Hey my lovely readers.

How are you all?

Are you all enjoying the book so far?

Please listen to the song above. It perfectly describes Siya's condition that she's in right now.

Chup mahi chup hai ranjha bole kaise ve na ja

Bole kaise ve na ja aa ja aa ja

Bolein kaise ve na ja bolein kaise ve na ja 

Chup mahi chup hai ranjha aa ja aa ja

Haye the lyrics...has kept me hooked up and I am listening to this song in loop.

Also, before beginning the chapter, I would like to share few covers which I received from NattKuznetsov

Aren't they all beautiful?

Thank you so much NattKuznetsov. for making such wonderful covers for me and giving your time and effort.

It really means a lot.

Chapter dedicated to you NattKuznetsov

I am so disappointed with you all, you know why? You all read the chapter and don't vote. There's no use of keeping vote target. 250+ views and not even 110 votes.

I know you all take my writing for granted, probably because I am not a big writer like many other writers on wattpad here but that doesn't mean I am giving less efforts than well established writers here.

Had I been a popular writer I am sure you would've taken me seriously and vote target would've been completed.

Sometimes I think, may be I'll not be able to become a popular writer here?

Many of you know that I started writing this book because somewhere in my heart, I always wanted to persue my career in Journalism but since I couldn't do it, I thought may be this platform could help me in somewhat satisfying my desire of writing but I don't see that happening.

I think I am lagging majorly in writing part but it's okay. 

Just wanted to let you all know that I've the plot ready for all my other characters of this book (Sid-Kriti, Mohit-Samaira and Adarsh-Sophia).

I've made notes for all the three stories like I've made it for this one but I don't feel like continuing here.

Till few days back I was very excited to start a spin off of this book because I was getting 400+ views but I guess many of you're losing interest in this book so I guess, this will be my first and last book on this platform.

Anyways, let's begin with the chapter now.

Siya's POV

Days went by without much interesting happening in our lives apart from the fact that we were spending time together, more than before as next week both Sid and Akash were to fly to US and they both would start their new journey of life.

My conversation with my mother was very much the same. She would always make me mad or more than mad, she would make me furious with her good for nothing orthodox talks and me being the stupid me, would argue with her.

Akash had scolded me a number of times and had asked me to behave respectfully towards her but what can I say when someone gets on your nerves.

"Why do you've to talk to her that way?" he seethed in anger.

I was on another scolding session with my head hung low like a child who was being punished by a teacher.

"I never want to disappoint you and I don't want to be disrespectful to her but you know that it's not my fault" I said in a low voice, trying to keep my point in front of him.

Sighing, he kept his hands on my shoulders and said "look at me."

I looked up with a pout and he chuckled.

"This cute pout of yours won't let you out of my clutch today" he said and I looked down, again.

 "Why do you always get on my nerves?" he asked and I looked at him shocked.

"I get on your nerves? I've never ever done anything that would make you mad or upset" I said.

"Okay, so why don't you listen to me and talk to her properly" he said.

Sighing, I sat on the bed with my hands on my head and after few minutes, I felt him sitting beside me.

Taking my hands in his, he made me look at him and kissed my knuckles, then one by one all my fingers, all the while his gaze holding mine.

"You know I love you, right?" he asked and I nodded.

"Then why do you've to behave that way?" he asked.

"Akash, you already know that I never want to be disrespectful towards her. In fact you've seen me talking to her and you know it very well that I always start the conversation in a cheerful mood but at the end of the call my mood gets all ruined" I said and he sighed.

Taking a deep breath, I said "okay, let's assume that I am wrong. You tell me, how do you want me to talk to her?"

"Why don't you talk about your office, friends" he said.

"Don't you think I've tried that already?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Yes" he said, looking away.

"And do I need to tell you how the conversation had taken turn or do you want want me tell you?" I asked and he scratched the back of his neck.

"No, I know it already. She ended up bad mouthing Kriti" he said and looked away.

"And you expected me to stay quiet when she would badmouth you and Kriti. So I did what was right. I defended you both and in the end it lead to a heated argument" I said and he didn't say anything. 

