Annika looked out of the window looking outside to the environment. She turned and looked at him with an adoring look. He was attentively looking ahead driving. His one hand was gripping the steering wheel making his knuckles tightened which looked sexy to her. His one hand was on the gear shifting it now and then according to the speed and turns.

"I know I'm quite handsome Annika", her trance broke hearing his voice. She looked down blushing in embarrassment. He chuckled moving his hand to her lap and held her hand making her look at him with mouth little open.

"I can hold you hand right?", He asked with a hint of smile. She smiled lightly looking out and looked out again, holding his hand back.

"Where are we going Shivaay?", She asked making him chuckle.

"As I said it's surprise for you. I just hope you like it", she nodded lightly looking around. After sometime she observed that they're going out of Mumbai. He saw her frowning look, looking around curiously.

"Don't worry, I won't kidnap you", he said smiling making her smile sheepishly.

"I know I know! It's just I'm curious that where we're going", she said back.

"Just 10 to 15 minutes more", he said making her nod. She looked at his hand which was holding hers and smiled seeing it.

After around 30 minutes, Shivaay stopped car in front of a gate. It was covered with creepers and vineyards. She looked around and it looked like a garden.

"Shall we?", Shivaay asked turning at her who looked at him and nodded.

He got down of the car and jogged to her side and opened the door for her. She smiled her at gentleman behaviour and got out smiling mumbling a thank you.

•~•~•

Annika

"Thank you", I got down mumbling to which he passed his dazzling smile. His gentleman nature always touches my heart. I liked the way he held my hand. It left a unique kind of warmth to me. What I liked more is that whenever he touches me, he always make sure I'm comfortable and having my consent.

I looked around and it looked beautiful. The environment was bright and cool at same time, chirping of birds, rustling of leaves can be heard. The fragnance of flowers was mixed with air working as natural room freshener.

"So you liked the place?", I heard him asking to look at him. I smiled widely.

"Yeah it's beautiful and natural, really a unique place to hang out", he smiled softly hearing it.

"I tried this place with an another girl when mom forced me to go out on a date but from the look on her face it was visible that she expected a lavish 5-star arrangement", he said chuckling looking ahead. His hands were in his pockets.

"I don't care what kind of place it is where I have the date, the company is important", I said looking at him at last to see him smiling widely.

"Thank you", he mumbled making me confuse.

"For?", I asked to see him look at me intently for a while but then shook his head.

"Nothing, let's go ahead?", he asked making me smile widely and we started walking ahead.

"So you said you read books, which genre is your favourite?", he asked, kind of initiating our talks.

"I love every genre, just the plotline and book should be good. Though my favourite our romance and mystery", I said smiling.

"Wow that's really nice, reading is a good habit actually. You know during college days even I had habit of reading but then I got so busy in business that never got time", he said to which I nodded.

"So what you do for time pass?", I asked.

"Though this time pass I get rarely but when I'm free, I cook. I love cooking and it really works as stress buster. You know cooking?", He asked making me bite my lower lip and gulp. What should I say, that I can just cook edible!

"Umm woh.. I cook I mean.. not like you saying but..umm", I fumbled with my words for god knows what reasons.

"Hey relax Annika! I just asked casually. It's not important to know cooking", he said making me look at him surprised.

"You really don't care if I don't know cooking? I mean I know how to cook but it's just I can make only edible food and mostly I'm lazy to cook!", I asked him still surprised.

"No! I don't care. How does it matter? I mean I know how to cook, I can cook for both of us which people expect vice versa and as you said, you know at least edible food and that's enough. Infact you know what, we'll cook together, you'll learn too only if you want", he said smiling excitedly at last making me smile widely.

"That's a nice idea! It would be interesting to cook together", I said to which he smiled.

We're simply walking around talking on various topics. I was happy we're getting to know each other, when he held my hand in his. I looked at him who looked ahead behaving as if nothing happened. I didn't said anything looking ahead infact laced my fingers with his to see a smile crepting on his lips. 

"Shivaay! Do you expect something from me? Like any changes", I asked. I don't know why this thing was going in my mind since we've met.

"I just want comfort, care and trust from you Annika, really nothing else", he said smiling making me sigh lightly. I nodded.

"You want something from me to change?", He asked.

"Same! Just trust, honestly, care and comfort", I said smiling. He nodded holding my hand firmly.

Soon we came in front of gazebo making me look at him surprised. It was decorated naturally with creepers and vineyards around it. A table for two was kept in centre of the gazebo with a food trolley near it.

"Come!", He said smiling lightly making me smile and nod.

