chapter lxi. Questions

Anika huffed to herself as she took steps up the staircase. It was difficult, given her broken leg. Where even was Shivaay? It had been almost half an hour since she last saw him, dripping water as he walked.

She reached the top of the staircase and looked around. Her room was on the far corner of the floor, right next wall was Gauri's. And then, right in front of her was the guest bedroom, where her boyfriend was supposed to be. The door was slightly open and she pushed it, to see Shivaay standing in front of the mirror, buttoning his shirt. His phone was placed on the wide dressing table.

"Yes Mom, we reached half an hour ago. I couldn't call you because well, I-"

"Were talking to Anika's parents?" Pinky sounded excited. "Do they like you? You didn't offend them, did you?"

"Mom, calm down. I am not asking them for Anika's hand in marriage. I am in Pune, I am staying over at their place. I just happen to be Anika's boyfriend."

"But you will need to impress them for whenever you do ask for her hand right?"

Shivaay didn't answer, moving onto his cuffs.

"You know, we are waiting for you downstairs for lunch." Anika decided to speak, now that the two of them had been silent for long enough.

Shivaay turned to her a little scared, thrown off-guard. "What the hell? I didn't hear you come up."

Anika only smiled in amusement.

"Wait, Shivaay is making everyone wait on the table? That is absolutely rude!" Pinky gasped. "What is so important that you're not with them?"

Shivaay looked at the phone weirdly. "I am literally talking to you."

"We haven't been talking for more than five minutes."

Anika snorted, walking towards Shivaay. She sat on the table, head leaning against the wall.

"Well, I was..." Shivaay trailed off. Teling his Mom was not it. "I was freshening up."

"Yeah, he now smells even better than my Dad's garden." Anika nodded, wearing her best innocent face.

Shivaay rolled his eyes. Very funny, he mouthed.

"Mom, I'll talk to you later?"

"Of course! Don't keep them waiting. Behave yourself."

Shivaay sighed. "I am not a five year old."

Pinky quickly said 'I love you's to the two of them, dropping the call.

Shivaay took a step back, looking at Anika with a questioning smile. "How do I look?"

"The black makes you look handsome." Anika smiled back.

Shivaay turned to her. "What is it with you and throwing compliments at me all of a sudden? Called me hot earlier, now this. I am not used to Anika complimenting me."

Anika gave a dramatic sigh. "I am trying to make you feel better about yourself, feeding your ego. I mean, my Dad drenching you was probably not a confidence booster, was it?"

Shivaay frowned. "He did it on purpose, didn't he?"

Anika bit her lip. "I think he saw what you did when you pulled the car a little before my house."

Shivaay groaned, coming to stand in front of her. "Well his first impression of me already makes him hate me then."

Anika really wanted to tell him her Dad was mostly okay with him, she did. But where was the fun in that?

"I mean, you do know you are my first boyfriend. Dad's going to be a little too protective."

"Gee thanks, really helps."

"Aw come on, why are you so nervous?" Anika held his hands in hers, pressing them.

Shivaay shrugged. "Your Dad is scary. Like cuddly-bear scary."

Anika raised an eyebrow. "How is that scary?" Before Shivaay could answer, Anika snorted. "Now I kinda want to see you try and cuddle with my Dad."

Shivaay hit his head against her shoulder. "You're not helping. Don't blame me if I actually end uo just hugging him."

Anika laughed, freeing one hand and rubbing it up and down his arm. "I eeally wish I could give you some kind of advice. I mean, the two of you don't even have any interest in common. He likes gardening, I am pretty sure you don't know anything about that. He likes cricket, you like football. He is married and has two daughters, you are dating one of them for like, a week."

Shivaay turned his head a little, his nose against her neck. "But I really do like his daughter."

"Oh, do you now?" Anika smiled, looking at him. "You could use some courage, couldn't you?" She lowered her face a little, only to have Shivaay pull away.

Anika stared at him with a frown. "Seriously?"

Shivaay looked at the door for a second before turning to her. "You've done it to me so many times. Also, the door's open. The last time your Dad saw us kiss, I was covered in water. We are now going down for lunch and I'd rather have the food in my stomach than on me."

Anika sighed. "Then let's go down for that food?"

"Yep." Shivaay held out his hand for her, helping her get off the table.

As they were out the door, Shivaay helped Anika down the stairs. She showed him to the dining table and they smiled at her parents and they smiled back. Good so far.

Shivaay pulled out a chair and helped Anika sit, taking the chair next to hers. Anika smiled at him softly before quickly looking around. "Where do I begin?"

Shivaay shook his head, looking on as she opened the lids to all the containers.

