★★

After the classes, Annika was helping the librarian in the library. The librarian like her because she is one of the few students in college who actually respect books and read them, else just come there during exams for references.

"Ma'am, I am done with fiction section. You need some other help?", Annika asked sweetly.

"You came fast from the fiction section today, surprisingly", librarian said making Annika chuckle and smile softly.

"I want to issue this one", she smiled sheepishly forwarding a cover of and then there were none by Agatha Christie.

"Sure", she took it, issuing for Annika. Just then Gauri came inside and walked to the table.

"Good evening ma'am", she smiled at librarian and looks towards Annika, "chal! We'll get late. Shivaay is searching for you", Gauri said.

Annika frowned and looked at her watch to see it's 5 pm. Her eyes widen. She didn't realised where time went in library!

"Oh yeah! It's his match time right? Come come", she said taking the book fastly from librarian and rushed outside towards the ground.

Panting, she and Gauri reached ground to see their friends sitting on the long benches at the side of ground.

"Sorry sorry, I am late. I was helping librarian ma'am with arrangement of books", Annika said sitting, letting Gauri sit before as Om was sitting beside. Annika chuckled seeing Gauri's eagerness to sit beside Om.

"If you won't have come, Shivaay would have surely not played well and our college would have lost", Arnav said making Annika look at him in disbelief.

"What nonsense Aru", she frowned.

"What? I am right. He would have been grumpy in entire match so he would have played in aggression which would have surely made him out", he said making everyone look at Arnav for a moment and then at Annika with a nod. She rolled her eyes.

"Whatever! Now I am here right. Waise bhi, it was opponent team playing before na!", she pouted and looked ahead to see the players warming up as it was their college's turn. She took out the book from her bag confusing Gauri.

"Don't tell me you're going to study here", she said in disbelief.

"Um..I mean not study but read a book, just tell me when Shivaay comes. I am here actually for him", she said opening the book.

Gauri and Bhavya exchanged a look with smile and looked back at match. Everyone from the group was sitting there except Shivaay was getting ready for match.

Players were playing, coming and going. Everyone was supporting their respective college and the players. Annika was busy reading her book when she felt someone sitting beside her to see Adarsh sitting there.

"Oh hey", she smiled softly shifting towards Gauri. That made her look towards Annika and her eyes widen. She nudge Om beside her.

"Tsk. Let me see Gauri", he said concentrated to match.

"Offo! Look here, he is here again", she whispered yelled.

"Who?", he looked at her.

"That Adarsh", she muttered making Om look ahead Gauri to see them.

"Shoot! Not again!", he sighed tired and looked towards Arnav and Rudy.

Rudy frowned seeing his didi giving attention to someone else. Arnav fumed in anger but controlled seeing an arm distance between his sister and the man.

"I hope Shivaay bhaiya don't see here", Bhavya said biting her manicured nails.

"I bet he will, it's his best friend sitting here", Om said worried for same and looked at the ground.

"So you like cricket? I mean, don't mind I am not judging it's just rare women are there who enjoy cricket", Adarsh asked Annika.

"No I didn't mind. Actually I am not really into cricket", she said with a small smile, looking back at her book. 

"Oh! So here for college or giving company to friends?", he asked further.

"Neither. For my best friend. He is captain of our college's cricket team and he wanted me to watch his match", she said smiling happily mentioning that. He smiled lightly and nod.

"You're not going to enroll for cricket team?", she asked.

"I am not much into cricket. I like basketball more", he smiled.

"Really? Even I used to play basketball in school. Just as time pass though", she chuckled.

"That's really nice", he said with a smile. Both started talking laughing and smiling to each other over basketball. Just then the player on the pitch got bowled and it was Shivaay's turn to come.

Everyone started hooting for their captain. Shivaay walked to the ground and looked towards the benches with a smile only for it to fade. A frown came on his face seeing Annika sitting with Adarsh.

"Yeh Adarsh meri Anu ko akela kyun nahi rehne de raha", he muttered to himself. Group beside Annika noticed this making Gauri nudge Annika.

"Annie! Shivaay is here", Gauri said smiling making Annika smile widely and look towards ground. She saw him taking hid place, warming up to carry forward the match.

She saw him looking towards her and smiled widely giving him thumbs up.

"All the best", she mouthed. He smiled widely nodding and wore his helmet.

