Dearest Shivaay, || Shivika AU FF

ℕ𝕖𝕨 𝔹𝕖𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝔸𝕣𝕖 ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕗𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘

Gauri had noted her sister's strange behavior since returning from the outing with Shivaay Singh Oberoi. Anika had returned within an hour of leaving, her eyebrows creased in a frown and her face somber and dull. Gauri had thought that SSO must have said something to upset her sister, and went to question Anika. Gauri's attempts to pry had been immediately shut down, however, and she was shunned to her work.

As they closed the office and got ready to go home, Gauri again tried to poke at Anika and get her to say something, but to no avail. 

"Di." Anika hummed in response. "All good?" 

Anika snapped up from the locks with an annoyed expression knit into her eyebrows. "Chutki, please stop asking. Maine kaha na, ke I'm fine. What will you get by asking me the same question over and over again?" 

"Di, you don't look fine. That's why I'm asking. Did something happen when you were with SSO?" 

Anika sighed, rubbing her temple with one hand as she fiddled with the lock and key. She was struggling to lock up and the frustration was getting to her. 

"Gauri, nothing happened. And stop this 'SSO-SSO.' It's disrespectful. His family has done so much for us. Now go get a rickshaw while I try to lock up," Anika said. 

Gauri's frown deepened. Anika, miss-Baghadbilla-Singh-Oberoi-calling-Anika, was telling Gauri to stop addressing Shivaay Singh Oberoi as SSO? 

"Pakka, inhone ne hi kuch bole honge mere Di ko,"  Gauri muttered under her breath as she walked over to the street in hopes of getting a rickshaw. 

Soon, she was successful. "One second, bhaiya," she smiled sweetly as she jogged back to Anika. "Di, woh...Di?!" 

There was Anika, crouched over her knees, softly crying. "The—the lock," she mumbled helplessly. 

"I've got it, Di. Is mein rone ki kya baat hai?" Gauri asked as she took the key from her sister's hand and twisted it into the hole, clicking the lock into place. "See! Done! So simple!" 

Anika quickly wiped her tears, nodding before standing up and walking over to the rickshaw. 

"What happened, Di?" Gauri whispered to herself before following her sister home. 

"Gauri, how is your internship search going?" Anika asked abruptly at the dinner table. 

Gauri spared Astika a curious glance before swallowing her morsel and speaking. "I've applied for a few but I was rejected from three and I'm waiting for the others to get back to me. Don't worry, though. I'll surely find something soon," Gauri smiled.

"Actually," Anika paused, looking up from her meal, "I want you to start looking in Pune."

At this, Gauri, Sahil, and Astika all peered at Anika curiously. 

"Pune?" Gauri spoke. "But, Di...why?" 

"We're shifting there by the middle of July for Sahil's treatment." 

"My treatment? In Pune?" Sahil shook his head. "Didi, I don't want to leave Mumbai! All my friends are here! My school is here!" 

"Sahil, you can go to a new school and make new friends." 

"Wait, Anika," Astika interrupted. "I know we vaguely spoke about the Pune treatment being an option, but we always talked about it being a temporary stay. Why the sudden plan to move? And why are we only learning of this now?" 

"Mausi, it all happened quite suddenly. But I think this is the best for our family. Sahil's treatment is obviously the biggest reason, but Gauri can also get scope there."