Parinidhi's pov!

"What's the deal with you and Mr Raichand?" Laksh asked and I froze for a moment. How did he figure it out? We didn't even speak a word to each other today.

"What deal? What are you talking about?" I asked with a casual shrug of my shoulders, pretending as though my heart wouldn't burst out any moment.

"I don't know, cupcake. That's why I am asking you. He has been glowering at you and me both since he saw you there. What's his problem with you? Because definitely the problem isn't with me since he had been speaking casually with me until he spotted you." Laksh said with a confused frown.

"He hates me," I said with a shrug. What else was I supposed to say?

"He hates you? Why in the hell? Why would anybody hate someone as adorable and cute as you, Nidhi? Everyone loves you." Laksh said, unable to hide his astonishment.

"Because I am a 'middle class' woman with no status." I said air quoting the word middle class.

"You gotta be kidding me. Is he nuts? How does being middle class warrant hate?" Laksh asked in total bewilderment.

I just shrugged. I don't have answers to his questions.

"He is a complicated man to understand, Laksh. Let's not waste our time on the impossible." I said, wanting to put a stop to this conversation.

"When we bid goodbye, he looked at me as if I killed his favourite puppy and he would like nothing more than hunting me to death," Laksh said, shuddering as though he could still feel the lasers Siddharth threw his way just before they left. I can totally relate because I have been at the receiving end of his glowering eyes many times.

"To think that, I will have to work with that man..." Laksh trailed off in horror.

"Well, he hates anything and everything related to me," I said, trying to hide my pain behind a smile.

"Then he needs serious help," Laksh said in exasperation.

"Leave it, Laksh. Let's leave." I said and sighed in relief as Laksh nodded believing every word I said and started the car..

****

Siddharth's pov!

I paced back and forth in my bedroom, trying to figure out why the hell I felt as if the ground was slipping from beneath my feet.

So what if she is engaged? What if she is getting married? What if she is wearing the ring of that man? How is that any of my bl**dy business?

As the vision of that ring appeared in my mind, along with that of the man's hand on her shoulder, I felt a blinding rage pass through me.

Why does it matter? Why, damn it?

Why is everything related to her bothering me? She is no one. She means no one to me. She shouldn't mean anything to me.

"Arghhh!" I let out a curse as I kicked the small table in the corner in anger.

The best thing to do will be to go to Rey Designs and immerse myself in work rather than thinking about her.

I was about to walk out of my bedroom, when an excited Bhavna came in wearing an Anarkali suit. I have only ever seen her in modern dresses. First time, she was coming in front of me wearing something ethnic and it blo*dy hell reminded me of Parinidhi Vyas. Because she always wears such anarkali suits.

And it was like showing a red rag to a bull.

"Sid, I am ready for the date. Dadi gifted me this dress. How am I looking in it?" Bhavna asked excitedly.

"What the hell, Bhavna. What kind of low class dressing is this?" I roared and the smile slipped from Bhavna's face.

"Sid," Bhavna whispered softly.

"Change it now," I demanded furiously because it wasn't Bhavna's face that I was seeing. It was only Parinidhi I am seeing right now and it was making me go mad.

Bhavna took in a deep breath and looked directly into my eyes, as though gathering all her courage.

"No," Bhavna said, for the first time defiantly and I was momentarily surprised. No one ever defies me. Well, no one other than Parinidhi Vyas.

But Bhavna's defiance fuelled my fury.

"The woman standing beside me should have a class of her own, Bhavna. I dated you only because you had that. This is not what I want on my date." I said, taking out all my anger regarding Nidhi on Bhavna.

Bhavna flinched as she heard my words.

Tears started running down her cheeks.

Damn!

I turned around and walked back to my room briskly.

Third person's pov!

Sid's last words echoed in Bhavna's head making her ache. His unspoken words spoke volumes. He feels nothing for her.

Bhavna stared at his retreating back with a heavy heart.

She can't do this anymore. She needs answers. She can't live with him, when he has so little respect for her.

With that thought in mind, she followed after him towards his room.

Siddharth stared into nothing, feeling totally lost.

He couldn't understand what was happening to him.

He heard movement behind him and without ever turning around, he started speaking.

"I know I am being a jerk. I am hurting you again and again. But trust me, your tears, it hurts me more than you."

Bhavna was left speechless. She couldn't believe that the great Siddharth Singh Raichand was apologising to her.

Everytime she decides to let him go, he does something to hold her back.

"Everytime I hurt you, I regret it. I really do. Your tears never let me sleep, Nidhi. I don't know why I am like this. I can't seem to help it.." Siddharth trailed off.

Bhavna's heart broke into a million pieces, finally hearing the truth from Sid himself.

Whether he realises it or not, Siddharth Singh Raichand is in love with Parinidhi Vyas.

The same middle class girl he claims to hate.

Bhavna placed a hand on his shoulder, and he stopped his ranting.

"Sid, it's Bhavna." Bhavna whispered and Siddharth closed his eyes in disbelief.

Damn! What the hell has he done?

Where did Nidhi come in between?

Why was he thinking of all the times he had hurt Nidhi, when he had shouted at Bhavna a moment ago. He should be apologising to Bhavna, but in his heart, he was apologising to Nidhi for all the pain he caused her.

Siddharth turned around to face her only to see her heartbreak written all over her face.

"Bhavna," he called out softly.

Bhavna shook her head, turned on her heels and hurried out of the bedroom.

This needs to end today, Sid decided.

He can't use Bhavna to push Nidhi away anymore. He never once considered Bhavna's feelings in all this. And he had broken her heart. He felt ashamed of himself for playing with her feelings. Yes, he had made it clear to her that there will be no love in this marriage, but she must have at least expected loyalty from him. Which he doesn't think he will be able to deliver.

He needs to tell her that he cannot do this anymore.

He walked into Bhavna's room to find her hurriedly wiping her tears.

"Sid.."

"Bhavna, we need to talk..."

A/N

Sorry for the delay guys! This week is tightly packed. I will update on the scheduled days, but the time would vary.. Please bear with it..

Don't forget to vote and comment..

Love,

SF❤️