Happy New Year, people! I won't say that I hope this year is full of happiness and prosperity and all that for everyone, because I'm sure you've heard enough of that already. Instead, I hope you all have a landmark year, by maybe meeting your favorite celebrity, or falling in love, or having a kickass trip to someplace!

Hope you guys like the chapter, and do vote/ comment if you do!

"What do I wear what do I wear what do I weaaar"

Shivaay kept muttering this to himself as he rummaged through the plethora of suits in his large, walk-in closet. He had never had this problem before, of not being able to decide what to wear, and always thought of it as a female attribute. But tonight, the Great Shivaay Singh Oberoi was being extremely picky and none of his ridiculously expensive clothes were matching up to his taste. He blamed all of this fuss on Annika- for the first time in his life, he was striving to impress someone, especially a girl. Especially a girl who wouldn't be impressed with materialistic things, making life all the more harder for him.

Why he was trying so hard to impress her, was a question he was choosing to avoid. Carelessly looking through all his suits, he finally found a light-blue one that he knew she would like. According to her, it would probably match his kanji aankhen. Smiling, Shivaay decided to wear this, pairing it with a white shirt with the first two buttons open. He was just putting on some of his favorite perfume, when his brothers walked in.

"Woah, Shivaay. Are you going somewhere?" Om asked, looking inquisitively as his brother, all decked up at this time of the night.

"Yeah, Om. Actually, I, uh, have a meeting. With some foreign delegates."

At this, both of his brothers rolled their eyes.

Rudra, who had flopped down on his bed as soon as entering, got up and stood behind where Shivaay was in front of the mirror.

"Who are you trying to kid, bhaiya?" He asked, a teasing smile on his face. "We all know that you wouldn't be changing your clothes or getting ready in front of the mirror if you would be going to a meeting. Surely, it's something else," He added with a wink, while Om nodded with his arms crossed. Sighing, Shivaay decided that lying to his brothers, in this matter, was impossible. They knew him better than anyone else, and the huge grin plastered on his face would give him away soon, anyway.

"Fine. I'm actually going to dinner with Annika..."

Before he could so much as finish his sentence, his brothers were upon him.

"What?! Dinner with Annika/ Annika didi?" They exclaimed together, happily.

"Yep," Shivaay replied. "To celebrate her getting a new job."

Rudra pouted at that.

"That's not fair, Annika didi is celebrating with you only. I want a treat, too!"

Shivaay and Om rolled their eyes at that.

"Actually, I'm the one who suggested we have dinner." Shivaay said.

"Of course you did," Om snorted, making Shivaay glare at him.

"I just thought," he continued, "that it'll help us know each other better and make our drama seem more real." This line was entirely rehearsed from what he had said to Annika before, as a means to persuade her for the date.

"Is that the only reason, though?" Rudra asked naughtily with a wink and nudge, to which Shivaay blushed.

"Of course it is," He said, abashed. "Now if you would please let me get ready; I don't wanna be late."

"Aww, bhaiya doesn't want to keep bhabi waiting," Rudra said in a cooey voice, pulling Shivaay's cheek. The word 'bhabi' being referred to Annika had Shivaay feeling strange, though not in a bad way.

"By the way, Shivaay," Om started, looking at Shivaay intently, "you've gone on dates before, but I've never seen you try so hard to look good in order to impress," he said as Shivaay for the umpteenth time tried to fix each and every strand of his already perfectly set hair.

"W-what do you mean?" He asked with a gulp.

"What O means," Rudra said, keeping an arm around his brother's shoulder, "is that you almost look like you're...nervous."

"Nervous?! And me?! You both have gone crazy!" Shivaay yelled, mortified, while his brothers only laughed.

"Yep, definitely nervous. And excited, too." Om said, smiling at how much his brother had changed. Whenever he had gone on dates before, he had always been very grumpy about it, as if he was being made to go under compulsion and couldn't wait for it to be over. And look at him now, not being able to hide the smile on his face or skip in his steps, as he once again put some perfume on.

"Okay guys, enough of all this. I really should get going. Oh, and if anyone asks, I'm in a meeting," Saying that with a wink, he grabbed his car keys and went out of the room, leaving his brothers feeling extremely happy seeing him this way, and also feeling grateful towards Annika for making him feel this way.

"I really hope they realize their feelings for each other soon," Rudra mumbled as he and Om watched Shivaay leave, and Om nodded.

"Me, too."

**

"You look really pretty, didi."

Annika was busy putting on some lipstick in front of her dressing table, and smiled at her brother's words. She had spent the whole evening getting ready, when usually it wouldn't take her more than 30 minutes. But today, it had taken her hours to decide what dress to wear, how much make-up to do, whether or not to keep her hair open, etc.

Annika wasn't a vain person, and had never been so anxious about her appearance as she was now. Dressed in a light-blue dress with a lace bodice, that flared out from her waist and ended on her mid-thighs, she checked herself out in the mirror for the umpteenth time.

Her hair was open and fell in loose curls till her waist, and she had on minimal make-up. Her face, though, was glowing naturally because of how good she felt.

"Are you sure I look good?" She asked her brother apprehensively. "I mean, do you think it's a bit too much? It's just a simple dinner, after all. Should I wear something more casual? Yeah, I think I'm gonna go change." She was blabbering all of this nervously, and Sahil was losing his patience. Couldn't she see she looked like a princess?

"Didi," he said, "You look very very very pretty. SSO toh aapko dekhke flat ho jayga. So don't worry," Annika blushed at that, and muttered something like "Chup kar" while running her fingers through her hair. It was then that there was a knock on the door, and Annika's heart started beating wildly.

"Go didi, your saiyanji is here," Sahil said with a wink. Annika glared at him, before taking a deep breath and moving towards the door. Opening it, she came face to face with Shivaay.

Both of their breaths hitched when they saw each other.

Shivaay looked Annika up and down with an intense gaze, taking in her beautifully clad form. She looked like a fairy queen, or goddess of some sort. The blush that adorned her cheeks made her look just that much lovelier and prettier, and even though he wanted to tell her she was breathtaking, quite literally too, no words escaped his now hanging open mouth.

On the other hand, Annika was mortified by the tuchhi luchhi thoughts that crossed her mind as she checked him out- he looked mouth-watering in that form-fitting blue suit. It registered her mind that they were entirely colour-coordinated, and she had to admit, he wore blue better than she did. He smelled quite delicious, too, and Annika had this incredible urge to just throw her arms around him and bury her face in his manly chest...

Blinking a couple of times, Annika brought her self back from the daze she had fallen into. Shivaay too, after taking in each and every part of her multiple times, met her eyes. There was a strange twinkle in those hazel orbs that made him feel all warm inside.

"Hey," they both breathed out at the same time, and then smiled.

"Ready to go?" Shivaay asked, forwarding his hand to her. Annika nodded, and took his hand, both of them feeling sparks at the contact. Smiling uncontrollably for reasons unknown to them, they made their way to the car.

I intended to finish off the date in this part but felt like stopping it here; will try to update next chapter soon.