QUERENCIA

26. DO I LOVE HIM?

A month had bled by since the accident, its raw edges slowly clotting into a dull ache. Annika, though, had blossomed anew. The trauma that had threatened to consume her had loosened its grip, thanks to Shivaay's unwavering presence. He had been her anchor, a steady hand through stormy seas, guiding her back to the shore of normalcy.

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"Sure, Mr. Iger, we will be there with our whole team," Shivaay said during the video conference. The meeting was about the annual gathering of all Disneyland parks in California from across the country, and this time, they were the new addition to the event.

Once the video conference was overed they discussed a few more things regarding the future event and then Shivaay dismissed all other employees,, only Annika was left there.

"Want to grab a coffee in my cabin?", Shivaay asked looking at her with hope.

"Sure, and after this dull meeting, I'm going to need a strong espresso shot," Annika declared with a theatrical flair.

Shivaay chuckled seeing her over drama. They walked to his cabin and he asked Mishra to get one espresso and cappuccino in the cabin.

Soon, they settled down with their coffees. While Annika chatted about random topics, it was clear that Shivaay was mostly just listening, his eyes fixed on her with a warm intensity. He felt a surge of happiness seeing her back to her usual, bubbly self after the tough month she had endured. Her laughter and animated gestures filled him with a sense of relief and joy that he hadn't felt in a long time.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in," he called out, surprised to see Om standing there. To be precise, it was a rather shy-looking Om, which was unusual for his typically confident friend.

Standing up from the couch, he walked over to Om and hugged him. "Hey, Om! What a pleasant surprise!" he exclaimed, genuinely happy to see his friend.

"Indeed, when your friend is so busy, I have to come to get his darshan!" Om teased, earning a light punch on the arm from Shivaay.

"Hey Annika, nice to meet you!" Om said, looking at Annika and passing a teasing smile to Shivaay, who royally ignored it. Annika greeted him back.

"Well, guys! I know this might come as a shock, but you need to hear it—I'm getting engaged this Saturday!" Om exclaimed with a mixture of excitement and anticipation, looking at his friends for their reactions.

Shivaay's eyes widened in surprise, his jaw dropping slightly. "Engaged? Om, that's... wow, I didn't expect this! Congratulations!" he managed to say, a wide smile breaking across his face despite the initial shock.

Annika clasped her hands together, her face beaming with happiness. "Oh Omkara, that's wonderful news! Congratulations, but who's the lucky girl!" she exclaimed warmly, stepping forward to give him a congratulatory hug.

Omkara chuckled at their reactions, grateful for their warm wishes. "Well, you may not know her. Her name is Gauri—Gauri Sharma," he said, a hint of pride and affection in his voice as he shared his fiancée's name.

Shivaay's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, isn't she the same Gauri that Rudra was telling me about? The one who organized bade papa and badi ma's anniversary party?" he asked, trying to connect the dots and recalling the details Rudra had shared with him earlier.

"Well, yes," Om replied with a slight blush, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

Shivaay grinned, realising the connection. "Well, I can see why you're getting engaged then," he teased lightly, nudging Om playfully. "She must be quite something if Rudra's stories are anything to go by."