The Dating Charade ✔️

Chapter-30

Guess who's back! Thanks a lot to everyone who wished me to have a good trip- it was lit AF. I'm exhausted now but was going through withdrawal symptoms for not writing, so here's an update. Love ya all!

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A few days later and it was already the day of Sahil's departure. Annika had been sniffing since morning, all throughout packing his bag and giving him a long list of do's and don't's for hostel. The little guy himself had been silently shedding tears, torn between consoling his sister and full out bawling himself. Annika still couldn't imagine living without him- after all, he had practically been the purpose of her existence for so long.

"I'll be back very often, didi," Sahil told her, his lips quivering as Annika took him tightly into her arms. It was evening now and they would have to go to the airport soon. The boarding school had send him his ticket themselves, and also a teacher to accompany him, who would meet them at the airport. 

"Be a good little boy, okay?" She asked him, combing his hair with her fingers. They were almost ready to leave now, and she was lovingly cherishing the last few minutes with him. Kissing all over his face, she sobbed even as she told him she loved him, and Sahil broke down too. Annika was too far gone to shush him, and they held each other for a while, not wanting to let  go. It was only when there was a knock on the door that they parted.

"That must be Shivaay," Annika said, wiping her tears and getting up to open the door.

She had taken Sahil to the Oberoi mansion in the afternoon, to make him meet the family and take blessings of the elders. Everyone had pampered him all afternoon and showered their love on him, giving him lots of gifts too. They had both been overwhelmed at that, experiencing the love of a family when they had craved their whole lives for it. They had all volunteered to drop him at the airport, before Shivaay had authoritatively said that it was his 'right' to do so, earning a roll of eyes from everyone. So Annika and Sahil had come back home to do some last minute packing, after Shivaay had assured that he would arrive on time to pick them up. And true to his word, he was here now.

"Hey," Annika greeted Shivaay, allowing him to come in. He could see that her eyes were red-rimmed, and tell that she had been crying. It hurt him immensely to see her like this, but he knew that this was only natural and couldn't be helped. Being an overbearing brother himself, he understood her possessiveness over Sahil.

"You guys ready?" Shivaay asked, as a teary-eyed Sahil came trotting into the living room too, a school bag on his shoulders. Giving a toothsey smile to Shivaay, he nodded. Shivaay took the bag from Sahil, along with his luggage, and placed them in his car. Taking one last look at his house, Sahil followed, while Annika locked the house.

In the silent car ride, Annika and Sahil sat hugging in the backseat. Sahil basked in the warmth of his sister, one who had given him everything a mother would, and more. She had given him all that she could, and stealing a glance at Shivaay, who was driving the car, Sahil prayed that God gave her everything she wanted in the form of this man too.

Soon they were at the airport and it was time for goodbyes. The man who had come to take Sahil assured Annika, who had been busy telling her brother to take his meals on time, study properly, etc, that Sahil would be alright.

"He's a bright little boy, Miss Annika. We are glad to have him and will take proper care of him, don't worry." Annika gave him a grateful smile at that. The man also shook his hand with Shivaay, who he assumed was Annika's husband. Shivaay also hugged Sahil tight, bending down to his height, and Sahil asked him to take care of Annika Didi, which Shivaay promised he would do. After a teary round of goodbye, the man and Sahil went inside the airport.