Frenemy Companions

Chapter-18

He smiled at her bewildered expression. However he had slight idea that it could be related to Aditya. Not hard to guess , Aditya was Annika's weak point.

"Wondering how I can read you so well?" He asked

She didn't say anything so he took his cue to continue. "I have spent as much time with Adi as much as with Om and Rudra. He is a part of my life and you are his precious, little dumb sister so off course I know you well"

She rolled her eyes and walked ahead only to hear him. "Don't roll them back so much you won't find anything up there!"

***

"Mom! Mom! " Aditya called out in the living room when he entered the mansion.

"Adi,what happened?" Madhuri walked out from her room

"Mom, did you meet Anni?" He questioned.

Mrs singhal was firstly surprised at his tone, he was vexed! And secondly she met Annika in afternoon but after that she didn't had any idea about her.

"She was home in the afternoon, beta after that I haven't talked to her. What happened?" She smiled unsure of her response.

"Did you say anything to her? I mean was she upset or tensed!" He was hesitant to ask,or to put it in words.

"No! Nothing at all, she seemed fine. Will you tell me what happened? I am getting worried!" Worried she was but not for Annika but herself.

"Nothing, she just went to surajgarh without informing me! It never really happens. She looked stressed in office so I was worried!" Aditya was tired, of everything.

Madhuri took sign of relief but she looked at Aditya. "She's so irresponsible, Adi what do I do! " she said with very fake concern.

"Mom please don't worry yourself and" he couldn't complete as a call came up. He excused himself and left for his room.

Madhuri looked him as he climbed up the stairs and went to his room. She turned back to her room.

She closed the door and moved to her closet, taking out a single frame she caressed it as tears blinded her vision.

"She reminds me of you, and he of him." She whispered as she crumpled down on the floor with the frame in her hand. At this moment she wasn't the always gracefully dressed, elegant lady. Instead it was a women who was weak ,to accept her fate.

***

The slight cool wind brushed her face as she entered the extended balcony of the palace. She was heeding to the kitchen area to find something to eat when a guard informed her that Shivaay was expecting her here.

The table set up for two caught her attention. There was no decor but the lighting done for the wedding and nothing more.

She saw him shifting the plate and inch straighten the napkin, she shook her head at his OCD and moved to him.

He turned around and bumped into her. There was something different in his eyes,there were light, drunken, intoxicated.

"Dinner?" He ask taking a step to make a respectable distance. She nodded and took a step to the chair. He chivalrously pulled out the chair for and then himself sat in front of her.

They had dined together many times but this was weirdly giving her a date night feel.

'Date night! Yeah! In a plain top and white pants. Great!' Her inner self mocked.

"What's there to eat?" She checked the casserole present on the table to find noodles.

"Well this is what I could cook in twenty minutes !" He said then smile pressing his lips together.

"I don't mind noodles, you see I am quite used to them" she served herself and very cautiously served him too.

"Why didn't you had dinner?"she asked rolling her fork in the noodles.

"I didn't had the appetite plus I can't cook just for myself, it sucks!" He replied taking a bite.

She kept silent not having anything to reply. He too didn't say anything knowing there was something at the back if her mind.

Halfway through their plates Annika chuckled and he looked at her confused.

"Sorry but , isn't it looking like a date set up. You , me on a date struggling to converse and not argue" she asked smiling zealously.

Her smile was contagious as he was smiling too just by seeing her smile.
"Is that so? It must be!"

"But one thing is missing!"

"And what is that?" She asked

"Dance! There's no music and no dance" he answered.

"Hmm,but we can manage it. Okay wait!" She hurriedly took out her phone and played a song.

She extended her hand and gestured him to join her.

"May I have the honour to dance with my brother's best friend "

He took her hand and his other hand found its way to her waist.

They swayed gracefully, the slow ,soft melody soothed her heart and his soul. He turned her around and pulled her back,back hugging her. There cheeks brushed each other.

Annika, who was stressed out and worried sick from part two days found herself calming down. The moonlight, the music, their dance, and the environment was making her happy.

It was weird that how unconsciously she had started to get friendly and comfortable around him. She had unconsciously came to him when in any issue.

Was he the solution to her problems? Or was he her source of strength to face them?

She shook her head to clear her thoughts.

He brushed her hair aside and clasped their palms behind her back as their fronts collided. He wished the moment to stop. He wished that she always stayed in his arms like that. He wished it was something more than a dance to her.

The moment was bliss, it was perfect

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Updates in a day!

Enjoy!

Seher