He raised his head from the laptop to see her standing in front of the mirror turning left and right. She had been doing that since half an hour but he just kept quiet not wanting to interrupt whatever she was doing.

“Look, I got fat” She told while still looking at the mirror and he sighed.

“Now I got a new name. Look!” He thought with a frown wondering when will he hear his name from her.

“There's no fat in your body” He told and she looked at him.

“Then what is this?” She asked standing straight in front of him pointing at her waist.

“What?” He asked confused and she walked closer to him.

“See, this is extra fat. I want to start working out tomorrow” She told and he burst out laughing.

“What?” She asked irritated.

“I know an easy way to reduce calories. No hardwork required” He told with a grin and she looked confused at him.

He extended his palm to her and she kept her palm on his confused. The moment she did, he pulled her towards him resulting her to fall right on his lap making her gasp. She was about to get up when he encircled his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

“Kissing burns 6.4 calories per minute” He told very seriously and she looked at him with wide eyes.

“Really?” She asked and he nodded.

“You're joking right?”

“No! If you want, you can search in the internet. It's a clinically proven fact” He told and she looked at him with her innocent eyes and he couldn't hold on more. He burst out laughing and she hit his chest with a frown.

“You always fool me like this. I'm not talking to you” She told and was about to get up when he pulled her back.

“I believe whatever you say and you're taking advantage of that” She told with a pout.

“It's a fact” He told and she pushed him back with a frown making him chuckle.

She remembered someone and looked at him before sitting properly as if to tell something important to him.

“Last day, I overheard Nisha and Pia talking” She told playing with the buttons of his kurta while he looked at her.

“Sunday we slept late again right? Pia came to your cabin to get your sign or something. So she was like, sir yawned five times in the two minutes I stood there” She told and he looked at her.

“And?”

“And Nisha told Sir is married now. Then both of them laughed. When they saw me, they quickly turned and started working” She told and he chuckled.

“Then?”

“Then nothing! They were kind of embarrassed seeing me. I just smiled and walked back to my cabin. All the people are misunderstanding us” She told sadly.

“Hmm ya. And you're trying every possible way to make that misunderstanding correct” He told and she nodded but raised her head to look at him realising what he told.

“What?” She asked and he gestured with his eyes to look at what she was doing.

She took her hands back startled realising she just removed all the five buttons of his kurta involuntarily.

“I——I just——” She stammered as her face turned red and he raised her chin to make her face him.

“You just?” He asked and she looked away blushing.

“God! Kill me already” He told and she got up from him blushing before standing near the bed with her eyes tightly shut.

He got up from the couch and walked to her before holding her arm and turning her to him.

“Anika” He called and she hummed. He pulled her closer as he rubbed his stuble over her cheek making her shiver.

“Open your eyes” He told huskily in her ear as he twisted her hand behind her back but she shook her head.

She felt him dip to her neck and kiss in the crook of her neck making her breath hitch in her throat. She was breathless for a moment as she held his shoulder with her free hand. His lips traversed up her neck with a painfully slow pace and her heart was almost ready to come out of her throat.

“Shiv” She whispered subconsciously and felt his lips stretch against her neck. Wow! How well did her body react to his touch?. Why was he even torturing her like this?

His lips reached her ear and she took a sharp intake of breath as she suddenly felt suffocated in that well ventilated room. He moved her hair to the other shoulder while sliding his finger delicately on her back before turning her swiftly and pulling her in a back hug. She opened her eyes only to feel his lips on her shoulder as he tugged down the thin strap of her dress.

She almost turned breathless as he did that and his other hand which slid down her arm delicately wasn't helping either.

Feeling a stinging pain on her shoulder, she squealed but that squeal of hers pulled him out of the passion that overcame himself. He left her and moved back before abruptly walking out of the room dazed leaving her shocked and confused. She turned to him only to see the open door of their room.

She touched her shoulder as her eyes welled up even before she could think rationally. Tears rolled down her eyes as she looked at herself in the mirror. What was she supposed to make out of that behavior of his? Why did he withdraw? What was stopping him? Didn't she give her consent a few days back? Didn't he want her?

*

“Arnav pick up” He told as he walked around with the phone of the landline from the guest room.

“Arnav pick up please” He told desperately and Arnav picked up the phone finally.

“I need your help right now and No isn't even an option. It's about mine and your sister's life” He told not even giving time for Arnav to say hello.

“What happened?”

“I can't explain whatever happened. Do you have fairy lights there?”

“Yea it might be——”

“Good! So take it and decorate Anika's room right now. Make it quick. I'm coming in half an hour” He told and Arnav looked stupefied at whatever he told.

“What?”

“Clean your ears at times or consult an ENT specialist. DECORATE THE ROOM WITH THE DAMN THING AND SWITCH OFF THE LIGHT” Shivaay told irritated.

“Ok ok fine. Something major happened but what?”

“You have two options to die. Either I'll stab you or burn you alive. Which one do you want?” Shivaay asked and Arnav gulped.

“The issue is that serious! I'll quickly decorate the room. Message me when you reach and I'll switch it on” Arnav told and hanged the call.

Throwing the phone on the bed, he rushed to their room only to see the room empty but heard her sniffing only to see her sitting at a corner with tear soaked face.

Seeing him, she quickly got up wiping her tears and looked down.

“Anika——”

“I don't want any explanations. It's ok” She told softly and he felt his heart breaking with that voice of hers.

“I owe you an explanation. Come with me” He told holding her arm and she looked confused at him.

He pulled her with him and she had no option but to walk. Making her sit in the car, he took the driver's seat while she kept looking at him. He started the car and she looked at her lap as she thought about whatever happened few minutes back with tears in her eyes.

He didn't speak even when her tears were piercing the walls of his hearts.

“Get down” He told and she finally raised her head to look where they were.

“Are you going to leave me here and go?” She asked shocked and he turned her before sighing.

“Get down Anika” He told and she did without another word. Seeing him getting out of the car, she was relieved would be an understatement.

••|To Be Continued|••

PRECAP:

“Do you have concealer here?” She looked confused at the very unrelated topic between a serious matter.

“Why do you want?”

“Tell me, is it here?” He asked and she nodded.

“Good because we're going to burn some serious calories now” He told pulling her towards him making her gasp.