"Waah. Toh ab maafi maangne mein bhi tadi!" she said quickly looking at him and then turning her gaze away.

He took in a deep breath. It was her time to show all the attitue and he would have to swim through it, to get to her heart on the other end. She should also know he was a champion at swimming as well!

"Anika." His voice was soft. "My any number of sorry will never be enough nor will my thank-yous, I have a bad habit, .."

She slowly turned to look at him. He was now holding her hands delicately and looking at them and speaking. His head bowed down slightly.

"...I take everyone for granted. I did before and I did yet again. First my family, now you. I 'm sorry for being so bad. Sorry for screaming at you when I was angry with myself, sorry for screaming at you when the fault was mine. But I m like that... Defect hai, like you say your ..fridge... refrigerator I mean." He looked up at her. Tears in his eyes, a stupid smile on his face.

She bit her lower lip, she was scared she would cry seeing him like that. He was being everything she had not in the wildest thoughts imagined he would be. Here he was holding her hands so delicately as though they would break if he wasn't careful. He was apologizing repeatedly, something that was far from SSO would do.

"Par main gussa hoon, tum pe. " she looked at him, her breathing slow and hard. " Pooch raha thaa naa, kyun kiya, ek baar keh deti, kya ho jaata? "

She nodded in a no her eyes growing moist. But she remained silent.

"Tum bahut achi ho Anika. Itna pyaar? Itna pyaar ek ajnabee ke liye? Jab apne aap se bhi anjaan thaa main, tab tum ne mera haath pakda. Aur sab hone ke baawajud phir se wahin thii mere saath, mera haath pakdne ke liye, aur abhi mera haath pakda hua hai" the two looked down at their hands holding each others. "I m stupid..paagal hoon main, Vishwaas karna seekha nahi, bas judge karna aata hai.Lekin ab, I trust you more than I trust myself. Main shaayad apne aap ko dhoka de doon, tum kabhi nahi de sakti!"

"I Love You, Anika. I love you very very much. Tum nahi toh main nahi!" His voice muffled up as emotions overpowered him, he put his arms around her and hugged her, crying bitterly over her shoulder. She closed her eyes gulping hard. Tears finally rolled down her cheeks.

Why now? Why again? She had already made a decision, to push him away and erase the love she had in her heart for him. She slowly wiped her tears.

Minutes later he broke apart and gently took his left palm towards her face. She looked at his eyes. He looked at hers. His hand stopped in track reading it in her eyes. The answer he was waiting for was given by her eyes. But, it wasn't the one he wanted. "Anika?"

She slowly freed her hand from his other hand."Aapko...jaana chaiye. Its late , you should leave. " she turned away. He stared at her face.

"Abhi naaraz ho?" He tilted his head slightly trying to look into her eyes. But she clearly wouldn't.

"Nahi. " she said simply.

"Anika?" He he'll her shoulders and turned her to face him.

She slowly pushed away his hands, "It's okay, galtiyaan Sab se hoti hai. Aap se bhi hui, shaayad main aapki jagah hoti yoh wahi karti. I m not angry or upset." She tried smiling clearly failing.

"You can't lie. Certainly not to me. .." He looked into her eyes. She turned her eyes away. "It's just that, we have been together for too long, that's making you think this way. You are and will always be my best friend." She placed her hand on his shoulder attempting to try to make him understand. She hated this. But it was the best not just for her, but him also. The away they would stay, the less they would be hurt by each other.

"You weren't so weak Anika. " he stepped closer pushing away her hand from his shoulder. She wasn't looking at him at all. "Anika, what's happened? Anika, what is bothering you?" He gently held her forearm.

The dam Anika had successfully held until now, released. "You bother me!" She raised her voice. "I don't love you! I'm not weak, I 'm not. " her voice raised further.

He clenched his jaw, angry at her behavior. But he knew her outburst was because something bothered her. "Kis se juth bol rahi ho Anika, I know you love me. " his voice was raised but not threatening he held her hand and pulled her close.

She stared into his eyes, and nodded in a no. "I don't... Please go."

"Are you scared? Sacred that If I stay longer, I'd get the truth out?" His words were sharp.

"Leave.""Please." She pulled back her hand, and walked away to her bed.

"Please leave."

"I won't!"

She screwed her eyes shut, why was he so impossible! "Leave Shivaay!" She shouted and he was left amazed. Never had she called him by his first name. Never had she shouted at him that way. Was she so angry at him? Did she really not...? No . he knew she loved him. Loved him like no one would ever. Perhaps she needed more time. Maybe he had rushed things up. He quickly walked out and left.

