First things first. The answer for why I did that. Always read comments from all my readers “In your book shivaay can't be like this” “In your book shivaay won't do this” “In your book, shivaay won't hurt/cheat Anika”. Just wanted to know what will happen if in my book, shivaay does that. And yes, honestly I can't show shivaay like that. To say the truth, while typing update, I didn't use the name Shivaay instead used some random name and finally had to edit it out. I didn't proof read it because it was hard for me too.

Understood two things.
1) I can't degrade Shivaay's character however I try.
2) I'm too attached to the character of Shivaay Singh Oberoi. I don't know how to get rid of that.

I may laugh someday reading all these again because I'm too childish here but right now, I'm too emotional.

Sorry again for hurting you all. Never thought the readers are so attached to my books and the characters. In a way I feel so happy at the same time so terrible right now. I'm a very sensitive person myself and I can't imagine I made someone cry. I'm really really really very sorry. Please forgive me if you can :-(

Not waiting for everyone to read that update. I don't want to add to the sins of making someone cry. Hope that this part makes you happy though nothing much is revealed in this part. 

*

“What's wrong with you? I'm seeing you from the time we came from office. Is there any problem?” He asked and she shook her head with a forced smile.

“No! what problem. Just a slight headache. It'll go. You don't worry” She told settling on the bed and he settled on the opposite side.

She kept looking at him and he turned to look at her.

“What happened?” He asked with a smile and she shook her head.

“Is it working?” She asked softly and he looked confused at her.

“What?”

“This marriage? Is it working for you?” She asked and he looked surprised at her.

“Why such a sudden question?”

“Just answer”

“Is it working for you?” He asked and she smiled faintly.

“Ya” She told and he smiled.

“Then it is working for me too” He told and she nodded. Why was he lying?

Moving a little closer to her, he kissed her forehead and she closed her eyes. He's not yours Anika. Don't take anything to your heart. He'll break it as always though unknowingly She thought.

“I can't imagine a life without you now” He told holding her palm in his and she looked at him with eyes full of pain. If he can't, then why is he going to do that? Ok may be he didn't find her worthy enough to have such a relation with her. May be he didn't want to wait. She thought.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” He asked and she shook her head before turning to the other side. Letting her tears fall freely, she bit her lips hard to control her sobs. 

She felt his hand on her waist holding her close to him making her gasp.

“Anyway we'll end up like this in the morning. Let's sleep like this itself” He whispered in her ear and she hummed unknowingly in that effect.

After sometime, realising that he slept, she kept her hand on top of his hand before turning to him and hugging him properly keeping her head on his chest. Unknowingly it turned a habit which she couldn't get rid of.

*

That morning, she just looked at his face, lying on the opposite side. It was one of the few days she woke up on the bed instead of his arms. She touched his cheek with her palm as tears brimmed up in her eyes. All she felt was to hug him, hide in his arms and never come out of that safe hold. One part of her brain told her to confront him bravely and the other part told her to step back and forget the life with him like a coward. Like the past few hours, the coward in her won. Why was she feeling like this. What was happening to her? She had no clue.

Moving closer to him, she kissed his cheek and was about to get up when he held her wrist and pulled her on top of him.

“So this is how I wake up everyday?” He asked with a cheeky smile.

“What? This is the first day. I never kissed you like this before” She told with a frown.

“No?”

“No” She told with finality.

“So why is it that today is an exception and I got this sweet dish right in the morning?” He asked rubbing his thumb on her cheek and she looked at him for sometime before kissing his other cheek and rushing out of the bed.

“I felt like doing that” She told and rushed to the washroom leaving him with his hand on his cheek and a wide smile etched on his face.

On reaching the washroom, her shell broke and she sat on the floor supporting the door as she burst out crying. Muffling her sobs with her palm, she pressed her head hard on the door. That's when she realised, she had a similar experience ten years back and she had cried exactly like this sitting in the washroom. Surprisingly he was the root cause both the times. Then, it was her guilt of feeling something for a person who was supposed to be like her brother and this was a feeling of heartbreak realising that he can never consider her something more.

She had kept all those feelings crushed in her heart but everything managed to erupt out in these few days only to realise she has to crush it back again. Was it possible now?

Wiping her tears quickly, she went on to take a bath as she can't get late for office.

*

“Anika” He called loudly and she turned to him startled.

“W-what?” She asked and he looked at her for sometime.

“What's going on?” He asked and she shook her head.

“N-nothing. Absolutely nothing. Why did you ask?” She asked and he smiled.

“I called you for three times. We reached” He told and she nodded.

She was about to open the door when he burst out laughing making her confused.

“Look around Anika, we're in the middle of the road” He told and she looked out only to realise they were waiting for the signal to turn green.

She turned to him with a frown and hit his arm.

“Why do you believe whatever I say?”

“I trust you” She told causally and he smiled.

“Why so much blind trust?” He asked and she turned to him.

“I don't know. I trust you a lot, may be more than I trust anyone else. Why can't you understand that? I liked walking holding your hand. I was scared if bhaiyya would leave my hand but I never had the fear that you'll leave me hand” She told helplessly and his grip on the steering wheel tightened. His heart slammed against his chest as those words rang again and again in his mind. What did she mean by that?

“When bhaiyya scolded me, you were there for my rescue always” She told and his voice was stuck in his throat, unable to speak anything.

Teddy bears, birthday gifts, his favorite Cake and coffee, his cologne, and now this trust, just one more question to confirm his doubt.

“Anika, why didn't you wear gowns till now?” He asked and she frowned.

“Didn't you say I don't look good in gown” She asked with a frown.

“When?” He asked acting confused.

“On my fourteenth birthday. Everyone, I repeat each and everyone told me I look like a princess but you told, I look fat. Do you even know how much I cried thinking about that? Then I decided, till you tell me to wear one, I won't” She told with a frown making him shocked.

“I just joked. If I say you're fat, then will you turn fat?” He asked and she pouted.

“Then why did you say I'm fat?”

“Ok tomorrow I tell you something else, you'll do according to that?” He asked and she turned to him.

“I will” She told making him surprised.

“Why?” He asked and she sighed.

“I trust you” She just had that one answer.

He stopped the car in front of the office building.

“You go, I have a call to make” He told and she nodded before getting down the car and walking to the entrance.

“All these years” He whispered as realisation hit him one after the other.

Suddenly, all he did was smile, that smile turned wide and he chuckled at first, then laughed like a mad man.

“That girl, she loved me all these years” He told in between and sat back leaning on the backrest, relaxing but then his eyes widened.

••|To Be Continued|••

PRECAP:

“Take care” He told looking at her and she held his sleeve shaking her head.

“Don't go. Please” She whispered to him and he looked confused at her.

“I'll come back soon. Take rest. Bye” He told patting her arm and took off her grip from his sleeve before rushing while tears brimmed up in her eyes.