Sweet, Shy and Bold ✔

Shivaay couldn’t believe he was attending a funeral when he had to participate in an urgent meeting somewhere abroad instead. Two years of his rocky marriage with Mallika had started falling apart only recently. The divorce papers were ready. He only had to hand them over to Mallika to sign. But the unfortunate event she and her sister were going through didn’t let Shivaay inform her about his decision. He traveled up to Delhi from Mumbai to pay his condolences.

Their mother’s demise shattered the two sisters. He had no heart to console Mallika, but society and modesty required him to. He sat silently at the table between two sisters.

“Annika, you have to come,” Mallika was saying, “I won’t let you be alone after mom is gone. What will you do here? Come to Mumbai with us. You will live at the Oberoi mansion with me and Shivaay, go to a college there, and when you are independent, you can do what you want. At least for now, come with us.”

Shivaay appreciated how Mallika cared for her sister, if not for him. She was a vicious snake otherwise. She openly accepted that she married him for his money and would do anything to keep him and his property with her.

But that was not the time to think about it. Shivaay’s concern was Annika now. The cheerful girl he met at his wedding was gone. In her place was a grieving girl who did not know what she would do in the future. He always had a crush on her. There were times he wished he married her instead of her sister. Seeing her like this stung his heart.

Shivaay reached for her hand. Her eyes shot up to look at him. She was visibly scared and wasn’t able to say anything.

“Come with us,” Shivaay said. She withdrew her hands from his and wiped her tears. She left the place without replying.

“I swear Shivaay,” Mallika hit her hand on the table, “If my sister doesn’t come with us, I will make your family’s life a living hell.”

Shivaay groaned. He wrapped his arms in front of his chest. “Your mom just died, but you don’t care about that. Sorry to say, but you don’t know how and where to use your evil mind. If sending all of my family to Ahmedabad wasn’t enough, you want more.”

He stood up, “Now listen. You don’t care for my family, but I do care about your sister. I want her to come with us, and I will do anything possible to make it happen.” He left the room.

Shivaay found Annika on the balcony while searching for her. He entered through the creaking door. Annika did not realize someone had entered. Shivaay stared at her back for a long time. White clothes didn’t suit her. She looked beautiful only when colorful. His arms ached to embrace her. He wanted to hide her in his arms, kiss all over her face, and promise to be with her no matter what.

Annika sobbed, bringing Shivaay out of his thoughts. He wanted to do a lot but could only do so much. Convincing Annika to come with them was foremost on his list. Not because Mallika wanted him to, but because he wanted to. Shivaay stepped closer to her. It became harder to control himself from hugging her. Each time he looked at her, he only recalled the smiling face of Annika at his wedding with Mallika. The twinkle in her eyes was gone.

His arms slipped behind her waist, his jaw rested on her shoulder, and he pressed his front to her back. She gasped, alarmed. He did not move. His conscious self did not want to hug her, but now he didn’t want to move back. She moved wobbly in his embrace but was unsuccessful in getting him to break the hug.

“I know this is immensely painful for you,” Shivaay admitted, “I know you were very close to your mother. I know you don’t want to come with us because you treat this home as your parents’ last symbol. Annika, I and Mallika care for you. We want to take care of you. For that, you have to come with us. I promise that you will have everything you will need. Just come with us.”

Annika sobbed harder. Shivaay made her face him and cupped her face. He wiped her tears before kissing her forehead. She rested her head on his chest. Shivaay wrapped his arms around her. He let her cry. She kept crying in his embrace until she felt fine.

It had been a week since Annika entered the Oberoi Mansion. She was gradually recovering. At the young age of twenty-one, she saw two deaths, that too of her parents. It took a lot of love and attention from Shivaay and Mallika for her to become normal.

Shivaay must credit Mallika for one thing. She loved her sister a lot. He was happy for Annika to get a loving sister. He wished Mallika was a loving wife too. Maybe then, he won’t have to proceed with the first divorce of the Oberoi family.

Annika entered the dining area, breaking his trance. Her hair was straight, contrary to the messed up one he had seen for the past seven days. She wasn’t smiling, but she looked fine. She grabbed two pieces of bread, peanut butter, and jelly from the kitchen and sat on the table, skipping a seat from Shivaay. Shivaay was used to seeing her eat the usual bread, butter, and tea. He was curious about the change but did not want to ask her directly.

“You like peanut butter and jelly?” he asked her.

“Annika loves it,” came Mallika’s voice making him frown. She took a seat between Shivaay and Annika. Shivaay wished Annika hadn’t skipped the middle seat. He couldn’t tolerate the woman he called his wife.

