Hello fam!
Finally I am starting this story. Hope you enjoy it the same way you enjoy other!😊

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Shivaay was standing near his car, tapping his foot on the ground outside the college campus at parking area when he suddenly felt a weight on his back and he knew who it could be.

"Anu!!", he laughed as she was on his back, arms around his neck.

"Hey billuji", she said jumping down from his back and giggled seeing his glare.

"Don't call me that", he frowned. She shrugged.

"As if I will stop on your saying", she rolled her eyes with a smile.

"You know you're a headache at times?", he said with a sarcastic smile.

"Yes, and you have to handle this headache for lifetime", she said proudly making him chuckle.

"Gladly", he said and took her in a side hug. She smiled.

"So..where I have to take you her highness?", he said dramatically making her giggle.

"I need to pick up my gown from the boutique and mum's saree. That's it", she said playing with the belt of her bag.

"Okay, get inside, I will take you where ever you want", he said opening the door. Annika smiled softly getting inside.

Shivaay is Annika's best friend since she has born. He is a man who is less expressive and man with few words, he has a serious personality but with Annika he is different. He is a man who who makes her laugh, have fun with her, teases her like a friend do. He cares for her, supports her, corrects her when she is wrong and always stays by her side when she need.

He shows up himself as a carefree person but usually doesn't open up about his feelings to everyone but Annika is his secret keeper, he shares his every feelings with her, apart from her he is closest to his brothers.

"What are you thinking?", he asked as he buckled up his seatbelt. She shook her head.

"I don't understand why every year we have a get-together with so many people. It's so tiring", she sighed.

"It'd important for the society Annika. We're the oldest families of Delhi, it keeps good reputation on media that all of us are united", he said looking ahead at the road.

"The typical Shivaay Singh Oberoi", she mutter to herself, "but we meet most of them all the time Shivaay, it's just media stunts", she sighed.

"And my Anu don't like it", he chuckles.

"Clearly she doesn't. But for family she need to do", she pouts. He chuckled pulling her nose.

"Okay, here we are. Complete your work, I will be waiting here", he said parking outside the boutique.

"You can come along if you want. You'll be bored", she offered keeping the bag behind.

"Nah! What will I do at ladies boutique. Finish fast and come, it's already late", he said making her sigh.

"Fine. I will come back in 20 minutes", she said and he nodded. She went out to take the outfits.

Shivaay was waiting with music playing inside the car, tapping fingers on the steering wheel when a call came.

"Yup, Arnav", he said picking up the call.

"Where are you and Annika is with you, isn't it?", Arnav asked.

"I am sure she must have told it to her dear brother that she is going to be with me so yes, she is inside the boutique and I am waiting for her", Shivaay said leaning back on the seat.

"When are you two coming back, mom is asking here for her now. It's already 4 in evening", Arnav said.

"Don't worry man, I will bring her really soon. She is just picking up the outfits and we're coming. Ask aunty to just wait from 30 minutes", Shivaay said looking outside.

"Fine, I will handle her till then", Arnav kept the call and Shivaay came out of the car going inside the boutique.

He sighed seeing the person at reception. Nevertheless, he walked to the reception making the person standing there pass a flirty and amused smile.

"Hey Shivaay", the person said leaning to the reception desk. He brought a fake smile on his face.

"Hey Shanaya. What are you doing here?", he asked keeping a distance.

"Well you see, it's my mom's boutique and she was having a tough day so I thought of helping you. How can I help you?", she asked in a flirtatious voice.

"He probably would have come for me", a voice came from other side gaining both of their attention. Annika was standing there with two bags in her hands.

"Oh! The bestie is here", Shanaya said with sour look. Annika rolled eyes and walked to Shivaay.

"Shivaay, let's leave. We're getting late", Annika said ignoring her.

"Uh, yup! Aunty is waiting for you at home", he said taking a bag from her hand.

"See you tonight, Shivaay", Shanaya said again as both started to leave. Annika was going towards her when Shivaay held her hand and dragged her out of the shop.

"He would love to see you in hell", Annika shouted back while leaving.

"Annika calm down. It's okay, ignore her", he said as they came outside near the boutique.

"Seems like she has forgotten the punch from last time", Annika said gritting the teeth and looked away.

Shanaya has been their classmate in school once and still in college. She has always tried to defame Annika or spread nasty rumours regarding Shivaay and Annika. One day, her patience went beyond limits and she punched her after an intense fight. They loathe each other.

"Accha shh..you punch me this time, okay?", he asked making her glare at him for a moment and then punch lightly on his stomach.

"Ouch woman! It was a mistake to enroll you in karate classes", he said faking pain making her chuckle.

"Now shall we leave? It's almost evening and you need time to get ready", he said.

"You mean be barbie doll to mum", she sulked. He laughed and made her sit inside the car keeping the shopping bags on backseat.

"Annika, better you stay at my side tonight. I don't want mom to bring the alliance and all", he said bored making her smile naughtily.

"You're not interested in any girl, like till now I have not seen even a single girlfriend of yours", she said normally.

