[Chapter: 13]

Annika huffed sitting on her bed with a sigh. She glared towards Malika and girls. It was finally the day when Annika is going on their first date with Shivaay. It was 3 in afternoon and Shivaay will be coming by 5 pm to pick her up.

"This is what you thought I would wear on our first date seriously?", she asked the girls and then looked at the bundle of clothes on bed.

A beige bodycon dress, white stripped purple shorts pant set with white shirt, blood red jumpsuit, black thigh length skirt with blue crop top and so on.

"We thought to make you look sexy for your first date", Gauri said picking up a deep neck red evening gown showing up to Annika.

"He clearly said casuals Ri. If I go wearing this, I would look over dressed and as if I am trying to seduce him on our first time itself", she said.

"That's why we brought this", bhavya smiled widely showing up a short set and crop top-skirt set in another hand.

"That's so much casual and revealing. I mean yes, I wear revealing clothes but I want something comfortable, simple and casual. Just like I wear daily", Annika complained making Bhavya sigh.

"Then", all looked towards Malika, "only one thing can be done, we need to find something from Annika's closet itself", she said and other two agreed.

Everyone started rummaging her closet. Annika cringed seeing her clothes throwing here and there. A top came flying on her face making her frown.

"Found it", Malika screamed. Other three looked at her.

"How's this?", she asked showing the outfit she found. It was an off shoulder, simple white ruffled crop top with balloon sleeves along with torn denims.

Annika smiled brightly and took the outfit. She turned it around and nodded making them have a huddle hug.

"Great then. You get ready in this, till then we'll clean up your room", Gauri said and pushed Annika inside the bathroom.

After a while, Annika came out wearing the outfit. It was fitting her body perfectly, covering her curves. She smiled towards everyone who thumbs up towards her, grinning.

She turned towards mirror and smiled looking at herself in satisfaction. The outfit was much to her liking. Simple, casual yet appealing. Gauri did a simple make-up for Annika, keeping it a natural look. She just combed her end curls leaving them open.

She turned around hearing a whistle to see Malika grinning.

"I am sure, Shivaay is gonna kiss you tonight", Malika grins making Annika gasp.

"Shut up Mali. It's just a simple date, that too first", she said brushing her hair with her fingers.

"Sometimes even make outs happen on first date Anu", Bhavya teased.

"Make out? More than that can happen", Gauri said feigning serious face and hi-fived with Malika and Bhavya.

Annika turned to them glaring with red cheeks and shaking head.

"Shut up guys! Nothing such will happen. What will happen is, me telling Shivaay that I like him", she said heaving breath.

She's looking cool from outside but she's really nervous. Always being busy in her career, Annika has never been a person who went to even casual date. She never encouraged casual dating personally. She always thought, she'll have her first date when she'll actually feel something special for a man and Shivaay was being the first person.

"Anu", she came out of her thoughts. She saw Gauri looking at her.

"Just relax okay. Be yourself and you know bhaiya quite well. You know how he is. Just enjoy", she said and hugged Annika. She nodded smiling.

"And do tell us if you two kiss", Malika said from behind making Gauri and Bhavya agree, giggling.

"Nothing such will happen. I can say about it", Annika said coating another layer of her baby pink lipstick.

Just then her phone started ringing. Girls squealed seeing the caller ID only to get a glare from Annika. She took a deep breath and answered the call.

"Hey Annika. I am here. I hope you're ready", he asked.

"Um..yeah Shivaay. I am ready", she said.

"Great then. I will come up in 10 minutes", he said.

"Yup. Okay, I am waiting for you", she said but then closed her eyes. She heard a small chuckle before he kept the call.

"Waiting for you huh?", girls said together making Annika hide her face behind her palms.

"Okay shush! He's here. I look fine right?", she asked.

"You're looking gorgeous babe", Malika whisper-yelled.

"Exactly! You're going to be death of bhaiya today", Gauri winked. She smiled widely and hugged her girls tightly.

"Anu I know you don't want to sound desperate but at least show the liking towards him", Malika said while Annika was wearing beige platform heels.

"Yup. I will. Don't worry about it. I just hope it go well", she muttered strapping them.

"Anu Anu Anu! Wait", Bhavya came running from her room. She was holding pair of simple gold hoop earrings.

"Wear them. They would go well with your outfit", she said making Annika wear them. Annika smile gladly and hugged them again.

She's hugging a lot today. She thought parting from the hug. Just then all of them heard the door bell ringing. All stiffened at their places.

