Chapter 42 - Silly Singh Oberoi

Annika was in her room, packing a bag for a small trip to Lonavala with Shivaay and Khanna.

Annika had avoided Shivaay since last afternoon after that incident. Not cause she hated Shivaay or regretted what had happened but cause she felt too shy to face Shivaay.

Even the mere sound of his name made her blush a deep shade of red.

Being in close proximity of Shivaay had certainly affected her, even though her brain refused to accept it, her heart screamed the truth.

Annika tossed her clothes in the duffle bag and turned towards the bedside table to collect the first aid kit and necessary meds when her eyes landed on the folded paper held down by the glass of water under which it was tucked.

A small smile appeared on Annika's lips as she brushed her fingers over the paper.

It was a letter from Shivaay. He had sent it with Khanna.

'Annika, I'm sorry...' Annika recalled what she had read from the letter earlier. '...Khanna has found that man's whereabouts, the same man who was in the picture. And I and Khanna are going to Lonavala to catch him and as you're equally involved in the mission, I think you should come along. I completely understand if you don't want to come..after whatever happened.'

"Silly Singh Oberoi." Annika exhaled a smile.

Shivaay thought Annika had started hating him, how cute of him !

Annika had infact started feeling special and had fell for him even more.

She had enjoyed the moment and wasn't regretting it a bit.

♠

"Nahi, Rudy, chal wapas chalte hai." ("No, Rudy, let's retreat.") Om said as he dragged Rudy back.

Rudy frowned with an eye roll.

OmRu were in the corridor which led to Shivaay's bedroom, right now. Ru had planned everything for Rikara's date and the only task which was yet to be complete was seeking Shivaay's permission.

So Ru had decided to do it right away and had dragged Om with him to go and talk to Shivaay.

"Yeh galat hai, jhoot nahi bolunga mein bhai se." ("This is wrong, I can't lie to our brother.") Om protested. "Tu jaanta hai na ki mein kabhi jhoot nahi bolta." ("You know that I hate to lie.")

"Toh meine kab kaha ki aap apne vasool todo ?" ("When did I ask you to abandon your statics ?") Rudy asked.

Om face-palmed. "Usool hota hai woh vasool nahi." ("It's ethics not statics.") He hissed.

"Haan wahi." ("Same thing.") Rudy rolled his eyes. "Baat mein karunga aap bas sar hilana." ("I'll do the talking, you just nod your head.")

"But-" Om was about to say something when Rudy cut him off.

"-chup ! Aur chalo mere sath bina kuch kahe." ("-shush ! Come with me without another word.") Rudy said and started dragging Om towards Shivaay's room.

Om tried his best to plant his feet into the carpeted floor of the corridor and even tried stopping Rudy but it was useless, Rudy was physically stronger than him.

Om frowned and made a mental note to exercise regularly and build some physical strength.

"Come in."

Shivaay's voice pulled Om out of his thoughts.

When did they reach Shivaay's bedroom ?!

Ru grinned and pulled Om inside Shivaay's bedroom with him.

"Bhaiya !" Rudy left Om's hand to hug Shivaay. "Mere pyaare bhaiya, mere sweet se bhaiya." ("My lovely bhaiya, my sweet bhaiya.")

Shivaay smiled and hugged Rudy back before pulling apart.

"Kya chahiye tujhe ?" ("What do you want ?") Shivaay raised an eyebrow as he caught up with Rudy's sugar coating method.

"Apko kaise pata chala ?" ("How do you know I want something ?") Rudy mused.

"Beta bhai hu tera, bachpan se jaanta hu tujhe." ("Dear I'm your brother, I know you since you were a baby.") Shivaay replied. "Ab bol kya chahiye." ("Now tell me what you want.")

"Bhaiya, kal se exams start ho rahe hai." ("Bhaiya, our exams start tomorrow.") Rudy started. "Toh humne plan kiya hai ki hum sath mein group study karenge." ("So we've planned group study.")

"Waah, good." ("Wow, good.") Shivaay replied. "Lekin group mein study nahi hoti." ("But group study is a myth.") He deadpanned.

