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Annika saw charu crossing her  to leave past the gate.

A- where is Adi ? It's already late ,

C - don't take his name .

She replied passing a glare and settled inside the car while annika sighed deep. How will she ever make things right between them ? Indeed , she didn't know that they were in a serious relationship until Adi's kidnapping fiasco . But all she knew was ,they were good friends . True friends.  Watching both pushed to such a stage didn't keep her away from worry . Shivaay who was leaning on the fence pretending to focus on his mobile all this time ,decided to talk with her .

Seeping his palm into her soft one, he made her face him with a slight pull.

S- annika ,keep the keys . You will have to return alone , I ain't coming with you now.

Feeling the silence he noticed her keenly, who still seemed facing down watching how his fingers effortlessly curled in to take her's within . A tender feel gushed inside her on getting to sense his touch . She was surprised . Some tiny gestures are capable of providing a spark in heart, and one such is this. He cleared his throat and let off her hand gradually that she could feel the last pointed touch of his finger on her skin perfectly. Gulping down once ,she blinked looking here and there before watching him.

A- uhh, matlab ? I mean why ? I thought you'd come home .

S- nahi annika , uncle and aunty are already so worried. If they see all four of us together , they'll feel awkward . I mean Adi and me ... I don't want to embarrass them again and again. They already feel guilty for whatever happened so ,it's good that I stay back for now.

After listening to his words quietly she let a nod , agreeing . He might be right .

The thought that he certainly felt for her family made her happy but she didn't plan to show it rather something else striked her mind .

A- wait wait , you sound as though my parents are feeling guilty for committing some injustice with you. They didn't marry you with some old granny , annika hai annika .

Her contagious words just did nothing but made him smile as he shook his head .

S- no offense , I didn't mean that.

A- dare you !

She enacted a serious face to immediately let out a wide smile  .

S- ok then bye .

Saying this he took a few steps away and suddenly came back to her as if he had forgotten something. She watched him significantly as he looked into her eyes for a moment before speaking anything.

A- what ?

S- I don't intend to order you ,but don't jump in to defend your friend there . He's your friend I understand ,but your parent's anger against him is justified. I don't want you to get scolded like what happened here , look after yourself annika.

He emphasised and she watched him in surprise. Damn ,he really was winning her to the next level that everything he does makes her feel joyous. Grasping his ever so strict eyes turning quite delicate and soft as he affirmed her to look after herself , she blinked slowly capturing a soothing sight and muttered .

A- teek hai .

S- and haan ,I forgot this . Take the keys ,

He lent the keys for her while she shook immediately.

A- remember , I'm not The Great Shivaay Singh Oberoi born with sil no diamond studded spoon rather a just annika born with ...hmmm...kya spoon , fingers are enough . I'm all fine in bus or auto , keep that with you only .

He sighed huge on seeing her demonstrating that she has fingers . What is she even?

S- tum na ...?!

A- mein ?

S- alien ho alien!

His eyes popped emphasizing the statement and both  broke out laughing. Adi who just came out ,locked the main door and turned to watch his bestie and his villain engrossed in their unique world of wordless conversation exchanging some attractive smiles with each other. He was happy for her .

Shivaay bid bye and walked towards his car when Adi hurried near annika who was still looking at her husband .

Ad- haaye , smiles and blushings. What a cute scene! Just like those in Romantic films .

Pretending a sweet tone he expressed standing behind her while she immediately pushed her elbow back to hit is stomach making him wince a little .

A- it's an interval block to my romantic film now and don't forget ,your thriller film is yet start . See , your horror is waiting inside the car with tickets , come .

Saying this she curled her arm around his shoulders and pulled the seemingly scared him along towards the car .

The elders looked terrified and shocked on knowing what actually happened that day when annika told them everything. Charuka who stood staring her parents bluntly ran straight to her mother and hugged her tight ,crying. Meena regretted much for hating her daughter who did no wrong . Running her palm on her hair she kept muttering ' I'm sorry ' continuously. Annika's father just stood quite ,shooting his dangerous glare on Adi who was now trying to speak with his mother.

Ad - maa ,mom ...

Praniti gave him a disgusted look and moved back when he forwarded to hold her hand.

P- don't ! I'm ashamed of you Adi .

