chapter l. One Countertop Lapse in Stupidity

As Shivaay left the room, Anika picked up her phone again. She couldn't believe the picture Saumya had just sent. Did that mean Shivaay and she had spent the entire night cuddling?

Her cheeks pink, she looked at the picture fondly. Stupid man was really not going easy on her heart.

Shivaay moved to the kitchen, a weight suddenly lifted off of his chest.

Gauri was going through the cabinets, a notepad in hand. Om was sitting on the couch, going through his phone.

Shivaay sat down next to Om, smiling at him. Om smiled back. “Everything good?”

“Yeah.” Shivaay nodded. “Great, I guess.

Gauri went to Anika's room and came back huffing to herself. “Let's get going before Anika Di orders the entire snacks aisle.”

Shivaay and Om chuckled.

“Bhaiya, you're sure you want to cook for all of us? We could order and we could just make something healthy for Anika.”

“Oh, I am not ready to witness Anika fighting about that.” Shivaay said.

Gauri grinned and walked out of the door, followed by Om. As they shut the door, Shivaay moved to the kitchen. He grabbed a glass of water, and jumped on the counter.

When Anika came, she smiled at him. “Shall we begin?”

As she stood by him, Shivaay looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “You really think learning to use the crutch means you can stand throughout?”

“So what do you want me to do?” Anika looked around. “Wait, I could get the barstoo—” She had only taken a step when Shivaay's hands were on her waist. Anika looked at him in shock but he simply shrugged. He easily lifted her and made her sit on the counter.

For a second there, he just stood, looking at her before he moved away, clearing his throat. “So, I decided on Italian dinner. Pasta and garlic breadsticks and I am going to just, make soup for you.”

Anika grinned. “Thank you!”

Shivaay shook his head, focus shifting to the tomatoes. “Right, where's the pasta?”

---

As Shivaay opened the pressure cooker with the pasta, he laid it on the other side of the stove, the one where Anika wasn't sitting. The garlic bread was being baked in the oven.

Anika was paying attention to whatever he was saying but her phone was also in her hand, which meant constant distraction.

As Shivaay narrated his personal experience in making pasta sauce, he saw Anika humming disinterestedly. Shivaay frowned, snapping his fingers in front of him.

Anika looked up, startled.

“You're supposed to be paying attention to me.”

“Aww, are you feeling neglected?” Anika fluttered her eyes.

Shivaay rolled his eyes. “I am trying to teach you.”

“But yes, I'd like to have all your attention.” Shivaay added as an afterthought.

Anika narrowed her eyes, even as her heart beat fastened a little. Shivaay once again made a move for her phone but Anika was faster this time, she held it out of his reach.

“Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Dono ho gaya ab, you are not getting another chance.” Anika laughed.

“I am doing it for your own good.” Shivaay's hands were on either side of her. He made no move to step back.

“You just said you're doing it for attention.” Anika replied, still laughing.

“Your attention.” Shivaay smiled, eyes running all over her face.

What happened next, Anika wasn't sure of either. One minute she had been laughing, trying to keep the phone away from Shivaay, the next Shivaay's hands slid from the counter top to her waist, pulling her closer. She was confused and was caught offguard.

The way his eyes held hers did something to her insides. She squirmed a little. This was not something she had expected. The way it felt as he looked at her or how his hand held her waist. Anika wasn't naive enough to not understand what was happening. The only thing bugging her was, was this the right way to go about it?

Shivaay was in a daze himself. Seeing her laugh like that, eyes crinkling, the smile not leaving her face, it made him feel so, so proud. He wanted to make her hold on to that smile. She looked so beautiful, laughing at her own antics. His hand slided across her side frame, reaching up to her face.

Anika only felt like a spectator, eyes downcast. Her body stiffened and seemed to not coordinate with her brain. Shivaay's fingertips slid across her cheek in smooth circles. Anika's lips parted, trying her best to breathe.

It was a serene moment, when her eyes met his again. A thousand emotions crossing them and all Anika could feel was a knot in her stomach. It had all been slow till now but suddenly, Shivaay took no time and let his lips meet hers. They only touched, none moving. He pulled back a little and stared at her, their noses still in contact.

The kiss seemed to unfreeze her from her haze. "Shivaay, are you sure? We are supposed to–”

Shivaay put her to pause, brushing their lips together once more, effectively quitening her. "It is not about what we are supposed to do or not. It is only about whether it feels right or not."

Anika took a deep breath, confused and lost. She wanted this. She knew she wanted this. But this sudden closeness and all she could think was
how Gauri and Om had put in so much trust when Anika promised she would get Shivaay married to someone who he finds perfect, who was worthy enough, who would make him happy.

"You know what they say about an empty mind?" his lips brushed against hers as he spoke every word, making her toes curl. "It is a devil's workshop. And I would rather not let you think. It is not your strong point, really."

With that, he took her in a proper kiss, the one deemed to be everything she had ever imagined as a first kiss. The one where you would lose sense of your surroundings, the one where you would only know the rhythm of your lips moving against the others'. It was awkward at first, with Shivaay guiding her but Anika learned quickly. She was eager and she did nothing to hide that. His fingers on her neck, his thumb angling her face for better access to her mouth.

