The Deal - SHIVIKA SS - Last Chapter updated in Page 17 - Page 10

Anika woke up, bleary eyed and irritable. Whole night she burned with the humiliation of losing the bet. She could not come up with a single thing to change her luck. All the time she tossed and turned, noting able to settle in for a good sleep. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Shivay getting ready. He looked at her with his trademark smile, which she equal parts loved and hated. Any moment he will run his hands on his hair, another trademark style of his, just to annoy her. Mentally preparing herself for all the gloating coming her way, she put on a mask of calm.

"Finally you are awake! I thought you would never wake up before I left..." Shivay exclaimed.

"Why did you think I will not wake up before you left? I always wake up at this time.." Anika replied.

"Well, after losing so spectacularly I thought you would not want show your face to me..."

"What nonsense!! I have not lost at all. I still have today to beat you. Make no mistake Mr. SSO, I will beat you."

"What will you do today, by the way? First you tried to make me jealous using that Rohit. Why did you think it would work, especially with Rohit? And why did he agree to this stupid idea? I really need to re-think our friendship..."

"You should have seen your face while I was with Rohit. I thought you will murder him or me or both. I almost had you then..."

"Whatever!" Shivay gritted his teeth. He still felt his blood boiling at the image of his wife dancing so closely with someone else, even as a trick. "Not now Shivay...you can take revenge on her from tomorrow. Remember she will do whatever you say..." he muttered to himself.

"What did you just say?" Anika asked suspiciously.

"Nothing for you to worry about. Anyway, next you tried to seduce me." said Shivay, his eyes heated at the memory of that night. For once Anika did not, or could not reply. She was lost in the moment of that night too.

"And then, you blackmailed me yesterday. And you stopped talking to me. You will be punished for that stunt, lady." Shivay continued.

"What rubbish! You will not do any such thing. I am not a child to be punished. You cannot say, go stand in the corner Anika, you did not eat your vegetables." Anika smirked.

"You are not too old for spanking..." Shivay murmured to himself, not wanting Anika to hear. But she heard anyway.

"Fhat the Wuck! You read such cheap novels. And y-you w-want me to do all those things? Ha!" Anika shouted.

"Hey...what do you mean? Which novel?" Shivay asked.

"Fifty shades of purple...no...fifty shades of blue..no, not that. Ha! Got it. It is fifty shades of grey."

"What the hell! How do you know of that novel? Why do you know? Have you read it?"

"Why are you shouting? I have not read it. I just heard Soumya talking about it. I know what is in that!"

Shivay quickly understood the danger of continuing the conversation. The combination of Anika and that blasted novel was too much for him to take.

"Forget about it. Now, back to our bet. Hope you are ready for your punishment for the next one week." Shivay asked Anika.

"No. I hope you ready for whatever I have decided for the next one week. There is no way I will lose the bet."

"We will see."

**

Once Shivay left for office, Anika walked all around the house, looking for inspiration for a plan. It was frustrating. She could not think of a single thing which will help her win. As though her mind has stopped working. With nothing to do, she went to her room. While she was folding her clothes and keeping it in the wardrobe, her eyes fell upon a box tucked inside, barely visible through the mountain of clothes. Curious, she took the box outside to the sofa by the pool, clothes forgotten. She remembered packing it from her old house when she got settled in Oberoi Mansion.

The first thing Anika saw when she opened the box was a neatly folded paper. Old memories resurfaced, memories of her past life. Memories, when her life was uncomplicated. Same memories she had suppressed when she got married and series of trouble started, with Tia, with Daksh. She remembered now, how much fun she had during that time. It was filled with a runaway bride, horror stories, midnight scares, a drunken party, a mother of all love-letters and Shivay. Shivay looking at her with affection for the first time. Shivay dancing with an abandon. Shivay flirting with her, saying sweet nothings in her ears. Shivay holding her close during their drunken slumber. Most of all, she could remember that day clearly, when they all discussed about love. She could still picture him staring at her, unblinkingly, when she talked about love. For a moment they had felt a connection running through their souls. Both at the opposite end of their social spectrum, and yet burdened with immense responsibilities. For the first time they understood each other. That was the first time Love and Shivay were in the same room. They both have come such a long way. How much has changed with time.

Anika held the gifts loving given by Mallika, and read her letter. Finally she understood what Mallika meant. She wore the bangles, finally giving them the places they deserve. As soon as the bangles were placed in her hands, where they belong, Anika knew what she should do. Yes, she had to win a bet. And yea, she did not want to become a slave for a week. But now, she realized, it is much more than a bet. It is so much more.

**

Shivay came home, curious to see what Anika would do today. He was sure she would have come up with a plan by then. There is no way she will not go down without a fight. But, no matter what she has come up with, he will be a winner today. He rubbed his hands in anticipation of his victory. He mentally planned all that he will make Anika do in the next seven days.

Shivay found Anika near the pool, looking at the reflections in the water. She was deep in thought, her face calm, her hands placed under her chin. He quietly observed her for few seconds. There was something different about her. He noted a glow in her face which was not there before. He wondered at how quietly she was sitting, almost like a statue. There was a peace in her face, and a fierce determination in her eyes. And finally he noticed her hands. Suddenly everything became clear.

