Bani was laughing with Bella and Vishakha when Veer rushes inside the house with a jumpy Tapish behind him. Veer runs towards the source of laughter and finds the three ladies baking something. His eyes snaps at Bani with furrow of concern.

"Bani! What happened?" Tapish comes behind him, "The driver called saying you left early?? I went to the spot and the director said you asked for the day off and reschedule the shoot? What is it??"

Bella and Vishakha turn their heads at the sudden commotion while Bani keeps her eyes trained on the mound bowl without looking up and says casually, "That's a lot of questions in one go, Tapish."

Tapish shifts impatiently, "What is it?? You've cancelled today's shoot?? You never do that. You're aware how important this contract is for us, right?? And calling it off all on a sudden to come home and bake is not really peak professionalism just so you know!"

Vishakha throws Tapish a stinky glare and spats, "Then maybe you should've been more attentive to your model like a good manager and stay by her side to see what's bothering her! Or are you off your duty now that you have the bigger boss around you??"

Tapish visibly falters at Vishakha's unexpected outburst and fumbles looking at Bani apologetically, "I- umm I'm sorry for that, Bani. I should have been more responsible. It was your break and I thought I'd just meet up with boss for a bit. I didn't assume you were having any difficulty there. And I didn't mean it that way either. I mean you seemed fine this morning then what happened -"

"It's okay, Tapish." Bani cuts him, "I was feeling unwell then but now I'm good. You don't have to fret over it. I talked to the director, we can reschedule the shoot later."

"If you were feeling unwell then you should have informed him or me about that and go to a doctor, not take the car all alone and come here!!" Veer growls who was very quiet for this long, just staring at Bani.

Bani rolls her eyes and snaps, "I said I'm fine now in case you missed it! And also what I do about my health is my business! It's not like I was running away or something!! I had your damn driver with me and as expected you've been informed of the whole situation in less than twenty minutes, just by the time I reached here! Then what are you fussing about???" She still doesn't look at Veer.

Veer rounds the kitchen counter and grabs Bani's wrist, dragging her out of the kitchen. Bani squawks in protest along the Vishakha and Bella. But Veer pays no heed, neither loosens his grip before pulling Bani upstairs to her room. Once they are inside the room, he closes the door behind letting go of her hand.

"What the hell!!! What do you think you are doing, Veer???" Bani flares finally glaring at him.

Veer spats immediately, "Fuck that! What are YOU doing??"

"Minding my own business?? Which you clearly aren't!!" Bani venomously bites back too.

"So baking is your business now??" Veer crowds her against the wall beside the door.

Bani hisses angrily, "what's it to you anyway??"

Veer grabs Bani's jaw just hard enough to make her look up at him and says in a steady voice, "I know when Vishakha drags you to the kitchen. It's when you feel too upset, and she will try to distract you by cooking or baking until you spend all your pent up frustration into the process. So now tell me what's bothering you."

Bani looks at Veer with unreadable emotion before looking away and snaps, "It's none of your business!!"

Veer's jaw tick as he pulls Bani harshly to him and bellows, "None of my business?? I had to cancel my meeting to come running here after you!!"

"You didn't have to!!" Bani roars back, "I didn't ask you to do anything!! Don't blame me for the inconvenience that you put yourself into!!"

Veer pulls Bani more into him until they are breath apart and snaps, "I'm not blaming you, damnit!! I'm saying that I'm concerned!! I was worried sick when the driver told me that you looked unwell and left early!! You were right there a few stairs away from where I was and then suddenly I found out that you weren't!! You left. Alone!"

"You were worried??" Bani laughs incredulously, "You were so concerned about me that you sent Mayurika to my workplace whom I clearly mentioned to you to never show her up in front of me, is it??? When you very well know how much I despise her!!!" she grits out.

Veer's eyes widen as he whispers, "I- didn't..."

"Don't you dare lie to me, Veeranshu Singhania. You didn't bring her there?? She said herself to me that you were the one who brought her to my shoot!!" Bani drawls at Veer.

Veer shakes his head in bewilderment while loosening his grip, "No, I did take her there because she requested me to take her to watch your photoshoot. But I didn't....I didn't think it would be a big deal now that....now that I told you everything last night! I thought you would be okay after....."

"After what? You thought I would be okay after you've confessed your unreasonable reasons for  your deed what you did??" Bani throws her hands in the air, "Why? Does that make the sufferings I went through any less, Veeranshu?? Does your confession fix anything from the past?? She's still the reason you and I are here, like this!! She's still - " Bani stops as she feels her throat and eyes burning.

"I'm sorry!" Veer whispers hoarsely, "I'm sorry, okay! I should have been more wise. I didn't think it through before bringing her there!"

"Of course you didn't!" Bani snorts looking away, "You haven't been in my shoes so how would you understand??"

Veer loses the last straw of his patience and he yanks Bani towards him forcefully, glaring at her with red rimmed eyes, "You think I wouldn't understand??" He grits out, "What would I not understand, Bani?? You think I'm not in your shoe?? Am I not standing here so close to you, yet so far away?? Did I not go through the separation and the agony as well?? I decided things for your safety and you decided divorce for both of us! You cried to me everyday saying how incompetent of a husband I was but I couldn't utter a single word to anyone!! Did I not have to see you dating other men?? What would I not understand, huh??"

Bani points her finger at Veer being on the verge of crying, "You can't blame me for that.I started seeing other people after our divorce!! I would never cheat on you emotionally or physically!"

