As they walked inside, they saw everyone talking with each other, mingling up like always.

"You better stick to me tonight, I don't want mom to come up with any girl to me", he said in her ear wrapping arm around her lower back.

"Don't worry", she chuckled, "although I was thinking to help her in finding one", she snickered making him glare at her.

"Annika, dare you do anything such even in fun", he said making her chuckle and nod.

Just then they saw Pinki coming towards them wearing a beige colour saree having netted pallu having flower thread embroidery. She was carrying a wide smile.

"Annika.. How are you baccha?", she asked taking Annika in a hug.

"I am very well aunty. And you're looking extremely gorgeous", Annika said hugging her back with a bright smile.

"Oh come on. Nothing in front of you", Pinki said with a smile and looked towards Shivaay who was looking at both of them with a smile.

"How beautiful you guys are looking together", she said sighing happily and hugged both of them together. Annika looked towards Shivaay confused from her shoulder who looked back at her confused and shrugged.

"Where's your mum, Annie?", she asked as they parted.

"Um..uh", she shook her head and cleared throat, "I don't know aunty, she must be here around. I came with Shiv and Gauri", Annika said.

"Oh it's okay, I will find her. Enjoy you guys", she said and went patting their cheeks with a wide smile.

"What was that?", Annika asked clueless.

"Yeah. I don't know", he shrugged.

"I really didn't got her together", Annika chuckled.

"Chod na! We are beautiful as best friends always", he winked making her chuckle and nod.

"True. Come, they're calling", she said holding his arm as she saw their friends calling them.

"Hey gorgeous", Rudra said coming forwards as soon as Shivaay and Annika came there. She giggled rolling her eyes and hugged him back.

"Hey handsome", she said and parted from hug.

"You look beautiful, Annika", Om said standing beside Gauri who had her arms wrapped around his torso.

"Definitely not more than your girlfriend", she replied with a wink making him shrug with a smile and place a kiss on Gauri's forehead.

"Oye! Where's Bhavya? She is coming right?", Annika asked scowled.

"I called her while coming inside with Om but she didn't picked up", Gauri said coming out of Om's arm making him pout slightly.

"Abhi tak nahi aayi", Annika sulked.

"Ab toh aa gayi!", they heard a voice making Annika and Gauri smile widely.

"Bhavya!!", both exclaimed turning and hugged her tightly. Bhavya giggled and went few steps back because of the force of hug by her best friends.

"Guys! You're crushing me!", she giggled hugging them back.

"Shut up! How much we missed you idiot! Weren't you planning to come back?", Annika asked once they broke hug after good 10 minutes. Bhavya took a breath.

"Exactly! You liked London so much?", Gauri asked hitting her head.

"Owe guys! I'm just a week late after breaks na", Bhavya pouted making other two shake their heads.

"Okay leave her girls. Even we want to meet her?", Shivaay came ahead making Bhavya smile at her rescue. She came forward and hugged Shivaay who hugged her back patting her forehead.

"How's my sister?", he asked kissing her forehead.

"Very good bhaiya, I missed you guys", she said with a smile.

"We missed you too Bhavya", Om said as she came out from Shivaay's hug and hugged him. She later hugged Arnav who was also delighted to have her back.

"Rudy!!", Bhavya smiled widely and hugged him tightly. He grinned hugged her back with same grip.

They're the group of 8 friends. They call themselves as Quadriends. They're friends since their childhood and has an unbreakable bonding. They have done everything together, they have celebrated one's happiness, got sad in other's sadness and stood for each other always.

Being the youngest one, Bhavya and Rudra are the most pampered ones. Shivaay and Arnav handles the protective and possessive department, Om turns out calm and logical one. Girls are like soul sisters to each other.

"So.. What's the hot topic of today's party?", Bhavya asked.

"Till now, none. According to the sources, there are many hot men in the party", Gauri said picking up her glass of apple juice.

"Excuse me?", Om said offended.

"For others, baby. They all are single except me", Gauri said making Om hum leaning to Gauri back again.

"So.. Bhavya?", Gauri asked with a big teasing smile.

"I guess I will try to hit on someone", she said making the girls giggle. Boys shook head on their madness.

"Just mentioning, they won't hit back on you for sure", Rudra commented making Bhavya frown.

"Can't you be shut up, dumbbell?", Bhavya said who shrugged having his punch.

"You Annika?", Gauri looked at Annika.

"Um, me? I don't think I can ever love anyone more than me. And I don't believe in flings or random flirting so no chance", she said shrugging taking her glass from the bar table.

"Shivaay, by the way, there are hot and beautiful ladies too", Gauri said.

"Hey why me? Rudra and Arnav are also there", Shivaay said with a frown wiping his lips as he took a big gulp of juice.

"Hey man! I don't wanna die from Khushi's hands. She'll cold murder me if she get to know I flirted with someone", Arnav rolled his eyes in terror. Shivaay chuckled.

Khushi is Arnav's fiance from past 6 months. They met through their families and soon got engaged to each other. They're in a long distance relationship from 3 months as Khushi is preparing for medicine.

"Yeah..sorry", Shivaay chuckles, "Rudy is there", he shrugged.

"Bhaiya, everyone knows he is surely going to flirt around", Bhavya said making Rudra lift up his collars. Shivaay sighed.

"I am not into these things, you guys know. If I would like someone genuinely, I will approach her", he said bringing a soft smile on Annika's face.

"Okay boring people, don't get lost in the party then", Gauri said.

"Of course we won't, we've each other's company", Annika said wrapping arm around his arm who smiled nodding.

