^°^

Shivaay inside Batra house to meet Anirudh sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper while relishing the steaming hot tea made by his beautiful wife.

"Good morning uncle", he greeted the older man with a smile who looked up and smiled widely seeing one of his favourite boy.

"Oh! Good morning son, come come", he said keeping the newspaper and his spectacles away. Shivaay sat down beside him with a smile.

"What brought you here early morning son. Is everything okay?", Anirudh asked.

"Everything is great uncle. Got ready early so thought to drop by and pick up Annika. Exams will start by next month", Shivaay informed.

"Um..well I guess to pick up her, you need to wake her up first. She is still sound asleep", elder man said with a chuckle making Shivaay's eyes widen in disbelief.

"She is still asleep? We have college!", he said getting up.

"You know her very well, don't you?", Anirudh chuckled making Shivaay shake his head.

"Alright, I am going to wake up the sleeping beauty, where's Arnav by the way?", he asked walking up to the stairs. Batra house was like his second home since childhood being the house of his best friend.

"Oh, he must be getting ready for the way having a chitchat with Khushi over call", Anirudh said cheekily making Shivaay giggle. He is a fine man with handsome looks and a beautiful heart. He is more like friends with younger men of both families.

"I will look up with your daughter then", Shivaay said walking upstairs. Anirudh chuckled and sat down on his previous place reading his newspaper and sipping the tea.

Meanwhile, Shivaay barged inside Annika's room, of course without any knocking. Who knocks their best friend's door?! She was sleeping on the bed cuddled up with her blanket on the round bed.

Her room was lemon yellow and sky blue themed having cute birds and trees painted over them. A study table, three big bookshelves being the book worm, a balcony with single sitting swing, a large wardrobe on the other side with a fluffy bed in the center of the room. The room was completely like her, sweet, adorable, beautiful yet simple.

"Annika", he sat down beside her scrapping out a small ball of chocolate from the wrapper kept on her side table. She grumbled a groan before going back to her sleep snuggling in her pillows and blanket.

"God this girl", he muttered and looked around before finding the thing he was searching and smirked. The next moment Annika was drenched in water.

"What the heck!", Annika woke up gasping with a shriek. She looked beside to see her best friend standing there with an empty glass of water and glared him hard.

"What was that?", she looked at him demanding an answer. He shrugged.

"Thought to use your own trick to wake up you. See, it worked", he said showing all his 32 teeth at the end.

"You're going to face the consequences", she frowned pushing her damp hair behind, "I was watching such an amazing dream!"

"Oh really.. What was that? You sitting in a large library filled with fantasy and romantic books or partying with your favourite fictional crushes", he rolled his eyes.

"I was about to be kissed by the Damon Salvatore, himself", she said with dreamy voice but then frowned at Shivaay.

"Jeez Anu! You still crush over that man? He is not even close handsome as me", he said sitting beside her popping inside another chocolate ball.

"Nice joke. What's not in him to not crush over him? He is sexy, looks smoking hot, has a devilish but handsome smile and not to forget his mesmerising eyes", Annika said kept her hand under her chin at the end with a dreamy sigh.

"Whatever! My eyes are much prettier than his", Shivaay said looked towards a wall beside her study table. It's her 'special wall', having poster of all her crushes, specially big posters of Damon and Stefan.

"Okay agreed but he is worth crushing", she said pushing off the blanket over her, adjusting her top.

"Yeah yeah, now get ready fast", he said slumping more on the bed propping on his elbow.

"Why?", she asked confused letting out a yawn. She was still in the party hangover of last night.

"Tick tok ma'am, it's just one hour for college", he said with tapping on his watch. Her eyes widen hearing it.

"Phail gaya raita! Why didn't no one woke me up", she shouted rushing inside her bathroom. He shook his head in disbelief and went to her study table in order to pack her bag for today's classes.

^°^

Shivaay and Annika came down together while she was blaming him to not waking her up early, he just looked at her in disbelief coming downstairs.

"Hey besties!", Arnav said having his toasts. Annika scowled hitting on his head from behind and sat down beside him.

"Why didn't you wake me up today?", she scowled demanding an answer.

"You really think I didn't? You're sleeping like an animal who went on hibernation!", Arnav said making her frown and pout at Anirudh.

"Arnav, don't say to my daughter like that", he said making Arnav sigh and raised his hands in surrender.