"My relationship with her was fake!!" Veer snaps back, "And I'm not blaming you, for the love of god! I'm just saying that it's nothing that I wouldn't understand!!"

Bani shoves Veer away crying out, "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SHIT!! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT....THAT SHE LIKES YOU!!"

"What??" Veer looks baffled.

Bani exhales her fatigue before whispering, "She likes you. In that way. From the start. That's why she agreed to take my place beside you!"

Veer frowns hearing her, "You're mistaken, Bani. She wanted to help me because-"

"She told me herself!!" Bani interjects shaking her head, "Today, she told me herself that she loves you."

Veer freezes for a moment then mutters dubiously, "She told you herself?"

Bani nods multiple times leaning her weight to the wall and says, "I mean, I've always had this hunch that she had her eyes on you since forever and today when I asked her, she confirmed it. Told me how incredible you were, how easy you were to love!! Bani chuckles hollowly wiping away her tears.

Veer stays silent before speaking in cold tone, "She can't. She's not supposed to have this kind of feelings for me. If I knew she had such kind of thoughts I would've fired her long- "

"No you won't!" Bani jumps up glaring at Veer, "You won't fire her now just because she caught feelings for you. Whatever happened it was years ago. You and I are nothing now! I can hold her responsible for playing those numerous tricks but I cannot blame her for loving you! Not when you're the one who let it happen!" Veer gapes as Bani in astonishment as she continues, "She called you when you were with me, yes. But you went to her every time too. She tried to keep you away from me, but you pushed me away too and gave her the scope nearing you! Every time I tried to reach out for you, you chose to confine to her without giving me a single reason!! So no Veeranshu Singhania, you don't get to blame her when you're equally responsible for choosing her over me every time!!"

Veer pushes Bani to the wall roughly grabbing her face in both of his hands and mutters in anguish, "How many times in how many languages do I have to say for you to understand that I would never ever choose her....or anyone over you, Bani??? My priorities have always been YOU!! I can buy hundreds of lives to lay them in front of threats to save yours and I won't even regret that!! Yes, I said sorry.... I apologized for the hurt I caused you but I won't apologize for things that I don't regret!! And I don't regret using someone else's life for your safety! I don't regret that nobody else matters to me but you!!"

Bani holds her breath as she stays locked in Veer's grip, eyes fixed on his ballistic ones. Veer continues, "You think I don't regret the times when you get attacked because of me?? Do you have any idea how many death I died when they kidnapped you?? You think my first instinct was to leave you alone for someone else?? NO Bani! If I could help I would never let you leave out of my sight! I went there 'cause I had to!! Nothing kills me more than the guilt that you have to go through all these because of me!! So don't say again that I ever chose anyone over you 'cause I fucking didn't!!"

Veer's breath fans over Bani's face mingling with her own. She  sniffs her nose and looks at him blazingly as her eyes sting, "Fine. I won't say it again! But you too make sure that I never have to see your face ever again once this mess get sorted!! I was doing so much better avoiding you all these years and then here you come into my life again and again make it miserable!! I don't want to see you again! I hate you so mu-"

Bani's words get swallowed as Veer smashes his lips onto hers. His throat bobs as he whispers against her lips hoarsely, "Don't! Just at this moment don't hate me. Let me be vulnerable for this last time. You went away and left me with nothing! Just give me this. Please!"

Hot tears smears down Bani's eyes as she presses their lips together, her eyes close shut. Veer grabs her neck slotting their position better as he kisses Bani fervently, bitting, sucking, nibbling her bottom lip. Bani moans into the kiss pulling Veer more to her by collar even though there is no air-gap between them. Both pour their desperation into the kiss dominating each other as their tongues entwine.

"Fuck you! You infuriate me so much!!" Bani mumbles between their kiss.

When Veer tries to pull away she pulls him again initiating another kiss and hisses out, "You wanted to take this and I'm not done giving yet!!"

Veer grunts into her mouth pushing Bani against the wall. His one hand is holding Bani by her nape while the other one squeezes her waist. They both know what they are doing won't do them any good but the years of longing overpower all the rationality.

When they finally pull off, both are out of breath, lips red and swollen. Bani bends against the wall heaving breath and hugs herself, "You should stop floating around and try dating Mayurika for real. She's really the right one for you! I may hate her but she likes you, I can tell."

"Shut up!!" Veer growls glaring at her, "And about Mayurika, I will talk to her and be sure she will face the consequences for her deed!"

Bani shakes her head sighing, "You can't punish someone for loving you, Veeranshu. Sometimes love doesn't see right or wrong. You can't choose to fall in love. It just happens, unannounced and sometimes against all your beliefs, with someone who you are not supposed to fall for at all."

Veer chuckles bitterly, "Yeah? Who knows that better than me?? Anyways, my relationship is none of your business. You focus on your wellbeing, that will do." 

Then Veer turns to leave. When he touches the door knob, Bani speaks up, "Are we even now?"

Veer looks at her impassively. She says again looking lost, "Now that I got my answers, you got what you wanted....are we even now? You on your way and I mine?"

Veer walks up to her again and grabs her jaw between his thumb and fingers roughly causing Bani wince in pain, then drawls in deadly voice, "Not at all, Bani Singhania. You and I are far from being even yet!!!"

And then he storms out of the room leaving Bani shell-shocked. She doesn't know what Veer meant by that but that beasty glare in his eyes sends chills down her spine with a strange fear.

Happy Reading 🎈
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