She was brushing her hair when he went and stood behind her as usual. Without any tantrums, she gave the brush to him and was about to go when he held her arm and pulled her towards him.

He held his ear and she looked at him with a frown.

“Sorry” He told with a puppy face and she controlled her smile while looking at his face.

“I thought you'll seriously take me to Paris” She told with a pout and he chuckled.

“You want to go to Paris?” He asked and she nodded.

“I want to go to Disney Land. Along with that, haven't you heard about that special lake there? I want to put a lock there on the bridge” She told with a wide smile.

“We'll go”

“Really? When?” She asked excited.

“If you want to go today, we'll go today” He told with a smile.

“No! Not today. Eiffel tower is not open now due to some construction. I want to go on top of Eiffel tower and look at the whole Paris. We'll go when construction is over” She told and he nodded.

She was about to go when he held her waist holding her in the circle of his arms.

“Let me go” She told and he shook his head slowly.

“What are you going to do?” She asked and he shrugged.

“For starters——” He told leaning towards her and she stretched back with a mischievous smile making him confused.

“Not so easy” She told with a sweet smile and he was about to pull her towards him when she pushed him and moved away from him chuckling.

He held her wrist halting her steps and she smiled as her face turned warm. Pulling her back, he twisted her arms behind her back as he looked at her intensely. His hand moved up her arm towards her neck as his fingers rested slightly on her neck while his thumb caressed the skin under her lips making her close her eyes.

“Wasn't I a big idiot all these while?” He asked and she opened her to look at him.

“How did I not see you all these while? Such a fool I was to restrain myself thinking you're my——out of everything in this world——sister” He told with a frown and she chuckled.

“Our life would have so different if you saw me like bhaiyya saw bhabhi. Normal life. First friendship, then dating, then——” she stopped and looked at him.

“Then?” He asked huskily as leaned in closer to her as she tightened her hold on his shirt.

“Then” She whispered as she closed her eyes feeling all kind of weird sensations in the pit of her stomach.

His mobile rang and she opened her eyes startled to look at him who was clearly irritated with the interruption. She blushed as he moved away from her to take his mobile.

“What?” He asked and she looked confused on who was it.

“I called you to remind to hide your favorite pens too. She'll spoil it” Arnav told and Shivaay turned to look at Anika who was looking at him curiously.

“I will take care. Now, do you have to remind me anything else?” He asked and Arnav got confused at his irritation.

“Ok then” Arnav told and hanged the call.

“Who was it?” Anika asked and he shrugged.

“Arnav” He told and looked at her who nodded.

He stood there fidgeting with the phone while she looked everywhere but him. Clearing his throat, he looked at her and she raised her head to look at him. They looked at each for two seconds before laughing out loud.

“Why did you laugh?” He asked.

“Why did you laugh?” She asked back and he chuckled before shaking his head.

“What's your plan today?” She asked since it was a Saturday and he shrugged.

“Then let's go for a movie?” She asked excited and he smiled.

“Great! I'll tell aunty and uncle. You tell Bhaiyya and bhabhi and Mumma and Papa” She told and he looked at her with wide eyes.

“Wait——”

“I want honey popcorn ok” She told and was about to rush out of the room and when he held her back quickly making her confused.

“We're going alone” He told and she gestured him and her with her index finger to which he nodded.

“We'll all go together” She told and he shook his head.

“Why?” She asked with a pout.

“What why? What all should I teach you now?” He asked and she looked confused at him.

“Whom did I marry Anika?” He asked and she looked at shocked at him.

“Me. You forgot that also?” She asked shocked.

“So you remember that right? Now go and get ready” He told and she looked confused at him at first but shook her head and went to get ready.

*

“What would have happened if we all came together? It would have been so fun” She asked as they sat in a corner at the back.

“And now what is the problem?” He asked and she frowned before looking at the screen as the commercials started.

“Oh my God that guy is such a foolish guy” Anika told with a frown.

“Exactly. She's cheating on him and that fool isn't understanding” He told and she nodded.

“Idiot!” Anika muttered.

“Listen, he'll kiss her right now” Anika whispered to him as her eyes were glued on the screen and he was about to nod but then turned to look at her.

“See I told you” She told excited as she turned to him only to see him looking at her.

“What?”

“Is my name listen?” He asked and she looked confused at him.

“No why?” She asked confused.

“Then why did you call me listen?” He asked with a frown and she chuckled before turning back to the screen.

When he turned to the screen, she turned to him and kissed his cheek making his eyes go wide. He turned to her startled with his hand on his cheek only to see her looking at the screen with utmost concentration.

“Did I start to dream such things? Oh my God! Such a pervert I'm. Ok Shivaay! Now concentrate on the damn movie” He thought and turned back to the screen but his mind was distracted.

She turned to look at him and controlled her chuckle before turning back to the screen.

*

“Listen, If I die one day, what will happen?” She asked as they were about to go to bed.

“If you do, you did. What else?” He asked.

“So you'll not feel anything just like the hero of that movie did?” She asked.

“Do you want me to feel anything like that?” He asked and she looked down.

“You'll not feel sad?” She asked softly.

“No”

“You'll not even feel a void that I'm not there in this world?” She asked slowly.

“No”

“So, I don't matter to you?” She asked looking at him and he shrugged.

“You do but thinking you're not with me, should I not live? I mean come-on Anika, this is not a movie or story. It is real life. I'll probably forget you after a few months. Mom and Dad won't let me live like that. They'll force me for another alliance. I'll get married again may be. May be I'll name our kid after you and always remember you through her” He told very causally and she looked at him shocked. 

She couldn't speak anything as she sat on the bed.

“You wanted to listen this from me right?” He asked, gripping his mobile tightly in his palm as his knuckles turned white.

She turned to him but his eyes were focussed right in front. The nerves of his forehead were clearly seen as he gritted his teeth.

“I——” She started but stopped as he turned to her, his eyes red.

“Get this in your brain Anika. I'll die along with you. There's no Shivaay without Anika” He told looking into her eyes. She was scared for the first time looking at him.

“I'm sorry” She whispered and he held her face between his palms while looking into her welled up eyes. She felt the shivers of his palm as tears rolled down her eyes looking at his brimmed up eyes.

She had seen his tears only very few times. First time was when Jhanvi had an accident and he had literally cried when doctors told it would be difficult to save her. He was just eighteen at that time. Second time was during khushi's bidaai, and third time when she cried her heart out for doubting him.

“I——I don't know what this is. I don't know why——you can understand me right? You're my——listen to this” He told and kept her palm on his chest where his heart was racing.

“I don't know what will happen to me if something happens to you. May be I'll live, may be I'll d——” She stopped him before he could speak further, with her lips.

She looked at him as she broke apart realising she didn't even know how to kiss him. Before he could ask her anything, she held his face between her palms and kissed all over his face as if she saw him after years of separation. She didn't know what she was doing but only that felt right. He was too shocked to even react to anything.

She hugged him tightly and cried hiding her face in the crook of his neck.

“I won't leave you and go anywhere. I'll never let our baby or you experience all the pains bhaiyya and Papa went through. I'll never leave you” She blabbered. He felt his heartbeat quicken and throat go dry.

••|To Be Continued|••

PRECAP:

“When?” He asked and she looked down as tears dripped down her eyes.

He gently wiped those tears and shook his head.

“When I was 16” She told and he looked shocked at her.

“Are you serious?” He asked, his voice a mere whisper and she nodded.