Broken Hearts and Strange Girls || Shivika AU FF

𝐕𝐈

"So, Adi, I thought that your Bade Papa was quite interesting from the stories I got to hear about him, but he seems to be quite the opposite, actually," Annika said loudly. Shivaay rolled his eyes as he continued scrolling through his Instagram.

Adi looked up from his tablet at Shivaay and frowned. "Bale Papa used to be happy-happy and he would always pway with Adi baby, but now," Adi looked back at Annika with a smile. "Now Adi baby has Annika. Adi baby is happy-happy-happy!" Annika smiled at the young toddler, sparing a glance at Shivaay. He seemed so... indifferent, unbothered, and... empty.

An idea struck her mind. She pried apart the tablet from her nephew with little effort, causing all his attention to be on her. She whispered something in Adi's ear and beamed when he widened his eyes.

Moving quickly, he waddled his way to Shivaay, who finally tore his gaze apart from his phone.

"Yes, Aditya?" he asked, feeling slightly grumbly at his only nephew. "Adi wants ice cream. Butterscotch flavor, " Adi demanded cutely. Shivaay looked appalled for a brief second. "Butterscotch? But you hate butterscotch—" 

"So? Taste. Changes," Adi stated defiantly. At that moment, Annika appeared. "Come on, Adi's Bade Papa! Please come with us to get some ice cream! Your mood will become—" 

"Happy-happy!" Adi exclaimed, pointing to his dimples. 

Annika smiled, gesturing to Shivaay to learn something from the boy. Shivaay rolled his eyes and flicked off the phone, placing it in his pocket. "YAY!" Adi and Annika shouted victoriously, sharing a high-five before Annika's peripheral vision caught Shivaay's glare. She cleared her throat and picked Adi up, rambling about her favorite ice cream flavors. Shivaay left to move, but he was blocked by Annika. Without even looking up at him, Annika moved aside with Adi still in her arms. 

"God, it's so crowded here. Adi, we could go to a parlor or some seven-star restaurant, but you wanted to come here? Why, here of all places?" Shivaay whined as he stood in front of the ice cream stall at Juhu Beach. 

"I just can't seem to understand who's the child here, Adi? Is it you, or your Bade Papa?" Annika asked at the little boy, who grinned. "Adi baby is Big Boy and Bale Papa is clybaby!" he shouted gleefully. "Hey, I am not a cly—crybaby, okay?" Shivaay said, pointing his finger at Adi, who stuck out his tongue. 

"Says the 25-year-old man adamantly while arguing with the four-year-old toddler," Annika muttered, disguising her words with (very) fake coughs. 

Shivaay looked at her hiding her smile behind her fist, and his finger slowly came down. He looked to the side, embarrassed. 

"Aap ko kya, bhaisahab?" the vendor asked. "Uh, one butterscotch ice cream and," he looked to Annika, who grinned. "One cookie dough for me, good sir!" Shivaay frowned. "Cookie dough? What are you, seven?" he mocked. Annika shot him a confused look. "What? A 23-year-old woman can't indulge in cookie dough ice cream?" she asked. 

"Don't you know that cookie dough is unhealthy?" 

"Oh, Mr. Health-Freak, you don't have to worry about my health. I'm Annika Keerthi Bhattacharya! Bimaaris think ten times before coming to me!" she boasted. Shivaay scoffed. "Yeah, because your immune system has a large billboard, right? Where it's written in bold red letters that no bacteria can enter?" he asked sardonically. "Of course! Upon seeing it, all sickness makes a U-turn to go 'bimaarify' someone else!" she gave back. 

"For your kind information, Miss, bacteria can't read!" 

"Wh—" 

"Sahabji, behenji, order deejiye, phir jhagda continue kariye?" The vendor smiled. Annika and Shivaay simply huffed and looked away, while little Adi smiled. He had an inkling that there was something special in his Annika, because his Bade Papa had never argued with someone over their health before, had he? 

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Oye-hoye, Adi bete, tum toh kaafi smart nikle? Anyway, hello! I know it's been literally three days since my last update, and for those of you who read my profile convos, you know that I was on a bit of a trekking adventure and then I got sick while dancing in the snow without a jacket 😂

Thank God that I did get free from my family's constant "Beta kuch khaalo" rant. I love them all sooo much, but I probably gained back the five pounds I trekked off. To the mountaintops, again, I guess lol. 

Enough about me! How was the chapter?! I know I definitely liked Annika's bold statement. Do you think Shivaay is a lil "bacha" when it comes to hygiene? 

Also, I can totally relate with Annika. Cookie dough is my favorite flavor, too. Now, I gotta sleep before my roomie catches me awake and lectures me on "not taking rest and falling sick again." 

Signing off, 
Kismat