A faint feeble , yet melodic soft voice sang 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.

She blinked away her tears wiping it off the edge of her eyes, as they broke the hug. He cupped her face and whispered a Thank You. She could say he was moved. Just like she was when he cared for her. He took his hands back realising that she might be uncomfortable, she smiled. He saw the cake and then her.

"Kaatna hi hai..!" She winked. He shook his head, taking the knife in hand. She replayed the video and sang along with the video. He gulped trying to keep those traitor droplets forming in his eyes away. He picked up a piece and fed it to her. While she took the remaining half and fed it back to him. He was astonished at how well she completed his life. For the first time in life there was just one soul by him on his birthday but she made sure he felt complete.

He smiled turning and wiping away the tears. While she quickly wiped the one threatening to fall of her eye. Both smiled awkwardly. He finally chuckled and broke the silence, "An Year Older.!" She laughed, was all that he could say! He sheepishly smiled, and cursed himself. "Yeh Sabb...?" He enquired.

She gave him one of her typical Anika smile. And then pointing her hand at herself, she raised her eyebrows in self praise. He rolled his eyes, but he had to say, "Yeh Cake Tumne Banaya hai, Seriously?"

"Aap meri udaa rahe hain naa? Hmm..aap ko acha lagaa naa...meri favourite bakery se hai...aur mera favorite flavour hai..!"

He smiled. "So...!"

She smiled back, "Soo...!"

"Mujhe.." She said.

" Tumhe.." He said.

They laughed as they spoke in unison.

"I think I should leave.!" "I think you should stay!"

Yet again they spoke together. Their gazes locking in bafflement.

"it's late..." He justified.

"It's okay!" She replied.

But where was he going to listen, she argued that Khanna Ji would drop her and that he would be tired.

But he din't listen a word. "I drop you, or you choose one room from the many in here.!"

Anika-"Okay!" She said grumpily. She hated following his instructions.

Shivaay-"Cool Chalo..!"

Anika-"Aap apna mooh toh pooch lijiye..! " she giggled.

Realising he quickly washed up and came.

The night was fairly breezy, the roads silent. "Ahh..Anika?"

"Hmm." She said diverting her attention from the trees outside to him.

"I was wondering, if, I mean...about Aayka." He said.

"o haan...look Aayka still belongs to you as much as to me, but I completely understand now that you have an almost empire to look after, etc etc, but you still remain a 50-50 partner, okay? "

He smiled, "I get it, but I was wondering what of we put it under the Oberoi Banner, I mean everything stays as it is just that it gets under the Oberoi Banner? "

Her expression turned serious.

"Umm..its not that..but...Things can stay the way they were.. I mean Aayka has grown up on it self and...I mean, I totally understand that what it is today it wouldn't have been possible without you, but.."

She had worked the company from sketch and wanted it to stay as independent as it was. Be known for what it was and not as another Oberoi venture.

He got the hints.

"Its perfectly alright Anika, it was just a suggestion. Having said all, I don't think you would mind doing the events for the Oberoi Group?" He gave her a charming smile.

She smiled, "The pleasure would be all ours."

He grinned, "I like the way you say OURS"

"Well it does belong to US so.!" She giggled.

"And now want about that DVD, wo kahan se mili tumhe..?"

She gave a winning smile,"aapna ek dum bichiya ke tau hai!"

He frowned-"Bichi what?!"

Arrey Bichiya ke tau,Aap ke saamne hi main DVDs dehk rahi thii. Mera plan Sirf Cake ka thaa..isliye toh main late thii...fir Rudra ke collection mein se ye DVD milli toh sone pe suhaaga ho gaya. Waise mere plans naa ek dum Khidkitod hote hain aapko pata hai ek baar..." She went on and on.

He smiled at her, she looked as beautiful as she was on the inside. How he wished they remained like that forever.

Out of no where, she suddenly heard a "thank You" she stopped talking and turned to look at him. He smiled as he turned the car to the side road leading to the apartment. "You made my day!" She smiled, "abhi toh aapka din shuru hua hai, Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi.!"

He smiled. "Its crazy how far we have come together. I mean from total strangers to such good friends. Though initially I did have trust issues but not anymore..." He looked at her.

Her smile faded, as the conflict in her heart grew. He trusted her. She smiled.

"But haan...don't lie...like today, I was so worried you know!" He cursed himself the minute he had said it. But wasn't it okay to be verbal about what he felt? She was all he had.

"Hmm!" She sighed more than said and looked out as they neared the apartment. He drove the car inside, bringing it to a halt in one of the empty parking slots. "Let's go".

" it's alright, Main chali Jaaungi!"

He got off the car and came around peeping in through her window,"Until I see you are safe inside, I'm not leaving! "

She sighed-"Fine..lekin main gum nahi ho jaaungi...!"

She opened the door, only to realise her scarf that was overflowing out of her bag had got stuck into the buckle of her seat belt. She struggled with the belt.

"Ye atak gaya hai!" She said fidgeting with the belt.

"Just press the dam button Anika..!" He said exasperated at her stupidity.

"Arre ye dab hi nahi raha...!" She spoke trying to pull the scarf.

He finally shook his head in disapproval, "let me help."

He opened the door and bent inside. She removed her hands from the buckle sitting up straight, his face right in front of her eyes. She took in a hitched breath. His cologne always set up strange waves in her stomach. That manly scent. She gulped her eyes scanning his stubble.

*Click*

He was finally successful in his errand. He slowly moved his hand to set the belt open. Only then did he notice her seeing him. He saw a strange glint in her eyes. That glint which undid him in mere seconds. Her face was slightly flushed, perhaps the consequence of the proximity. She sat like a statue, just breathing unevenly. His hand put the belt behind and moved to those strands of her hair that slightly covered her face.

He pushed them behind as she grasped in another deep breath, her eyes not leaving his face. He slowly cupped her face, moving closer. When suddenly the guard's shrill whistle broke the enchanting silence bringing them back to the real world. He smiled and moved back. She looked embarrassed, and saw every where except in his direction.

The stood in complete silence in the lift. He saw her through the corner of her eyes.

The next moment he pushed her slightly to the wall of the lift, caging her between himself and it. She looked up wide eyed. He cupped her face and tilting her chin upwards claimed her lips in a searing kiss.

The notification bell of the lift rang. "Phat the wuck!" He exclaimed realising it was his open eyed dream.

"All okay? " she glanced at him confused.

"Yeah" he sighed leading the way to the apartment door. His head bursting with the side effects of his attraction.

He made sure she was inside. She invited him inside. "No thanks Good Night!" He din't trust himself anymore. He left in quite abrupt manner, leaving her confused as well. Perhaps the encounter in the car. She took a deep breath and locked the door shut.

P.SHope You All Liked It.Do comment what you liked.