Placing my thumb and forefinger on his chin, I made him look at me.

Taking the chain out of my neck, I placed it on his hand and said "since the day Kriti tied this around my neck, I haven't taken it out. Do you know why?"

He just shook his head and looked at me.

"This chain and the ring around, I always want it to keep close to my heart because it's been given by the two most important people in my life. I wouldn't trade this chain for the world" I said and I saw his eyes softening.

"When you both were always there for me, through all thick and thin, protecting me from the world like I was made of glass, how could I not take your side" I said, cupping his cheeks.

Taking a deep breath, I said "you and Kriti will always be my priority. I can't stand anyone badmouthing about you both. I can never do it." 

"You tell me, would you tolerate anyone badmouthing about me and Kriti in front of you?" I said and his hands fisted in balls immediately.

Closing his eyes and then opening them again after a few seconds, he said "I can never tolerate it."

"Then how and why do you expect me to do that?" I asked and he looked away.

"Even if it's my mother, I will not tolerate anyone disrespecting you both" I said and cupped his cheeks and made him look at me.

"But she's your mother" he whispered.

"I know and I am her daughter. She needs to understand this someday or the other that I'll not always be her little girl who used to listen to everything she says without questioning, even if in the back of my mind, I used to always have this nagging feeling that she isn't right. I want to stand for what's right Akash" I said.

"I've already lost you once, I don't want to do it again" I said and kept my forehead on his.

Placing both my hands on his head, I closed my eyes and said "I know Akash that even you agree with what I am saying."

When I opened my eyes, I saw him staring at me with a small smile.

I smiled and said "so I was right?"

"Yeah. It's like you can ready me like an open book" he said and I chuckled.

"Siya, I know what you're saying but you also need to know that these constant fights between you two will only worsen your relationship than it already is" he said.

"Akash, my relation with my mother can never be the same way it was and I don't intend to make any efforts to make it any better" I said.

"What? Why?" he asked, shocked.

"That's because even if I try to forget what she did to me, I can't. Some wounds which have been carved on my soul and heart will always remind me how I was treated by her, probably haunt me my whole life" I said, looking at a distance on the wall.

"The memories of her assault are still fresh in my mind, like it just happened yesterday. I've tried a lot to distract my mind from it but it's like, engraved in my mind" I said and he cupped my face, making me look at him and he had a worried look in his face.

"You know the way alphabets are engraved in a person's mind? No matter how much you try to forget it, you can't. It's like the same way, her whips, screams, torture to leave you is engraved in my mind. It won't go" I whispered and a tear rolled my eyes which he wiped away.

"Whenever I talk to her, the torturous days come back to me like a nightmare. It's very difficult to talk to her ignoring what she did to me but even then I am talking to her, to convince her for you. Please don't ask anything more than what I am already doing" I said and kissed his palms.

"I am sorry Siya. I never knew that due to my stubborn act of forcing you to talk to her you're being reminded of those horrible things she did to you" he said and gave a lingering kiss on my forehead, making me close my eyes in content.

"I promise, I won't ever pressurize to talk to her" he said.

"Please give me some time Akash. It's not that I won't talk to her but I don't think now's the right time" I said.

"You've all the time in the world, just don't stress yourself. My only request is to keep talking to her, if not about us then at least about her" he said and I nodded.

Akash's POV

I didn't have much to say when Siya poured her heart in front of me.

I never realized I was forcing her to do something that she didn't want to do in the first place but was doing it anyways, just because I was forcing her to do so.

I was glad that she decided to at least talk to her mother, even if convincing her would take time, I would be ready for it.

The following week went by and we introduced the new project manager who was supposed to take over our position.

In short I was handling my Siya and Kriti to them.

People already had an idea about Sid and Kriti being together because of the incidence but nobody knew about me and Siya and I intend to keep it that way.

As it is, my family already has many enemies and I don't want anybody to know about it. It would rusk her life.

The new project manager, Amit seemed a nice guy but I couldn't risk Siya or Kriti's safety and after discussion with Sid and Mohit, we had arrived to a solution.

