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"That's why I said let's come with flight baby", Shivaay cribbed as their car started to stop working and after a while, it stopped.

"What's with this car of yours? Every damn time we face some problem", she frowned at him.

"Oh well, I think it doesn't like you sitting alone with me in long journey", he said making her look at him in disbelief.

"I- I mean this car is also enemy of our romance", he said fumbling and came out of the car. She rolled her eyes coming along with him.

They were on their way to Goa in his car, alone with their luggages as Annika wished for a road trip. He agreed having said that this will give him some personal time with his girlfriend. They're just few miles away from Goa when their car started showing tantrums.

"Damn it! Signal is also not visible in this area", he said and kicked on the tyre just to himself get hurt. She rushed towards him seeing him wincing lightly.

"Shivaay.. Relax. We'll get something", she said keeping hand on his shoulder and rubbed it softly.

"Where pumpkin? This area looks like remote", he said with a sigh looking away trying to catch some signal in his phone.

She sighed and took her phone trying to connect with any of their friends but faced the same issue. She was moving here and there when a small piece of brick came under her sandal.

"Shivaay", she called out loudly as she was about to fall because of imbalance. He turned immediately and held her hand pulling towards himself.

She bumped to him and because of the force, he sticked against the car with her in his arms.

"You seriously love falling or what? Har waqt girti padti rehti ho. You should sit inside right? But no! What if you would have fallen down. Lag jaati toh? This idea sucked of coming in car. I don't know if we're carrying first-", he stopped abruptly as she kept her finger on his lips.

"Kitna bolte ho! And then you say I am talkative", she said with a smile.

"Seriously Annika? Here I was worried that you may injure yourself and you're smiling", he frowned.

"Because unlike you, I remember our past", she said and twisted her mouth. He looked at her confused.

"What past?", he looked at her.

"Well when we're going to your farmhouse during the shoot. Remember your car got damaged like this only? I was about to fall then also..", she said softly.

He blinked and just then he remember the moments from that time. A smile came on his face.

"And then I said that same thing, that do you like falling", he added making her smile and nod chuckling.

"Exactly. That's why I was smiling that how far have we come. That day you're fighting, giving me sarcastic answer and today, you're worried that maybe I injure myself", she said smiling.

"Hey! I cared that time also, yeah just wasn't clear about the feelings so expressed it in anger", he defended himself making her chuckle and nod.

"But surely we have come long way. That time, I just pulled you up by your hands and now..", he wrapped his arms around her waist, "I can keep them around you, with all my rights", he added with a wink.

She blushed and nodded pecking his nose. He smiled rubbing his nose with hers.

"But I think, you should leave me. What if anyone see, I don't want us to come in the news in bizarre way", she said making him giggle and left her.

"By the way, I seriously can't see anyone till far", he slightly pouted looking at the both sides of the road.

"I am sorry. I was the one who pestered you to come by car", she looked at him.

"Seriously Annika? Pester? You just asked me twice and I agreed", he chuckled, "and it's okay, this has it's own adventure", he added.

"But in sometime it will start getting darker Shivaay", she looked towards him slightly worried. He wrapped his arm around her.

"I am here right? Don't worry, we'll be fine. Let's go one thing, walk ahead and try finding some mechanic?", he asked rubbing her upper arm softly and pecked her forehead. She nodded.

"Let me take my handbag then", she said and he nodded taking out her handbag from back seat.

"Don't worry. When we both are with each other, nothing can happen", he said holding her hand tightly in his and kissed it. She nodded with a small smile taking her bag.

They walked little far holding hands. It was getting darker by passing time and the area where their car damaged was surrounded with trees making it look more dark.

"Shivaay.. There", she pointed seeing a source of light. He nodded and held her hand firmly taking them towards the source.

As they reached there, they saw it as a mechanic shop making them sigh in relief. She turned towards him who smiled softly and side hugged her.

They walked to the shop to see it as a big one. Many mechanics were working there and one of them was sitting on a chair in front of table making bills of something.

