Shivaay came back from work later than usual that evening. He had informed the family beforehand and had finished dinner at the office with a few delegates from Jakarta. In collaboration with an Indonesian multi-national company, Oberoi industries had recently ventured into the coffee business. Shivaay was a big fan of Luwak coffee and was personally overseeing this deal closely. In the process, he had learned a lot about the making of the beverage. He was planning a trip to Indonesia soon to officially sign the deal and set up their plant. As he walked into his room, pondering over the details of the trip and trying to figure out a relatively free weekend in which he could fly to Indonesia, he was surprised to see his brothers waiting for him by the poolside. It was their long-standing tradition to meet by the pool after dinner and talk about all the things under the stars. However, when Shivaay was later than usual, Rudra would doze off to sleep while waiting and Om would retreat for his hour-long meditation session. Oberoi Mansion was unusually quiet at night and this was the only time one could get any meditation done.

"You guys are still awake?" Shivaay asked as he sat down by the pool. Rolling his pants to his knees, he dipped his feet into the pool and sighed. Finally, it was time to relax.

"Yep. It's nice weather so we thought we would wait for you."

Indeed, the weather was lovely tonight. The sky was full of stars, and the heat that had enveloped Mumbai in the past month wasn't so unbearable with a light breeze blowing. Rudra passed Shivaay a can of beer and he opened it with a pop. Om settled for a glass of iced tea instead. He had been sober for years now but did not trust himself just yet to not fall into old habits. The three talked about how their day had been, and Shivaay mentioned he was planning a trip to Jakarta soon.

"Can I come?" Rudra asked, excitedly. "You can do your business in Jakarta, while I'll go to Bali and relax for a while. Oh, it's been too long since we went there."

"Idiot," Om perked up, "You forget that Shivaay is engaged now. If he had to take someone, he would take Annika. Right, Shivaay?" He looked at Shivaay expectantly.

"Don't be stupid, Om," Shivaay replied, swirling around the beer in his can. "It's a business trip."

"Woh sab toh theek hai, bhaiya," Rudra started with an up-to-no-good grin, "But why did you suddenly start smiling hearing Annika di's name?"

"What? No, I didn't!" Indeed he had. Om noticed it too and smirked. Rudra could be daft at times, but he was surely good at such things.

"Smiling and all, huh, bhaiya," Rudra teased, nudging Shivaay's shoulder with his own. "Tell us as well, what you are thinking of."

"Shut up, Rudra," Shivaay mumbled. Om decided to make use of the opportunity and posed a question.

"Shivaay, can I ask you something?"

"Of course," Shivaay looked up.

"What do you feel for Annika?"

They were all silent for a while, waiting for Shivaay to collect his thoughts as he stared into the pool. The only sound was of Rudra's feet splashing the water.

"Well, Annika is..." Shivaay trailed off.

"Yes?"

Shivaay sighed. "She's very, how do I put it – different."

"What do you mean?" Om asked. He and Rudra were highly curious because usually, they couldn't get Shivaay to talk about his to-be-wife so willingly.

"Well, she makes me feel different."

"Different how?" Rudra inquired, leaning in closer to not miss a word his brother says.

"Well, I don't know. She makes me feel a little light-headed. Happy, almost."

"Wow," Rudra whistled. "You're a goner, my brother," He grinned. Om, however, turned serious.

"Shivaay, are you in love with her?"

Shivaay rolled his eyes at that. "Om, you know I don't believe in love."

Om scoffed at that, taking a sip of his drink. "Keep telling yourself that, Shivaay."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, my brother," Om said with a grin, "That I think you have a fairytale waiting to happen."

--

Annika smoothened out her knee-length dress as she sat on one of the couches in the living room. She took a sip of the wine she had been holding and decided she did not like it. But to have at least something to do while she was here, she held on to the glass, swirling it around now and then. She was at the birthday party of a friend from London and wasn't familiar with any of the guests present. Her friend himself was busy playing beer pong on one side. He had asked her to join in, but she had declined it. This was one of those frat-type party games she found ridiculous.

"Hi, can I sit here?" A pretty-looking girl of around Annika's age, maybe a little younger, approached her with a smile. Annika smiled in return and made space for her. A couple of other girls took a break from dancing and sat down on the adjacent couch, talking amongst themselves. The girl beside Annika started a conversation with her. She had a bob-cut hairstyle that greatly suited her, accentuating her cheekbones.

"Hi, I'm Bhavya," She said, forwarding her hand. "And you are?"

"Annika," Annika smiled. "I'm Varun's friend from London."

"And I'm his cousin. I don't know anyone here but Varun bhaiya insisted I come," Bhavya said sheepishly. "I feel so awkward."

"Don't worry, we're in the same boat," Annika replied. She liked this girl already. "What do you do, Bhavya?"

