The Dating Charade ✔️

Chapter-59

Thank you SO much to everyone who has checked out my Insta blog- it means so much to me and I love you all :') <3

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Shivaay walked into the kitchen, deep in his thoughts. His mind was in a mess since Om had said those words, and right now, he wasn't being able to make sense of his own feelings. He had accepted quite a while back that Annika drove him insane, which was only natural because she happened to be so beautiful, so full of attitude, so khidkitod. It was impossible to not like her, what with her down-to-earth personality, warm nature and such a positive outlook towards life. Admittedly, back when he had been an idiot with those blood-lineage ideologies, these attributes of hers had irritated him to no ends because how could someone be so genuine, so lovable, without a good upbringing? But now, he admired her for being so strong and independent and he was protective over her like no other.

But love? The mere mention of this word had always had him snickering. It was a foolish emotion thought of by mankind to distract themselves from more important things in the world, like money and power. It wasn't like he had avoided falling in love or anything; it just hadn't happened. It's like, the emotion didn't exist in his world, so how do you avoid something that's not there in the first place? 

So now, the mere fact that he was thinking about the feeling, that he was unsure himself about whether or not it was love, spoke a lot about how much Shivaay had changed since this hurricane named Annika had walked into- or stormed into- his life.

Shaking his head, Shivaay decided that the more he would think into this, the more he would confuse himself, and he did not like to be confused. Taking a deep breath, he repeated a thought into his head-

I don't love Annika. I don't love Annika.

Hoping it would come true if he said it to himself enough times, Shivaay entered the kitchen. The whole clan consisting of Annika, Rudra, Om, Prinku, Saumya, and to his irritation, Daksh, was present there.

"Hey, guys," He greeted them casually, taking out a kettle to heat some water. He really needed his espresso, right now. 

"Shivaay, good that you're here!" Annika said, chirpily. "We were all planning to go out for dinner. Just us youngsters."

"Toh phir bhaiya kaise jaiyenge?" Rudra joked, and to Shivaay's glee, Annika swatted him lightly on his bulky arm.

"You'll go, right?" She asked, looking up at him with those large doe eyes filled with hope. How could he possibly say no to her? Besides, of course he wouldn't let Annika go without him when Daksh was going, too.

"Of course, I will," He replied, giving a small smile. Annika in return gave her wide, beautiful smile, that made his heart flutter. He quickly looked away. Annika noticed he looked a little dismantled, and with a frown, lightly touched his arm.

"All okay, Shivaay?" She asked, and Shivaay nodded. She looked at him suspiciously, before smiling and moving away  with Prinku and Saumya to finish her pending work.

"As long as you're around, all is okay," Shivaay breathed out after she left, before shaking his head and concentrating on making his coffee. 

"I really think our plan is working," Om whispered to Daksh and Rudra, from where they stood on one side of the kitchen, observing Shivaay who looked like he was in internal battle with himself.

"Aakhir plan kiska hain?" Rudra said proudly, raising his collar, while the other two rolled their eyes.

"But yeah, I agree," Said Daksh. "I think that a little more push will do it." Om nodded.