"Maa, if I knew you'd make all of this food, I'd have brought a guy home sooner."

"Thank God you didn't know." Shivaay and Harsh both mumbled at the same time, due to vastly different yet pretty similar reasons.

Anika's eyes darted between them. “Hey, that's a great conversation starter! You guys agree on something.”

Shivaay raised an eyebrow. “I am not sure that's a great conversation starter.”

“Well, the two of us are conversing aren't we?” Anika shrugged, helping herself with the food.

Shivaay sighed, taking the bowl from her and helping himself with the rice.

“Were you dropped on your head as a kid?” Harsh asked making all three people look at him.

Shivaay gulped down his food, looking at him in confusion. “You are asking me?”

“Well, if Anika was dropped, I'd know. I don't think that's a question I would ask my wife, twenty-eights years after our marriage. That leaves you.”

Shivaay shook his head. “No, not as far as I know.”

“So why exactly are you dating Anika?”

Shivaay snorted while Anika groaned. “Dad come on.”

Harsh shrugged. “See, you've never had a boyfriend all your life. Somehow he likes you. There has to be something.”

“That's because I chose to not date!”

“So you're telling me he is special?”

Shivaay looked at Harsh blankly, then towards Anika. Radhika cleared her throat, looking at Harsh and Anika. “Can the two of you eat in quiet?”

“Who eats quietly?” Anika quipped.

“We will, today.”

“The entire point of Anika bringing him here was so we could talk.” Harsh took a bite, looking at Radhika innocently.

“Yeah.” Shivaay added. “I mean, you guys can ask me anything. Your concerns are valid.”

“I don't need you to tell me that.” Harsh shrugged.

Anika covered her mouth, pretending to clean it.

Shivaay stared at him. “Right.” He looked at his girlfriend, whose gaze was stuck on her plate. What was he even thinking? It was Anika's father. Of course it was not going to be easy.

“Do you drink?” Harsh asked.

“Yes.” Shivaay answered.

Harsh sighed. “If only Anika wasn't such a fan of alcohol herself, it would have been a negative.”

Shivaay smiled a little. “Lucky me.”

Anika on the other hand, frowned. This was supposed to be a roast-Shivaay session.

“Do you smoke?” Harsh raised an eyebrow.

“No actually, I have a little heart condition. Smoking's not that great for me.”

Anika turned to him with wide-eyes. “What condition?”

Shivaay looked at her alarmed-face. “It's nothing.”

Radhika glared at Harsh who sighed. Anika did look a little panicked.

“Can you change tires?” Harsh asked.

Anika frowned. “Let me talk first!”

“You can discuss it later. This is my time to interrogate your boyfriend.”

“Uh, yes, I can.” Shivaay smiled a little. “I didn't for a while but when I was in the US, I learnt it.”

Harsh nodded. “Can you do your taxes?”

Shivaay smiled awkwardly this time. “Not really, we have accountants for that.”

Harsh shook his head.

“But I am pretty food at finance. And deals.” Shivaay provided, a little nervous. Was it really important to Anika's father that Shivaay should be able to do his taxes? “I could learn taxes?”

Harsh maintained his poker face, taking another bite.

Shivaay sighed. Torture is what this was.

“Anika told me you can cook.”

Shivaay smiled. Something he knew he could flaunt. “Yeah, I am a pretty decent chef.”

“Harsh also enjoys cooking from time to time.” Radhika interjected.

Harsh stared at his wife before sighing. “Well, that is true. How often do you cook?”

“I mean, it used to be only Sundays before but now almost everytime I am with Anika. I started teaching her before we even started dating.”

“How did you like her after seeing how bad she was with it?”

“I am done.” Anika rolled her eyes. “I am going to go watch some TV.”

“Come on, I have to know Shivaay actually likes you.” Harsh hollered as Anika walked to the kitchen to keep her plate.

Anika walked out, narrowing her eyes. “Yep, enjoy your time with him. Ask him as many questions you want, insult me as much as you want. I am out.”

“I will.” Harsh nodded seriously before grinning.

Anika sighed. “I am going to go meet Sahil.”

“If you think he's not going to make fun of you—”

“Bye!” Anika interruped and walked out. They heard the house door open and close.

Shivaay stared at his plate, his lips pressed together. Did Anika just leave him all by himself?

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Hi, so sorry I haven't updated. Life's been terribly demanding.

And I hate this chapter, even though I have rewritten it 3 times already.

Vote, comment, etc. Sorry I won't be replying to most comments. I have me entrance this week :)

Also thank you Kripa so much for that beautiful, gorgeous banner up there and for helping me get in the writing zone. <3