"It's utterly serene!" Annika thought, wrapped in a thick blanket inside the cosy gazebo. Watching delicate raindrops kiss the earth, she cradled a mug of velvety hot chocolate, its warmth seeping into her chilled hands. The landscape unfolded like a masterpiece: emerald trees stood sentinel, snow-capped mountains pierced the mist-shrouded sky, creating a breathtaking view.

She took a sip of her hot chocolate, her lips curling into a small smile. The warmth of the drink provided a brief moment of comfort. But the smile quickly faded, turning into a frown as she noticed a large figure approaching her. Confused, she squinted, trying to make out who it was. This was private property, and no one was allowed without permission. Her eyes widened in disbelief when she finally recognized the person. She never imagined in her wildest dreams that he would be here.

Quickly getting up from her seat and setting her mug on the table, she whispered, "Shivaay."

Shivaay quickly reached her, his clothes soaked and water dripping from his hair. Annika could see the anger in his eyes, which only added to her confusion. She wondered what could have happened to make him so furious.

"Shivaay, you're here? Is everything okay?" Annika stammered, her voice laced with worry. Her gaze darted over his drenched form, trying to find clues to the storm raging within him.

"Where the hell have you been for the last three days? You just emailed me your leave application and disappeared. Ever since we came back from our business trip last month, you've been acting differently. At first, I thought it was work pressure, but then I realised you were intentionally ignoring me. And now, suddenly, you vanish, saying you need a week off."Shivaay roared, his voice echoing in the quietude. His anger was palpable, and it was evident he was barely holding himself back.

Annika realises the blunder which she created in her immaturity. To run away from her feelings she decided to ignore him but whenever she sees his gloomy eyes she wants to be with him but the constant fear of heartbreak she tries to distance herself more and when she couldn't take it more and got an invitation of this place she took a haste decision and came running here.

"I... I am really sorry, Shivaay, for whatever happened last month, but it was an emergency that I have to come here." Annika stammered, her voice barely audible. Her eyes, filled with remorse, pleaded for his understanding.

Shivaay took a deep breath, closing his eyes as if to gather his composure. When he reopened them, the tempest in his eyes had subsided, replaced by a calmer intensity. He brushed away the errant strands of his wet hair, then cupped her face gently. "Look, I'm sorry. I overreacted. I was just worried sick. Did I make you uncomfortable? Or was it something related to the Rishabh case? All sorts of dreadful thoughts were running through my mind," Shivaay confessed,looking deep in her eyes.

Once again, all those feelings erupted in her heart, the ones she'd been desperately trying to suppress. It was almost incredulous to believe this man, who seemed so impervious to love, could stir such a tempest within her. Not wanting to add to his worries, she decided to omit the truth. Keeping her hands gently on his, she found her voice, "It's really nothing about you, it's just... my Nani called me here. And I came rushing without thinking things through."

"I didn't know you had a grandmother. You've never talked about her," Shivaay said, his curiosity piqued.

Yes, I do... it's a long story, and first, you need to change or else you will..." Before Annika could finish her sentence, Shivaay let out a violent sneeze followed by a coughing fit. Concerned, she immediately began rubbing his back soothingly.

"See, I told you you'd catch a cold. Come, let's go to the cottage," she said, her voice laced with concern as she immediately grabbed her belongings and an umbrella. They turned and headed towards the cottage.

As soon as they reached the cottage, Annika took in the cosy wooden structure. The ground floor housed a living room and kitchen, complete with a huge fireplace, while a staircase led up to an open bedroom. She immediately sent Shivaay upstairs with the suitcase he had been carrying all this time, directing him towards the bathroom.

Shivaay emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered and dressed in a white shirt layered with a burgundy sweater and beige pants. As he dried his hair with a towel, his gaze fell upon the living room below. It was a scene of utter chaos. Papers were scattered everywhere, some crumpled, others covered in intricate drawings and equations. Annika's laptop lay open on the coffee table, suggesting she had been engrossed in work. Breaking free from his contemplation, he heard Annika's voice calling from the kitchen.

Quickly, he went downstairs to find Annika wearing a blue apron and busy preparing something in the kitchen.

"Good you came. You're fine, right?" Annika asked, her attention focused on the dish she was preparing.

"Yes, but what are you making?" he asked, looking at her.

"Manchow soup, it'll be good for you. And here, drink this coffee. You'll feel much better," she said, passing him the steaming cup.

"Thanks, Annika. You're a lifesaver. I could really use something warm right now. But hey, don't stress too much about me. I can see that frown line creeping in. You need to take care of yourself too," Shivaay replied, his voice filled with concern.

Annika set down the ladle and turned to face Shivaay. "I'm fine, don't worry. It's just... I feel guilty that you've had to go through all this because of me," she confessed, her voice tinged with regret.

"Hey, it's not your fault, okay? Things happen. And besides, I was worried sick about you. So don't feel guilty and remove that thought from your head," Shivaay replied, his tone firm yet gentle.

Nodding her head slowly, Annika returned to her soup. To lighten the atmosphere, Shivaay asked, "Waise, Annika, are you sure this soup would be edible?" A mischievous glint appeared in his blue eyes.

"Oh, please, you know I can cook. Forgot that cup-pasta?" she said, narrowing her eyes playfully.

"How could I forget? You seriously boiled the pasta in the microwave and added all the ingredients beforehand, but surprisingly, it tasted good," Shivaay said with a chuckle.

"It's a good and quick dish I learned in my college days. We used to make it at night," Annika replied, a nostalgic smile playing on her lips.

"And you know this soup is my mom's special recipe she taught me so trust me it will be better." she said to her and again concentrated on her soup.

