He walked down the stairs, looking around. Where was she ? She wasn't there at breakfast, because she had gone to her apartment. Had she eaten anything? For once the girl couldn't be organised. She must be panicking as usual, he sighed.

He looked up, there was hustle and bustle all over the place. The men were at the decorations for the Haldi function to be held that evening. Saumya was busily moving around, instructing them. Dev and Prinku were out for a date, thanks to Shivaay. He totally wanted Prinku and Dev to have the best time of their life.He reached the couch to find Daadi doing something with haldi, Dev's grandmother was their as well. He greeted the older ladies. He casually asked about Anika's whereabouts.

"Abhi tak nahi aayi?" He said looking at his watch.

A smile started curving up on Daadi's face. "Aayi toh thii!"

"When ? Where is she?" He spoke startled, looking around to find her glimpse.

"Offo, aayi thii, abhi airport gayi hai!" Daadi replied. Thoroughly enjoying the expressions that crossed her grandson's face.

Shivaay-"What? Airport Kyun?"

Daadi-"Vikram ko lene."Shivaay looked frustrated, he hadn't seen her ever since the previous night's incidence. Here he was madly waiting to see her and she had come and gone.

" Kaun Vikram? And how did she go to pick up, usse driving nahi aati hai."

Daadi-"Arre Vikram...Vikram Singh Malhotra. Driver drive karega wo kyun?"

"Oh..Vikram! " he exclaimed, understanding which Vikram Daadi was speaking of. "But Vikram wasn't coming right?"Vikram was Prinku's second cousin from maternal side. He was Jaanvi's first cousin's son. Tall, handsome and a growing businessman settled in London.

Daadi-" Haan. Abhi thodi der pehle hi Manisha ka phone aaya thaa. Vikram ki meeting cancel ho gayi toh usne flight le li. Vikram ko toh tu jaanta hai, Prinku Jaan le leti uski agar nahi aata. Tu subha meeting mein busy thaa, toh Maine Anika ko bhej diya."

Shivaay perched upon the couch. "Hmm."

Daadi suppressed her smile seeing Shivaay's dry face. "Hota hai Hota Hai!" She gently patted his head and left.He frowned, and followed her. "What do you mean by that?"

Daadi walked from the mandir towards the kitchen. "Matlab aisa hota ha..!"Daadi instructed the servants and then started making kheer for prasad.

While Shivaay simply helped her."Exactly kaisa hota hai?" He asked. "Aap seedha seedha boliye naa."

Dadi turned to him."khoteya da putaar, Yeh aakhein hai button nahi, Sab samajti hoon main. Ishq chuppaaye nahi chup taa!"He twitched his eyebrow, finally getting where Daadi was.

"Daadi aap bhi naa. Aap kheer banaiye..mujhe kaam hai.."

Daadi-"Acha sun toh.."He turned back, to lend her a listening ear.

Daadi tells him that Anika had left some files in his room. He nods and turns to leave when Daadi stops him again."Hota hai Hota hai, Billu!" She laughed.

"Daadi!' He shook hi head leaving. A smile dancing in his lips. Maybe Daadi was right, " Hota hai Hota hai!" He chuckled leaving.

***

"Daadi!" Greeted Vikram, walking up to the lady and taking her in a hug.

Daadi-"Khoteya, pair pad!"Vikram-"Arey pair toh buzargo ke Page jaate hai aap toh, abhi jawaan hai! Suna hai aaj kal Dream Girl bulaate hain aapko."Shivaay smiled as he approached them.

Daadi slapped her hand against her forehead-" Yeh Anika Bhi?!! WO kam thii Jo tu bhi!" She pulled his ears, playfully.

His gaze quickly diverted looking around for her. Her mere mention was enough for his brain to be tuned to her frequency once again.

"Shivaay!" Vikram took him in a hug. "So good to see you brother."

"Good to see you as well!" Smiled Shivaay, looking up at the man."How was your flight?"

"Jeez, it was tiring, but Anika me saari thakaan utaar di. Kitna bolti hai won! I was amazed. I bet the Bombay Times would loose to her. " he laughed.Shivaay blinked, smiling cordially.

Great! He hadn't even seen her since the morning forget about listening her voice and Vikram already knew her so well! Where was she anyway. His eyes searched the doorway.Daadi, feeling pity the poor fellow asked Vikram about Anika.

"Main yahan hoon!" She smiled and quickly hugged Daadi. "Arey aapne bataya nahi thaa itne lambe chaude aadmi ko lana hai, bechaare inka sar toh ab tak suj gaya hoga."

Vikram-" Haha..No I am perfectly fine thank you. Where is the Bride-To-Be?"

Anika-"Ghumne gayi hai!"

Vikram-"Ghumne? I thought wo Honeymoon pe karte hain."

Anika laughed gently looking at the ground.

Shivaay-"She's gone on a...umm...!" He quickly decided not to complete it when he saw Daadi looking at him with squeezed eyes. "to personally invite a few of her friends. Everything happened too quickly so..yeah. "

Anika smiled suppressing her laugh that din't go unnoticed by Shivaay.After lunch, Daadi had retired to rest for the afternoon, the young crowd sat chirping in the living room.