"Please bhaiya, please !" Rudy pouted. "O aur unke friends bhi aane wale hai group study karne...Mein, Prince, Chubby, O, Krish, Shashi bhai aur Gauri di bhi aanewali hai. Please bhaiya, jaane do na." ("O and his friends are going to come there too...I, Prince, Chubby, O, Krish, Shashi and even Gauri di is also going to be there. Please bhaiya, let us go.")

Shivaay sighed. "Kitni der tak karne wale ho group study ?" ("How long do you plan to study in group ?")

"Puri raat." ("Entire night.") Rudy smiled.

"Puri raat ?!" ("Whole night ?") Shivaay amused.

Rudy gave Shivaay a puppy dog face with a pout. "Jaane do na please bhaiya. Mere acche bhaiya please." ("Please let us go bhaiya. My cute brother please.")

Shivaay sighed knowing all too well that Rudy wasn't going to back down.

"Thik hai." ("Fine.") Shivaay muttered. "Lekin puri raat nahi, raat 2 baje se pehle wapas aa jana." ("But not for entire night, come back home before 2 am.")

Rudy grinned and cheered.

"Thank you, bhaiya !" Rudy hugged Shivaay.

Om, on the other hand, looked at Rudy with surprise.

Was Rudy always this good of a liar ?

"Om..." Shivaay said making Om alert. "...dhyan rakhna ki yeh waha padhai hi kare masti nahi." ("...make sure he studies there and doesn't fool around.")

Om nodded with a nervous smile.

"Waise kaha padhne wale ho ?" ("Where are you all planning to study ?") Shivaay asked Om.

"Chubby ke ghar pe." ("At Chubby's home.") Rudy answered before Om could even open his mouth.

"Ok." Shivaay nodded.

Rudy winked at Om with a grin.

"Mein aj Lonavala jaa rha hu kuch kaam se." ("I'm going to Lonavala today for some work.") Shivaay informed. "Annika aur Khanna bhi mere sath jaa rahe hai toh please ghar ka, apna aur gharwalo ka dhyan rakhna." ("Annika and Khanna are accompanying me so please take care of our home, yourselves and our family.")

OmRu nodded.

"Aur koi shaitani nahi." ("And no fooling around and inviting troubles.") Shivaay warned playfully as he ruffled Rudy's hair.

Rudy gave a smirk. "No promises."

"Is it ?" Shivaay raised an eyebrow before tickling Rudy.

ShivRu laughed while Om just watched them with a smile from a feet away.

After a minute, Shivaay hugged Ru and pulled Om in too as they shared a hug.

♦

"Kya hua jeth ji ? Aaya tha kya unka calls ?" ("What happened brother-in-law ? Did you receive the call yet ?") Pinky asked as she barged into Janvi and Tej's bedroom with Shakti.

"Nahi, abhi tak nahi aaya call." ("No. They haven't called yet.") Tej replied.

Pinky and Shakti nodded and sat down on the couches.

Just then the telephone rung.

Tej, Janvi, Pinky and Shakti shared a look. Their eyes flashing nervousness and slight uncertainty about their next move.

Tej stood up and received the call.

"Hello ?" Tej spoke, his voice gruff and devoid of any emotion.

"Kaam hua ?" ("Are you done with the work ?") Another scruffy male voice came through the receiver from the other side.

"Hum tumhara kaam nahi karenge." ("We won't do any of your work.") Tej replied straight forwardly.

"Kya ?" ("What ?") The man growled. "Jaante ho na ki iska anjaam kya hoga ?" ("Don't you know the consequences of disobeying us ?")

"Tum humara kuch nahi bigad sakte." ("You cannot do anything to us.") Tej hissed. "Aur aainda se mujhe call mat karna." ("And do not dare call me again after this.")

Tej dropped the receiver back on the phone in anger and turned to the smiling faces of his family members.

"Ab hume kisi ka galat kaam karne ki koi jarurat nahi hai." ("Now we don't need to do someone's dirty work for them.")

♠

Shivaay watched Khanna take away his bags as he anxiously waited for Annika to show up.

He was standing in the living room since past 15 minutes waiting for Annika. She had sent her bags and had informed Khanna that she would come down in 5 minutes but she was late.

"Saare bags gaadi mein rakh diye hai, sir." ("I've loaded all the bags in the car, sir.") Khanna told Shivaay. "Mein aapka gadi mein intezar karta hu." ("I'll be waiting for you in the car.")

