I'm SO early this time! Two updates in one day woahh. This is what happens when I have to stay awake till 2 am to watch a football match, and decide to utilize the time :P 

**

By the time Shivaay reached Prinku's room, he was panting, and made a mental note to himself to start working out again because his stamina was decreasing drastically. Leaning with one hand on the door, he first caught his breath, before straightening up. He knew Annika was sleeping in there- he could practically even feel her close by. Smiling, he realized why he had always had this Annika-sensometer in him- because she had always been his heart. Moving his hand to the door knob, he wondered if it was a good idea to sneak into a girl's room, so late at night, but then decided that his little sister would be okay with it if she knew the reason. Turning the knob, he opened the door. Frowning as he realized it had been left unlocked, he made a note to tell them the next day to always lock the door. With so many men in the house currently, it wasn't safe to sleep with the door open.

Entering the room, Shivaay could make out two figures on Prinku's queen-size bed, and thanked God that the girls hadn't decided to have a sleepover all together. He shut the door close behind him, and as silently as he could, inched closer to the bed. Prinku's room faced the garden, and under the moonlight seeping in through the open window, he could clearly make out that the figure sleeping on the side closer to him, was Annika. Walking closer, he crouched down on his knees. She looked so serene as she slept, her thick lashes fanning her rosy cheeks, and now that Shivaay knew he loved her ardently, he had no inhibitions about checking her out at her vulnerable moment. But because he had to wake her up and apologize, Shivaay had to cut short his staring session, and he moved his hand to her shoulder. Praying that she does not start shrieking at being woken up, he shook her shoulder lightly.

"Annika, wake up," He whispered, grateful that Prinku was a deep sleeper. But then again, so was Annika. He tried again when she didn't so much as move.

"Annika, babe, wake up," He said, a little louder this time, shaking her a bit harder. His lucky stars were probably on duty that night, because Annika started fluttering her eyes open, and noticing a figure looming in front of her, was about to scream. Shivaay however was ready for this action, and quickly put his palm over her mouth.

"Sshh, it's me!" He whispered loudly, and Annika's eyes that were widened now closed in relief, before opening again as realization hit her. Moving Shivaay's hand from her mouth, she sat up on the bed.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, before Shivaay gestured for her to lower her voice, and she threw a worried glance at Prinku's sleeping form.

"What are you doing here?" She asked again, voice low but still annoyed.

"I'm here to take you to my room," He replied with a smirk, and Annika raised her eyebrows at his casual tone. Not in the mood to fight with him because she was extremely upset over his previous behaviour, she replied with a simple "No" and lay back down again, turning to face the other side. Shivaay sighed, before scooting her over slightly and lying down beside her. Annika froze, but didn't say anything. Pulling the duvet over both of them, Shivaay got comfortable and turned towards Annika, pulling her into a back hug.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into her ear, inhaling the scent of her hair in the process. "I acted like a complete jerk, and I shouldn't have."

Annika didn't reply, and instead tried removing his hand from around her waist. His grip only got tighter.

"Please, baby. I'm sorry na?" He said, making a puppy dog face and peppering kisses on her hair line. It made her suppress a shiver. Turning around, she found her self pressed up against Shivaay, and it made her breath hitch. Lowering her head, she absentmindedly started playing with the buttons of his kurta.

"I just hate it when you shout at me," Annika whispered, slightly pouting. "And I didn't even do anything wrong! Aisa koi karta hai kya!"

Realizing that he had really hurt her, Shivaay pulled her even closer, if possible, and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"Aw my baby girl, I'm so sorry. It wasn't intentional, I swear. I was just.... worried."

"About what?" Annika asked, looking up to face him, her almond-shaped eyes etched with concern. Shivaay gulped.

"Um, about work," He lied through his teeth, and of course Annika didn't buy it.

"Tell me the truth, Shivaay. Is something bothering you?" She asked softly, anger forgotten for a moment as she cupped his cheek with one hand, caressing his stubble with her thumb. Shivaay turned his face sideways to kiss her palm.

"It's nothing, love. I'm not worried anymore. Everything is perfect," He confessed, looking at her beautiful face with a smile on his face.

"Well then, I'm back to being angry. Goodnight." Saying that with a scowl, Annika turned to the other side again, leaving Shivaay all baffled. Sighing, he gave up for the night, and snuggled closer to her again, his eyes almost drooping shut in drowsiness.