Ad - mom plss ,

His eyes were already layered with tears by now . Raghav walked straight to him and before anything , Thud . Adi felt his cheecks burn with sharp pain . He reluctantly brought his eyes up to feel very worst of himself on witnessing Raghav's grudgeful glare . There was no word he could choose to voice out as he knew , nothing can justify his act especially after all her parents had gone through they will have no reasons to forgive him.

R- we treated you as our own family and you ..., how dare you kidnap my daughter?

He shouted with extreme rage and the whole place remained silent . Charu bit her lips and bent down on not being able to see anything.

Ad - uncle, I accept. I did wrong and you have all the rights to punish me for that , but listen to me once. I love charu and I really want to live with her.

His voice delivered pain . Annika felt so terrible on witnessing her bestie breaking like this . Before she could realise she was standing beside him holding his hands trying to console him. Raghav looked away gritting his teeth ,while Praniti spoke.

P- baiya , ye teek nahi hai . We'll return to  UK as soon as possible. You've already been through much , I don't want to trouble you anymore. Ham chale jaathe hain .

Ad- nahi mom . I ain't coming back.

Praniti slapped him hard when he said that . Annika was very blank to tell anything but stood by her friend who was now so much in need of her .

A- aunty ( interrupted)

R- annika , it's none of your business. She's his mother and she'll decide what should be done .

Annika frowned and looked away feeling so helpless .

P - I'm sorry baiya .

Folding her hands infront of him she cried  before glancing Meena her friend, who shook indicating her not to be guilty. Indeed ,she didn't do anything but still her son's acts has already cracked down everything . Snatching Adi's hand which annika held , Praniti walked out . Adi's glance didn't just leave charu who clearly ignored him. With an heavy heart longing just for her ,he left from there .

Raghav looked at charu whose gaze was fixed by the door still , he sensed something but chose to speak of it afterwards.

R - forgive your papa beta . I failed to trust you

Charuka shook her head at once and held his hands within her palms .

C- what are saying papa? Aap mujse ,

A- haa haan , hogaya happy family ! Now stop crying maa.

As charu leaned on Raghav's shoulder, annika hugged her mother muttering ' teek hojayega sab ' . She herself was certainly worried , but now it wasn't time to sit and feel rather she has her family to be consoled now.

It was half past 7 when annika returned and shivaay was already home ,exceptionally.  He was never this earlier .

His eyes which were fixed on the laptop grew disturbed to bring a frown as he felt the atmosphere weirdly quite . That's when he looked up to find her sitting infront of the mirror ,lost somewhere . She and silence is never a combination and he knew that. Especially about today ,she has a much more to share with but she didn't seem the normal annika he knew rather a one with much disturbed mind she looked .

S- annika .

He called placing the laptop away , she didn't seem bothered.

S- annika!

This time his loud tone brought her back that her shoulders jerked a little instantly. She turned back ,

A- kya huwa shivaay ?

S- same , kya huwa tumhe ?

A- kuch nahi.

He clearly looked unconvinced watching her face which said it all . Within no time he stood near her and she had to lift her neck up to find him standing just aside .

S - there is something. 

He insisted her to speak up while she stared him for a moment and looked the other side with a dull face engaged in thoughts . Now ,he really was worried  . Without speaking anything he knelt down , facing her and she gasped a bit on not expecting him that close suddenly.

S - hey , what happened?

Came his voice , with a source full of softness in it. She noticed him to be  looking at her intently and finally decided to speak .

A - you know right? I'm a member of the counselling crew at family court . There was a couple today who had come for counselling, and since I took an off  this morning I couldn't make that appointment. But...but I didn't know , I thought their case was scheduled for tomorrow. And they attended counselling from another member , but it didn't work out well . Their divorce is confirmed now ,

She sounded guilty when she finished . He looked at her in bewilderment,

S- you're feeling for someone whom you hardly know . Come one annika ,

Listening to his words , she shook at once.

A - aise nahi, mein koi mahan nahi hoon that I start worrying for everyone . It's the first time I'm facing this. I've handled only a very few cases but the result would always be positive . And today ..., There was possibility that I could have done something . Only if I were earlier  .

The layer of disappointment on her face made him react immediately.

S- no ,

A- hmm?

