Feeling unusually thirsty in the middle of the night, he woke up and checked the side table only to find the jug dry without water.

“Great!” He told and dragged himself out of the room with the jug, half sleepily.

On reaching the kitchen, he was about to pour water into the jug from the cooler when he felt someone behind him. His heart did a skip and the hug trembled from his hand seeing a lady standing there. He barely managed to hold the jug without breaking it.

“Sorry I didn't mean to scare you” She told holding her ear and he looked at her shocked.

“Who are you? And what are you doing in this house? Don't tell me you came with one of those idiots” He told with a frown as his playboy friends used to bring girls home at weekends. They were five who lived in a house as paying guest studying for their final year MBA course.

“No I'm not that type. Can I come to your room? We'll sit and talk” She told softly.

“Hell No! I don't sleep around with random girls. Who are you again?” He asked disgusted at the way she invited herself to his room.

“See I don't want to create a scene here. I don't even know how I reached here” She told sincerely.

“Are you a thief?” He asked shocked and was about to shout when she covered his mouth with wide eyes.

“Don't shout please. All I know is, I was crossing the road and now I'm here. I don't know anything. Please help me” She told, her eyes filled with tears and he indicated her to take her hand from his mouth.

“Will you shout?” She asked and he shook his head. Taking her hand off his mouth, she looked at him.

He gulped down a glass of water with a frown.

“Come, we'll find a solution” He told seeing the tears in her eyes and she nodded relieved that the stranger was helping her. Somehow she felt she could trust this person.

“You're sure you didn't come with any of the guys right?” He asked and she looked at him hurt. The way her eyes filled with tears, he felt a crack in his heart and decided to help her, whoever she was.

“If they see you, they'll eat you alive so come to my room” He whispered and pulled her with him holding her hand.

“Who? You allow man-eaters to live here? Oh my God! Are you a man eater too?” She asked and he turned to her shocked as he locked the door.

“No! I'm a human but they're man whores. My friends in short words. If they see a woman beautiful like you, they'll rape you with their eyes” He told and she looked at him with wide eyes.

“Then why are they your friends? You're like them too?” She asked and he sighed.

“I don't like their ways but they were always with me right from childhood. I can't abandon them and girl if I was like them, do you think you would be standing in my room like this?” He asked and she smiled relieved.

“What's your name by the way?” He asked and she smiled.

“Anika” She told with a smile and there his heart skipped a beat.

“And why are you here?” He asked avoiding his furious heartbeats.

“That I don't know. I was crossing the road and then everything is blank. When I opened my eyes, I was on the floor in the room opposite to yours”

“Daksh's room? What were you doing there?”

“I don't know. Oh my God! Did he kidnap me or something? May be while I was crossing the road to you know——” She told with wide eyes and checked herself.

“Did he hurt you?” He asked frantically but she looked very much fresh. Not even a strand of hair was out of place.

“There was no one in the room——what is your name by the way?” She asked and he smiled.

“Shivaay”

“Shivaay? You know I'm a big devotee of Shivji and I always say your name in my prayers” She told chuckling and he looked confused at her.

“How? You don't even know me”

“Om Namah Shivaay” She chanted and he chuckled.

“Ok like that. Tell me about you”

“Do you have any plans to drop me back in my hostel?” She asked and he bit his tongue remembering he was not on a blind date with a random stranger. He had to sleep mainly.

“Where's your hostel? I'll drop you there” He told taking the key of his car.

“Near the mall”

“Elite mall?” He asked and she nodded.

“Oh it's just ten minutes from here. Come” He told and opened the door cautiously at first and checked outside.

“Safety measures you see” He told chuckling but there was no response from her side.

He turned to see her missing from there. With wide eyes, he looked around and checked in the washroom but she wasn't there anywhere.

“Anika!!” He called, fear gripping his heart.

That's when he heard footsteps and with fear filling his senses, checked outside to see Daksh walking towards his room with someone in his arms.

“Daksh!” He called shocked and Daksh turned to him startled.

“Anika!!” He called looking at the woman in Daksh's arms.

“Do you know her?” Daksh asked confused as Shivaay rushed to him and took her in his arms, practically snatching her from Daksh's disgusting hands.

“Anika, open your eyes” He told making Daksh confused.

“Shivaay do you know her?”

“You bloody bastard how dare you touch her? Anika!!” He called as he rushed to his room and placed her on his bed.