"Excuse me", Shivaay said coming in front of the one sitting. He looked up and nodded getting up with a small smile.

"How can I help you, sir?", he asked.

"Yeah. Actually we're coming from Mumbai, had to reach Panaji but our car broke down in way. It's little away from him", Shivaay said.

"Oh okay, I will send one of my men and ask him to bring your car here", he said. Shivaay nodded.

He went as asked one of his men to bring Shivaay's car. The man went from there to bring the car while the owner came back.

"Please sit, sir and ma'am it will take sometime", he said pointing towards a cabin made there. They nodded and went there.

"I think we should try calling anyone again", he said putting hands inside her pockets. She nodded when he closed eyes with a tsk.

"What happened?", she asked confused.

"I forgot my phone in car", he said giving a nervous smile. She looked at him in disbelief.

"Tum bhi na! Wait I will call Gauri", she said taking out her phone, "I am going out to make the call", she added getting up dialling the call.

"Hello, Gauri. Yes I know it's late. What to do yaar.. We're just an hour away from Panaji and our car broke down, we're getting it repaired. Oh! Yeah, please yaar, send someone. We're at this shop on highway just at outskirts", she talked with Gauri who informed that Om and Rudra are leaving to pick them up. She kept the call and turned to leave when a voice stopped her.

"Annika di?!", she froze hearing the voice and turned around to see a girl in her early 20s with shocked expression.

"Ria?", Annika whispered and the girl smiled widely and immediately hugged her. Annika got emotional and hugged her tightly.

"Omg! You're in Goa and I didn't know. Where have you been? No calls, no messages", she said.

"Ria. You know, my issues with mom and dad, I never thought to come back. It's my friend's wedding that I came Goa, specially Panaji", Annika said with a sad smile.

"Oh yeah, I heard about Malika Arora and Arnav Raizada's wedding. I read about your relationship too", she smiled softly.

"You know about me?", Annika asked.

"Of course. My sister is an actress, I have too", she said hitting her arm gently. Annika chuckled and nodded.

"Annika did you- umm", Shivaay stopped as he came out seeing her with a girl. She smiled and looked towards Annika.

"Shivaay. Come", she smiled looking at him and held out her hand, "this is my cousin, Aria and Ria, he is Shivaay-", she stopped the introduction as Aria interrupted.

"Your boyfriend right? I know", Aria smiled widely, "hey jeej", she said enthusiastically. Annika's eyes widen and she looked towards Shivaay with a sheepish smile and glared towards his sister.

"What jeej?", she asked in disbelief.

"Oh please di! You're my sister, he is your boyfriend so of course he is my future brother-in-law. Right?", Aria reasoned.

"Right", Shivaay said instead of Annika. She smiled softly at him making him chuckle side hugging her.

"So, you're coming right?", Aria asked looking at her with hopeful eyes.

"No Ria, I am sorry. If will come to your home, dad or mom will come to know", Annika sighed.

"Di, they miss you. Specially uncle, sometimes even aunty does, she just doesn't show it", Aria said holding her hands.

"I just don't have the strength to meet them right now. Did he talked about my relationship to you?", Annika asked knowing her dad's close bonding with her cousin.

"Yes and he is partially positive I would say. He hasn't told aunty yet. He wants to talk to you first", Aria said softly. Annika gulped hearing her.

"I miss him too", Annika said getting emotional. Shivaay just gently rubbed her arm.

"Annie di, I won't force you to meet them but atleast talk to uncle. He craves for you", Aria said. Annika just nodded not knowing what to say.

"Sorry jeej, we must have bored you. Just sisters catching after years", Aria said with a chuckle looking towards Shivaay.

"It's fine. I know she misses her family but her fears are stopping her. I'm glad atleast I met someone from her family", he said making Aria smile.

"On that note, let's exchange numbers, atleast we can be in contact now?", she asked looking towards Annika. She nodded and both exchanged numbers. She even took her jeej's number.

"Oh! I forgot to ask. Why are you guys here in mechanic shop?", she asked looking at the couple.

"Our car broke down. They're repair it", Shivaay answered.

