Hey my lovely readers.

How are you all? 

I am back again with a new chapter.

Well while writing the last chapter, I was laughing like hell.

Seriously Kriti is love and she can't see our Siya sad. She's the kind of friend one should definitely have in life.

Anyways let's begin with the next chapter now.

Just to bring to your notice-The sentences in Italics are from flashback.

Siya's POV

I was glad that Akash didn't allow Sakshi to have lunch from his plate.

But after the little argument that followed between Kriti and Sakshi, I was still trying to figure out what to answer her when I suddenly saw her on the floor with face first.

"Oh god" I exclaimed and immediately stood up to help her but Kriti tugged on my elbow and whispered "don't you dare help her".

I gulped and looked at her and then she left my elbow with a small smile as if nothing  happened.

It just confirmed one thing-my friend is a bitch and I won't ever let her know...but I loved her for this act of hers.

I didn't want to laugh but unknowingly a small smile came to my lips.

"You, how dare you?" Sakshi stood up from the floor and marched towards Kriti.

"What did I do?" she asked innocently.

"You...you are the one who kept her foot in front of me so that I could fall down. What is your problem ha? you bitch.." she said seething in anger.

She was about to retort but Sid beat her to it.

"Mind your language Sakshi. Don't you dare say anything to her" he said, seething in anger.

"Sid, how could you support her when you know what she did to me" Sakshi said, batting her eyelashes.

"Don't get me started Sakshi. You very well know whose fault it was" he said.

"But Sid...Akash, please make him understand this was all her fault and she did it all knowingly. This bitch.." she was about to say something but Sid interrupted her "don't you dare say anything against her. If I ever hear even a single word against her, I'll make sure to rip your mouth" he said, shaking in anger.

He then glared towards Kriti who had her head bent down.

I was baffled with the way situation had turned now. Just a few minutes back we were all having normal conversation and now..

I saw Akash looking at me intently and when his eyes met mine, I couldn't avert my gaze from him.

He was the first one to avert his gaze when he was interrupted by Sakshi.

"Akash...." she whined and launched herself in his arms.

"Just look at Sid, how is he talking to me just for this stupid girl" she said, fake crying.

 "I am not stupid, you are" Kriti retorted.

"Enough of your nonsense, come with me Kriti" Sid said and took, more like dragged Kriti with her.

I could still see Sakshi in his arms but what broke my heart was that he didn't let her go and was talking something to her...I think he was consoling her.

Gulping on my saliva and blinking back the tears that were threatening to fall, I decided to let them be alone and followed Sid.

"Leave me" she was shouting when Sid was still dragging her to an isolated place.

"Just shut up" he said and they both went to a secluded area.

I followed them and thought to confront Sid that why did he drag her here but then something struck my mind and my steps halted.

It was the first time in years Sid was taking an initiative to talk to her.

I still remember, after the farewell party, he cut all his ties with her and then only because of me, she decided not to talk to him, ever.

I still feel somehow, I am responsible for their broken friendship. 

I know Sid was the one who stopped talking to her but if not for my condition at that time, I somehow would've convinced Kriti to try talk to him but only because of me, she decided to cut all her ties with him.

She always says that it's not because of me she never chased him, but it was because she was sure Sid would never talk to her.

I tried convincing her many a times, to talk to him.

"My relationship with Akash shouldn't affect your friendship with Sid" I said to her.

"It's not because of you Siya. I know, even if I try to talk to him, he'll not talk to me. Don't ever think that you are responsible for our broken friendship. You do know right that he stopped talking to me altogether even before you and Akash bhaiya broke up" she said.

"I know, but if not for my condition, I am sure you would've tried talking to him..." I said but she cut me off "don't always hold yourself responsible for something that's not your fault. You very well know I tried talking to him many a times but he never wanted to talk to me. It's true, may be I would've tried a little more but I doubt it would've made any difference. I just want to forget him but...I can't" she said and a sob escaped her mouth.

"I miss him Siya. I miss him a lot" she said and cried in my arms.

I was responsible for many broken hearts, including mine. I don't know if I'll ever be able to come out of this guilt.

Kriti's voice brought my out of my memory lane and decided not to disturb them.

If not me and Akash, at least Sid and Kriti could sort out their differences. Even if it is a closure from Sid's side, it is much needed for Kriti so that she could move on.

"Why the hell did you drag me here" she asked, shaking in anger.

"Why do you've to always land yourself in trouble" he asked, holding her elbow.

"I didn't do anything" she said, struggling to free herself from his iron like grip.

"Oh really, then why did you do that stunt?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"That's none of your concern" she spat and somehow free herself from his grip.

He held her by her waist again and said "everything that's related to you is my concern."

"Stop it. You don't need to act as if you're concerned for me" she spat and was about to go but he held her wrist and pulled her to him.

"I was always concerned for you and will always be concerned for you" he said.

"Leave me" she said and was wiggling in his grip.

After few minutes, when she realized he won't leave him, she stopped struggling.

What he did next was enough to pull the floor off beneath me.

He nuzzled in his neck!!!!

Oh my god!!! Oh my freaking god!!!

I could see Kriti stiffening in his hold but she immediately said "leave me."

"I won't do anything, just stay for sometime" he said and she immediately obliged.

After some time, he said "I missed you...a lot." 

Oh my god. Is this a dream? I wanted both of them to sort out their differences and finally when it is happening, I couldn't be any happier.