“Shivaay! I was only about to touch her. One hot piece she is. I would have done everything in the car itself but she doesn't deserve a car. If you want, I'll share” Daksh told and Shivaay felt disgusted from head to toe.

“Don't you dare look at her with your disgusting eyes” He told covering Anika with a blanket till her neck.

“Shivaay don't interfere in my matter. I got her from the road and I'll have her no matter what” Daksh told trying to go near Anika and Shivaay pushed him away.

“Bloody moron, she's my girlfriend” Shivaay shouted at him not knowing what else to say and Daksh looked at him first with wide eyes and then started chuckling.

“You have a girlfriend? Shivaay don't joke. I bet you don't even know her. You just made up a story with a made up name to save the girl from me just like you said the other day Ananya was your distant cousin when you had no relation with her”

“It's Amisha”

“Whatever!” Daksh told shrugging.

“What did you do to Anika. Why isn't she opening her eyes?”

“I told you I haven't touched her in my way till now. She was on the road. I thought to leave but then you know I don't leave any hot girls”

“You were going to rape her!” Shivaay told with wide eyes, fear gripping his heart.

“Oh Come-on Shivaay, I told you we can share——” Before Daksh could complete, Shivaay punched him across his nose.

“You disgusting Asshole. I told you not to look at her with your disgusting eyes” Shivaay shouted and by that time the other three came out of the rooms hearing his shout.

“Shivaay yaar——wait, Daksh” Rishab said with wide eyes seeing Daksh standing there with bleeding nose.

The room went silent suddenly.

“Shivaay” She whispered in her sleep and shivaay turned to her, some kind of unknown happiness filling his heart.

“See! See! She's my girlfriend. Heard her say my name even in her sleep?” Shivaay looked at Daksh glaring furiously while Daksh looked at Anika with wide eyes.

“You have a girlfriend?” Rishab, Raghav and Vyom asked shocked and Shivaay nodded while still glaring ay Daksh.

“She's my girlfriend. Anika” Shivaay told pointing at the bed where Anika was slowly opening her eyes.

She opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was his face.

“Are you ok Anika? Do you want water?” He asked and she looked at him for sometime.

“Who are you?” She asked and Daksh smiled victoriously.

“That's the million dollar question. Now who will save you from me sweetheart?” Daksh asked and that's when Anika noticed the presence of other four men in the room.

“Who are they?” Anika asked clutching Shivaay's hand scared.

“You don't know him then why are you holding him?” Vyom pointed out and Anika looked at her holding Shivaay's hand and quickly took her hand back.

“Who are you? Why did you all bring me here?” Anika asked moving away from Shivaay who kept looking at her as if trying to understand what was happening.

“Whatever is happening is for good sweetheart” Daksh told trying to hold Anika but before he could touch her, Shivaay turned and punched him again on the very same spot this time with the intention of breaking his nose.

“Baby I know we fought today but don't say like this. I'll drop you in your hostel. Come now” Shivaay told and dragged a shocked Anika out of the room.

“Daksh you got enough for today right? You know how possessive Shivaay is towards what is his and you tried to touch his girlfriend who should be like a sister to you” Raghav told with a disgusting face.

“Oh Come-on Raghav she's not his girlfriend. He's saying that to save her from me”

“Have some shame” Rishab told disgustingly.

The trio walked out of the room while Daksh stood there not understanding what was happening. Shrugging, he took his phone and dialed someone's number.

“Babes are you still free?” He asked over the phone while wiping his nose with the tissue.

*

“Leave my hand. Who the hell are you?” She asked once they reached out and shivaay left his hold.

“Anika——”

“How do you know my name? Are you a stalker? Hell, I haven't even seen you till now” She told and he sighed.

“I'll drop you back to your hostel. Sit” He told confused himself as he unlocked the door.

“How do you know where I live?” She asked with wide eyes.

“I'll explain. Sit inside before he comes out. One more time he tries to touch you, I'll turn a murderer” He told frustrated and she looked at him shocked before sitting inside the car. She couldn't even run for she didn't know this place and it was dark.

He sat on the driver's seat and started the engine.

“Where were you going at this midnight?”

“Huh?”

“How did you reach the road?” He asked as he drove the car.

“That——shit! I was going to the mall to get whisper for Naina. What time is it?” She asked and he lighted the screen in the front to show her the time.