"Sorry Adarsh, but now I will focusing on match. It's Shiv", she said with a sheepish smile and looks back at match. He made a sour face but nodded.

"Best friends are important", he muttered with a smile and looked ahead with a sulked face. Arnav smiled seeing it and looked back at ground, hooting loudly for Shivaay.

The match was going smoothly. Shivaay and his team were scoring well and Shivaay was still on pitch, not out. The last two ball were left for the team to win the match. They have to make 10 runs more.

Shivaay hit a hard hit bringing 4 runs to the team making everyone hoot in excitement and anticipation.

"Just one ball and six runs are needed by the college to win. Let's see what happens", the commentator said with an excited voice.

"God, please. Shivaay has practice hard", she muttered crossing fingers of both her hands, praying to god. Shivaay exhaled fixing his helmet taking a drinks break. He was having water when his eyes went to the benches.

Annika was sitting crossing her fingers, closing her eyes. A smile came on his face seeing this but immediately a frown came on his forehead as he looked beside her to see Adarsh looking towards her adoringly.

He fumed more in anger and smirked as an idea came in mind. He gave a signal of he is ready and match resumed.

As the ball came towards him with a spin, he hit it hard towards the benches making it a sixer, everyone squealed in happiness and victory. Annika jumped happily seeing this but gasped the moment next as the ball hit hardly on Adarsh's arm.

"Omg! Are you okay Adarsh?", Annika asked seeing him clutching his arm. He nodded at her with a fake smile giving a thumbs up. Shivaay smirked on the ground removing his helmet.

Arnav smiled seeing this but feign a worried face and went to Annika who was looking at Adarsh worried.

"Omg! Are you alright buddy?", he asked standing beside Annika.

"Aru, Shivaay's hit came and hit him, I think we should rush him to clinic", she said looking at her brother. 

"Annie!", Om came there, "Shivaay is calling you", he said and glanced at Adarsh before looking back at Annika.

"Umm.. Yeah but Ada-", Arnav interrupted her.

"You go to Shivaay. We'll take him to clinic", he said.

"Yes Annika, you go. We'll take care of him", Om said looking towards Adarsh.

"Okay, take care Adarsh", she said and went to Shivaay happily. Arnav fumed in anger holding his arm.

"Come we'll take you to clinic", Om offered half-interested.

"I will take care of myself", Adarsh muttered with anger going from there. Boys exchanged looks with each other.

"He is weird", Om commented.

"He's not weird O, he is crazy. Ignore him", Rudra said not liking Adarsh like most of them.

In the ground, Annika came happily and smiled at Shivaay who was rejoicing with the team. As the team mates parted to meet their friends, Shivaay walked to her and she hugged him tightly making him pick her up from the ground and twirl her, she chuckled giggling.

"I am so happy for you Shivaay. I am proud of you", she said hugging him tightly.

"Thank you so much Anu", he said kissing her temple.

"That winning sixer was so high. Kya baat hai billuji", she said teasingly as they parted making him give her a look. She giggled.

"It was meant for you I mean, I hit the sixer for you. You specially came", he said smiling softly at her.

"Aww! Thank you but your sixer hurt that guy", she said sadly.

"Which guy?", he asked feigning innocence.

"Aree.. That Adarsh", she said, "bechara, he didn't see it coming", she sighed.

"Tumhe dekhne se fursat milti toh na", he muttered making her confused.

"Huh?", she asked blinking.

"I mean I didn't saw it Anu, I was playing you see", he said shrugging.

"You can atleast say a sorry?", she asked.

"Excuse me! It was not actually a fault. He should have seen the ball coming. I am not doing any sorry and all", he rolled his eyes.

"The typical Shivaay", she shook her head.

"Hmm. Always, now come. I am giving us a treat", he said looping arm around her neck.

"You're best, you know right!", she said making him giggle and nod.

"Of course, chal", he said chuckling, walking them.

"You need a shower first", she said scrunching nose.

"Oh really?", he said giving her a squishy hug. She acted getting fainted with eww face. He laughed taking them inside the college.

★★

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

Sorry for a short update. I wasn't doing well from few days so I typed as much as I could because I committed to you guys. Hopefully next chapter will be longer😁

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

Precap: Oberois and Batras are having serious discussion.

Love,
K♥️