Sia woke up next morning, her back hurting as she had slept on the floor under her father's picture. Slowly she pulled herself up from the floor and dragged her still tired body to the bathroom. Changing into a formals she applied a bit of Kohl and concealer to hide her tired eyes and left for her office.

Raghav was sitting in his cabin twirling the paperweight thinking about something when Sia knocked.

Raghav: Come in.

Sia: Good morning Sir! This is the file of Manik Company.

Raghav stared at her as she placed the file on the table. No matter how much makeup she applies, she can never hide her tired look from Raghav. He wondered why she looked so sleepless and tired.

Maybe she talked to Kabir all night. He thought with a bitter taste in his mouth.

Raghav: So Sia, kal get together ke time tum Kabir Malhotra se baat kar rahi thi?

Sia: Yes Sir.

Raghav: He is our competitor.

Sia: He is my friend.

Raghav: Tum apni private life or personal life ko alag rakh paogi... Considering what happened?

Sia: Ye question to aapko bhi answer karna chahie.

With this she left his cabin. She knew he can fire her with a flick of his fingers but actually that was what she wanted. Being with Raghav was damaging her everyday.

Raghav sat on his chair with his teeth clenched. Kabir's name still made him angry. He couldn't understand how can Sia talk to him after what happened. Sia, why are you so complicated?

*Flashback*

It was the final submission day of the project they had made. Raghav was searching for the file in his bag.

Nobody wanted the punishment to write the same project five times if they failed to submit it today.

Sia: Kya ho gaya Raghav?

She looked at him worried as he kept searching for his file here and there worried.

Raghav: Yaar Sia, mera project nahin mil raha hai. Maine bag me hi rakh lia tha raat me hi. Kya karoon main?

Sia helped him search the project in the classroom but all the attempts failed.

Sia: Acche se yaad hai na? Pakka rakha tha na?

Raghav: Haan. Project complete karte hi rakh dia tha. Kahi bhul na jaoon varna five times likhna padta.

He was almost on the verge of crying.

At the same time the teacher entered the class and asked everybody to submit the project by their roll calls.

Raghav: Yaar, ye already samjhte hain ki main bahut careless hoon or maine project bhi kho dia. Aaj bahut sunaenge mujhko.

He sat with his face in his hand and Sia decided something. She pulled out her file as soon as Raghav was called.

Raghav: Sir, mera project...

Cutting him, Sia stood up and handed him the project and nodded towards the teacher.

Raghav: But ye to tumhara hai.

Sia: Jao do unko jaldi. Jao bhi ab.

Teacher was getting annoyed and he asked Raghav to give the project immediately.

Sia forced him to go and submit her file as his. Soon it was Sia's turn.

Standing up she told the teacher that she had lost her project and accepted the punishment.

Raghav: Tum pagal ho? Kyu dia mujhko apna project?

Sia: It's ok Raghav. Humko Economics pasand hai. Hum kar lenge usko five times par tumko nahi pasand to tum nahi karte na.

At home, Sia was busy in other works and didn't remember about the project until evening. Sighing, she was about to start it when the doorbell rang.

She went to the door confused as none of her parents could be here by this time. Opening it she found Raghav on the other side of the door holding a file as if he was holding a rose.

Raghav: Jahapanah tussi great ho... Tohfa qubool karo.

This made Sia smile aa she took the file and opened it. Skimming through the content her eyes widened and she looked up at Raghav who was still smiling leaning against the doorframe.

Raghav: Thank you bolne ki koi jarurat nahi hai. Ye to mera farz tha. Vaise andar nahi bulaogi?

Sia: Haan aa jao. But ghar par koi hai nahi.

Raghav: Ohho. Tab to accha hi hai na.

He licked his lips while eyeing Sia as she blushed and slapped him lightly on his shoulder.

Inside he sat on the couch and Sia went to the kitchen to bring some snacks for him as he switched on the TV.

Sia: But tumko itna pareshan hone ki jarurat nahi thi. Kar lete hum. Actually hum start hi karne vale the ki tum aa gae.

