The next day I woke up early even knowing that it was a weekend. But I wanted to apologise to Siddharth not wanting him to step back from his offer of becoming friends. I don't want us to go back to where we were as strangers.

I quickly took a bath and changed into pair of blue distressed denims and a while off shoulder top with my adidas sneakers. Making a messy bun with my hair I went and knocked on his door. When after waiting for a few minutes he still didn't open the door, I entered and saw that he wasn't there. I ran outside and he wasn't in the living room as well.

Where is he?

I dialled his phone and after a few rings he picked up. "Hello" he answered in his deep baritone.

"Uh hi. Where are you? You aren't home and I wanted to.."

"I'm going to London for a few days" he interrupted.

"London!? But why?"

"I have a business meeting with a potential client" he answered in a stiff tone. He was still angry!

"When will you be back?" I asked softly.

"I don't know. My flight is boarding. Bye" he cut the call before I could say anything else.

Disappointed I looked around and felt lonely in this house. Though we didn't talk much but I liked living with him here and without him it felt unusually empty.

I looked at the time and saw it was 11 am, I remembered Mom asking me to come home today and I quickly packed my bags. After locking the house I got into my car and started driving.

I was listening to radio when my phone rang and I picked it up after seeing Maya was calling me.

"Hello"

"Hey Anika, what's up?

"Nothing much. I'm going to Mom's today, what about you?"

"That's great. I.. uh..was thinking that if you are free then maybe we can meet" she hesitated.

"Sure. Let's go to Starbucks. I'll pick you up at 4"

"Okay. See you"

I cut the call and focused on driving. I think Maya is finally ready to talk about what has been bothering her for the past few days. Whatever it is I'll always be there for her, I swore to myself.

I reached my house after an hour and rushed inside to meet my family.

"Mom, Dad, Aarav" I shouted once I went in the living room.

I saw them watching a movie on TV and they came forward to meet me while I too joined them. Once the movie finished my stomach growled loudly and I smiled sheepishly while everyone laughed. I didn't have any breakfast this was bound to happen.

"Hungry Anika?" Mom asked teasing me.

"Moooom" I answered embarrassed and nodded while pouting.

She laughed and went inside the kitchen coming after a few minutes with a plate full of food. I grinned maniacally eyeing the plate and ate to my heart's content.

She's an amazing cook!

"Mom you're the best. That was yum!" I complimented her while rubbing my stomach happily.

"Thank you. Why Siddharth didn't come with you to stay?" She asked while my head was laying in her lap. We were sitting in my room after Dad and Aarav left for some work.

"Umm he went to London for business" I answered vaguely.

"Oh. When will he be back?"

I stayed quiet not knowing how to answer her. I myself didn't know when he'll be back. I didn't want her to think anything was wrong between us. Which it obviously was.

"A few days tops. Mom what's the time I have to meet Maya at 4?" I asked to divert the conversation we were having.

"It's already 3.30. You should leave now otherwise you'll get late"

Shoot! Maya would kill me if I'm late again.

I hurriedly got up while my mom left my room. I decided not to change my clothes. I washed my face and did my makeup. Finishing my look with a pink lipstick and sindoor I left quickly with my keys and phone.

I reached her residence at 4 sharp and took a sigh of relief. After almost getting hit twice I was here safe and sound. Thank god!

I was about to call her when I saw her walking towards my car, dressed in a jeans styled with yellow kurti adding to her looks. She hugged me once she sat and I started driving towards our destination. After ordering our coffees we both went and sat in a corner overlooking the street outside.

"How come your husband left you alone huh? Newly married love birds.. how romantic" She teased once our coffees arrived.

Husband. Love birds.

I stilled and everything from yesterday came crashing down on me. My eyes started watering but when I saw Maya scrutinising me I chuckled awkwardly to cover up my expressions. I picked up my coffee to buy myself some time and avoided looking at her.

"He had to leave for London so that's why I got some reprieve. But he loves me so much and I'm missing him already" I lied but the last part was true.

She nodded but I don't think she believed me. Thankfully she didn't question it and went along with my lie. She respected my privacy as much I did hers.

"Anika.. Aditya and I.. we.. we broke up" She said abruptly while I looked at her shocked. We were talking about random stuff before she confessed.

"Wh.. What?" I stuttered still in shock but looking at her defeated body language and saddened expression, I composed myself and asked firmly "What happened?"

I have to be strong for her.

"He.. he.. cheated on me" She sobbed and I quickly got up from my chair and sat next to her while hugging her sideways.

"Aditya? He cheated on you? With whom?" I questioned angrily. I felt like thrashing him for what he did. My best friend who was always so confident and happy was crying like a baby here next to me, just because of a cheating bastard like him.

