If You Loved Me (completed)

Chapter 24

After Tej undesirable visit, Shakti ordered for breakfast to be reserved, and while they all were eating Shivaay was sitting with them but not joining them although he was starving!!! he didn't even touch his favorite sandwiches that was prepared by his wife's hands , or take a sip of the cup of tea he craved all morning, not even blinking and probably forgot to breath many times , he forgot everything and his whole existence became just for looking at her , like it's the first time he ever see her , like if he is just falling in love all over again ...it's amazing to discover the person you love along the journey and its more amazing to see a person that perfect so clueless on how special she is

Anika: Shivaay? Won’t you eat? You don't like the sandwiches?

Shivaay smiled and kissed her hand as she smiled shyly for his sweet gesture, but it was for him more than a kind loving gesture it was actually admiration for those fingers that create miracle

Shakti angrily: Shivaay? We won’t stay here all morning so you can finish your breakfast

Shivaay: papa? No one finished eating...not even you!!!!

Shakti looked at his almost full plate and closed his eyes as Shivaay patted on his hand...

Shakti: I am sorry...I am sorry

Shivaay: its okay, papa...but what is wrong?

Shakti: we have to do something about the head designer, Shivaay...we can’t just stay still like that (then he shook his head and said) I can’t lose my name and reputing after this long I can’t (then he looked at him and said) Shivaay , I am Shakti Singh Oberoi ..I have to die Shakti Singh Oberoi

Anika sadly: god forbid papa, you will always be Shakti Singh Oberoi no matter what

Priyanka: can I suggest something?

Anika smiled widely as Omkara put his hand on his chin and said...

Omkara: what you suggest MS Singh Oberoi?

Priyanka: let’s offer Daksh more money, much more than what uncle Tej offered him!!!

Shakti angrily: not Shakti Singh Oberoi who bends his head to someone who chose to leave him for money

Anika sighed as Shivaay looked at Omkara who swallowed...

Shivaay: papa, you hired me as a vice president for a reason, so I can carry some of the burden, so the issue is mine and I already found a head designer, actually Omkara found a head designer

Omkara eyes widen and swallowed as Shakti looked at Omkara and said...

Shakti: who is he?

Shivaay: she!!!

Anika looked at Shivaay with wide smile as he swallowed and took a bite of the sandwich

Priyanka smiled and said: women power.

Anika smiled widely and said: that is great (then her smile lessened and said) oh but you will be her boss and you will stay all the time together right?

Shivaay nodded and said: yes, I will...all the time

Anika bit her lower lip as Shakti smiled and said..

Shakti : is she English ?

Shivaay smiled widely and said : no , she is an Indian girl from a great family , the greatest!!

Anika looked at him sadly and slide in her chair .

Shakti raised an eyebrow and said : really ? hmm ..I actually know the name of all the famous female designers in India , so who is she?

Shivaay smiled and said : well , she is a new designer , unknown name

Shakti raised an eyebrow and said : I assume then that she has so much experience in the industry and worked before for some famous brand

Shivaay :well , she never worked before but ...she is extremely talented and ...

Shakti angrily stood and everyone else stood and he said ..

Shakti : you want me to give this critical position to unknown name , zero experience , girl ..you want me to stand in front of Tej and Daksh with a girl that know absolutely nothing

Shivaay : papa , she is very talented , you can't Imagine how talented she is , how charming her personality is and how unique her work ..she will take hearts and minds with her talent and in her first fashion show , she will make Oberoi’s name shine like gems

Anika looked at Shivaay’s hand that was clutching on the dinner table nervously and his tensioned body , never had she seen Shivaay fighting for anyone or anything like he is fighting for that girl!!!!

Shakti : that if we got the name , apparently your first decision as a vice president you will make is from your heart not your mind ..never and I mean never be that impressed with some one that make you lose your sense ..we are Oberoi fashion...the head designer is the brain of our business , you understand ?!!! are you willing to risk all of the business for that girl ?

Shivaay strictly : yes ...with my life I guarantee that hiring her will be the best thing happen to Oberoi fashion

Anika closed her eyes and sighed as Omkara said ..

Omkara : uncle , at least give her a chance

Shakti frowned and walked out of the mansion as Priyanka and Anika looked at each other then looked at Shivaay who angrily hit his hand in the wall and moaned in frustration as Omkara leaned frowning on the wall

Priyanka whispered to Anika: Shivaay bhai believes in this girl immensely, she must be amazing

Anika swallowed and said ..

