Secret Santa, Mistletoes and a Merry Christmas

Part 2

"That's not fair Mallika! I deserved a better treatment then." Siddharth complained.

"Well, you enjoyed every bit of your punishment." Mallika showed him her tongue.

"All you guys have to do, is stand under the mistletoe." Mallika grinned.

All of them in the room broke into violent coughs while Anika looked at them in confusion.

"Rudra, thank God we weren't asked to do that." Siddharth muttered.

"Is that even a punishment?" Anika asked.

Rudra took it in a different way altogether and added, "Exactly Mallika Di! That's more like a prize!"

Anika was yet again confused as they all laughed while Shivaay turned red.

She looked at Shivaay and complained, "Sombody please bother to explain! Why has Billuji turned into a tomato?"

At that they burst into laughter once again. Anika, as soon as she said that, realised that something was not right. Billuji was blushing. The Shivaay Singh Oberoi was blushing!

"Well, go find a mistletoe for yourself. Anika knows exactly where they are, considering she put them up herself." Mallika pushed them a bit. "Actually, all of us are moving into the lawn for dinner. You guys join us when you are done!"

"Won't you guys make sure we actually fulfilled the punishment?"

Mallika smiled at her friend's innocence. For a moment, she wondered if she was doing the right thing, pushing them, but then satisfied herself. They themselves were aware of their feelings, just not ready to confess. They are two stubborn heads and definitely needed a jerk.

"Anika, we rather not witness what is about to come." They all snickered.

"Don't worry Anika Didi! Shivaay Bhaiya will explain it to you." Saumya smiled.

"Rather, he'll demonstrate it for you!" Rudra whistled casually.

And so, they walked to the lawn, leaving behind a very confused Anika and an equally embarrassed Shivaay.

-

Anika walked to the nearest mistletoe, hung low, inspecting it.

"Mallika insisted I hang them at different corners. God knows why corners?"

"I did hang a lot of them in her bedroom. Serves her right for not even telling me their purpose."

Shivaay chuckled, thinking what Siddharth and Mallika's reactions would be.

"I was doing that when you weren't here."

They then dived into deep silence, just standing there, looking at each other and then turning away on being caught.

"So..." Shivaay stuttered nervously.

"I was wondering who gave the gift to me. The dress was really pretty, wasn't it Billuji?" Anika smiled, trying a conversation.

"Yes it was." Shivaay felt awkward, praising his choice. But then, one of his heart's choice was standing right in front of him and he couldn't help but praise.

Anika's thoughts wandered to guess exactly who gave her the gift when she realised that nobody said Shivaay's name as well. She sharply turned her head towards him and looked at him, her eyes wide.

"You gave me the gift?"

Shivaay only shrugged, suddenly feeling like a teenager what with the random bursts of warmth he felt.