"Okay Annika, let's do this", Annika muttered herself. Smoothening her hair and jeans, she walked to the door. Taking a deep breath, she brought a smile on her face and opened the door.

As she opened, she came face to face with Shivaay who was standing there with his soul-searing smile. He was wearing dark blue semi formals with a white t-shirt underneath, pairing up with white sneakers.

She passed her gorgeous smile towards him but her eyes were not ready to leave his physique. His abs were quite visible because of his slim-fit shirt. His gorgeous arms showing up as he folded his sleeves till his elbow.

"Hey!", she said softly. He smiled and then looked behind to see girls grinning.

"I didn't expected them here. Wasn't you three supposed to be in office?", he asked.

"Oh come on bhaiya! It's you guys first date. We have to make Annika look gorgeous for you", Gauri said.

"Annika anyways looks gorgeous even in simple look. She don't need to do anything to look one", he said and looked towards Annika who looked down. She had pink cheeks.

"Ahaan, cheesy for your girl huh?", Malika commented and smiled at Annika. Annika blushed hearing your girl but glared at her.

"I-uh think we should leave Shivaay? It's already 5 and you don't like being late", Annika said.

"Yeah. You're right. Let's go", he said and walked out. She turned back and glared playfully at girls who hooted making Annika blush in embarrassment.

"I'll see you three later", she whispered and walked out taking her handbag.

"Enjoy", the girls said closing the door, giggling.

Shaking head, she walked towards elevator where Shivaay was waiting for her. He smiled seeing her. She smiled back and waiting for the elevator to come. As it came up, they got inside.

"Just don't think about them. They're pro in embarrassing a person. Once, they said an italian model that I like her in front of her, we all were having lunch together. I almost choked. It was really embarrassing", he said making Annika look towards him with widen eyes.

In seconds, laughter filled in elevator. She laughed looking at him. He rolled his eyes covering face from a palm.

"Yeah yeah. You also laugh. That girl took it seriously. Only I know how I kept myself away from her", he shook his head.

"But did you really liked her?", she asked once she controlled her laughter.

"Definitely not Annika. She was not even a friend. Just a simple model working for us. We're off to Greece for the shoot", he said making her nod smiling lightly.

They reached first floor and it was going to open when Annika stopped it. He looked at her confused.

"Um..paparazzi", she bite her lower lip.

"Oh don't worry! The car is parked inside the apartment campus and the windows of my car are tinted, even if paparazzi notice my car, they won't know it's you with me inside", he said making her sigh in relief.

"Okay then", she said and both came outside the lift. She wore her sunglasses and walked to his car. She can't take chance to come in any kind of rumours, not until they get into something official.

Just then her mind went to his perfume. He was freaking smelling delicious, walking just beside her.

Control Annika. She scolds herself and looked at his side. They reached to his car and he opened door for her. She mumbled a thank you getting inside the car. Jogging to his side, he got inside the car.

"Oh wait. I have something for you", he said as she was strapping seatbelt.

He turned to the backseat and took a bouquet. It had her favourite sunflowers and yellow rose. He turned to her side.

"These are for you", he said giving it. She took it with a smile and gently ran her fingers on them.

"Thank you. They're really pretty", she said softly looking at the flower. They took her to the memory three weeks before. She smiled remembering that day when he came to her home to apologise her with the same flowers.

"Last time I gave them to you when I kinda misbehaved with you. Today I am giving them to you thinking to start afresh with you", he said reading her mind. She smiled nodding keeping the bouquet close to her.

Igniting the car, they drove out of the campus. As she saw them going little away from her apartment. She removed her glasses taking a sigh of relief.

"Don't worry. You won't have any problem", he said holding her hand leaving the gear. She looked at this and smiled.

"So where are we going?", she asked keeping the flowers on her lap.

"Um..let's say it's a surprise for you", he said making her pout.

"That's really not fair Shivaay. Curiosity kills me", she whined. He laughed shaking head.

"Well I will help you to come back alive", he winked at her making her blush. She gently slapped on his bicep.

"You're really a flirt at times", she commented shaking head.

"Trust me you like it", he said smugly. She blushed looking out of the window. The drive was peaceful. After 1 hour of drive, car came to a halt.

"Annika wait okay", she nodded and saw him getting down. After five minutes, he opened her side of door.

"Come", she nodded and got down of car to see them at beach. She looked at him. He was grinning.

"How did you know I like beach?", she asked to see him rubbing his nape.

