"It had been two days since Annika came back from her Delhi trip, but she seemed to be unusually silent, not talking much, just giving answers in monosyllabic.", thought Shivaay looking at Annika from his cabin glasswall.

"I need to do something to bring her cheerful side back", he muttered to himself, and quickly went to her desk.

"Hey!", Shivaay said to Annika who was lost in her thoughts, staring blankly at her computer screen. She looked up at him, her eyes lacking their usual sparkle.

"Hey," she replied softly, her voice devoid of its usual enthusiasm.

Shivaay pulled a chair next to her desk and sat down, trying to catch her gaze.

"Actually I was thinking that today we should go out for lunch, there is a new cafe downstairs. I heard they serve good pasta."

"Lunch?" she looked at his eyes and she could sense worriedness in it.

"Ahm we have a meeting within an hour." she said, trying to avoid him.

Shivaay frowned slightly, realising that he had forgotten about the meeting. "You're right, I completely forgot about that. How about we go right after the meeting then? It'll give us something to look forward to."

Annika hesitated, glancing at her computer screen. "I don't know, Shivaay. I have a lot of work, plus we have one more deadline for one of our deals so need to look at that too."

Shivaay realised what she was trying to do but even he was determined to know what happened in Delhi.

"So what about dinner? And please don't say no, I insist." Shivaay played his last stroke to convince her.

Annika sighed, feeling cornered but also sensing Shivaay's genuine concern. She couldn't deny that part of her wanted to talk, to let out whatever was troubling her. She nodded reluctantly.

"Alright, dinner then," she agreed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Shivaay smiled, relieved that she had agreed. "Great! I'll pick you up at 7," he said, getting up from the chair.

Annika gave a weak smile in return, not fully convinced but appreciating his effort. Shivaay returned to his cabin, his mind now half-focused on the upcoming meeting and half on figuring out what could have possibly happened during her trip to Delhi.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and deadlines, and before they knew it, it was time to leave for the day. Shivaay watched as Annika gathered her things, her movements slow and deliberate, as if each action required an immense amount of effort.

At 7 PM sharp, Shivaay was waiting for Annika outside their office building. He saw her approaching, her shoulders slightly hunched, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of concern.

As they drove, the silence between them was palpable. Shivaay glanced over at Annika occasionally, hoping she would start talking on her own. Shivaay tried to start a conversation but his attempts failed as Annika was just leaning on the window and seemed lost so he decided to give her some space.

"We reached Annika", Shivaay said looking at her. Breaking her trance but when she looked outside she frowned.

"Shivaay where are we?" she said looking outside a humongous building.

"My penthouse is here. Usually I stay here when I have loads of work and think we can have something homemade."

Annika blinked, surprised, and looked back at Shivaay. "Your penthouse?" she repeated, her voice tinged with hesitation. "But, Shivaay, I don't want to intrude."

Shivaay smiled reassuringly. "You're not intruding, Annika. I thought a quieter, more comfortable place might help. Besides, homemade food can be a lot more comforting than a restaurant sometimes. Trust me?"

Annika hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "Alright, if you say so."

They exited the car and walked into the building. The lobby was elegantly designed, with marble floors and modern decor. The elevator ride up was silent, but Shivaay made sure to stand close, his presence comforting in its quiet solidarity.

When they reached the penthouse, Annika was struck by its spaciousness and warmth. It totally screams it belongs to Shivaay. Shivaay led her to the living room and gestured for her to sit.

"Make yourself at home. I'll just get something started in the kitchen," he said, heading towards the open-plan kitchen.

Annika sat down on the comfortable couch, taking in the surroundings. She could see that Shivaay had put a lot of thought into making the space welcoming. After a few minutes, he returned with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate.

"Here, I thought this might help warm you up," he said, handing her a mug.

Annika took it gratefully, wrapping her hands around the warm ceramic. "Thank you, Shivaay. This is really nice."

Shivaay sat down next to her, his eyes full of concern and care. "Annika, I know you're going through something difficult right now, but I want you to know that I'm here for you. You don't have to talk about it if you're not ready, but whenever you are, I'm here to listen."

Annika took a deep breath, looking down at her mug. "Thanks, Shivaay. It's just... complicated. I'm not sure I'm ready to talk about it yet."

Shivaay nodded understandingly. "That's okay. You don't have to say anything until you're ready. I just want you to know that you're not alone."

Annika gave a small smile, appreciating his patience. "I know. It means a lot to me that you're here."

"Why don't we make some dinner together? It might help take your mind off things for a bit," Shivaay suggested, hoping to lighten the mood.

Annika nodded. "Yeah, that sounds nice."

They moved to the kitchen, where Shivaay started pulling out ingredients. As they cooked together, Shivaay kept the conversation light, sharing funny stories and memories. Gradually, Annika found herself smiling and laughing more.

By the time dinner was ready, the atmosphere had shifted to a more relaxed and comfortable one. They sat down to eat, and Annika felt a sense of calm she hadn't experienced in days.

"This is really good," Annika said, taking a bite of the pasta they had prepared together.

Shivaay smiled. "I'm glad you like it. Cooking always helps me unwind. I hoped it would do the same for you."

"It did," Annika admitted. "Thank you, Shivaay. I really needed this."

"Anytime, Annika. You're important to me, and I want to see you happy," Shivaay said sincerely.

Annika was about to take another bite of pasta when her phone rang and it drained the colour of her face. Even Shivaay noticed it.

"Excuse me, Shivaay, quite an urgent call," she stammered, her voice tight. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for her phone. "Just give me two minutes."

Shivaay watched her rise, concern creasing his brow. He knew that strained tone well. He offered a reassuring smile, but it faltered as he saw her retreat to the dimly lit balcony.

