Both were totally confused at their sudden awkward encounter, each thinking that they had crossed the limit, not realising that it was mutual!

"Aag dono taraf lagi thii..!"

A long dinning table was setup in the lawn for the two families .Anika sat next to Aastha trying hard to pay attention to what she was saying, but the thoughts of that moment ruled her head. Shivaay walked up with a composed face with Varad. He sat right opposite to Anika.

90s music was playing in the background. There was continuous chattering and clinking of the cutlery, but two individual sat there unusually quiet, scared to even meet each other's gaze.

Aastha-"Arey Anika tera dhyaan kahan hai...Shivaay ko sabji de.."she said handing her the serving bowl.

Anika"Hmm.."She finally looks up to meet his gaze and extends the bowl towards him.He takes it.

*spark. *

Their hands brushed. Both looked at their hands and then at each other, pulling back their hands.The eye-lock didn't go unnoticed .Yes Aastha noticed and indicated to Shlok. Finally they seemed like a normal couple. Both Aastha and Shlok passed each other knowing glances as the duo continued to eat silently.

"Arre Re Arre Ye Kya Hua Maine Na Ye Jaana

Arre Re Arre Ban Jaaye Na Kahin Koi Afsaana

Arre Re Arre Kuchh Ho Gaya Koi Na Pehchaana

Arre Re Arre Banta Hai To Ban Jaaye Afsaana

Arre Re Arre Ban Jaaye Na Kahin Koi Afsaana

Arre Re Arre Kuchh Ho Gaya Koi Na Pehchaana

Arre Re Arre Banta Hai To Ban Jaaye Afsaana

Naam Kya Hai Kya Kahein Dil Ke Mausam Ko

Aag Jaise Lag Gayi Aaj Shabnam Ko

Aise Lagta Hai Kisine Chhoo Liya Humko

Arre Re Arre Ye Kya Hua Maine Na Ye Jaana

Arre Re Arre Ban Jaaye Na Kahin Koi Afsaana"

After the dinner was done. Shivaay walked out with Dev to discuss a few things. While Anika was assisting an extremely tired Aastha.As they were walking down the corridor after leaving the newly-weds to their room,

Aastha-"Uff..thanks Anika tu nahi hoti naa th na jaane yeh sab kaise hota..."

Anika-"Ab ye humare beech thanku sorry kab se..!"

Aastha chuckled. "chal good night..bahut neend aa rahi kal phir sab niklenge toh wo sab bhi dehkna hai"

Anika-"chal matlab..tu kahan chali..hum dono yahan so rahe the naa..."

Aastha-"Nayi aaj main apne kamre mein hi soungi...subh uth kar packing bhi karni hai aur phir maa ne kuch hisaab bhi karne ko kaha hai...chal goodnight...waise bhi bechara Shivaay tujhse teen din door raha aakhir uska bhi toh haq hai tujh par..!" winking she began to wlak away.

Anika gulped embarrassingly. She entersed her room and quickly changed into a simple patiala and kurta for the night.

Shivaay was walking with decelerated steps to the room, the thought of facing her made him go nuts.How could he.?!

For the twentieth time in the past ten mins, he took a deep breath and revised in his head what he had thought of saying.

He finally opened the door through his master card and walked in.Listening to foot steps she turned, their eyes met. She gulped. He noticed that she had been arranging cushions in the center of the bed.

"Woh mainee.." she said her voice trailing.

He looked up.."Mujhe kuch kehna tha.."

"Mujhe bhi..aap kahiye...!" she spoke looking the other way.

Shivaay nodding "wo wahan...I mean jo aaj hua..."

Anika stared at him wide-eyed..."I m sorry!"

Shivaay-"I m sorry!"

Both completed in unison.

Shivaay -"Its ...o.k...ho jaata hai...!"He looked the other way cursing himself..like seriously did he just say

'ho jaata hain? Damn you Shivaay!'

Anika-"hmm...woh maine yeh pillows arrange kar diye hain...aap uss taraf so...

Shivaay-"Its okay main..yahan...couch pe!"

Anika felt bad for him, how could he spend the night sleeping on that couch, it would be so uncomfortable-"Nahi ...its ok aap bhi thaake huye hain aur phir kal bhi bahut kaam hai. Aap pillows ke uss taraf so jaaiye maine iss taraf...!"

Shivaay-"Okay!"She nodded and was about to turn.

"Cushions...unhe cushions kaithe hain." he corrected, wearing a straight face and quickly takes his tracks and t-shirt and moves to the washroom, after saying a soft "goodnight".

