"Dev! Wake up!" Dev was woken up from his not-so-deep slumber by his father.

"Yes, Dad?" he answered, rubbing his swollen eyes.

"Explain all this," Raghunath asked his son, showing him the #DEVASHA article.

"I think the article is self-explanatory," Dev said while getting off his bed and walking to take a shower.

"What does that mean?" Ishwari asked, "I thought you introduced Sonakshi as the woman you like. Why does it say that you are engaged to Natasha?"

"Tell us the truth," Raghunath asked again when Dev washed his face and came out.

"I have promised to marry Natasha," Dev said looking at his parents.

"Are you sure about this decision?" Ishwari asked her son.

"I am," Dev said, his tone not matching the fake smile.

Dev's attention turned to his phone which started ringing. It was Arjun who was calling him.

"Yes, Arjun," Dev answered the call.

"The police are here at the office," Arjun spoke quickly.

"Why is the police there?" Dev asked.

"Even I don't know. They are asking us to move out of the way as they want to search the office," Arjun said.

"Your workspace has been cleared for you, Sonakshi ma'am," the employee spoke while pointing towards Sonakshi's work area.

"Thank you, Rama," Sonakshi smiled and got back to work.

"Knock Knock! Big Brother Alert," Suraj's voice filled Sonakshi's cabin.

"It's been just a minute that I have reached and here you are to check up on me!" Sonakshi replied, not concealing her frustration, "I am not 2 years old."

"I know Sona," Suraj walked to her, "I just came here to welcome you back to the company."

Sonakshi walked to him and hugged him. Her brother worried so much about her. Every action Suraj would take would always involve Sonakshi in it.

Sonakshi's phone suddenly started ringing. The name flashing on the screen made her frown.

Arjun Sir.

"Why is he calling you?" Suraj asked her.

"No idea," she shrugged.

At that instant, Suraj's secretary walked in hurriedly with an article open in it. Sonakshi too moved to look at what was written.

Ishwari Telecommunications accused of Embezzlement

"Dad striked," Suraj mumbled looking at Sonakshi.

"They deserve it," she replied.

"We need to be careful about our funds too now. His father might put a case on us," Suraj whispered as he asked his secretary to leave the room.

"I and Kriti will work on that. Where is she?" Sonakshi walked around to locate her friend.

"I don't think she has arrived yet. I'll ask her to be sent to you for helping you out," Suraj said, starting to move to his own cabin.

"Bhai," Sonakshi called out to her brother.

Suraj stopped and turned to look at his sister.

"Dad took a copy of the proof didn't he?" Sonakshi asked slowly, "He destroyed the drive with proof but he still had a copy didn't he?"

"Yes," Suraj replied, not quite meeting his sister's eyes.

"And you knew?" she questioned again.

"Yes," Suraj breathed out, unable to keep the guilt in, "I knew."

"Dad acted out a drama?" she asked, her heart aching. Her family was lying to her about so many things.

"Yes, Sona. He acted out a drama. He wanted to bait your boyfriend. He knows who Dev is," Suraj said, "He knew that Devrath is Devil. My competitor to rule the mafia world."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Sonakshi asked, her voice almost cracking.

"Because you were too blind in love. You did not think that Devrath would betray you. I and Dad knew he would do this," Suraj said.

"You never accepted him to be my lover?" Sonakshi asked looking at her brother hoping what she thought would be incorrect.

"Never," Suraj accepted, "After you getting harmed under his presence, he was never a trustworthy candidate to deserve you."

"Did Maa mean what she said when she accepted my love?" Sonakshi asked.

"Maa was the only genuine person out of all three of us Sona," Suraj sighed.

"Get out," Sonakshi said. It came out as a whisper. Suraj heard it clearly and complied. He decided to give his sister some time to digest what had happened.

"The Sharmas did this to you," Arjun hissed as soon as Dev walked in.

"I don't doubt that," Dev said as he slumped into his chair and held his head in his hands.

I messed up big time. Karma is hitting me back. I should have known that going against the Sharmas meant exposing all my crimes. Shekhar Sharma had everything with me. I deserve this karma for breaking his daughter's heart.

"Dev!" Arjun yelled to gain his best friend's attention.

"Yeah?" Dev looked up.

"The board wants an explanation. They are voting against you being the chairman of Dixit Industries. Your dad has scheduled a meeting today afternoon," Arjun said.

"It is better if Dad gets back to the position," Dev sighed.

"It is not going to be your Dad who takes over," Arjun caught Dev's attention.

"Then who is it?" Dev asked.

"Ravit Raheja," Arjun replied.

"Why him?" Dev yelled standing up, hitting his hands on the desk.

"Mr Raheja claimed that his son would be a better successor and be able to take the company forward," Arjun said.

"I can't let that happen!" Dev seethed in anger.

"What do we do Dev?" Arjun asked.

"Call the Sharmas. Ask about their demands. I need the embezzlement news removed. I will file a report against the Sharmas for embezzlement," Dev said.

"Do you think you are in a position to even threaten them?" Arjun asked.

"Whatever happened between me and the Sharma daughter is a personal matter. Why should it be turned into a professional power fight?" Dev questioned.

"Is that how you are going to address her from now on? The Sharma daughter?" Arjun asked, his voice not showing any sympathy for how hard the situation was for Dev.

"I can't take her name without guilt pooling in my chest," Dev said, "I can't let my cousin take over something that I deserve."

"I'll call up Ms Sharma to talk whether there is something from the Sharmas that can be done," Arjun sighed and dialled Sonakshi's number.

Sonakshi did not pick up.

"There is nothing that can be done," Dev cursed.

The door opened and Ravit Raheja walked in.

"Hello there!" Ravit grinned, "Cousin!"

Hello!
I know it's been too long.

Hoping you enjoyed this chapter.

Please let me know how you felt!

CHEERIO!