Anika : I just hope Shivaay gets what he wants ..I am sure he is just worried for our family

Priyanka looked at her as Anika took a deep breath and went towards the elevator and got to her room and Priyanka frowned knowing that she must felt insecure seeing Shivaay that possessive on that girl , so she without thinking twice went and pinch him in the arm

Shivaay :AWW ..why Is that Piku?

Priyanka : because you made your wife sad ..that is why !!

Shivaay: sad ? why ?(then his eyes widen and said) oh she thought I am talking about someone else

Priyanka eyes widen and said : what you mean someone else ?!!! who is the "someone"?

Omkara : I also wondered why you didn't tell uncle ?

Priyanka with wide eyes : tell him what ? who is the "someone "?

Shivaay : if I told him her name , he wouldn't take her seriously , I thought to do like you did with me ..show him her talent then tell him that his head designer is his daughter in law

Priyanka gasped as both looked at her shocked as if they just noticed her existence .

Priyanka : I only have one Bhabhi? you mean ...

and she signaled on the elevator and they both nodded and she from the shock screamed but Shivaay put his hand on her mouth

Shivaay : what ? why are you shocked ?!!! yes the head designer will be Anika , she is talented beyond belief

Omkara :Priyanka who never wear cloth older than a season , can’t stop wearing Anika's village cloth

Shivaay smiled widely and looked at the dress and nodded impressed as Priyanka smiled under his hand and blinked her eyes successively and he removed his hand

Shivaay: so what you think ??

Priyanka smiled and said : I don't know anything about your work , but as a fan of cloth , yes I can buy anything Bhabhi touches. but wait she don't know ?!! I can’t wait to tell her ...BHABHI , YOU WONT BELIEVE WHO

Shivaay put his hand over her mouth and said ..

Shivaay: NO , NO WAIT ..I am the one who should tell her (then he took a deep breath and said) I wished I can convince papa first before telling her that but I guess hiding it from her is painful for her since she think I am fascinated with another girl

Omkara chuckled and said: god you looked so fascinated indeed ,your eyes were sparkling , you were about to propose that you fall in love with her , I felt jealous ..no wonder Bhabhi will kill you and...

Shivaay put his other hand on Omkara’s mouth and looked at Priyanka and Omkara who he put his hand on their mouths and said ..

Shivaay : god blessed me with two annoying siblings , who seem so amused with my trouble

both Priyanka and Omkara chuckled under his hand and he said ..

Shivaay : I have to talk to Anika , she needs to know

and he removed his hand and went to the elevator but for his surprise the two entered with him

Shivaay : where are you going ?

Omkara smiled widely and said : to the third floor of course

Priyanka : like we can miss seeing her expression

Shivaay shook his head in disbelief till he reached the 3rd floor and the elevator wrote "password ?"

and he opened the panel to write but he found both Omkara and Priyanka looking with great attention towards the panel

Shivaay : close each other eyes

Omkara : and why is that ?

Shivaay : because I trust you on annoying her and I trust her on annoying you but I don't trust both of you to not annoy me

Omkara raised an eyebrow and said : fair enough

and he put his hand on Priyanka's eyes and she put her hand on Omkara’s eyes as Shivaay wrote the word " lof " and he felt his heart bounding in his chest , he will never forget that night ..god if only she knows how much he loves her !!

the elevator opened and he saw Anika sitting on the bed giving her back to the elevator ..

Shivaay :Anika ?

Anika flinched then turned with wide smile to him , but he didn't answer the smile back , instead he looked at her sadly ..never he thought he will return her smile with sadness , but if anyone saw those beautiful black eyes that teary and sad over the kind smile , he would have done the same .Omkara and Priyanka took a step back and said ..

Priyanka : we will just wait in the elevator

and they went to the elevator as Shivaay looked at Anika who was still smiling and skipping her teary eyes from him

Shivaay : were you crying ?

Anika shook her head and said : why are you saying that ?

Shivaay came near her and wiped under her eyes and said ..

Shivaay: because you were crying , why would you hurt those beautiful eyes with tears ?

Anika smile vanish and closed her eyes as tears flow on her cheek and said ..

Anika : I am sorry ..I don't want to cry but when I feel crying I never can hold my tears. But it’s not important, do not worry

Shivaay : nothing consider you can be not important , what is wrong ?

Anika bent her head a side as tears flow and said : why you love me ?

Shivaay smiled and whispered : if I love you for a reason then I don't deserve you , I love you unconditionally , I just love you for no reason and no purpose (then he said sadly) why are you crying ?

