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Akash's POV

I was waiting for everyone to wake up.

The whole night Siya's behavior just kept roaming my mind and it was actually very confusing for me.

I couldn't sleep properly as my mind was still trying to figure what needs to be done next.

I knew for a fact that I had to take her to psychiatrist and soon, but as I said, I didn't want to do anything that she doesn't want now.

She has had enough of people dictating her what needs to be done.

I'll ask her about it and if she denies, I'll just delay it and try to convince her later.

I Think I should contact Deepak uncle now.

It must be around 12 in London, I think it's feasible time to contact him.

Dialing his number, I waited for him to pick up the call.

"Hey Akash, how are you beta" I heard his voice as soon as he picked up.

"I am fine uncle, how are you" I asked him.

"Just playing with my granddaughter" I heard him say and then I heard a cute little voice say, more like whine "you can't cheat dadu, it's wrong."

"I never cheat darling. I swear" I heard him say and then I heard the girl say "see you're lying. Mumma always says that lying and cheating is wrong."

I chuckled listening to her.

"No sweetheart, I swear I didn't cheat and I am not lying" I heard Deepak uncle say.

"No you're lying. I'll complain to mumma about you. Mummaaaa" I heard her screaming the last part while I heard little footsteps fading away.

I heard uncle chuckle and then I heard him say "so tell me, how're you? It's been a long time I saw you in person. The last time I saw you was about three years ago at your home. How's everything going now? I am glad you're making a big name for yourself."

"Thank you so much uncle. I am glad that you appreciate my efforts" I said, genuinely feeling happy by his appreciation.

"Why wouldn't I appreciate you when you and Siddharth are the rising star in business industry. I closely follow you, my boy" he said and I could sense him smiling.

"Your granddaughter is very sweet" I said.

"Yeah, that she's" I heard him say with admiration.

"She's my only reason to live" he said in a low voice.

"Uncle, please don't get emotional" I said.

"Yeah, I shouldn't but can't help it" he said.

"By the way, how come you called me after so many years?" he asked me.

"Uncle I...actually need your help" I said.

"My help? Yeah sure, go ahead" he said.

"Uncle, I know you've retired and want to spend your time with your family but I have a request to make" I said.

"Of course, son, go ahead" he said.

"You remember Siya?" I asked him.

"Siya? That cute little shy girl I met at the hospital when you were admitted when you were in college?" he asked.

He remembers.

"Yes uncle, the same cute little girl, you remember her?" I asked with a smile.

"Oh, how can I forget her? Such a cute little well behaved girl. I could always sense her sadness which she used to try masking but me being me could see that she was troubled. Anyways, how's she?" he asked.

"Uncle she...she's not well" I said, hesitantly.

"What happened to her?" he asked.

"Uncle she...she's in depression" I said.

"What?" he asked, horrified.

"Yes uncle" I said.

"Since when? I mean how?" he asked.

"Uncle actually" I started and told him everything-from our commitment to the reason she broke up with me, the tortures she went through because of her mother and the reason we had to part ways again. Then her slipping into depression again because of being called names when she was left at altar and our leaked pictures.

"Oh my god. I can't believe it" he said.

"That girl doesn't deserve this and you Akash, when you already knew about her parents then why did you leave her with them?" he asked in anger.

"Uncle...I...I" I was saying but was cut off by him "don't give me any of your stupid reasons now. When you clearly knew how her mother treated her then you should've taken her with you."

"But uncle...her parents would've abandoned her if we would've gone against them" I said.

"Did you ever discuss with Siya what she wanted before imposing your decision on her?" he asked.

I was tongue tied.

"Do you know something Akash, I've observed that in all the information that you filled me with, Siya was never given a choice. Nobody asked her what she wanted, neither her parents, nor you. Moreover I feel like she was left alone by everyone close to her, be it you or her best friend. Let's consider the worst case scenario that she didn't expect her parents to understand her but she expected you and Kriti to understand and support her" he said.

"Thanks to you, you snatched the right from her and took a decision for both of you and Kriti left her abruptly when both of you knew that she cherishes you both more than her life. Do you think she doesn't think about these things?" he asked.

"I...I don't know, uncle" I said, my voice hoarse by now.

"You know what I feel, she must have been traumatized by people calling her names but the disappointment and realization that she had no one to share her feelings with pushed her to depression" he said.

"Don't take me wrong, Akash but this is what I feel as of now. Rest I can only analyze when I'll see her reports" he said.

"You're ready to treat her?" I asked.

"Of course, why wouldn't I help her? She's a sweet child and I will do everything in my power to bring her out of depression" he said.

"Tha...thank you so much uncle" I said, genuinely feeling thankful.

"You don't have to thank me. You should be thankful to Siya that she's still talking to you and was waiting for you because somewhere she had hoped that you wouldn't give up on her and when you finally showed up, her hope turned to reality and that's a very good sign, Akash. This shows that she still has hope, hope to be brought back the way she was" he said.

"Do you know, even a dead man can be brought back to life with just one thing-hope. Isn't that what keeps us all going? Consider you for example. You were living in a hope that Siya would be happy in her new life while Siya was living in a hope that you'd show up one day in front of her, not in dreams but reality. Wasn't it hope that kept you two going?" he asked.

