Anika was standing in the Oberoi mansion living room with the luggage, the familiar marble floors cool beneath her feet. The air was thick with something unspoken, an anticipation that made her heart race.
Today they are leaving.
Today, everything ends.
Today, she will lose a family who genuinely cared for her.
Today will be the last day she will pretend to be Shivaay's girlfriend.
And then, she saw him.
Shivaay.
He stood in front of her, his blue eyes steady, but there was something different about them.
He took a step forward.
“Anika.”
She swallowed, trying to ignore the way her heart picked up its pace. “Hmm?”
He didn’t speak immediately. Instead, he reached out, his fingers brushing against her wrist before slowly, deliberately, taking her hand in his.
She stared at him, stunned. “Shivaay, yeh—”
“Although we will be leaving in 1 hour,” he cut her off gently. “and then you think everything's gonna be normal, right?”
There was something in his tone, something that made her chest tighten. She nodded hesitantly. “Haan... wahi to kaha tha maine.”
A flicker of something crossed his face. “Aur agar mujhe normal nahi chahiye?”
Her breath hitched. “Matlab?”
He took another step closer, the warmth of his presence surrounding her. “Matlab… whatever it was, I know it started as a contract but over the course of time, things changed.”
Anika’s mind spun. This wasn’t real. This couldn’t be real.
“You don’t mean that,” she said, shaking her head. “This was a deal, I am a nobody—”
“I don’t think of you as a deal anymore.”
Her eyes widened as he reached up, his fingers tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, lingering just for a second longer than necessary.
Her heart pounded.
Shivaay Singh Oberoi, the man who never let emotions dictate his actions, was looking at her as if she mattered beyond logic, beyond reason.
“You told me I’d forget you,” he said softly. “Lekin sach bataun, Anika? I can never”
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to say these things.
Shivaay tilted his head slightly, watching her reaction. “what if I say I want you?”
Her pulse thundered in her ears.
The warmth of his hand. The way his voice wrapped around her name. The way his gaze held her captive, as if she was the only thing that mattered in this moment.
She couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.
And then—
He raised a hand, cupping her face, his thumb grazing lightly over her cheek. Her breath caught at the unfamiliar yet oddly familiar touch. The way his fingers rested against her skin felt natural, as if they belonged there.
“Shivaay…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
His eyes darkened, his grip firm yet careful, as if afraid she would disappear if he let go. “Anika, I want another deal with you.”
Her brows furrowed, confusion flickering in her gaze.
His next words made the world around her blur.
“Ek aisi deal jo sirf humari ho, jo kisi contract, kisi zaroorat, kisi wajah ka mohtaaj na ho. Main chahta hoon ki tum meri life ka hissa bano... bina kisi samjhaute ke.”
She felt her knees go weak. This wasn’t the Shivaay she had started this journey with—the one who was in love with someone else.
“I—” she started, but her voice betrayed her.
And then, before she could comprehend what was happening, he leaned in—
His breath ghosted over her skin, his lips just a whisper away from hers. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, the entire moment stretching into eternity. She could feel the warmth of him, the way his presence wrapped around her like an embrace she wasn’t ready to break away from.
And just as his lips brushed against hers—
Anika jolted awake.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to grasp where she was. The dimly lit room. The soft hum of the heater. The sofa where Shivaay was still asleep, his face calm, unaware of the storm raging in her mind.
A dream.
Just a dream.
She pressed a hand against her forehead, trying to steady her erratic heartbeat.
What the hell was that?
Shivaay and her… that way? It was ridiculous. Impossible.
And yet, it had felt so real. The warmth of his hand, the intensity of his gaze… it had lingered.
She let out a shaky breath, sinking deeper into the blanket.
Maybe it was just the emotions of the day playing tricks on her. Maybe it was the thought of leaving tomorrow.
But as she turned her back to Shivaay’s sleeping form and forced her eyes shut, one thing became clear—
The dream might have been unreal.
But the way it made her feel?
That was something she couldn’t ignore.
Author's Note
Hey Guys, your comments really motivate me to update quickly. Keep them coming.
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The GIRLFRIEND Deal
Romance"The best relationships usually begin unexpectedly" Shivaay Singh Oberoi, a heartbroken lover whose ex betrayed him after a successful relationship of 5 years. His faith on love ceases to zero. Anika, an aspiring Interior designer does local plays...
