Magical Paintbrush [Ongoing]

IX. Kaali Coffee ✨

Recap ~
Two shots.

Hearing the sounds of birds chirping indistinctly, Shivaay woke up early that morning to find himself next to the girl who has affected him a lot unknowingly. Anika was sleeping in his arms cuddling to herself much to his surprise. He looked around to find Gauri and Om still sleeping. Feeling thankful, he was about to get up when Anika caught hold of his palm placing her cheek over it making him remember their previous night.

<<

"I'm not sleepy!" Anika whispered to Shivaay as they saw Om and Gauri fast asleep late that night.
"I'm not as well." Shivaay smiled making her smile.
"Tell me about your fans then!" Anika chuckled to which Shivaay covered his face with one of his palms, "Please Anika! Not this topic please."
"As you wish Shivaay!" She smiled cheekily making his cheeks flush in embarrassment.

Looking at the clouds unveiling the moon in the sky, Shivaay and Anika uttered in unison "Beautiful!"
They smiled looking at each other, and somehow they could sense a twinkle in each other's eyes. Enjoying their time, they remained silent for the rest of the night not knowing when they fell asleep.

>>

Shivaay smiled remembering their beautiful moment but was soon disturbed by Om's murmur. He quickly left to freshen up before the other two could see them.

"Here is your Kaali coffee Shivaay! Your bestie told this is your mandatory drink!" Anika said bringing in two cups with her.
"Kaali coffee?" Shivaay asked back flabbergasted when she chuckled, "Your Americano!"
"Be happy she didn't give any name to that coffee, Shivaay!" Om joined them along with Gauri and Khushi.
"I actually gave one!" Anika smiled sheepishly and announced "Saira bhano!"

Everyone in the room laughed while Shivaay curiously asked, "Names?!"
"Yeah Shivaay! She loves naming her things! Like her bag's name is Chamki, her slippers name is Chameli, her—" Before Om could say any further, Anika said raising her imaginary collars "Don't praise me so much O. Even you are named Jatadhari hippie by me!"
Om frowned at Anika while she enjoyed irritating her best friend.

"By the way Saira bhano is really nice!" Shivaay said sipping some of his black coffee letting Anika, the one who prepared it smile.

It was really hard for everyone to accept the fact that Anika had to leave back to New York.
"Should you go?" Om asked holding his best friend's hand when she told assuring "Om I will come back soon!"
"The last time you said this was one year back!" He frowned making her chuckle.
"Take your Dusty knuckle and enjoy for now!" Anika said handing over a box to her best friend when he smiled weakly. Turning to Shivaay, she said "Make sure you get your Dusty knuckle as well, Shivaay!" making him smile as they remembered the day at the cafe. 

*

Anika reached back New York but somehow she still felt she was at London. She indeed missed the time she spent there, maybe it was specifically someone.

"Anu tell me about the London trip!" Arnav curiously asked his sister as they sat in the lawn one fine evening. Anika spoke about everyone, more about Shivaay but made sure she never mentioned Khushi in the conversation.

"There was a girl right?" Arnav asked trying to sound casual when Anika asked back, "Who Gauri?!"
"Of course I know Gauri." He rolled his eyes to which Anika said back, "I'm also a girl only. Whom are you asking about Bhai?"
"Anu!" Arnav sounded desperate.
"Are you asking about Khushi?" Anika mentioned this name after a couple of minutes when she noticed a bright smile on her brother's face.
"Your brother seems to be super happy hearing about someone!" Raj spoke as he entered the lawn when Anika joined her father in teasing her sibling but soon the plates turned on her.

"Your heart is still with you na? Or you gave it to my son-in-law and came?" Raj asked casually when Anika was too surprised to react. Thankfully her brother left to attend a call, else she would have to face more embarrassment.
"My heart is with Raj only!" Anika managed to say and ran away from there leaving her father laughing.

Shivaay was casually looking at his phone gallery when he got a call from the person he really needed to speak at the moment.

"Billu." He heard an elderly voice over the phone when he greeted, "Hi Dadi."
Speaking of the time he spent over the past few days, Shivaay sighed "It's been so boring these days Dadi!"
"Why because you are missing her?" Dadi asked casually suppressing her mischievous laugh when Shivaay was shocked to respond.
"I'm not missing Anika Dadi." Shivaay managed to say but realised his grandmother didn't even mention about Anika.
"I meant I'm missing you, my lovely Dadi!" He covered up making his grandmother chuckle, "It happens!"
"Nothing happened!" He said trying to sound casual.
"It will happen then." She spoke smiling at her grandson's change of behavior.

Precap ~
SSO, Son-in-law.