Healing Him | ✓

10.

Annika walked back to her class. There stood Mallika standing by her seat, probably waiting for her. She frowned, what did she want now?

"Hey!" Mallika supplied, to which she replied with a curt, "Hey." No smile, not even the twitch of her lips.

"You here?" Annika asked. Mallika usually stayed with her minions once Annika started maintaining her distance with her.

"Yes, I've missed you. Why did we fall apart? Did I say something wrong? I am ready to apologise if-" she started. But Annika shook her head. "No, it's just that I'd thought that I'll focus on my studies only, this school year." Annika lied smoothly. She knew Mallika's true nature. She isn't falling for whatever she had planned.

"-excuse me, please. I have to re-check my Physics worksheets." She dismissed Mallika before the talk could go any further.

I see, you didn't heed my warnings. I have warned you, Annika. Don't blame me for what follows. Mallika left her desk with a sinister smile on her face. Annika had a bad feeling about this encounter. She cast a suspicious glance at Mallika but she has gone back to her minions. She will think about this later on right now she must focus on her physics assignment.

She waited by the tree out of sight for other students. But Shivaay spotted her as soon as he exited the school gates. She sent him a big smile, one which he returned. And they walked home together.

Annika watched the oven, her apron was covered with flour and cocoa powder. She put on her gloves and pulled out the tray. She waited for a bit before she flipped the utensil and the cake came out.

It smelled delicious. She sighed happily.

"Mom! I need help with the icing!" She called out. Her mother came into the kitchen with cellotape held between her lips as she was focused on wrapping the gifts for her.

"You packed the gifts!" Annika cheered. She had carefully picked out Shivaay's favourite things for his birthday. She got to know from his brothers, that he didn't celebrate his birthday. She had promised to herself that she will give him the bestest birthday surprise.

"Look! The cake!" She showed her mother the cake excitedly. Her mother smiled tiredly. This was the fourth attempt of baking the cake. She looked around the kitchen and sighed, mentally noting to give her maid a tip for cleaning this mountain of a mess.

"Annika, go get cleaned up. We'll do the icing. We're going to get late otherwise." Her mother tried to reason with her. "No mom, I have baked the cake myself so I'll do the icing just tell me how--how you write with this thing." Annika asked. Her tongue poking out slightly as she focused on the cone held in her hands.

"Hmm—looks good but do tell why there are spaces between the letters?" Her father asked peering over the cake. She smiled sheepishly. Sudha shook her head. "You both change. I'll fix the cake." She commanded. Both rushed towards their room to avoid her pissing off further.

She reached her room. And grabbed the phone and dialled the familiar number. It was picked up after a few rings. And a sleepy voice from the other side answered.

"Annika? Everything alright?" His voice was raspy, probably from sleeping. She shivered hearing it.

"Were you sleeping?" She asked, he chuckled. "Only you, Annika. Only you can wake someone from their sleep by dialling them at night and ask if they were sleeping." She pouted. "And stop pouting, I can see you from here." He laughed. She rolled her eyes.

"Okay, then sleep. I'll call back in the morning." Shivaay gave a sleepy hum and hung up. She grabbed a dress, a yellow one. His favourite colour.

"Come on, let's go." She balanced the gift bags and cake in her hands. Her mother rushing behind her, "Annika, hand over the cake to me! You'll drop it." Sudha called from behind as her father pulled the car in front of them.