Annika stared at Pinky's retrieving figure, was that the only thing that brought Pinky here or was there something more to it. Annika didn't want to think about it and tire her brain, she already had so much on her plate. First and the foremost being, her boyfriend was MIA and she couldn't reach him. This was the very first time happening with her, he had never gone so many hours making her wait. He would messaged her within an hour or two maximum but now, it was a whole different scenario. 

As Annika made her way towards her office back, she came across Raghav who was sipping his coffee and looking at her. Annika frowned, he gave her a wide grin before joining her to walk alongside her. "So, how did the meeting go? And I read the article, it was the best one I have ever read from you" Raghav had to appreciate her hard work and she deserved it. 

Annika smiled back at him. She had been so worried sick that her article might turn into a horrendous one that she had almost panicked while sending it to Mrs Rai. But seeing that her hard work was being paid off and the appreciation that followed by, she couldn't help but be proud of herself.  

"Thank you, Raghav. I am glad you liked it" 

"Anything you write is fabulous, now wouldn't just ignore such handwork, can I?" Annika chuckled, her gaze fixed on the floor. She wasn't much used to this overflowing compliments, it felt like a foreign feeling to her. Raghav fell silent, his eyes fixed on her, she was beautiful and now that he had literally had a chance with her, it had somehow been affecting him. If she was happy, so was he. 

Annika reached her office, standing at the door, she gave him one last smile before turning around and entering her office, leaving Raghav sighing. He has suddenly remembered about the question he had asked her some minutes ago. "Wait, will you come with me to the wedding this weekend?" If she wasn't going to come, he needed to take someone else to the wedding. 

Annika stopped in her tracks when she heard him. What was she supposed to answer to this question? "I don't really know Raghav. But if we go, it will be just as friends, alright? I just- I don't want to raise your hopes" It was an honest answer and it made Raghav smile, this is what he wanted to hear, her honesty. Maybe he just needed to move on, move on from her when he knew his dreams were going to be crushed into tiny pieces. The unrequited love he had for her, maybe was going to stay like this forever. 

"It's okay. I should have never asked you in the first place, knowing that you wrote seeing someone. I am sorry. I will just take someone else with me" Raghav pressed his lips together, he was embarrassed but Annika could clearly see how it was really hurting him. 

"Hey, I am sorry, I- 

"What? No, why are you apologizing? It's really alright" Raghav gave her one weak smile before turning around and walking away. Annika sighed, what was she even supposed to say? This day couldn't just turn any more weirder. 

Annika checked her phone, none calls or messages from him. Where was he? Was he angry about what went down yesterday? Her overthinking mind was back in action, numerous thoughts evolved inside the tiny head of her's. Gosh, this was really driving her crazy, literally, in every sense. 

Annika had no other option left but to call Omkara to ask where he really was. And when the phone rang for the fifth time, Annika couldn't say a thing and heard a moan close from the speaker. Heck, if she had known that what Omkara and Gauri were really upto, she wouldn't have even called.  "Hey Annika" Omkara's sound was shaky and she couldn't understand what they were really doing. 

"I will call you later. Bye" Stupid, stupid, stupid. Annika cursed herself under her breath. It was just embarrassing for her to even think about anything right now. Clearing her mind, she sat down on the chair, stretching her arms out and ready to work. 

━━━━━━

With a yawn escaping her mouth, she turned around in her seat to look at the watch on the wall, telling her that she had overworked for an hour. This definitely helped her to divert get mind from overthinking about where Shivaay was. Grabbing hold of her purse and shutting the laptop down, she made her way outside to find Alisha standing there with a newspaper in her hand. And that is when Annika saw what she was reading, her article, which said - 

'The businessman Shivaay Singh Oberoi, who is called to be the one of the most eligible bachelors of India was recently spotted with a mystery girl. Shivaay Singh Oberoi had never been caught with a girl before and he had supposedly done a great job at hiding his love life from the public. But as the both are seen walking hand in hand, it seems like there is a romantic relationship they are sharing. 

In his recent interview, he had said "I am very single and I don't see myself with anyone in the next few years". But it clearly looks like he had been lying to the media. The spectaculations have been that he is secretly dating a woman since the past two months. We tried reaching Mr Oberoi but he refused to say anything on this topic, which leads us to the next conclusion, that he might be wanting it to be a secret for now.  

The photo here is the evidence that Shivaay Singh Oberoi looks really smitten. Until we have no new information, we are going to assume that he has a girlfriend that he is not ready to announce her name to the media anytime soon' 

Annika had wanted to see a reaction on Alisha's face and she did, she had a goofy smile on her face. She sighed out in relief, she was not ready to see a bewildered look on her face. Annika opened her mouth to speak but Alisha spoke before she could. 

"Woah, this was amazing" Hearing Alisha's words, it made Annika's heart warm. She could tell that Alisha wasn't lying and it made her even more content. Seeing Alisha read the article one more time, Annika giggled. "Now, you are just overreacting" Annika grabbed the newspaper and folded it, keeping it aside. 

Alisha rolled her eyes, she wasn't lying when she said it was amazing, she really loved how she wrote it. But it felt a bit weird to her, Shivaay Singh Oberoi suddenly decided to date, all these years, was he hiding his girlfriend in a dungeon? She thought for some seconds before giving up, this rich people and their ways, she would never understand how they functioned. 

Annika was scared for some split of seconds, watching Alisha deep in thoughts, was she guessing about the possibilities of why and how Shivaay Singh Oberoi started dating? Panic raised through her body, she wanted her to stop thinking about it before she would brainstorm it. 

"Hey, do you want to grab dinner tomorrow, what do you say?" Annika suggested the only thing she had on her mind right now and for a fact, she had wanted to do so from some days now.  This made Alisha look up at her, her chains of thoughts, breaking. With a curt nod and a wide smile, she agreed. 

"Great. Now I gotta run. See you tomorrow"  Annika waved her hand at Alisha, giving her one wide smile before taking the elevator and going down. Today, she had lent Gauri her car, only because Gauri's car was acting weird. She needed to take a bus or a taxi to reach home.

Sighing, she looked up at the sky, it wasn't much dark outside, the sun setting low but still visible. When she had started to cross the road, she had paid no attention to who was standing at the other side of the road. And when her gaze landed on him, her eyes widened. 

There he stood with his back leaning against his expensive, polished car. Sunglasses and a black cap on his head, looking nothing less than a stalker or a kidnapper. Annika had known that he had noticed her, she avoided his gaze, walking past him. He deserves this much. 

Shivaay watched her walk some steps away from him, his first instinct was running towards her. She usually greeted him with a cheeky smile but today, she had ignored him like he was nothing. When he reached her, he caught her arm, turning her around. Annika did not struggle against his hold, it was not firm but his fingers on her bare skin did a whole firework. No, it was not the time to think about how his skin would feel against hers. 

Annika gave him a cold stare, why was looking so confused, didn't he know what he had done? He had ignored her calls and texts, she was upset. She had been trying to reach him since morning but there was no trace of him. She jerked her arm away from his hold, making him frown. 

"Did I do something wrong?" At that Annika did not say a word.  Why was he acting so innocent, didn't he know what did he do wrong? Annika face palmed herself, she needed to hold her thoughts back. 

"You have been ignoring my messages and calls since yesterday, what do you expect me to do? Kiss you?" Annika bit her bottom lip, maybe she was going overboard. Shivaay creased his eyebrows. 

"I had to go to lonavala to sing a deal with Tia Kapoor"

━━━━━━

Sorry for this almost filler chapter and showing less of Shivaay and Annika. What are you thoughts about this chapter, do let me know.