It was a hectic day for everyone. Both came back tired and had dinner. Both decided to work after dinner. Anika cleared the table and both sat opposite to each other on the dinning table itself working on their respective domains.

Anika-"Aap hot chocolate peeyenge?"

Shivaay immersed into the laptop-"nahi."

Anika returned with a glass of hot chocolate, she kept it on the table and walked to and fro reading a file and taking sips in between and placing it back on the table.

Shivaay saw her and then looks back to the screen jotting down a few details in a diary. Without realising he picked up her glass and took a sip, still looking into a few papers. As he kept the glass back Anika saw him with a raised eyebrow giving a lopsided grin, then continued to look back and sipped from the same glass keeping it back on the table.

For the second time Shivaay picked up this time she knew but didn't look up-"Akdu...bol dete toh inke liye bhi bana deti, zeher thodi nahi milaati,inke iss mein..!" Sighing she continued to walk.

As Shivaay kept the glass back this time he realised that he just drank- from her glass! From the corner of his eye he looked her , she was engrossed in the file trying to figure out something. "Thank God issne dehka nahi..." he muttered to himself. Fixing his gaze on her he slowly took out his handkerchief and secretly wiped his mouth just in case there were remains of the hot chocolate. Just like a kid who feared being caught for eating chocolate that he wasn't supposed to. He placed his kerchief back and sat up straight with attitude running his hand over his hair in his signature style.

A few minutes later-

Anika tiredly keeps the file,"Mujhe neend aa rahi hain good night..Mr. workaholic ..!" she said sleepily yawning.

Shivaay smiled seeing her , a second later realising that he had been smiling he wore a straight face-"Aur yeh kaun sort karega..?" he said pointing towards the scattered files and papers.

Anika-"kal subha karoongi goodnight...!" she said yawning moving towards the room. As she entered the room she just grabbed the blanket and slept.

Shivaay rubbed his forehead, looking at the scattered files. "How clumsy!" He neatly arranged all the files and saw her phone on the table.He thought - what if she needs it her alarm. After finishing some more work, he moved towards her room. He softly knocks – there was no response but the door was open so he just decided to keep it in on her table. He walks in stealthily and placed the phone on the table beside her bed making sure he didn't disturb her. As he was about to leave he noticed her sleeping peacefully with pouted lips. He smiled and stood their staring at her for a minute. He then moved closer and pulled over the blanket properly over her. Smilingly he left her room.

Tired enough, he also went to sleep the minute he hit the bed.

The following day was as busy as the previous.

At night, after dinner:

Anika-"Mujhe toh tension ho rahi hain. Itna sab pending hainn.kuch samaj mein nahi aa raha hain. Chaliye jaldi se kaam par lagte hain.

Shivaay-"Abhi no kaam, sleep."

Anika-"Aur yeh.."she said pointing to the stacked files that she had carried from office.

Shivaay-"Who Naina(am employee ) smabhal legi. Ok now jaldi see so jao humari flight kal 8:00 am mi hai, you have to wake up early."

Anika-"Kya Flight...kab kaise yeh...aap mujhe abhi bata rahe hain...magar kyun..!"she said all those in a breath.

Shivaay folded his hands and looked at her.

Anika-"Aise putlle ki tarah khade kyun hain kuch boliye toh..."

Shivaay-"tum bolne dogi toh bolungaa naa."

Anika-"Jaldi boliye tv serials kii tarah suspense mat badaiye.!Shock toh de hi chuuke hain tv serials ki tarah."

Shivaay-"Tum aaj kitne ghante office mein thii-"

Anika calculating shayad do..

Shivaay-"Exactly...aur kitni der stationary aur baat karna laayak thii?" she lokkee at him confused.

"Zero..!!Tumhare andar spring hai kya? You were all around the place like literally. Aur kuch bolo toh mujhe yeh kaam hai woh...jaise kaam sirf tumhe hi rehte hain..!"

Anika looked sheepishly.."wo kyaa hain naa jab tension mein hoti hoon naa tab dimaagi ki wiring mein thoda zyaad current hota hai issliye kabhi idhar kabhi udar.." she said moving her hands and explaining vividly. She almost hit his face.

Shivaay-"Phat the wuck...You are absolutely mad..!! Paagal...Paagal ho tum..! " He says animatedly.

Anika-"Dehkaa topic change kar diya naa...bada diya naa suspense. Ab mudde kii baat nahi karenge faaltu ki baton mein time khotii karenge ...phir kya bolenge...tum mujhe bolene do toh naa tab.."she completed imitating him.

Shivaay-"Hey firstly watch that language...mere saamne aise faaltu ...and all, please nahi bola karo..!"

Anika-"arey meri marzi. Aur aap kya bol rahe thee.?"

Shivaay- "Aur...tum aise mujhe copy mat kiya karo. Just, Just don't do that.!" he completed with his mouth stretched in a hard line.

