He sat tapping his feet looking at the watch occasionally, typing away on his phone. It was already 8:45 and she hadn't arrived. He thought of calling her, but on second thoughts rejected the idea. Deciding to Start cooking without her, he walked to the kitchen.As he got the things together, and began, he kept looking at his watch. Fifteen minutes had passed, it was already nine. With no sign of her.

Did she forget? He frowned and angrily threw the knife aside. Cooking gave him no joy. He was used to cooking with his brothers, and then had got used to her. He missed her. What if she is late, as usual? Quite possible he told himself. And again set back to cooking. Only now he realised how much of the void she filled in his life. He was lost in his thoughts when he heard her slippers clap against the floor.

"Sorry , sorry sorry!" The voice came closer as she placed her bag on the sofa and came up to him panting for air. He smiled. She had that power in hand, to make him smile when he was fuming inside. He folded his hands looking at her while she held on to his hand and bent down grasping in air.

His look demanded an explanation. She made a sheepish face. "Wo maine...Chota saa nap le liya tha...!"

"Chota saa Nap?" He asked raising an eyebrow."I am sorry!" She made a puppy face, "Khaana banaye mere ko bahut book lagi hai!" He couldn't even pretend to stay mad at her cute faces.

"Tumhaara Intezaar karta toh hum bhooke marte, Just a final touches .."he said taking in the aroma of the pasta. She smiled at him. Impressed. " oh please aapko naa apni recipe mujhse nahi share karni thii... Main aapko bahut achi tarah se jaanti hoon. !" She said in a swing of attitude.

Tapping the stirrer he kept it on the side slate. Putting his hand on the kitchen counter he leaned sidewards-"Agar sikhaata bhi naa toh bhi nahi bana paati tum.. Aur tum mujhe jaanti ho, ? Really? Toh baatao mujhe kitna jaanti ho! " he said voice gleaming with confidence. She thought for a while, in the mean time he looked at her. She looked beautiful. Her kurta was a perfect match to his shirt. He din't fail to notice the little amount of the waist-skin that played peek a boo as her hands moved, causing the high slit kurti to move up and down. He wondered how it would feel to have his hands caress her waist. 'Get a hold, Shivaay !' he cursed his thoughts. 'Not of the waist of course!'

She finally spoke-"Aap jaldi utna pasand karte hain, aapko high-fy olive oile mein bana khana zyada pasand hai, aapko dawaiaan lene pasand hai, gusssa aapke naak pe rehta hai, aapko cheezein ek dum tan tana tan saaf sutri pasand hai, aapko jab gussa aata hai toh aapki kanji aakhein ek dum hari ho jaati hai aur aapka phone shaheed ho jaa hai, aap theek thaa dance kar lete hain, (she said making a teasing face) Khanna Ji Ko bahut daatte hain, Aap ko meri language se MichMichi machti hai, aapko aapki Tadi bahut pyaari hai, aapko...,"

He was in awe as she went on and on. She looked at the ceiling, looked at roof recollecting everything about him. Not realising that the man was just amazed at how much she knew and remembered about him.

He stepped forward and before she could even realise how much she had spoken, he placed his index finger on her lips. "Shhh..."He said interlocking his gaze with hers. She was mum.His finger on her lips, setting up waves of anticipation in her system.

"Mere baaree mein itna sochogi, kahigi, aur notice karogi to pyaar ho jaayega.." He whispered.

"Maine kahi pada hai, ki aisa hota hai.!" He added in a crisp voice cheekily.She blinked and looked at him, her lips slightly parted in shock at what he said. The air had grown hot too fast. He din't care to pull his finger back.

Her parting of lips only made his hormones spark up. Both looked at each other intently. The elephant in the room they had ignored, had grown to big to be ignored anymore. Yes, the attraction. They were crazily attracted to the other. Both loved each other's presence as much as they hated it cause it only complicated their equation.

Her eyes left his eyes, which were too enchanting and always made him lose herself in them. Her gaze now rested on his finger, still placed on her lips. His eyes followed her and as realisation dawned, he slowly took his finger back, much against his own wish. She gulped and looked at him color rising up her cheeks which he din't fail to notice.

He smiled satisfied, "hmm?"

"Hmm!" She said looking away, highly embarrassed.

He adored her expression. She could still feel his gaze on her. Only then did the microwave beep, indicating the garlic bed was ready. Smiling, playfully he went to the microwave while she sighed relieved, and composed herself.

"Aap mere baare mein kya jaane hain?" She asked as he stood his back facing her, as he got the bread out of the oven. He smiled as he removed the glove, and pretending casual he turned, "Actually nothing much, you should tell me about yourself some day!"She tried not frowning at his reply. She din't like it a bit. Not a single thing he could mention about her, and she had gone out to write a book about him.

"Ye aap kya kar rahe hain!" She peeked at him as he was mixing cream.

"Desert !" He replied.

"Hmm..Can we watch a movie...?"she asked..

" won't it be late...I mean.." He stopped. It was. a brilliant idea, that way she would stay longer, being the typical movie watcher she was, she wouldn't leave it halfway. And he knew how much she loved watching movies. And he missed spending movie time with her , when he would mock a scene and she would come up with defense, and both would end up arguing and then focus on the movie until the next mock-worthy scene.

"Okay!" He said casually "Its in the TV Cabinet, the DVDs.!"

"Okay..!" She said happily, "I will use the washroom and... I choose okay!?

" Do I have a choice of choosing? " he asked cheekily.

