New Beginnings || Shivika in Chawl Series|| UPDATED CH 3&4-PG 8 - Page 3

*Pages from the 24 hours in a chawl*

Hour 11:00 : Staring at HER sun!

Scene: Inside Annika's home

Scene overview: The day after that long night where Annika spoke about her abusive childhood memories, when Shivaay held her in his arms protecting her from her nightmares and embracing her into a peaceful sleep.

This chapter is from Annika's POV!

Time : 06:00 am

She woke up to the humming in the trees and the sway of the breeze! Shielded in the arms of the one she loves, she breathed the first whiff of air that carried his scent in each of its particle! Oh, how long it had been! More than four months, if she counts that torturous month after she came to Oberoi Mansion for her Baggad Billa! Just his thought, and her heart did a somersault of its own!

Annika blushed as she chided herself for these teenage thoughts! It was a new day, a new feeling of belonging. Tucked in his embrace she squeezed his arm for one last time before starting to entangle herself, slowly and meticulously!

It was 6.00 am! She didn't need a watch for that, she was back to being in her home. The origin of her hustle. When her days started two or three hours after it had ended. At Oberoi Mansion she had taken a few liberties while she could! One of them being her carefree sleep! Shivaay mocked her for it but she knew how precious those few moments of sleeping in were! Also, she secretly loved that this habit of hers too irritated him. She giggled before giving one last try to free herself from the arms that caged

As soon as she managed to entangle his arm from her neck, he snaked it around her waist! The Baggad Billa of a man was awake! He rested his chin on her shoulder and mumbled in his morning voice!

" Khumbhkaran ki neend itni jaldi kaise khul gayi aaj?

She chuckled. Not because of his khumbhkaran reference but his sleepyhead voice! Oh, how much she has missed this. His touch didn't make Annika awkward anymore, they had settled into an intimacy that was as natural as the progression in their relationship. She wasn't afraid of it anymore. In fact, she craved it as much as him! The last time he had tried to get closer, Pinky Aunty's three day challenge had been looming above her head like a Damascus sword! She shuddered in pain. And immediately Shivaay strengthened his grip on her! She leaned back into him and let him take in all her pain! This unspoken give and take in their relationship was what she had missed.

They stayed like that for a minute before she remembered the long list of chores she needed to do. After all she was settling back to being Annika, to the life she had so effortlessly embraced! She nudged Shivaay and turned to his side. His eyes were still shut but she knew he could sense all her emotions. She cupped his stubbled face and and whispered "Good morning" and with a glint in her eyes continued "Good morning... Billuji"

Shivaay's eyes flew open at the mischief laden voice of hers as she jumped up and ran out his grip! Giggling and squealing like a small child. Oh, how he missed this!

The sun was just rising, spreading its wings far and wide! As the rays of the sun touched Annika's tender face she stood there, arms open as she took in the warmth of the new day. Worries of yesterday forgotten, encapsulating the positive energies for her new day! And with this beautiful image in front of him sleep overtook him as a smile danced on his lips.

She turned back as he tucked himself back to sleep, staring at her sun! The warmth that seeped through her heart, was unimaginable. She sent a silent prayer to the one she never prayed to, to keep him safe, to keep him happy. To keep him hers. To keep him HER sun!

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Thank you for reading, it's a short update but I hope you guys like it! 😊