She sat on the top of the overhead tank on their terrace, swirling her legs in the water. He will never be mine her mind refused to wrap around the thought, but it was time she faced it. It’s getting harder to hold in her tears, and she got up, leaning back to the wall which is her most favourite spot.

She was pretty much habituated to spend her time there, in the past nine months of her stay in the ‘Oberoi mansion'. Leaves whispered softly, filling up the eerie silence in the air. The air felt cool like a refreshing drink of water after hours in the desert;  yet it couldn’t comfort her. For the first time, she felt uneasy in her spot. The breeze gently caressed her hair and tears rolled down, breaking out of her grasp.

“Please, give me some time Dadi. I am trying to give us a chance” His last words kept resonating in her ears. She tightly hugged her knees hugging them to her chest, she rested her head on them.

She looked up when she felt a warm hand on her shoulders. She sniffed wiping away her tears, trying to put on a smile.

“I knew I would find you up here” he said softly.

“Kunaaal...!!” she cried, throwing her arms around her friend, tightly hugging him “ I can’t handle this anymore. I can’t.....  can’t imagine him with anyone.” She could hardly speak.

Kunal pulled back gently, and wiped away her unbroken stream of tears. He stared at her, feeling the pain she was going through. He felt helpless as he already knew who can help her now.

Kunal's pov:

It was painful to see my best friend like this. All I could do was embrace her and let her torrent of tears soak through my shirt. I could feel her clenching her fists not knowing whether to be mad or give up. I could  hear her silently screaming, suffocating in her every breath.
I silently ran my fingers through her hair and took her again into my arms.

“Ab bas kar Anika!! Why are you behaving as a cry baby?? Keep doing this, I m gonna take you to the “LADY BABA” I laughed trying to lighten the mood. She looked up at me her lips pulling up in a small smile.

“I am tired of it, Kunal. I never understand him” She said sadly.

“Everything will be alright, Anika. Please don’t stress yourself” I said lightly, pecking on her forehead.

“Acha listen! Pinky aunty was searching for you. She wanted you to select your dress for tomorrow's hawan” She nodded, rubbed her face , wearing her fake smile on, left the place.

.................................

Shivaay sat on pool side deep in thought. “Billu, I gave you the time you have asked for. Now I want to meet the girl you had chosen. If not, there is only one option left to you, Marry Tania” Dadi’s words kept on playing in his mind again and again.

Tania, Shivaay's childhood friend. They  had grown up together, played and studied together. He sighed thinking whether he should give Tania a chance.

“Shivaaay....” His head shot up when he heard his mother called him.

“Mom, app iss waqt??”

“I just wanted to check you” she cupped his face, caressing his cheek.
“You look so tired. Kya hua mera baccha?”

He gazed at her for a second, deciding whether to tell her or not. He knew no one in this world could understand him as well as her. She was more of his best friend than a mother. It was only her who could provide him some peace. He hugged her and she rubbed his back gently.

“Maa, I know Tania is beautiful, intelligent, brave, workaholic and moreover a very good friend of mine. We share a good bond. But.. but I don’t know, I can’t see us together, I can’t imagine our future.” Shivaay spoke his heart out.

As Pinky understood he doesn’t have any interest in getting along with Tania, she remembered their conversation a few minutes back.

            Flash back

“Haa beta bolo, You wanted to tell me something??” Pinky asked sitting beside Kunal.

“Haa aunty, I just consoled Anika and it was so painful to see her like this” he said, images of Anika crying, flashed in his mind.

“ I wonder if Shivaay could ever understand that he loves Anika”

“We need to make him understand that he is in love, Aunty” Kunal got up from his chair letting out a huge sigh.
“Anika won’t express her love for him until he confesses. And Shivaay won’t even accept his feelings”

They cared, but never showed

They talked, but never shared

They were weird and so was their love

“Kunal, I know what to do. I can make him realise his feelings for Anika” Pinky exclaimed suddenly “Leave this to me now”

“But how aunty?”

“Jab khone ki dar lagta hain na, tab sab kuch samajh mein aa jayegaa” Kunal smiled at her, and hugged her “Aunty, you are a rockstar”

           Flashback ends

She felt it was the right moment to execute their plan. “Shivaay, do you think you can love her?”

“Mom, you know I don’t believe in such things. Only deals exists mom, not love” Shivaay sighed, getting up, he walked into his room.

“So don’t you love your family?” Pinky followed him.

Shivaay paused for a second looking at her  “Family is different, Mom. One can experience a true love only in his family. And I can’t expect this love from my partner because she will be an outsider.”

Pinky bit back a smile hearing his answer. She knew she was taking him on a right track.  “Then didn’t I love your dad?”