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

Once the soup was ready, Annika served it in two bowls, carefully garnishing each with fried noodles. She meticulously arranged the noodles in the shape of an "S." When Shivaay saw her dedication and the intricate shape, he couldn't help but chuckle, appreciating her thoughtful effort.

Annika and Shivaay carefully balanced their bowls as they navigated the cluttered living room. A sheepish grin crept across Annika's face as she took in the chaos. "Maybe the kitchen bar stools would be a better idea?" she suggested, her voice laced with mild embarrassment.

Shivaay took a long, dramatic sip of the soup, his eyes closed in concentration. Annika's anticipation grew palpable. Finally, he opened his eyes, a slow, appreciative smile spreading across his face. "You know, for someone who once boiled pasta in a microwave, this is a miracle," he teased. Annika lightly hit on his shoulder.

Shivaay finished his soup and looked around the messy living room. "So, you're working here too, huh?" he asked.

Annika blushed slightly. "No, not really. I was just trying to make a game. You know, to pass the time. It's kind of fun."

Shivaay raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You make games? I didn't know that about you, Annika. That's pretty cool."

Annika smiled. "Yeah, I've been making small games since 10th grade. But this particular game I've been working on for three years now. I want to make the perfect action game, exactly the way I imagine it."

Shivaay leaned back, crossing his arms. "Three years? That's dedication. So, you're telling me you could be the next big name in the gaming industry? Trying to change a field" He raised an eyebrow.

"Well I am not, our company makes virtual games too and we are making it for your project too. Plus it's not for the world, just for me."

"Am I allowed to play? I am a damn good gamer, Rudy has lost five times to me." He says confidently.

"We will see that, once the game is ready, you will be the first one to play." She challenged her and both chuckled.

Remembering something Annika asks him "Leave all this Shivaay, how did you find it I am here?" asking curiously.

"Well, when I got your mail the day before yesterday, I was really confused about why you'd suddenly take a leave. I immediately called your secretary, thinking maybe you were unwell, but she said you were out of town. That didn't calm me down, so I remembered Ozone. I thought you might have left him somewhere, so I went to your apartment. And then I met Rivaan mom, she told me you'd gone somewhere near Dharamshala in an emergency. She couldn't remember the exact place, but said it was a cabin-type hotel. I asked Khanna to search for places like that, and he found this one. Apparently, it's the only one like it around here. When I got here, no one seemed to know you, but then an old lady asked how I knew you. I told her I was your friend and was worried, so she told me about this cabin."

"Old lady, was she wearing a saree?" Annika asked, realising who it could be.

Before he could say something there was a knock on the door, Annika quickly went to the door to open it. While Shivaay followed her.

"Anu puttar, why did you take so long?" the lady said, placing her umbrella in the umbrella stand. She was wearing a pink saree and had her white hair tied in a bun.

"Actually, Nani..." Annika began, but before she could continue, her grandmother's gaze shifted to Shivaay, who was also looking at her with interest.

"Annika's friend?" the old woman asked, her eyes studying Shivaay.

Shivaay nodded and went ahead touching her feet "Yes, I'm Shivaay Singh Oberoi. Annika and I are friends." He gave a warm smile.

The old woman's eyes narrowed as she studied him, a mischievous glint appearing in them. "Oh, so you're that bagad billa who irritated Anu during her Disneyland project?"

Shivaay looked at Annika, who gave him a puppy face. Annika immediately said, "Nani, it's been a long time. We're good friends now."

Annika quickly changed the subject, feeling a blush creeping up her neck. "Ahm, Shivaay, she is my Nani, Aruna Batra. And Nani, he is my partner at work, and a really good friend, Shivaay."

"Sirf friends?" Nani asked, narrowing her eyes. At that moment, Annika wished mother Earth would open up and swallow her.

Shivaay, caught off guard, looked between Annika and Nani. His eyes widened slightly, and a faint blush crept up his cheeks. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. Instead, he let out an awkward chuckle, trying to ease the tension.

Coming out of embarrassment, "Nani please." she gave her pleading look.

Nani nodded her head and soon settled into the living room. Annika quickly gathered all her belongings and cleared the area before Nani could scold her for the mess. Shivaay noticed Annika's nervousness and found it amusing to see her so flustered and worried about Nani's reprimand. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of bhegi Annika.

While Annika disappeared to tidy up, Shivaay settled down on the opposite side of Nani. The older woman turned her gaze to him, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Why were you so worried about her? When I looked at you, I could see a deep concern in your eyes. Is everything okay?"

Shivaay hesitated for a moment, not wanting to cause unnecessary worry. "Ahm, nothing to worry about. Actually, she left suddenly without telling anyone where she was going. No one knew where she was, so I came to check on her and make sure she was okay."

Nani looked at him with a knowing smile. "She is a strong girl, but sometimes she needs someone to look after her. You seem to care about her a lot."

Shivaay felt a blush creeping up his neck. "Yes, she's a very important person in my life," he admitted honestly.

Nani, noticing Shivaay's reaction, teased, "So you're more than friends?" Shivaay's eyes widened, but he quickly composed himself and said, "We're close, very close. There's a deep bond between us, but it's a bond of friendship. I care for her immensely, but our connection is platonic."

Nani gave him a small smile and said, "That's really nice. Anu has someone to care about her, and I'm sorry if I teased you. It's just that there's a thin line between friendship and love, and sometimes we get confused about which side we're on."

Last line had an impact on Shivaay, soon Annika joined them but he was lost on the thought

"On which side am I on?"

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Do you think Shivaay will realize he has feelings for Annika?

I am really sorry for late updates but you see it's my third year and intern cycle is also going on it's really frustrating. It's a matter of few days once it's sorted I will be regular.

Till then tell me how is it?

What will happen next?

Have any special request for a track, open to suggestions!!

With love

Dia