It had been a month since she had gone to her office, since she was jobless, since she had seen Raghav.

She missed Raghav... She was happy seeing him and just listening to his orders. These 6 months with him were good with lot of plot twists.

Only her search history knew how much she missed him. Every night before sleeping she had a ritual to search him on Google and read and re read all the articles published about him.

It had been a busy month as she had gone to few other industries for job but they were not compatible for her. She knew it was not because of remuneration problem, it was just because she couldn't see herself taking orders from anybody other than Raghav.

He had a deep impact on her... Both times. She knew it was unhealthy but this was out of her control. Sometimes she wished there was a switch in her body through which she can turn off her feelings.

This was another of her sleepless night and she was stalking Raghav on internet.

There was a new article on him which caught her attention.

Has the hottest entrepreneur finally decided to get hitched? Read the whole story on Raghav Oberoi in the article.

Sia's heart  thudded against her rib cage and she felt as if it was about to come out. With shivering hands she clicked on the link.

There was an image of Saloni flaunting a diamond ring on a beach in Malibu with Raghav smiling at the camera.

Then another image of Saloni in a bikini and Raghav applying body lotion on her back. Ring was in focus again.

The article exaggerated about how it was a Made For Each Other story and how Raghav found his 'Soulmate' Saloni in his school itself.

Sia didn't know that she was crying until the tear slipped from her eye to her cheek. She flung the phone on side of the bed and stood near the window.

It was raining outside. Sia felt as if the weather was just a reflection of her emotions.

"No Sia, tum ro nahi sakti. He has moved on. Vo aage badh chuka hai apni life me. Kab tak tum uska intezar karogi? Kabir accha ladka hai. Vo shaadi bhi karna chahta hai tumse. Next month aa raha hai vo. Ab tumko bhi aage ka sochna chahie. Kab tak ma ko pareshan karogi tum?" With this she wiped her tear but another one replaced it.

"He moved on. Chala gaya vo. He proposed Saloni. Nahin aaega ab vo tumhare paas. Kyun karti ho tum uska intezar? Kyun karti ho usse itna pyaar?"

Sia sat on the cold floor and held her knees to her chest.

Nothing was going correctly in her life.

Maybe she wasn't meant to be loved.

Maybe she was so bad that everybody left her.

Maybe she didn't deserve true love.

Maybe she didn't deserve to live.

She was better off dead.

Yes, that's what she should be. Dead!

Die, Sia, die!

You are of no use. You are just a hassle for your mother too. You don't deserve love. Yes, you don't.

Go and die!

With determination in her eyes, Sia went to a drawer and took out a blade. This would work.

I am sorry Mom! I give up.

Sorry, Aliyah and Arjun. I wasn't a good friend.

Raghav... I...

She sat on her bed and closed her eyes as she placed the blade on her wrist.

Taking a deep breath she was about to make a deep slit, when her phone rang suddenly.

Startled she threw the blade and looked at her phone. It was Aliyah. And that is when her conscience hit her.

What the hell was she going to do? She was about to kill herself! Was she this weak? She was about to commit suicide just because Raghav had moved on? What was she? A stupid teenager?

She looked at her phone, now silent displaying Aliyah's missed call.

If only Aliyah wouldn't have called she would have done a stupid act which would have hurt everybody. What would have happened to her mom? How would she have survived?

She mentally thanked Aliyah. If only she hadn't called at the right time! If only!

She was about to call her back when the phone rang again.

Aliyah!

She picked up hurriedly.

"Why didn't you pick up? Do you know how much worried I was? I haven't heard from you since time immemorial!" Aliyah shouted in the phone with such intensity that Sia had to distance the phone from her ear.

"St... Stop shouting Aliyah! And you saw me 3 weeks ago when you came to my house. It's not time immemorial!" Sia rolled her eyes, all problems forgotten.

This was what she liked about Aliyah, only she can change her mood this easily.

"Haan, haan theek hai. Ab batao kahan ho?" Aliyah said calming down.