"Shivaay beta, you also sit down and have breakfast", Malvika said serving parathas to her husband.

"I had my breakfast aunty, thank you", Shivaay said sitting beside Annika.

"Coffee?", Annika asked serving black coffee in a cup while mixing milk in her own. He smiled taking it.

"Finish up fast guys! It's just 15 minutes", Annika said taking a huge bite of her sandwich.

"Oh! The class is going to start in next 1 hour", Shivaay said casually making her gasp and look at him.

"We've still an hour? Did you just lied to me Shivaay Singh Oberoi!!", Annika shouted looking at him with accused eyes.

"As if you would have woke up if I would have not tried that trick?", he said rolling his eyes and picked up a slice of bread from her plate taking a bite. She scowled hitting on his arm.

"Wow! That's a great way Shivaay. Please come every morning to wake up this sleeping Annabelle", Arnav said making Annika frown at him.

"It's sleeping beauty, you dumb!", she said.

"Exactly! It is, not you", he smiled sweetly making her gape at him on disbelief, "I don't like you", she said still gaping in disbelief.

"You love me sweetie. Now, if you're done with breakfast, let's leave", he said wiping his hands.

"Actually yes. It's 45 minutes to college and we know traffic so Anu, take your bag and come, I am taking out the car", Shivaay said getting up taking his back.

"I will be coming little late. Have some work at cyber cafe. You guys go ahead", Arnav said to which other two nodded. Annika left for her to bring her bag.

"Shivaay.. Today's accounts class right?", she shouted from upstairs.

"Yes", he shouted back, "I have kept it in your bag, just come down", he added.

"She can't help without you", Malvika chuckled. Shivaay smiled.

"It's vice versa aunty. I can't imagine being without her", he chuckled. Annika's parents exchanged a knowing look with small smiles.

"You are together since the time you're born so it's obvious. Anyways you guys looks adorable together", Malvika said making Shivaay giggle.

"You and mom are same. She also said same last evening", he said.

"Maybe we want the same thing", she muttered with a smile.

"Huh?", he looked confused.

"Nothing. By the way, party last night was really nice, isn't it?", she said.

"It was great and successful aunty", he smiled smiled, "everyone were happy even dadi and everyone were talking over it till late night".

"Chalein?", Annika asked as she came down.

"Yup. Will see you later aunty and uncle", Shivaay smiled as she was still fiddling inside her bag. They nodded with a smile.

"Bye mumma, bye papa", she said kissing their cheeks and pulled Shivaay outside along with her. He went along shaking his head.

"This girl", Anirudh chuckled.

"Ani..I think we should talk now", Malvika said looking at her husband with a smile.

"I think yes", Anirudh said making her smile wider.

^°^

Shivaay and Annika reached inside the college campus and he parked the car in student's parking area.

"You go inside, I have to meet coach sir", he said as they came out. She nodded carrying her bag on the shoulder and went inside.

She was walking through the passage towards her class when her phone started ringing inside her bag. She looked down inside to search it when she bumped with something. She was going to fall when the person pulled her closer making her look towards the person and she gaped.

"H..hey?!", she greeted with a confusion and surprised face.

"Hey beautiful, remember me right?", he said with a smile.

"Umm..of course. Adarsh, from last night", she smiled little formally. She took out her phone as it rang again to see Bhavya calling her.

"Yeah Bhav, I am on my way. No no.. I am not late, yeah..bye", she kept the call and chuckled towards Adarsh seeing the awkward silence.

"So..you? Here in my college?", Annika said walking ahead towards her class.

"I didn't know you own this place", he said trying to joke which she found pathetic still she chuckled with a smile.

"I mean I didn't know you are also studying here. Never saw you. Junior class?", she asked.

"Last year, joined the college just last week, I was in London before it", he told. She looked shocked.

"Wow! London, then why you left there? The education is much better there", she asked.

"Dad wanted me to come back India for my last year as I will be handling his business after studies", he said making her nod in understanding.

"Even Shivaay is going to handle his family business", she said with a wide smile.

"Shivaay?", Adarsh asked confused.

"Yeah, remember the guy with me throughout the night? He is my Shivaay", she said smiling more widely.

"Ah! Yeah, that man with you, I remember. Your boyfriend?", he asked ahead with anticipated face.

"Oh no! Not my boyfriend but my bestest friend. Actually he is my diaper friend", she chuckled. 

