A : Meri zindgi barbaad ho gaye....dil ki hazar tukde hogaye hain,koi yahan gira koi wahan gira....Shivaay doesn't love me anymore !

Chandha who heard her Best Friend's melodramatic grumble rolled her eyes in disbelief. Picking up the two mugs of tea, Chandha walked towards the hall.

C : Annika it's not done. At least switch on your mobile.

Annika nodded in negative while folding her legs, adjusting her poise.

C : Jiju must be calling you.

A : Don't take your Jiju's side. I thought he had changed but no. Woh ab bhi wahi hai. Ekdum kopdee garam, pheku insaan. Sadu, akdu, badtameez kahinka.

C : A little bit but—

A : Wait did you just agree with me ?

C : No ! Oh My God, I wish I could—

A : No, you said it. So not take-backs.

C : Duh! Annika you're equally on the mistake today. You just can't walk out from the situation like this.

Annika stopped drinking the tea and looked at Chandha.

~

Rudra sprinted towards Shivika's room and straightly barged in. Without a further notice he clung onto Shivaay who seems busy with a Bluetooth on his left eardrum.

S : God! Rudra get away!

R : Bha..Bhaiyya...

S : What ?

R : Ghantee baj rahi hai!

S : Om must be doing something. Chill.

R : Bhaiyya, Om isn't a fire brigade truck. It's fire alarm bhaiyya.

S : I'm your Shivaay Bhaiyya not fire alarm Bhaiyya, you know.

Shivaay nodded with an amiable smile which looks awful for Rudra. He eyed his Shivaay Bhaiyya for some second with disbelief, tinged with a bit of worry. Has he gone deaf ? By any chance.

R : Bhaiyya!

Rudra vigorously shook Shivaay leading him to hung up the call.

S : What's wrong wit—wait what's with the sound ?

R : Arijit Singh's concert in going on the Hall along with Ranbir. Are you even—

S : Really ?! Ranbir bhi gaata hai ?! Oh God, where's your Bhabhi ? Don't let her near him.

R : Why ? Jealous ?

S : No—I mean maybe but no! I'm just trying to save his relationship with Deepika.

R : What the hell Bhaiyya ?! They broke up and he's in a relationship with Alia.

S : Oh they'd a break up ?

R : But wait how come you know about Ranbir Deepika and all...as far as I know you're so not a Bollywood follower.

S : Bhabhi haina tumhaara! The solid chalthi-phirthi Bollywood radio.

R : You—

O : Are you two even serious ?! There's a damn a fire alarm is ringing and you two are debating on some useless things.

R : O baby, it's not me...it's Shi—

S : Okay enough. Let's go!

Rudra's eyes drafted towards Shivaay who sprinted out of the room with an utterly shock expression. He felt like he thought Europe was a country. He discarded his unrivalled thoughts and followed them. Shivaay, Om, and Rudra stood in bewilderment. Kitchen on Fire.

S : Annika!

Shivaay pulled Annika from her wrist.

S : Off the damn alarm!

Shivaay broke the hug and checked all over her face and arms.

S : What happened ? Wha—did you cook anything ?

A : I tried and I received a call from Pinky Maa and went to attend it.

S : (angrily) So you left the cooking unattended, right ?

A : Shi..Shivaay I was afraid to go near the stove so I put flour on the pan bu—

S : Annika flour can explode in the flames instead of snuffing them out. Why can't you just—-

R : Bhaiyya, enough. Stop scolding her.

S : How many times I had told you not to pull out any stunts in the kitchen!

A : I never keep a count on it Shivaay.

Omkara and Rudra looked at each other. They can't conclude whether she's being an innocent or sarcastic ?! But surely it did raised Shivaay's anger.

S : You're a functional stupid at best, Annika.

O : Shivaay, she didn't did that deliberately.

S : My kitchen smells death.

R : Shall we do the last ritual ?

Shivaay turned towards Rudra and glared but he didn't reciprocate the fury look. No, he's not afraid but terribly afraid.

O : Shivaay it's just matter of some time. We can clean the mess but stop scolding her.

S : Both of you stop taking her side! It's not an eased out matter. You put flour on the fire. I mean how stupid of you!

O : Shivaay, she didn't take up graduation in chemistry.