"Hum... Yahin... Ghar par... Hamesha ki tarah! Tum batao? Tum aa gai apne photography event se?"

"Haan aaj hi. Kal milna chahogi? CCD me?" Aliyah asked her.

"Sure. Kal 12 baje." Sia smiled at the thought of meeting her. Only she can take her mind off Raghav.

After finalising the date and time, Sia decided not to look at her phone again and tried hard to sleep.

Next morning, Sia got up early and started getting ready to meet Aliyah. She decided to ditch the makeup as she knew that no amount of makeup can stop Aliyah from noticing the dark circles beneath her eyes and understand that she is having troubles sleeping from a long time.

Soon, Sia left the house and for the first time in her whole life, Aliyah had arrived early and was waiting for Sia.

Both the girls hugged each other and sat down after placing their orders. Sia knew that Aliyah had noticed the dark circles but had decided not to say anything.

"Kaisa raha tera event?" Sia started the conversation.

"It was excellent. Itna maza aaya vahan. Tujhe bhi chalna chahie tha. Shimla is really beautiful. Bahut maze karte hum dono vahan."

"Arry, tere event me main kya karti? Tujhe maza aaya na bas itna kaafi hai. Ek break jaruri tha tere lie bhi! Us dark room me baithe baithe tu bhi bore ho gai hogi." Sia said blowing on her coffee. Today even the smiley art on her coffee couldn't cheer her up.

"Haan, ye break jaruri tha to vaise..! Tu bata tu kaisi hai?" Aliyah's voice dropped a beat as if she was treading on eggshells.

Sia smiled at her concern, "Hum theek hain? Bas vahi job khoj rahe. Ab dekho jab mil jae."

"Actually Sia, mujhe usi baare me baat karni thi. Shimla ke event me mujhe ek client mila uski kaafi reputed industry hai Bangalore me. Maine usse tumhare baare me baat ki to vo tumse milne me interested tha. I guess you should talk to him. Maybe a change of city will take your mind off Raghav." She spoke the name almost in a whisper, scared at the thought of Sia's reaction.

Last time she had taken Raghav's name Sia had gone into hysterics. She started throwing everything here and there and Aliyah had to hide herself in Sia's closet. She came out only when Sia's fit reduced to tears.

But this time Sia didn't react. She just looked down at her cup of coffee and stirred it with a spoon, thus effectively ruining the smiley art made on it.

"Ohh, Raghav. Yes, he is engaged to Saloni." Sia spoke, her voice dangerously calm, still not looking up from the cup of coffee.

"What?" Aliyah suddenly choked on her coffee, "When did this happen? But... Saloni..."

"I guess... We should have seen this coming. After all they are Made For Each Other!" Sia spoke calmly and looked up from her cup directly into Aliyah's eyes.

For the first time, Aliyah was scared. Scared of this calm Sia. Scared of the fact that she was not reacting. Scared that she had gone numb. Scared that her eyes held a murderous look in them but the smile on her face could fool anybody.

This time Aliyah wanted Sia to get into a throwing fit... Do anything and thus take out her anger.

"Sia... You never told me the reason both of you broke up. I want to know it right now!" Aliyah said in her commanding voice.

"Ab Kya fayda? Kya jarurat hai? Rehne do!"

"Nahin, abhi batao turant!"

Sia looked up at Aliyah and she was scared that maybe Sia could explode anytime. She was a ticking bomb these days ready to explode anytime.

"Fine, if you really want to know then... do you remember the night of farewell party? We went to the Disco night organized by our school. I had to leave early because Mom akeli thi ghar par. Humne or Raghav ne decide kia tha ki kal hum dono uske ghar par milenge..."

*Flashback*

Next day, Sia went to his house and rang the doorbell. She was very excited to meet him because she had to tell him that she had been accepted in one of the best universities of India. The door didn't open for a while so she rang the bell again. But there was no response.

Getting worried she was about the ring the bell the third time when the door opened by someone who was the last person Sia had thought would be there.

"Saloni...!" Sia's eyes widened as she took in her appearance. Saloni was in Raghav's shirt and that too the shirt which Sia had gifted him... Without any trousers or anything of that sort.

