chapter xxxii. The Keep-Anika-From-Embarassing- Herself Program

You would think, after too many experiences, Anika would know better than to drink more than she can handle. And the sober Anika does, yes. However, even a slightly buzzed Anika immediately forgets how embarassing being drunk is for her.

Before this day, her worst day was what led her to get assigned to desk duty. Now, it is this night, at another career-defining event, that Anika really thinks she should never touch alcohol ever again.

Waking up in Shivaay Singh Oberoi's bed was the last thing she expected. There was a striking pain in her head which only added to the absolute terror she felt. What did she do last night?

Shivaay was standing very still and she was almost sure she was imagining him. That was until he turned around swiftly, smiling a small smile and rushing out the door.

What. Did. She. Do?

---

After about an hour, things were slightly clearer in her head and Anika's mental walk of shame from Shivaay's bed room to the living room (which was thankfully empty except Gauri and Om sitting there, talking about something) was uneventful.

"Di!" Gauri rushed to her, a myriad of expressions crossing her face. "What happened?"

"I..." Anika looked around, "don't know?"

Gauri narrowed her eyes. "You and Shivaay Bhaiya..."

"NO!" Anika shook her head. "We drank as a celebration sort of thing because Om's party was a success."

"Are you guys, like friends now?" Om looked mildly curious.

Anika shrugged. "I still annoy him, he dislikes everything about me but yeah I guess... You can say we are friends or something. I got a call, I need to go. I'll talk later, bye!"

Not giving them any chance for any questions Anika headed out.

---

After getting dressed and spending almost an hour lazing around, Anika decided she needed to actually do something and not dwell on her stupidity. She really wanted to call up one of her two friends from the office and ask for advice but she didn't really know how she'd do it without actually having to tell them everything. She liked them but knew them enough to know not to let them in on anything with the potential of turning into gossip.

The boredom and a chaotic mind led Anika to pick up Gauri's grocery list. Maybe doing boring work would distract her? Plus, it seemed like a nice chance to shop for snacks Gauri made sure not to buy.

Currently standing in the middle of the grains and millets section, Anika sighed, waiting for the man in front of her to finish choosing what sack of wheat he wanted. She took out her list again, mindlessly going through it again when she heard a soft "Anika didi?" behind her.

Turning, she found Saumya grinning at her.

"Hey!" Anika smiled at the young girl. "What are you doing here?"

"Grocery shopping?" Saumya raised a brow to which Anika smiled sheepishly.

"Don't mind me, I am nursing a hangover and regretting a night full of bad decisions."

"Oooh." Saumya wriggled her eyebrows, giggling a little.

"How are things for you?" Anika smiled, finally glad that the guy moved on to rice.

"Well, I quit the bartending job and now am looking for another part time."

"Oh, why'd you quit?"

"I didn't find any customer as nice as you were."

Anika rolled her eyes and an idea struck her. She wanted to avoid anyone who actually knew her. Saumya did know her but not enough. She could totally spend time with her.

"Have coffee with me?" Anika looked at her hopefully.

"Oh, why not?"

---

Their grocery bags sitting beside them, Anika and Saumya had found a nice corner spot in a cafe. Saumya was telling Anika about the jobs she was looking for when Anika received a call.

Pinky Aunty <3

Saumya noticed Anika's expressions and raise a brow to which Anika only smiled and picked up a call.

Instead of Pinky, it was Kalyani who replied to Anika's "Hi aunty!"

"Anika puttar, I needed to ask you a favour."

"Of course Dadi, anything."

"Me and my friends had a jagraata planned at the Ahulwalia's today but Meenu fell sick and we do not want to burden her. So I offered to host it. Could you come over and help plan it?"

Anika took a deep breath, eyes shut. "Why not Dadi? I'll be there in half an hour?"

"Thank you so much puttar. Do not feel obligated to just because you are Billu's girlfriend. I suggested we do it ourselves but Pinky really does love you."

Anika smiled a little. "I would come now but I was out shopping so I'll come in a while?"

"I'll send a car to your house after an hour?"

"I'll come by myself Dadi."

There was a slight shuffling and suddenly it was Pinky on the other end.

"If you want, I can send Shivaay. He only has one meeting today, he said he'll be home soon."

