Hey my lovely readers.

How are you all?

Are you all enjoying the book so far?

Before beginning the chapter, please listen to the song above. It perfectly describes the condition that they're in right now.

Ek duje se bichde to

Saans liye bin mar jayen

O khuda, bata de kya lakiro me likha

Humne to...humne to bas ishq hai kiya...

Chapter dedicated to my constant reader PriyaModak

A very happy belated birthday to you my dear. May you have a wonderful year ahead.

The vote target is still the same.

120+ votes or no update.

I am so disappointed with you all. I gave you all four days to reach the target, yet it didn't.

Sometimes I think...am I asking for too much?? 300+ views and not even 120+ votes. Isn't it unfair to me?

I am literally losing my interest to write the story further now.

I had a lot of plans for this story but I don't think I am getting enough support.

Anyways, let's see now what fate has stored in for my babies.

Siya's POV

"Hello, mummy" I said and put the call on speaker on bed.

"So, you finally got time to talk to me?" she said.

I closed my eyes in frustration.

I am talking to her after such a long time, keeping all my ego and anger aside but she doesn't leave a single stone unturned to taunt me.

I looked at Akash and he gave me a reassuring smile.

The hope he had in his eyes, I didn't want to disappoint him.

Taking deep breaths, I said "yes mummy, I finally got time to talk to you." 

"Thank god you called me or I don't know how long I would've to wait to talk to you. I thought I would've to book an appointment to talk to my own daughter" she said.

I was immune to her talks and taunts by now because I've been listening her talk to me this way since a long time but Akash probably was...shocked.

"When I didn't talk to you, you could've called me" I said.

"If you remember, I did but you didn't receive my calls" she said and my thoughts went to the time when I avoided her calls.

Probably she's right. She called but I didn't talk to her.

"It was something urgent I wanted to talk to you about" she said.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I got few alliances for you" she said and my eyes widened.

"What?" I shouted and when I looked at Akash, he was pale.

I just sat beside him and keeping the phone on mic, I whispered "don't worry, I'll handle her."

He nodded, giving me a small forced smile but I knew he was tensed, very much.

"You know about it mummy. I've just started my career. I don't want to talk about marriage. Moreover, I've made myself clear numerous times that I won't be marrying anyone else except Akash" I said, taking my hand off the mic and remembering the time I had warned both my parents that If not Akash, I won't marry anyone.

(Readers who're confused, please refer chapter 37, A step closer to new life. In communication between Siya and her father, she had said the same thing that if not Akash, she won't marry anyone).

"Don't bring that conversation again. We already had agreed that you wouldn't do anything of that sort" she spat.

"If you remember clearly it was you who imposed your decision on me but I never agreed to it" I said.

I had already made up my mind. I wasn't going to back down without a fight this time. Years ago, I was naive and stupid but this time, I am not.

Last time, Akash didn't know anything about it but he knows now and he's with me. I'll do anything and everything in my power to convince my mother. 

I know Akash will never appreciate if I ask him to get married to me without my parent's permission and I really respect him for that. Besides, that's the only wish he has ever shown in front of me.

He wants us to get married with our parent's permission, however long it takes and I know, he's ready to put all his effort and time on it and he expects the same from me as well.

If not for my mother, for Akash, I am determined to be with him in every step.

"Why're you still talking about him? He's already out of your life, right? Wasn't he a last year student when you were still in the first year?" she asked.

"Yeah, he was my senior" I said, looking at him.

"Then there's no way he would be in contact with you. Tell me, are you still talking to him, even after many warnings of mine?" she asked in a high pitch voice.

Taking a deep breath, I looked at him and he gave me a worried look.

I just blinked at him gave him a reassuring smile.

I will do it, for you, Akash. No matter how long it takes and how much effort I've to put in.

"Yes, I am with him" I said.

"How dare you disobey me? I clearly asked you to stay away from him. I'll not have this nonsense anymore. Stay away from him. You got that?" she seethed in anger.

When I looked at Akash, he was staring back at me, probably wondering why I didn't lose my calm yet or why didn't I start shouting and disconnect the call yet but I had learnt my lesson well.