I anyways had asked some of my trusted bodyguards to guard them both, without their knowledge or they would throw a fit and I knew, eventually I would've to give in to her request. So I had asked the bodyguards to be discreet about it.

Right now, we were at the airport, with our luggage, ready to depart from this country, well temporarily of course.

Our life was about to take a new turn from tomorrow.

I suddenly had an adrenaline rush about the anticipation of our future.

"Please eat on time" Siya's voice brought me back from my thinking reverie.

Cupping her cheeks, I said "I will." 

"Don't even think about blondes" was her next sentence which amused me.

"Okay. What about redheads?" I asked with a mischievous smile.

"Don't you dare" she said with bulging eyes, trying to intimidate me but I just chuckled.

Wrapping my arms around her neck, I asked "what'll you do, my lady."

I tried with a thick British accent but I failed miserably.

Laughing, she said "you wouldn't want to know."

"Trust me, I would definitely want to know" I said.

The next thing she did was enough to make my eyes widened.

She came very close to me, her face inches from mine. I thought she's going to kiss me in front of so many people, not that I mind but to my disappointment, she whispered in my ears "you would come to know what I would do if you flirt with anyone that's not me on our wedding night, dear hubby."

She then backed away with a smile and blood rushed to my south.

Fuck, she's a seductress and this was the first time, she called me hubby.

"On a serious note, please take care of yourself" she said and I nodded.

The announcement of our flight could be heard now and when I looked at Sid and Kriti, they were talking but she had tears in her eyes.

That's a very rare sight to see.

When I looked back at Siya, even she had tears in her eyes.

Sighing, I said "please don't cry, baby."

"I am not crying" she said in a hoarse voice, wiping her tears.

I rested my forehead against hers and said "will you promise me something?"

She nodded her head and closed her eyes.

Closing my eyes, I said "will you take care of yourself, for me?"

There was silence for a few seconds and when I opened my eyes, she opened her eyes as well.

"No" she said.

"Why?" I asked, confused.

"You told me you'll take care of me, then why should I take care of myself?" she said, making me smile.

"I know, but I won't be around to take care of you" I said.

"Even if you aren't around me, you'd have to take care of me" she said and I laughed.

"You're such a baby" I said.

"Yes, your baby" she said and I kissed her forehead.

"It's time" Sid's voice brought me back from our discussion.

"Yeah" I said and leaving Siya, I hugged Kriti, who was standing beside him.

Kissing her hair, I said "take care of yourself. We won't be around to protect you both now."  

"Don't worry. We'll take care of ourselves" she said and broke the hug.

"Take care" I said and kissed Siya's forehead.

"I will" she said and kissed my cheeks with tears brimming her eyes.

When we proceeded inside the airport, I looked back once, just to see her, capture her image in my mind as I don't know how many months we would've to stay apart.

"I love you" she mouthed with tears in her eyes which she was trying to hide.

"I love you too" I mouthed and a tear slipped my eyes as well.

Turning around, we both proceeded to the counter when my phone pinged with a message.

'I'll wait for you' it read, making me smile.

'The wait will be worth it' I typed immediately and sent it. 

The flight was comfortable and the next day we made our way to the apartment my dad had bought many years ago in New York.

Days went by and it had already been three months since we came here.

We had acquired five major projects and our company was doing quite well actually. 

The employees we hired were quite skilled. All thanks to the HR, Maya that Sid suggested to hire.

The time I spent with Siya had decreased significantly, major reason being the time difference but my involvement in our company and bringing new projects was also to be blamed but she never complained and I am thankful to her for that.

We chat majorly on video call and sometimes the urge to see her, touch her in real is so much that I want to leave everything behind and go back to her, in her arms, where my home is.

From the past few days, I could sense that something was bothering Siya but whenever I would bring the topic, she would decline it, saying it is work stress.

It was as usual a hectic day for us and due to that I couldn't talk to her.

In the night as soon as we reached the apartment, I hit the bed as I was dead tired.

Though I was supposed to call her, I didn't because I didn't have the energy to do so.

The next day, Sid woke me up with a jolt.

"Hey, what happened?" I asked in a groggy voice.

"I