Innocent Love 2

Next Day – Morning

Anika wakes up late, stretching lazily as the bright sunlight filters through the curtains. She yawns and checks the time.

Anika: "Oh no! It's already 9 AM! Mujhe toh breakfast ke time uthna tha!"

She quickly gets up and freshens up, wearing a comfy hoodie and pajamas. She makes her way downstairs, only to find Shivay, already dressed in his formal attire, sitting at the dining table, eating his breakfast with his usual serious expression.

Anika plops onto the chair across from him and grabs a paratha.

Anika: "Good morning, Bholu Ram!"

Shivay shoots her a glare.

Shivay: "Don't call me that."

Anika (grinning): "Okay, okay. Good morning, Mr. Nerd."

Shivay rolls his eyes and ignores her. Anika takes a bite of her paratha and sighs dramatically.

Anika: "Wah! Yeh paratha toh bilkul ghar jaisa lag raha hai!"

Shivay: "Of course, it is. The cook made it, not you."

Anika (mock offended): "Excuse me! Maine kab kaha ki maine banaya? Waise bhi, mujhe cooking nahi aati."

Shivay raises an eyebrow.

Shivay: "Wow. You don’t know how to study, you don’t know how to cook… tumhe aata kya hai?"

Anika (smirking): "Dil jeetna!"

Shivay chokes on his coffee. Anika giggles as he glares at her.

Just then, his phone rings. He picks up and talks for a few minutes before turning back to Anika.

Shivay: "Today, we’ll start your studies. Be ready by 11."

Anika pouts.

Anika: "Matlab ab mujhe tumse classes leni padengi? Bhai ne bhi kya sochke mujhe yahan bhej diya!"

Shivay (smirking): "Regretting your decision already?"

Anika: "Bilkul bhi nahi! Main toh bas yeh soch rahi hoon ki ek boring professor ke saath time kaise katega."

Shivay clenches his jaw.

Shivay: "We’ll see how boring I am."

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Later – Study Session Begins

Anika enters Shivay’s study room, looking around in awe. The entire room is filled with neatly arranged bookshelves, a large study table, and a whiteboard.

Anika: "Yeh toh ek library lag rahi hai!"

Shivay, already seated with his laptop, gestures toward the chair opposite him.

Shivay: "Sit. Let’s start with something basic."

Anika sighs and sits down, resting her chin on her palm.

Shivay: "We’ll start with math."

Anika groans loudly.

Anika: "Math aur mera rishta ekdum India-Pakistan jaisa hai. Kabhi nahi sudharta!"

Shivay gives her a blank look.

Shivay: "Just focus. Here, solve this equation."

He pushes a notebook toward her. Anika stares at it as if it’s written in some alien language.

Anika: "Yeh kya hai? Yeh toh chhoti chhoti X, Y ki duniya hai!"

Shivay (sarcastic): "Haan, aur ab tumhe isi chhoti chhoti duniya ko samajhna hai."

Anika sighs dramatically and picks up the pen. She starts scribbling randomly, chewing on the pen cap.

Shivay watches her, his irritation growing.

Shivay: "Are you even trying?"

Anika (grinning): "Main toh soch rahi hoon, agar tum ek scary teacher nahi hote toh kitna maza aata!"

Shivay shakes his head.

Shivay: "You know what? Tumhe samjhane ka ek aur tareeka hai."

Anika blinks.

Anika: "Kya?"

Shivay smirks slightly.

Shivay: "Agar tumne ek din bhi dhyaan se nahi padha, toh tumhe punishment milega."

Anika gasps.

Anika: "Kaisi punishment?"

Shivay: "Simple. Tumhe ek full day meri baat maanni padegi, bina kisi complain ke."

Anika narrows her eyes.

Anika: "Aur agar main achha perform karun toh?"

Shivay (thinking for a second): "Phir tumhe ek day-off milega. Tum jo chaaho kar sakti ho."

Anika grins.

Anika: "Deal!"

Shivay smirks.

Shivay (thinking): "Bas ek din ki baat nahi Anika, main tumhe itna padhaunga ki tumhara dimaag sach mein sudhar jaaye!"

But what Shivay doesn’t realize is that in this game of challenges, he’s the one who might end up changing the most.

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To Be Continued…