Broken Hearts and Strange Girls || Shivika AU FF

𝐕𝐈𝐈

As she sat on the brick wall, the little boy in her lap, her ice cream melting down the cone, Shivaay observed her carefully. Small gusts of wind occasionally blew strands of her black hair into her eyes, some stayed caught in her lashes. She looked unbothered by them, for she was too busy speculating the happenings on the boardwalk. 

Occasionally, she checked on Adi, ensuring he was seated comfortably. She grinned when Adi's ice cream smeared on his lips. Finally brushing away some of her tresses, she searched for a napkin in her bag, but to no avail. Shivaay offered her his own handkerchief, to which she smiled and accepted. Shivaay watched as she gently caressed Adi's mouth with the fabric, wiping away the ice cream and teaching him how to properly hold the cone and eat, preventing it from dribbling down his chubby chin. 

"See, baby! It's so easy!" she encouraged him. Adi got busy in eating the ice cream again, and Shivaay and Annika settled into silence. Not awkward silence, but more comfortable. He continued to pore over her features as she ate. 

Feeling his gaze for the past ten minutes, she turned to him curiously. A startled Shivaay straightened himself, but didn't look away. His eyes were stuck on her ice cream, which was finally beginning to slide off the cone. 

She grinned, noticing his stare. "You know, you could get one for yourself. Adi and I won't judge you for eating cookie dough ice cream. Heck, I won't even call you a hypocr—" she stopped her sarcastic comment as his fingers traced over the skin between her thumb and index finger. He never broke attention from her hand. 

His touch was feather-like, causing Annika to move slightly due to the ticklish feel. Wrong move, she thought, as her movement snapped him back to reality and he pulled his hand back. "Ice cream," he mumbled, thoroughly embarrassed. Annika simply hummed. Of course. 

Dammit, Shivaay. You went and made it awkward, Shivaay reprimanded himself as he forced his gaze away from Annika. He felt her clear her throat. "So, Adi's Bade Papa, we haven't met." 

He shot her a confused look. "What? I'm serious," she stated, taking another bite of ice cream. "I don't even know your name. Unless you plan on making me address you as 'Adi's Bade Papa' all the time."

"Oh," he said monotonously. "Um, don't you know it already? Doesn't Aishwarya call me—" 

"You wish Aishu talked about you. So do I, actually. From the moment I got here, she's on my tail to call home, talk to Dadaji, Kaki, Ma, Dad. She rarely mentions any of you guys," Annika said, wiping Adi's mouth again. "I see. I'm Shivaay. Shivaay Singh Oberoi." 

"Hi! I'm Annika. Annika Keerthi Bhattacharya," she responded in the same tone, but a playful smile donned her lips. "AND I'M ADI SHINGH OBELOI!" Adi shouted. Annika and Shivaay looked at him. "Home," was all he commanded. Shivaay frowned. It was too early to go home. He wanted to stay awhile longer, maybe get to know Annika a little more. Wait, what? 

Shaking his head, he picked up his nephew and turned for the car. "Come, Adi and..." he looked back. "Annika."