The GIRLFRIEND Deal

CHAPTER 66

The night air was cool, crisp, and filled with the quiet hum of the city as Shivaay’s car pulled up outside Anika’s house. The date had been nothing short of perfect—simple, heartfelt, and filled with moments that felt right.

As he put the car in park, he turned to look at her. "So, how was our first official date?" 

Anika pretended to think. "Hmm… Nice." 

"Nice?" He narrowed his eyes. 

"Shivaay!" she scolded, still laughing. "Do you want me to write you a full review?" 

He smirked. "Yes. Preferably with a five-star rating." 

Anika rolled her eyes and unbuckled her seatbelt. "Andar aayenge thore der ke liye?(Will you come in for a while?)" 

Shivaay’s teasing expression shifted into something softer. "If you want, puri raat ke liye aaunga." 

"Badtameez" she murmured and they went inside.   

Anika switched on the lights, the warm glow illuminating the cozy space. She gestured for him to sit while she walked towards a cabinet. 

"Wait here. I have something for you," she said over her shoulder. 

Shivaay raised a brow. "For me?" 

She returned moments later with a small, square object wrapped carefully in cloth. She placed it in front of him on the table. 

"Open it," she urged, suddenly looking nervous. 

Shivaay unwrapped it carefully, his fingers brushing over the smooth, glossy surface of a tabletop encased in resin. Inside, preserved forever, were petals from the flowers. Some were whole, some scattered in an artistic arrangement, the colors blending beautifully within the clear resin. 

Shivaay Oberoi was speechless. 

"You—" He looked up at her. "You made this?" 

Anika bit her lip. "I started learning resin art a few months back. I wanted to keep the flowers you sent me, but not in the usual way. So, I preserved them." 

Shivaay traced the surface gently, still in awe. "It's the same flowers? You didn't throw them away?" 

She nodded. "Mai kyu phekungi? It's precious." 

He exhaled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Anika, this is—this is incredible." 

She smiled, relieved that he liked it. "There’s one more thing." 

She reached into a box nearby and pulled out another identical tabletop. 

"This one’s mine," she said softly. "So, we’ll have matching pieces for our desks." 

Shivaay looked between the two, something warm spreading through his chest. 

"You're telling me I have an official Anika-original artwork?" he teased, though his voice held genuine emotion. 

She huffed. "Don’t make fun!" 

Shivaay put the piece down and, without a second thought, pulled her into a tight hug. 

"Thank you," he murmured against her hair. "For keeping them, for making this, for… just everything." 

Anika stood frozen for a second before slowly relaxing into the hug, feeling, once again, that strange, unfamiliar warmth—the kind that made her feel taken care of. 

The warmth of Shivaay’s embrace still lingered on Anika’s skin as he slowly pulled away. She cleared her throat, trying to steady herself, while Shivaay took a step back, his hands resting lightly on her arms for a brief moment before he let go completely.