She smiles as he disappeared.

"Pillows cushions ek hi toh huye." and then quickly got into the bed and screwed her eyes shut and in no time fell asleep. Shivaay looked at himself in the mirror after washing his face."Its okay..you did it, Now just forget it." yet again he found himself in flashback.

Cursing his thoughts he quickly changed and went out, the best solution was sleep.He saw her sleeping like a baby, cuddled in the bedcover and she was hugging a pillow.He smiled involuntarily at the sight."Cushion " he corrected himself.And slept.

"Hum Mein Tum Mein Kuch Toh Hai Kuch Nahin Hai Kya

Aur Kuch Ho Jaaye To Kuch Yakeen Hai Kya

Dekh Lo Ye Dil Jahaan Tha Ye Wahin Hai Kya

Arre Re Arre Ye Kya Hua Maine Na Ye Jaana

Arre Re Arre Ban Jaaye Na Kahin Koi Afsaana."

* * *

Anika thanked her lucky stars that she woke up before Shivaay that morning. It had saved her from more embarrassment from yet another scene. Yes, the first sight she had witnessed that morning was herself literally over him, her hands resting on his chest. The pillow she had snuggled close to in the night had now been replaced by him. She had cursed herself a hundred times for her habit of hugging a pillow and sleeping. She took a quick shower and disappeared from the room before he woke up. The day was hectic, all the guests were leaving, few had left the previous night.

The four were busy seeing of guests, finally all assembled at the reception to see of the Singhania family. There was chirpings and goodbyes were exchanged.

An emotional Aastha hugged Anika, thanking her for everything. All appreciated the Event arrangements.

Aastha-"Anika...yaar tum dono naa sone pe suhaaga ho.! Tum dono ne toh aag laga di."

Anika smiled and casually looks towards Shivaay who wore a small formal smile. As soon as their eyes met, the situation tensed, both felt it but didn't know why was it so. He looked away instructing the driver. She turned back her attention to Aastha.

Anika-"Ab tu khayal rakhna...apne se zyaada..iss cohtu ka..." she said pointing to her tummy.

Aastha-"Arey haan baba...ab tu bhi mat shuru ho jaa...yeh sab kaafi nahi hai kya. Aur ab mujhe bhi good news suni hai jaldi" she gives a soft punch on Anika's tummy. Anjali grinned.

While Anika stares wide eyed, her cheeks turning red. Out of the corner of her eyes she peeked at him, thankfully he was busily instructing the porters, not a chance he would have heard. If only she knew, that he had been a shrewd businessman, of course his ears were there where she was. He had also mentally chuckled at the irony of the situation.

Anjali and Niranjan blessed Shivika. Shivaay thanked Shlok who in return thanked him for making the wedding a grand success. Jyoti appreciated the arrangements. After all it was a blend of Anika's colourful Indian and Shivaay's classy western tastes. Dev accompanied the family back to Pune as a gesture of courtesy.

It was late afternoon, Anika and Shivaay stood beside the huge gate of the hotel, ready to leave for the airport .Most of the guests had left. Two or three were to leave that night, so Saumya stayed back to wrap up the last bit with the Hotel Management and see-off the remaining guests.

Shivaay looked at his watch, waiting for the cab to arrive. All the booked cabs were away, to drop of the guests at airport and railway station. A few minutes back he had spoken to Saumya, who had told him that the cab was on its way and would be there within a few minutes. As he impatiently tapped the dial of his watch, Anika spoke up.

Anika-"Aap itne impatient kyun ho rahe hain ...gaadi aa jayegi."

Shivaay-"Time dehka hai...agar aise hii wait karte rahe toh flight miss ho jaayegi. Aur yeh train nahi hai kii chain pull kar di aur ruk gayi..!" he ended on a mocking note, remembering their previous flight journey.

Anika gave an irritated look at his taunt and turned her gaze towards the silent road.

Ten minutes passed. Shivaay had started pacing up and down letting out a few curses occasionally.

Anika-"...IDEA..!"

Shivaay raised his eyebrows at her sudden brightened face, wondering what was in her head now.

Anika-"Rickshaw."

Shivaay looks around -"what?"

By the time he turned to look back at her she was gone. She was across the road beside the cycle rickshaw loading the suitcases into it.

"Phat the wuck !" He walked up to her in quick steps dragging his suitcase along.

"Anika have you lost it...what are you doing ?"