I won't lose my calm this time.

"Can you tell me why should I stay away from him?" I asked.

"Because I am saying so" was her quick reply.

"Any other reason because this isn't valid" I said.

"You, how dare you?" she roared from the other end.

"How dare me what mummy? Also, why do you think I should listen to you? Give me one valid reason that he isn't good enough for me and I'll cut all my ties with him" I said.

"He...he doesn't belong to our caste" she said.

Scoffing, I said "I asked you before as well. Give me one valid reason. I hope you understand what the word 'valid' means, considering you're the principal of the school where I studied." 

Akash squeezed my hand and when I looked at him, he gave me a warning look.

I can't believe this guy. Here my mother is talking ill about him and he expects me to stay quiet. Not going to happen. Not when somebody is trying to degrade him. I don't care, even if it is my mother.

"Look mummy, I've tried to talk to you a number of times that at least talk to him, meet him once. How can you conclude if someone is good enough for your daughter or not without meeting him" I tried to make her understand.

"He doesn't belong to our caste, that's enough for me to reject him" she said.

"Please come out of this stubborn behavior of yours mummy. This caste, religion, I don't understand why're you still stuck with these good for nothing ideology of yours when you can clearly see that it's making your daughter unhappy" I said. My voice was surprisingly calm than before now, probably because I really wanted to make her understand that all these things were taking me far from her, more than we already were. 

"You don't have to question my decision. Nobody gave you the right to question me" she spat.

"I am not questioning your decision. All I am asking for is to meet him, just once" I said, more like pleaded to her.

"There's no need to meet him, end of discussion. If you don't want to get married now, fine but I'll not agree you being with him or getting married to him" she said.

"Please mummy, I beg you" I whispered on the call. I was desperate now and my patience was running thin.

I was on the verge of crying by now and I thought my genuine tears would melt her as my voice was hoarse now but the next thing she said made me numb.

"I will never accept him" she spat and cut the call.

I just stared at the phone in disbelief and tears were now freely making it's way to my cheeks.

When I looked at Akash, he was already looking at me.

"She disconnected the call" I said and he embraced me in a hug and kept me on his lap.

I kept my face on his chest and cried a lot.

He kept patting me head and caressing my back, like I was a baby.

"Shhh...shhh Siya. Please calm down" he whispered in my ears.

"I...I ca...called her af...after so ma...many days. In...in pl..place of ask..asking ho..how am I...I doing, all sh..she cared about wa..was th...that I...I shou...shouldn't be wi...with you" I said between my sobs.

"Shhh...she'll come around, don't worry. We already knew it won't be easy to convince her. Don't get disheartened, we'll try again" he said, trying to calm me down and rubbed my back.

Wiping my tears, I said "Yeah, you're probably right. I know it won't be easy and I should be more prepared from next time."

"That's like my girl" he said and kissed my forehead.

Akash's POV

I didn't know how to cam her down but I was glad she did, after sometime.

She was a crying mess and I knew, I had to make her happy, somehow and at the same time, as if on cue, her stomach growled.

"Do you want to have something? Are you hungry?" I asked, fighting back a smile that was threatening to fall of my lips.

"Yeah, I am" she said with a small smile.

I kissed her forehead and said "why don't we go out somewhere? It's been so long since we stepped out of the flat, together."

"Okay, I should go get ready" she said and got off my lap.

"Okay, I'll wait outside" I said and went to the living room.

Coming to the living room, I saw both Kriti and Sid lying on the couch on each other.

I still wasn't accustomed to them being all lovey dovey. I never knew getting used to their PDA would be so difficult.

I don't even know if I would ever be able to get accustomed to their PDA or not but I couldn't say anything. They deserve to spend their time as they want and I didn't want to disturb them. 

"Why do you two always do this PDA in front of me?" I asked sitting on the couch.

"Why, you've a problem?" Sid asked with a smirk and Kriti gave me a mischievous smile.

"Why would I've a problem?" I said, shrugging. "Besides, I know it all very well. You both knowingly do it in front of me" I said.

"Why do yo think so?" Kriti asked, sitting on Sid's lap now and he nuzzled his face in her neck.

