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The next day

M- charu ! Can't you hear the doorbell ? Go and check who has come , I have work here .

Charu rolled her eyes on hearing her mother's not so quiet voice coming from the kitchen and closed her laptop in hurry , which made a clear sound .

C - haan .

She dragged herself and opened the door lazily only to witness annika standing by the door .

C - maa !

M- why are you shouting charu ?

C - your daughter has come .

A - umm sorry to disturb you actually I just got shifted here , can you please tell me the nearby store where I can get groceries?

Charu shook her head in disbelief while Meena who just came there looked confused .

M - andhar aao pehle .

A- nahi aunty , it's ok . Can you tell me where the shop is ? Help this neighbour please .

M - what happened to this girl charu ?

C - your daughter is a drama queen .

A- don't you dare talk about drama haan , you too !

She warned pointing her mom at last .

M - huwa kya hai ?

A- tho ? This pig is getting engaged and none of you have spoken a word about it to me yet ! Mein tho stranger hoon na ?

Meena sighed deeply on getting the actual reason for her act .

M - nahi annika , we

A - nahi , mein tho ...I'm fighting wars in Pakistan border right , no tower , no phone , no messages !

She interrupted her and walked inside , blabbering everything to herself.

C - anyways the all india radio's jockey Mr.Adi would have said you right ?

A - don't you !

Annika shot daggers at both the ladies before taking her seat on the couch .

M - I think she's very angry .

Meena nudged charu's shoulder and whispered .

C - haa haan she seems ve...ry angry .

She dragged the word and chuckled on seeing annika who randomly started eating the biscuits which were kept there on the table .

M - how is your arm beta ? juice piyogi?

A - mom , I'm scolding you both ! Don't have dreams of flattering me with food .

Threatening them with these words , she once again took a bite of the next biscuit from the pack.

M - chod na , even we were actually surprised when Praniti told me about that you know ? We didn't decide the date , I didn't call you because your papa wanted to tell you in person . He really missed you , par some work came up suddenly and he has become too busy with it nowadays.

After hearing to her mother's explanation annika just twisted her mouth and sat back , pressing the TV remote on .

A - kuch bhi.

M - now tell me , how are you feeling now ?

A - yeah maa I'm too ready to play wrestling with charu and win over at the very first round . Knock out !

She narrowed her eyes at charu and made a fake punch towards her before focusing on TV again for charu grabbed the biscuit pack from her immediately.

A - maaa !

Came her screeching whine at once.

M - annika don't scream , charu give it to her.

C - I wa..nt it , she alllready finished half of this . It's minnne !

She tried speaking while munching one from it .

M - tum dhono bi na , annika wait I'll bring you something.

Meena let a defeated sigh and walked inside the kitchen to fetch some juice for her .

A - mom , I want the same biscuit not this !

She mentioned without collecting the glass from her mother who turned and glared at charu once .

A - maa ...

M- annika !

This time annika grasped the hint of anger on Meena's voice and remained quite . Meena knew her girls very well , both had prepared themselves to play equally today . Stubborn heads , these two . Annika on the other side , sipped the glass and kept her vision fixed on TV while charu worked on her laptop .

M - annika , free ho aaj?

A - hmm .

M- hey charu , even your free today right ? Go with annika and get something to wear for your day . We are just left with three days and you haven't bought anything yet .

As soon as she finished, annika let out a loud chuckle which earned charu's attention .

A - she would have already planned to rob my clothes by now , that's why she's so cool .

C - stop it

A - kya ? See even the palazzo your wearing now is mine . You deny ?what you think I've got no eyes ? Remember when I used your slippers once how big drama you did ! Now look at the same you , mein koi Mother Treasa nahi hoon .

C - don't think your too smart ok , I didn't

M - stop it both of you ! Enough , don't go anywhere and don't buy anything just roam around wearing your T shirts and pyjamas for all the functions , done ?

Making her declaration , she went back to the kitchen leaving the other two in deep wonder. Reality struck them .

A - I think we should go .

C - yeah , I do too . I literally have nothing to wear for the function , OMG !

A - go get ready then .

C - haan .

Charu threw the laptop aside and ran into the room . Meena who heard their conversation from inside , wondered much. Not a minute before both seemed to quarrel but suddenly they looked so normal . Unpredictable , her kids were .