Once she had heard the door shut she collapsed on the bed crying bitterly. " I love you Shivaay, I love you ...!" Her voice was hushed by the pillow. Hot droplets flowed down her face. Everything was perfect. Just like she had seen in his movies. It was like a dream come true. His apology was earnest. He was so broken by her aloofness, she could read it in his eyes. His confession had come straight from his heart. He had changed so much of himself for her sake. What had she done? So cruelly shouted at him, pushed him away. How broken he would be when she told she didn't love him? She knew the truth that she did very much love him.

He was driving back home. There was thunder and lighting. In seconds the skies were pouring crazily. Her words stayed with him. "Why Anika?" He was angry. His feet pressed the accelerator, while his hand changed the gear.

Anika did not know when she had fallen asleep. Was that a nightmare? Whatever it was it was horrifying. She felt restless. She ran her hand over her hair. She was sweating profusely. She quickly drank some water. Her heart was thudding hard. Was he okay? Flashed of his blood stained face came to her mind, the first time she had seen him. She clutched on to the bedsheet. She groped for her phone. It was nearly twelve midnight. She closed her eyes, trying to normalize her breathing. A roaring thunder made her swing her eyes open and shudder. Was he okay?

The phones had no network. It was raining insane. She saw herself walk up to her and sit before. "Tera dar tere liye, Shivaay se zyada hai?"

She nodded in a no.

"Toh kiska intezaar kar rahi hai ? Sabko zindagi doosra mauka nahi deti, nayi shuruaat ka, Naye pyaar ka, tujhe mila hai Anika, apne dar ko isse maarne mat de!"

She snapped out of her own world of thoughts. "Phel gaya raita!" she loved him, that was important. Not that she feared love. He was important to her than she herself. So why was she listening to her fears and not her heart which now knew just one name!

She scrambled out of bed, dashed to the wardrobe. Running out from the washroom, she pulled at her bag and took it out of the hook. Quickly put on her chamki. Grabbing her keys from the tray outside by the door she shut the door and clicked locked. She paced to the elevator, pressing the button at least a good ten times. "Jaldi aa!"

Well if someone saw her like that they would surely declare she was struck hard by insanity. Wearing her raincoat she ran from the building to the apartment's gate.

The watchman looked ta her shocked. "Ma'am aap theek hain naa?"

"Haan.haan kaka!" She ran to the road. Looking on either side for an auto or cab. The rain was stern and she had to hold on to the cap of her raincoat.

She was a little lucky as one scooter came out of her own apartment. It was Micky, Mrs. Bhalla's son who worked on night duty. He asked her if she wanted a drop somewhere. She hurriedly told him the address. It was almost on the way. He asked her whether there was an emergency. She told him there was sort of one. He simply rode confused. "Are you sure ?"he asked her leaving her at the road's corner." Yeah you carry on, lest you 'll be late. Thank you!" She said as she ran down the right street. The man looked on bewildered. She was one odd girl.

The rain coat was of no good use. The wind was strong and the rain droplets showcased their own craziness. He hair was wet like she just had a good shower. She could not care for it. All that was on her mind was him. She wanted to see him. That's it.

"The security guards knew her too well. At once they allowed her in. Khaana Ji looked on shocked. He was just about to call it a day and head to his room. " M'am all okay?" He asked terrified looking at her like that.

"Haan Khanna Ji. Sir kahan hain?" She asked looking down at her slippers. They had died a brutal death in the puddles of rain water, her jeans and kurti were also wet. She quickly removed the raincoat,it was useless against such Mumbai rains.

"WO..apne room mein honge. " Khanna informed.

"Thank you Khanna Ji, good night!" she rushed inside the mansion.

The next person to get shocked was the maid, Rosie.

"Ma'am..main.."

"Thank you and Sorry.. WO thoda paani aur mitti aa gayi!" Anika said making her way to his room. Rosie simply nodded a it's okay. What was up with this over enthusiastic woman?

She sighed when she caught a glimpse of him in the dark room standing by the open window, looking at the rain. Tears made way to her eyes. He was okay!

P.S

This fan fiction is way too close to me than I thought it was !

Once again, of there is something specific you'd want to see between this Shivaay and Anika, do let me know by pm or comment, will try best to incorporate!

Do not want any wish to be left out!

And we catch up to live(I have just one more written update after this!). I hope I can write as before.!