She nodded, she was still unsure whether she should further talk but finally decided to speak up-"What's next?"

He dragged the chair and sat-"I don't know!" He sounded distressed. "Everything is literally slipping out of hand.! Every move is a dead end."

She sat on the chair beside him. He sighed and narrated from the beginning.

He explained to her how two days after he had got his memory back, he had gone to the Oberoi Mansion early in the morning, and managed to enter in as an electrician. He had met Khanna his security chief there. The man had almost crushed him in a hug, on seeing him alive. On the day of the accident Khanna had been away on a leave when he had come back things had changed completely but the job continued. The staff and everything at both home and office were same, with a few minute changes. Ever since then Khanna kept updating him about what was happening at Oberoi Mansion and about Rana's life. A few days later he met Mishra thanks to Khanna, another of his reliable employee who was more than happy to help his Boss out of the mess. While Mishra updated him on the Business part Khanna kept updating him on Rana and his personal life.

Anika-"How doesn't that Rana know you are here, I mean.."

Shivaay-"He knew about my accident and now thinks I am mentally unstable after all that happen! Mujhe bhi nahi pata why he thinks so!" he said thoughtful.

Anika knew why. But she feared letting him know.

"Maybe he knew about your memory loss!" she pretended to be casual.

Shivaay sighed still unconvinced. "Good enough he doesn't know that my memory is back!"

She changed the topic by asking him to continue.

Shivaay-"So now,I know practically almost everything and yet my hands are tied. I just need to get hold of the power of attorney papers which Tia made me sign if those papers are destroyed, Rana is destroyed, as he won't have any more proof to claim over my property and assets. Those papers aren't in any lockers or office, has to be the home then. Khanna has been secretly working on looking for them, and has checked almost half the mansion with no clue! After this marriage Rana plans to liquidate a few companies and invest in a few foreign companies, and he will have new legal papers made then it will be impossible to get back. Jo bhi karna hai Rana kii shaadi se pehle karna hai ! Warna kabhi nahi!"

Anika-"O bete ki...itni lambi chaudi investigation chal rahi thii! Aapko mujhe pehle bataana chaiye thaa, arre maine bahut saare CID, ke episodes dehke hain kahin toh kaam aata!"

He chuckled at her lame try to make him de-stress, and yet again wore a serious face. She kept her hands on his, and he looked up at her.

"Don't Worry, sab theek ho jaayega!" He gave a soft unsure smile.

"I don't know, what should be my next move!" He said more to himself than her looking away at the distant wall.

Anika after looking thoughtful for a few minutes squealed-"Idea!"

Shivaay looked at her-"What?"

Anika-"Aap ne abhi kaha Rana ki Shaadi ho rahi hai... Wo bhi aap ke ghar pe..! Shaadi ho rahi hai toh event manager ki jarurat hogi...right..? Hum ban jaate hain event managers! Aise hum ghar mein bhi guss sakte hain...ek baar ghar mein ghuss gaye toh wo papers to pakaa dhoond lenge!"

Shivaay-"Its not possible Anika...main Rana ke saamne nahi aa sakta! Besides why do you think wo humaari event management company ko chance denge...I mean being practical, there are far more better high-society wedding planners!"

Anika-"Aap humaari company ko underestimate mat kijiye, is Udaipur waaley project ke baad toh badi badi companies ne bhi hummein Formal events ke liye approach kiya, Aayka has set a new level for itself. Koi toh tareeka hoga...Tia...aapki mangetar...usse phasaa te hain, main usse coincidently jaake milungi, aur wo mujhe wedding planner bana degi, arey jaise filmon mein hota hai!"

Shivaay-"Anika are you like seriously out of your head, this is serious alright, mazzak nahi hai! And for god sake uss Tia ka naam mere saamne mat lo. Hell to her, double crosser! Aur tumhe kyaa lagta hai...you will go to her and say Hi I am an event manager and she will keep you on work. Never."

Anika-"Haan...aap itafaaq mein belive nahi karte kyaa...? You know Destiny and Chance?

Shivaay-"O please tumbhi mat shuru ho jaao, Universe, Destiny and Chance!"

Anika-"Main BHI matlab?"

Shivaay-"Wo Tia bhi iss sab mein believe karti hai, infact uski life is all about Universe, Aur and Rekis!" he said annoyed.

Anika-"O bete ki...toh mil gaya solution...And trust me yeh plan khidki tod hai!"

Shivaay-"Please Anika...it won't work...!"

Anika-"At least listen...

Shivaay folding his hands-"Fine try...kya hai...so called plan."

Anika-"Main Tia se jaake milungi...and I will say that mujhe bhejaa gaya hai...as her wedding planner!"

Shivaay sarcastically-"Of course and she will welcome you with open arms and say Universe has sent you! Wo itni bhi impractical nahi hai!"

Anika-"Ho gaya aap ka...main boloon..." rolling her eyes-"Main bolung ki mujhe Singhanias ne bheja hai...inn high society people mein toh aisa chalta rehta hai, phir main uski baat Aastha se karwaaon gii... And if not for the Universe, for formality and name wo zaroor mujhe kaam pe rakhegi. Phir kya hum baazi maar lenge! "

Shivaay though slightly convinced was not in for the same-"And what if this fails!?"

Anika squeezing his eyes and gives him one of those "Mind It" stares-"And what if it works?"

Shivaay sighs, impossible to argue with her-"Why do you think Aastha will help us!"

Anika-"Because I will tell her to, dost hai wo meri...I see this plan working already!So Mr.SSO..."

Shivaay pointing his index finger at her-"Don't you call me that!"