“Can you drop me in the mall instead?” She asked frantically and then turned to Shivaay with wide eyes.

“How do you know where I live?” She asked seeing the familiar road to her hostel.

“See I don't know what's happening but I need you to listen carefully” He told explained whatever happened.

“What?!?!” She shrieked listening to everything.

“I know I'm not mad because otherwise I wouldn't know your name and the place you live” He told and she nodded still shocked.

“I was shocked to see you in Daksh's arms because seconds before that, you were in my room talking to me” He told and she nodded frantically.

“I can't remember anything Shivaay” She told frantically and he sighed but felt a spark hearing his name from her.

“I never told you my name. How do you know my name?” He asked and she rewinded her sentence, then looked at him with wide eyes.

“Hell! I don't know. Your name, I don't know what's happening” She told as she felt her senses going numb. What happened after she fainted in the middle of the road?

“Relax! We'll find out. The mall is closed by the way” He told as he stopped the car but nothing went in her senses.

“Anika” He told shaking her and she looked at him startled.

“I jumped out of the hostel wall because Naina got her periods and I didn't have any extra pad with me. Even she didn't have. Everyone were sleeping so I just thought to go to the mall before it closes. I wanted to have ice cream too. I was crossing the road to the mall and then everything went blank. It's all black shivaay. I'm scared. I don't know what to do” She burst out crying at the end and he hugged her seeing her so vulnerable. It was all involuntary.

“Shh it's ok. Don't cry” He told rubbing her back as she cried uncontrollably not knowing what was happening to her.

“I'm not dead. I'm alive” He managed to hear between all the nonsence she was speaking.

“Stop crying Anika” He told and she abruptly stopped at his loud voice.

“I didn't mean it. You can cry if you want” He told awkwardly as it turned silent.

She parted from him awkwardly and wiped her tears as she looked everywhere but his face.

“You can cry. I don't mind” He told and she shook her head.

“My hostel——Naina must be waiting——” She told and was about to get down when he remembered something.

“Wait” He told and opened the drawer in the front of the car and sighed in relief seeing the cover still there.

He took it and gave it to her.

“It is my sister's. She forgot it here few days back but now anyway you need this more” He told and she looked inside the cover before looking at him with a faint smile.

“Thank you” She told and was about to get down the car but remembered something.

“Shivaay, can we meet sometime later when my mind is calm? There should be some explanation to what happened right? I have a friend who is a psychic. We can visit him” She told and he nodded.

“Err——Your number” She told taking the mobile from the pocket of her jeans.

“I'll type” He told asking her mobile and she gave him after unlocking it.

After typing the number, he gave a call to the number.

“I didn't take my mobile. Might be in the room” He told on not hearing the ring off his phone and she nodded.

He gave her mobile back to her and she opened the door to go but turned back to him.

“Good night” She told softly and he smiled.

“No good night for you Shivaay. You won't ever be able to sleep now” Some voice in his head said and he sighed as he wished her back.

An Year Later

“Why are you so adamant on seeing him anyway? Everything happened and we're together. It might have been God's play to bring us together” Shivaay told as he caressed the length of her arm.

“Shiv but how? Why? I need to know the answers. That idiot was abroad with some research and that's why I left it then but now he's back. I need the answers because it still haunts me” She told seriously as she drew patterns on his chest. He knew she was serious at the way her body stiffened.

“Fine but stop taking so much tension” He told kissing her head and she sighed as she snuggled in his arms taking in his scent.

“I love you” She whispered kissing his chest.

“I love you more” He told kissing her palm.

“You'll come with me right? If you don't want, I'll leave it here itself but I know a part of you still wants to know what happened that night” She told raising her head to look at him and he smiled.

“I'll come not because I want to hear what happened. Whatever it is, I don't care because you're with me which is more than enough for me. I can't stand this tension and worry you're going through. I know it still scares you somewhere. I just want you to be happy” He told and she smiled as she kissed his jaw.

“You have exam tomorrow. Sleep now” He told sternly and she chuckled before keeping her head on his chest.

“Last exam” She told casually.

“Don't come to me with less than 90 in any subjects. I'll roast you alive Anika” Now that he taught her too, he was in full on professor mood.

“90? But you told 85 is enough” She asked with wide eyes.

“Ah now I changed it to 90” He told and she hit his chest.

