Broken Hearts and Strange Girls || Shivika AU FF

𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈

It was interesting, how quickly Adi had grown attached to Annika. It often surprised her when she would wake up to find the little munchkin in her bedroom, eagerly waiting at the foot of her bed for her to wake up and play with him. 

For the young boy, Annika was his best friend, after his Bade Papa. But his Bade Papa seemed far too distant. Annika was more fun than Bade Papa, the child decided. 

One fine morning, Annika was barely conscious when she felt her beloved nephew sitting on her bed, his grubby little hands touching her wrist. "Adu bacha?" she asked. Adi looked at her with wide eyes, conveying his curiosity. "Annika, what is this?" he questioned, looking at her hand with interest. Annika let out a yawn, sitting up straight. 

Seeing the object that had captured the boy's interest, she smiled. "This? This is my everything." And from the way Annika's eyes shone, it was clear she wasn't lying. "It's a bracelet, no?" Adi asked. He had a hard time wrapping his young mind around what made a bracelet so special. "It is a bracelet, Adi, but it's my bracelet. You know why it has so many moons on it?" she asked, shaking her wrist to make the moon charms shake. "Come," she gestured for him to sit closer. He leaned in and she whispered. "Your Annika is actually a little scared of the dark." 

Adi's jaw instantly dropped to the mattress. How could Annika be scared of something?! It was impossible! He'd believe it more if she'd told him she was actually from Fairyland and had a unicorn named Glitterheart. "You?" he asked incredulously. Annika nodded innocently. "But you can't be scared of anything, Annika! You're my Annika!" 

"Why can't your Annika be scared of something, Adi? Aren't you scared of something?" she questioned, interested to see his response. Adi nodded his head. "I am scared of my Bale Papa, sometimes." 

Annika's eyes widened. She was expecting a response like spiders, or maybe clowns. "Your Bade Papa? But you love him, no?" 

"I do. But, sometimes, Bale Papa gets very, very angry. It's scary. He throws things around, doesn't talk to Adi baby or Mumma Papa. Not even Dada Dadi. He gets very sad, too. I don't like sad Bale Papa. I like happy-happy Bale Papa. But Bale Papa is always ice. Cold, cold," he rubbed his arms against one another, further wrenching Annika's heart. 

She knew Shivaay was distant with her, but could it be possible that he was like that in general? "I gotta go get ready. Adu, go eat breakfast. I'm sure Mumma is looking for you," Annika said rushedly. Adi smiled and hopped off the bed. 

The little boy knew what he was doing was going to work, but he didn't expect it to take effect so soon. "Very good, Annika. Now you will help my Bale Papa come back to Adi baby!" he said to himself when he had reached the outside of her room. Now, for the next part of his plan. Breakfast.