"Maybe I took help from your girl gang", he shrugged.

"They know we're here", she asked shocked.

"Even boys does. Actually this is a special place for me, come I show you", he said and closed the door of car after keeping the flowers inside.

"Okay, I am already excited", she giggled as he walked them ahead. She looked ahead and her eyes twinkles with her face brightening.

"Wow! This is really beautiful Shivaay", she said looking ahead.

"A boat restaurant", she turned towards him who was already looking at her.

"Yup. I love coming here. The owner of this restaurant is like another mother to me", she nodded in acknowledgement. A boat was there to take them to the restaurant.

He got inside it and held out his hand for her. She grabbed it and got inside the boat.

"You know, I have never gone to any boat restaurant. It's going to be my first time", she said excitedly.

He just looked at her. The smile of her face is what he cherish a lot. There's a child like innocence in her words, the way she gets excited even for small things or finds happiness in small things just impresses him.

"You look really gorgeous Annika", he muttered audibly enough for her. She turned her face towards him.

"Huh?"

"You're gorgeous", he said making her smile tucking her strands behind ear.

"Why thank you", she said shyly, "you look really handsome too", she said making him grin.

"I know", he winked. She rolled her eyes shaking head.

"Of course. I forgot Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi knows everything", she mocked playfully. He chuckled.

They reached the restaurant in no time. Giving money to boatman, they walked inside the restaurant.

She looked around getting impressed by the interior of the restaurant. Looking from outside, no one would say it was so lively, modern and warm inside.

"Hey aunty", Shivaay said waving towards an elderly lady. She was wearing a knee-length dress with a shrug over it and had glasses. She came towards them after taking to someone, maybe her employee.

"Oh jesus! My son is here", she said and took Shivaay in a hug kissing his cheek. He gave a cheeky smile hugging her back.

"How are you?", he asked after parting from hug. She was all smiling towards him making her wrinkles visible.

"Really fine after seeing you my child. As you wanted, no one is there today but was the reason, son?", she asked.

"I have to make you meet a special person", he said and looked towards Annika.

"She's Annika, a really special friend of mine. Remember I told you?", he asked to which the lady glanced at Annika.

"And she's Rose Mathews, Annika", he introduced making her nod.

"Oh yes yes! I remember. You didn't do justice describing her Shivaay. She's more beautiful", she commented making Annika blush.

Has he told every important person of his life about her? It seems so. Do he also like her, the way she do?

"Hello aunty, myself Annika", Annika greeted to be taken in a hug by Rose. She kissed her cheek too as the matter of her habit.

"Hello my child. Of course I know you. Jesus bless you my child", she said making Annika smile.

"So any special place or your usual with your date Shivaay?", he lowered his face for a moment and Annika could see slight blush on his cheeks making him look super adorable.

"Usual place aunty. I am really hungry so you have to feed me a lot", he said making the old woman laugh.

"Of course I will. Make yourself comfortable, I will come in a while", she said and went leaving the couple there.

He led them to his usual place. It was the last seat in the right side of the restaurant, facing a window showing the sea outside.

He pulled out the chair for her, like a gentleman and took a seat in front of her after she sat down.

"So what makes celebrity designer come to this small place?", she teased him who earn a chuckle.

"Well first, this place is really calm, away from the noise of city. Whenever I want some change from my daily life I come here", he said.

"And?", she asked gazing at him with a small smile.

"Rose makes really delicious food. She along with her husband Alex are really great chef. Being choosy regarding food, I hardly like someone else's handmade but they make scrumptious dishes. She treats me like her own son", he said and looked at her to see her smiling towards him.

"You're really a humble man", she muttered.

"And you're flattering at times", he shakes head making her chuckle.

"You know a fun fact?"

"What?", she asked still looking at him.

"Her daughter, Marie. She's a die hard fan of yours", he said making her surprised.

"Really? Omg! I would love to meet her then", she said.

"Yeah. She would go mad after knowing that you came here. She lives in Pune for her studies", he said.

They're talking on various topics when Rose came there with a tall, elder man with quite sculpted body. They placed the dishes on table and smiled at both of them.

"Annika, this is Alex, aunt's husband and Alex, she's Annika", Shivaay introduced them.

"Hello young lady. Now I understand why my daughter is a die-hard face of yours. You're really pretty", he said and took Annika's hand, kissing her knuckles.

"You're really charming I must say", she giggled at his comment. She turned her face a bit to see Shivaay having a slight frown.

