Chapter 4

The first thing Shivay regretted was accepting Annika's invitation as soon as he said 'yes' and she left the house with a smile. The second thing he regretted was not paying attention to the kind of things you do when you go to someone else's house especially during festival.

Waking up on a Diwali morning, Shivay spent an hour in bed replying to all whatsapp to wishes and then another few minutes talking to his mom telling her how he was going to go to temple, attend special puja and share sweets, albeit store bought one, to neighbours. Though he was not going to do the last one, he did go to temple and attended the puja.

Annika had already sent location of her house to him and he confirmed his arrival for lunch. So, next two hours Shivay spent in the mall trying to buy some gifts for Annika's family. However, the only problem with that was Shivay didn't know anything about Annika's family at all.

"I am sure she must have one or both her parents." He concluded as he bought handheld massager that was definitely to impress any senior citizen.

"Siblings!!" Shivay thought for a moment. "She must have." He decided. One time, during her day off, when Shivay clogged the sink while washing vessels, she looked at him disappointedly and muttered 'All men are the same'. So, she definitely must have a brother. Not to forget that the other day, while talking to a kid in their apartment fighting with her elder sister, Annika had given a good lecture on sister bonding. So, she might even have a sister. Or, better, Annika could have both, a brother and sister. So, to be on safer side, Shivay bought two gender neutral sunglasses. To be on saver side with an extra gift, just in case, Shivay bought coaster set. Finally, for Annika, he bought self embroidered designer shawl.

With gifts and two boxes of sweets and savouries, Shivay reached Annika house and thirty past one.

Annika's house was not in a posh neighbourhood as his, which didn't surprise him, but her neighbourhood seemed decent enough. Annika's house in particular was a three storey building surrounded by compound wall and plants and tree inside the compound. For a Diwali afternoon, the neighbourhood was quiet and Shivay called Annika from outside her building to know which floor was her house.

Within minutes, Shivay saw Annika hopping down the stairs from the terrace. She was wearing beige palazzo and bright orange crop top. Her hair was pulled in a tight bun that screamed domestic in spite of her festive dress. She looked at him from the stairs and threw one of her bright smiles. Between second and first floor, Annika had unknotted her bun and when she greeted him at the gate, her lush hair was cascading on her shoulder.

Even as they shared pleasantries and Diwali wishes, as Shivay complimented her on living in such eco friendly building, he didn't miss to notice that he was seeing dressed up for the first time, especially with open hair and all. Though Shivay even on first meeting agreed that she was very good looking, he realized she was in fact very beautiful in the true sense of the word. Out of her casual clothes and disoriented hairstyles, she looked gorgeous and so much young. He not for the first time wondered how old she was. Of course, he knew she will be younger than his 34, but for her he wasn't able to decide between mid twenties and late twenties.

"Sorry, we don't have a lift here." She said not apologetically but teasingly as he huffed his way behind her in the stairs. Damn! He should do something about his weight.

Shivay looked at her surprised as instead on the house in the third and last floor as he assumed, Annika climbed the stairs to the terrace.

"That is my house."

"Oh!"

What Shivay saw was a small construction that could only be called a room.

"If I wanted to live in such a decent and safe neighbourhood, I had to compromise on the size of the house, you know."

Shivay immediately felt guilty wondering if his disappointed 'Oh' had got this answer from her. However, looking at her still smiling brightly at him, he can't tell if anything can affront her.

You cannot offend an assured person.

Shivay immediately wiped his frown out with a smile for her and followed her inside her house.

For something that looked so inhabitable, Annika had a knack for making it look like a proper house. It was tidy, fresh smelling and warm.

"It's the kitchen." She pointed to the right. "Washroom." She pointed to the door in the left. "And we are standing in my bedroom/living room."

The room where he stood had a small study table, a cupboard, shelves with books and a very small TV which will surely find its place in museum in few years.

"Your house is really pretty, Annika." He complimented genuinely.

"Thank you." She lifted her shoulder in pride. "You should know more than anyone how pedantic I am about clean houses." She giggled at her own statement making him also smile.

Shivay bought the three bags he was holding in front of Annika. "I bought these for you." He said and before Annika could say anything the door to the bathroom opened and a small boy, not more than six years old, came out. His chin pressed to his chest holding the end of his Kurta while his hands pushed forward the untied strings of his churidar.

"Mumma, help me with this."

Shivay looked on perplexed as Annika went to the boy's side, knelt down in front of him, tied his pant strings slowly while teaching him how to do it, then ruffled his hair, kissed his cheeks before bringing the boy to where Shivay stood.

"This is Vihaan. My son. My only family." Annika introduced to Shivay. "And this." Annika looked down at her son. "is my boss." Annika nudged her son forward to shake hands with Shivay. "Come on, shake hands. " she said. This felt as an instruction to Shivay as well who was still in daze learning that Annika has a son.

"Hi." Shivay cleared his voice. "Hi, Vihaan." He shook hands with the small boy.

"Happy Diwali." The boy wished unprompted with a big toothy grin and gleaming eyes that so much reminded of Shivay of Annika.

"Happy Diwali." Shivay replied.

"Is that for me?"

It took a moment for Shivay to realize he was still holding the gifts mid air.

"Oh! Errr...I." he ran his fingers through his hair. "Sure." Shivay handed the gifts to the boy.

Seeing the boy opened the bag with excited eyes, Shivay immediately regretted not knowing from Annika that she lived with a small boy. Now, Shivay had not bought anything that would interest a little boy except maybe a box of ferrero rocher.

He immediately conveyed his guilt to Annika. "I didn't buy anything that suits for a kid."

"Don't worry about that. Vihaan has learned to be happy with what he has since long. He will love your gifts."

When they heard a sound of button being clicked, they both turned to find Vihaan playing with handled massager that Shivay apparently bought for Annika's nonexistent parents.

"Mumma, this is super cool." Vihaan grinned running the massager from his head to tip of his toes.

Annika turned to Shivay and smiled. "He likes his gift."

"Well, guess, I don't know many things about you."

Annika looked at him. "I don't know many things about you too. So, that tallies."

Both nodded in agreement with small smile.

***

Well, that is enough for this chapter, I guess.

Get settled with the twist of Annika having a son. We will see more interaction in next chapter.

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