Broken Hearts and Strange Girls || Shivika AU FF

𝐗𝐗𝐗𝐕𝐈

"Shivaay, will you stop laughing?" Annika grumbled. 

"S-s-sorry! It's just that—oh ho—your own parents...and they just thought...you...in l-love with m-m-m-me?" Shivaay breathed between heavy bouts of laughter. 

"God, I can't believe it! Why would they think something so absurd? Just because I talked to you for a couple hours doesn't mean I'm irrevocably in an unrequited love with you! And, okay, my mom, I can almost understand. She watches too much of those daily soaps and turns everything she can into an episode from one. But Papa? My sweet, smart, practical Papa? How did he succumb to that notion?" 

Shivaay stopped laughing, a faint smile on his lips. "On a serious note, though...what is with everyone thinking that? From Madhav to your parents, and now to even Meera!"

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, go back! Meera? What does Meera think?" Annika questioned. 

Shivaay sighs. "She and I got into our first argument today." 

"AND YOU DIDN'T THINK IT NECESSARY TO TELL ME UNTIL NOW? What about?" 

"I'm telling you, goodness!" Shivaay exclaimed. "Meera thinks you and I like, like each other. And you know something? I, for one, think that it's your beloved Kushal that's filling her head with all these preconceived notions about me and you. What do you call him? Kush!" Shivaay said sardonically.

"Hey, don't bring Kush into this! You don't know he did anything!" Annika defended her friend.

"Yes, yes. I'm so sorry," Shivaay rolled his eyes. 

"Wait, so you two fought over this rumor?"

"Yes. She started saying things about..." Shivaay trailed off.

"About?" Annika inquired. 

With a heavy breath, Shivaay continued. "About how you and I have spent more time together in these last few months than she and I have spent in the last year of our friendship. But, I tried to make her understand that you weren't like that...and in the heat of it all, I let it slip that you were the one who made me ask her out." 

Annika gasped. "Shivaay, what the hell? You moron!" 

"I know, I know! But what was I supposed to do?! She was sitting across from me, saying these bad things about you that are totally wrong! Be honest, Annika, how many times has Meera actually talked to you?" 

Annika looked away. "A few times..." 

"How many times has she asked about your day, or been genuinely friendly with you?" 

Annika stayed silent for a beat. She shook her head. "Look, Shivaay, Meera is the type to choose her friends carefully. Alex is just like her! Meera's cautious, that's good—" 

"Annika, since you've shown up, Meera is always wary and cautious and weird around you. Don't even try to deny it! I've seen her side-eyeing you myself! And it's frustrating that she can't see what an amazing person you are—"

Annika turned pink. 

"—and she's not even willing to try. So, yeah. I fought with her, I said some things I probably could have worded a little better, but I don't care. You're special to me, Annika. And just because you're important in my life does not mean I'm in love with you and cheating her. Meera needs to see that." 

With the end of Shivaay's monologue came the abrupt end to the conversation, and before Annika knew it, the topic had changed to how the food at the restaurant tasted and how her friends in Italy were doing. 

But Annika felt something change in their dynamic as they talked. There was something new about Shivaay. Was it the lighting that made his eyes seem bluer or was there a little change in his mic that made his voice seem huskier? Why was her heart beating at a different rhythm right now? 

"Sorry, I know it's late there and you guys should be asleep right now. I really appreciate you guys picking up so late."

"Shut up! It's always good to hear from you!" Om smiled over the phone.

"A rare treat!" Aishwarya added with a smile of her own.

"What can I say, Bhabhi? I have thirteen-hour-long workdays now, I get maybe twenty minutes between photoshoots to eat lunch, which is 99% of the time just bland boiled vegetables. How is the easiest to make food, the most expensive? You have no idea how I ache for an aloo paratha."

"All the more reason for you to come home soon!" said Aishwarya.

"I promise, I'm working on it!"

"Arey, saale—5 saal ho chuke hai, mere biwi-bache ho gaye, aur tu abhi tak sirf yeh promises bana raha hai!" Om scolded.

"I know, I know! Kya karoon, bhai? This is the peak of my career. Lekin aap sab ko tasalli deta hoon, iss saal toh main vapas aa ke rahunga! Waise, how is my nephew?"

"Asleep! His uncle only seems to remember him at three a.m., poor thing. What can you do?"

"Stop taunting him, Om. Mujhe uss par pe pura vishwas hai. If he said he'll come this year, then he'll come this year. But come soon, please! I have yet to meet you in person!"

"Of course, Bhabhi. O, try to listen to your beautiful, intelligent wife. You should be a good brother to me!"

There was a brief moment of silence over the line, from both ends.

"How is...Shivaay Bhaiya?"

Om and Aishwarya smiled in unison. Om was the first to speak. "Not as you remember him."

"What does that mean? He's okay, right? O? Bhaiya's okay?" the voice frantically spoke.

"Yes, yes, your Bhaiya's okay. In fact, even better than okay," Om grinned.

"Stop beating around the bush! What's happened?"

Aishwarya smacked her husband's arm slightly. "I'll tell you," she announced authoritatively. "My sister has been staying with us this summer, and she's somehow managed to bring Shivaay back!"

"You have a sister? Oh, forget that! This is excellent news! Tell me everything! Spill!"

"Well, she just showed up at our doorstep with a smile and two suitcases and Shivaay just lost his little heart to her," Om teased.

"That's just the thing. None of us know how this happened—we just woke up one day and Shivaay was best friends with Annika and going to work and smiling and wishing people a good morning like his old self."

"Annika, ay? I ought to meet this sister of yours, Bhabhi! After all, I must credit her with the return of my big brother. Now I'll be in an even closer pursuit of a ticket home!"

"Good!" Om and Aishu said simultaneously.