he replied smiling.

"Okay then, what is that?" she asked pointing at the other box that was remaining and he also blinked.

"No idea Annika..I just packed one box" he said thoughtfully.

"Haa me too" she replied.

"Accha that's fine.. keep it there" he suggested.

"But, what if something is there in it, Shivaay? Let's check once na" she said and he agreed.

"Hmm that is also right.. Ok carefully get down" he told her and she glared.

"I am gonna jump down now" she teased with her brows raised.

"No No.. don't" he panicked and she chuckled.

"I was joking" she smiled and carefully got down as they sat beside each other to check the box that was left out.

They had no idea they would be in for a surprise as they opened it.

First, there was a card covered with a newspaper. As they removed the newspaper cover, they were astonished to find a portrait of Shivaay, made by Om.

"Wow.. incredible" Annika said as she held it. Shivaay smiled to himself.

"Atleast, she likes my picture" he thought. That was when he found a tag attached to one corner.

"Looks like there is something on the other side too, Annika" he told her. As they turned it over, there was another cardboard attached with it which had Annika's picture.

"Wow.. beautiful" he exclaimed slowly and her cheeks heated up unknowingly "Huh..picture" he added with a smile. That was when they noticed that the tag was attached in such a way that they could open both the pictures sideways and place it anywhere.

"Huh...They are fixed" Shivaay said hesitantly.

"Haa.. that's fine..we will.. we will keep it like that itself" she smiled and he was bewildered at her answer. She smiled back tucking her hair behind her ears. Not wanting to put her in an awkward situation, he picked the next thing inside the box. There was a folded paper and another item which was gift wrapped.

"Gift?" they said in unison, but both wondered what it could possibly be. Assuming they would find some clue on the folded paper, they opened it and were amused to find that it was Rudy's letter.

"Rudra.. letter?" Annika blinked.

"Read it out" Shivaay suggested. Annika nodded and then started reading it out aloud.

"Bhabhi..Bhaiyaa.. Hope you guys got the box that we sent you. You guys need to appreciate me since I was the one who packed it..isn't it pakka?!" Annika read and chuckled while Shivaay rolled his eyes.

"Bhabhi.. hope you are fine and Bhaiyaa doesn't trouble you.." she paused.

"What?? Kuch bhi huh" Shivaay muttered.

"It is written Shivaay.. I did not say anything by myself" she said softly.

"Continue reading" he ordered folding his arms and she twisted her lips smiling.

"And haa Bhabhi.. this letter is mainly for you.. And, the gift is also for you..Well, you know what.. only after you guys left, we all realised that we were all giving so many advices to Bhaiyaa..But, ideally this one gift would have made up for all those dialogues we spoke on the other day.. So, Bhabhi, use this gift judiciously and haa do let us know if Bhaiyaa creates any problem, thik hai" she read out and Shivaay simply glared.

"What problem, problem he has been saying... Too much.. He and his stupid, senseless talks" Shivaay rolled his eyes again. Annika smiled at his fake anger and continued reading.

"I am sure Bhaiyaa must have called me stupid or senseless now.." Both were taken aback by his words, however Annika composed herself and continued reading "Anyway koi nahi.. Open the gift, Bhabhi.. you will know I had a reason" she read which left both of them equally surprised and more anxious now.

"What's that soooo special gift he has given that he is overacting" Shivaay scowled.

"Shivaay.. relax please" she said and they began opening it. And, what they found inside left both of them flabbergasted.

"Complaint box??!!" They said in unison.

"And.. and this was why he said, they need not have spoken those dialogues had they given this gift" Shivaay sighed.

"Shivaay.. that was a joke" she tried convincing him.

"Whatever.." he muttered frowning.

"As such, I knew it would have been filled with my name.. And, now that it is here, there is no second choice also" he murmured sadly.

She could sense how upset and out of mood he was. She thought for a while and then slowly spoke.

"I have an idea.. Let's do one thing" she suggested and he looked at her with questioning eyes.

"We will keep this here.. And, let's use it together.. Any complaints that you have against me, you can write on a chit and put it inside.. Same goes with me.. At the end of every month, we will check who has more number of complaints about them. And they need to offer a treat to the other person.. what say?" she asked enthusiastically.

He remained a little silent for a while and she waited for his response, her heart beating frantically inside.

"Nice idea" he smiled a little later and she smiled back with the same fervour.

"So, every month you are planning to get a treat from me?" he asked sarcastically and she was stunned.

"Why do you say that, Shivaay? There is also a possibility of me owing you a treat" she pouted.

"What am I going to complain against you, Annika? I can never do that..NEVER" he sighed thinking.

"Why do you think your name will have more complaints, Shivaay? What can I complain about you? That you are being so nice to me? I can never do that.. atleast from my side, it is going to remain empty.. Hmm..it will be me owning a treat to you mostly" she thought to herself.

"Hey wait.. I got a doubt" he asked suddenly and she wondered what it was.

"What if the box is empty? I mean I know the chances are less... But, I am just asking" he said thoughtfully.

"Then.. we go out together and share the expenses" she winked and he was surprised.