Raghav: Tum abhi start karti to kam se kam 12 baj jaata complete karne me. Phir tum late soti to late jagti. Tumhari neend complete nahi hoti to tumko gussa aa jaata hai or shayad kal gusse me tum mera qatl kar deti. To basically maine apni jaan bachane ke lie kia hai ye sab.

Sia lightly laughed at his speech that he completed in one breath.

Sia: Thank you.

Raghav: It's ok. Actually main to sirf teen baar likhne vala tha magar phir samajh me aane laga to maza aane laga to bas likh dia poora.

Sia was about to say something, when the doorbell rang and her eyes widened.

Sia: Ma aa gai. Raghav tum room me jao humare turant.

Raghav: Kyun irada kya hai?

He said with a mischievous grin and wiggling his eyebrows but scrammed as she glared at him.

She opened the door and Sia's mom went to her without any suspicion. Sia knocked on the door and asked Raghav to sneak out immediately as she went to talk to her mother.

This was the mini adventure for them.

*Present*

Raghav was snapped out of his thought when the office boy entered the cabin with his lunch.

Sia was having her lunch in the canteen when her phone rang. It was Kabir. Sighing, she decided to pick it up.

Sia: Hi Kabir.

Kabir: Hi Sia, kaisi ho? Bahut busy ho aajkal.

Sia: Haan thoda busy hain. Job lag gai so you know.

Kabir: Haan main aaunga to mujhko office dikhana apna. Vaise main soch raha ki ek branch ab vahan bhi start karoon. Phir tum vahi par job karna. 

Sia: So kab aane ka plan hai?

Kabir: Yaar mera plan na postpone ho gaya hai. Main do hafte k baad hi aa paunga.

Trying to hide her smile, Sia talked to him for a while before hanging up and went to continue her work.

He can try anything but he is not Raghav and I can never forget what he had done.

*Flashback*

It was few days after the project submission. Raghav couldn't attend the school as he was not well, so Kabir sat with Sia. Though she was quite uncomfortable with him, she decided to sit with him as Arjun and Aliyah were out for a seminar so it was only him she knew in the whole school.

She was desperately waiting for the school to get over because Raghav was to come to take notes from Sia.

Finally it was the last period and ten minutes were left for the bell to go. Kabir was in the basketball court and he sent a kid to get his bag from the class where Sia was sitting writing something in her notebook.

The kid asked her if she knew which one was Kabir's and she pointed next to her seat. The kid picked up the bag but as it was heavy he dropped it and all the content came out of it. Sia rushed to help the child when a file came in her hands.

There was Raghav's name on it and it was his Economics project.

What was it doing in Kabir's bag? Did he steal it?

Impatiently Kabir came to the class when he saw a file in Sia's hand who sat on the floor with a frown. She looked up at him with questioning eyes.

Kabir: Sia, mujhe nahi pata ye isme kaise aai. Main sach me nahi janta.

Sia: Tum jhuth bol rahe ho Kabir. Tumne kyu nikali ye file uske bag se? Kya problem hai usse? Vo to baat bhi nahi karta tumse.

Kabir stepped towards her. He knew he can't lie anymore. He has been caught red handed. Sia stepped back.

Kabir: Haan, maine nikali file uske bag se. Main chahta tha ki usko punishment mile. Uski beizzati ho par tum... Tumne apni file dekar bacha lia usko. Kyu kia tumne aisa?

Sia: Kabir, kya bolte jaa rahe ho tum?
Pyaar karte hain hum usse. Tum kyu usko neecha dikhana chahte ho? Kyu nafrat karte ho usse itni?

Hearing this, Kabir's eyes went black with anger which made Sia flinch.

Kabir: Nafrat? Nafrat islie hai Sia kyuki tumse pyaar hai. Tum apna saara attention usko deti ho. Mujhse baat bhi nhi karti. I Love You Sia Dhillon. Please come to me. Vo kuch nahi kar paega tumhare lie... Par main khush rakh sakta hoon tumko... Har tarah se. Please Sia. Leave him come to me.

