"I actually fired Neil because.............."

"Because..?" she whispered back

"Because....he.....he ruined my documents" he said with a smirk while a smile instantly crept up on Sonakshi's face.

She knew the real reason after all...

-------------------------------

Sona's POV

I was genuinely happy towards the positive change in Dev. He was slowly changing for the better. I could get used to that. But the problem now was, both of us never talked about the past, face to face ever since we met. That was a big problem.

There was a large barrier between both of us now and it was not easy to break it. Not acknowledging it and moving forward would create more misunderstandings.

I don't think I would ever develop the courage to tell Dev the truth. I won't even have the strength to face him after the truth. It was hard. How difficult would it be for him to handle them? Would he forgive me? What if his temper gets the worst and he does something in anger? Will he fight with his family against me? Will he ever give us another chance?

There were lots of questions running on my mind while I walked home. When I reached the gate, I was shocked at the view in front of me. My entire family was standing outside the house as if they were expecting a new guest. A weird expression covered my parents face while Elena's face paled once she saw me. This is not going to be good.

"Maa... Baba?? What's wrong? Why are you all standing here?"

"Sona...we have something to discuss to you. Now come in first." they said as they guided me inside the home. Following them, I walked in and sat on the sofa. I eyed Elena secretly and asked her what was wrong, but she looked too confused to even signal back.

"We have decided to get you married this year Sonakshi! No more excuses... This is our final decision!" my mum said strictly, making me terrified.

"MUM!!! You can't do this. Who is it, this time? Usha aunty right? Ohh god maa...can you for once not listen to her. I swear she is up to no good-" before I could finish, I was cut in between by my mum.

"It's not her Sona. We have found a better alliance. It is someone whom you already know."

I was getting nervous this time. From their facial expressions, I could tell that both my parents were mentally fixed with their decisions this time.

"Who?" I asked nervously.

"Dev Dixit." Elena whispered in a shaky voice before she averted her gaze from mine.

What the hell?????

----------------------

"Elena!!!! How could this happen? Why didn't you call me... Shit.. Shit... Shit... What am I going to do? I can't go on with this marriage Elena. I just can't... Why didn't you do anything, Ele?" I yelled at her inside our room.

"I know Sona.. I tried convincing our parents that they should ask you first. But Dev already brainwashed them badly. He even told them that you guys used to be 'good friends' during college time and all. Maa and Baba were so impressed with his talks. He made a marriage proposal and told them that he would bring his parents to talk to them when they get back.... I tried stopping him in the gate itself. But it was too late. He was already working on getting his job done. Now you have only two choices, Sona. Tell the truth to either Dev or our parents. Someone needs to know." Elena told me calmly.

Whatever she told me made sense but it was easier said than done. Of course, she did not have to worry about anything unlike me.

"If I tell the truth to our parents, they will cancel the marriage but they will create more problems for me. You know about baba, right? What if he goes and start a fight with the Dixit family? Moreover, maa and baba will be so disappointed that I have hidden such a big truth from them for so many years. It's not easy Elena."

"Then tell Dev...I have a feeling that he is wanting this marriage to take his revenge on you. Think for a while..... Marriage is a serious commitment Sona. I don't think it is right to play with marriage just for revenge. We all know about Dev. He is not that mean Sona. He must still have feelings for you. That might be another the reason why he did that. You should at least go and confront him. Anyway, how long do you plan to hide the truth from him?" Elena asked.

"I know Ele.... I just can't open up to Dev. Not now at least. Everything is happening too fast. I need some time alone..." I sighed and Elena left the room.

How? Why? Why was he doing this...

"Please don't Dev. I can't handle whatever you are doing right now. I have already gone through a lot by your family members. I won't be able to handle more insults." I sat down and let the tears flow through my cheeks.

That's when I recalled something.

Does his mum and sister know about his decision?

--------------------------

Dev's POV

I was trying to move on. I tried so hard but I failed. The moment Sonakshi was near me, she blows my mind off from everything. She was such a distraction that I have become so incapable of doing any work. I placed her in the same room as me at office, so that I could torture her as much as possible. But the tables have turned now. I was the one who was being tortured.