Anika mentally sent prayers to whoever up there was having fun messing with her. "No aunty, Shivaay hates that. I'll be there, no worries."

When the call was finally dropped Anika stared at Saumya. "I have a gig for you."

"What?" Saumya stared at her curiously.

"You know how people have sober companions?"

"Uh-huh..."

"You are going to be my stay away from SSO companion!"

"Sorry what?" Saumya frowned in confusion.

Anika decided that Saumya was a person least interested in gossip and would actually be helpful to have around as someone Anika could talk to. Thus, she divulged Saumya into her situation with Shivaay, to which Saumya nodded in amusement.

"So why do you want me to help you stay away from Shivaay."

Anika's cheeks coloured up. "You realise he's very attractive."

Saumya nodded.

"I might have drunkenly admitted that I would like to kiss him."

---

Almost 12 hours ago, 1:39 am, Shivaay's bedroom

Shivaay and Anika lay side by side on his bed, facing the ceiling.

"I hate your smug face." Anika mumbled. Losing Scrabble to him was embarrassing.

"Oh come on, I have been told I looke vey sexy when I am being smug." Shivaay mumbled.

Anika groaned, turning to her side to face him. Shivaay followed suit, looking at her curiously.

"Hmm, I guess." Anika agreed.

Shivaay grinned. "Of course you do."

Anika frowned. Shivaay frowned back.

"Okay, can I be honest with you?" Anika jutted out her bottom lip, looking at him hopefully.

"Of course." Shivaay said with a smile.

"We shouldn't talk about you being attractive, me being attracted to you or anything like this."

Shivaay raised a brow in question.

"I don't get it."

"Come on Shivaay, you know you are attractive. I mean, hot, sexy whatever adjectives you want to use. It is very distracting when you keep hinting stuff like that. Like, okay, everyone gets it, you were blessed in the looks department, might be an excellent kisser or whatever. Does not mean you tempt me like that!"

Shivaay nodded his head dutifully. "Makes sense."

Anika forwarded her hand. "So promise me we never talk about you and me like that again and we'll be friends."

Shivaay did hold her hand and mumbled an "I promise." before they became distracted again.

---

Saumya looked at Anika in sheer amusement. "If you attracted to him, why not try it out?"

Anika snorted. "Have you seen his annoying face?"

"You admitted you find that very face attractive."

"But it's still annoying and it has to stay that way. Imagine, for one wild second, that something does happen. What do I tell Om? Hey Om! Remember when you asked me to find someone for your elder brother so he could get married? Guess what! I did. Me. And anyway this is Shivaay we are talking about. Come on Saumya, that guy is picky. We are never happening."

Saumya nodded, not looking even half convinced.

"Anyway, that is so not the point. The point is, I am going to avoid Shivaay or as long as possible. Your duty is going to be to call me if you see us even slightly close. Anika Di, how do you think we should set the lights? The flowers? Anika Di, Pinky Aunty is calling you. Whatever excuses come to mind. Avoid. Shivaay."

Saumya looked at her weirdly. "I am not sure that is the best way to go about it. Maybe you could talk it out with him, I am sure he'll understand. Your drunk self was pretty clear."

"Saumya, you do this, I am talking with my boss to give you a job."

"I think this is ethically wrong." Saumya furrowed her brows.

"If you do this for me today, I will pay you half of whatever Dadi's group is paying me today. You have an actual job that way!"

"And technically the job is... To keep you from embarassing yourself?"

Anika nodded.

"This is super weird but why not?" Saumya shrugged. "Not like I have any better job prospect."

"Excellent!" Anika grinned.

---

Shivaay headed home after a long meeting, ready to relax. What he was not read for was his house being decorated, again.

He spotted Anika talking to a young man, frowning at something. He walked towards her, tapping on her shoulder to grab her attention.

Anika turned around to face him, head buried in her diary. "Kya hua?"

"What's going on here?"

Anika froze for a second before looking up at him with a grin. "Dadi had an impromptu jagraata and she wanted my help setting it up."

"But you just finished one work? Did you even rest?"

Anika smiled a little at his concern before her eyes comically widened. "I brought a new assistant with me!"

Shivaay raised a brow as Anika looked around. "Saumya!"