"So Shivaay, finally a girlfriend?", he asked looked towards Shivaay. Shivaay and Annika both looked towards each other making Annika blush.

"Um..not yet. Maybe soon?", he winked. His comment made Annika look at him with a small smile.

"Dare you hurt her, she's really sweet", Alex said making Annika chuckle.

"Never in dreams, too", he said and looked at Annika. She passed a smile.

"Okay, you both enjoy and just call if you need anything. Feel free Annika", Rose said making Annika nod. She went from there taking her husband.

"How many more know about me?", she asked teasingly confusing him.

"What I mean is, your friends, family, even Rose and Alex seems to know well about me", she said.

"Well, let's say everyone close to me, know that I am thinking about you most of the times these days", he said teasing back.

"You really think about me most of the time? Allure will go in loss in that case Mr. Oberoi", she said giggling.

"Well, if I am earning you in loosing it, I may think about it", he said smugly.

Keeping his hand on table, he reached to her right hand holding it. She looked at him who was already staring at her with his ocean gree eyes. She felt herself getting captured under them. Clearing throat, she held back his hand.

"I really wonder how you kept yourself safe having such flirting skills", she commented.

"What if I say this side comes only in front of you?", he asked. She felt special hearing it.

"I am honoured Mr. Oberoi", she said dramatically making him laugh.

They had their food flirting and teasing each other, knowing more about each other. He got to know how passionate of a person she is for her work while she got to know about him being wanderlust.

"Wow! I always want to visit Morocco too. Specially for their art", she said as he told about his dream to visit Morocco once.

"If it would be possible, we'll go along", he said making her nod smiling cutting a piece of her falafel.

After dinner, they were having dessert. Annika got to know that Rose make some really amazing chocolate mousse, her favourite.

"Shivaay, why don't you show her the deck upstairs? The breeze is cold outside but pleasing", Alex offered.

"I would love to go there, can we Shivaay?", Annika asked excitedly.

"Sure."

"Great. Let's go then", she said and got up forwarding her hand. He chuckled and held it leading her to upstairs.

The upper deck was different than downstairs. It was purely of wooden. The bulbs were hung all around the deck brightening it up and making it look beautiful.

"This place is really beautiful altogether. Surely going to be my favourite too from now onwards", she exclaimed softly looking around. He smiled seeing her canines.

"You're really adorable Annika", he said chuckling making her smile sheepishly.

She walked towards the corner of the deck. The vast sea was shining with moonlight falling on it. The sky was filled with stars. He smiled seeing her calm face and stood beside her. She smiled glancing at him.

"Thank you for this beautiful date tonight. I really liked it", she said looking towards sea and then looked towards him.

"I realised you like cosy place more than expensive 5 stars, I had no better place than this in my mind, for you", he said.

"That's true. These places give me homely vibes. The warmth, handmade food with love. That can't be found in bright lights of 5-stars", she said.

"You know something", he turned face towards her. She hummed asking.

"You're the first person I have brought here", he said shocking her.

"Re-really?", she asked. He hummed nodding.

"I wanted to come here with someone who is special to me. Definitely OmRu, Arnav and girls are special to me but you know, that one person", he said softly. She smiled softly.

"I want to say something", both said at the same time. She chuckled.

"You first", she said making him shake his head.

"Ladies first", he said.

"Haan to ladies ki baat maano. You first", she said making him giggle.

"Fine", he sighed, "I don't know how you're going to react to this. I know it's really soon but", he stopped and turned her towards him. She looked at him confused.

She gasped as she felt him wrapping his arm around her waist. She looked towards him.

"I really like you so much Annika. More than I have ever liked someone. I agree I was confused in starting thinking I like you just like a friend but I realised in these 5 days that this can't be likeness for a friend. It's beyond that", he said looking directly in her eyes.

She went speechless. The thing which she was thinking to finally confess, he reciprocated it even without her speaking.

"Annika, I want to give us a chance. Not casually but really, on serious note. I know you feel for me, I feel for you. I also agree it's really soon but..", he again stopped and tucked a strand behind her ear. She closed her eyes feeling him so close to herself.

"Will you be my girlfriend?", he asked whispering and looked directly in her eyes with a small yet soft smile.

|••|

Thank you so much for your votes and comments on the previous chapters. Keep reading, voting and commenting your views. They means a lot to me♥️

Hope you liked the chapter. Sorry for the cliffhanger😂 but I promise I will update super soon😁

Do tell me how was the update😁

Precap: Annika's reaction

Love,
K♥️

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