Every second was a torture. Even a blind man could tell that I loved her so much. But I was confused whether she had the same feelings for me or not. I was sure from Jatin and Pooja that she did not move on at all. I tried to see whether her eyes reflected love for me or not. But every time I see them, they reflected pain and guilt. Why?

I couldn't understand why she was guilty. I mean it was her own choice of breaking up, right? However now all that matters to me was that, I still loved her. Immensely, purely and crazily. I knew talking to her would create more complications. But I had to find a solution. This can't continue forever. Since the decision was mine, I decided to take the next step bravely. Now, no one was in charge of my life.

You made me leave you Sonakshi.... Now no one can stop me from having you again

I went to her house to talk to her parents about it. I almost broke to them about our relationship, but respecting Sonakshi's privacy I stopped myself. I expressed to them about my interest of wanting to marry their daughter.

To my surprise, everything went better than what I had expected. Sonakshi's parents were such friendly and nice people. They welcomed me and provided me with such warm hospitality. They were nothing like what I had expected. Hence, my job became much easier.

Was I doing the marriage for revenge? I didn't know...

I told her parents that my parents would talk to them after two days, if Sonakshi was ok with it. To my surprise, they happily agreed before telling me that they would speak to Sona first. Now all I had to do was to know what was in Sonakshi's mind.

Just when I thought that I had to wait for a long time, fate proved me otherwise.

I finally got my answer from yesterday's kiss. Is was so sensual and full of passion. The way she responded to the kiss was really mind-blowing. I couldn't deny that I didn't feel the love from her. Hell yes! She loved me and still loves me. The way her hands moved around me, her lips felt against mine... everything.... everything about her was so intoxicating. It took lots of control for me, not to rip her out of her clothes then and there.

Err...Dev think from your head! The one above your shoulder and not the other one!

I was already sitting in my cabin waiting for her to come but she was still not here. It was very unusual of Sona to be late for office, so my mind wandered around for all possible reasons of her being late.

Suddenly the door flew open with force. Woahh... I have to agree. Angry Sonakshi is irresistible.

"Forgot who is the boss, Ms Bose?" I asked with the same attitude.

"Why Mr Dixit?.....Why? Marriage... Seriously? I expected better from you!" was all that came out from her mouth.

Her eyes held so much of vulnerability and anger that had the power to split me into half. She said nothing else but her presence was radiating throughout the room. I could sense her irritation from her abnormal breathing.

"Can we go out Ms Bose?" I asked her calmly. I knew getting angry would only make things worse. Right now, a good conversation is what we needed.

"Now?" she asked doubtfully.

"Yes. Now" I replied. Her face slowly softened as she nodded.

We immediately went to a beach restaurant far away from the office. I still didn't know how to start the conversation with her. Damn...I wasn't even this nervous when I proposed to her in the college. It was fifteen minutes and no one spoke yet.

Sighing, I decided to start the conversation.

"I know Sonakshi... This is not easy for you. We have travelled a long journey without each other for a long time. I admit that I was mean to you from the start. But that's the person I became Sonakshi. Not just to you, but towards many people around me. That's how I changed in the past three years. A negative change. The pain in me made me a different person." I paused and saw her eyes staring at me intently.

"But over these past few weeks I realized one thing Sonakshi. My love for you hasn't changed. Not even a bit. Trust me. I have never looked at you with hatred in my eyes. I always masked my love for you with hatred. True....I was upset with you at the start, but I never hated you. I haven't been able to hate you. I even fooled myself and got convinced by telling myself that I have moved on. But the truth is, I can't...... and I won't be able to as well." I fiddled with the random vase on the table.

"I actually hate myself for loving you so much Sonakshi but I can't help it......"

"I love you so badly Sonakshi.... So badly that it hurts." I completed before I looked at her face.

This is the rare times I got to see her eyes from close. Innocent, scared, but always alert. I sat across her, with my arms crossed while my eyes locked on hers. It took me a while to realize that she was not alright. I got up on my feet and asked,

"What's wrong?"

I tried to reach for her hands but she shoved my hands away.

"Don't touch me." she said and turned away from me.