“Mom...!!!” he said impatiently “You are confusing me more”

“Shivaay, come here” she signalled him to sit beside her “you know what’s the best thing in this world, being a girl. Shaadi ke pehle woh ek beti hain, behen hain, uss ghar ki izzat hain, par jab ek baar shadi ho jaye na, woh yeh doosre ghar ko apna sab kuch banaa leti hain” She took his hand into hers “ And she loves this family more than her. Haa, she will be an outsider but never behaves as such”

Shivaay nodded quietly as if he got her “But mom, I want a girl like you who can make me understand things like you. Who can change my point of views. Who can accept the real me and I didn’t meet her till now.”

“Shivaay ho sakta hain tumne use pehchana hi nahi ” 

“kya matlab??” asked Shivaay.

“Achaa listen! I came here to tell you something important” she diverted the topic “We selected a guy for Anika”

“Whaaat????” Shivaay shot out of his seat.
“Whooo?!!!!”

“What do you mean who?”

“Noo!!! He isn’t right for her”

“Shivaay...” He  continued asking her million questions without a break.

“Stop it!!” pinky said loudly “ listen to me!! Do you want to know whom I chose?” she asked in excitement.

“Kaun?”

“Aur kaun, it’s our Daksh.”

“DAKSH...!!” he yelled “He is not at all right for her”

“Kyun?? I know he would be the best for her. He can always make her smile and can support her in every bad time” she smiled.

“Par maa” he was about to tell something when she cut him “Ab mein chalthi hu beta, shakti ji ko davayiyon ki time hai” she kissed him on his forehead and left waving him good night.

Shivaay stood up and walked restlessly. He can’t accept what his mom just told him. Something felt wrong inside him, uneasiness surrounding him.

“Is daksh right for her?” he thought. “NOOOOO... Not at all” his inner voice screamed.
“Anikaaa” he muttered.

“She is perfect in all means. She is beautiful” a smile crept over his face by her thought. “She is friendly, caring, responsible. She can make me laugh, fight, moreover my best advisor other than mom. I love spending my time with her” their every single moment flashed in his mind.

“And she is just like mom, the only one who can make me realise.....” he stopped for a second. His breath hitched and he recalled his chat he had a few minutes ago with his mom.

He closed his eyes and sucked in a long deep breath to cope up and sat on the couch lost. “Everything was SO clear, then why didn’t I realize it till now” he grimaced, hating himself for his late realization.

“Am so stupid” he grinned moving his head vigorously. Suddenly, a crease of worry appeared on his face “Nooo, I can’t loose her at any cost. She can’t marry daksh. I need to confess my feelings for her” he immediately stood up and ran furiously to her room. He searched the room but in vain. Finding her no where, he instantly went upstairs and reached the terrace panting.

He looked up and checked the overhead tank, yet he didn’t find her.
“Where are you Anika?” he mumbled. His eyes darted across the terrace, desperately. Just as he was about to turn around, a small moment caught his eye. Stepping around, to a side, he stopped.

There standing, with her back to him was Anika. The slight breeze, swayed her hair and he took a step towards her, and then another. Soon his pace sped up and he ran.

He didn’t stop or even slow down when he reached her. Slamming into her, he grabbed her waist, his arms around her, tucking his head into her neck. He felt her gasp as her body jerked forward with the force. But his hands held her in place, pinning her securely into his front.

A ragged breath escaped from her lips, as she inhaled his sweet scent. It soothed her burning nerves. He felt her move and he loosened his grip. She turned around in his arms. He saw her face steaked with tear stains and something tugged at his heart.
She looked at him, her face inches away from his, her lashes wet with tears.

“Shivaay…” she whispered. She gulped as she stared into his cold blue eyes in shock.

He stared at her for a second before lowering his head, resting his forehead against hers “I LOVE YOU”

“What?” she whispered, trying to quieten her racing heart, afraid it would explode at any moment. “Was she dreaming?” she blinked vigorously thinking it would possibly be her dream.

His essence mixed in his cologne and aftershave and his own scent; flared on her face. Her stomach twisted. Inhaling his familiar scent, it almost felt as if it was true.

They stood their for a second, when Anika pulled away suddenly. “You love me??? As a friend right??” She stared at him, frays of her hair gazing her face.

“I love you as a man loves a woman”       Before she could ask something more, he replied her.

Oh jaaanaaa plays....!!!

As she began to tug away from his grip, He reached out cupping her face, not allowing any distance between them.

“Anika, do you love me?”  he pulled her close, his lips barely brushing hers.

She nodded quietly, her eyes filled with tears when her dream finally came true. She could feel her soul jumping and shouting in joy, and her lips curved into a broad smile.
Shivaay slowly tucked the strands of hair falling over her face behind her ear.

Anika’s pov:

He tucks my open hair behind my ear, saying he likes it more this way.
I release those strands to my cheeks,
Just to experience a tinge of possessiveness in , as he tucks my hair again.

Hello readers,
Done with the update and now it's time to share your views with me.If you felt it really worth all your appreciation, just hit the star button and vote for us.

And I am really sorry guys as I couldn't update "Saathiya" from last two weeks as i was out of town on a trip. So please accept my apology and i promise you to update the next chapter in two days.
Yours
Trushnamallipudi