“Shiv maths. I told you it was hard” She told with a pout.

“Maths I'll give you an exception just because there were long calculations but all the others you'll get right?” He asked and she nodded.

“Sure right?”

“Have some faith in your teaching Shiv. If I got you as my teacher all these years I would have been the topper of my University. It's second last year and I got you very late” She told with a pout and he chuckled.

“If I knew I could teach so well, instead of taking up the company, I would have become some professor but even I got to teach you late. We started dating after my exams” He told with a sigh.

“But Shiv, it's better if you don't become professor. We do comment on our young professors and ogle at them. If you were a professor, I can't imagine the condition of the women” She told chuckling.

“God it's better like this. My personal handsome professor you're. I can't share you with anyone else. You're wholly mine” She told with a frown at the end imagining all the women ogling at him while teaching.

“My very possessive girlfriend. Sleep now” He told chuckling and she smiled before closing her eyes.

“I myself loose my concentration while you're teaching. How will others concentrate?” She muttered and he burst out laughing.

“Stay still I want to sleep” She told as his chest was shaking while laughing.

“Fine fine” He told composing himself.

*

“How was the exam?” He asked as she entered the car and she smiled.

“It was very good. Now to Ayush's house” She told taking the location from her mobile and keeping it for him to see.

“Fine” He told lazily as he turned the key. She turned to him with a smile and held his jaw as she turned him to her before pecking his lips.

“Recharged now?” She asked with a smile and he grinned.

“85%” He told and she leaned towards him before kissing the crook of his neck.

“90 but that's enough. We'll make it hundred after reaching home” He told and she blushed as she sat back on the seat while he started the car.

“Mom and Dad came?”

“They'll come next week only. Do you think I stayed back just to teach you? Exam was just an excuse sweetheart” He told and she hit his chest blushing.

“Did you inform Papa and Mumma that I'm staying with you?” She asked as her parents lived in another city.

They both had informed their families about three months back about them dating as they didn't want both the families to know about them dating from some other sources. Shivaay had insisted on the part and Anika agreed after sneakily dating for six months to her heart's content. Then finally she gave in and together they told both the families. They were apprehensive at first but over time Anika's parents saw the love and respect Shivaay had for Anika and Shivaay's parents saw how happy Anika was making Shivaay. It took a whole of 17 days, 14 hours, 26 minutes and 45 seconds for them to loosen up in Shivaay's calculation. Once they allowed, both the families immediately went into Marriage discussion. Shivaay had immediately put a halt to it saying he would never marry a girl who doesn't have a job and depends on him for her needs which resulted in Anika falling a bit more in love with him. She knew very well it was fine for him if she didn't have a job but it was her wish to get a job before marriage. They coaxed him to get engaged but Shivaay stood like rock shaking his head. Engagement after studies, Marriage after job was his condition. After another 5 days, 19 hours, 2 minutes and 54 seconds, they found Shivaay's reasoning reasonable and agreed for it with the families giving words to each other and very tactically making both of them exchange rings in the presence of the parents. Finally everything was at place. Nothing could describe the tension that both Shivaay and Anika went through in that one month.

To say about Daksh, he was totally cool as if he forgot Shivaay punched him twice for Anika. All it required was a girl that night and Daksh was back to old chirpy Daksh. Next time Daksh saw Anika, he surprised both her and shivaay by apologising holding her feet dramatically shouting Please forgive me bhabhi. I'm sorry. Anika finally understood why Shivaay loved his friends so much though their ways were wrong. After that she and Daksh were chuddy buddies making Shivaay all more angry at Daksh. She managed to make him a one woman man surprising the wits out of everyone he knew.

“Mumma didn't seem so pleased with the idea of we both staying alone but Papa seemed fine”

“Why?”

“She asked me when she's there, why do we have to cook and eat” He asked and she chuckled.

“What did you say?”

“I had to tell her I wouldn't miss her food for the world but then I can't move from office”

“You're buttering my mumma a lot”

“I told the truth. I wouldn't miss her food for the world. Mumma's rajma chawal. Yum!” He told and she hit his arm chuckling.

“Didn't she ask to send me there?”

“Nah she told anyway I'm alone and what would you do there. Then she very sadly but dramatically stated ‘my Anu loves Jhanvi more now’” Shivaay told and she chuckled.

“They trust me a lot to leave you with me”

“Of course, they know me better than you. They're just scared I'll rape you” She told and he burst out laughing.