But then Kriti's next word and actions just sent all my happiness in gutter.

She pushed him hard and said "I didn't miss you at all and I am saying this for the first and last time. Stay.Away.From.Me" she said, stressing each of the last words.

I just slapped my head.

Here goes my dream of seeing them sort out their differences.

"Kriti.." he was about to stay something but then stopped when Kriti showed him her palm to stop him from saying anything further.

"Don't you dare say anything. Just stay the hell away from me" she screamed at him and walked away.

Sighing, I followed her.

Akash's POV

"Why did you've to create a scene?" I asked Sakshi.

"What? Instead of taking my side, you're blaming me? You very well know she intentionally did it. That bitch.." she was saying but I cut her off "don't you dare say a single word against her. Understand?" 

"Why are you defending her? You don't even know her" she said.

"Whether I know her or not, it's none of your business. I am warning you, just stay the heck away from those two girls. If I get to know that in anyway you are bothering any of them, the consequences won't be good" I said.

Hearing me, blood drained from her face.

"Akash..I...I" she was saying but I cut her off "Sakshi, I've warned you many a times, stay the heck away from me and my life. Don't you get this single thing in this thick skull of yours?"

"You very well know I am capable of doing much more than I say and I am warning you, stay away from me, my life and those girls. You don't even want to know what the consequences will be if I get upset" I said and stormed off the cafeteria.

Saying this I went to my cabin, thinking Sid would be there but I didn't find him.

Sighing, I engaged myself in preparing the project plan when the door to my cabin opened.

"I am doomed" Sid said.

No, not his act again.

"What happened?" I asked, out of courtesy. You see, I know I'll not listen to his rubbish but he's the only true best friend I have and I don't want to upset him. So I thought of listening to his nonsense while completing my pending work.

"You do know right that I dragged Kriti out of cafeteria?" he asked, looking at me.

That caught my attention.

"What did you do to her?" I asked him, eyeing him up and down.

"Nothing" he shrugged.

"Are you sure?" I asked him, skeptically.

 "Of course, why would I harm her?" he asked.

"Then why did you say that you're doomed?" I asked him.

"Well, I tried talking to her, very normally I might add" he said, not looking in my eyes.

"Uh huh..." I said, gesturing him to continue.

"She didn't want to talk to me" he said.

"Okay, now tell me the truth" I said, coming back to my laptop again.

Sighing, he narrated me what 'actually' happened.

My mouth was opening and closing like a fish.

"You do know right that you can't manhandle her. It's not right" I said to him.

"I...I didn't manhandle her" he was saying but I cut him off "oh please Sid, you and me both know that it was very much manhandling. Moreover, what do you expect from her, to talk to you normally when you were the one who broke all the ties with her. Remember, she used to beg you to talk to her and you...you gave her a lot of pain. I am surprised she didn't complain against you till now. You should feel lucky about it."

"I...I know I messed up big time but you know the reason behind me backing out" he said.

Scoffing I said "let me remind you. Your reason was bullshit."

"Whatever you feel Akash, I told you if I ever feel that I am capable enough for her, I'll try to persuade her" he said.

Arching my eyebrow, I asked "so now you feel that you're capable enough to date her?"  

"I don't think I still am but I've realized something Akash...I've let her go once, I don't want to let her go again, not when she's so close to me" he said and I could see tears welling up in his eyes but he blinked them away.

"I told you, she's a gem" I said.

"Oh yes, she definitely is" he said with small smile on his lips.

"She's tough nut to crack" he said, after some time.

"She has always been" I said.

"What do I do now?" he asked.

"Dude you were the one who created this mess. You should be the one to clean it" I said.

"No way I can do it alone. I need your help" he said.

"I am not of any help Sid" I said.

"Oh trust me you're." he said.

"Hey, you said you would make arrangements so that Kriti reports to you and Siya reports to me. What about it?" I asked.

"Hey...don't you worry. I've already talked to the HR and he agreed. That's why it took me some time to come back after lunch as I was with HR" he said.

"Okay, how did you manage to convince the HR?" I asked.

"Oh dude, it was very simple. There are fifty trainees, including both Siya and Kriti. Fortunately, if we take the initials of their names then till the letter M, there are twenty five trainees and rest are with the letter starting N onwards. So I asked the HR to tag all the trainees will letter 'M' under me and rest should be tagged under you. He liked the idea and instantly agreed" he said.

"So since Kriti's name starts with K, she'll be..." I was saying but he cut me off "tagged under me" he said with a mischievous smile.

"And Siya'll be tagged under me" I said, sighing.

"Yup" he said.

"I...I don't know Sid, I want to stay away from her. She's with Mohit and..." I trailed off.

Sensing my dilemma, he said "dude, it's not like you'll try to break their relationship, right, that is if they've any."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Nothing that you need to know. Just keep it professional" he said.

"You're right. Anyways she'll either be working under you or me. It shouldn't matter to me whatever she's doing in her personal life. I should maintain strict professional relationship with her" I said.

"That's my friend" he said and we fist bumped.

Let's see what future has stored on for us.

Hey my lovely readers.

How did the chapter come out?

Did you all like it?

If you all like the story then why are the views not increasing? Am I lacking something as an author? If yes, then please let me know. 

The views have dropped a lot if I consider the last 2-3 chapters.

Please follow me on instagram  and wattpad for updates on this book. My insta Id-maginificent_shobhana.

Till next chapter, tk cr, bbyee

Tadas.