Sia: Why are you acting like a child? Bacchon jaisi baat mat karo. Let me go. I can't bear to be with you anymore.

She tried to leave but Kabir held her wrist in a death grip.

Kabir: Maine apni baat nahi khatam ki hai abhi tak. You can't go.

Sia: Kabir, leave my hand. Tum jo bhi keh rahe ho vo possible nahi hai. Let me go.

He pulled her towards himself and pushed her against the wall and held down her hands as his eyes looked deranged. He looked dangerous and violent. This made Sia shiver. Scared she looked around her but there was no one. The whole school was empty.

Sia: Kabir jaane do humko varna...

Kabir: Varna... Varna kya? Tum chillaogi? Please chilla kar dekho na ek baar. Dekhte hain ki koi aata hai ki nahi. Chillao Sia please chillao. Bachao koi to bacha lo mujhe. Main bhi dekhoon ki aakhir the strong Sia kitni jaldi break karti hai.

Sia: Kabir please. Agar Raghav ko pata...

Kabir: Chup bilkul chup. Kaha na main nahi chahta ki tum uska naam lo. I want only my name on your lips. Kabir... Sirf Kabir. Ek baar me samajh nhi aata tumko. Pyaar karta hoon tumse. Raghav se jyada... Sabse jyada. Tum sirf meri ho. Sirf meri. Kabir Malhotra ki.

Sia: Hum kisi ke nahi hain. Ye kaisa pyaar hai Kabir? Raghav ne kabhi aisa kuch nahi kia humare saath. Pyaar vo hai jo Raghav karta hai tum... Tum humko darane ki koshish kar rahe. Violence is not love. Leave me. Raghav ko pata chala to theek nahi hoga.

Kabir: Haww... Main to darr gaya. Kaun bataega Raghav ko? Tum? Haha. Accha mazaak tha.

Sia twisted and turned to get out of Kabir's grip but he was stronger and aa he was too close to her she couldn't kick him where the sun doesn't shines.

He dragged her to the store room where nobody used to come. Sia was really scared because she didn't know what was going on in Kabir's mind. He was acting very unpredictable.

Soon, to Sia's relief came the voice of Raghav. He was alongwith Aliyah and Arjun, searching for Sia.

Raghav: Sia, kahan ho yaar? Sia?

Sia knew that they would never come to the store room. She must draw their attention. She looked at Kabir who was distracted, taking advantage Sia kicked him and fled to the window as the door was locked.

Sia: Raghav, hum yahan hain store room me. Raghav.

But she saw them going not being able to hear her. Her face was covered with tears.

Sia: Raghav, please. Raghav. Arjun. Aliyah.

Till then Kabir gained his balance and reached Sia.

Kabir: Aww bechari Sia. Raghav ne nahi dekha. Ab Sia ko kaun bachaega?

He tried to hold her again when Sia saw a vase lying near her. She picked it up and was about to attack Kabir when he dodged it and threw the vase out of the window which fell near Arjun's leg who looked up. There he saw something shining from the store room's window. It was Sia's bracelet which Aliyah had gifted her.

Arjun: Yaar, Sia store room me hai? Kuch gadbad hai. Jaldi chalo. Mujhko tension ho rahi hai.

All three ran towards the store room taking two steps at a time and banged at the door.

Kabir: Pata chal gaya unko. Tumhari vajah se.

He pulled her hair which made her shriek loudly.

Raghav: Sia kisi problem me hai. We need to break the door.

Both charged at the door and after a few attempts it broke open as both stumbled inside the room with Aliyah behind them.

Raghav: Sia... Kabir? Yahan kya ho raha hai? Tum ro rahi ho.

Sia: Raghav...

With this she started crying loudly and Kabir held her hand.

Kabir: Aa gaya Raghav hero bankar apni girlfriend ko bachane. Door rehna sab varna...

Raghav: Kabir haath hata Sia par se varna theek nahi hoga tere saath.

Kabir was distracted by this and Sia saw a piece of glass lying there which she picked up and charged at Kabir who held his hand in agony. Sia ran and hugged Aliyah who rubbed her shoulders.

