Anika noticed his bleeding lip edge and also the wound on his hand.

Anika-"Ek min.." she opened the drawer of the desk and brings out a firstt aid box."

She made him sit.

Shivaay-"Its fine.."

Anika paying no heed to his words,took his hand and cleaned his wound and bandaged it quickly. Shivaay just looks at her. She cared for him after all that had happened with her.

She then looked at his face and brought the cotton closer to clean the blood at his lips edge.

Shivaay-"Ouch..."

Anika-"Sorry", she blew carefully over his blemish.

Shivaay-"its ok.." he said trying to ignore the proximity. She was too close, he just couldn't think clearly. Her scent was hitting his nostrils. He tried to maintain his breathing to the normal pace. While Anika's face only reflected her concern for him.

She moved a little away after blowing.

Shivaay got up cursing himself for his straying thoughts. "Tum yahan betho maine sab ko jaane ke liye kehta hoon."

Anika looked at an unconscious Rohan and gulped. Shivaay understood and took her along. He asked her to stand in the corridor and went to dismiss the party.

Everyone left.

They both went back up and Shivaay called the police.

As they stood there waiting for the inspector to arrive, Shivaay saw Anika rubbing her bare arms. He takes his blazer which he had placed on the chair prior to the fight and extended it towards her."Yeh pehenlo...!!"

Anika looked at him reluctantly-"its fine maine theek hoon."

"Pehenlo." He said in a warm manner.

She obeyed, as she was wearing it she was unable to put her arm in the sleeve, he moved closer and helped her. She looked at him gratefully.

After a few minutes the police inspector arrived .He knew Shivaay. The inspector had been in good terms with the Oberoi and regretted what happened to the family.

Shivaay narrated everything that happened and how Rohan fell unconscious.

Police-"Yeh waise hain kaun..?" looking at Anika who continued to look at he floor.

Shivaay-"Woh...she is my WIFE..!"

Anika looked up and saw him, then shifted her gaze back to the floor.

Inspector took statements from Shivaay and turned to Anika who looked little nervously at Shivaay .Shivaay gently nodded assuring her.

The inspector took Rohan into custody and left.

They also silently left for home soon after.

Shivaay-"You change main kuch khaane ke liye lee aata hoon.."

Anika-"Nahi mujhe bhook nahi hain...thank you..", saying that she walked over to her room.

After sometime, Shivaay knocked at her room's door to find it open. He walked in to see Anika standing near the window in the dimly lit room. She had changed into her Patiala-kurta, and wore a shrug over her sleeveless kurta.

Shivaay switched on a lamp and walked up to her with the tray.

Anika came out of her thoughts and looked at him.

Shivaay-"Maine chocolate-cheese sandwich banaya hai.."

Anika-"Mujhe bhook nahi hain."

Shivaay looked at her and sighed "Okay toh main hi khaa leta hoon..mujhe toh bhook lagi hain.." He knew that she loved this when he had made it the other day for breakfast and would eventually eat it. Moreover chocolate would probably release some happy hormones in her system.

He sat on the broad window sill and kept the tray, and took a bite.

Shivaay-"Hmmm...this is one thing jo kabhi bhi khaao bahut yummy lagti hain..!HHHmmm" he went a little overboard to tempt her.

Now Anika who was hungry looked at him from the corner of her eyes. He tempted her even more.

Anika-"Ab aapne itni mehnat se itni raat ko banaya hain toh maine thoda toh khaa hii sakti hoon.."

Shivaay-"its ok main hoon naa...I will finish it."

Anika folded her hands and looked at him cross. He looked at her with a soft smile, and extends the tray towards her. She was cute.

She also sat on the window sill and both munch on the yummy sandwiches hungrily.

Shivaay-"good night apna khayal rakhnaa." he smiled and carried the tray walking out.

"Good night...aur Thank you...!" She said aloud making him turn.

Shivaay-"You don't have to say that...jo tumne mere liye kara hai usske saamne yeh kuch bhi nahi hain."

Passing her a smile he walled out of the room, leaving behind a pondering Anika.

Anika got on her bed,lying down she closed her eyes hoping she wouldn't see nightmares. Yes she did not. The first thing she saw was his smiling face. She smiled. "Waise woo smile karte samay acche aur cute lagte hain..!" She said to no one in particular.

She realised what she just said..."Lagta hain sona chaiye..dimaag ke network mein kuch lafda ho gaya hain..Haan yahi theek hoga..!"

Shivaay returned to his room and pondered over the day's happening. At the very first meeting he had seen Rohan stare wrongly at Anika if only he had warned her then, this situation would have been avoided. Poor Anika she had to go through all this. Tired he decided to sleep.

Next morning he woke up later than usual he decided to skip his jog and got ready quickly. He came out of his room and moved to the kitchen. The sight he saw amazed him this was least that he expected. There was the old cheerful Anika back she had headphones in her ears and was swaying to music, humming while cooking.

He smiled slightly this lady sure was different from the world! He went up to her,standing beside her he wished her softly."Good morning"

"Good morning" she wished with her usual cheerful smile.

"Maine paneer ke paratha banaye hain aap khaayenge kii main ...?"

Shivaay-"Hmmm...haan",he says pouring juice into his glass.

Anika smiled."Aap paratha khaaenge?"

Shivaay-"Toh...?"

"No.nothing. okay." She smiled broadly turning away.

Shivaay-"I think tumhe yahi suit karta hain...woh grumpy face mein naa tum thodi moti lagti hoo".

Anika turned towards him with a sarcastic smile." Mujhe kuch teda bole bina aapke din ki shuruaat hii nahi hoti naa?" He called her fat? Moti?

He shrugged and took a slip and moved out, leaving behind a glaring Anika. Unknown to him his face adorned a naughty smile.

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

It was late afternoon and they had already wrapped up for the day. So they left for home.During the drive Shivaay informed her that inspector had called him and told him that Rohan was a big time con-man there were already ten complaints against him.

As they enter the apartment's lift they were greeted by none other than Mrs.Bhalla.

As soon as Shivaay saw her,Shivaay mouthed a "oh no". and forced a formal smile on his face. To avoid conversation he buried his head into the phone while Anika greeted her.

Mrs.Bhalla-"o jii dehko sahi samay pe mile main..abhi tum dono ko yaad kar rahi thii...Jug jug jiyoo gee.."

Shivaay raised an eyerbrow looking at a message on his phone.

Anika smiled at Mrs.Bhalla.

Mrs.Bhalla-"Wo aaj raat apartment mein Dhandiya rakha hain..iss baar sirf tum nahi...tum dono aaoge naa?kyun puttar jii?" she said looking at Shivaay who was checking an important message. He hadn't properly heard what she was saying and just blindly nodded.."haann...Ofcourse"

Anika passed him a surprised look, she didn't expect him to say a yes.

Mrs.Bhalla's floor came and she left saying "toh aaj raat ko milte hain..bye.."

Anika-"Bbbyyyeee"

Shivaay-"Wait a min. aaj raat ko kya...?"

Anika-"Daandiya..!"

Shivaay-"What?"

"Abhi aapne hi toh haan bola unhe...haan ofcourse.."she imitated him.

Shivaay"oh nooo..maine toh suna bhi nahi...unne kya kaha..!"

"Galti aapki.." she said as they exit the lift."Don worry...bada mazzaa aayega...!"

Shivaay looks on-"No..!!"

Anika-"yes yes yes..!!" she said excitedly loving his frowning face.

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