"No You Don't.. Okay..!" She said making her way out when she tripped and she fell.

He looked up at the sound and rushed to her side. She laughed and laughed. Was she insane?!

"Are you okay Anika, kahin lagi toh nahi?" He asked concerned analysing her. She laughed and nodded in NO. She din't stop laughing and he looked at her dumbfounded. She was beautiful, her own kind if beautiful. She was crazy, She was insane, She was Anika after all.

He chuckled at her and helped her up, when her slipper skid and she fell right back. Her laughter grew wider while he stared at her comically wondering whether to laugh along or see if she was alright.

Looking at the slipper he spoke-"Tum ye ...ye slippers mat pehna karo..!"

Sitting up on the floor she controlled her laughter and spoke-"heels pehenti toh aapko complex ho jaa."

"Hey, you can't mock my height alright, I am tall enough..!"

"Hey, you can't mock my slipper alright, it's good enough.!" She mimicked him. This woman gave tough competition to a naughty little girl. He shook his head exasperated as she held on to his shoulder and rose.

She left the kiychen giggling and he gaped. Insane, was the word. As he saw her disappear around the pillar he smiled.

" Tum paagal ho, chalti aise ho jaise hawaa hoo, tumhe chocolate cheese sandwich bahut pasand hai, tumhe late uthnaa, mujhe irritate karna aur chance pe legit dance karna pasand hai, jab philosophical baatein kargi ho toh ache khaase professors ko peeche chod deti ho, tumhe apni tarah se jeena pasand hai, tum bahut alag ho Anika. Ek sum Khidkitod" He sighed realising she was gone and he was speaking to himself, as a smile lot his face.

It wasn't just his face that lit up, hers lit up too as she heard every word he said to himself, hiding behind the pillar. And after that she couldn't stop smiling. It took serious effort to stop herself from screaming excitement out.

He walked towards her. He had left the serving part to the house staff. He saw her standing on her heels, thank god she had removed those slippers before. But the sight made him crazy. Ample amount of her waist flaunting as her top ran up. Before he could think, his feet took him close to her.

"Hmm..!" He said.

She freaked out a bit startled.

"Ek achi movie nahi mil Rahi...kaisa faaltu collection hai... Ye movies."

He tittered "Wo Daadi kaa collection hai...!" She looked at him animatedly. "Isliye..!"

"Check there." he said pointing to the lower cupboard.

She nodded opening the cupboard, while he peeped standing close to her.

She held a CD cover. "Fifty Shades Of Grey!"

"Ye kaisa naam hai! Paaka pitti hogi movie.!" She declared keeping aside the cupboard.

Shivaay looked terrified, it was Rudra's DVD collection. He just hoped something still worse didn't come out.

"American Pie!" She read. "Aap ke Parivaar lein sabko hi firangi dishes pasand hai kya..movie ka naam...!!" How he thanked the lord only the name was on the cover, and not the poster.

"Aa...Anika...why don't you try this cupboard... Priyanka's collection is here you'd probably prefer this." He said almost shoving her to the other side and closing shut the cupboard. He had got everything out from the storeroom and basement, and had them put back as they used to be.

She happily got one movie out. "Zindagi Naa Milegi Dobaara. Perfect." He nodded painly.

They finally got to eating and watching and of course talking. Anika kept comparing him to Hrithik and always ended up on the height much to his annoyance. How time flied none knew. He found himself staring at her unconsciously at times. The pasta was her favorite and she couldn't help but curse him for not teaching her the recipe. He chuckled. They cleared the dishes and got back to the movie. The night was getting darker but the atmosphere in the house just got lively as he pulled her leg and she would smack him or show him her tongue or call him names. Something he had grown fond of.

She stole glances at him. His interest in the movie seemed to have grown after Katrina's appearance. Such a typical guy!! But nevertheless it gave her opportunities to gawk at him. "You like her!?" She asked simply staring away at the screen."She is okay...!" He replied.

"Then who is better ?" She enquired curiously.

"You!" He replied absentmindedly, and then screwed his eyes shut at the blunder and corrected it by pretending to complete his sentence..."Why do YOU want to know!?"

"Just like that!" She no longer wanted to know. Smiling she diverted her attention back to the screen, when suddenly the lights went off. She gasped.

He had known she was scared of darkness. At once he was by her, "You Okay Anika!?" He asked concern dipping from his voice as he held her by the shoulder. "Khanna ...Khanna !" He screamed. Nothing but pin drop silence.

"What happened to the lights?" He spoke irritated. No Response.The two got up his hand still around her shoulder. "Koi hai..!" He screamed.

"Happy Birthday To You..!!" Sang a few voices. His heart raced as he turned back to the source of light. It was a video playing, his last Birthday's video on the Huge LCD behind. The lights dimmly appeared back, and there was a cake before him. He looked back up at the video. His Best Birthday ever. Everyone looked so happy.The song on the video ended as he cut the cake and fed it to everyone in the video.

A faint feeble , yet melodic soft voice sand from behind..."...Happy Birthday To You..."

He turned and looked at her. She gave the most brilliant smile ever, as she saw his face shining with happiness. She also noticed his moist eyes.

Before she knew, she was in his bone crushing embrace. She smiled her own eyes getting moist."...A Very Happy Birthday! " she whispered and hugged him back with the same intensity, letting him know, she would always be there, by him.

P.SHope You All Liked It.Views Reviews and chamelis for being late, welcome

Happy Lohri!