Dearest Shivaay, || Shivika AU FF

𝔸𝕟𝕚𝕜𝕒'𝕤 𝕋𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟

Free. That's what he made her feel.

Not all the time, of course. She was often too busy swallowing her emotions and letting everything bother her to actually feel what he made her heart do. But today, she was sinking in this emotion, and she realized exactly why love made people crazy. She didn't stop herself from chittering in the passenger seat beside him, or sticking her tongue out at him childishly. She didn't care that he noticed her staring at him every few minutes the silence set in. 

There was no room for that trademark awkwardness. It was as though there was finally enough space to breathe. And, oh, breathing never felt so good. She giggled like a schoolgirl whenever he cracked a stupid joke or passed a dumb comment. 

Oh, Anika... her heart smiled. You really love him, don't you? 

As she spared him another glance, she also felt herself smile. Yeah. I really do. 

"Aise kyun ghoor rahi ho?" Shivaay looked at her from the side, sporting a flirty smirk. 

"Me? Aur ghoorna? That too, aapko? Please, I have much better things to do!" Anika looked away with attitude. 

"Oh, really? Then why did I catch you staring at me five seconds ago?" 

"Why are you paying attention to me when you should be looking at the road?" Anika cross-questioned. 

Shivaay shook his head at her in amusement. "Yeh toh wohi hua na, ulta chor kotwal ko daante?" 

Anika gaped at him while he rolled his eyes. "Basic Hindi aati hai mujhe, Anika," Shivaay grinned. 

"But, you've never used proverbs before!" Anika justified her shock. 

"And you've never used English proverbs before. That doesn't mean you don't know them, does it?" Shivaay asked. "Oh, wait. Maybe you really don't know any English proverbs," he teased her. 

Anika, whose ego had just been hurt, scoffed in mock-anger. "I'll have you know, I know loads of proverbs in English!" 

"Really? Okay, then. I'll give you a situation, and you'll tell me an applicable proverb, okay?" 

"Okay, but we take turns. I ask you Hindi ones in turn," Anika made a deal. 

Shivaay raised an eyebrow at her. "You've become quite the businesswoman in the past few months. Negotiating, and all? That, too, with Shivaay Singh Oberoi!"

"What can I say?" Anika shrugged. "I learned from the best." 

Shivaay looked at her for a moment. "Shivaay, road!" Anika screeched, and Shivaay's eyes snapped back instantly. 

After Shivaay gained control of the wheel again, Anika smiled. "I was talking about Shakti and Tej Uncle, by the way." 

"Anika!" came Shivaay's whine, and Anika found herself laughing again. 

"Okay, okay. Let's play the game, now. You start by asking me." 

"Hm, okay. There's a girl who can't cook. Like, at all! She burns everything she makes, but she still blames it on something else. For example, the pot being too hot and the measurement cup being illegible." 

"Shivaay, this is targeted!" It was Anika's turn to whine. He laughed. "Give me the proverb, Anika!" 

"Okay, okay. Um...a good cook never complains?" 

"A bad workman always blames his tools," Shivaay corrected. "But, essentially, almost, yes." 

"Okay, my turn. If someone does a good deed, they won't draw attention to it."