"Oh! It may take time guys. Come I will drop you. I am going back home", Aria said.

"Umm.. It's okay Ria. We'll manage, his brothers are coming to pick up us", Annika said politely.

"Oh please Annie di. It's really dark. You said you're coming from Mumbai right? They must be also tried, so must be you. Come, I am dropping you and it's final", Aria insisted. Annika was about to deny again but he stopped her.

"It's fine Annika. We can ask OmRu to stop by where they are. If she is saying so much, let's go", he said.

"Okay. I am calling them then", she said calling Rudra and told him about everything. They agreed as they were just nearby the resort.

Shivaay and Annika got inside Aria's car. First they went back to their car where he took his phone and their luggages and asked the mechanic to deliver at the resort and left for their destination.

"By the way you're a fashion designer jeej, aren't you?", Aria asked.

"Yeah. I own a clothing firm, that's the place I met your sister for first time", Shivaay answered.

"Aww, that's so romantic. So what's my star sister doing recently?", she asked bumping shoulder with her who was sitting beside her.

"Focus on the road, Ria", she chuckled, "and I am just working on a movie recently, apart from that, working for his company", she told.

"How's your architecture doing on?", she asked looking towards her.

"Last year di, then I am also coming to Mumbai", she said making Annika look at her surprised.

"Really?", she asked happily.

"Yes di, I recently got an internship offer in a company there", she said driving.

"I am waiting to welcome you", she said happily. Shivaay smiled seeing her happy after some time.

As they crossed the board showing Panaji, Annika gulped feeling emotional. All her emotions came out feeling herself at her hometown.

"Shiv..Shivaay, welcome to my hometown", she said softly and held his hand which was on her shoulder. He smiled softly and pecked her knuckles.

"I am happy to be here", he said softly. Aria also felt emotional having her sister after years. She looked towards her with smile who responded with a smile on her face.

Soon they came in the area where resort was. Annika sat down anxiously as she remembered the route going to her home as well.

"Ria, isn't there any other route?", Annika asked with tears filling in her eyes. She, who noticed this nodded.

"I..I will take from back route. It's okay, relax", Aria said holding her palm on her lap. She nodded. Shivaay sighed seeing her like this.

Aria took the back route and after journey of 20 minutes, they reached the resort. Annika turned towards her and hugged her tightly.

"I missed you", she whispered with teary eyes.

"I missed you too di. Now as you're here, you have to meet me before going. Promise?", Aria asked with crying voice. Annika nodded caressing her head softly.

"I will, I promise", she said with quivering lips. Aria has been the youngest one in all her cousins and closest to her. They shared an amazing bond.

"Don't go away from me now di, please", she muttered as they parted.

"Of course Ria, no more separations", Annika said promising her and herself. She wants to mend with her family but in a slow pace.

"Okay, take care now and call me. I will leave now", Aria said hugging her one last time. Annika nodded caressing her hair.

"Come inside na, let me make you meet my friends", Annika said.

"Some other time. Mom must be waiting. It's getting darker. Love you", Aria said softly.

"Love you too. Take care", Annika said and came out from the car. Shivaay too came out and some staffs from resort came to pick up their luggage.

"Bye.. I don't want to leave you", Aria whined hugging her tightly. Annika giggled and hugged her again.

"We'll meet soonest this time. I promise", Annika said. She nodded and they parted.

"Bye jeej, it was great meeting you", Aria said giving a side hug to Shivaay. He smiled hugging her back. He liked her nature instantly.

They bid bye to Aria and she drove away. He took her in a side hug and kissed her hair.

"I am happy", she said softly, "you know, she is youngest in our family, closest too", Annika said softly.

"She is really sweet. Just like her di", he said making her smile and look at her. He smiled pecking her lips and took her in a hug. She hugged him back tightly.

"Let's go inside. They must be worried now", Annika said. He nodded and both went inside the resort.

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

How did you liked Aria? She is going to be a positive character and somewhat matches Rudy's nature😂

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

Precap: team boys v/s team girls!

Love,
K♥️