Raghav and Kabir had a great fight at that time and it ended only when a school employee came in the store room. Kabir had to be taken to the hospital as he was bleeding badly. Police was called and Raghav and Arjun were arrested and went to jail. Sia and Aliyah pleaded the constable who allowed them to sit outside the cell where boys were sitting.

Sia: Raghav, I am sorry. I should have been careful. Sorry for getting you in jail. And thank you for saving me. Thanks to all three of you.

Raghav: Welcome jaan. And don't worry. I am awesome here. This is a big tick on my wishlist. Just a lot of mosquitoes.

Aliyah: Dad ko call kia hai tumhare. Aa rahe honge vo.

Soon Arun Oberoi came and completed the formalities for both the boys and they were taken out of the jail.

Raghav pinched the cheek of Inspector Fatso as he had named him, "Bye uncle. Milna julna to laga rahega. See you later, alligator. "

He received a tap on his head from his father who asked him to come home without a word. Raghav was a total opposite of his father. He was a man of few words while Raghav was mischievous and wanted attention. But the resemblance was very uncanny. It was as if Sia was looking at an older version of Raghav.

Sia: You will be scolded a lot today.

Raghav: Oh no. A little bit. Things I have heard a lot of times. Bhool jaenge phir. But Kabir ko kya padi hai yaar. Kuch din school nahi aaega vo.

Kabir had later apologised to her and she forgave just because she didn't want to give him a reason to follow her everywhere asking for forgiveness. But now she maintained a lot of distance and talked to him only when she was in a group.

*Present*

Sia was called to Raghav's office.

Raghav: Sia, ye file complete kar dena please. Main abhi niklunga because aaj mere plans hain Arjun ke saath.

With this he flashed her his most charming smile and she couldn't help but smile back at him. She craved this, she craved his touches, his possessiveness. Everything related to him.

At the restaurant, Arjun and Raghav were sitting with drinks in their hands.

Arjun: Yaad hai, hum log rapid fire khelte the.

Raghav: Haan usi se pata chala tha ki mujhe Sia pasand hai.

Arjun: Vo to tu abhi bhi pyaar karta hai usse. Sab samjh jaate ho bas ek dusre k lie jo pyaar hai vo nahi samajh aata tum log ko.

Raghav: Nahi yaar... Leave it.

Arjun: Chal phir se khelte hain. Don't worry main Sia se related nahi puchunga kuch bhi.

Raghav: Chal start kar.

Arjun: Aliyah?

Raghav: You should totally get back.

Arjun: Kabir?

Raghav: That bastard.

Arjun: Me?

Raghav: Bhai.

Arjun: Your job?

Raghav: Dumb.

Arjun: Love?

Raghav: Over rated and painful.

Arjun: Do you love Saloni?

Raghav: I....  Uh... Do I?

Arjun: No, you don't. She is just a distraction. Tu bahut acche se janta hai ki tu kisse pyaar karta hai. Main naam bhi nahi lunga uska but you love only her.

Raghav slammed the bottle on the table and stood up.

Raghav: Kya Sia Sia laga rakha hai. Nahi karta pyaar usse. Nahi pasand vo mujhko.

Arjun: Maine to uska naam bhi nahi lia.

This made Raghav silent for a moment.

Raghav: Dekh tu jyada soch raha hai. Vo move on kar chuki hai.

Arjun: Tujhe kaise pata? Tune pucha usse? Usne kaha tujhse? Sab dikhta hai ek dusre ka gussa ek dusre ke lie nafrat maar ek dusre ke lie pyaar nahi dikhta.

Raghav: Dekh aisa hai tab tak baat na karna jab tak ye Sia ka bhoot na utar kar tere dimag se.

With this he left the bar and came back to his home but somewhere deep inside he knew that Arjun was right.

That Saloni was just a distraction.

That he never moved on.

That he still loved Sia.

      ______________________________

                AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey,

Sorry for being so late. For compensation this is a long chapter. Enjoy.

Next: School reunion. Sia gets fired.

Until then,
Love Love ❣️
A.S.