[Annika - A, Shivaay - S]
A: Shivaay, did I offend you somehow?
S: I'm busy Annika and we weren't supposed to meet today
A: Two minutes, can you spare two minutes? Just tell me what mistake I made. You canceled meetings, I get that, you're a busy man. But you refused to meet me when I came to invite you, I saw you with Rudra, you weren't busy. You didn't reply to my texts either
S: Are you my girlfriend?
A: What?
S: Are you my girlfriend or my wife? Why are you expecting me to reply to every text?
A: You didn't come for the launch, that was a professional invitation
S: And do you know how many invitations I get from all the people I deal with? Do you think I attend all of them?
Annika felt her heart crush but she controlled her emotions and just nodded.
A: You're right. I shouldn't have assumed.
Shivaay could see she was hurt but so was he.
S: When were you planning to tell me about daadu? We had been meeting week after week and you never mentioned any of it. You made me feel like a fool. I had no clue that the person I have been working with was somehow connected to my family. I thought we were on good terms.
A: Shivaay, I'm sorry for not telling you about your grandfather. I should have told you myself. I tried when you had come over, but you had to leave so we never got to finish that conversation. I never meant to hide anything from you or hurt you. I'm really sorry you felt like that.
Shivaay did not respond, he stood by the glass wall and looked outside. He didn't want to scream at her or say something he would regret later so he chose to stay silent. She moved towards the door since he didn't look interested in talking to her. Before leaving, she turned around and gave him the box
A: I got this for you, it's prasad from the pooja.
He stared at the box after she left for quite some time. He could see the honesty in her eyes, she truly didn't mean to hurt him. What bothered him more was how easily all his anger had vanished. She apologized and his heart forgave her right away. His heart and brain were at odds.
S(in his mind): Why does her absence bother me so much? Why do I like talking to her, even if it's just about work? She lied to me and still I couldn't stay mad at her. How can she hold so much power over me?
A couple of days later, shivaay stopped by the store. It was closing time and she was doing inventory with one of the sales associates
S: The store looks nice, quite a collection
A: Shivaay! Thanks.
S: Why do you look so surprised?
A: I.. I just didn't expect to see you here
S: Do you stay here all day?
A: No, I.. I stay at the office. You haven't seen the office right? Give me a moment.
She sorted the inventory with her employees and asked them to lock up.
She followed him to his car. She was about to open the backside door but he held her hand.
S: I'm not here with the driver today
He opened the passenger door for her and went around to get in.
She gave him the directions and within 10 minutes they reached an industrial hub. There were lots of tall buildings there, offices of various companies. Shivaay followed her quietly as they entered one of the buildings. Her office was on the 5th floor.
A: We've rented a small office for now. We'll expand as needed.
The guard greeted her and opened the door for her. Since her employees had already left for the day, only a few lights were on. She turned them on as she showed him each room.
A: This is where the marketing team sits, and this is where Neil's tech team sits
S: Is Neil joining you full-time?
A: Yes, getting him was quite expensive, he had a nice job before this, but he understands my vision and he's reliable. I can trust him blindly, so he's worth every penny.
She showed him all the rooms but his attention was more on how she spoke, so animated, using her hands, her hair bouncing
A: And this is my office.
S: Annika, I.. I shouldn't have behaved like that
A: No Shivaay, you had every right to be mad at me. It's fine, you don't need to apologize, I would have been hurt too if I were in your place.
Relief washed over him. He couldn't understand why, but he wanted to make things right between them.
S(in his mind): I haven't even apologized yet. How could you forgive my behavior just like that? Why do you affect me like this? How are you doing this?
A: You want to see something cool?
S: Sure
A: come on in
They entered her cabin and she turned her laptop on.
A: Look at these figures, the app already has 1 million downloads and we're getting so many orders.
She kept going on and on about the sales from the app and the store while he just kept looking at her. She was so happy.
S: This calls for a celebration
A: Oh we had a cake when we hit 1 million.
S: That was for your team. Do you want to go out for dinner?