•~•~•

Shivaay

I felt happy seeing a constant smile on her face. I wish to cherish and treasure it forever.  I was glad she was getting comfortable around me. He didn't flinch like first time when I held her hand, infact she held my hand back. I liked our hands together, it looked beautiful. She talks a lot as soon as she's left to talk but I simply liked it, it shows how innocent she is from heart.

When she asked me about changes in her I wanted to say, stay the way you are but instead I asked her to get more comfortable with me and the smile she passed for it really warmed my heart. I know maybe it's soon to say but I've started liking her. Her soft, sweet nature has something in it which captivates me.

I looked at her to look at me surprised seeing the gazebo. I smiled seeing her eyes twinkling. By the talks between us and as much I got to know her till now, I know she gets happy with small things more than lavish things. So I prepared a small date kinda setup in this beautiful garden which have a beautiful gazebo in it.

As I expected she looked quite happy seeing it. She ran to the gazebo looking around it. I smiled looking at her gorgeous smile and bright face.

"I see you liked the place a lot", I said walking near her. She was going to stumble when I rushed to her and held her from behind by her arms. She looked at me smiling sheepishly.

"This place is really beautiful, I just loved it", she said excitedly making me smile widely.

"That's really great. My hardwork came into result", I said to which she nodded smiling lightly.

I pulled out the chair for her to which smiled sitting down. I pulled my chair sat down near her.

"How's your dental going on?", I asked pouring juice in two glasses.

"It's going really good. You know I had this patient other day, she literally started crying seeing me. I mean I didn't even touched her and she was crying as if I will take out all her 32 teeth", she said frowning making me laugh.

"Omg!! People are so scared of you!?", I asked giving her the glass. She took smiling.

"I don't know why", she frowned pouting cutely. Her lips looked so cute in the pout making me smile.

"Koi nahi! Sometimes people are scared of you without reasons", I said shrugging to which she hummed taking a sip of juice.

"How's your business going?", she asked looking at me blinking.

"Pretty well I could say. Stocks are getting higher also our latest venture raised up our name in market", I said and looked at her who listened to it properly. I smiled seeing this.

"That's great! I hope and wish you get lots of sucess", she said smiling softly. I smiled.

We kept on talking. I even teased her who back-teased me. I don't need to keep a facade of being someone else in front of her. She accepts me the way I behave and behaves the same.

We strolled around the garden, talking holding each others hands. I even took some of her pictures secretly without her notice when she'll looking at something curiously with all interest. My heart warmed up seeing her smile, her twinkling eyes, pink cheeks.

Maybe it's too early to call it as love but dadi has always said me, when you meet the right person, it's never soon or late, every moment is best to fall in. Maybe I'm falling for her but one thing I can surely say is, I like her, at least that much that I can't see her with any other man.

I came back from my trance feeling a pat from her on my shoulder. I looked at her raising a brow.

"It's getting evening, I think we should head to my home", she said making me realise that it's almost going to be sunset.

"Oh sorry! It just slipped from my mind. I didn't realised when time passed", I said making her cheeks pink. Ah! Her adorable blush.

"Same here! I saw time and realised it", she said making me nod.

"Before going, I want to show you something", I said making her confuse but she nodded.

Holding her hand, I took her to the end side of garden which is open like a cliff. She was looking at me all the time.

"Annika", I called out to which she hummed. I pointed ahead towards sky to when she looked ahead and her eyes widen along with her lips in smile.

"This is so beautiful Shivaay", she said smiling widely looking at the horizon where sun was setting. The light pinkish orange colour of sun mixed with sky looked beautiful and the girl in front of me, adoring the sight made it more beautiful.

"Truly this is beautiful", I mumbled looking at her and then looked ahead smiling widely. She slowly laced her fingers together making my heart skip a bit and thank God for sending the perfect girl for me, in my life finally.

•~•~•

Annika

As the sun got set, we walked back to the car. It was getting and darker. Though Mumbai don't have cold to extreme still the slight cold breeze of Feburary was giving little shivers.

Getting inside the car, we started buckling our belts when my belt got stuck. I was struggling to pull it when suddenly I felt him leaning against me and I turned my head to gasp lightly.

Shivaay was almost hovering over me trying to pull out the belt. Though he kept a required distance between our bodies still feeling a male body so close to mine was not helping. I looked at his face who was partially visible because of the darkness outside. I closed my eyes smelling his purfume. It was somewhat like strong coffee with a unique scent maybe of himself.

I was trying hard to not breath heavily when his eyes met with mine and my mind stopped working. I gulped a quite huge lump in my throat and looked away. My cheeks were hot because of the blush when I heard the clicking of belt.

I turned my head to his side to see him sitting on his seat igniting the car. I looked out of the window releasing a breath. This man is already driving me crazy!