"Saloni..." Confused, nothing else came to her mind. As if taking the name of her nemesis would suddenly make her disappear. Well... That didn't work. Saloni was still standing there in Raghav's shirt.

"Hi Sia... Tum yahan? Itni subah!" Saloni had the audacity to speak to her in an upbeat voice. Sia gritted her teeth in anger but didn't say anything.

"Ye hmare boyfriend is ghar hai! Hum jab chahe tab aa sakte hain. Raghav kahan hai?" Sia said trying to maintain her anger.

"Tumhara boyfriend...! Sia... Raghav... Vo actually... Vo... I shouldn't tell you this!" Saloni said her tone changing as she looked at the floor.

"Kya? Kya nahi batana chahiye? Saloni... Raghav kahan hai? Raghav?" Sia shouted from outside the door as Saloni was blocking the door.

"Sia, Raghav so raha hai. Kal bahut late soya hai vo. Disturb mat karo usko. Main batati hoon tumhe sab kuch."

"Jaldi bolo... Turant!"

"Actually vo kal... Vo tum party se jaldi chali gai thi... Arjun or Aliyah bhi thodi der baad chale gae... But Raghav ko Anki ke saath jaana tha to vo wait kar raha tha... Phir... Vo humlog ek drinking game khelne lage... Jisme... Jisme... Sia..."

"Jisme kya Saloni?" Sia said impatiently

"Jisme hum dono ne bahut jyada drink kar li... Phir Raghav mujhe... Yahan le aaya apne ghar... Vo hum dono ne bahut drink kar li... And Raghav... Raghav couldn't control himself... And... And..."

"And... And what...?" Sia couldn't decipher what Saloni was intending.

"We ended up..." Saloni trailed off suggestively.

"Ended up..." Sia repeated with a frown but soon got the meaning, "... Sleeping together!"

Sia looked at Saloni with wide eyes hoping that she had caught the wrong inference... That there was another reason Saloni was wearing Raghav's shirt.

"Ye... Yes! We... We did it!" Saloni said with a special emphasis on 'it'. "I am sorry Sia, I promise I would never meet Raghav again... Ever... Never ever in my life." Saloni started crying.

But Sia could say nothing. No words came out of her mouth. She opened her lips a few times but not a word came out. She was too numb to know that her feet were taking her away from the house of her first love. Away from the place where he had sneaked her in a few times. Away from the place where they had enacted a couple game just like in 500 days of Summer. Away from the place where she had left a girl wearing Raghav's shirt. Away from the place where now a cheater lived.

No tears came out of her eyes. She sat on the side of road when her legs started shaking and refused to move. Her phone vibrated in her pocket and the screen flashed Raghav's name. She glared at the phone with such a heating hatred that had the power to kill the caller. In the heat of the moment, she threw away her phone on the road which got further damaged when a car crossed over it.

Next day, she had left for her University and changed her contact details just so Raghav could never meet her ever.

*Present*

"To bas, yahi thi poori baat. Isi vajah se hua breakup. Bas isi baat ki khushi hai ki usne at least Saloni ko to cheat nahin kia." Sia ended the story now sipping at her almost cold coffee.

Aliyah who was listening intently, spoke for the first time all this while.

"Kuch theek nahin lag raha isme. Sia, kya tune Raghav ko dekha tha vahan?"

"Nahin, Saloni ne kaha tha ki vo so raha hai."

"Us din ke baad se tumhari usse kabhi baat bhi nahin hui?"

"Nahin, kabhi nahi. Usne contact karne ki koshish ki but hum kabhi nahin mile usse... Until hum uske yahan kaam karne lage. Par itna kyu puch rahi? Kya farq padta hai ab?" Sia shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

"Farq padta hai Sia. Bahut farq padta hai. Tujhe kaise pata ki Saloni sach bol rahi? Vo to jhuth bhi bol sakti hai! Tune kabhi Raghav se baat nahi ki is baare me... Tujhe aisa nahi lagta ki bina uski baat sune tum usko guilty bana rahi?" The way Aliyah said this made sense to Sia. Aliyah was right. How could she make decisions without listening to both of them?