While charu was fixing the belt around her pant  , annika walked in and threw herself on the bed .

A - haww ! ! Where are my fluorescent stars ? I did see them the last time .

She enquired  wandering her eyes everywhere around the room.

C - it fell off I think , sss !

She hissed in pain when the belt pin pricked her finger suddenly .

A -  charu kya huwa ?

Annika immediately stood up and held her hand to blow over it for charu looked surprised.

A - stupid ho tum ? Careful ! You're ok right ? Paining somewhere ? Why do you wear such tight belts haan ? Remove it come on .

Saying all this she buttoned out the jean and charu's eye popped out immediately.

C - pagal ! Stop stripping me out now .I'm ok , it isn't very tight.

A - still, you shouldn't

C - annika don't be so nice with me suddenly , I'm thrilled !

Annika's concerned eyes turned normal when charu commented like that .

A - not for you dear behna , belt mera haina , isliye .

Charu twisted her mouth and pushed her away .

C - go and wait outside .

A - hello hello , it's still my room too . This half is mine and that's your's, forgot everything .

She made actions of separating the room into two equal halves which took charu to a day back in their childhood when this actual agreement happened between the these two girls.

C - I don't know how on earth you became my sister !

A - what you prayed for a brother then ? How about annikan?

She giggled at once ,  charu just shook her head in horror and turned towards the mirror.

A - vaise, Adi said you had this stomach ache a few days back .

C - hmm ,like always you know right I said him I was fine but he just didn't listen and took me to the hospital. I'm fine actually.

Annika took a gulp and looked everywhere but her when charu replied casually.

A - come soon .

She left the room and went to kitchen.

M - haan annika , take papa's card from the cupboard, I forgot to tell you this .

A - no it's ok , I've got money . And haan, I've wired some amount to your account , use it for the functions. Aur papa se

M - what ? Annika why did

A - ek minute , I don't want you both to sell our properties again . Moreover, I'm not promising you Taj Mahals , so don't overreact . I just did what I could ,no more no less.

Meena smiled genuinely after listening to this .

M - you've learned to talk well .

A - that's a usual comment , Annika talks well ! I actually have this doubt, when you were pregnant what did you do ? Like, you watched talk shows and debate shows 24/7? Even shivaay asks me all the time you know. Annika how do you manage to even speak like ,so much? He wonders ...!

She continued speaking while playing with the spoon  kept on the counter and Meena just stared at her quietly .

C - annika I'm ready .

A - haan coming , ok maa bye !

M - be back soon and don't choose anything very expensive, I know both of you won't even touch it after the function.

C - haa teek hai teek hai bye !

Annika narrowed her eyes and passed a slow look towards charu on finding Adi near the shop .

C - what ? Colour coordination hona chahiye na , even he hasn't bought anything yet .

By then Adi jumped from his bike and jogged towards charu .

Ad - hey annika !

A - how did I even miss this , I'm your saali right ? I've got all the rights to make you go bankrupt and I'm not going to miss the chance today, come on my dear monkey !

She grinned encircling her elbow with his and dragged him into the shop for charu followed them right away .

Ad - hi,hello, hey, good morning good evening, good night, how are you ?do you even do these atleast with your Prince?

A- wow ! Why didn't I come here before ?

She spoke in wonder watching every costume kept for display without paying any heed to Adi's words . He was released long ago from her hold as she was immersed in paying attention to everything around .

C - looks like you really might go bankrupt today.

Charu who came from behind , nudged his shoulder and whispered in his ears . And he immediately turned in reflex to press a light kiss on her temple .

Ad - won't you take care of me then ?

She just smiled and pushed him away .

C - public place hai ye .

Before Adi could reply , annika came and patted his shoulder from behind .

A - enough of harassing my sister , aao ab .

She dragged him along .

Ad - haa haan.

A /C - ye! / this !

Adi's eyes popped out in horror when both pointed the same dress . He could already smell the awaiting consequences.

A - I chose this first .

C - no I did .

A - charu chod please , I really like the colour .

C - even I do !

A - adi tell her .

Ad - annika chod na , it's a special occasion for her , let her take it .

As soon as he said that , charu put up a victorious smirk on her face for annika shot daggers at Adi . She was about to say something and that's when her mobile rang. Immediately she attended the call after noticing the caller id.

