MERRY CHRISTMAS – ISHQBAAZ FS- Part 2

A/N: The article of Part 2 was submitted by mistake. So, I suggest all my FS readers to go through this as it is the FULL/Edited—Part 2 of my Shivika FS “Merry Christmas”. Also, it has a better grammar 😉 The other article has been deleted as informed.
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Previous Part- Part 1 here
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Part 2:

“Nice name. Merry Christmas, Simran.” The beautiful stranger/Raj extended his hand to meet for hers in a handshake.
Anika fell back against the bench. “Oh god.”
“Hey? Are you okay?” Apparently the worried frown that she despises, again took place on his fore-head.
She bobbed her head in a nod as she took deep steady breaths to calm that heavily beating—heart of hers.
The thought that entered her mind first, when she saw his face was—Blue. Blue eyes. And that blue-eyes had made her want to sink deep—deeper than anyone else inside them.
“Simran, should I need to call for medication?” Raj asked her as his other hand went to the back pocket of his pants to retrieve his cell phone from them.
“No. Don’t do that. Please” Her hand squeezed his—without her knowing, stopping him from calling for any help.
She felt him stiffen with an undeniable awkwardness beside her.
“What happ—nd?” That’s when she saw her hand—still in his hold, in a death grip.
Jerking her hand free from his grip, she apologized “Sorry, er…I didn’t mean—“
“—it’s ok. Umm…I don’t mind it.” He reached out, again taking the hold of her hand.
If her face had to be described using a colour then, then it would’ve been red. Never in her whole life was she this thankful to the darkness of a night, as she was at that moment.
After a while—as she gained control of her nerves, she gazed towards Raj who already was staring right towards her.
“Raj? My name is Simran. Raj-Simran? Haven’t you got that pun already?” tried Anika to lighten the tense temperature, by starting a conversation.
He didn’t answer, but after a while his face grew tensed and immediately freeing his hand from hers, he rubbed the inside of his hand as if it’d been burned.
“I got to go.” Raj’s voice was sad.
Her gasp as she saw him leaving, was too frickin’ obvious. “You’re going? –home?” she pushed her body to stand when she saw him taking long strides towards the exit.
“Hey Raj. Can we—“She thought she’d lost him, except she seemed surprised when he turned her way.
“Huh?” asked he, his intense blue stare piercing her soul.
“Umm…okay. Good bye Raj.” As the tear glazed the rim of her eyes, she bid her last adieu to him. But her brain got stuck when she saw him walking…towards—her?
He planted his right palm on her cheek and his left hand went at her the back—to grip the bottom of her neck, leaning in. It happened so fast, she couldn’t believe it. Raj dipped, and pressed his mouth against hers.
The contact didn’t even last for seconds, as he quickly withdrew his mouth from hers after giving it a small peck.
“Good bye Simran. It was nice meeting you.” And with that final greeting he left her standing there, unknown of her emotions towards him.
I wish, Anika thought. I wish I’d gotten the chance to know that blue-eyed man. Gotten a chance to tell him my real name. I wish.
Before leaving the park, Anika again dropped her stare towards the now—empty bench. Today, it was the first time in many years that she wasn’t the only one who sat there. And she didn’t know why, but she was glad. Glad that she’d spent her Christmas Eve with Raj, and that too by being his Simran.
Something on the bench forced her unwanted attention and her eyes found it. A handkerchief? Anika thought. Maybe. She walked over to it and carefully grabbed the handkerchief, before turning away and leaving the park.

“Shivaay.” Reading the words scribbled on the handkerchief for the millionth time, Anika called it a night as she went to her bed. And immediately slept away as tiredness from the day consumed her.

It’s been five long years. Five years of them meeting at this park, on this very bench. And no one could imagine the kind of relationship they have now, from their first very-awkward meeting.

A year after that on the same Eve, Anika again went to the park. She refused to think about him—and his blue eyes. As the very idea of them makes her mental.
When she admired the scene of the happy children, also she hoped from the tiny part of her heart that he would come. His handkerchief was still with her and she’d kept it even more preciously than she could have ever kept gold.
“What if he won’t come?” That thought made her stomach churn.
Anika shook her head out from the dreadful thought. “I don’t care if he comes or not, I don’t care. I don’t care about Shiva—“
Shivaay. The name scribbled on the handkerchief that he had left. It’s been a whole year and not even now could she understand why she had preferred to call him that, instead of his name—Raj.
Damn, she wished if she’d asked for any kind medium—to contact with. Leaning back towards the bench she placed her head on the top edge of it, closing her eyes. Again her mind wandered to that blue-eyed monster who’d made her life a living hell from the day she’d met him.
To pass the time, she took out the hankie from her bag, before inhaling it. God I’m going crazy, Anika thought. The hankie for the first few days, had smelled like him. The scent of his deep, musky cologne had left Anika feel delighted. But as the weeks passed, she thought of washing the thing—just to regret it after. Now it smells like detergent, the duplicate essence of rose and lemon had ruined that deep cologne that she longed the most.
Something had changed, Anika sensed as she sprang to her feet. She got a feeling as if she was being watched. And indeed, someone was staring at her from the far corner of the park.
The shadowed figure moved towards her, catching her off guard. But she waited before rushing towards any conclusion. The vision of the person cleared under the moon light and it appeared to be male. He was wearing an attire that could be passed with flying marks in 90’s era. Surely, not an outfit for someone to wear nowadays.
“Oh god. Raj” Suddenly, her heart was pounding.
The man clipped his fingers together, making a ‘tsk’-‘tsk’ sound and immediately the whole park brightened from the decorated lights. Anika gripped the bench as she felt her feet wobble.
It was Shiva…er—Raj. Dressed exactly liked Shah Rukh Khan from DDLJ. The black leather jacket he wore was paired with corduroy jeans. And also had the classic round Raybans with a tucker cap to add the style.
When he was in front of her, he nudged her nose with his index finger. “Hey Senorita. Missed me?”
She shook her head and took a step back towards the bench. “No.”
“No? You really didn’t?”
“No. ‘Cause I hate you. I hate you, Raj. For leaving me hanging here that night. Do you even know how I felt? And the fact that you Kis—“
Something touched her shoulder—his hand and she was eased by the feel of it. It slowly went down her arm and over her wrist and to her hand. He gripped her hand in his before bringing it towards his mouth to place a kiss on the inside of her palm.
I am in love, Anika thought as she looked at him. I have so fallen in love.
“I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?” His blue eyes paled as he anticipated for her answer.
“Yes.” She whispered when she felt her stomach flutter.
“All right then. Back to the night. Merry Christmas, Simran.” Greeted her ‘Shivaay’, swapping back to his usual nature after getting what he’d wanted.
“Idiot.” Anika muttered as she again went back to admire her blue-eyed man.
“—norita? Simran? Are you even listening to me?” He asked, jerking her shoulders to bring her out from the daze.
Anika mocked him a reply. “Yeah. Proceed Mr ‘wanna be’ Shah Rukh Khan. I’m so eager to listen whatever—you’ve in mind.”
Raj frowned. “Are you mocking me?”
“No.”
“Yes you were.”
“No.”
“Yes, Simran you were.”
“No, Raj I was not.”
“Simran!”
“Raj!”
And the two of them broke into a loud laughter as the night went young—rather than going old.

—To be continued in Part III
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A/N: Do not forget to like & to voice your views for this part—Love, Devsona.
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