"And before you say anything..yes kal jaa rahein hain..flight se ...Udaipur...flight ka time 8:30 we leave at 7...hotel maine book kar li hain...appointments maine fix Karliye hain...and all is set..! And as for Soumya woh aur Dev kal Pune ke liye niklenge aur dono families ke saath Udaipur pahunchege parso that's two days before the function begins. Any more clarifications ? I hope not because I was crisp and clear. " he ended with attitude.

Anika registered the details -"O bete ki...toh soiye jaldi kal late honge toh bhi aap bolenge Anika ki wajah se late huye. Aur haan aap packing wagrah theek se karna warna phir aap bolenge Anika ki wajah se pack nahi kiya."

Shivaay gave her a glaring stare. Raising his eyebrows at her usual nautanki.

Anika-"good night."off she dashed towards her room.

Shivaay looked at her go his eyebrows raised up and he broke into a silent laughter." She is surely a dramebaaz, ek dum Rudra ki takkar ki hain.."grinning he moves to his room to pack. The thought of his brother immediately made the smile disappear. He missed them and everyone.

The next morning:

Both reached the airport in time Anika was unusually silent and just followed Shivaay. He noticed it but let it go.She was about to enter from the men's side and he looks at her confused "...uss taraf..ladies..."

"O haan ..!"she said sheepishly.

Finally they had entered the flight and were waiting for take off. He noticed the wrinkles on her forehead, she was continuously fidgeting , taking deep breathes and talking to herself.He wondered for a while and then finally spoke up.."Kya kar rahi hoo? Are you okay?"

Anika-"..haan.." doubtfully. After a pause.."Actually nahi.."she said worry visible on her face.she shut her eyes-"Maine pehle kabhi flight mein nahi gayi ..wo ..maine flight...mera matlab hai...mujhe..!"

Shivaay reading her face-"dar lagta hain."

Anika stared at him in amazement-"haan ..aapko kaise."

Shivaay-"Tumhare face ne bataya."

Anika-"Hum train se chale jaate flight ki kyaa jarurat hain...kitna mazaa ata ..patte khelte huye..!"

Shivaay-"No..train is umm unhygienic..." looking a bit confused.."Patte..kiske saath?"

Anika-"Arey train mein logon kii kami hoti hain kya."

Shivaay-"Seriously..tum kisi ke saath bhi ...without knowing them patte khel sakti hoo?"

Anika-"iss mein kaunsi badi baat hain. Bas patte khelne aane chaiye..aur main toh champion hoon."

Shivaay-"Amazing. " looking bewildered.This girl was surely talented in all that he had not even heard about or even knew existed.

There was a safety announcement and Anika was again worried."Mujhe dar lag raha hain.." she whispered. He sighed.."seat belt".

Anika looked around finding the buckle, seeing her struggling he lost his patience and helped her out. His hands brushed against her waist and then her tummy, his face was close to her curls. He inhaled her scent. Not wanting to loose himself yet again he backs off as soon as possible.

As he looked the other way she sighed. Something very different took over her, when he was clsoe. She wondered why she felt like that.."Shaayad plane ki wajah se" she thought and concentrated on what the lady spoke.

Anika-"Kyaa..! Plane paani pe land karega."she said audible enough for a few passengers to pass her a look.

An irritated Shivaay looked at her."sshhh...wo emergency mein just incase."

Anika gulped seeing anger on his face and shut her mouth.

As the flight moved on the runway..."Anika taps his arm..mujhe aisa lag raha hain chakkar aa rahe hain...please flight rukaaiye naa do minute."

Shivaay-"Shut up..aur yeh lo.."

Anika-"Bubble gum...idhar mujhe chaakar jaisa feel ho raha hain...pet mein toofan ka gola aaya hua hain...aur aapko chewing gum.."

Shivaay-"iss see kaan mein dard nahi hoga pressure difference ki wajah se...just take it..!"

Anika takes it an pops it in her mouth.

As the flight leaves the ground she gripped Shivaay's arm and rested her head on his shoulder. Shivaay taken aback..looked at her...and a small adorable smile creeps up on his face.

Once the flight was stable she opened an eye and saw everything normal and then opened both her eyes.She still held on to him. She looked up to see him and their eyes meet. She could smell his perfume. She looked at his perfectly shaped jaw line and those lips curved into a small smile. Startled at her own thoughts she moves behind "sorry".

Shivaay-"Its all right..!" He looked the other way, his heart cherished the moment but his brain didn't acknowledge it.

She looked out of the window at city which grew smaller and smaller and the view which got bigger and bigger..!! Beautiful she thought. 

Manna padega God jii Tussi sach mooch great hoo itne bade world ko kaise plan kiya hoga...yahan ek event ke liye hi meri jaan nikal jaati hain...aur sab ke zindagi mein phele huye raite ko samate ne mein bhi help karte hoo..! She thought.

Then looked the other way towards him who was engrossed in the business magazine. 

"Aur aise logon ko bhi banaya...jinke pyaaz se zyaade layers hain..!" Sighing she smiled.

-------------------------------------------------

P.S

The 'moments' have just begun.

Do vote,comment what you liked and share on your message boards so that many more readers can join this journey.