chapter xxiv. Do you want me to?

Varun laughed and Anika smiled widely. Who knew her night would turn out to be so amazing?

"Well, you should meet my sister. She is terrifying."

"Nikita was sweet from what I remember."

"Not at all. She is very menacing. And a menace."

Anika blinked lightly when she felt something wet on her nose. Blinking again, she looked up in confusion.

"Oh looks like it's, we should head inside?" Varun got down the stool, offering her a hand which she gladly took.

By the time they reached the area outside the door which thankfully had a roof, they were both slightly drenched.

Laughing at Varun as he tried to dry himself, Anika took out her phone, only to find a message from Shivaay.

Shivaay 'ji': Wrapped up. Be outside in a couple minutes.

As if on cue, he appeared from behind them.

"I didn't know you'd take that message so seriously and wait right outside the door."

Shifting slightly, she turned to him with a frown.

"Why are you done already?"

"You are here with Shivaay Singh Oberoi?" Varun asked, surprise evident.

The two of them turned to look at him.

"Yeah, the 'situation' I talked about." Anika air-quoted situation.

"This guy is like one of the best businessmen. How are you annoyed by him? How is he a 'situation'?" Varun chuckled, also air-quoting for emphasis.

Anika frowned. "Don't tell me you find him interesting too."

Shivaay frowned. "First of all, you succesfully managed to ruin my mood."

"Oh please. It is your fault. I have literally no reason to-"

"Second, who is this guy?"

Anika looked at him meaningfully. At Shivaay's clueless expression, she sighed. "How are you so oblivious? Remember, I sent you a picture of me and him? Varun?"

"Oh right! The we-" he stopped at Anika's expression. "The one your mom set you up on a date with." Anika smiled.

"You talked about me to Shivaay Singh Oberoi. Is it safe to assume it was all good stuff?" Varun smiled at her.

Anika bit her cheek, trying to keep herself from smiling.

"Maybe."

"So what exactly is this situation of yours?"

Anika looked at him for a few seconds, wondering what to say. Gauri and Om sucking faces? Her crazily declaring herself Shivaay's girlfriend? Fake-dating him? Accompanying him to dates to baby-sit him? None of those sounded, normal... Except maybe the Gauri and Om bit. But then again, Shivaay was right here. How could she give away the very reason all of this was happening?

"Well, I have been following him for a number of days and have a really well planned murder scheme in mind. Just waiting for the right moment."

Varun nodded, half amused.

"Look, I am going to my car. If you are interested, you can come with me. Or find a ride for yourself."

Anika rolled her eyes at the attitude and smiled sheepishly. "I have to go."

"Well, don't worry. Now that I know you are discussing me with important people, I can assume you are interested. We'll meet. Say, Sunday?"

Anika smiled. "Maybe I am interested. Except, I am not discussing you with anyone important."

Varun shrugged and took her in a hug.

With an accomplished smile, Anika walked to the parking lot after pulling away. Turns out, her day had a fantastic end to it afterall.

Little did she know, the night was still young.

---

It had been a coupld minutes and they were now driving silently. There was the occasional thunder interrupting the quiet inside.

"So, I think I realised when this mess happened." Shivaay began. "After waking you up, I just walked to my room and Vidhi called. She said something about a reschedule but Mom had my attention. She was waiting for me in my room. Vidhi began telling me but I just asked her to reschedule and update my calendar. I didn't think it would be tonight."

Anika smiled. "It's okay."

Shivaay looked at her in confusion. "You only have that to say?"

Anika nodded.

"Wow, finding a guy really did wonders to your mood. I was ready for you to, you know, go off on me?"

"Well, now you know how I was feeling last night, what with you being all crazy happy. Today the tables have turned. I am now the one with a fantastic mood."

"Can't say I am not happy with that. Like I said, I was sort of guilty with the mess and it's not a good colour on me. And you are losing your chance at being rightfully angry with me, so sort of a win-win for me."

Anika snorted. "I can always bring this up in future arguments."

The rain picked pace and Anika sighed. It was going to be a long night for her.

The GPS stopped as Mom Calling flashed on the screen. Flicking a switch on the wheel, Shivaay greeted her.

"How was your dates?"

"Fantastic, Mom." Anika smiled at his expression.

"Is Anika with you?"

"Yes she is. I couldn't leave her at the restaurant, could I?"

"Oho, I meant to ask if you've dropped her already. The thing is, a huge tree fell because of lightening. The road is blocked."

Shivaay scrunched his brows. "Where did it fall?"

"You know, that junction, right outside the mall?"

"That's close to the house."

"Yeah, so don't come home."

"What?" Shivaay looked at Anika in confusion who shrugged.

"Shivaay, how will you come? It's raining and you won't be able to drive to the house. I am not letting you walk in the rain at all. You have zero immunity."

"Mom, it's not even five minutes and if I do get sick, I'll have some medicine."

"But what if a tree falls on you?"

"Were you watching some TV astrologer again?"

"How does that matter?"

"Mom, I am coming home. Don't worry."

"No you are not. I will ask Khanna to shoot on sight."

"Khanna does not have a gun on him."

"Yeh kaisa security hai?"

Anika was shaking, trying to control her laughter. Shivaay raised a brow. "You find this funny?"

"How are you oblivious?" Anika whispered. "She is still trying to set us up."

"Oh." Shivaay nodded, gradually understanding. Anika watched in amusement as his cheeks turned pink.

"Oh my god are you blushing?"

"No I am not." Shivaay mumbled. "I am just, maybe, flustered?"

"Ohh." Anika dragged it, nodding innocently.

"Mom, bye. I won't come home since you don't want me there." with that, he cut the call and Anika began laughing.

"This is not funny. Mom's gone crazy."

"I love your mom. Would have married her if I had the chance. She is  by far the most lovely romantic I have ever met and I live with Gauri. So, your Mom is definitely something else."

"Gauri is a romantic?"

"Yeah, she lives in this dreamland all the time. Trust me when I say this, she can do and make others do anything in the name of love."

"Oh, you say that as if she's done things. She found someone for herself?"

Anika stared at him for a few seconds, wondering if she should just tell him. Nah. "Not my secret to share. Since you two seem to be so close, ask her yourself."

Shivaay looked at her curiously. "What about you?"

"Huh?" Anika stared at him in confusion.

"Are you a romantic? You want to marry my Mom, so, are you guys like, identical poles or opposites attract?"

"What do you think?"

Shivaay faked a deep-thinking look. "I think you can never give straight answers."

"Spoken like a true genius." Anika patted his shoulder. Shaking his head, Shivaay continued driving while Anika rolled down the window a little.

---

By the time they reached her house, Anika looked at him for a few seconds. "Are you going to go home?"

Shivaay sighed. "No, I'll go to my office or something."

Shivaay looked with amusement as Anika fidgeted a little. "Are you okay?"

"You could sleep here. Gauri isn't home so I have her bed to sleep on. You could use my room."

Shivaay raised an eyebrow. "That won't be necessary."

Anika nodded. When she didn't make a move to get down, Shivaay had to ask, "Do you want me to stay here?"

Anika frowned. "Not for your ego boost. You can if you want. Office se accha sleep nicely. Nahi toh you'll find a way to blame the back ache on me as well."

Shivaay was hardly convinced. "I'll park."

---

Early update when I really should be studying. :// Not proof read, sorry.

I would love to know your thoughts and maybe what you expect from the story, or anything like that. Sort of feels disconnected when you guys don't tell me if it is working for you guys or not :)