Shivay closed his eyes, remembering the day he held her for the first time with affection, the day he felt a regret that he may not be the person whose world revolved around her, and felt the loss of a lost opportunity. They have come a long way, he has come a long way. He remembered Mallika and her words. He remembered her letter to Anika. Finally he understood what it meant. He opened his eyes and saw Anika in a new light, everything became so much clear. He felt humbled in front of the precious gift Anika was offering. He hoped he is worthy of this gift. He felt a sense of home, a place to rest at the end of a long, tiring day. He felt chaos with all the raging emotions inside his heart. He felt calm having found a sense peace within his soul.He braced himself for the most important deal of his life, the only deal which matters. With a thundering heart, he moved toward his truth, his Anika.

Anila looked at her Shivay, walking towards her with all that she wanted to see in his eyes. It boosted her confidence to do what she had indented. As soon as he neared her, she pushed him into the pool and quickly followed him.

**

They stood inside the pool, surrounded by water, drowning in each other's eyes. After a while or a life time, Anika closed her eyes, took a deep, bracing breath. All the while his eyes never strayed from her.

"I don't know how to.." Anika stopped, suddenly nervous. Shivay kept quiet, knowing that any sound he makes will make her more tensed.

"I don't know how to say this." she began again. "But I will try. You remember our discussion on Love when Mallika was here?" At Shivay's nod, she continued. "All I wanted in life was someone who loved me, someone whose first priority was me, someone who would share his life with me, someone I can lean on, someone with whom I can be vulnerable, someone who will be my strength, someone with whom I can be the myself. Most importantly someone whom I will love with all I am. But I never felt that this could be a reality. All my life I have taken care of myself, did everything myself, relied only on myself. It was unimaginable for me to give away all that control. I tightly held everything in myself, not giving an inch. To be close to someone, to welcome that person into my life, my space was a dream which would never see the light of the day. I was so scared, to let someone in. I have lost so many people in my life, I was afraid to get close to someone, only for that person to leave me. No, I was better off without heartbreak. But then, something happened. I met someone. He challenged me, he ignited my mind and my senses. I was suddenly alive. I saw new colors, when I was only seeing grey shades earlier. I felt new emotions, when I was only feeling exhaustion earlier. We fought, we argued. But everyday, every moment was spent around him. I don't even know when I let him in. With every passing day he became important. He is the other half of my soul. I am rambling aren't I? I am so nervous. What I mean is, YOU are my soul. There is no language in this world would help me say what you really mean to me, what I feel. A girl who has all these crazy words, who is never short of words, is finding it so difficult to say what is in her heart. I love you with all that I am, with all my heart and with all my soul." Anika finished with tears in her eyes.

Shivay stood still, absorbing all her love, her words. For a moment he panicked. How can he protect her heart, given to him with so much trust. What if he hurt her, what if he goofed up. How can he measure up to her. But then he looked into her hope filled eyes. Her courage give him courage. She laid her soul in front of him. He could do no less. He will be worthy of her love, worthy of her.

Shivay took Anika's face in his hands, gently wiped her tears with him thumbs. He kissed her forehead with affection. He kissed her eyes with reverence. He kissed her cheeks with fondness. And finally, he kissed her lips, with all the love and passion. He kissed her again and again, holding her tightly. He forgot everything but her body shivering inside his arms, her soft skin under his lips, her lips responding to his in fervent desire. Finally, after an eternity, he kissed her forehead again, with a promise of a future, a promise that he belongs to her from now till the end of time.

Anika was drowning. Drowning in Shivay, drowning in her own passion. She felt each and every kiss of his in her bones. Each kiss bought her to a new high. Her body felt heated. There was an immense need within her, need to be close to Shivay, need to touch him, need to hold onto him. Her knees felt weak and boneless. If not for Shivay embracing her, she would not have energy to stand. A promise was made and a promise was received. She opened her eyes to see Shivay visibly affected from their interlude. As affected as she was. They stood still, holding each other, savoring the feel of each other.

"I - I - ..." Shivay tried to speak.

"It is okay. You don't have to say it." Anika caressed his face.

"I know I don't have to. But I need to." Shivay said.

"Okay..." Anika replied with a tender smile.

"I love you, Anika. I love you with everything I am, with all my soul" Shivay whispered.

"Is this Shivay Singh Oberoi confessing or Mr. SSO?" Anika teased.

"Neither. For you I am Shivay. Just Shivay." he replied.

The hug that followed lasted for a long time.

Much later, when they both warm and dry, snuggled inside the blanket, Shivay declared.

"So, I won the bet."

"No way, I did. I made you confess your feelings" Anika shouted.

"No, you lost. Because you said your feeling first."

"The bet was that I should make you confess your feelings. There was no stipulation about mine. "

"Nope. It was implicit. That I should confess my feelings first."

"You sore loser. You cheater. You monster. I won, fair and square. There will not be any discussion. Get ready to be my slave for a week."

"No way. I won the bet."

The argument continued for a while. And then suddenly...

SPLASH... The water jug was emptied. Once again there was drowned cat and a shout.

"ANIKA..."