Anika whispered as her tears flow: when you were speaking about that girl , for seconds I thought that this is how I see you ....(then she bent her head a side) that made me feel really scared , you deserve to be with girl like that and have that look when you talk about her but even when I know that.. I don't think I can give you up ...(then she smiled widely as her tears flow) but I know no one will love you more than I do , that must count for something , right?

Shivaay closed his eyes hard and hugged her and said ..

Shivaay : if only you can see yourself with my eyes , you wouldn't say that

(then he wiped her tears and said ..)

Shivaay : I will tell you something Anika , something I never told you before ..(then he smiled widely and said )I already with that perfect girl and I don't understand how can’t she see how perfect she is

Anika smiled and wiped her tears and said : I am sorry Shivaay , I don't mean to put a burden over the one you already carrying (then she smiled and said) and I really hope you can convince uncle with what you want and hire that girl because I believe she must be great and must really deserve it

Shivaay : yes she is the best

Omkara and Priyanka rang the bell of the elevator and Shivaay rolled his eyes and said ..

Shivaay : what you think , should we just ditch them ? and ..( he winked )

Anika chuckled and shook her head in disbelief then opened the elevator for them and they entered and sat on the bed with excited amused faces as Anika looked at them confused

Anika : what ?

Shivaay smiled and turned her towards him and said ..

Shivaay : I need your help more than I ever need it , it's a matter of life or death for me

Anika swallowed and said : what is it ?

Shivaay looked at Omkara and Priyanka who sat on the edge of the bed as he said ..

Shivaay : I need you to convince the girl to work for me , I am really worried she won’t agree

Omkara and Priyanka looked at him confused as Anika swallowed and said ..

Anika : how ?

Shivaay : that what I need help from you for , how can we encourage her to work for us , what can be scaring her to work for us?

Anika : hmm,...to disappoint us I guess ..but I can talk to her about how much we can appreciate her talent and that we need her and ..and ...that ...she have nothing to worry about ....as ...Oberoi fashion is a family (then she looked at him and said ) where she will be save , because safety matters , right ?..and I can tell her how understanding you are and that you will support her

Shivaay smiled and said :I will but I also will manage strictly ..well I think you convinced her, right? it’s time to meet her and tell her that yourself

Anika smiled as he suddenly turned her to the mirror and her eyes widen seeing her reflection

Shivaay :meet Anika Shivaay Singh Oberoi , the candidate for the head designer position in Oberoi fashion , now you knew why I was so fascinated !!!

Anika held her breath and her eyes widen looking at her own reflection , then she suddenly ran towards the elevator but Shivaay held her tight and said ..

Shivaay : don't panic , breath ..breath

Anika looked at him with wide eyes then smiled and shook her head violently ..

Anika : Shivaay I can't , I can't do it ....I am not talented or amazing ..I can’t ..I can’t ..I am not a designer ..I am Anika the village girl ..just Anika

Shivaay smiled and said : just Anika is enough

Omkara went near her and said : Bhabhi , you don't understand how talented you are , I put you under tests that no designer was put under it before and you passed with flying colors , Bhabhi you are amazing !!

Anika took a moment and said : what tests ?

Omkara eyes widen and swallowed and said : well , I wake you up at the middle of your sleep , I gave you a horrible dress that you turned to a master piece ..I made you draw designs and...

(then his eyes widen seeing Anika frowning and biting her lower lip angrily )

Omkara : I never saw her like that before !!!!

Shivaay looked at Anika then he smiled widely and said ..

Shivaay : neither did I , god ..you will be so dead when you become under her hand

Anika: you mean all this suffering was just so you can test me ? you woke me at 3am (then her eyes widen and said) the machines are not broken right ?

Omkara smiled a shivery smile and said : well...

Priyanka angrily: Bhabhi don't worry ,I will take your right

and for everyone surprise she jumped over Omkara with all her weight and he fall on the bed and gasped as she pulled his hair ..

Omkara : SOME ONE GETS THAT GIRL OFF ME , WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?

Priyanka : HOW CAN YOU DO THAT TO BHABHI ? AND WHY YOU TAKE THE PENTHOUSE WHHHHY?

Omkara smiled widely and said : OH , that what hurts ? then what if you knew that I have my own kitchen and fridge !!!

Priyanka screamed in anger as Shivaay and Anika pulled her from her legs off Omkara and said ..

Shivaay : no time for that now

(then he held Anika’s shoulders and said ..)