"I'm studying finance in the University of Mumbai. It's my last year there."

"Oh, I know someone who studies there!" Annika said excitedly. "He's in his last year as well. Rudra Singh Oberoi. Do you know him?"

Bhavya scrunched her nose. Annika could tell she was not a big fan of Rudra.

"Unfortunately, yes," Bhavya said, before covering her mouth with her palm. "Oh, I'm sorry—is he your relative?"

"Not yet," Annika smiled. "I'm engaged to his brother."

"I told you!"

Annika and Bhavya turned to one of the girls sitting on the other sofa. She looked excited as she stared at Annika.

"I'm sorry," She smiled sheepishly. "I was just telling my friend that I had seen you somewhere, and I couldn't help but listen to your conversation. Now I know—you're Shivaay Singh Oberoi's fiancé, right? I saw your engagement pictures and they were gorgeous."

"Thank you," Annika beamed at them. The girls introduced themselves as Nandini and Aysha. They were Varun's family friends and seemed to be a big fan of Shivaay. Soon, the four of them were talking about Annika and Shivaay's relationship.

"Is it a love marriage?" Nandini asked eagerly. Annika shook her head.

"Nope, arranged marriage. But we still have a couple of months till our wedding, so who knows – it might turn into love," She winked. The girls giggled.

"I'm sorry about what I said earlier," Bhavya said. "It's just, Rudra can be a little annoying at times, thinking he's "all that" and more."

"It's okay, Bhavya," Annika said sincerely. "Rudy can seem like that at first but if you get to know him, he's the sweetest person ever."

"I doubt that, but okay," Bhavya shrugged.

"Tell us more about Shivaay, Annika," Aysha swooned. "Wait, is he a good kisser?" She gasped. Annika blushed. She and Shivaay hadn't been intimate at all, but she couldn't imagine how it would feel like to be kissed by him, to have his strong arms wrap around her...

"Of course he is—can't you tell by her blush?" Nandini teased. Annika's face turned redder.

"Actually, we—"

Before she could explain herself, her phone began ringing. Annika fished it out from her clutch and was surprised to see that it was Shivaay. Apparently, the identity of the caller was very evident on her face, because her newly made friends guessed it easily.

"Omigod, is it Shivaay?" Nandini asked, jumping up and down on her seat. Annika nodded shyly. The girls all squealed.

"How cute, Annika di," Bhavya said. "Go on, pick it up."

"Excuse me," Annika stood up. "The music is too loud here."

"Of course," Nandini grinned, "Can't talk to your fiancé in front of other people."

"Shut up," Annika mumbled. She made her way through the crowd, trying to find a quiet, empty, spot, desperately hoping he doesn't cut the call by then. Thankfully, she found a balcony before the phone stopped ringing, and picked it up. The weather was lovely today and she could see plenty of stars in the sky.

"Hello?"

"Hey," Shivaay's voice was soft, soothing Annika's ears. "What's up?"

"Nothing much," Annika smiled. She couldn't stop smiling whenever she talked to him. "Just at a friend's birthday party."

"Oh, did I disturb you?"

"No no," Annika said hurriedly. "I was feeling bored, anyway," She lied. "What are you up to?"

"Not much. Was talking to OmRu, drinking some beer."

"Ah, that explains it."

"Explains what?" Shivaay asked, sounding confused.

"You were drinking beer, so you're a little intoxicated. Which is why you called me."

"What do you mean? Don't I call otherwise? And FYI, I have very high tolerance for alcohol."

"You tell me, Shivaay. We last met 5 days ago, at your place. Since then, have you called me?"

"Well, I was busy with work, but you could have called me," Shivaay retaliated.

"Oh hello, mister," Annika scoffed. "I am also not sitting free. I gave two job interviews this week and was very busy as well."

"Oh, you did? You didn't tell me."

Annika shrugged before she realized he couldn't see her. "Well, you didn't call." She heard Shivaay let out deep breath.

"I'm sorry." He sounded sincere and Annika's heart leaped. "I'll be more communicative from now on."

"Me, too," Annika said softly. They were silent for a few seconds.

"So, how did the interviews go?"

"Fine, I think. I'm not usually optimistic about things but I have a feeling that I might just have a job soon."

"You're not optimistic?" Shivaay sounded amused "I thought you are the kind of people who are very hopeful about everything." Annika laughed.

"Well, I usually put up a show for the outer world, but I'm actually very scared all the time."

"Scared?"

"Yeah. Scared that I'll get my hopes up only to have them shattered." Annika's throat formed a lump. Wasn't this what she was doing now — getting her hopes high about her and Shivaay's relationship? "I'm scared of hoping for things that seem too good to be true."

Shivaay didn't say anything for a while, and Annika thought he might have fallen asleep, before he replied just as softly as she had done before—

"Me, too."