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Surprised!!!😀😀😀Its Tuesday and I am back with an early update.

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"SONAKSHI CAN WE TALK PLEASE?"

For a moment Sonakshi was left speechless, she was still trying to get to terms with the fact that Dev was standing before her and then on top of that he wanted to talk to her, her mind was muddled with various thoughts. Seeing her quiet Dev pulled the chair and settled on it, sitting exactly opposite to her and waited for her to speak.

"Hi..." said Sonakshi meekly, not finding any words to speak as Dev looked at her closely, he could understand the awkwardness, this was the first time they were speaking face-to-face since Sonakshi had known about Dev's identity.

"Oh... So, you observed that someone is sitting in front of you" said Dev in a teasing tone trying to initiate the conversation as well as lighten the atmosphere while Sonakshi kept looking down at her feet, not ready to meet his eyes.

"Sonakshi, What's the matter? Why are you behaving so awkwardly?" he asked seeing her shifting uncomfortably on her chair, it seemed to him that his presence was bothering her as he felt a pain in his heart.

"No...No...its nothing" she stammered as Dev got up from his seat and turned back to leave surprising her as she spoke.

"Dev...Where are you going?" she said as she saw Dev leaving from there, listening to her Dev turned back to look at her and said.

"Well, seems like you are feeling uncomfortable with my presence here, so it's better I leave" he spoke in a sharp voice but it clearly showed that he was hurt at Sonakshi's indifferent behavior with him which Sonakshi seemed to realize as well, she berated herself mentally for behaving in such a way when he had come to talk to her.

"No Dev, it's nothing like that. Please sit down" she said in a desperate voice trying to stop him from leaving.

"Are you sure?" asked Dev as Sonakshi replied in an instant "Yes" after which Dev settled down, there was an awkward silence as both sat quiet not knowing how to initiate the conversation with the other, both had the same thoughts going on in their mind, why was it so difficult to talk to the other? It was so easy to talk when they were friends? What had changed? Was it that now from friends their relationship was more of a Boss & employee? Or was it because they had realized their love for the other? Both did not seem to have any answer to their questions. After a few seconds Dev decided to break the silence.

"Sonakshi, are you trying to avoid me?" he said, finally asking the question that had been gnawing his heart right from yesterday, Sonakshi looked up at him for the first time since he had come to talk to her.

"No... No Dev, it's nothing like that. Why did you think so?" she asked as Dev replied.

"Then what else do I think Sonakshi, yesterday I called you repeatedly yet you left even after listening to my calls, then you send a curt reply to my message. And then today as well you are behaving as if you are feeling uncomfortable with my presence and on top of that you are denying the opportunity to work in the AD as well, so what else should I think Sonakshi" he let all of it out in a go as Sonakshi looked at him with wide eyes, surprised at the sudden outpouring of his thoughts. She never thought he would have observed it but now that he had she did not know what to reply.

"Tell me Sonakshi, what's bothering you?" he asked again but Sonakshi still kept quiet as Dev ran out of him patience.

"I guess it's better I leave, anyways you are ready to talk anything" he said brusquely and was about to get up when he heard Sonakshi say.

"Why did you hide about your identity Dev?" she asked looking down with slight tears in her eyes as Dev looked at her while Sonakshi looked up at the same time meeting his eyes and asked again "Tell me Dev, why did you hide your identity?"

For a moment Dev was stumped unable to find words to answer her, though he knew that the revelation of his identity would bother her but now when she had asked him the same he was pretty much left tongue-tied.

"I did not hide it with any wrong intentions Sonakshi" he said slowly regaining his composure as Sonakshi looked at him in his eyes and all she could see was truth and sincerity in them as Dev continued.

"To be very honest I never assign importance to the identity or status of a person Sonakshi, for me a person's character and behavior is more important than his/her identity" he said as Sonakshi was surprised with the genuineness his voice held as he spoke.

"Tell me honestly Sonakshi, how does my identity relate to or affect our friendship?" he asked as Sonakshi seemed to ponder about her reply, after a few seconds she spoke.

"As Friends I expected that we are open to each other Dev yet you hid your identity from me" she said in a disappointed tone which Dev did not miss.

"Sonakshi, I am sorry for that. I should have told you but generally what I have seen is when people know my true identity their behavior with me changes, it's as if they feel they are not allowed to be my friends and I absolutely hate that. And believe it or not that's exactly what is happening right now as well. Until you knew about my identity we were good friends but now that you know who I am you are having second thoughts about our friendship, isn't it?" he said with a sad smile which she did not miss.

It was then it dawned onto Sonakshi what Dev was trying to say and it was absolutely true, until the time she knew about his identity they were good friends but after she had known about it the equation had changed between them but then it was not because of his identity like he was thinking, it was because she had realized her LOVE for him and now a fear had entered her heart, the fear of REJECTION. What if Dev did not feel the same way for her as she felt for him, What if he did not reciprocate to her love. Would she be able to handle it, definitely not. In fact, it might end their friendship as well and she did not want that to happen. And that was the reason she was behaving all awkward around him trying not to make her feelings apparent.

