Due to Be Married || Shivika AU SS

six

Shivaay inhaled as he stepped off the Oberoi's private jet and onto Indian soil for the first time in eight long months.

He was in his birthplace, reunited with his country. Then why did he feel so empty inside? Ah, probably because she wasn't here, beside him, chirping about how it felt to fly on a plane, or over-dramatically falling onto her knees with her arms extended towards the sky, grateful to be home again.

Shivaay had memorized each of her antics and he replayed them whenever he missed her, which was most of the time.

If they'd known then, that this was all they'd have, they would have valued every second together a little more.

Regardless, Shivaay was here. And Annika was in Mumbai. He knew because of Gauri, Annika's best friend cum little sister. She knew the truth, and she still considered Shivaay her Jiju. So Shivaay asked for updates on how Annika was doing, which Gauri gladly gave.

But since Gauri was always surrounded by people who hated him, their conversations were scheduled to once a month. If he was lucky, twice or thrice, but that's all he got. And Annika never knew.

Neither Shivaay nor Annika kept the same phone numbers. While he had to change SIMs every so often because of traveling, Mallika had discarded Annika's old number after the whole ordeal.

And since Gauri had given him his monthly update a week ago, Shivaay was unaware that Annika was due at Lonavala soon.

It was then that Shivaay's loyal bodyguard, Khanna, appeared and broke him out of his trance. "Sir, the car is here," the man informed, leaving only when Shivaay had acknowledged the information. 

Now, Mallika wasn't a girl who depended on people. At a very young age, she had been deprived of those she had learned to call family. She lived in an orphanage until she was seven, after which she moved to Mumbai with her adoptive family and met Annika. 

Familiar to losing people, Mallika was cautious at first. But a seven-year-old, bubbly little girl with weird language and a pretty smile finally managed to weave her way into Mallika's heart. And Mallika knew, from then, that Annika was special. That Annika was, in fact, too special to lose. 

It was no surprise, then, that Mallika grew protective. Perhaps even over-protective. She shielded Annika like her life depended on it, and it probably did, too. She followed Annika like a shadow, scared away the mean kids who could hurt her with their words, and loved Annika in a way no one else could understand. She had accepted that if Annika's friendship cost Mallika her life, she would gladly pay the price. 

From a young age, Annika was loved by all. Her mom and dad, even her neighbors, and then Mallika. Everyone was fond of the little girl, and did everything in their power to put her into a sweet bubble of oblivion. Of all these people, it was Mallika's efforts that were most effective. 

So when the "blue-eyed boy with a golden heart" came whirling into Annika's life, Mallika was apprehensive and insecure. After all, he was Annika's first crush. Because Mallika had done her job of shielding Annika so well, the poor girl took 21 years to develop her first crush. But when it came, she fell oh-so-hard. 

Mallika took time, but she did come to terms with the idea of Annika crushing on this boy. She believed it to be a simple crush, and like all crushes, she expected it to pass. But it didn't. Soon, Annika's limits were being breached. The boy went from a crush, to a friend, to a boyfriend really fast. And while everyone accepted their relationship, Mallika scowled on it. 

However, Annika was happy, so Mallika put her negative feelings on mute for a while. She tried befriending Shivaay. She had only started warming up to him when his family arrived with a marriage proposal. For Annika. For Mallika's Annika. And she did not like that. 

Of course, it wasn't her place to say, since she was only a best friend. So, Annika was due to be married, and Mallika was all smiles and sunshine on the outside. But inside of her, there was a storm brewing, because for all she knew, Annika was leaving. Then, he left. HE LEFT ANNIKA. And Annika broke. Everyone was only upset, but Mallika? 

Her storm was ready to unleash itself. 

In a moment's notice, she had gotten Annika far away from that man, without Annika's notice. For example, by surprising her with a new phone, Mallika was able to change her number. 

Now Mallika's guard was higher than before. If Shivaay ever tried entering Annika's life again, Mallika would ensure that it was his final mistake.