"Ab bahut late ho gai hai Aliyah. Kal uski company ki 25 anniversary hai vo usi party me apni or Saloni ki engagement ko bhi official kar dega. Ab kuch nahin ho sakta!" Sia said, her heart breaking badly.

"Tum aisa keh rahi ho Sia? Tum! Seriously! Tum kaise give up kar sakti ho Sia Dhillon? Apne papa ka socho. Kya unhone ek loser ko brought up kia hai? Abhi ek din hai tumhare paas... Kaise bhi milo Raghav se. Talk to him. At least tumhara conscience to clear rahega sach jaan kar." Aliyah motivated her.

Sia fished out her phone to call Raghav. Her hands shook violently as she scrolled to his contact.

Raghav was in the shower and he didn't hear his phone ring... But Saloni did. She frowned when she saw Sia calling him.

With an evil smile, she disconnected the call and blocked her calls and messages from Raghav's phone.

"Bye forever Sia Dhillon. Raghav sirf mera hai." With this, she placed the phone in it's original position and went out of the room.

"He disconnected the call... He has blocked me. Aliyah, Kya karein hum? Help karo hmari!" Sia said with lot of desperation in her voice.

Aliyah tried calling him but her number was also blocked.

"Ye Saloni ka hi kaam hai! Koi baat nahin. Vo abhi janti nahi hai hum dono ko. Kal usi party me gate crash karte hain. Tu soch le kya bolna hai tujhe. Every. Damn. Thing." Aliyah spoke with determination in her eyes. She had to reconcile her two friends. After all she had promised about it to Arjun.

Next day came after a lot of waiting and nervous sessions of Sia. She had ruined her perfect nails by chewing them all the time due to nervousness.

"Agar hum usse nahi mil pae to? Agar humko andar nahi jaane dia to? Agar vo humse milne se mana kar de to? Agar humlog late ho gae to?" Sia couldn't stop her running commentary from behind Aliyah as they headed towards Raghav's bungalow on Aliyah's bike.

"Sia... Will you let me concentrate on the road?" Aliyah finally had to raise her voice to shut her up.

They reached the venue soon but there were two guards standing at the gate checking every guest's invitation card.

"We are never going to get in. We should go back." Sia said on the verge of crying.

"We will get in... Anyhow! How did Raghav sneak you in earlier?" Aliyah asked her looking at the guards.

"He used to distract the guards while I jumped in from the small gate in the garden."

"Time to re live the memory Sia! I will distract the guards and you break into the house. Don't worry about me. I will be waiting for you right here. Call me as soon as you get in. You go girl!" Aliyah said as she moved towards the guards, "And Sia, all the best. This is for your good! You will have to do this."

Sia threw a grateful smile in her direction and waited till Aliyah started pestering the guard for directions.

As soon as the guard was involved with Aliyah, Sia jumped over the gate inside the mansion and looked around herself.

A mellow music was playing in the background and people were chatting and giggling. The pool water was reflecting the lights and giving out a beautiful ambience.

She looked around for Raghav but couldn't find him. It was for sure that no official announcement of their engagement had been done until now.

She spotted Raghav in a corner holding a glass of whisky and talking to few businessmen. She hurried to his direction when she suddenly bumped into a lady wearing a gown.

"What the hell... Are you blind?" The lady snickered.

"I... I am sorry Ms. I was in a hurry." Sia apologized without looking away from Raghav.

"You know how much this gown costs? What if a drop of red wine... Sia Dhillon!" The lady shrieked and that is when Sia saw that she had bumped into none other than Saloni the bitch!

Damn her bad luck!

"Tum yahan kyu ho? Kisne invite kiya tumko? Niklo yahan se turant. Security!" Saloni held Sia's hand in a vice grip and pulled her towards the gate.