"Yes, uncle" I said, trying to sink in what he meant.

"Don't stress much and both you and Kriti should prepare for gaining her forgiveness" he said.

"I'll beg her to forgive me" I said.

"Only begging for forgiveness isn't how you gain someone's apology. Show her that you truly care for her by your actions. Show her that you're genuinely sorry for what you did and didn't consider her opinion. Show her that she matters, her opinion matters. She just wants her opinions to be respected, that's it. She might pull up her walls around you and it's your job to break them" he said.

"Just like I did in college" I said.

"Yes, just like you broke her walls in college but this time, it is going to be difficult than before" he said.

"I am ready for any challenge that comes my way but I'll bring my Siya back" I said.

"That's like my Akash" he said.

"Okay, mail me all her reports. I'll need to go through them to prepare for her sessions" he said.

"But uncle, she denied visiting the last psychiatrist after attending a few sessions. What if she denies for you as well?" I asked.

"That's my problem, my boy. Don't you worry about it" he said.

"Just remember, not to disclose her that you've sent me her reports when you come to London. Rest I'll tell you what needs to be done" he said.

"Okay uncle, thank you so much" I said.

"Anytime, my boy" he said and disconnected the call.

Sighing, I stared at my now disconnected phone and my thoughts went to what uncle said.

She was disappointed in all of us but still she hoped for me to come.

God, what grave sin have I committed.

Her behavior yesterday was probably because of...Kriti.

Shit, why didn't this never occur to me?

She doesn't want to talk to her because she's upset.

Though she told me that she wants the best for her and Sid and she's happy that they both are still together, she might still be upset with her for leaving her alone.

What have we all done to her?

Sighing, I was thinking what to do next when there was a soft knock on the door.

"Come in" I said, my eyes closed and my head was rested on the headboard.

"Bhaiya" I heard Kriti's voice, making my eyes snap open.

"Yes, Kriti" I said.

She sat beside me and said "how're you?"

"Just a little tired" I said, closing my eyes again.

"Yes, I understand" she said.

"I just went there to see if she's fine but I never knew my whole life would turn upside down" I said after a few minutes of silence.

"I don't know about you bhaiya but there's something I want to ask" she asked me.

"Yes, please" I said.

"Do you...do you think she'll forgive me?" she asked me skeptically.

"Honestly speaking Kriti, I don't know. I know for a fact that she was waiting for me but I don't know if she would forgive me" I said, sighing.

"What are you saying, bhaiya? She talked to you normally, I think she isn't angry at you" she said.

"Just because she's talking to me doesn't mean she isn't disappointed in me. Besides, if I would've been in her place, I would've definitely felt like banging the other person's head but I was lucky enough she wasn't violent with me when I met her" I said, chuckling.

"If I would've been disappointed then it's fair on her part to be disappointed in me and moreover why shouldn't she? I failed her, twice" I said and closed my eyes.

"I sometimes wish, if not for this caste, the difference in terms of social norms, no discrimination, be it in terms of anything, world would've been even more beautiful and peaceful place to live in. Isn't it, Kriti?" I asked.

"Yes bhaiya, if not for these differences, Sid would never had to work his ass off to prove his worth even though I never wanted him to take so much pain to marry me. Probably Siya and you would've been married by now" she said.

"That's all a fairy tale Kriti and life isn't a fairy tale where everything is fine in the end but I am determined to make her life a fairy tale" I said.

"She's lucky to have you" Kriti said after a few minutes of silence.

Scoffing, I said "if not me, she would never have to go through the tortures by her mother. She would've got married to Amit. At least that way, she would never have to endure all the pain that she's going through and she would be leading a peaceful life."

"The guy doesn't deserve her" she said, looking at me.

"Neither do I, not after what she had to go through because of me" I said, looking at her.

"Bhaiya, what's done is done. There's no use thinking about it because no one can change it. You, as her well wisher, as her love can try your best to take her out of depression and then it's her choice whether she would accept you or not. At least that way, we would be at peace that she's making her own choice" she said.

"I think you're right" I said and when I looked at the door, Siya was standing with a blank expression on her face.

"Good morning, Siya" I said and stood up.

When I went to her, I saw her looking past me for a few seconds and then she turned her gaze to me.

She didn't reply to me, just gave me a faint smile.

"Did you, did you freshen up?" I asked her.

She simply nodded her head.

"Are you feeling hungry?" I asked.

She just nodded her head.

I frowned at her gestures.

Why was she not talking to me?

"Why aren't you saying anything?" I asked and then I saw her looking past me again.

When I turned around to look at my back, I saw Kriti had tears in her eyes while she was staring back at Siya.

When I looked back at Siya, she was staring back at Kriti but she didn't have any emotions in them. They were all...blank.

Blank as if she was tired of showing everybody how she felt for the fear of being left alone, again.

"You...do you want to talk to her?" I asked her, skeptical of what she would answer.

She looked at me and stared in my eyes for few seconds But her response, literally sent chills down my spine.

"I am hardly surviving, Akash. If my trust is broken again, I would be crushed to innumerable pieces which nobody would be able to fix, not even you. I am fine being broken but I don't want to be crushed again" she said the last part looking at Kriti and walked away.

When I looked back at Kriti, she was crying her eyes out by pushing her face more into the pillow.

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