“And when I kiss you, your face turns red. How are you going to rape me?” He asked and she blushed.

“You earned that trust Shiv. They see the respect in your eyes for their daughter. They see how you look at me as if you're looking at some goddess and not a human” She told with a smile and he smiled as he briefly turned to look out of the window before concentrating back on the road.

“But I'm scared of your love. Ramji loved sita mate just like this——”

“No, I love you like your Shivji loved parvati ma” He told interrupting her and her eyes brimmed up with tears.

“Really?” She asked and he took her palm on his and kept it on his chest without turning to her.

“What do you think?” He asked and she smiled.

“I know what your heart says”

“My traitor heart” He told and she chuckled.

“Mumma asked to call her” He told and she nodded before taking his mobile from his pant pocket.

“Take care of places you touch Anika. I told I'll wait till Marriage but if you touch me like this, I don't think I can” He told with a grin.

“Pervert!” She told turning to the window blushing making him chuckle.

She called her mother and talked to her as they reached the destination.

Getting down the car, they walked to the house and rang the bell.

“Baby calm down” He told feeling her hold on his arm tighten.

“Ya ya” She told nervously and that's when a man of Anika's age opened the door with a warm smile.

“Come in” He told and they followed him inside.

“Shivaay right? She told me about this blue eyed man who stole her heart” Ayush told and Shivaay chuckled but Anika was not in position to laugh or do anything.

“Ayush we can talk later. Just clear this girl's confusion first or else she'll get a heart attack now” Shivaay told and Ayush smiled as she sat opposite them on the single seated couch.

“Tell me” Ayush told and Shivaay explained whatever happened that night.

“I freaked out actually and couldn't sleep for a week straight but then it left me later. She's still stuck over there” He told and Ayush looked carefully at Anika.

“No you're not a ghost Anika. You're a normal human being” Ayush told and Anika sighed. He had the Power to read minds!

“Then how? Why?”

“Your heart is connected to his. You desperately wanted to save yourself but your body wasn't supporting you in any way. Unknowingly you reached the one whom your heart was connected to”

“What if Daksh wasn't related to me?”

“Still she would have reached you. I don't know about the saving thing but she reached the place where she felt secured” Ayush told and Anika listened carefully.

“But how?”

“The soul knows it's mate Anika” Ayush told with a smile.

“So you mean to say we're soulmates and that's why all those happened?” Shivaay asked and Ayush nodded.

“That's what I feel”

“Why can't I remember that encounter? Why did my soul come out of my body?”

“I told you right, you wanted to desparately save yourself but your body was stuck there. Your soul did the work for you without your body's help”

“She touched me that day. Souls can't touch anything——”

“Except their soulmate's body” Ayush interrupted and Anika turned to look at Shivaay who was amazed with the sudden discovery.

“I touched you?”

“Yeah! To cover my mouth first and then I held your hand too” He told remembering and she looked at him.

“Wow!” Shivaay exclaimed and she frowned.

“To answer why can't you remember it. May be your brain couldn't process or may be your mind couldn't accept it. It can be anything but Shivaay's name was there in your memory right?” Ayush asked and they both nodded.

“May be the name Shivaay was engraved somewhere due to some other reason” He told and that's when Shivaay remembered about om namah Shivaay and said the same.

“Shiv, can you tell me the complete details?” She asked irritated and he smiled sheepishly.

“Yes, that could be why you remembered his name” Ayush told and Anika nodded.

“I hope you got all your answers” He asked and she nodded.

“Destiny and fate also played a role in whatever happened. That is why you reached in his safe arms without much trouble” Ayush told and Anika smiled before turning to look at Shivaay.

“Thank you Ayush” Anika told as they stood up. She was about to hug him when he moved back making her confused.

“This possessive jerk will kill me with his looks Anika” Ayush told chuckling and Anika turned to look at Shivaay who had a sheepish smile on his face hearing Ayush. 

She hit his arm chuckling before they headed out to the car hand in hand.

“I somewhat knew you were my soulmate from what I found in google” Anika told as they sat in the car and Shivaay smiled.

“Are you happy?”

“Very happy”

“That's all I need baby” He told kissing her forehead and she smiled as she kept her head on his shoulder.

---------The End--------

A/N: It's a complete work of fiction and has nothing to do with anything real.