"Go, get a room" I said, throwing a cushion at him.

Dodging the cushion, he said "oh come on. Did I ever say anything to you when you used to do PDA with Siya?"

"Come on. Siya and me never did anything in front of you both" I said, rolling my eyes.

"Oh bhaiya, please don't get me started on how many times I've caught you both making out. You remember the day I went on a date with Sid, I saw you both kissing each other when I entered the flat next morning. Also, the day I asked Sid to prepare breakfast when he was about to burn the whole kitchen down" she said with a smirk.

My eyes widened when she said that and immediately the incident came running in my mind of the day when I I was trying to give Siya orgasm, under the table in front of Kriti and I had asked her to stay quiet to not let Kriti know about it.

"Wh..what're you talking about?" I asked not meeting her gaze.

"Oh please bhaiya, do you take me for a fool? I very well know what you were trying to do, under the table" she said, wiggling her eyebrows and I gave her a pointed look.

"Under the table? What were they doing?" Sid asked and she gave me a mischievous look but before she could say anything, I said "nothing that you should know."

"Of course, he should know. Do you know Sid.." she was saying but I cut her off "don't Kriti, please" I begged with my puppy eyes.

She gave me a wide smile and sat beside me "only if you promise me to bring me anything I want."

"Anything you want" I said.

"I've actually prepared a list. I'll send it to you" she said and fishing her phone out, sent me a message.

Looking at the list, my eyes went wide.

"You sure you need all this?" I asked, checking my phone.

There were a lot of items, ranging from footwear to make up to god knows what.

I don't even understand half of the things listed on it.

What are they?

"You know you're robbing me off" I said, keeping my phone in my pocket.

"I can and I will" she said, grinning.

"Of course you can" I said and rolled my eyes.

When I looked at Sid, he had a gloomy face.

What happened to him?

"Sid, I am going to get ready. Can you please come with me to our flat?" I said and he nodded.

We made our way to the flat and once I locked it, I asked him "what happened dude? You okay?"

"Yes, I am" he said with a small smile.

"I know you're not. Now tell me, what happened?" I asked.

"If she needed something, why did she ask you and not me?" he said.

What's he talking about?

"Who?" I asked, getting confused.

"Kriti" he said and turning around, sat on the couch.

"Oh...are you talking about the list?" I asked and he nodded.

"She could've asked me but instead she asked you" he said.

Sighing, I sat on the couch beside him and said "don't take her wrong Sid. She asked me because she considers me her brother and moreover, she practically blackmailed me so that she doesn't spill anything in front of you. That's a very common thing that girls, especially sisters  do. It has nothing to do with you."

"Don't take her wrong and I know what's going on in your mind. You think that she doesn't want you to waste your money on her, right?" I said and he nodded.

"Sid, you need to understand that even if she's trying to save your money, it's for your own good. Even if her actions hurt you, her intentions will never be wrong. You need to understand that" I said.

"I know...it's just that...looking at her and how mature she's when it comes to me, I wonder if I don't succeed, how will I be able to live without her" he said and kept his hands over his head.

"Sid, never ever say that you won't succeed. Even if you think about it, your mind starts working in negative direction and I don't want you to be surrounded by negativity. Also, when it comes to Kriti, please be patient with her. Don't let inferiority complex take a toll on your relationship" I said.

"Looking at the way you just reacted, I know it'll sometimes be very difficult for you to hide your feelings but I would always request you to act rationally when it comes to you both or in the end, knowingly or unknowingly, you'll hurt her" I said.

 "I know. I just realized that these thoughts shouldn't affect my relationship with her. Thanks man for talking sense in my head" he said and hugged me.

"Anytime buddy" I said and patted his back.

My phone just pinged and when I looked at it, it was Siya's message saying that she's waiting for me in the lobby.

"I need to go now man. Duty calling" I said and showed him my phone flashing Siya's message making him laugh.

"Yeah, I know" he said, shaking his head.

I then made my way to the lobby and we both headed outside for our date.

Hey my lovely readers.

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Till next chapter, tk cr bbyee

Tadas.