“I asked Annika,” Shivaay sounded a bit impatient.

“She is my baby sister, dear. I have some rights, no?” Mallika said, batting her eyelids.

“Di, Jiju, please don’t fight for me,” Annika said. Shivaay’s frown changed into a smile. One thing about Annika he noticed was that she spoke rarely, but her sweet voice charmed him whenever she spoke. She wasn’t always like that, but Shivaay liked her as she was in the past and the present.

“Don’t worry, baby. Shivaay and I talk like this usually. You have to go to your new college for transfer orientation, right? Best of luck.” Mallika said.

“Aren’t you coming with me?” Annika asked.

“I will drop you till college; then I have to leave. I have a meeting. Don’t worry; the driver will pick you later,” Mallika said.

Mallika’s meeting meant kitty parties with other ladies in their community. Shivaay silently took his words back about Mallika being a good sister.

Mallika and Annika left for her orientation a while later. Shivaay counted hours till Annika’s orientation ended, and he went to pick her up himself. Annika was shocked, albeit happy, to find him outside her new college. She placed all her files in the back seat and settled herself in the passenger seat beside Shivaay. He smiled at her.

“How was the orientation?” he asked.

“It was fine,” Annika replied, “the college is good.”

“It’s number one in Mumbai,” he said.

Annika nodded. Shivaay couldn’t tolerate the silence in the car.

Annika was staring at her lap. He stopped near an ice cream shop. She looked up, now more aware of her surroundings.

“I know you love ice cream. Why don’t we celebrate your first day of college?” he suggested.

Annika hummed. Shivaay opened his door, walked to the other side, and opened the door for her. She stepped out only to stumble at the door and fall leaning into Shivaay. Her breath fanned his neck. His eyes locked into hers; her eyes were blank, full of grief, and unknown about the future. He held her shoulders, helped her to stand, and backed off.

“Go inside and see what you like. I will come in a while,” Shivaay said.

Annika left. Shivaay saw her going through the doors, and he took a deep breath. He did not know if his feelings for Annika were right, but he couldn’t control them, especially when she was so near.

He followed Annika inside. She had Chocorocko ice cream in her hand. The smile on her face grew into him. If he knew Annika would smile with just ice cream, he would have brought her here earlier. He neared her and ordered another chocorocko for himself. The waiter went to the back. Shivaay stared at Annika’s smile.

When they finished enjoying their icecreams, Shivaay noticed there were remnants of some ice cream on her lips. He looked away, trying hard not to stare at her lips. He looked again. She was having her second chocorocko. He wished it was his lips on hers instead of the ice cream remnants.

“Annika,” he called for her attention. He used his thumb finger to wipe her lips. She gasped before biting her lips and looking away. “I am coming from the restroom,” she said before running away.

Shivaay looked at her going. He wondered if she felt the same attraction as him.

Annika locked herself inside the washroom. His touch created so many sensations in her. She felt her gut wrench. Sure, Shivaay was handsome, hot even, but he was her sister’s husband. How could she think about him even for a split second?

Back home, Annika ran to her room before doing anything else. She saw a few workers working there.

“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom and change,” she told the workers.

“Sorry ma’am, Mallika ma’am asked us to redesign your room. You won’t be able to use it before tonight,” a lady said.

“Oh, okay, where is the other washroom? I haven’t explored the mansion yet, so I don’t know.” Annika said.

“You can use the washroom in Shivaay sir’s study. It’s straight to the left.” the lady said.

“Thank you,” Annika left after saying.

Shivaay entered the study room. He did not understand what had happened to Annika unless she was attracted to him like he was.

He walked towards the restroom. He opened the door to see something he had desired since he first saw Annika. Annika was undressing. She forgot to lock the door. Her back faced him. He could see her front through the mirror. She stood only in her bra and panty. He gulped. Her body was very sexy. Her petite waist, her ass cheeks, and her boobs covered with bra were everything he dreamt about

He watched as she pulled down her panties. Her ass was bare in front of him. It was unfortunate the mirror was small and didn’t cover her whole body. She unclipped her bra. The bra fell on the floor. He turned hard, looking at her big boobs in the mirror. He licked his lips. Her protruding nipples were inviting.

He immediately closed the door leaning against the wall. He opened the zip of his trousers and stroked his length. Annika’s bare body flashed in front of his eyes. He was startled for seconds. What did he just see?

Precap: Annika is scared after she watches horror film

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Do read my other book Ruining Innocence too