Rudra frowned and pulled Om closer.

R :(whisper) Isn't that biology ?

O : (whisper-frustrate) Biology hoga tera baap.

R : Hey baap pe mat jaana.

O : So much love eh ?

R : Of course unlike you.

O : That was past.

R : It was you in the past as well.

O : I will kill you duff—Wait what's that sound ? Where are they ?

Omkara and Rudra ran from the hall to see Shivaay standing alone scratching his forehead with his index tip.

R : Where's she ?

O : Shivaay, stop your statue mode and answer.

S : (slowly) Naraaz ho kar chali gayi...now I need to pacify her.

~

C : Oh Madam where you lost ? Are you here ?

A : Physically yes but mentally no.

C : Annika, frown doesn't suits you.

Annika was still frowning. She was wondering why her husband dearest still hasn't arrived ?

C : Annika smile. Smile is contagious.

A : I'm vaccinated.

Chandha looked at her in disbelief before smacking her with a cushion. Meanwhile, a black car entered the Chawl. People started giving dress-down for the unsystematic driving. Everyone's harangued mouth came to end at the very moment their eyes saw the man of the sloppy driving. Annika and Chandha stopped playing with cushion listening to the door bell in distinct.

C : Haaaa...Jiju came. Prince Ali is here to take his Princess Jasmine.

A : Good, now be a Jaffar and don't open the door.

C : Tu chup re! I'll be a genie and will help my jiju.

A : Chandha no! I-wait stop !

Annika bit her lower lip and inaudibly clapped in happiness. Chandha opened the door and frowned to see no one on the doorstep. Were they hallucinating? No.
Shivaay peeked from the left side making her jump off her socks.

S : Good it's you. I was just hiding, kahi Annika phir se paani phek diya toh..dignity assurance you see.

C : I see.

Chandha bit back her laugh and made space to let him inside. Shivaay took slow
steps inside the hall. A smile broke along his lips seeing her. Shivaay tip-toed and sat beside her on the sofa.

S : Annika..Annika dekho nahh...please let's go back home. I'll try not to scold you again. Please.

Annika nostrils expanded venting out imaginary flares out. He'll try not to scold - try ?

A : I'm not coming. Go and have a happily ever after with your kitchen.

S : Annika, I was worried for you. Explosion of fire is very harmful. I don't care even if you call this overprotective because I do over love you.

Annika smiled and was about to turn.

S : See, how long I'm pleading to you! It's not good to show such an injustice to your husband.

A : Oh Hello! It's just barely 5 minutes and you're claiming as if you're coaxing me for hours. How can I forget, for you timing is key. And I'm just a waste of time ?

S : Now you're exaggerating things. Deliberately.

A : You know what you don't love me anymore Shivaay. Let alone love you don't even care about me.

S : Yo..you really think I don't love you and care for you anymore ? How could you even ? You're my life Annika and you're talking nonsensical—

Shivaay and Annika stopped their argument and looked towards Chandha, confusedly. She placed two glasses of water on the table and chirped. Annika indicated the glass and moved her hand in an questioning manner.

C : You guys are fighting. So, water is a compulsory. Come on, throw water on each other and end the debate.

Annika nodded in disbelief and looked back at Shivaay. They picked up the glass and tried not to laugh.

C : 3...2...1 !!

SPLASH !!

Water dripped down from Chandha's face. Shivaay formed his lips into a thin like to avoid laughing while Annika was a trail blasting in an enormous laugh.

C : May I ask why ?

Annika went closer and pulled her cheeks.

A : Genie is a true devotee of Ali and Jasmine love story. So, you're not bound to ask why. Bye Chandha.

S : Bye, Genie.

Chandha furrowed her eyes but the next minute she smiled and waved them back not before hugging Annika. Shivaay picked up his wife in his arms and walked towards the car.

Unlike usual, Annika smiled and wrapped her hands around his neck. The locality people looked the duo and wondered why they aren't arguing.

They got in the car and Shivaay helped her in passing the seat belt. He leaned forward and tucked the hair strands behind her ear in a way caressing her skin.

S : Can I steal a kiss from my wife ? Just one. You can take back in the night with double interest. I promise.

A : Really ?

S : Really.

Annika smiled pushing away his face.

The End.

~

Gratitude, Love Comrade