"No Dev, It's nothing like that. Your identity has nothing to do with our friendship, It's just that I...." but the next moment she paused, she cannot tell him her feelings, not now.

"What happened Sonakshi, Why did you stop?" Dev asked as she replied, "Nothing Dev" and kept quiet while Dev continued.

"Anyways I just wanted to tell you that please do not let the problems between us affect your professional career Sonakshi. This opportunity is good one for you, so I will be happy if you accept it. In any case it's your decision but do not let your personal issues affect your professional life" he said as Sonakshi nodded her head, just then someone interrupted their conversation.

"Hi Dev" said the person in an excited tone as Dev replied, "Hi Reena, how are you?" he asked as Dev and Reena started talking. Reena expressed her surprise about Dev's identity but he asked her to ignore it and talked with her. All through their conversation Sonakshi was just looking at them, her nose flaring in anger as they had completely ignored her. She felt as if she was not present there as the duo were busy with themselves. After some time, Dev bid them a goodbye and proceeded to his cabin.

As Dev's figure retreated Reena spoke "Oh my god Sona, he is such a down to earth person. How I wish I could get a boyfriend like him. Even better if he could be my boyfriend" she said dreamily as Sonakshi's anger rose, she crumpled the tissue which she was holding in her hand and said in a low tone "How dare she eye Dev, My Dev" she got up and in a cold tone told Reena that she needed to use the washroom and left from their making Reena wonder what happened to her suddenly

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While Dev and Sonakshi were busy in their conversation there was another duo who were engaged in their own conversation and it was none other than Jatin and Avni. Jatin was worried whether Sonakshi would accept the opportunity or not and was expressing the same to Avni

"Do you think she will accept it Avni. What if she rejects it? What if Dev is not able to convince her?" asked a worried Jatin as Avni slapped her head.

"Jatin, you are asking it for the 3rd time and I have told you already that Dev will make her accept it. Why do you always tend to overthink?" she said in an irritated tone

"No Avni, I am overthinking. I know my sister and how she thinks" Jatin replied

"And I know my friend. I know he will convince her. And stop overthinking now. Even when we were in a relationship you used to over...." said Avni but stopped abruptly, she mentally slapped herself for mentioning their relationship as Jatin looked at her but Avni looked away closing her eyes hoping that he would not go back into the past.

"Avni Can I ask you something?" ask Jatin hesitatingly as Avni gestured him to go ahead.

"I know a lot has happened between us in the past and for both of us it's difficult to forget it. In fact, I am really sorry as it was my mistake to let you go and as I had said earlier I regret it every day but can we start afresh as FRIENDS. I miss that friend who used to guide me, who used to lend her shoulder to me when I was sad, make me happy. I miss that Friend Avni" said Jatin as tears glistened both their eyes remembering their beautiful past. Avni was in dilemma, all these days she had controlled her feelings ever since Jatin had come back into her life but now he wanted to restart but as friends this time but in her heart, she knew that both wanted to be with each other but was she ready to risk her heart once again, will she be able to bear another heartbreak. But then he did not ask her to get back into the relationship, all he wanted was friendship, maybe she can allow herself to accept that and who knows if destiny wanted they might be back together, maybe this time forever.

Seeing Avni quiet Jatin thought that she was not ready but the next moment he was left surprised as Avni forwarded her hand and said "Mr. Jatin Roy, Friends?" as she smiled and the next instant he shook her hands with a smile on his face, glad that she had accepted his friendship. Excusing herself Avni went out of the cabin for some work.

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On the other hand, in the restroom, Sonakshi washed her face and looked at the mirror speaking to herself,

"What's wrong with you Sona? You were about to tell your feelings to Dev, are you mad? What if he would have misunderstood you? What if he rejects you? Will you be able to handle it? No, No I cannot? And how dare Reena think of Dev? The next time she speaks about Dev I will not leave her? Arghh...Focus Sona Focus..Not Reena, Dev. Dev should be your focus now. He wants me to accept working in the AD, but, how will I? Seven days, seven days you will be here and I am sure even he will be there. How will I control myself around him? What If he comes to know that I LOVE him and what if he breaks our friendship? Ahh God...I am so confused...What should I do?" she said to herself as she held her head but the very next moment she heard someone speak which left her flabbergasted

"THEN WHY DON'T YOU CONFESS YOUR LOVE TO HIM? MAYBE YOU WILL THE GET ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS?"

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Done, once again a long update. How was it?? Was it Boring/Ok/Good? Was it Yayy or Was it Nayy? Please leave your honest feedback.

Please do vote and make the writer happy. 🙂🙂. As always, awaiting your votes & comments.

Also today I came across this lovely story "HAPPILY EVER AFTER..." written by Uttara199 , so please do check it out and give your love and support for the amazing story and the writer. 🙂🙂🙂

Please ignore the grammatical mistakes and see you in the next update.🤔😧😲

PRECAP - WHO WAS IT???