Shivika: Journey Till Our Hearts

||19. Disappointment & Hurt ||

Shivaay gently turned the door knob of the house and entered in. He saw that the door to Annika's room wasn't locked so he slowly entered. She was in deep slumber but was shivering due to the high AC. He put the duvet carefully over her and that is when he noticed her face. It was still full of tension and she looked really tired. He went and sat on the other side of the bed and softly pushed back some tresses of hair from her forehead which made her move in her sleep.

"Good night Annika. We will talk tomorrow morning. Looks like you are too tired" He whispered and was about to go when he felt a tug at his hand. He turned back and saw Annika holding his hand too tightly.

"Please stay" He heard her plead in her sleep and his feet couldn't move listening to that.

He smiled faintly and settled himself on the bed with his head on the headrest and with Annika's hand still holding his. He didn't realize when sleep overtook him.

The next day, sunrays disturbed Annika's sleep and she fluttered her eyes open. But, felt some obstruction in her vision and she opened her eyes completely. Shivaay was asleep in a sitting position beside her. But what made her eyes pop out of their socket was their entwined hands. Her hand still had a firm grasp on his.

Movements beside him had woken Shivaay from his sleep as well. He squinted his eyes open and saw that Annika was already awake and looked embarrassed. He followed her line of vision and noticed their hands. Annika quickly let go and turned her gaze.

"I am really sorry Shivaay. I didn't know how this happened" She apologized.

"Annika, look here" He politely asked her to face him. "It's okay. Don't be embarrassed. Whatever you did was in your sleep. Actually, I just came to check on you but you were in deep sleep and you unconsciously held my hand. There is nothing to worry about" He assured her.

"No Shivaay, I am really sorry. Because of me, you had sleep like this in an uncomfortable position. I am sure your back must be hurting" She was still guilty.

"No Annika. I am okay. I am habituated of sitting like this for long hours. My back is not aching at all"

"Are you sure? If you want, I can apply some balm. You will feel better" She immediately got up and went to the dressing table.

"No, really my back isn't aching. If it would have, I wouldn't have lied. It is quite late Annika. Pata hi nahi chala itni der tak aankh kaise lag gayi. Chalo, office bhi toh jaana hai na. You go, freshen up and get ready while I make breakfast for us" He said, getting up. He patted her shoulder and exited the room.

Once he went out, Annika closed the door and hastily entered the washroom. She quickly freshened up and came out. As she put on her mangalsutra and sindoor, she suddenly felt too guilty for hiding yesterday's incident from Shivaay. He needs to know.

"But mein kaise batau? Issey Shivaay ka kaafi bada nuksaan hoga. He is very impulsive and pata nahi woh kaise react karenge. Kahi kuch gadbad na ho jaye. I can talk to ma or badi ma. They will understand" Annika spoke to herself in the mirror and came out of the room.

She went towards the kitchen and saw that Shivaay had already gotten ready and now was pouring the pancake batter on the pan.

"Hey" He wished, noticing her presence. He gave her a smile before fixing his attention back to his cooking. Annika also reciprocated his smile.

She then surprisingly went and sat on the kitchen slab. Shivaay was taken aback for a moment and looked at him with a quizzical look.

"Kyun? Isn't this my house as well? And is it illegal to sit here on the slab? I am too hungry and want to eat the hot pancakes with chocolate syrup" She said cutely. All of this was done purposely by her so that he doesn't get suspicious.