She breathed a sigh of relief and looked at him only to realise his arms were on her waist bringing a sudden tingle there. Awkwardly, she removed her hold from his shirt while he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as he looked at her features carefully. She closed her eyes and parted her lips as his fingers that tucked the hair moved down her neck.

As if realising what he was doing, he quickly took his hand back and she opened her eyes startled before moving back looking everywhere but him.

“I-I have to go” He told as he got down the counter and she nodded.

He walked out of the kitchen with a goofy grin on his face while she blushed standing there as she touched her neck, where he had lightly caressed with his finger.

The door bell rang and knowing it would be Babita, she rushed to the door and opened it. She smiled looking at Babita but the latter did notice the redness of Anika's cheeks. When Babita was busy wondering what caused the redness, as if on a cue, Shivaay walked out while buttoning up his blazer.

“Namaste sir” Babita told and Shivaay smiled briefly at her.

“Bye” He told looking at Anika who smiled a blushy smile at him along with a nod.

He walked out with a smile and she closed the door before turning to Babita who raised her eyebrows at her. She shook her head with a wide smile before rushing to the room leaving a chuckling Babita behind.

She plopped on the bed with a wide smile etched on her face as she replayed that small moment again and again in her mind.

*

The book was open in front of her but she was in a different world altogether, smiling unnecessarily. She simply looked on to her lap only to realise that she was sitting there for studying. Her heart skipped a beat as her mom's words rushed back to her mind. Her eyes brimmed up with tears realising that she was not studying, instead dreaming about Shivaay. The mere thought made her scared. She gulped and tried to concentrate in the book but all that came to her mind was Shivaay's face.

“Anika concentrate! You're not going to draw his face for the exam. Study cardiology not Shivaay” She scolded herself but however she tried, she couldn't concentrate in her book.

“Shivji help me” She chanted in her mind.

The door bell rang startling her. She rushed to open the door only to see Shivaay standing there. He smiled at her but she didn't smile back instead simply walked back to the couch.

“Something wrong?” He asked as he walked inside and she shook her head silently.

“Then there's definitely something wrong. What happened?” He asked sitting opposite her and she looked at him, her eyes filled with tears.

“Hey! What happened Anika?” He asked panicked as he kneeled down in front of her.

“I can't concentrate. I can't study a word” She told in a whisper.

“Why?” He asked.

“I—I don't know” She told as a tear escaped her eye.

“Calm down! Do you want to go out? Get some fresh air. Come!” He told holding her hand but she shook her head.

“Ok do one thing. Close your eyes” He told making her confused.

“Trust me and close your eyes” He told. Trust? Wasn't it too early for her to trust him? Nevertheless, she closed her eyes.

He took her palm and kept it on her own chest where she could feel her heartbeats against her palm. She smiled faintly.

“Think of your heart”

“My heart?” She asked confused and he hummed.

“what is your heart doing now?”

“Pumping blood. What else should my heart do? Silly question!” She told chuckling and he smiled.

“Ok, there's a dream you always held in your heart. What's that?”

“To become a cardiologist” She told with a wide smile.

“Exactly! Now open your eyes” He told and she opened her eyes confused.

“I'll go and fresh up. Sit and study! Don't move from here” He told and walked to the room without another word.

“Huh?” she told confused and looked at the book with a frown.

Surprisingly, she could concentrate very well. What magic did he just do now? She smiled widely and read the theory while jotting down important points. He was her problem as well as her solution.

*

“Anika it's 10 already. Do you have plans to sleep or study till morning?” He asked and she raised her head startled.

“10?” She asked shocked before looking at the clock. Indeed he was telling truth.

“Five minutes back I looked, it was 8. When did it turn 10? Did you reset time or something?” She asked and he chuckled.

“Why would I do that? I came to say good night” He told and she nodded.

“Ok good night. Sweet dreams” She told yawning and he closed the book.

“Come and sleep. Dr Anika don't know that sleeplessness can cause memory drain? What kind of a doctor are you?” He asked as he pulled her along with him holding her hand.

She chuckled as he made her sit on the bed.

“I know that ok! If you didn't know human brain can work excellently with four hours of continuous sleep” She told as she braided her hair and tied it in a bun.

“Ask any medical student if they follow this. Especially cardiology specialising ones. You know, Cardiology is one of the toughest medical course” She told while settling on the bed opposite him.

“Then why did you choose that?”

“Because I like heart more than any other part in human body. I know Cardiology is tough but I like cracking tough nuts *yawn* anyway good night” she told closing her eyes and he shook his head with a smile before switching the lights off.

“Shivaay today when I hugged you na” She told sleepily and he hummed.

“Your heartbeat was high. Tooooo high and I—I—” Her voice trailed off as she slipped into slumber.

He turned to look at her face before switching the bed lamp on. He smiled seeing her sleeping innocently without any tension on her face. She looked so pure and beautiful while sleeping, almost similar to a new born.

She was about to turn to the other side when he held her waist and made her sleep facing him again. She opened her eyes faintly but closed her eyes and kept her arm around him. His eyes widened as she snuggled into him.

“I know you love me more than papa. Papa won't believe but I know. I love you” She told sleepily while hugging him comfortably. His heart literally skipped a beat when she told I love you though he knew it wasn't meant for him.

He tried to separate her from him but she made sounds irritated. Sighing, he too held her with a smile before closing his eyes.

••|To Be Continued|••