"Maine bol toh diya ki I'll make Shivaay accept that he cares for me. But how on earth will I do it?" I said to myself.
I opened the fridge and took the bottle of orange juice and poured it into a glass.
'What did you do Annika. Should've at least thought before you said something. Tadi mein bol diya. Ab phas gayi na.' I mentally kicked myself.
"Kya hua Annika? You look so worried? Thinking about the challenge huh? You'll lose this time too."
I looked up to see Shivaay tease me.
"I'm not going to lose Shivaay. You'll see."
"Loser. Loser. Loser. Out of nowhere three Shivaay's popped up in front of me, all of them calling me a loser."
"Ahhh. Enough. I closed my ears not being able to handle the voices. I looked around and no one was there. The three Shivaay's had vanished. I was hallucinating.
'Annika. You must think of something. You only have two days.'
I was pacing back and forth in the hall when I didn't even realize when Shivaay had come and stood beside me.
"Kya hua? Everything okay?"
"Huh? Yeah. Everything's fine." I smiled.
"Come. I made Aloo Puri for you". Seeing that I was lost in thought he gently grabbed my hand and took me to the dining table.
I sat down as he served the Aloo Puri he made for me.
"Shivaay. Is there anything special? Today suddenly you made Aloo Puri for me."
"Just felt like it. Wanted to cook something for my wife."
"Aww." I giggled as he rolled his eyes.
'Looks like Shivaay forgot about the challenge.' I thought.
"If you're thinking that I forgot about the challenge, then you're wrong. I haven't forgotten about it." He said as if reading my mind.
"Then why-"
He sat down beside me and took a piece of the Puri to feed me.
"Because" he started to say but before he could complete a very familiar voice came from behind. "Annika?
Our heads turned in unison to see who it was. And my eyes widened in surprise.
I couldn't believe my eyes, "OH. MY. GOD. RISHI!!!" I squealed in delight and went running towards him, not realizing that I'd left Shivaay at the dining table with the piece of Aloo Puri in his hand uneaten.
"Rishi. What're you doing here?" I asked and Rishi pulled me into a big bear hug.
"I came to India for a couple of days. Thought I'd meet you before going back." he smiled.
"But how did you know I was here?"
"I went to your house and there Aarti aunty told me that you got married to the one and only Shivaay Singh Oberoi. Oho Annika. You got married and all huh. And didn't even tell me." he teased.
"Arre it all happened all fast that I- Leave all that, first tell me how did yo-"
"How many questions will you ask. Won't you introduce me to your husband who is standing right there clearly having so clue about what is happening." Rishi chuckled.
"Oh yeah. That is Shivaay. My husband. And Shivaay this is Rishikesh. My bestest friend."
They both shook hands and exchanged courtesies.
"I have so much to tell you, Rishi. Before that I have so much to ask you. How dare you leave without tell-" I was blabbering as I pulled him with me, leaving Shivaay there all alone.
~~~I clenched my fists as I saw how much fun Annika was having with Rishikesh. She looks so happy. I've never seen her laughing so much when she's around me.
I need to get her away from that cheapda at any cost. It's cheepda only right? The male version of cheapdi? Shivaay! What is wrong with you? What are you even thinking. I went away shaking my head.
~~~"Rishi, this Aloo Puri is so so so good. I've never eaten something this tasty in my entire life! You're the best." I said loudly as I swallowed a bite of Aloo Puri. I was sitting on the kitchen counter and Rishi was serving me garam garam Aloo Puri.
Next Rishi took a piece and fed me. And again, we were busy talking and laughing.
I peeped outside the kitchen and as I heard some footsteps go away, I showed a thumbs up to Rishi.
This seriously wasn't a part of my plan. Rishi coming to meet me was indeed a surprise. But then later while talking to him he told me that he noticed Shivaay was uncomfortable when we hugged. And that's when it clicked. Rishi was the best way to make Shivaay accept that he cares for me.
~~~I went to the room to find Shivaay talking angrily on the phone. "What?! Khanna I asked you postpone this meeting to- What do you mean you couldn't?"
The next thing I knew Shivaay threw his phone into the pool. Then he turned to me.
"So you have never eaten anything tastier that Rishi's Aloo Puri in your life huh?"
"What? Oh that. Shivaay you really need to taste his food. Uske haatho mein jadoo hai." I smiled internally seeing that my plan had worked. Shivaay had fallen right into the trap.
"Oh really. Have you ever tasted the food your pati cooks? Isn't that good?"
"It is Shivaay. But Rishi ke khane ki baat hi kuch aur hai. You have to taste it." I grabbed his hand pulling him to the kitchen.
"Annika, leave my hand. I have no interest in eating Rishi's food. I have a lot of work."
"But Shi"
"Shivaay. Annika." Rishikesh called from behind. "I hope I didn't disturb you guys."
"No it's okay Rishi. We weren't talking anything important." I could feel Shivaay glare at me.
"I wanted to ask Shivaay's permission to take his wife for coffee and then maybe a movie today. Can I Shivaay?"
I couldn't believe it. Did he just ask me that? He wanted to take Annika out on a date.
'Calm down, Shivaay. Their just good friends. Calm down.'
"Sure. Why not? In fact why just for a movie and coffee. Spend the whole day with her. Go shopping and then maybe even take her out for dinner." I said sarcastically.
"Seriously Shivaay. Even I was thinking of the same thing but I thought you wouldn't be comfortable with it."
You've got to be kidding me. If I could, I would've killed Rishi by now. How dare he take Annika out on a date. Before I could say anything Annika left with Rishi without sparing a glance at me.
~~~"Our plan worked Rishi. It worked. I squealed in delight. "In no time Shivaay will accept ki unhe farak padhtha hai."
"I know Annika but what if our plan backfires? What if-"
"Nope. Now nothing can go wrong. If everything goes according to out plan, then Shivaay will be at the restaurant on time and on seeing us together, he'll get really pissed and in a fit of rage he'll accept it."
"But how can you be so sure?" Rishi asked.
"Arre. Just wait and watch." I flipped my hair back.
~~~As I thought, I saw Shivaay's car pull up in the parking lot of the restaurant.
The door opened and I saw Shivaay Singh Oberoi enter the restaurant. Seeing this I high-fived Rishi.
But then he wasn't also. He turned back and he offered his hand to someone. And to my horror, it was none other than Tia.
Anupamaa