"Yeah..so?", Shivaay asked driving back to their homes.

"So..are you by any chance??", she looked towards him feigning innocence.

"Shut up Annika", he said giving her a scandalous look making her laugh aloud.

"I don't mind though", she shrugged getting a hit on the back of her head. She giggled and he shook his head looking ahead.

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"Arnav!! Where is Annika?", Malvika, mother of the twins asked her son umpteenth time.

"Mom calm down! Relax, she is with Shivaay and they must be coming here. Why don't you start getting ready?", he asked shuffling through his phone, laying on the sofa. His mother frowned hitting on his shoulder.

"How should I get ready? My saree is with Annika. She was suppose to bring", Malvika said.

"And I am here mum! How are you always so hyper. Give yourself a break", Annika said throwing her bag on Arnav and walked to her mother.

"What the heck!", Arnav exclaimed while Shivaay chuckles sitting beside him.

"Where the hell were you Annika? It's 5, party will start by seven", Malvika shouted.

"Chill mum. I will get ready fast. I don't take much time like you. Go and get ready. I am also going", Annika said holding her mother by side. She sighed nodding.

"The beauticians are in your room. Do faster. Gauri will be coming in sometime", Malvika said and went kissing her forehead.

Annika shook her head in disbelief and turned with hands on her waist.

"What are you both looking at, don't you two have to get ready?", Annika asked.

"We'll get ready in 30 minutes sweetheart, you'll take time. Go and get ready before mom starts again", Arnav said making Annika sigh.

"Fine", she sulked going upstairs towards her room.

"Why is she sounding down?", Arnav asked once Annika went from there.

"She met Shanaya at the boutique", Shivaay said making Arnav sigh.

"That girl-", he sighed.

"Ignore it. I will cheer up her. Go get ready. I will also go, mom was calling", Shivaay said.

"Yeah. See you in sometime", Arnav said patting his shoulder and went from there.

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"Thank you, it looks wonderful", Annika said as she wore her earrings. The beautician smiled.

"Thank you ma'am", she said softly packing her stuffs.

"Annikaaa", Gauri's voice came as she walked inside her room. Annika turned and gasped seeing her best friend.

"Gauri you look gorgeous", Annika said as Gauri twirled in her sequin green floor length mermaid gown. Her hair was made up in a high messy bun. She was wearing dangling diamond earrings and a diamond bracelet.

"I guess yes. Two boys were looking at me when I came inside", Gauri said making Annika chuckle.

"Ohh! Someone is already bringing boys on knees", she commented making Gauri giggle.

"Well I don't know about that but you surely going to bring many down on knees", Gauri commented seeing Annika.

She was wearing a sweetheart neckline backless and strapless black bodycon floor length gown. The dress were giving perfect shape to her heavy bust and hip area making her look appealing. She was looking gorgeous. Her face had natural and subtle make-up with blood red lipstick and her hair was wave curled.

Annika got up and bent down a bit, "thank you", she said and giggled making Gauri smile and rush towards her on her heels and hugged Annika.

"Slow down, you'll fall", Annika chuckled.

"Where is Bhavya by the way? She was coming back today right? I didn't got time to contact to her", Annika said wearing her pendant. It's a simple thin chain pendant with a bird holding heart made of diamond. She always wear it since her 18th birthday when Shivaay gifted it to her.

"She messaged me about meeting us at the party tonight. Btw, what have you thought about the fresher's party this year? Freshers are beautiful this time", Gauri said making Annika smiled amused.

"I am sure you're not talking about girls", Annika said.

"I am surely not", Gauri said cheekily.

"I don't know yaar. Let's see. The council is still thinking about it", Annika said strapping her heels.

"You're the head of organizing council Annika", Gauri said.

"And we have a team, baby. I need to hear from everyone", Annika patted her cheeks.

"Annika are you-Ohh! I didn't know fairies were coming down from heaven tonight", Shivaay flirted making the girls chuckle.

"Nice one, Mr. Flirt. You look no less", Annika said and smiled at him. She took her clutch keeping her phone inside.

"Shall we, ladies?", Shivaay forwards his either arms and Annika and Gauri took them respectively.

He led the ladies outside the room towards the staircase at the lawn area. Oberois and Batras had joint backyard making it more big. Every year, the official yearly get-together of the oldest familes of Delhi.

"Hello ladies", they met Om in the way as they walked at the entrance of the party area.

"Hey Om. Here to take Gauri?", Annika teased whose ears turned red and he rubbed back of his neck.

"I, uh, would love to steal my date for tonight brother", Om said making Shivaay chuckle.

"All yours but take care of my sister", Shivaay said and Om nodded taking Gauri along with her.

"Shall we?", he asked.

"Can we run away from the party?", she looked at him.

"Chalo!", he said laughing making her groan and go with him.

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Hey guys! Here's the first chapter of the book. Hope you liked it😁

Thanks for your votes and comments on the prologue. Thanks for giving the immense support to this book too. Now I will be updating the book on regular basis.

Do vote, comment and share your views. They means a lot to me♥️

Precap: someone is smitten of Annika

Love,
K♥️