Shivaay gave a nod to Khanna before burying his head in his phone screen.

"Chale ?" ("Shall we go ?")

Shivaay's head snapped up at the source of the voice.

"Annika." He muttered softly as he took in her figure.

She looked breathtaking.

Wait ?

What ?

No, scratch that ! He just didn't say/thought that.

Sure Annika was beautiful and good-looking but Shivaay didn't have to admit that, that too in his mind.

"Hello ?" Annika waved her hand before Shivaay's eyes and brought him back to reality.

"Huh ?" Shivaay spluttered. "I...I'm sorry...Annika. Kal jo kuch bhi hua woh...heat of the moment mein hua." ("I...I'm sorry...Annika. Whatever that happened yesterday was just a reckless step taken in the heat of the moment.")

Annika looked away, blushing hard as ever at the mention of that incident.

However, Shivaay didn't notice Annika's blush pink cheeks and rambled on.

"Mein samjhta hu ki aisa nahi karna chahiye tha mujhe...and I'll make sure ki aisa aage se kabhi na ho, I'm really very sorry." ("I understand that I shouldn't have done such a thing...and I'll make sure nothing such thing happens again, I'm really very sorry.") Shivaay ranted. "You are safe with me. I promise. If you want, I'm ready to repent for my mistake and am ready to accept any punishment you choose for me."

Annika mentally smiled.

Silly Singh Oberoi, how much more cute can he be ?

Annika maintained a straight face and gave Shivaay a stiff nod.

"Aap meri kahi koi bhi saza accept karoge ?" ("You'll accept any punishment that I choose for you ?") Annika asked with same straight face.

Shivaay nodded.

"Koi bhi ?" ("Any punishment ?") Annika confirmed.

"Haan, koi bhi." ("Yes, anything.") Shivaay replied.

"Thik hai toh fir yahi rukna." ("Ok. Wait here.") Annika chirped, a mischievous glint entering her stern eyes.

Annika stormed off to God knows where leaving Shivaay staring at the direction in which she had gone.

"Ab yeh kya karwayegi mujhse ?" ("What will she make me do now ?") Shivaay gulped. "Shivaay Singh Oberoi, kaha phas gaye aap !" ("Shivaay Singh Oberoi what have you gotten yourself into.")

Shivaay turned his back in the direction in which Annika had went and started doing something on his phone.

Just then Khanna entered the living room and stood in the corner waiting for his boss and Annika ma'am cause he was fed up by staying in the car.. but Shivaay didn't notice him.

A moment later, Annika appeared behind Shivaay.

"Shivaay !" Annika called and as soon as Shivaay turned to her, she threw a jar full of water on Shivaay's face.

Shivaay gasped and a slight shiver ran down his spine when the cold water soaked into his warm clothes.

Annika cracked into laughter slowly as she watched Shivaay's tightly shut eyes paired with a pouty, grumpy face.

Khanna too giggled quietly as he tried to hold his phone still, getting everything recorded on his phone.

"Annika !" Shivaay gasped before opening his eyes ever so slowly. "Kyu ?!" ("Why ?!")

"Yeh thi apki saza." ("That was your punishment.") Annika grinned in between chuckles.

Shivaay rolled his eyes and huffed.

"Mein change karke aata hu." ("I'll go change.") Shivaay grimaced as he pinched his soaked shirt and pulled it away from his chest.

"Ok." Annika giggled.

Shivaay was just walking past Annika towards his room when he slipped off the wet floor and as a reflex held Annika's hand making her fall with him too.

Shivaay fell on his back on the floor while Annika landed on his chest a moment later.

Shivaay's eyes bored into Annika's as soon as she opened her eyes.

They shared an eyelock for what felt like a lifetime to Shivika.

"Sir ! Ma'am ! Aap thik toh hai ?" ("Sir ! Mam ! Are you both alright ?") Khanna rushed towards them both and ruined their moment.

Annika blushed a deep shade of red before quickly getting on her feet.

Shivaay's eyes widened.

What the hell was wrong with him !

First he cornered Annika and now pulled her in his chest ?!

How cliché and stupid !

"I'm sorry !" Shivaay said quickly and got on his feet with the help of Khanna, before practically running towards his room and away from Annika.

