◾️Walk in the woods ◾️

Shivaay looked at the endless run of mountains shining with snow. A serene Deoria Tal lake beside him. Cool breeze hitting him on his face. It was their second day of trekking. They had trekked the whole morning having Maggie during stops. They had even pranked Anika telling her that they didn't knew the way to the top of the mountain. They had expected her to be scared. But she instead had showered them with sarcastic comments like " Do you live in stone age?! " and then opened her GPS to get to the top.
Anika. Shivaay smiled remembering that incident. He looked at Anika laughing while setting up their camps with omru and gauri. She was so Anika. Always smiling, bubbly, everyone's favorite and the one who had everything she ever wanted.

Shivaay jogged towards them. Gauri was distributing theplas wrapped in foil to everyone. Gauri she was. Shivaay took his one muttering a thanks. They were standing near the camps having their theplas and chatting When they saw a group of two men and two women moving to the camping area with camps in their hand.

" Are she is Mallika our school friend, do you remember her Anika?! Come let's go meet them "

Gauri excitedly pulled a not so happy Anika with her. Shivaay noticed the quick change in Anika's mood when she noticed mallika. As if she disliked her.
All of them went towards them. They had set up their camps while gauri was animatedly talking with mallika who was no less in hers. Anika was just smiling.

" Hey guys I am arnav raizada and this is my friend mohit , mallika and shruthi. " arnav shaked his hands with everyone followed by his friends. They were casually chatting about their jobs when.

" Guys, it's getting quite cold should we light a campfire?! " mohit interrupted.

" Yeah sure, you're right I will go and get some sticks and wood " shivaay said. Mohit got up to join him while arnav and om were chatting, rudra was busy flirting with shruthi and mallika and gauri were gossiping nonstop . Unhelpful people.The two started going.

" Guys I'll join as well " Anika said quickly getting up.

" Anika are you sure, we are going in the woods ?!" mohit asked.

" Let her join naa, she will give her important advice 'how to do it' to us as well on the way " shivaay winked.

" Haww, what do you mean ?! I go ordering people around ?!" Anika put her hands on her hip.

" You do Anika, don't you remember in school you always used to boss around! " mallika laughed hi fying gauri who was giggling.

Anika frowned before putting up a fake smile. She so did not like her.

" Guys I am coming, whatever you say. RI you wanna join?! "

" They will manage ani, you join us naa " gauri gestured Anika to sit with them to chat with a cute face.

" RI it's OK if you don't wanna come, see you guys in a bit " saying Anika ran to catch up with shivaay and mohit who had already started moving.

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Anika, shivaay and mohit were walking picking up sticks and dry wood wherever they see.
" Guys, I think one of us should go back to give the collected sticks, so that arnav and om will start the fire "

" Yeah I'll go... " shivaay was about to say when he noticed Anika gesturing him not to Leave her with her eyes.

".... but I can't leave you with Anika, she is a mad girl and she will drive you crazy as well " shivaay laughed mentally hoping he will leave.

Mohit laughed " Yeah sure bro " but before going he whispered to Anika
" Will love to see your madness one day " and winked flirtily before going with some wood in his hands.

Anika was wide eyed standing there. Did that man just flirt with her. Not bad Anika. Getting on track with life.Anika tucked a strand before looking up to see shivaay staring at her with a question mark on his face.

" What did he say to make you blush?! "
" Something, tum nahi samjhoge ! By the way thanks for sending him "

" I know I am handsome and stuff but that was a very desperate move Anika. Also don't you think a jungle is a very bad choice of place to spend time "

" I know right, but you know it's better to spend time with a known idiot rather an unknown one " Anika kept her hand on his shoulder.

" Yeah, what?! Idiot me?! You just wait !! You messed up with the wrong person lady " shivaay ran behind Anika who was laughing. They both were running here and there hiding behind trees and laughing. Finally they caught each other out of breath.

" Chalo, I don't think you want to give away wrong ideas about us do you?! "
" No way, thank you, let's go "

Anika and shivaay looked around and got their sticks before setting on the way on the wooden road. They were walking back

" Umm, can I ask you something?! " shivaay asked.
" Ask "
" What's up with you and mallika?! "

" So you noticed!! "

" Yeah you seemed sullen since she came. Do you guys have something against each other?! "
" No, not at all. We were good school friends. But don't you think she sticks a bit too much with my ri?! "

" You are jealous?! "

"Probably, They were talking about so many things half of which I didn't even know about. That's when I realized how much I had missed out on with ri. Due to my job I couldn't remove time for her. Mallika did. Probably thats why they were so updated with each others lives. And me I don't even when I and ri last had our girls night. I am such a bad friend" Anika let out a sarcastic laugh in the end.

" Hey it's OK, gauri would never leave your back. Whatever happens she will love you the most. Also didn't she tell you first about her and om?! "

" She did. She was so excited. She had woken me up from sleep and I had baked her favorite cake to party at 12am when I had my presentation the next day " Anika waved her hands in the air animatedly, reminiscing that day.

" See, you just need to introspect sometimes and you get the answers you want "

" How often do you do this by the way?! " Anika looked at shivaay straight in his eyes.

" Do what?! "

" Become this preachy baba?! " Anika giggled trying to lighten the mood.

" Well this is special service, only lucky ones get it." shivaay winked before moving towards the camp.

This man was different . He wasn't the tough nut, arrogant man she thought she met the first day. He was quite opposite of that. Don't know why but he seemed so real with her.

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Hey guys, hope you loved this chapter. Doing some cameo in few chapters will be Arnav (Barun sobti) , Mohit ( zain imam), Mallika ( surbhi Jyoti) and shruthi ( nehalaxmi iyer).

The campfire scenes will continue for two chapters more probably before moving on. Cause I love writing them.🙈💁

Also HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 💫💫

Hope you guys have a wonderful 2019. 💕💕❤❤

And surprise I am here with another short story. The hereditary crown👑

Do give this book a try guys, I am sure you will not be disappointed. You guys will love it. 😬💕💕❤

Yours truly,
Kamakshi.