Prinku updated Vikram on the latest happenings. Saumya and Dev too had developed instant liking for Vikram. Anika would often add something to what Prinku said and Vikram would pass sarcastic comments and chuckles would fill the room. One of them, sat rather silently. Shivaay, of course. For some reason he didn't a bit like Anika's entire attention on Vikram. He looked at his watch, two hours to the Haldi function.

"Alright!" He broke in.

"Its roughy two hours how about each of us get some rest and get ready for the function. You must be tired Vikram."

Vikram was about to protest but clever Shivaay dint give any room to further conversation.

Vikram looked in dilemma looking at the two corridors.

Anika-" Lost?"

Vikram smiled-"I think so!"

Anika-"Mera bhi yahi haal thaa, Yeh garh hai hi itna bada." She offered to show him to the guest room, when Shivaay interrupted abruptly.

"Saumya will show you the way, it's right next to the one she and Prinku use. Anika, A minute ..?"

Vikram-"Alright see you later Miss Wedding Planner. I can keep names too! " he winked.

Anika laughed graciously, "See you, Mr. NRI!"

Shivaay folded his hands, something was sure burning.Anika walked up to Shivaay and the two began walking down the other corridor.He finally felt relief finding her sans Vikram. Ever since Vikram had arrived, the two were together around, laughing and cracking stupid jokes. She had also invited him shopping the next day. So now everyone except Saumya was going shopping. Great! He was brought out of his thoughts by her voice.

"Aap...kuch bolna chaah rahe thee?"

"Bahut kuch!" He thought,"yes " he actually said.

Shivaay- "Wanted to discuss umm the ..!"

Anika- "Oh yes. The invitations..

Shivaay-"Done! Lawn arrangements? "

Anika-"Hired!"

Shivaay-"Choreographer? "

Anika-"Booked!"

Mere words were enough for the other to understand. They actually made a superb team. She stole glances at him. She hadn't seen him properly since the morning. She was afraid, much afraid. To fall for the man her heart was already falling for.

"I left the entire set of files and a few other things that belonged to you, in your room." She informed him."Yeah. Daadi told me." He looked at her as she stood outside her room.

"I have nothing left that belongs to you." She said softly.

His eyes looked deeply into hers. How could she say that! She had the entire him!

"See you in the evening." She smiled gently, stepping inside the room.

"In the evening!" He nodded.He walked away as she shut the room's door. She was acting different, very different with just him, but. He sighed.

What was hurting him so much? And why? He sat by the pool. He had cancelled his video conferences. He just sat all by himself gently touching the surface of the water with his fingertips. He saw her face even on the water's surface. Frustrated he splashed the water. She wasn't herself!

Omkara and Rudra appeared and sat beside him.

"Angry?" Asked Om.

Shivaay turned his gaze and nodded in a no.Om appeared to smile.

Tears steamed down Shivaay's cheeks only to fall into the pool, already filled to the surface. He was lonely, terribly lonely. He knew they weren't there. It was his stupid mind playing tricks. Oh, how he longed them to be real. He was very very lonely. His heart felt heavy, a sudden pain rising in his chest. He walked up to his dressing table and took out a tablet. He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling fan. Things weren't right, not anymore.

***

He walked down the corridor, feeling a little better than before. He had left earlier to check on the things. As he walked down the corridor, passing her room, he din't bother to stop. But, like always a surprise was in store for him.

As he turned right down the corridor, luckily this time they din't collide, only their hands did. She looked pretty in a long sleeveless kurti with yellowish leggings. A thin soft duppatta hanged over her shoulder, long earrings complemented her dress.He simply shook his head acknowledging her presence, and proceeded on his way. He was stopped and turned to find her bracelet stuck to his kurta's sleeve. She searched his face. Something wasn't right. She expected him to reprimand her for walking without looking like he always did, or perhaps playfully taunt her or something. His eyes were focused, as he worked on getting the bracelet off his sleeve while she kept staring at him.

"Aap theek hain naa?" She asked timidly looking up at his eyes which just din't meet hers.Once he had freed her bracelet, he looked up at her smiling,

"yeah!"The smile was fake. She could tell that plainly She held his arm, and stopped him once again.He stared at her hand holding his arm. She took a step closer to him, now fully facing him. Their faces were mere inches apart. Her fingers gently brushed his sherwani, all the way to his brooch. She unpinned it delicately, and put it back correctly. All the while he simply stared at her.

"Ab theek hai!" She said stepping away, clapping her palms.He stepped forward towards her. She immediately stepped back, only to find herself against the wall. He stepped still closer, placing his plam on the wall right beside her waist.

"Theek hai?" His eyes stared right down straight into hers. Her eyelashes fluttered and she finally met his intense gaze breathing heavily.She blinked looking at him trying to figure out what his eyes were screaming to her. He wasn't okay.

His phone rang, and a few seconds later there was Saumya' voice calling out to Anika. She was brought out of her thoughts and looked hither thither uncomfortably. She could feel his gaze still on her and his hot breath fanning her face. She looked aside and he pulled back his hand. She quickly disappeared down the corridor.

While he stood their, staring at the wall. What was happening? Whatever it was it left a pang in his heart. She slowed down once she felt herself free of anyone's eyes. She leaned against the wall closing her eyes, he wasn't okay, so how could she be?

P.S

Hope You All Liked It.

Thanks for all your love.