Soothing the Fire-Shivika FF UPDATED(Chapter-20 on pg-144)06/09 - Page 100

Originally posted by: AlishaSyed

Please scrap this daskh .. so we can enjoy our lovingly couple .. please please daskh is psycho path

I love you story it's is interesting .. love it .. I wish show mein bhi isi tarhan kuch hota ...

Another quick update, as promised! It's very small, but I just had to end it here. Anyway guys, here we are- the 20^th chapter- the last one in this thread! I can't believe how far I've come with this story. It was originally meant to be a TS, but I'm so glad I decided to continue with it. Loads of hugs and kisses to all my readers, regardless of whether you've ever liked or commented or not. To all those who've motivated me with their lovely words- I LOVE you all!

Anyway, next thread will be up soon, with the next chapter. Surprise waiting for you all there ;)

Chapter-20

Shivaay's office was located at the top most floor of the building- that is, the 31^st floor. His cabin was the only room on the floor, which gave him the quiet environment he needed to work. The room was, of course, very spacious, and it was decorated very classily. Expensive furniture, plush sofas. Wall adorned by many pictures of his family. There was a large glass wall on one side that gave one a far-reaching view of Mumbai.

Annika was practically dragged into the room by Shivaay as they got down from the elevator. The lift ride had been silent, probably because they were accompanied by a few other people. As soon as they entered the cabin, Shivaay shut the door, and locked it properly. Turning to Annika, he cupped her face, and gave her such a sudden, searing kiss, she felt weak in the knees. Pulling back, he looked into her eyes intensely, and breathed out.

"I'm so sorry."

"Shivaay," Annika whispered. "Why are you apologising?"

"You know why, Annika. You must have felt so... so small down there, when that bloody receptionist told you to leave."

She had, but admitting it would only make Shivaay feel guiltier, and she didn't want that. Moreover, she had never been one to care what other people thought or said.

"No Shivaay," She said, taking his face in her hands now, "It's nothing like that, okay? She was just asking me if I had an appointment. That's her job, Shivaay. You don't have to fire her for me!"

"Oh, I do. No one gets away with talking to you like that. Not as long as Shivaay Singh Oberoi is alive."

Annika rolled her eyes.

"Shuru ho gayi aapki tadibaazi?" She asked, and his face broke into a grin. He pulled her closer and engulfed her into a hug.

"I'm really sorry, love." He repeated, kissing the top of her head.

Annika hummed. "Now can we forget this and go eat, Shivaay? I'm so hungry!"

Shivaay chuckled at that.

"Yes, of course. Let's go."

"Are we leaving togethe, though? I mean, won't people notice?" Annika asked him hesitantly. Shivaay only replied with a "I don't care, making Annika beam and kiss him on the cheek.

They were about to leave, before Annika suddenly seemed to remember something.

"Oh bete ki! I came so far, and now I'll leave before even seeing your cabin properly? No way!"

It was Shivaay who rolled his eyes this time.

"Annika," he said in a commanding voice, as if reprimanding a child. "You have your entire life to see my cabin. Now let's go and have lunch?"

Annika pouted sadly, but then gave him a khidkitod smile.

"Fine, let's go!"

The restaurant was situated just across the road, as Shivaay had said, but he still insisted on taking a car. Annika let him do as he pleased- her mood was finally back to normal, and she didn't want to ruin it again. A few of the staff stared at them as they got down and into the car, but one look from Shivaay had them all going back to work hurriedly. Annika smiled and thought about how he had this effect on people, of intimidating them scaring them away with just his kanji eyes.

The restaurant was named King's Cuisine and was an expensive one. It was decorated very nicely inside, with a Royal theme to suit its name. There were paintings of the old kings on India on the walls, and even a large chair decorated like throne, where a family was taking pictures. Upon entering, Shivaay and Annika were greeted by the manager.

"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Oberoi." He said with a smile, making Annika blush and Shivaay grin.

"Actually, it's Miss Annika," Annika corrected him, glaring at Shivaay.

"Oh, my bad, Ms. Annika. We have your table reserved. Right here, please." He led them towards a table in a corner, and they settled down on the cozy chairs opposite each other. Since it was a weekday, there weren't many people around, but of course Shivaay would still feel the need to reserve a table.

"So, how was your day so far?" Shivaay asked her.

It was then that Annika remembered the lovely roses left on her desk.

"Oh, it was amazing. Especially thanks to the surprise left on my desk by someone." She said cheekily. Shivaay, however, did not seem to get what she meant.

"What surprise?" He asked her. Annika rolled her eyes. So now he will deny doing something romantic, huh? He probably thinks it will ruin his 'cold' image!

"Don't act so much, Shivaay." Annika said, leaving a confused Shivaay. "Anyway let's order quickly, mere pet me haati daur rahe hai."

" Pet me haati nahi chuhe daurte hain, Annika." Shivaay corrected her bluntly.

"Mere pet me haati i daurte hain, okay?" Annika replied, all the while gazing through the menu. She chose to eat all those foods that Shivaay found to be too 'spicy and oily'.

"These are very unhealthy, Annika. You know what, let me order," he snatched the menu away from her, even though his own one lay right there, "Hmm, let's see. I think we should have the Sweet Corn Soup, the plain rice, boiled vegeta... areh, why did you stand up?"