The girl in question, hurried towards them and looked at Anika curiously.

"This," she dramatically waved her hands in Shivaay's face, "is Shivaay."

She then wrapped a hand around Saumya's shoulder, "and Shivaay, this is Saumya. She's a very talented young woman and volunteered to help me out with the work. Plus, I did rest. I went home, slept for a while, then I went out for grocery shopping and had coffee with Saumya after which the two of us came here."

Shivaay nodded. "You look very excited about having an assistant. Good for you."

With that Shivaay smiled at Saumya before walking to his room.

Saumya turned to Anika in confusion. "Do you think he even remembers? How much did he drink? Is it like a big black out for him?"

Anika shrugged. "Whatever it is, I am glad."

---

Shivaay was sitting in his room when Rudra walked in with a frown.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Oh, nobody loves me anymore."

Shivaay shook his head, shutting the laptop and looking at Rudra as he came and sat down next to him. "Anika Di took Saumya as her apprentice! What about me? I am like so up-to date with all fashionable trends while all Sumo knows is statistics and facts."

"Don't call her names." Shivaay chided to which Rudra crossed his hands across his chest. "I've been calling her Sumo for the last three years."

"Wait you know Saumya since three years?"

"Yeah, she's in my college Bhaiya. The topper."

Shivaay shrugged. "Maybe Anika needed someone good at Math? Or just studied in general."

Rudra whined. "Next in the line of people who don't love me anymore are you."

"What did I do?" Shivaay asked.

"You partied with Anika Di last night. Woh bhi the entire bottle of wine!"

"It was just a gesture."

"Were you acting on your feelings?" Rudra wriggled his brows with a smirk.

"Rudra, there are no feelings." Shivaay looked at him meaningfully. Although, this did bring back a certain set of events to his brain. "We are friends now."

"Just friends? Kuch toh hua hoga yaar!"

Shivaay only shook his head. Good thing Rudra reminded him. Now that Shivaay thought of it, Anika hadn't even mentioned anything. Was she okay with and actually mature about what happened?

---

Shivaay had come home at four in the evening. By six-thirty, it had become painfully obvious Anika was ignoring him. Somehow, everytime he would try to talk to her, she had a thousand things happening.

For a wild second there, Shivaay was sure Saumya was only here to help Anika make excuses.

Currently, their couches were all gone and carpets with intricate designs were laid around. Shivaay walked towards where his brothers were seated on the staircases, talking amongst themselves.

"Hey Shivaay." Om smiled a little. "Haven't seen you since today morning where I found my assistant's sister in your bed."

Shivaay rolled his eyes. "Find a better way to frame that sentence please."

"So nothing actually happened?"

"Of course not, why would you think that?

"Well, the two of you were clearly drunk, Gauri swears Anika has never done anything like this before which can be said for you as well and Rudra clearly ships you."

Shivaay hit Rudra lightly. "Can you stop going around with your stories?"

Rudra shrugged, mumbling to himself about how people never appreciated him enough.

Shivaay saw Anika in the middle of the room, talking to the panditji about something. He wondered how he could possibly trick her into talking to him when Rudra called her loudly.

Anika looked towards them curiously, thinking for a few seconds before dragging herself to the stairs.

"Hey Rudra! Hi Om."

Shivaay rolled his eyes but said nothing.

"Anika Di, I am bored."

"Rudra, let her do her work." Shivaay frowned. God knows what was in Rudra's mind anyway. Anika raised a brow at that.

"Well, I was just asking-"

Before Rudra could ask, however, there was a "Hey guys!" in a very familiar voice.

Shivaay closed his eyes shut. Of course there could have been no better time for her to be here.

Anika looked at the door curiously. That was one gorgeous woman standing at the Oberoi doorstep.

From behind her she heard a chorus of "Hey beautiful!" "HI MISHA DI" and a very sombre "Hello Misha."

---

I hope you guys liked the update! If you didn't, blame silver_dustXX, rainbowwveins and crazymaniac_ for emotionally blackmailing me into giving a quicker update.

Also, I apologize for not replying to comments. For some reason whenever I try to open in-line comments I get an error so I technically just don't know which comment is for what part of the story. I am trying to figure out a way :P

Please vote/comment to let me know if you enjoyed it. Okay bye.