Anika-"Meri Marzi...Main chaahe aapko Tadibaaz bulaaon yaa S.S.O...!"

Shivaay-"Mere naam se kya problem hai...such a nice name Shivaay, why don't you just call me that!?"

Anika-"Ye fizul ki baate chodiye Mr.SSO, Aap ko bhook nahi lagi kya? Mere paet mein..." she bites her tongue between her teeth,"I mean mujhe bhook lagi hai!" she changes the second half of the sentence lest she should piss him off again. He noticed the change and raised an eyebrow at her as she looked at him sheepishly smiling.

Shivaay controlling his laughter at her animated face-"Oh yes that reminds me, I am very hungry!"

Anika-"Chaliye saath mein baante hain, jaldi banegaa! Lekin kal aapko bana padegaa...aaj apki turn thii!" she saif getting up from the chair to move towards the kitchen

Shivaay held her wrist still sitting on his chair. Her body tensed as she turns to look at him.

"Thank You, Anika!" he said, his voice full of emotions.

Anika gives a sweet smile and then making an amused face-"Kis ke liye, aapko kal naashta banana ki duty dene ke liye?" she laughed before he could.

He still held on her hand as he spoke-"Nahi, Tumhaari friendship ke liye! I never thought friendship aisi bhi ho sakti hai!"

Anika smiles-"Maine aapko bolathaa naa...friendship mein no sorry no thank You..!

Shivaay casually nodding-"Yaa!"

Anika-"Arre Rahul ka dialogue hai!"

Shivaay at once lookee at her curiously -"Ab ye Rahul kaun hai?"

Anika-"Are aap Rahul ko nahi jaante. Aree wo karan johar ki picture ka Rahul. SRK!"

Shivaay-"Oh, tum flim ke character ki baat kar rahi ho!"

Anika-"Haan...! By God...wo..."

Shivaay-"Enough...I think we were hungry, yes?"

Anika making a face-"Haan haan, aapko problem kyaa hai, aap filmein nahi dekthe, aap survive kaise karte hain!?"

Shivaay-"Please stop mixing hindi and English its films ! Aur khade hone se khaana ban jaayega kya?"

Anika-"Aap mera haath chodenge toh main .."

Shivaay at once leaves the hand slightly embarrassed.

She smirked and walked into the kitchen while he followed, muttering a few curses to himself!

Anika-"pasta banate hain, aape pasta boil kijiye main veggies kaat thi hoon!"

Shivaay nodded as he took an apple from the fridge washed it and finally bit into it!

He skilfully does his part quickly and stands resting against the platform eating from the apple as he sees her cut the veggies like a typical beginner. It was more like she was removing her anger on those poor capsicums than cutting them.

"Why don't you use the cutting board?" he said chewing the apple.

Anika-"Arre it takes time that way..its easier this way!"

Shivaay-"Its risky this way, you might hurt your finger..here take this." he passed the cutting board.

She made a face and took it, for once, avoiding an argument. She starts working like an inexperience and he sighed looking at her, finally loosing his patience-"Koi aise kaat thaa hai kya? Let me show you..."

Anika-"Aap ki problem kya hai...pehle kaat rahi thii toh problem abhi problem!" She said swaying the knife in air.

Shivaay-"Watch the knife, mujhe lag jaayegi.."

Anika smirking purposefully, points the knife at him-"Aap ko dar lagta hai?"

Shivaay-"O shut up, and give it to me.."

She once again pointed the knife this time still closer-"Main kaat rahi hoon...aap chup rahiye!"

Shivaay clenched his jaw, over-smartness with him huh?

He stood behind her and placed his right hand on hers-"Aise nahi kaat te!"

He slowly made her hand move on the vegetables, while his left hand holds the veggies from the other side, caging her between the platform and himself. She had gone still. She placed her left hand on the platform while her right was under his control. He was saying something about the cutting techniques but she understood none, her brain was over tasked, trying to tell her heart to normalize the beats, and trying to understand those weird sensations that always took over her system when he came close.

She then saw his right hand that grip over hers, she gulped. What was happening? She asked herself to breathe. As she inhaled a sharp breath, she smelt him. The scent was undoing her sensations. Her body was on alarm mode, all her organs seemed to be out of order.

He was engrossed in teaching the techniques to her, for some reason her hand seemed stiffer. Wondering he realised, their closeness. Damn what the hell, when did he get so close to her? While his hands still made hers move, he felt her. No he shouldn't be thinking that way. His closeness had already made her uncomfortable, he should just back off.

For one last time he inhaled her peculiar scent. Gaining his breath he backed off-"Aise karte hain!" he tried sounding normal despite of which his voice still sounded rugged and husky.She simply managed to nod a yes looking down. He folded his hands and moved back to look at the pasta. Perfect timing. Had he been a little late the pasta would have turned all mushy. He looked at her from the corner of his eyes, her hands barely moved, she seemed lost.That way he would never get food.

Wait. Does that mean, she is affected by me? Maybe she must be thinking what an uncivilized man I am? Who goes so close? He cursed himself. This was certainly not the time to ponder, and his stomach for one agreed strongly to that."Anika!" he said aloud bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Huuh?"

Shivaay-"Why don't you work on the sauce let me cut the veggies it will be faster..! You could practice some other time, I m very hungry.!"

Anika simply nodded, slightly embarrassed as she realised she had been drawing the knife over the same piece over and over again.

The brunch was more a silent affair with random talks than anything in particular. Both had an ocean of thoughts within the head, enough to keep the conversations to a minimal level.

P.S

Any feedback ? So far so good?