Shivaay: Anika , you are the family only chance ? you were born for this , I know ..I believe in you ..you have special gift , a beautiful eyes that can see and give beauty

Anika : I am scared Shivaay , I am not a designer ..(then she shook her head and said) the family name is very important to all of us and ..(then she looked at him and said) the girl was me ? you see me like that ?

Shivaay: much much greater than that , but words can’t describe

Anika smiled widely and hugged him and said ..

Anika : thank you ...(then her smile lessened and said) you will always be with me right ? you will never leave my hand right ?

Shivaay smiled widely and said : that means you agree ?

Anika smiled faintly and said : who can say no when you say that I am the only hope for my family and that you believe in me that much (then she shook her head and said) and with all my heart I hope you are right and that it’s your mind talk not your heart

Shivaay smiled and said : I am different than my father in this thinking , I think mind can make mistakes but heart never lies ..but don't worry , you took over both

Anika chuckled shyly as Shivaay said ..

Shivaay : okay thoughts how can we make papa look at her work

Omkara : only one thought is coming to my mind ..I already took pictures of Bhabhi’s designs , I will send them to him on w******p and see what he will say

Priyanka : Omkara , you are brilliant

Omkara smirked and said : I am always is (then he looked at Anika and said) remember that in the fashions shows and be kind to me when I make a mistake

Anika looked at him confused as he folded his hands to her then sent the pictures and wrote ..

Omkara : " this is the designs of the girl , what you think ?"

and they all stood tensioned and held each other's hands as Anika just entered Shivaay's arm shivering

Omkara :SEEN

Anika flinched as Shivaay held on her more and Omkara said ..

Omkara :OH GOD HE IS TYPING

Shivaay in patient : what he said?

Omkara : still typing ...HE STOPPED

Priyanka held on Shivaay’s hand as Omkara said ..

Omkara :NO ..STILL TYPING

Shivaay moaned in frustration as Priyanka held her head and Anika closed her eyes hard

Omkara : HE IS ASKING HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE PICTURE (then he frowned and said) oh uncle, you and technology !!!!

the three of them moaned as Omkara wrote ..

Omkara : "just press on them and they will be downloaded"

and they took a moment and he said ..

Omkara :OH GOD HE IS TYPING ..

Shivaay angrily : can you stop stressing us and just come with result ? my wife will faint and my hair will turn grey

Priyanka shook her head and said : that is the future of my wardrobe in stake here

Shivaay and Anika looked at her with a frown as Omkara frowned and said ..

Omkara : well , he sent the answer

Shivaay eyes widen and said : you don't seem happy

Omkara : he said he want to see her and interview her in an hour

Shivaay chuckled happily and said : that means he agree on her

Omkara: ..with Daksh performing the interview !!!

Shivaay eyes widen as Anika eyes widen and said ..

Anika : is Daksh the one who will compete with me , I thought he left

Shivaay : well , he is working for few weeks so he can train you and the relation with him is not bad , business is business

Anika: okay ...is Daksh that bad?

Shivaay smiled and said : no ..you will be fine

Omkara : he is a legend and that make him a vampire (then he held Anika's shoulder and said) he will eat you alive Bhabhi

Anika eyes widen and her body frozen as Shivaay held her shoulders and said ..

Shivaay: don't panic from that i***t’s words, don't think about it for one second ..go and have fun , it’s our loss if we didn't hire you , okay ?

Anika smiled and said : just hold me in your arms

Shivaay smiled and hugged her as Priyanka smiled shyly and said to Omkara

Priyanka : she is so sweet , right ?

Omkara smirked and said : have I ever told you that my fridge is full with pies ?

Priyanka eyes widen then she screamed in anger and jumped over him and Anika and Shivaay had to pull her from her legs again

After an hour ..

in Oberoi fashion ..

Anika didn't see anything as she entering the place , not the huge fancy building or the cubicles and the hundred eyes of the employees who were looking at her as she hiding in Shivaay's arms , she was so nervous and so unsure ..more important , she was scared of disappointing Shivaay ..disappointing her family ..disappointing everyone .

they reached in front of the office and Shivaay smiled faintly and looked at Omkara and Priyanka who insisted to come and support Anika

Shivaay : you will do great

Anika : he don't know it’s me

Shivaay : he will know seeing you , my father like everything professional in his job and you are just Anika , remember ?

Anika nodded and said : and just Anika is enough

Shivaay nodded and said : just knock and open , he is expecting you

and he looked at Shakti's PA who was looking at Anika from head to toe

Shivaay : is everything okay?