A - I wish you were here ! Why did you leave me , see now there's none to even support me . Shade bahut achi hai, but ...this idiot won't let me take it . And the most irritating thing is she has got my best friend by her side and he  just, betrayed me .

Shivaay on the other side widened his eyes and blinked innocently , man he had no idea of what she was even speaking about .

' mam sorry neither of you can take this . It is already taken by the lady there , she asked me to keep this aside while she checks something else. '

There was a bright smile on annika's face when she heard the salesman's words . She made weird faces and irritated charu who stomped her foot on the ground before dragging Adi towards the next section .

A - oh my God shivaay you should've  looked at her face !

She giggled and laughed continuously.

S - annika , atleast baath ki head aur tail bathaogi pehle .

A - there's no fun in telling yaar I really wish you were here , acha chod what are doing? Office mei ho?

S - hmm , I just completed the recruitment procedure. Lunch time hai so thought of calling you .

A - am I some delivery girl from zomato/ swiggy ? Lunch time hai tho annika ko call kar ? I'm available for you all the time ok , don't stand by restrictions .

Shivaay couldn't even say anything in return, he just chuckled and rubbed his palm behind his neck slowly.

She then noticed that lady checking on the same lehenga again . Something struck  her mind immediately.

A - uhh , baiya I don't want such pale colours and see even the design seems so usual can you show me something else please ?

Pretending to dislike that particular dress , she spoke loudly for the salesman already went nuts by her weird behaviour. Because just a minute back she was fighting for that dress and now she was ...he went mad . But as usual only annika understood her own equation of words , the lady hesitated to take the dress . She thought for a sometime and started comparing it with others . Finally annika achieved her mission , the lady dropped her selection . And immediately annika signalled the salesman to pack it .That's when  he understood annika's play and looked at her from top to bottom in astonishment. Annika just pretended innocent though .

A - mission accomplished !

She whispered over the phone .

S - I didn't understand anything but I could just imagine you playing a drama somewhere . Who's the scape goat haan ?

A - I'll tell you afterwards , got to escape from here .

Whispering this , she moved from that counter at once .

Evening

Pr - annika came here today ?

Adi's mother enquired with a cheerful smile on her face .

M - yeah , that's why I sent them out together. If they stay here , koi na koi jagada hi karthe rahenge .

Pr - vo tho hai . Dhruv you haven't met annika yet right , she has grown up so much in these five years pata hai ? Aur shaadi bi hogayi na uski .

D - yeah actually I

Before he could speak any further , everyone heard someone rhyming from outside .

A - make way for annika ! And block gate for charuka..!

Holding  shopper bags  in both her hands , she jogged inside casually and dragged the words to pull a song out of it . And yeah ,she clearly missed to notice the people there .

Her eyes almost fell out from the socket on witnessing Adi's parents sitting right there , at the centre of the room. She gulped and faked a grin .

A - prani aunty !

They both shared a quick hug .

Pr - how are you aur haath kaisi hai teri ?

A - ji aunty , I'm ok now .

She couldn't interact much with anyone there as her mind was completely occupied with fear after finding Dhruv there .

R - annika wish uncle Dhruv , you're meeting him after so long and why would you be so quite now ?

Annika pretended to smile but it was really a tough task to pull off because she knew that  Dhruv could blast open the truth about their earlier meeting anytime. Things might really go upside down if it happens . She was scared .

D- hello beta .

A- h ..hi uncle , kaise hai aap?

D - teek hoon mein.

Annika thanked the gods all at once . Dhruv didn't want to spoil  everyone's mood by saying anything , so he  chose not  to speak about it now.

M - annika , where's charu ?

A - she's downstairs, aa rahi hogi. Teek hai mom ,I'll leave then .

R - beta what's the hurry ? Stay here  sometime .

A - no papa , uhh...ghar pe ...haan Jhanvi aunty called and asked me to be with gauri  at home , she's going out somewhere I think .

Pr - hmm ! Our annika looks so different now haina , maybe her sasural has changed her so much .

Meena just nodded with a smile when praniti mentioned it .

A - teek hai mein chalthi hoon  , bye everyone.

R - annika  wait I'll drop you .

A - it's ok papa  , I'll book a cab .

Her foot didn't slow the pace until she came out of the room , out of his sight . She dragged herself as far as possible and hurried downstairs only to bump with Adi and charu .