"Nahin Saloni, hum Raghav se mile bina nahin jaenge. Humko sab pata chal gaya hai." Hearing this Saloni's eyes widened as her face ashened. She pulled Sia to the gate with more force. It was difficult as she had to be discreet. She couldn't allow Raghav to see Sia. But Sia was thrashing wildly in her hand, "Hmko milne do Raghav se. Saloni leave my hand. Saloni!"

Saloni had left her no choice and Sia decided to do the last thing she had thought of doing, "Raghav... Raghav Oberoi... Raghav!" She shouted at the top of her voice. Everybody was looking at them and this commotion caught Raghav's attention.

He was shocked to see Sia there. Also he was embarrassed because the otherwise perfect party was ruined because of her. But somewhere he felt anger rising inside her when he saw the way Saloni was dragging her towards the gate.

"Sia! Saloni! Stop right there!" Raghav spoke in his boss voice and this made them freeze in their tracks.

"Raghav..." Sia had tears in her eyes, not because of the hard grip that Saloni had around her wrist which was stopping her blood circulation... But because she was seeing Raghav after so long.

Raghav was also relieved to see Sia after such a long time but he didn't show it. All these years as a businessman had made him a master at hiding his emotions.

He took long strides towards Sia and pulled her out from Saloni's grip as he dragged her in the house. Every guest was making path for him. Of course nobody wanted to mess with an angry Raghav. Saloni also hurried behind them... The party long forgotten.

Raghav pushed Sia on a chair and stood in front of her with his arms crossed on his chest.

"Kaise aai tum yahan?"

"Aliyah ke saath... Vaise hi jaise pehle tumhare saath aate the."

"Janti ho aaj tumne kya kiya hai? Ye kitna important event hai?"

"Haan... Lekin hmara tumse milna bahut jaruri tha!"

"Kyun?"

"Because Raghav... Hm..." Before Sia could complete she was cut off by Saloni.

"Raghav... Baby... Why are you wasting your time? Bahar guests wait kar rahe hain tumhara. They are much more important than this piece of..." Saloni was interrupted by Raghav.

"Saloni... Bolne do usko... Kuch to hoga jiske lie ye is tarah se aai hai!" That is when Sia's phone rang. It was Aliyah. Before Sia could pick it up, Raghav snatched it and attended the call.

"Aliyah... Andar aa jao. Mere living room me. Tumhare samne hi baat hogi."

Soon Aliyah entered in the tense atmosphere. She could feel herself choking with the tension.

"Hey Raghav." She tried to greet Raghav but got a cold nod from him. Yes, he is very angry. And Arjun is not here to calm him. Oh God, both of them are going to die. Aliyah sat on a chair with her fingers crossed.

"Haan ab bolo Sia. Jaldi! 5 minute hain tumhare paas."Raghav said looking at his Rolex.

"Raghav... School ke farewell vali raat... Humlog Disco night ke lie gae the. Humko jaldi vapas jaana pada tha... Us raat or kya hua tha?" Sia asked her voice stable for the first time that evening.

"Us raat... Kyu?" Raghav frowned at Sia but started speaking after looking at her desperate expression, "Us raat tum chali gai thi thodi der baad Arjun or Aliyah bhi chale gae. Mujhe Ambar or Akash ke saath jaana tha to main uska wait kar raha tha. Achanak se Saloni mere side me aa kar baith gai. She looked very drunk. Usne mujhse help mangi and because uske ghar par koi nahin tha to main usko sone ke lie apne ghar le aaya Tanya ke saath. Un dono ko apne kapde die change karne ke liye or khud Ankit ke yaha chala gaya sone ke lie." After speaking everything, Raghav let out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding.

Sia looked very relaxed after hearing this, "Sach me yahi hua tha?"

"Haan main jhuth kyu bolunga? I am not like you ki milne ka promise kar ke kabhi nahi aaunga or phir koi contact bhi nahi rakhunga." Raghav glared at her, "Lekin tum ye sab kyu puch rahi ho?"

Sia summarised the story to him and then looked at him expectantly whose face looked as if he was having a hard time digesting this new news.