"Why should I stay here?" She said, mouth twisted in an angry frown, "You just want to eat your preferred food, right? I don't understand why you even called me here!"

Shivaay quickly got up, went around the table, and made her sit down again. Some of the other people there noticed their exchange, and smiled at the cute couple. Coming back to his own seat, he took her hands in his.

"Okay, okay, why are you getting so angry? We'll have whatever you want. Okay?"

Annika looked at him with narrowed eyes for a minute, before finally relenting.

"Okay!" She exclaimed with a smile.

After they were done ordering whatever she liked, Shivaay and Annika fell into a light conversation.

"...and that stupid Miss Reiki, said she wants to change the theme of the cocktail party. Again!"

"Just a few more days, love. Then we won't have to bear her again."

"I know. That's the only thing that's stopping me from strangling her!"

Their food arrived, and Annika dived into it right away. Shivaay only looked at the dishes hesitantly.

"Shivaay, you won't die if you have oily food one day, okay?" Annika said when she noticed his discomfort. Shivaay sighed heavily, before deciding to just eat up.

"So, I talked to Mrs. Kapoor today," he said between taking small bites, "She said she'll be back by this Monday. We can get the contracts signed then, and after waiting a week or two for everything to be finalized, I'll execute my plan."

"See, everything's gonna turn out fine. You were worrying unnecessarily." Annika said in between her gluttonous bites. Shivaay smiled at that, leaning in, he rubbed the corner of her mouth with his thumb to clean off the curry there.

"Anyway, how's Sahil doing?"

Annika told him all about Sahil's upcoming trip then, and how she wasn't sure if she should let him go.

"I mean, I know I should. But I'm just a bit worried, you know? He's never gone for an entire week before. And I'll feel pretty lonely too." She said sadly.

There was a sudden glint in Shivaay's eyes hearing that, as if he had just had the most spectacular idea ever, but he didn't say anything about it. Instead, he urged her to let Sahil go and explore his potential. Annika nodded in reply.

"Hmm, maybe I will. I don't want to hold him back from showcasing his talent. And I'm thinking of sending him to a boarding school soon, so I should get used to his absence."

They finished their meal while talking, and Shivaay begged her to let him choose the dessert. Annika agreed, albeit after much banter. He ordered for them the restaurant's classic brownies dipped in hot chocolate sauce, and served with vanilla ice cream on top. Annika loved it.

"Mmm, Shivaay, this is so good!" Little did she know that her boyfriend was too busy staring at her chocolate covered lips to be listening to her. He wanted to lean in and wipe the chocolate off with his tongue, but alas, they were in a public place. He made a mental note to gift her chocolates sometime soon.

To divert his mind from the delicious sight in front of him, Shivaay looked around. It was then that he noticed a couple sitting on the table beside theirs. It was evident that they were recently married, since the woman had about a dozen red and white bangles adorning each hand. The couple had their hands entwined on the table, but it seemed like they were a bit shy; still becoming comfortable with each other. Following Shivaay's gaze, Annika looked at them too.

"Such a cute couple," She said with a genuine smile.

"Yeah," Shivaay agreed, and then as an after thought- "That'll be us pretty soon."

Annika blushed hard hearing that.

"Are you implying that we'll be married pretty soon?" She asked him, an eyebrow raised.

Shivaay shrugged as if the answer was obvious, earning a scowl from Annika.

"And did you even ask me if I want to marry you?" She asked with narrowed eyes.

Shivaay gulped hard at that.

"D-don't you?" He was visibly scared about the answer.

Annika shrugged this time, mocking him.

"I don't know. I mean, you haven't asked me..." She trailed off.

"I will, of course!" Shivaay replied hurriedly. "A proper proposal, once everything is sorted. Yep, definitely."

Annika rolled her eyes. Look at him being smug about proposing to her. Talk about being romantic!

"Shivaay, I'd rather you not propose to me soon." Annika said softly after a while, turning the conversation more serious.

"Why not?" Shivaay furrowed his brows. Did she not want to marry him? Annika seemed to read the question in his eyes.

"See, I want to make something of my life before marrying, Shivaay. I've always dreamt of having my own event planning business, and I want to pursue that. I know that marrying you won't be a hindrance, and you'll always support me," She raised her eyebrows slightly here, asking for assurance. Shivaay nodded with a smile, and took her hand on the table.

"But the thing is," She continued, "I want to do everything on my own, independently. I want to secure my own life before joining it with yours. You've achieved so much in your life Shivaay, and I would want to do atleast something to make our relationship takkar ka in all senses."

As she finished, Shivaay squeezed her hand.

"I'm with you, love. You can take as much time as you want. Okay, well, not that much time, since I want you to be mine as soon as possible," Annika let out a giggle at that, "But still, I'll support you through and through, okay?"

They were both silent after that. Basking in the feeling of being with each other. They knew that soon, both would have to return to the world and put up their pretense again, so they stayed there for as long as they could, in their happy bubble. When they finally gathered enough self-power to part, Annika was glowing at having spent time with her love, while Shivaay still had that mindblowing idea brewing in his mind.

Thread-2