The PA nodded yes hard and looked down as he chuckled faintly in disbelief and gave Anika the file of her designs

Shivaay to Anika: everyone is envious to the head designer ..she is the gem

Anika swallowed and said : I can’t do it ..Shivaay ...I...

Priyanka rolled her eyes and knocked on the door then she opened it and pushed her inside then closed the door back and suddenly she found herself standing in front of Shakti and a young man with a ponytail , who looked at her with a sarcastic smile as Shakti was looking surprised ..

Shakti :Anika ? my daughter is everything okay at home

Anika looked at him with wide eyes then swallowed and gave him the file

Anika: my ....name ...is ..Anika , sir ...I...came ..f..for the position of the head of designers

Shakti eyes widen in disbelief as Daksh smiled widely and shook his head in disbelief ..

Daksh : I hope your hands don't shiver like your tongue , little girl

Shakti held his head then said : you? you draw those ?

Anika nodded yes hard as Shakti closed his eyes for a moment to take the idea and said ..

Shakti : Daksh , you may start

Daksh: okay Mrs. Anika ..I saw your drawings and they were good , but I was wondering why you chose ..(then he pulled a paper and said) blue and yellow to color that design

Anika smiled and said : well the dress is strapless dress for the summer and while drawing it , I thought of summer and what came to my mind is the yellow sand , blue ocean and the green ..

Daksh: why strapless ,that was a mistake , it will be better if there is two thin straps

Anika smiled and said: I disagree

Shakti smiled widely seeing how suddenly the girl that was shivering became so confident ..

Anika : the straps no matter how thin wont express the freedom that you feel in summer , Although it’s hot but you feel free of every tension and not tied by cold weather ..you just want to be free but let’s put aside the romantic talk , blue and yellow are refreshing colors and shoulders are beautiful , no one can deny that

then she grabbed a pencil and draws a strap on one of the shoulders and said .

Anika : you see by yourself sir , which one do you prefer?

Shakti looked at the design and smiled as Daksh raised an eyebrow and said ..

Daksh: oh and where is the green , in this design ? There is not even one thread of green , didn't you say summer is green , where is your green ?

Shakti looked at Anika who chuckled faintly and said ..

Anika : yellow over blue ..is green sir , here is the green , you do not see it , you feel it

then she smiled widely and said ..

Anika : nature just calls (then she closed her eyes and said) black hair model with a flower in her hair ..(then she smiled and said) tropical , magical , right?

Daksh : what about .......

Shakti smiled and raised his hand for him and moved his finger as gesture for "move on "

Daksh: okay I want you to draw for me a winter coat that will make me buy it now in the entry of the spring , so I can wear it in the next winter ..you get what I mean ..unique is what I am saying

Anika : men or women?

Daksh smirked and said : unisex

Anika took a paper and started drawing very fast and very beautifully that Shakti didn't notice his mouth is half open till she was done and before Daksh see it he pulled the drawing of the coat and screamed ..

Shakti : YOU GOT TO BE JOKING !!!!

Anika swallowed didn't know what that mean as he pulled her from her arm and opened the office door but for his surprise his three children fall inside the office on their faces and he looked at them shocked as Shivaay stood and cleaned his cloth

Shivaay :ahem ...sir , I was just coming for you

Priyanka stood and acted dramatically

Priyanka :WHERE AM I ? who brought my ear to papa's door ?!!! papa I am innocent

Shakti raised an eyebrow and looked at Omkara

Shakti : what about you young man , don't you have any drama to do ?

Omkara held his ear and said : sorry what ? oh god , I am deaf !!!!!

Shakti rolled his eyes and pulled Shivaay’s hand then stood in front of Daksh pulling both Shivaay and Anika

Shakti : tell that to Mr. Tej !!....Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi , I give you the head designer , Mrs. Anika Shivaay Singh Oberoi

Shivaay chuckled happily then he looked at Shakti who looked at him strictly ..so he looked at Anika

Shivaay: nice to meet you ma’am

Shakti : Mrs. Anika , I give you Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi the vice president

Anika smiled widely and nodded her head in respect but for their surprise Shakti chuckled happily and took both in his arms and kissed Anika's head..

Shakti: WE ARE THE SINGH OBEROI 'S ..AND THIS IS ANIKA ..(then he smiled and said) who will face you in the competition , if I were in your place I will get ready from now to lose

Daksh frowned and raised his eye brow and looked at Anika who smirked .