Dearest Shivaay, || Shivika AU FF

𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪𝕠𝕟𝕖'𝕤 ℙ𝕣𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕁𝕠𝕪

Anika sighed as she placed another gift beside three other towers.

"Anika? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Chan—" Anika turned around to be met with Nikhil's concerned expression. "Oh, it's you."

Nikhil feigned hurt as he dramatically placed his hand over his chest. "I don't know what's more offensive. The fact that you almost mistook me for Chanda, or your reaction upon realizing it was me."

Anika rubbed the bridge of her nose in exasperation. "Sorry, Nikhil. I'm just really tired. I didn't expect the opening to be this...exhausting. We haven't even cut the ribbon yet, and I'm starving."

Nikhil raised an eyebrow worriedly. "You ate breakfast, didn't you?"

"Of course, I ate—" Anika's eyes widened as she realized that she, in fact, had not eaten breakfast in the excitement and rush of getting to the venue on time. Knowing her best friends' anger quite well, Anika chuckled nervously. "Of course, I ate breakfast. I'm not crazy, am I—"

"Oh, shut up Anika. Did you forget that I'm a lawyer?" Nikhil frowned. "What is wrong with you? How are you even alive? You've been bouncing from one place to another all morning, worrying about every minute detail. You asked Neerja Aunty if she had eaten, right? Then, how did you forget to ask your damn stomach if it was hungry! Unbelievable, Anika!"

Anika stood there for another three minutes as Nikhil's lecture went on. After being friends with them for so long, Anika had learned that if Nikhil or Chanda were lecturing you, you just had to wait for it to end. They wouldn't let you speak, defend yourself, or even apologize.

"Acha baba, sorry! At least stop frying my brain cells now!"

"First, come with me. You have to eat something before the ribbon-cutting ceremony."

"Nikhil—" 

"Anika, don't make me call Chanda," Nikhil warned as he dragged her arm away from the gifts and towards the buffet bar. 

"Nikhil!" someone called. Anika grinned. "Go. Your mom's calling you!" 

"Coming, Ma! Niku, you better eat something. I'm not afraid to call the Anika Police on you," Nikhil wagged his finger. 

"Anika Police?" Anika questioned. 

"Astika Aunty, Gauri, Sahil, and Chanda. My whole backup squad," Nikhil huffed proudly. 

"Okay, okay," Anika giggled. "I'll eat. Go, before Aunty gets mad at me for keeping you." 

"Mom can never get mad at her beloved Anika," Nikhil dragged out as he walked backwards. Without seeing, he bumped into someone. 

"Nikhil—" Anika tried warning, but too late.

"Fhat the wuck!" Shivaay shouted in surprise, pissed at the palak daal now dripping down his vest. "Can't you pay attention—" he started, pausing once he realized who he was talking to. 

"Oh, Mr. Oberoi! Great to see you! Sorry about that," Nikhil apologized genuinely, reaching out to flick away some daal from Shivaay's shoulder. Shivaay raised his hand to stop Nikhil's hand from touching his suit. "It's fine. Just, go," he sputtered in annoyance. 

Nikhil nodded before rushing to his mother. "God, such a klutz. Just like Anika," he muttered as he flicked some of the liquid away from him. Seeing a napkin outstretched, he grabbed it and rubbed it down the stained area, before looking up to meet the eyes of the woman who had been on his mind mere moments ago. 

"Good to know that you compare clumsy people to me," Anika smiled weakly. Shit, no. That's not what he meant. 

"That...that wasn't what I—" 

"It's fine. I know what you think I am. Here, you missed a spot," she said, grabbing the napkin from him and wiping a little more. "How do you like the party so far?" she asked. Shivaay, breathless at her proximity, was speechless. How was it that he always managed to screw up in front of her? 

"I know it's not classy like the ones you're used to. If I'd have known you were coming, I would have taken extra care to accommodate to you." 

"Why," Shivaay gulped. "Why did you think I wouldn't come?" 

Anika looked up to meet his eyes. "I didn't think you'd care." 

Of course, I care, Anika! It's your dream! was what he wanted to say, but he couldn't. The words were lodged in his throat, but he couldn't seem to spit them out. 

"Yeh leejiye, ho gaya. Leembu-pani se saaf karenge toh daag bhi chale jayega," Anika advised. "Aapko zara dhyaan se rehna chahiye. Mere jaise clumsy logon ke beech, aapke kapde pe phir daag na pad jaye," she smiled, referring to their first meeting. 

As she moved away, Shivaay felt that prick again. 

"DI! Nikhil Bhaiya told me you didn't eat anything, yet." Gauri approached her. There it was again, that sharp sting at the mention of that man's name.

"Chutki, woh—" 

"What is this, Di? Chaliye, maine suna palak daal maze ki banni hai," Gauri said, holding Anika's arm.  

Shivaay looked down at his now stained shirt before looking up again. Anika, as though she sensed his gaze, spared a glance at him before letting her sister drag her away.

Anika was surrounded by cheers as the ribbon fell away, finally opening her mother's and hers' shared dream. She looked at Astika and Kalyani, who had officially cut the ribbon beside her. Both women had tears in their eyes. A few feet away, Gauri was high-fiving Sahil with a big beam on her face. 

When Gauri looked over to her sister, she blinked in assurance. "Itni door kyun khade ho tum dono? Idhar aao!" Anika called to them. In a split second, her sister and brother were in her arms, and Anika felt complete. 

"Didi! I have something to give you!" Sahil said, drawing a piece of paper from behind him. "What is this?" Anika asked, taking the paper from his hands and reading it. 

Congrachalashuns, Anika Didi! We new yu cood do it!

Anika felt a tear slip as she breathed in. "I love it! Thank you, Sahil!"

"I made you one, too!" Gauri chirped, holding out her own card. 

Congratulations on fulfilling your lifelong dream. I know Ma is proud of you, wherever she is. I'm proud of you, too! Thank you for being my inspiration, my best friend, and my mother figure. I love you the most! From, your Chutki

Chuckling, Anika shook her head and kissed her little sister's forehead lovingly. 

Surrounded by the people she loved the most, Anika knew this was a happiness no one could snatch from her. As long as these people were in her life, she could conquer the whole world. It was then that her gaze shifted from her family to the Oberois, who were all smiling with their own pride swelling in their chests. 

Then, her eyes did the thing she most despised at times. They drifted to him. And his small smile made her heart flutter in joy. "Damn it, Billuji," she muttered to herself. 

Gauri, upon hearing this, looked up and caught the passionate gaze of SSO as he looked at her older sister as though the mere sight of her delighted him. But then again, it could be that that was the case, entirely.