S- if there was a possibility ,you would have definitely made it today . Maybe , even you couldn't have done anything . Sometimes, aise hi hothi hai annika . Things will fall off hands , it happens with everyone.  You can't sit and worry for everything , especially The very  cheerful annika shouldn't. It's ok ,

His words didn't entirely convince her , but somewhere she herself realized that he was right . It's good to let go of things as like it .

She acknowledged with a blink   and soon those eyes of her's travelled down on his palm which rested on her lap just above her knee . There arose a sudden urge in her to touch his hand, an instinct which shouted to hold the only man who has the capacity to wipe her woes within seconds. He really possessed something . Anyone would have convinced her with the same words ,but he is what matters . These tiny things which announced that he somewhere cares for her brought a complete source of bliss in her .

Innocent girl here was unaware that she is the only one who could introduce all these changes in him .

Obeying her heart  she hesitantly moved her hand near his when ,

R- bhabi, my charger ? 

Rudy walked in, fidgeting his mobile which kept blinking with poor charge. Shivika stood immediately taking few seconds to contemplate how close they were just before. Shivaay casually pretended combing his hair ,and annika spoke .

A- sss ,I just forgot ek minute .

She plugged out the charger which hung from the switchboard near the mirror  and gave it to him .

R- bhabi check whether your mobile is fully charged.  I'm leaving to my friend's home and I'll be back only tomorrow . None uses C type charger at home.

A- haan ,

She searched for the mobile on the dressing table and around there  , but it wasn't found .

R - wait bhabi, let me call.

Saying this ,he dialled for her.

' Mi ringtone plays '

Annika looked around to follow the sound but it went down soon .

R - ohh, sorry bhabi my battery is dead  , can't call you now.

S- I'll ring up then ,

Picking his mobile which rested on the bed ,he dialled .

' kaun tuje yun pyaar karega jaise mein karthi hoon ...'

They heard this within few seconds and annika finally found the mobile in her handbag which was hid beneath a pillow .

A- haan ,I found it .

R- exclusive ringtone for baiya alone ...wah! How sweet !

As Rudra exclaimed , shivaay cut the call at once and turned to look at her who watched upon him slowly .

He did know that it was her ringtone but for him alone ...? Surprised, he looked. She crushed her fist which held the phone as his constant gaze pointed some chill feels in her . Rudy who watched them dissolved in their own world, decided to leave them undisturbed and went.

Annika opened and closed  her mouth few times  to say something but his intense eyes on her kept her nervous .

A- uhh, maybe I didn't notice . Settings pe ,...

Her stammers halted witnessing him dialling again  .

'kaun tuje yun pyaar karega jaise mein karthi hoon ...'

Neither he hung up nor she attended ,rather the ringtone continued playing .

S- sirf mere liye ?

He looked at her intently and asked . His blue orbs significantly heated up something for her to go nil of words. What will she say ? Indeed , special ringtone for the special person but she can't just admit it directly  . And this man coming up with his husky tone did no good ,but kept her running out of courage to meet his captivating eyes .

Turning aside she tried hard to control that shy smile erupting all around her pink face . Poor girl didn't realize that she  was actually facing the mirror now .
He missed nothing, but captured every cute reaction of her's watching  the mirror .

With a small grin occupied on his lips, he glanced her caller Id on the screen .

' W e i r d    w o m a n '

He clicked the edit option instantly and back spaced the letters until  ' W | '

Once again his eyes travelled on her image before returning back to the mobile screen.

' W o n d e r   w o m a n '  saved.

The heart knows when the search is over 💘

Precap

A - matlab,  you didn't like anyone ? Come on , they all look pretty  .

S- I've never noticed anyone ,to be honest .

A- so mean ! Not even in your college days?

S- nahi annika  that's what I'm saying.  I've never bothered of whether they look pretty or not , because none had affected me . This pretty and all ,

He stopped abruptly as his mind was already conquered with something else .

A- wasted !

She shook her head and opened the cupboard to pick clothes for her .

S- choose a yellow one .  You look beautiful in yellow .

Chapter dedicated to shivaaani14   Userallu7  pardhavi  ❤

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Published an OS - A double celebration ride in the book We collide to Combine  . Try reading it if possible.

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