Annika had not seen this coming. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights
S(in his mind): Shit. Why did you frame it like that Shivaay? She thinks you're asking her out
S: To celebrate I mean, as business partners
A: Uhh.. Okay, sure
She turned all the lights off and asked the guard to lock up. They reached the parking lot. Shivaay looked around but didn't see anything
S: where's your scooty today?
A: champa ran out of petrol, she's at home
S: What? champa?
A: Yes, my scooty champa
S: you've named your scooty, you're so crazy
A: The word you were supposed to use is "creative"
S: No, i think crazy is better
He couldn't help but chuckle at her antics. He started driving
A: Where are we going?
S: Is there someplace, in particular, you'd like to go?
A: No nothing like that. Acha, which cuisine do you like?
S: Italian, why do you ask?
A: just making conversation
S: You said you trust Neil blindly, why so?
A: He would never betray me and if he ever did, it would literally break my heart. We met in college and became really good friends. He has always had my back, through thick and thin. He even took a job in Mumbai instead of Bangalore because of me. And thanks to that he met his girlfriend. Neil and chanda are my best friends
S: Chanda is your flatmate?
A: Yup, she used to be my roommate at the orphanage also. We're inseparable. But that's coming to an end soon
S: Why?
A: She'll get married sometime this year. Don't tell her okay, Rohit hasn't proposed yet. He asked for my blessing a few days ago.
S: Don't worry, I won't tell her (he smiled at her). Which cuisine do you like?
A: Oh I'll eat anything. Except for walnuts, I'm severely allergic, I'll die. I took one bite years ago and they had to hospitalize me immediately. Anyway, now you know how you can kill me
She turned to see his reaction and it was better than she expected. He was smiling goofily shaking his head
S: Thank you for that critical piece of information. I'll plan your murder properly now
A: We'll see who survives.
They reached a famous restaurant and took a seat. Shivaay ordered for both of them.
S:(to the waiter) We'll also take champagne
A: Shivaay, wait. I don't drink
S: (to the waiter) Okay, cancel the champagne, get us two mocktails.
A: Thanks
The server got their drinks, Shivaay raised a toast
S: To your hard work and success
A: To Handmade Happiness
Annika dived in as soon as their food was served.
A: Ohhhh, this is so delicious. Shivaay try mine
She took a spoonful of her food and offered it to him. It was the same spoon she was eating from. Shivaay is usually very particular about hygiene, he has only ever shared cutlery or food with his brothers. But he didn't think for a moment before eating today.
S: Yes, this is good
A: Okay, I get it you are an excellent chef but come on, just good! Kabhi to khulkar complement karo. Who taught you how to cook?
S: No one taught me exactly. I observed daadi and mom and started experimenting.
A: And just like that you made that awesome halwa? Here I took cooking classes and you said my food was just 'decent'
S: What can I say I'm gifted! (he shrugged)
A: Show off!
S: I don't cook because I need to, I like it. And it gives my brothers and me time to talk and have fun
A: That sounds sweet but hard to believe. SSO and fun don't really rhyme
S: I can be fun okay
They talked about food throughout their dinner and they could have talked for hours if it wasn't time to go. The waiter brought their bill, Annika quickly snatched it and kept her credit card inside
S: What are you doing?
A: Shivaay, this celebration was for me right? Then let me pay
S: I can't let you do that Annika, take your card back
A: Shivaay, I won't leave until I pay
S: Why are you acting like a child? This was my treat, let me pay
A: Shivaay!
S: Annika!
A: I'll start screaming, I'll create a scene here. Don't underestimate me
S: No you won't
She picked up the glass of water. Danger alarm started ringing in Shivaay's head.
S: Okay stop, just sit okay. You can pay.
She beamed at him and paid the bill. They walked back to his car
S: You are
A: Awesome
S: Mad! I'm never taking you out again
A: Okay, then I will take you out
Shivaay felt butterflies for the first time in his life. He kept stealing glances as he drove her home.
Hey guys I hope you like this chapter
I hope I was able to justify Shivaay's aloofness, he was genuinely hurt. What do you think about this dinner date?
Annika will soon find herself in a difficult situation.
Please vote and share your views in the comments