"I think we should give them some space so that they can get to know each other", Dadi sipped at her tea while sitting in front of the Tv.

"So, what should we do?", Jhavi asked Dadi, confused. Pinky looked at them, uninterested.

"Let's leave. There's this exhibition going on in Dubai for like a week. Pinky and you could go watch it. And Omkara and Rudy can leave for a trip as well? Shakti and Tej, will be away for a meeting", Dadi explained them, her plan.

"Well, that doesn't sound so bad", Pinky gives her opinion. While Jhanvi nods as in agreement .

"Omi, let's go to Goa?", Rudy ejaculated happily. Omkara ignores him.

"Who's going where?", Shivaay enters the lounge, with a smile on his face. Acting like the weird night he had, never happened.

"I'm leaving for the Temple in Delhi, while both of your mom's are going to this exhibition. Omkara and Rudy have this trip to Goa. Your father and uncle are on a business trip", Dadi told him, innocently. Like this wasn't her plan.

"Y'all just gonna leave me with that girl?", he asks then with his eyes widened.

Dadi just smiled in return. And everybody left to do their packing, leaving a frustrated Shivaay. Who'd rather be dead right now then spend a minute with Anika.

✼ ✼ ✼

The next day, everybody had left and the house felt so empty. Anika woke up and left to make herself and maybe Shivaay breakfast.

While trying to pour the coffee into the cups, her hand slipped and the rest of the hot liquid fell onto her hand. Anika dropped the hot and her hands slightly hit the burning stove.

Shivaay who had just taken a bath, rushed to the kitchen, hearing the voice of breaking something, only to find a crying Anika, looking at her burnt hand.

"Why the fuck are you cooking? You do know this isn't your place. We have cooks for that?", he screamed at her, which almost seemed like concern. But that couldn't be it, he's Shivaay.

Anika bit onto her lip to stop that flinch, which makes her cry a bit more. Lookin at her hand, who was bruised now, he guided her to the bathroom.

Putting her hand under water, he started looking for the first aid box. While putting a bandage on it, Anika squirmed. He slowly blew onto her hand, which made her shiver. After a moment, he had finally managed to put some bandage on her wounds.

"You're an idiot, you know that right?", he told her or maybe he was teasing her. It was hard to. identify his intentions?

She glared at him. Which made him smile. Smile? Shivaay Singh Oberoi was smiling at her? This had to be a miracle or something.

"Sh..", she tried to call him but didn't know which name. Shivaay had turned to the other side to put the first aid box back.

"I want to go home", it took her all the courage she had to utter these words. Shivaay turned around to look at her, he wasn't smiling anymore.

"Okay. After breakfast", he replied and walked past by her. Anika sighed in relief.

After some breakfast, they left for her place. When they arrived, Shivaay turned off the engine. Anika sat there, not so sure about asking him to come with her.

"I'm not coming with you. If that's what you're thinking", he told her, looking out of the window.

"Okay", maybe a part of her knew, him showing concern wouldn't change shit. He'd still loathe her.

"Maa", she called when she entered her home after three days. Those three days felt like three years.

"Anika", her mother hugged her tightly. That's all she had, her daughter. Who wasn't hers anymore.

"I made your favorite carrot pudding", she smiled at Anika. Kissing her forehead.

After having her favorite dish. Anika placed her head into her mothers lap, who started caressing her hair.

"Maa", Anika called her as if she was unsure of her existence.

"Yes, my love", she answered every so sweetly, looking at her daughter with all the love in this world.

"Maa, why is being poor such a big shame?", she asked her mother demented. Anika's mother was taken aback from her question.

"Why are you asking me this?", she asked her daughter worried. Her hands had stopped caressing Anika's hair now.

"Why do poor people always have to bow down in front of rich people? Being poor isn't less than a curse. Everyone just smashes us under their feets as if we were ants", Anika hissed in anger, reminiscing her last few days in that huge mansion.

Shivaay", Alizey called him, trying to change his attention towards her. But he didn't seem to care, which bothered her.

So, she did what she was best at. Seducing him. Her hands traveled towards the buttons of his shirt. Shivaay, who hadn't been looking at her. Grabbed her hand and before he could've pushed it away. Alizey opened her mouth again.

"Anika", she tried to sound surprised but even he knew she wasn't.

Shivaay looked at the entrance, only to find her actually standing there. Looking at him with no emotions. As if this didn't matter to her, at all.

"Just came to get something. Carry on", she excused herself and left from there. Shivaay rolled his eyes and pushed Alizey away.

After that he left for his room. He was about to enter it when he heard Anika's voice. She was pleading someone.

"Please, help me, doctor", was all he had the chance to hear. Was Anika about to die and would he even care?

"Mhm, okay, thanks", with that she hung up her call and continued with her packing.

"Who were you talking to?", he asked her, in hope, she'd tell him.

"None of your concern", she replied while packing some clothes into her bag. Shivaay grabbed her arm and pulled her closer.

"Don't you ever dare talk to me like that again", he howled at her. Anika looked at him as if she was expecting this to happen.

"Okay", she answered and pulled away. Shivaay scratched his eyebrow in annoyance.

"You're not going anywhere", he announced. Anika turned towards him. Taking steps closer.

"Why?", she asked him bewildered.

"Because I don't want to be lonely", he whispered, wishing she didn't hear him. Which was a useless thing to wish for.
_______________________________________

Amna xx