The journey till my home was quiet. Only the voice of old melodies was coming from the radio. We stole few glances but none talked a word. The talkative like me was liking this peaceful silence.

As we reach home, he stopped the car in front of the main door of my home. I turned towards him who immediately looked at me. Holding both my hands, he looked in my eyes, melting me under them.

"Thanks for spending your day with me Annika. I had such a relaxing date after so many days", he said with a genuine smile.

"Same goes here Shivaay.. though I was out for entire day, I feel fresh and it was just because of you and that wonderful place", I said smiling.

Looking at each other for a while, I took my hands back and got down from the car to see him also getting down. I looked at him confused. He walked to my side and stood in front of me.

"The area looks silent, once you get inside home I will go", he said making my heart warm up.

I don't know what went inside me, I wrapped my arms around his neck hugging him. Closing my eyes I just felt him around me. I was loving this feeling, this sudden unique warmth around me. My smile widen up as I felt him wrapping his arms around me.

"Thank you for coming in my life", I mumbled almost inaudible making him hum in asking. I shook my head parting from hug.

"Text me after you reach home", I said tucking my hair behind ear. He leaned to me and tucked my hair from other side behind ear.

"I will. Bye! Take care", he said smiling.

"You too", I said. He gestured me to go in. I walked till entry door to see him getting inside the gate. I waved at him who waved back and drove away making me sigh with a smile.

Entering inside smiling in myself, I heard lots of giggles, laugh and talking to understand that my family was having their time with each other. I walked in to see someone sitting on the single sofa seat and as I realised my eyes widened with a wide smile.

"Bhaiiii", I shouted loudly in happiness. He got up and turned making me smile more wider. I rushed to him and jumped on him hugging tightly. I heard him chuckling holding me protectively in his arms.

"Gudu!! How's my baccha?", He asked suddenly making me emotional. I hugged him more tightly when he dropped me on my feet. Parting, he cupped my cheeks and kissed my forehead.

"Bhai I missed you so much", I said and a tear slipped from my right eye. He wiped it shaking head.

"Hey! If you're going to cry, I will call you bandru", he said making me frown and hit on his chest making him chuckle.

He is my brother, my another father, my ullu, Vansh Raisinghania. He is my cousin brother but just like Arnav bhaiya to me. Since bua and fufaji died in a plane crash when he was 10 yrs old, bhai lives with us. Mumma and papa loves him like their own son. He is a successful businessman, who handles fufaji's company since he was 20. Because of the his lose in childhood, he has always been a silent, less verbally expressing person.

He has created a wall around him and shows his true self only to our family, that too just us. He treats me like I'm his daughter. He calls me Gudiya or gudu as for him, I'm like a doll. Me, bhai and bhaiya is a team in which he's most sensible and I'm craziest. He and Arnav bhaiya are very possessive for me, but let me tell you, bhai is highly possessive for me.

"I missed you so much bhai! You didn't missed your gudu in these 2 months?", I asked frowning pouting.

"Sorry gudu! You know me, I get totally involved in my work", he said holding his ears making me smile lightly. Well, he was in London since past two months because of some project.

"But what I'm hearing after coming in more shocking. You agreed for marriage and I don't know?", He asked with little serious voice making me look down.

"Sorry bhai.. I wanted to tell you but then your phone was switched off. We'll do one thing, I'll directly make you meet to him!", I said smiling widely at end.

"Anyhow I have to meet him. Afterall my gudu has chosen him, I need to see if he's good for you or not", he said and looked at me seriously.

His words started making my heart thump louder.

"You..you mean you wanna test him?", I asked trying to be casual.

"I don't know but why not", he said making me gulp.

"What if he fail in it?", I asked crossing my fingers behind my back.

"Then we'll think about it. Now you go and freshen up, it's quite late you must be hungry", he said ruffling my hair softly.

"Haan Anu, change and come. Dinner is almost ready", I passed a small smile and nodded rushing to my room.

What if Shivaay fail in this so called test of bhai. My mind was thinking about this continuously making my heart thump louder. Just then my phone pinged.

I reached home Annika
Had the great and one
of best day today!
Take care!! Goodnight

I smiled seeing this. This man was entering inside my heart, I can't loose him in my life now.

Same here Shivaay.
I was a great amazing
day today. You too have
dinner and sleep. Take care
Good night!

Done doctor!
You too have dinner!

Bye! Talk to you later

Yeah! Bye!!

I sighed seeing his message and kept phone close to my heart. My mind went to our first hug today and I walked to my room smiling.

•~•~•

Thanks for your votes and precious comments on previous chapter. They mean a lot ❤️

If you feel anywhere that I'm rushing in their story, do let me know😁

Hope you liked the chapter. If you liked, do like and comment😁

K❤️