She told me he was having an affair with his colleague and he has been stringing them both since last one year. She found out when one day his colleague arrived at his flat unannounced and it all came out in the open. But the worst part was that he didn't even try to apologise for his actions and instead acted very casual about it. Both the girls left him to his being and he still remained indifferent. He was always so nice and caring, I don't know how and when he changed.

She sobbed and I hugged her close to me while murmuring words of encouragement. Seeing her crying I also started weeping quietly for her and myself. At her grief and mine. At her pain and mine. At her loss of love and mine.

When she heard me crying she disentangled herself from me and looked at me in puzzlement.

"Why are you crying?" She asked in horror.

"Because you're crying" I wailed and started crying louder.

We both looked around when we realised that everybody in the cafe was staring at us in disbelief. We both then turned and looked at each other thinking the same thing, what picture we must be portraying crying like two idiots in a busy cafe. Her eyes were red from crying and her hair was in a disarray. She looked like a mess and I'm sure I did too. No wonder people were looking at us as if we were crazy.

We continued looking at each other and suddenly burst out laughing. After confirming that we were two mentally retarded people everyone went back to their own doing and we laughed harder.

"I was hoping that I was mistaken and I didn't know you" I heard a voice I knew and I stared at him in surprise. He was looking handsome as usual in his jeans and casual shirt with loafers. His hair styled to perfection glistened in the sunlight heightening his Greek god looks.

"Mayank! What are you doing here?" I asked him happily while he joined us both at our table but then I frowned when his words registered in my mind.

"I was here with a friend and he left. I was about to leave too when I heard you croaking because you're crying" he mimicked me pathetically. I looked at him irritated and was about to show him how how irritating he really is when he again continued "and as much as I didn't want it to be true but there you were in all your glory. I'm not even gonna ask what happened to make you look like this" he gestured with his hands towards me.

I patted my hair in embarrassment and was about to ask him something when I saw him looking at Maya weirdly who I might add was as embarrassed as I being caught in this appearance. We both excused ourselves and went to the washroom. As expected we looked like a complete and utter mess. Quickly fixing ourselves as best as we could, we joined Mayank back who was drinking my coffee and while I glared at him, he smiled at me cheekily.

"You didn't introduce me to your gorgeous friend Anika" Mayank said while looking at Maya pointedly.

"She's is Maya, my best friend. She also works in Rathore Group as an Assistant Manager and Maya he's Mayank Oberoi the owner of Oberoi Hotels" I introduced them both and then added "And Mayank stop with the flirting"

Mayank smirked "Why Anika? Jealous? Don't worry you're always in my heart darling" he winked at me and I threw my napkin at him. Maya was staring at him in disgust.

"Don't mind him Maya he's always like this. Don't take him seriously, he's just joking. He's a really good friend of mine" I said to her not wanting her to paint Mayank in a bad picture. She nodded but was still looking at him warily.

We chatted for a while where I noticed Mayank paying extra attention towards Maya who was brushing off all his advances with a glare in his direction every now and then. Though I liked the idea of them being together but I had to be practical about it. Maya just got out of a long relationship and Mayank is exactly what she doesn't need in her life right now, a playboy!

With his history of frivolous affairs he doesn't have any credibility to his name and maybe he was only interested in an affair with Maya too and she was very innocent to handle anything of that sort. As much as I wanted to play Cupid I couldn't with these troubled souls. We soon left once I saw it was already 9pm.

I reached home after dropping Maya at hers and after having dinner spent time with my family and played Fifa with Aarav when our parents went to sleep. It was nice to spend time with him after long and we bonded like a house on fire. After winning three games in a row I booed him and gloated in my victory. He sulked for sometime and then we talked about his studies and college. After we both were sleepy we retired to our rooms for the night. I changed into my pyjamas and laid in my bed thinking.

Though my day was spent happily but there was still a nagging feeling in the back of my mind. Somewhere I was worried about Siddharth and I's relationship. I wanted to talk to him and explain my reaction to our intimacy. I didn't regret it one bit and I actually enjoyed myself a lot.

I was missing him. His smile. Our banter.

I wished everything was easier. That my feelings were reciprocated and that I could tell him how much I love him. I sighed deeply and in the weakness of my spiralled emotions I quickly picked up my phone and sent a message to him to hear something for him, for any kind of contact. After rewriting the message a couple of times I finally gathered enough courage to send the message.

I'm sorry. Come soon

I waited till the wee hours of morning in the wake of his message and when I still didn't receive anything I finally slept with a heavy heart and teary eyes.

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A/N:

I know guys that it's been ages since I last updated and I'm sorry for that. But as I informed I'm still out of town and as much as I wanted to update I didn't get time to write anything but somehow I managed to write this in during my nights. I will reply to your comments on previous chapters once I get some free time on my hands.

Hope you all like it. Next update will take time but it will be a good one so have some patience.

Thanks for your support. Please like and comment :)