Once Upon a University Campus

Sealed with a Kiss

Annika would not come out of the kitchen, not till Saahil himself fetched her. Shivaay looked at his watch.

"We made good time. It is 10.30 yet, enough time to go and inform Badi Ma too. We will all fly down to Mumbai this weekend and inform the rest of my family. That way you can meet my parents and Daadi too." Shivaay continued without any break.

"What? No." Annika clutched her head and sat down on the chair. Saahil ran to her, so did Shivaay.

"Annika didi are you ok?" Saahil was worried.

"I feel light headed Saahil.." Annika still clutched her head.

Shivaay got her a glass of water. "Annika, are you ok.. Let me call the doctor. Silly doctors, they should have kept you at the hospital for longer. " Shivaay fretted.

"Shivaay... stop.. For heaven's sake. I am fine. I am out of the hospital for months now." Annika gulped down water hurriedly. "I just need some time to wrap my head around all this.." Annika gasped.

"Alright, rest for 15 minutes, no for 30 minutes and then we will go to Badi Ma. Saahil is there some kind of juice? Glucose in the kitchen?" Shivaay said looking at this watch.

"No, no need for all that Saahil. Shivaay, this is all too fast.. I have told you several times that we need to slow down. I am not able to handle so many things all at once. This is all difficult for me." Annika took deep breaths.

"What is the harm in informing my family." Shivaay said with a shrug.

"As soon as you inform your family, media will know, then the unnecessary attention, the cover stories, media descending on my hostel, talking to random people and the news channels, the page 3 people... I am scared Shivaay.. what if it affects my studies? What if I am not able to finish my PhD? Unfortunately our area of interest is the same. None of your competitors would want to hire me. Who in their right mind would want a competitor's girlfriend, Shivaay Singh Oberoi's girlfriend working for them? I don't want to be known as Shivaay Singh Oberoi's girlfriend before I am something on my own." Annika ranted

"That is not a problem. You are being needlessly negative. I can ask my family to be discreet that should solve the problem." Shivaay said as a matter of fact.

"They might, but such news will find its way out, before long, people will be after us to know when is the engagement, when is the marriage. Why can't we take it one step at a time Shivaay. All this is too overwhelming, difficult." Annika pleaded with Shivaay.

"What you say does not make any sense to me, but you want it, you get it. We will inform my family when you are ready.." And just like that Shivaay gave a peck on Annika's forehead. "Do you see what I have to go through all because of your unreasonable sister. Everything because I cannot see her cry."

"Cry and Annika Didi? She does not cry. I have not seen her cry more than a few times my entire life." Saahil remarked incredulously.

"You are kidding. She seems to have a reservoir up there" Shivaay pointing to Annika's head. She cries for every little thing and drives me crazy." Shivaay defended himself

"My sympathies for you bro, but she is worth it." Saahil said without missing a beat.

"BRO? What is that? Behave Saahil." Annika chided Saahil.

"You tell me Annika didi, How do I address him now that he is too close to be addressed as Mr Oberoi. He cannot be Bhaiyya because he cannot be our brother. You will not allow me to address him as Jeeju openly. You give me no choice. If you have an issue with Bro, announce your relationship to the whole world and make my life simple." Tough negotiator Saahil stood by her with his hands across his chest .