"Par Saloni... Par... Usne bola ki tum or Kabir... Ki tum... Ki tum us raat Kabir ke saath... Ki... Oh my God!" Raghav wanted to throw up now as he loosened his tie and sat on a chair with a thump holding his head in his hands.

Sia took cautious steps towards him and slowly kept her hand on his shoulder.

Saloni who knew her secret had come out in open tried to take advantage of this commotion and run out of the room but she forgot that Aliyah was also there who caught her and slapped her hard. She was satisfied to see the marks of her fingers forming on Saloni's face.

"Kyu kiya tumne aisa Saloni? Kyu? Tum janti thi ki pyaar karta tha main Sia se! Jaan thi vo meri! Kyu kiya tumne aisa?" Raghav held her shoulders and shook her, who started crying.

"Pyaar karti thi main tumse. Par tumko to sirf Sia dikhti thi na. Apna banana chahti thi tumko. Kya kya nahi kiya tumhare lie maine? Childhood friends the na hum dono! We were made for each other. Khush rehte hum dono saath me par tumhari zuban par to poore time sirf Sia Sia Sia. Kya kami thi mujh me? I hated her." Saloni looked at Sia with such hatred that if looks could kill Sia would have been dead now, "Isilie jab Kabir aaya or usko Sia pasand aa gai to hum dono ne milkar decide kia ki tum dono ko alag karna hai! Haan maine ye sab kiya... Kyuki pyaar karti thi tumse. Or agar ye galat hai to maar do mujhe. Kill me Raghav Oberoi!" Saloni sat on the floor crying.

Raghav bent over her and touched her hand. Saloni opened her eyes with a smile because Raghav was back to her, "Raghav! Tum! Mujhe pata tha tum mujh se pyaar karte ho!"

"Saloni, tumhare paas aaj ki raat hai... Apna bag pack karo or nikal jao. Jitna bhi maine tumhare upar spend kia hai usko mera gift maan kar rakh lo. Lekin ye ring mujhe vapas kar do abhi turant kyuki ye meri ma ne meri wife ke lie banvai thi."

All the hope vanished from Saloni's eyes and for a moment looking at her pathetic state Sia felt sorry for her. After all she had done everything for her love for Raghav and it is true that love has no limits. Saloni was not a bad girl just her ways were not correct.

Saloni picked herself up from the floor and wiped her tears, wiping off half her makeup. Throwing a glare in Sia's and Aliyah's direction she stomped off the room.

Sia looked at Raghav who still looked as if in a huge turmoil.

"Sia, Aliyah. I think you guys should leave now. I need some time to myself. Or bahar Mr. Tandon se keh dena ki party is off. Meri tabiyat theek nahi hai." Nodding Sia and Aliyah left the house after passing the information to the said Mr. Tandon.

"Yaar Raghav ne theek nahi kiya. At least kuch to bol deta tujhe." Aliyah showed her discontent.

"Nahin yaar, its ok. I know he needs time. Hum hote uski jagah to hum bhi yahi karte. Itni badi baat pata chali hai usko... Par yaar Aliyah Saloni ke lie bura lag raha. Usne galat kia par usne ye sab pyaar ke lie kia." Sia said suddenly concerned about Saloni.

"Usne jo kiya uski saza usko milni hi thi. She was mad in love. She was obsessed for Raghav. This was a very unhealthy relationship." Aliyah brushed off her thoughts for Saloni.

"This is going to be a huge news for some time... Don't you think? I mean his ex employee breaking into his party. Him dragging her inside and then his fiancée running out of the party with her makeup running down her face."

"Hmm... It will take a lot of time and an even bigger news for this controversy to die.... Maybe a news like Raghav Oberoi is engaged to his ex girlfriend from school Sia Dhillon... This sounds like a huge shit don't you think so?" Aliyah winked at Sia from the rear view mirror at which she smiled.

If only it was going to be that easy....

     ________________________________
                AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey guys,
I know very late and so I decided to make it a long chapter. Finally the truth is out. Next will be epilogue!
Love Love,
A.S. 💕