"Really?! Was this some dream that I am seeing?! God Shivaay.. control yourself man! She is just giving a righteous answer" he tried composing himself.

"Accha.. good deal.. I am with you" he smiled and they sat there with their eyes locked, for a while.

There was then a family photo which they both caressed lovingly and Shivaay immediately got up and hung on the wall.

"I have few more photos.. We will make a collage on this wall, okay?" he told her pointing at the wall and she readily agreed.

"There is an album inside, Annika" he said looking at the last item present inside the carton box. They took it out slowly to find that it was nothing other than Priyanka's wedding album.

"Accha.. so this has come..let's see it" she was excited.

They were looking at the photos and Annika slowly moved closer to him for a better view as the album was on his lap. In the process, their arms brushed and her hair strands fell towards the side of his face. He felt electricity rush through his system. She was the only one who could make him feel this way.

"God save me and my sanity" he thought to himself looking at her sideways, while she was busily lost in the album.

"Who is this, Shivaay?" she asked pointing out at a random relative, bringing him out of his trance.

His breathing was erratic, but he somehow composed himself trying to answer her questions patiently. All was well until they came across a picture with his arms around her shoulders.

"Who clicked this photo?" he was stunned. It was a photo that was clicked when he took her side, while her neighbourhood aunties, Pammi and Sheela, were busy taunting her for her broken marriage.

She remembered how he had taken her side that day even when he was clueless about the context.

"He was with me all the while, but I always took everything in the wrong sense..I am sorry Shivaay" she thought, when she felt his hand on her arm shaking her.

"Annika.. where are you lost? I was asking you something" he smiled.

"Huh..sorry.. woh mai.. what did you say?" she asked him.

"I was asking if this aunty's son joined college.. I remember his dad was trying to admit him in some college in Mumbai, right?" he asked curiously.

"Haa.. and you helped him to sell his land also... hai na?" she asked and he was shocked at her revelation. He wondered how she got to know of it. If he remembered correctly, her dad and he had decided not to reveal the matter to her for some time.

She understood why he appeared confused.

"Niraj uncle had come home right.. He only told me about this" she smiled surprising him. "And haa.. his son joined college" she added.

He knew Niraj had come home. Daadi had informed him about it. But, he did not know that Annika came to know about the land.

"How come Daadi did not tell me? Hmmm.. Either she was not present when this discussion happened or probably she thought that Annika would talk about it herself" he assumed.

"Accha.. then, we will keep these items here itself.." she recommended after they had finished skimming through the entire album.

"Huh.. Annika.." he hesitantly called her.

"Hmmm" she replied while picking up all the items.

"We will go out somewhere today?" he asked with a lot of uncertainty and she slowly turned towards him wondering why he was even asking her.

"Huh.. I mean we need to buy grocery, vegetables and all that..So, I was just thinking if we could go out" he spoke softly, assuming that her stare meant disapproval.

"Of course, we shall go" she replied in a very cool manner shrugging her shoulders and with a broad smile. He was so surprised at her answer.

"Huh.. but?" she paused while he looked at her perplexed. "Matlab.. we need to arrange our things right. I mean set them right.. So, why not we finish that and plan accordingly" she asked slowly as she did not want to disappoint him.

"Ohh that's it.. ok no issues Annika.. hmm.. we will plan to go out in the evening" he said thoughtfully and she nodded with a smile.

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Rest of the afternoon was spent in arranging various things in the house, with both of them giving their suggestions to each other, thereby having a lot of interaction in the process.

They arranged their clothes in the cupboard, set the books in the shelf. During the process, Shivaay suggested a lot of books for reading to Annika and she made a mental note of them.

And, it was almost evening by the time they were done with the whole work as planned and so decided to just go to the beach that was somewhere close by and on the way back, buy few items for probably a week.

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They sat down at the beach watching the waves, both of them lost in their own pool of thoughts. It was then a lady of about late forties passed by them, selling peanuts.

"Shivaay.. peanuts?" she asked joyfully while he made a small face.

"Huh.. nahi.. I mean.." he paused.

"It is unhygienic to get from road stall bla blah.. lot of pollution bla blah.. Am I right?" she asked crossing her arms and he simply chuckled in response.

"Taste it once.. And then from next time, you yourself will want to get it" she said confidently.

"Accha.. so we are coming here again then?" he asked leaving her tongue-tied.

"Shivaay.." she whined and he smiled in response. He then bought two packets of peanuts and gave both to her.

"Oh hello.. what is this? You also have it" she ordered and he again made a face.

"Here have it.." she commanded extending her hand towards his mouth and he gulped at her action. As she continued holding her hand out there, he slowly opened his mouth, thereby letting her feed him. When her fingers brushed his lips was the time she realized what she had been doing.

She could not abruptly pull back her hand. So, after he had his share, she slowly pulled it back and bent down shutting her eyes.

"What am I doing?" she thought biting her lips and with her eyes still closed.

"Give it to me.. I will have it myself.. it is tasty" he told her casually. However, she knew that it was only because he did not want her to feel awkward. She smiled at how understanding he was and handed over one packet to him.