"Oh.. Nice", he said. She looked at his face expression changing but shrugged it.

"Oh.. Class is here. I think you're also here right?", she asked.

"Yeah. It's nice I have someone I know", he said making her smile softly and walk inside.

Annika and the group sits at the back of the class. They are backbenchers but toppers or good students of the class or excellent in co curriculum activities. Whereas Bhavya and Rudra are in junior year.

"Hey guys!", Annika shouted spotting her friends and waved towards them. Om and Gauri who were sitting together waiting for other three, talking with each other looked towards Annika and got up with wide eyes.

"What the hell is he doing with Annie?", Om whispered towards in shocked.

"Leave that Om, if Shivaay bhaiya or Arnav bhai will come right now and see this, I can't even imagine what will happen", Gauri whispered back smiling towards Annika who was coming towards them. Adarsh was coming behind her.

"Specially Shivaay", Om muttered and smiled as Annika sat down on her seat.

"What happened? Why you both are standing as teacher has given you punishment", Annika said making both startle and shake head with chuckles.

"We're confused. It's always Shivaay with you, umm..he?", Gauri said eyeing towards Adarsh.

"Well I don't think it's always important that Shivaay is with her", Adarsh said peeking from behind, "Adarsh, hope you remember", he added forwarding his hand.

"Of course we do. Actually we didn't know you're also in this college", Om said.

"I recently joined this college for final year", Adarsh said with a smile. Om and Gauri nodded. Just then their eyes widen again. Shivaay and Arnav entered the class talking with each other.

"Hey shankar ji! Shivaay bhaiya and Arnav bhai are here. Together", Gauri said clutching Om's arm.

"I hope you don't mind if I sit here, Annika", Adarsh said.

"Actually-", Annika was interrupted by a voice. A stern voice.

"Of course she will mind. That's my seat", Shivaay said making Adarsh turn and look towards Shivaay from top to bottom.

"Shivaay right? Hi, Adarsh", he said taking out his hand for handshake.

"Hi. That's my seat, actually", Shivaay said and walked ahead gently pushing him away from the shoulder and stood in front of Annika.

"Shivaay..", Annika said in disbelief.

"What?", he shrugged and sat down. She kept looking at him making him roll his eyes and pulled her arm making her sit beside him.

"I think you should look somewhere else", Shivaay said with a fake polite smile. Adarsh looked towards Shivaay but then smiled and nodded.

"Sure. I will see you during break Annika", he said looking towards her with a small smile. She nodded and sighed looking towards her bag taking out her notes.

"What the hell was he doing here?", Shivaay asked turning towards her.

"How would I know? I am not the attendance list of this college", she shrugged shaking her head. He looked away with sulked face.

Arnav chuckled and sat down on other side of Annika. Annika pouted and looped arm around his arm and kept head on his bicep.

"I didn't called him na, stop sulking", she said cutely. He glared at her making her sigh.

Trust your best friend to get upset on anything, even if you smile at someone else!

"Shivaay..", she whined, "ask me anything you want me to do. I will do", she said making him look at her with raised eyebrow.

"Anything?", he asked to confirm. She nodded smiling widely.

"Come at my practice match after college then", he shrugged making her eyes widen and chuckled.

"Cricket right?", she asked scratching her neck.

"Of course", he nodded. She sighed slumping head on the table. Om, Gauri and Arnav chuckled.

"Fine..", she raised her head, "I will come in your practice match", she said making Shivaay look at her surprised.

"You're sure? It's cricket", he said. Anyone who know Annika, she don't have even a little interest in cricket.

"Yeah yeah, I know. I will come", she said with a small smile making him grin.

"I am good then", he said making Annika squeal happily and hug him. Others who heard her squeal towards them but looked away at their respective works as it was common to see Annika hugging him openly.

Many suspected that Annika and Shivaay are dating but after their constant denials, everyone ignore it. Some envy their friendship while some adore it.

Shivaay smiled hugging her back. Arnav, Om and Gauri smiled seeing them while one person who was sitting adjacent to them, burnt in jealousy.

^°^

Hey guys! Thanks for your votes and comments on the previous chapter. Keep reading, voting and commenting your views. They means a lot♥️

Hope you liked the update. Do tell me how it was😁

Precap: Shivaay is still irritated ;)

Love,
K♥️