Ad - annika , don't leave so soon yaar we've met after long and tum

A - sorry monkey , aaj nahi aur haan bool gayi mein ,charu this is for you .

She picked a package from her bag and handed it over to charu .

C - annika what's

A -  bye charu .

Without waiting a second , she ran past the both and left . Charu was soon surprised on finding the dress which she chose first  to be present inside that package .

C - this ...how did she manage to get this ...?

Ad - my question is , how did she manage to give this to YOU ! Unpredictable she is .

Charu chuckled on hearing the highlight he made  and watched annika's retreating figure from behind.

C - mere liye .

Annika's mind was never in peace after that , throughout the way she seemed totally carried away with fearful thoughts . She was never a person who would worry about the future, but now everything about the future circumstances remained a nightmare for her.  What will happen if people come to know...what about charu ! Is she wrong this time ? Should she have told the truth ? She seemed troubled with her mind pricking her badly every second.

She pulled the door knob lazily and entered inside her room only to get stunned soon .

S - I've been waiting since long .

He complained casually but she didn't make a move at all .

A - illusion ho ? I do miss you a lot  , especially ab I really need you with me  . But does that mean I've already started imagining you?

Saying this , she threw her handbag at him which hit his head straightly .

S - aaah annika !!

She ran to him as soon as he hissed out in pain .

A - oh my god ! Sorry sorry shivaay  , I didn't know you were here  , I just ...Tum are you here for real ?

S - perfectly welcomed !

By then she had already cupped his face and kept blowing over his forehead continuously. 

And without her own conscious , tears stayed stagnant within her eyes . Maybe , after going through so much within the past hour and  finally having him by side made her feel so better , so good . She wanted to vanish all those worries and hide into him at once . Noticing her wet eyes , he frowned in concern  and held her chin .

S - ro rahi ho ?

She stopped blowing and looked at him intently . Without replying  she just jumped to clung over and hug him while he was already ready to carry her up above the ground . She hugged him tightly and crushed her eyes in firm for those tears no more stayed inside her eyes . He kept patting and caressing her back softly while she took time to feel ok .

S - annika it's ok , I'm here . Kya huwa? Why are you crying ?

Her grip loosened out between the next few minutes and she wiped her eyes in hurry .

A - I'm not.

She tried lying . By then he caught hold of her arms which went around his neck and pushed her a little back so that he could see her face.

S - really ?

A - nahi vo , something went into my eyes actually sss...

She faked it and started rubbing her eyes .

S -  dikao muje.

He tried to hold her face but she just kept moving away .

A - nahi , I I'm fine now . I'm ok...yeah ...sss

Suddnely she started hissing out and started rubbing her eyes more fiercely .

S - annika

A - shivaay , iss baar sach mei something went into my eyes . Sss...I can't blink !

S - iss baar?

A - shivaay click  a pause button for your James bond mind  and help me please,   I can't open my eye !

She jumped and jolted away ,with her fingers pressing onto the left eye and smashing it like anything. 

S - annika, ani stop doing it .

He announced and held both her wrists tightly so that she doesn't move .

S - open you eyes.

A - mission impossible!

She shrieked lightly.

S - open it .

Then she tried opening her eyes slowly  and he helped by blowing over it.

S - ok now ?

A - no I can't,  it's pricking!

He did the same again a couple of times .

S - ab ?

A - I think ...yes ...ok , let me wash my face once .

Annika didn't dare to make a blink and kept the eyes almost closed for it looked all pink and red by now . She was about to turn but , he stopped her .

S - one second.

A- hmm ?

S- can't resist, sorry !

Shivaay couldn't stop himslef after witnessing the innocently cute reaction she had on her face . He pulled her close by holding her hands and claimed her lips at once , bringing a sudden shiver in her . He licked and chewed her lips such that the smooching noise echoed around their room . Her eyes were tightly closed all the while . Every time he'd slow down , she rose up to maintain the pace and kissed him hard .

I never try to be happy with you , because,  it just happens already 💘

Promo 2

Annika feels sad when none from her family wishes  for her birthday.

A - uhh shivaay  ... actually I took an half day off today as I always do on my birthday .

She stammered and hesitated to bring these words but somehow made the statement and watched him from behind with eyes filled with eagerness .

Once again her face fell sad when he  just walked out without speaking a word . His anger and ignorance hurt her badly .

How was it?

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