"So, how do you know Naina?" Annika asked as they got in the car.
"Uh, we were in college toget...in the same class. She told you, na?" Shivaay said as he put on the seatbelt.
"Yes but...I mean, how well did you know each other? Like, were you good friends or best friends or...something else?" She asked, mumbling the last two words to herself, her head itching with the thought of possibly meeting Shivaay's ex.
The way they had hugged, it was...the proximity...the vibe was not hi old friend, good to see you again but more hi beautiful person, let me keep touching you until we talk for the next six minutes!
"Yeah...we were good friends." He said and smiled. "Isn't the world so small, your client's girlfriend turned out be my friend!"
"Yes, very small world indeed." Annika sighed and started the car.
---
"This looks pretty good!" Soumya grinned as they walked inside the old building.
"Definitely needs some major retouching." Rudra said as he picked up a broken piece of glass and put it aside. "But it's very spacious, good natural lighting, good spot in the city."
"And in our budget." Annika smiled, looking at the papers. "Do you think we should lock it?"
"I think you should. It's looks perfect, like you always describe it." Vikram smiled. "Right Sona?"
"Kids, don't run here or I'll make you run in the backyard twenty times once we are back home!" Sonakshi screamed at the top of her voice as she saw Aryan and Shivi running around in the half-broken room, where pieces of glass and wood lay around before looking back at her husband. "Yes darling, this looks great! Amazing!"
"Thanks." Annika said and pursed her lips to stop from laughing. "Are you sure you are not pregnant again by the way?"
"Huh?" Sonakshi frowned and Annika chuckled.
"Nothing." She said and Shivaay looked at her.
"Annika, don't you think we should look at the other places too, maybe something better-
"I don't want to get confused Shivaay." Annika sighed and leaned on the wall. "I like this one, it's in our budget; if I put the offer now, we can rent it in just a few weeks. We also have to get the interiors done, that will all take at least six months before we even start the service. I don't want to wait anymore."
"Okay. Whatever you want. It's your decision after all." He smiled and Rudra looked at Soumya, who looked back at him with a grin.
"I'll call the agent now!" She said excitedly and took out her phone as the others looked around some more.
Ten minutes later, the offer was made and she was officially on the list. The agent had told her she would get an answer in two days and she could not hold her excitement.
"Let's party!" She said as she came back after finishing the call.
"Anni-
"Sona, we'll get the kids a babysitter. Please! I really want to drink." She said and Sonakshi looked at her husband, who shrugged.
"I'll see if our babysitter is available." Vikram said and Annika grinned as Shivaay frowned.
"You want to drink?" He asked and Rudra nodded while looking at Soumya.
"Yes, let's!" He said and his wife sighed with a chuckle.
"Fine, go." She said and he frowned.
"What do you mean go? You'll also come!" He said and she shook her head.
"Who'll look after Rumya then?" She asked and Rudra sighed.
"Why is Kaki Maa here then?And Vikram's babysitter will be there too!" He said. "Please Sumo, you know I won't go anywhere without you, it's absolutely no fun at all!"
"But-
"We'll come back early." Annika smiled and assured her. "Promise."
"I'll stay with the kids." Shivaay said and nodded. "Anyways, I don't want to drink."
As everyone looked at each other, Shivaay sighed. What he really didn't want was to watch Annika get drunk, voluntarily. He didn't want to stop her, she looked fairly excited to celebrate but moments like these made him feel how the times had changed. He cleared his throat and smiled before she could start arguing and God knows Shivaay would lose.
"I also want to spend some time with Shivi." He said truthfully and saw Annika understand. She nodded and shrugged as he smiled, feeling joyous at the thought of spending some time with his daughter.
His daughter.
His heart warmed weirdly at the thought and he looked at her, she was playing with Aryan. Her blue eyes shone with happiness, her little face pink with all the running and he couldn't help but smile at the two kids lost in their world.
"The babysitter is available." Vikram informed as he walked inside after the call. "She can come by in two hours."
"Great." Annika said and smiled. "Let's go and get ready. We'll drop the kids at yours in two hours, ya?" She asked Sonakshi while looking at Soumya, who nodded.
--
"Okay kids, don't be naughty." Siddharth said as Aryan and Shivi nodded. "Do whatever the babysitter, Kaki Maa and Shivaay say, okay?"
"Okay!!" They screamed and Siddharth nodded with a grin.
"So, Aashima is fed-
"And so is Rumya." Soumya said and Sonakshi nodded while looking at the babysitter.
"Kaki Maa will be there to look after the toddlers, you just look after Shivi and Aryan, okay?" Sonakshi said with a smile as the teenage babysitter nodded. "You know their routine, dinner is ready in the kitchen, please help yourself as well. Okay honey?"
"Yes Mrs Jaisingh, thank you!" The young girl said with a smile and Annika came in the hall, dressed in a dark maroon dress, hair open and four inch heels.
"Bhaiya, do you want to change your mind?" Rudra asked his brother, who was gaping at his girlfriend.
"Huh?" Shivaay mumbled as he looked at Annika, who was busy in applying some maroon lipstick.
"Well, I'm glad I am going." Rudra said as he dreamily stared at Soumya, who was dressed in a fitting white dress, looking like an angel with her slightly curled hair and red lips.
"Shivaay, are you sure you don't want to come?" Vikram asked as he saw him staring at Annika.
"Uh...yeah." Shivaay blinked and nodded. "You guys go, I'll stay here."
As they all left, Shivaay couldn't help but curse himself.