Anika's POV

After getting ready I come into the room to get Ansh but I see that Ansh isn't in his coat instead Neil is holding him in his arms.

Neil (smiling) - He was crying, so I took him and he fell asleep again... you are driving

He throws the car keys to me and I happily take it. As we are in the car, I get a call from Avni but since I am driving I couldn't take it and thankfully Neil hasn't seen it either. I should surprise Neil by inviting Avni to the restaurant as Neil has done so much for me and it's only fair if I do something for him.

At the restaurant

Chutki (smiling) - Di, I will take Ansh, Saumya and Neil inside... you should come in after talking to Avni

Me (surprised) - How did you know?

Chutki (smiling) - I am your sister, di... also I saw the phone ringing

Me (smiling) - Thanks Chutki, I will come in later

Chutki makes an excuse and takes Neil and Saumya inside while I call Avni, who picks up the call on the second ring.

On Call

Me (smiling) - Hey Avni, how are you?

Avni - Fine Anika, actually...

Me (smiling) - Don't be nervous Avni, I may be your boss at work but I am also your friend

Avni - I have been trying to call Neil for so long, but he isn't picking up ... I am worried

Me (smiling) - Wow, where is my friend that used to call Neil as Sir?

Avni - Ma...

Me (smiling) - I was joking, Neil is with me... we are an XYZ restaurant... why don't you join us?

Avni - No Anika, how could I do that? I ...

Neil I swear if you hurt Avni, I will chop you, she is so innocent and nice

Me (smiling) - Of course you can... look I want to see you here within half an hour... this will be a surprise for Neil...See you soon Avni

I cut the phone without listening to her argument, I know Avni really well, she would have come up with an excuse to not come but I won't let her this time. As I am thinking all this, I feel a hand on my shoulder and I get shocked to see Neil. I hope he didn't hear anything.

Neil (worried) - Are you ok Ani?

Me (worried) - F..i..ne... when did you come?

Neil (worried) - Just now, are you ok?

That means he didn't hear anything, thank god

Me (smiling) - Fine, let's go

I and Neil happily go towards the entrance when we see Shivay with Omkara also going in. Oh god, please I don't want my day to be ruined...

Neil (angry) - I will just be back

Me (holding him back and worried) - No, Neil... let's just go in...

Neil (angry) - Fine, but if he gets me angry then I will not make any promises

Me (smiling) - Ok, now let's go in

As I enter in I see that Chutki and Saumya are sitting next to each other, meaning that I and Neil have to sit next to each other. Oh well. We go towards the table to sit down and then we start talking about random topics until our food is delivered.

Omkara (smiling) - Hello Anika and Gauri

Me (smiling) - Hello Omkara

If Gauri has decided to forgive him then who am I to stop that? They are so good for each other

Omkara (turning to Saumya) - Saumya... I am really sorry for not having faith in you and for being so stupid towards you. How can I ever think that my innocent and kind sister would ever do that? I know what I did really hurt you and I am willing to do anything to get my little sister's forgiveness... I don't want to force you to forgive me but just remember Saumya that now instead of having just one brother, you have two and I will be there beside you if anything wrong happens to you and this brother will not make the same mistake again... he will not hurt you again...

Saumya (teary-eyed) - bade Baal vaale bhaiya... I forgive you bhaiya... but bhaiya, please... please don't do that again... don't hurt me again bhaiya

Saumya then comes towards Omkara and hugs him. This is just a cute scene, I take out my camera to take a photo of such a cute scene.

Shivay (joining them) - Saumya, will you forget your bade bhaiya as well? I know I have hurt you a lot and I have even said rude stuff to you... But I have realised my mistake... I am really sorry Saumya, I shouldn't have hurt an innocent soul like you... I would understand if you don't want to forgive me... as I have hurt you even more than your bade Baal vaale bhaiya... I promise not to hurt you again... I am really sorry

Saumya (letting go of the hug and teary-eyed) - Bade bhaiya... I would forgive you... but you have hurt my Anika di a lot and unless my di wholeheartedly forgives you... then I would forgive you but if my di doesn't forgive you then I can't... I am sorry

Shivay turns towards me teary-eyed and as he is about to say something, Neil holds my hand...

Neil (angry) - Don't say a word to my Ani... you have hurt her a lot and I don't want her to be even more hurt...

Shivay (upset) - I promise not to hurt Anika again...

Neil (angry) - Those promises are useless to me... Ani is my girlfriend now... so stay away from her.

Me (shocked) - Gi..girl...friend...Neil... what?

Neil (angry) - Yes, Ani... you are my girlfriend... how can you forget it?

Neil does that thing with his eyes to tell me to support him which I reluctantly do

Me (fake smiling) - yes, I am his girlfriend... so leave us alone Mr Oberoi

Shivay (shocked) - Ani..Anika... you moved on...

Wow, who does he think he is?

Me (smirking) - Obviously I have moved on, I have learnt from Neil what is true love and the meaning of a life partner...

Shivay (sad)- If you are happy then who am I to stop you... you will always be my first and last love... I love you... and...

Avni (shocked) - You cheater!

Avni comes towards Neil and starts to hit him while crying. Oh my god, I totally forgot about Avni, I am such a bad person... I should tell her the truth.

Me (smiling) - Avni! It's fine, Neil was just joking around ... he truly does like you and we are not dating

Neil (upset) - I am so sorry Ms Ajooba, I didn't mean to hurt you... I was just joking around

Avni looks at Neil shocked and runs away crying while Neil runs behind her not before apologising to me.

Neil (upset) - I am so sorry Ani

Shivay (shocked) - So, you and Neil aren't a couple

Me (mocking him) - Yes, we aren't... are you happy? You know what, you need to have more faith in me... nevermind...

I turn to leave where Gauri, Saumya Om and Ansh are but Shivay holds my arm softly.

Shivay (upset) - I know Anika, that I have hurt you a lot and that you don't want anything to do with me... I will leave forever Anika... but before I do... please give me a chance... I know... I know that I hurt you a lot and I showed a lack of trust in our relationship... but I promise... I won't do that ... Please, Anika... every relationship has hurdles...that needs to be crossed... I agree that I made a mistake and it wasn't just a small mistake but a big one ...

Me (teary eyed) - I know you want a chance Shivay, but I am not ready to be in a relationship with you... because I am scared that you will hurt me again... I know you said you won't but you don't know what the future holds... and this doesn't just involve my life... but also my son's... I don't want to risk my son getting hurt by you as he is the only reason I am alive...

Shivay (hurt) - I understand Anika, I will leave

As he is about to go my heart tells me to stop him and accept him but my brain told me to let him go as he has already given me so much pain.

Me (shouting) - Wait, Shivay! (Shivay stops in his tracks and looks at me)... You can meet Ansh once a week, preferably on weekends.... I may not want to be with you but I can't separate a father and son... but you will only meet once on a weekday and that can be for a whole day... but you won't go anywhere with my son by yourself... I or someone from my family would always be with you...

Shivay (hurt and happy) - I am fine with that... and can I come tomorrow as it's a Saturday?

Me (neutral face) - Of course...

Sorry for fewer Rikara scenes but that will be on the next update ( I will try)

Precap - Gauri's POV with Om

Thank you guys for the votes and comments that you guys gave in the last chapter. They mean a lot to me. Please continue to vote and comment.