"Mein...mein bhi change karke aati hu." ("I... I'll go and change too.") Annika excused with a blush as she glanced at her clothes which were now soaked too. Thanks to Shivaay.

Khanna nodded and waited till Shivika were gone to exhale his smirk.

"Shivaay sir aur Annika Ma'am." Khanna giggled. "Cute couple."

"Kya hua Khanna ji ? Akele akele kya bad bada rahe ho ?" ("What's up Khanna ? What are you muttering to yourself ?")

Khanna's eyes widened at the sudden commotion. He turned around abruptly but relaxed as soon as he realised it was just OmRu and RiVya.

"Sir, mere pass ek jabardast video hai." ("Sir, I've a superb video.") Khanna grinned.

"Kaisa video ?" ("What video ?") Rudy asked and rushed by Khanna's side.

Khanna waited until everyone came towards him and then played the video which showed Shivaay getting a jar of water thrown at himself by Annika and then Shivaay falling down with Annika on his chest.

OmRuRiVya's eyes widened with surprise.

"Oh..."

"My..."

"God..."

"...Bhai aur Annika di ?"

"I ship Shivika !" Khanna squealed.

OmRuRiVya gave Khanna a confused look.

"Shivaay sir aur Annika mam, Shivika." Khanna explained.

"Oh." OmRuRiVya replied.

"We ship them too." Rudy confessed.

"Khanna bhaiya, hum sabko yeh video send kardo." ("Khanna bhaiya, send us this video too.") Gauri grinned.

"Abhi karta hu." ("I'll send it right away.") Khanna replied and sent it to them all.

"Bhaiya, aap Bhai aur di ke sath Lonavala jaa rahe ho na ? Toh hume waha se aise hi videos send karna." ("Bhaiya, you are accompanying Shivaay bhai and di right ? Make sure you send us more such videos from the trip.") Bhavya requested.

"Ok." Khanna replied.

"Kya chal raha hai ?" ("What's up ?")

Everyone froze on their spots as they heard Shivaay's voice.

"Ku..ku..kuch nahi." ("N..no... nothing.") Gauri broke the ice with an unconvincing lie.

Shivaay raised an eyebrow. "Kya kar rahe ho tum sab yaha ?" ("What are you all doing here ?")

"Kuch nahi bhaiya." ("Nothing bhaiya.") Bhavya smiled nervously. "Hum bas apko aur Annika di ko bye bolne aaye the." ("We had just came to bid bye to you and di.")

"Haan !" ("Right !") Rudy and Gauri nodded.

Shivaay nodded, he was a bit unconvinced but he let it go this time.

"Chale ?" ("Let's go ?") Annika appeared beside Shivaay.

She looked calm and composed unlike a blushing mess she was earlier.

Shivaay nodded but avoided any eye contact.

"Aww." OmRuRiVya and Khanna cooed at Shivika.

"Kya hua ?" ("What happened ?") Annika shot them all a confused look.

"Apne matching kadpe pehne hai." ("You're wearing matching clothes.") Om replied with a teasing look.

Shivaay and Annika turned towards each other and their eyebrows shot up in surprise.

Shivaay was wearing a floral pattern blue button down shirt, paired with navy blue office pants and a navy blue blazer while Annika was wearing a full length blue floral pattern kurta and navy blue leggings which miraculously matched with Shivaay's clothes.

"Aap bilkul couple lag rahe hai." ("You look like a couple.") Khanna couldn't help but state his thoughts.

Shivika blushed.

"Ho gaya ?" ("Is it ?") Shivaay growled at Khanna with a glare. "Bakwas band karo aur chalo hume late ho raha hai." ("Shut up and let's go, we're getting late.")

Khanna shut up his mouth and hung his head down.

Shivaay then turned to OmRuRiVya who were trying their best to hide their laughs and giggles.

"Bye. Apna khayal rakhna." ("Bye. Take care of yourselves.") Shivaay said to them ignoring their teasing look.

"You too, bhai, di." OmRuRiVya smiled and hugged Shivika.

--------------------------

Hey bubblies !

Don't I write very cliché romantic moments ? I suck a big time in lovey-dovey stuff. I know.

Anyways...Rikara fans ! Get ready for some Rikara moments in the next chapter.

Next chapter may be small cause I'm not sure how much time I'll get to write it.️

Until the next update
Have a safe and great life 😇