Om looked between Shivaay and Anika, sensing the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. With a small sigh, he said, “I’ll leave you two to talk.”
Shivaay, arms crossed, frowned. “There’s no need for that, Om.”
Om, however, wasn’t convinced. “Shivaay, thodi space deni chahiye. You both should talk. Itne time baad mil rahe ho.” His tone was calm but firm. “Go to the cafeteria. I’ll join you in a while.”
Shivaay didn’t argue further, knowing Om wouldn’t back down. He glanced at Anika, who gave a hesitant nod before walking ahead. Shivaay followed, his usual composed demeanor masking the storm inside him.
Om’s private cafeteria was quiet, devoid of intrusions. Anika walked in first, choosing a table in the far corner, away from the glass windows that overlooked the office. Shivaay followed, pulling out a chair and sitting across from her.
There was a moment of silence before Anika spoke first.
“Hi. Kaise hai aap?”
Shivaay leaned back slightly, his gaze unreadable. “I’m great. Tum batao. You’re in London? Last I knew, you were in… wait…” He pretended to think, tilting his head slightly, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips.
Anika rolled her eyes. “Ahmedabad.”
Shivaay nodded.
“I got a job here in Janine. Degree khatam hote hi yaha full-time ke liye aa gayi mai, six months back,” she explained.
Something in Shivaay’s chest tightened. She had done it. She had built a life for herself—without him. But instead of dwelling on that, he let a small, almost proud smile curve his lips.
“Congratulations.”
“For the job,” he said evenly. “I always believed you’d do well.” His voice was professional, controlled—like this was just another business conversation.
Anika let out a small breath, nodding. “Thank you.”
The pleasantries hung awkwardly between them, as if they had never been anything but distant acquaintances. But Anika knew they couldn’t avoid the real issue for long.
She finally asked, “Shivaay, what did you tell your family about… us?”
His fingers drummed lightly against the table before he answered, “I told them we broke up amicably.”
Anika narrowed her eyes. That was only half the problem. “And the part where you told them I run a chain of NGOs?”
Shivaay’s jaw tightened. He knew where this was going. “I told them you left for NGO work in a remote village for six months.”
Anika blinked, trying to process his words. “Six months?” Her voice rose slightly in disbelief. “And now I’m suddenly supposed to walk into your house as an interior designer?”
Shivaay exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. He hadn’t thought about this complication when he had come up with the lie. “I didn’t expect this situation back then.”
Anika ran a hand through her hair, exasperated. “Shivaay, how am I supposed to do my job now? I can’t leave this project—I’m new, and if I back out, it’ll look like I got the deal revoked because of personal reasons.”
Shivaay stayed silent, processing her words. He knew she was right.
After a long pause, he said, “We’ll figure something out.”
Anika let out a hollow laugh. “And how exactly do you plan on doing that?”
Without thinking, Shivaay blurted, “We can tell my family that we are back together.”
The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them. He sounded desperate—desperate to keep her in his life, as if he wasn’t the one who had convinced himself that pretending not to know her was the right choice.
Anika stared at him, as if he had lost his mind. “You can’t be serious.”
Shivaay met her gaze with a mix of defiance and something else—something unreadable. “Atleast mai kuch suggest to karraha hu unlike you”
Anika shook her head, pressing her fingers against her temples. "It's not logical since I have to actively work on the project. We should think of something else”
Shivaay leaned forward, voice low but firm. “I thought it was very difficult to tell them our entire relationship was a lie.”
Anika let out a dry laugh. “Oh, so now you’re worried about the truth?” Her eyes locked onto his. “Kaand karne se pehle to you didn't care about them finding out if we broke up or it's fake or whatever it is”
Shivaay exhaled sharply, frustrated. “I am trying to fix the mess I created. A little help won't harm Anika. I won't ask you to back down from a project. So alternatives dhundh raha”
Anika’s heart pounded. She hated how his words stirred something inside her, something she had spent years trying to bury. He was being supportive of her career and it was something she always thought he would do. “How about we tell them the truth? Thore din mai seh lungi badnaami. Its better on a long run. Anyways you are getting married”
His jaw clenched, but before he could reply, a voice cut through their tension.
“Anika?”
Both of them turned sharply to see Jhanvi standing a few feet away, her eyes wide with surprise—and hope.
“Oh my god!” Jhanvi gasped, stepping into the room. “I can’t believe this! You two—” She glanced between them, a slow smile spreading across her face. “You are here? In london? Are you guys back together?”
Anika froze, her stomach sinking. Shivaay stiffened, his mind racing for a response.
The lie had just gotten more complicated.
YOU ARE READING
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...