Some more time passed as they were stealing glances at each other every now and then, with no words exchanged.

"Tomorrow is Monday.. I need to visit the site.. And, people will be joining too" he spoke breaking the silence. "I guess there are a lot of places around to visit..But, we may have to wait for the next weekend" he expressed sadly.

Annika was listening to all what he said carefully. However, not able to contain her silence anymore, she opened up.

"Huh.. Shivaay" she said slowly.

"Hmm tell me.." he asked but he noticed that she sat there confused about something. She had this habit of playing with her fingers when she was tensed and Shivaay had noted it quite a lot of times.

"What is bothering you now?" he asked slowly placing his hand over hers.

"Huh.. I want to ask something" she said softly and he asked her to go on.

"Can I.. can I apply for a job? I mean.. I can't be sitting at home, woh bhi idle, all the time right?" she asked with uncertainty and his face immediately brightened up.

"What kind of question is this? Of course Annika... In fact, I was going to suggest it myself.. But, did not want to, you know, force my opinions on you" he said and she was surprised.

"What?" he asked looking at her twinkling eyes.

"I want to give you an ice cream treat right away" she smiled heartily. "Oh and you know, I need a job for our monthly treats as well right" she chuckled while he glared at her.

"Accha.. anyway, come, let's go.." he told and her face drained thinking he had mistaken her. "I need an ice-cream" he winked and whispered to her and it brightened up once again.

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They had dinner at a restaurant and Annika said she had noticed an ice-cream parlor on the way.. So, Shivaay chose to skip the dessert at the restaurant. But, he was left shocked, when she pointed at a road side vendor near a park on their way home. Though he frowned initially, she managed to convince him for getting ice-cream from there.

"Ek butterscotch" she said. "Ek chocolate" he said simultaneously.

Both of them looked at each other surprised.

"Chocolate was for you actually" he said hesitantly.

"And butter scotch was for you" she replied casually. Only after they paid and walked towards their car did he realize that she had ordered his favourite flavour.

"Huh Annika.. how did you know? That it is my favourite flavour" he asked and she chuckled.

"Huh..how did you find out?" she asked him back.

"I knew it.. I mean remember, we played a game long ago, before Prinku's wedding.." he said slowly, wondering how she would take it. He just hoped she did not feel uncomfortable about him noticing these small things and remembering each of them as well. And, that was when something struck him.

"But you did not answer me.. how did you know?" he asked again.

"Huh.. I just guessed.." she said very casually "And it worked" she winked. He nodded believing her.

"I won't tell you about it Shivaay" she smiled within herself.

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It was night and Shivaay came to sleep after changing when he noticed that Annika was engrossed in something. They had reached home about an hour or two back and he had told her about few job portals. Since she had her profile ready, she had immediately applied for a few openings and had even got back a response from one of the companies.

They both were equally amazed as it was a Sunday night and still she had received a response. She was shocked when the reply stated that there was an interview scheduled on the next day itself. Though she was a little skeptical in the beginning, Shivaay convinced her to go for it, atleast so that she could give it a try.

But, now he wondered if she was tensed and doing something as she had her back facing  him. As he walked closer, he was baffled at the sight in front of him. Annika was trying to set an alarm on an old clock, which he was not even sure was in working condition.

"Annika.. what are you trying to do?" he asked as he went and sat next to her.

"Huh alarm Shivaay.. wanted to set an alarm so that I will wake up early" she replied, continuing with her work.

"You can set it on the phone right?" he asked doubtfully.

"Haa that toh I already did. In fact, I set one in your phone also" she said.

"Hein? Then what's the problem?" he asked, not understanding the reason. Atleast, he understood that setting it on both the phones would be just so that, in case one gets switched off, another would be there. But, clock?!

"Huh.. woh kyaa hai na Shivaay.. I have this bad habit.. I usually switch off all the alarms and go back to sleep" she pouted. Looking at her expressions, he couldn't control laughing.

"So, if there are many alarms, that too with different sounds, atleast one will annoy me and I will eventually get up right" she added and he burst out laughing at what she just said.

"You know what.. you are so funny.. haha" he laughed and she glared at him.

"Accha okok.. no problem.. haha.. I will.. I will wake you up in the morning.. alright?" he said in between the laughter.

"Pakka?" she asked him doubtfully.

"Of course..Pinky promise" he smiled. "Now go to sleep.. So that you get a good sleep and attend your interview with a fresh mind" he suggested and she nodded smiling.

"Good night, Shivaay" she said cheerfully.

"Good night" he whispered back smiling.

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Okay guys....😁 How was this chapter 🧐

Now, tell me, will Annika be able to attend the interview tomorrow 🤔🤔 or she will be facing any obstacle 🤔

And, if she attends, will she get selected or is she heading towards a new problem?🧐

Guesses guesses 😎😎

Until we meet again, have a happy upcoming week😁
And, in case I am not able to come back next week, wish you all a very advanced happy and safe Diwali 🙃

Hit vote if you liked the chapter and do spam my comment box 😉