I knew there was something more to her behaviour. She walked out of the restaurant and stood facing the sea. She would never answer a person with her back facing them. This is no good... Ignoring her protest, I hugged her from behind gently. I felt her body stiffening in my arms.

She tried removing my arms but she couldn't. I could feel her tears running down her cheeks. Why was she crying now? Did she turn away because of that? After a while she stopped fighting and rested her head backwards on my shoulders. I felt a weight leave my chest when she relaxed in my arms. I hugged her tightly as we stood there for a while.

"Please....go away... I am not worth your love" Sona spoke softly after a while.

"You are more than what I have ever wanted in my life... Just give it a chance." I whispered firmly. But I could see that now, my voice sounded more like begging.

"How can you forgive me so easily?" she asked still sobbing.

I smiled and turned her around. Covering her face with my hands, I wiped away her tears with my thumbs. She leaned more into my hands.

"No one is perfect Sona... If you accept me with my imperfections, then yes. I am ready to forgive you as well. Wholeheartedly..."

Sona's POV

"No one is perfect Sona.....If you accept me with my imperfections, then yes. I am ready to forgive you as well. Wholeheartedly..." he said making me breathless.

"I would disappoint you. What if you hate me later?" I asked him.

I was unsure of my future with him. He did not bug me about the past. Instead he was ready to move forward and forget the past with time. That was indeed scaring me to death. Was he sincere or was it all revenge?

His eyes conveyed how sincere he was. But I have lost my trust on people these days. I got cheated with everyone whom I trusted in the past. Should I give it a chance? I didn't know.

"Look Sona... I have thought about it lots of time. I wanted to confront you about your past. But I knew even you went through lots of pain during the past few years too. Recalling the incidents will only cause more pain and hurt for the both of us. I am ready to forget and forgive. I trust you more than anything. I always have.... I don't want to hurt you or myself by talking about the past anymore, please. We have destroyed ourselves enough." he told me.

"Dev..."

"In fact, I don't want to know anything about the past if it hurts you, Sona." he said making my heart melt.

Suddenly it started to rain.. I couldn't think of all the consequences of his hasty decision. I wanted him. In the rain Dev's hair becomes stuck to his face, wetly draped over his forehead, driving me crazy. His expression were serious as he held me closely. I wonder if he knows how crazy that drives me; how it makes me want to feel every inch of his skin.

"I am sorry Dev....sorry for everything. I have never loved you for your money... I don't know how I am going to prove it to you. But yes, that's the truth. I will prove it to you one day. Even if it comes at the cost of my whole life. I know how difficult this decision is for you. I wish I had an ounce of your courage in me. I have loved you and only you. I have never thought about another guy in my life after you left. Your acceptance now feels like a dream which I never thought would become true. I promise that I would never ever leave you again... never...." I cried and hugged him tightly, feeling slightly relieved that I told him what I wanted to say for all these years.

"You were never at fault Dev.... Never ask sorry again! It was never your fault." I sobbed, still clinging on to me. I never thought that our proposal would be this emotional.

But I had to admit that this had to be the most painful proposal.

It was...

I hesitantly looked up at him. The swirls of emotion I saw there made me gasp. Lust and desire. However, before I could ponder about it further, he yanked me to him and covered my mouth with his in a hungry kiss.

As our lips crushed together, I felt like I was walking on air. It was magic, the way his lips connected with mine, was too good to be true. There was something so heavenly about a kiss in the rain, a tender moment that just won't wait. It was that burst of love that is expressed unconditionally. It does not care if the water soaks through to chill the skin. It was a connection that shows the strength of the feeling and the mutual need. It was a rebellion against the elements.

Nature can bring the rain. But our inner warmth comes through the connection.

"I love you" Dev said parting away from me.

"I love you too" I finally confessed.

Little did I know... that this day was the start of my journey towards hell.

******************

Hehehe how was the update? I am sure many of you guys didn't see this coming!

PS : NEVER IGNORE THE QUESTIONS IN YOUR HEART! Avoiding problems can never become a solution. Always talk it out. Even when the truth hurts like hell, speak out. Because the consequences are worse than hell.

So, what do you all think about Dev's sudden decision?

Precap : Jay and Ishwari at Sonakshi's house!!!! 😂😂😂😂