Anika-"Hum late ho rahe hain aur yahan koi aur taxi bhi nahi hai...toh rickshaw pe chauraahe tak chalye hai wahan se auto-rickshaw le lenge..iss waali rickshaw mein luggage aur peeche waali rickshaw mein hum ok..." she quickly picked up his suitcase and puts it on the rickshaw, instructing the rickshaw wala to move ahead and they would follow him in the other rikshaw. She pulled him by his hand towards the other rickshaw."Chaliye jaldi.."

"No way..Anika..!" he exclaimed in vain.

Anika-"Arey jaldi chadiye."

Shivaay-"iss pe..kaise...no I can't do this..Cycle rickshaw like seriously..NO."he said folding his hands his kanji aankhein widened at the very thought.

Anika-"Arey tadi baad mein maarna..flight miss ho jaayegi jaldi chadiye.." she climbed up and gave him a hand.

Shivaay-"Anika..." seeing no other option he climbed up holding her hand.

He sat uncomfortably. The rickshaw started moving. He looked at her.."Seriously." Shook his head in disapproval.

Anika- "Ek rickshaw mein baithne ke liye aap nakhre noor jahan ke dikha rahe..hai..Tadibaaz."

The rickshaw bumps on a speed breaker, Shivaay's head slightly hit on the upper side rod of the rickshaw. "Ouch." He placed his left hand on his head while his right still held her hand.

Irritated, by this new adventure and her blabbing-"Just Shut.up..ek dum chup.."

"Lekin main kahan..kuch kahaa."

He puts his left finger over her mouth." Chup" he gives a glare. She makes a puppy face and nods like an innocent nursery kid. He takes his finger back.She indicated something by her eyes. He doesn't understand.She indicated yet again.

Baffled.."yeh kya yun yun kar rahi ho..muh kholke seedha seedha bolo naa..!"

Her eyes widen and she breaks into giggles. "Wo Aap..." giggles.."Haath " she said pointing.

He looked and pulled back his hand "iss mein hasne ki kya bat hai.."

Laughing a little more merrily.."Aap ne hi toh bola tha chup ek dum chup.." she laughed looking ahead.

He cursed himself mentally and smiled seeing her but only momentarily.

The rickshawala stops aside at the junction. She quickly climbed out and went to the other rickshaw and takes the luggage and asks Shivaay to pay, while she stops an auto rickshaw..well it was more of a tempo.

The driver put in the luggage quickly. She sst and Shivaay stared at the scene sighing. This day couldn't get better..first a rickshaw and now a tempo.

"Aap phir noor jahan ban gaye...kal chadenge yaa parso?" she called out from inside.

He looked at her face. And rolled his eyes and getting inside. As soon as he got inside the driver placed the small air bag on his lap, as there was no space behind, on Anika's instructions. No use of saying anything to this girl she was a crack and would always remain one. "Crazy woman.!" He sighed aside.

Things had changed drastically in the life of The Shivaay Singh Oberoi. She brought the change!

They had asked an employee from office to leave their car at the airport parking and send someone with the keys. As their flight arrival was late.

It was 11:30 in the night.The city was pleasantly cool. As the car drove out of the airport premises, Anika switched on the radio. Both remained silent, the day had sure been tiring.

There was commentary and the next song started.

Shivaay stiffened at the words of the song. He thought his ear was ringing with the wrong words. He oddly looked out of the window.

Anika flushed as the song triggered in memories of their almost kiss. She looked at him from the corner of her eyes he was looking the other way. He was in the same boat as her. The lyrics of the song made it even more awkward for him.

He carelessly changed the radio station. "I don't like the song...the beats are bad.." he gave a stupid excuse. As soon as he had changed the radio channel, without even caring to listen to the song which was playing , he just heard a soothing music and blurted.. "I love this song...the music is brilliant...so nice..." , she simply shook her head in response without even meeting his eyes.

Anika turned a darker shade of red. He loved this song?

As Shivaay heard the lyrics, he cursed himself. He itched his forehead with his index finger and increased the pressure on the accelerator in the coolest manner like nothing had happened. All he could think of was getting home as soon as possible. He wondered what she would be thinking, he just said that he loved this song..."Damn you Shivaay!" he said to himself his gaze fixed on the road ahead not caring to try changing the song, lest he should get into a still more tensed situation. Anika fixed her gaze to the empty Mumbai roads as though unaware of the lyrics of the song. The radio had sure created an enormous amount of tension in the car's atmosphere.

As soon as they reached, they retired to their respective rooms without much words. Rest was the need of the hour. The past five days had been too much of a change for the two. Wondering what the next new morning had in store!

P.S

Would like a response considering that we are now halfway through.