Even breathless, their mouths remained pressed together until one of them took the other into a kiss again. She only knew of his other hand at her waist, leaving a hot trail behind as it caressed the strip of skin peeping out of her tshirt.

She didn't leave a chance, finally getting to run her hand through his hair, messing it up. When they pulled away again, Shivaay let his lips wander to her jaw, placing butterfly kisses all along, leading to her neck. Anika's fists clenched at his shoulder. The knots in her stomach, the funny feeling, it was all unreal. Her skin tingled wherever Shivaay nuzzled his nose.

She pulled him again for a kiss, sighing as their lips met.

A few moments later, they finally seemed to have realised their surroundings. They pulled away and Shivaay rested his forehead against hers, hot breaths mingling. He looked at Anika, her face flushed red, lips swollen and eyes hooded. "You are so beautiful, Anika." His thumb ran across down her face.

Her lips broke into a wide smile, heart lurching as she heard him. Why would it not feel like a dream? Anika had shared her first kiss with a gorgeous man, who looked at her in a way she couldn't understand but made her feel so good, who she truly liked.

They heard his phone ring and Shivaay reluctantly pulled away, the smile not leaving his face. Anika looked on as he took the phone and left the kitchen.

“Hey Rudra.” Shivaay hoped he didn't sound too breathless.

“I have been messaging you since so long. Where have you been?”

“Oh, I am at Anika's place.” Shivaay explained, running a hand over his face.

“That explains why you couldn't find time for your brother.” Rudra mumbled.

Shivaay rolled his eyes, smiling nonetheless. “Shut up.”

“Well, looks like even O's there. I'll be there. Count me in on whatever plans you have.”

“Sure.” Shivaay said before he heard the line go dead.

Shivaay returned to the kitchen, only to find it empty. He pressed his lips together, focus shifting back to the food.

Anika walked in a few minutes later, appearance more settled than how he had left her. “Who was it?”

“Oh, Rudra. He said he'll join us.”

Anika nodded. Shivaay turned his gaze back to the pan. He could feel Anika stare at him for a few seconds before she walked to the refrigerator.

Right. Wasn't she going to address the elephant in this kitchen? Shivaay bit the inside of his cheek, wondering what he could possibly stay.

Now that the euphoria of kissing Anika started to subside, he realised it might not have been the best move. He hadn't even told her anything about he felt. This was her life's first kiss and he had went ahead and... Okay it was good, he wasn't going to say otherwise. But what if this was not what she wanted?

“Hey Shruti!” he heard her say which made him turn around. She was taking out what looked like ingredients for some dessert. Shivaay sighed when he saw her struggling with those, the crutch and her phone plastered to her ear.

He walked to her and grabbed her phone, putting it on speaker and placing it on the counter, before taking some of the stuff from her hands.

“... Cannot stop talking about her. I am going to die here, Anika.” He heard Shruti's voice.

“Well, at least he's not bugging you about me anymore.” Anika laughed a little.

“Oh that was the worst.” Shruti groaned. “I swear I am never forgiving him for that bitch phase he had. Put you on desk duty and had me run around with him and Tanya.” She made a gagging sound.

Anika chuckled, looking at Shivaay for a second who was back on the other side.

“Imagine, if you and Rohit had begun dating. Would I have had to listen to him talk about you like that all day? Anika is the most beautiful woman. Anika is so smart. Wow, suddenly, you being benched sounds better.”

“Wait, a guy put you on desk duty?” The question was out of Shivaay's mouth before he realised he shouldn't have.

“Anika? Do you have a man over? Is it Varun? Doesn't sound like Varun. ANIKA!”

Anika closed her eyes shut, turning around to glare at Shivaay. “No, it's not Varun.”

“Wait. There's another guy? What happened to Varun? Yaar you've stopped sharing things with me! Varun bhi toh hot hi tha. Usse bhi better koi mil gaya?”

Anika's cheeks turned pink as she put the phone on handset mode again. “How many questions do you think I can answer at this speed?”

“So, there is another guy?” Shruti asked.

“Maybe.” Anika answered, looking at Shivaay who was at the oven's side now, not looking at her. “I'll talk later, I promise.”

Shruti begrudgingly cut the call and Anika bit her lip.

Shivaay turned to her, realising their audience was gone. “I am sorry, you just... Never told me the entire thing and I...”

“It's okay.”

Thankfully, the door bell rang and Anika walked out, silenting lamenting this sudden tension.

She opened the door to a grinning Rudra. “Hi Anika Di!”

“Hey! How are you already? Didn't Shuvaay just tell you?”

“Oh, I was at the college so it was easier to be here so quickly.”

Anika nodded, letting him in.

---

I am already ready with an empty stomach for aloo tikkis and if your username doesn't have alootikki and krishi in it, you can send me pizza, chinese food, pasta or desserts. I'll differentiate between none.

This one's dedicated to all of you who've stuck with this story for 50 chapters now, just begging to God I'd stop the torture.

I mean, technically I haven't stopped but... At least you got something.

Because they are back at it,

Dumber: Shivaay or Anika?

BlackManiacx