"And when Shivaay and Annika are together, they literally don't need anyone else", Arnav added smiling at his happy sister. He always adores her bonding with Shivaay. He always give safe feeling to him for his not-so-little sister.

"Excuse me people", they heard a voice from behind making all of them turn towards it. As they turned, a man was standing there wearing metallic black tuxedo. What caught boys eyes was the that man's gaze was stuck on Annika.

"I hope I am not intervening", that man said with a smile.

"And who you must be?", Shivaay asked taking a step ahead, partially blocking Annika's body from him.

"Hi, my name is Adarsh Saxena, you must be?", he asked forwarding his hand.

"Shivaay Singh Oberoi", Shivaay said shaking his hand. His face tightened as he saw his eyes still going on Annika who was talking with Arnav complaining him about something.

"I am actually new here and it's my first time in this kind of party. You people seemed nice so I came here", Adarsh said.

"It's okay, let me introduce to everyone", Om said seeing Shivaay's piercing gaze on Adarsh, "I am Om, this is Arnav, that's Gauri, Bhavya, he is Rudy..", he stopped as he interrupted.

"And who must be you, pretty lady?", he asked looking towards Annika. She left out a nervous chuckle.

"I..Annika Batra", Annika said with a smile. He forward hand with which she shook her hand.

"Such a pretty name for such a pretty woman", he said looking at her and then kissed her knuckles making her squirm at the place and took back her hand with an awkward smile.

Arnav took a step ahead but Shivaay held him and blinked. Arnav looked at him in disbelief but nodded as Shivaay gave a reassuring look.

"I think someone called you Anu", Shivaay said taking her hand in his hand and smartly wiped her knuckle with his thumb.

"Huh? I didn't hear anything Shiv", she looked at him confused.

"We all did Annika, go", he said confusing her more. He looked towards girls with wide eyes making them understand and nod.

"Annie! I heard Malvika aunty calling you. Chal chal!", Bhavya said and before Annika could say something, she and Gauri took her away, dragging her.

Shivaay passed Adarsh a look and anyone can tell that he want to kill him but he just passed a formal smile and left from there.

"Why don't you meet people around. We have some guests to attend, actually our family is the host", Om said.

"Sure, I will catch up with you guys later", Adarsh said and went ahead.

"Bach gaya!", Rudra said and all three sighed in relief.

"Annika is such a tube light. Couldn't she see he was openly flirting with her", Arnav said with a frown.

"Calm down Arnav, she must have not realised it and he was just doing healthy flirting, it's not a crime. Come let's go", Om said calmly patting his back and took them away to search others.

"Guys", Annika stopped other two, "where's mum calling me?", she questioned keeping hand on her waist.

"Umm.. We thought she is..I mean, Om! Om must be searching me", Gauri said and ran away from there. Annika looked towards Bhavya with  same questioning gaze.

"Ahh! Rudy!! Mujhe notes lene hai usse. I didn't attended classes of one week. I will be back", she said and went away before Annika could say anything.

"Right now? In party?", she frowned shaking her head on the useless excuses. She jumped as someone patted on her shoulder to see Shivaay standing there with his hands inside his pockets.

"Where's mom calling me?", she narrowed eyes.

"Was just messing around with you", he said with a goofy smile making her sigh rolling eyes.

"Seriously Shivaay. I thought what I did now that she is searching for me in middle of party", she whined complaining.

"Accha sorry sorry! See, music is playing. Dance?", he asked holding out his hands. She pouted making him show his best puppy face.

"Fine", she gave him making him smile widely and held her hand going to the dance floor.

His left arm was around her waist while her right hand was on his shoulder. They laced their other hands together and swayed their bodies softly on the tune.

"By the way, that man was flirting with you", he said as they went ahead with the dance.

"Which man?", she asked confused with a smile.

"That man who barged in our talks near the bar area", he said in obvious tone.

"Oh, that Adarsh?", she asked.

"Hmm.. Naam bada yaad hai", he muttered making him chuckle, "he was openly flirting with you and you didn't said anything", he said.

"Honestly, even I felt it little awkward but then I thought it's a formal party so ignore it", she said shrugging biting her lower lip.

"Seriously Anu? He kissed your knuckles and you're caring about formal party! Are you seriously dumb?", he frowned making her pout.

"Don't call me dumb you billu", she frowned.

"I will. Idiot! Annika whatever it is, you're more important. Your comfort, convince is more important. Okay?", he said gently in last. She smiled and nodded.

"You're the best, best friend", she said smiling widely.

"Bestest best friend's best, best friend", he said making her giggle.

The group who were standing little away smiled looking at Shivaay and Annika who were talking smiling with each other.

"Gauri.. You know what..", Arnav started making everyone look at him.

"Hmm?", Gauri asked confused.

"I think you're right. Shivaay feels something for Annika", he said making everyone gasp.

"Seriously? Bhaiya and didi?", Rudra squealed making everyone shush him who nodded keeping finger on his lips.

"They look good together, that's true", Om said making everyone hum together and look towards them where Annika was laughing loudly throwing her head back while Shivaay was smiling towards her.

••

Hey guys! Thanks for your votes and comments on the previous chapter. Keep reading, voting and commenting your views. They means a lot♥️

Sorry for a late update. Just college is keeping me busy and I am trying to balance everything. Also I am working on the republishing of Agape. Will be updating first chapter by tomorrow😊

Hope you like the chapter. No it was not Ram🤣 but let's see what this Adarsh do😉
Do tell me how was the chapter😁

Precap: Shivaay is irritated!

Love,
K♥️