"Shivaay, this is Prinku's room! Leave!" Annika exclaimed, but Shivaay only wound his arms around her tighter.

"I'll wake up and leave before she does," He murmured against her hair, almost asleep, and Annika groaned at his stubbornness. Slightly moving back to bask in more of his warmth, she too drifted into a deep sleep, a small smile playing on her lips because he was there with her.

**

True to his word, the next morning Shivaay left the room before his sister woke up, and Annika woke up to find Prinku drying her hair in front of the mirror.

"Good morning," She wished Annika, who smiled in return. Looking to the part of the bed where Shivaay had been just a while back, Annika traced her hand on the mattress. His scent was still slightly lingering in the air. Moving aside the duvet, she stood up and went to the washroom to shower and get changed.

When Annika walked down into the hall an hour later, she found everyone in a rush to get things done. It was, after all, the sangeet that evening, and there was still so much to be done. Hurrying down, she started with her work, calling caterers and instructing decorators, not even bothering to have breakfast. Walking into the kitchen to check if all the new utensils had arrived, she was met with Dadi who was preparing tea for herself.

"Areh Annika puttar, chai piyegi?" She asked, smiling at her brightly. 

"Dadi, aap kyu takleef kar rahe ho? I'll make tea for you!" Annika rushed towards the older woman, not wanting to let her strain herself.

"Don't worry beta, I'm still young! Chai bana na kaunsi badi baat hai?" 

Annika smiled at her words, and carried on with her work.

"Waise puttar, have you talked to Shivaay today?" Dadi asked her. Annika shook her head in negative.

"Can you go up to his room and ask him if his business guests will be coming tonight?" Dadi requested Annika, with an ulterior motive of giving the two of them some time alone, of course. Annika nodded, since she couldn't very well refuse Dadi, and made her way towards the Baggad Billa's room. Entering, she found him, unsurprisingly, barking orders into the phone about some deal or the other, to poor Mr. Mishra. As he saw her, he instantly hung up, and walked up to her with a wide, dorky grin on his face.

"Good morning, love," He said, kissing her cheek. " I was missing you."

Annika glowered at him, indicating that these endearments wouldn't make her forgive him, and told him why Dadi had sent her upstairs.

"Uhm, yeah, they're coming." He replied, and Annika was about to walk out, when he pulled her back by the wrist, and twisted her hand behind her back. She scowled up at him.

"You look so cute with your little nose all scrunched up," He said, and pecked her on the nose. Annika blushed.

"Baby, I'm SO sorry. Please maaf kardo? I'll do anything you want me to!"

Annika rolled her eyes.

"All I want you to do is stay away from me," She said, and crossed her arms as he let go of her hand. Shivaay pouted adorably.

"You know I can't do that, right? Anything else?" He joked.

At this point, Annika sighed.

"Shivaay, I'm really angry at you, okay? So stop messing around! Pata hai,  I felt so bad yesterday when you yelled at me. You never yell at me these days, Shivaay! And I didn't like it at all." Like a baby, she ranted out to Shivaay, who melted and took her into his arms.

"I know, I know. I didn't mean to shout at you, Annika. It just wasn't a good time. You know how much you mean to me, right? I would never intentionally to hurt you!"

Annika nodded in understanding, and wrapped her arms around his waist in forgiveness, making him smile.

"I'm sorry too," She mumbled against his waistcoat. 

"Why?" Shivaay asked, frowning.

"About the Daksh thing. You were right- I wouldn't like seeing you with any other girl at all, even if it was my best friend. I guess i was just trying to provoke you, because it's a treat to watch jealous little Billu."

Shivaay raised an eyebrow at that, grinning, and pulled back slightly to look at her.

"You're quite naughty, Miss Annika," He said, making her grin and blush, too.

"You have no idea, Mr. Oberoi," She said in a slightly husky, seductive voice, that had him feeling light-headed.

"And am I going to find out in Bali?" He asked. Annika was about to say something back, when his words registered, and her eyes widened.

"We're going to Bali?" She asked, with child-like enthusiasm, slightly jumping in his arms in excitement. Shivaay nodded, and she flung her arms around his neck.

"Thankyou so much, Shivaay!" She exclaimed, as he wrapped his arms around her waist and slightly swayed the both of them. 

"Anything for you, my love." He whispered to himself, before placing a long kiss on her hair.