Taking a deep breath, she pressed the call to connect. A flurry of hushed words spilled from her lips.

"What? A case? He filed a case against me?" Her voice rose a notch, barely a whisper despite being on the phone. "But it was self-defence! He was..." She choked back a sob, the memory raw and terrifying.

"Okay, okay," she soothed, her voice trembling as she tried to regain control. "I understand. I'll gather everything. Yes, witnesses too, hopefully someone saw..."

She glanced back at Shivaay, his silhouette etched against the warm glow of the living room lamp. A flicker of hope ignited in her chest. Maybe he...

"Alright, thank you," she finally sighed, ending the call. Her legs felt shaky as she turned back to the room, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm.

Shivaay stood, his eyes filled with concern. "Everything alright?"

She took a fortifying breath, steeling herself. Tonight, she wouldn't crumble. "There's been a complication," she began, her voice firm despite the tremor within. "He's... he's filed a case against me."

Shivaay's eyes widened with alarm. "Who, Annika? What happened in Delhi?"

Annika took another deep breath, trying to steady herself. She walked back into the living room, the warm light contrasting starkly with the cold fear that gripped her heart. She sat down on the couch, and Shivaay quickly joined her, his concern palpable.

"It was the last night in Delhi," she began, her voice shaking slightly. "I was at a work event, a formal dinner. Everything was going fine until... until I ran into someone I used to know. An old friend. Or at least, I thought he was a friend."

Shivaay nodded, his expression encouraging her to continue.

"We started talking, catching up. At first, it was nice. But then he started making comments, suggestive remarks that made me uncomfortable. I tried to brush it off, but he wouldn't stop. Eventually, I decided it was best to leave."

Annika paused, her hands trembling as she relived the memory. Shivaay gently took her hand, offering silent support.

"I left the event and headed back to my hotel. I thought I'd gotten away, but he followed me. When I got to my room, he was there, waiting. He... he tried to force himself on me, Shivaay. I fought back, I did everything I could to get him to stop. In the struggle, I managed to hit him hard enough that he backed off, and I escaped."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away, determined not to break down. "I thought it was over. I thought I was safe. But now, he's filed a case against me, claiming that I attacked him without reason. He's trying to make it look like I'm the one in the wrong."

Tears welled up in Annika's eyes, but she blinked them away, determined not to break down. "I thought it was over. I thought I was safe. But now, he's filed a case against me, claiming that I attacked him without reason. He's trying to make it look like I'm the one in the wrong."

Shivaay's heart clenched at her words, his mind racing with anger and disbelief. How could anyone twist the truth like that, especially when Annika had been the one in danger? But he pushed aside his own emotions, focusing instead on comforting her.

"Annika, listen to me," Shivaay said firmly, his voice gentle yet resolute. "We will fight this. We'll gather evidence, find witnesses—whatever it takes to prove your innocence. I won't let him get away with this."

Annika looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude and a glimmer of hope. "Thank you, Shivaay. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You don't have to do anything alone," Shivaay assured her, his voice unwavering. "I'm here for you, every step of the way."

Annika's expression softened, her gaze meeting Shivaay's with vulnerability. "I'm so scared, Shivaay," she admitted, her voice trembling with emotion. "I don't know how to face this alone."

Shivaay's heart ached at the raw honesty in her words. Without hesitation, he pulled her closer, wrapping her in a comforting embrace. "You don't have to, Annika," he murmured, his voice gentle yet resolute. "I'm here. I'll always be here."

The dam of emotions within Annika finally burst, tears flowing freely down her cheeks as she clung to Shivaay, seeking solace in his embrace. "I-I can't do this," she sobbed, her voice breaking with the weight of her fears.

"You don't have to," Shivaay repeated, his voice a steady anchor amidst the storm of her emotions. "We'll face this together. I promise."

As Annika wept in his arms, Shivaay held her close, his own heart heavy with the burden of her pain. In that moment, all he could offer her was his unwavering support, his presence a beacon of light in the darkness.

After some time, Shivaay noticed Annika's breathing had slowed, her body finally succumbing to the exhaustion of the day's emotional turmoil. With a soft smile, he leaned down, brushing a gentle kiss against her forehead before tenderly wiping away the last traces of tears from her cheeks.

As he hugged her more tightly, a surge of protectiveness washed over him. Slowly Shivaay gently lifted Annika into his arms, cradling her close as he carried her to his bedroom. He laid her down on the bed, tucking the covers around her.

As Shivaay rose from the bed, he felt a gentle tug on his hand, halting his movement. Surprised, he turned back and found Annika's hand grasping his, her fingers entwined with his own as if seeking comfort even in her sleep.

At first, Shivaay attempted to gently extricate his hand from her grasp, but to his surprise, Annika's grip only tightened, her subconscious need for connection evident even in her slumber. With a soft sigh, Shivaay abandoned his attempts to free himself, realising that Annika's unconscious gesture was a silent plea for reassurance.

Instead, he settled back onto the bed, sitting beside her as he watched over her sleeping form. The faint moonlight bathed the room in a soft glow, casting delicate shadows across her face as she slept soundly.

With a tender smile, Shivaay brushed a stray lock of hair away from Annika's forehead, marvelling at the peaceful expression that graced her features. In that moment, he felt a rush of affection and protectiveness wash over him, an overwhelming desire to keep her safe and shield her from any harm.

As he sat beside her, hand in hand, he said looking at her

"I am with you Annika no matter what!!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THAT'S IT FOR TODAY!!

I HOPE YOU LIKED IT!!

HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT SHIVAAY AND ANNIKA?

TILL THEN GOODBYE

WITH LOVE 

DIA