Broken Hearts and Strange Girls || Shivika AU FF

𝐗𝐗𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈

Shivaay paced his room nervously. Annika hadn't talked to him yet. How did it go? Oh, he should have never forced her to do this. But he wasn't wrong. Annika needed this in order to feel better. Even Suresh needed this to be free of his guilt. Oh, but what if it had gone horribly wrong? What if Annika was even more broken? What if Suresh felt guiltier? Why did he butt in? Annika needed him for moral support, and he just let her down. He shouldn't have left like that. Not without telling her. 

Shivaay looked at Annika's eager eyes and exhaled reluctantly. "Alright, fine. But on one condition." 

Annika stared up at him in confusion. 

"You're going to talk things out with your dad, first—"

"Shivaay, please. No—" 

"Annika, please. For me?" 

Staring at his wide blue eyes, Annika sighed. "I can't, Shivaay." 

"You could try! Annika, I've spent the last three years in almost the same boat. Distancing yourself from the people you love is the most difficult thing anyone can experience. Especially when that distance is because of you," he whispered. "You mentioned all our differences, but let me point out one similarity: we're great at breaking things. But I think it's time that we learn how to fix them, too."

Annika thought for a few moments before looking back at him. "Would you be there with me? For moral support?" Shivaay smiled. "Of course. Is that even a question? Now, let's go downstairs," Shivaay said, standing up. 

"WHAT? YOU MEANT TODAY? TODAY AS IN RIGHT NOW?" Annika gaped at him as he held out his hand. "Yes, now! Now is all you have, Annika." With a gulp, Annika took his hand and followed him to the stairs.

Shivaay was in the middle of these thoughts when he heard a heavy knock on the door. Rushing, he opened it to find Annika. "How did it go?" he asked breathlessly. Annika tilted her head, smiling at him. 

Without any forewarning, she leapt forward and crashed into his chest, wrapping him in a warm embrace. He stumbled back, but caught hold of the nearby table before otherwise falling to the floor. 

He was silent for a brief second, but his hands involuntarily moved to hug her back. It felt so natural to him, like a second instinct. "Thank you, Shivaay. Thank you so much!"

He broke the hug to look at her curiously. He opened his mouth to ask his question, but Annika rolled her eyes and responded before he could do so. "You gave me the guts to sort things out with the only family I really have left," Annika smiled widely. 

"It went well?" Shivaay asked nervously. Annika chuckled at his state. "Of course, it went well, you weirdo!" 

At that, Shivaay beamed and tossed his arms around Annika once again. This time, it was Annika's turn to be surprised. She was the one who had initiated the first hug, but she surely wasn't expecting to receive another hug. "That's great, Annika!" he whispered into her ear, and Annika felt another one of those fireworks burst in her heart as though it was Diwali. 

Clearing her throat and stepping away, Annika smiled. "So, now that my end of our little condition is over, it's your turn, Mister!" she grinned, bobbing her index finger at him. 

Shivaay groaned. "How do I do that?" 

Annika laughed at his condition. "Don't worry. I have a plan. Just give me Meera's number and watch what unfolds!"

A/N: Sorry for the short update today! Only 586 words, but trust me. Here's where things get good! Since this update was so short, I guess you can expect another update soon (????).

I'm transferring schools, and registration has been wacky for the past two months. With that eating up most of my time + tests/quizzes/assignments, I've been totally SWAMPED! But, now that I've been getting my procrastination under control, we might (hopefully) be able to see more of me from now on! 

Enough about me, how is the book so far? Who's your favorite character and why? 

Signing off,
Kismat