*Nakul Pov*

"Hello!" I said, lifting the call while trying to work on the details of a company I used to be in charge completely before coming here.

"Sir! I just saw Manish in the elevator and saw him with normal expression. Did you just warned him?" my manager asked making me frown.

"What are you talking about Ms. Manjula?" I asked and she fell into silence.

"You mean she didn't tell you or you just didn't do anything about it?" she asked and I rubbed my forehead already having a headache with little sleep.

"If you have something to say clearly, then say it." I said in a hard tone and she sighed.

"He was harassing her, Sir. I asked her to inform you about it as he demanded her today to meet him to get the company's pendrive with has important information. I thought she did today morning when she met me, but now I have returned from the meeting and was leaving for home only to see Manish with his normal self on my way downstairs." She explained and I stilled.

"Who is this she?" I asked in a calm tone but I know who that could be.

"Your PA sir. I know as per the company rules we can't involve HR for PA's. So, I asked her to talk to you." She replied.

"Where are you now, Ms. Manjula?" I asked, standing up and walked out of the study room.

"Near to my house! I thought of asking about it tomorrow regarding what punishment was given, but I felt some instinct to know it now itself." She replied and I hung up on her not saying a word reaching out of the house.

"James!" I shouted reaching the car and saw that he is nowhere to be seen.

"James!" I shouted again reaching his house and saw that he is sitting on the floor beside Sweety with something around them on the floor.

"What happened?" he asked, standing up with a frown.

"We have to go. Come soon and call the one's who are with Maheshwari right now." I replied and he started walking towards me.

"It's Maha!" Sweety said and shivered, but cleared her throat.

"Shut up!" I said and gestured James to follow me.

"What happened, Mr. Singh?" James asked, reaching the car.

"I said shut up and that is for everyone. I need you to drive us to the company and call those bodyguards of hers." I ordered and he did while driving making me take the phone away from him.

"Is she with you?" I asked when one of them lifted the call.

"No, Sir! Madam said she will be with us by six thirty." He replied and I saw that it is past six.

"Go inside and reach her cabin. If you find her there, give the phone to her." I ordered and waited while James without asking a question drove as fast as he can.

"Sir, Madam is not in the cabin." The reply made me feel still and I glanced at the building to see we reached the company.

"I took a short cut." That's all James said and I got down without waiting for him to park.

"If she is not there and didn't pass the gate, then where would she be?" I asked, moving towards one bodyguard who stayed back.

"She asked us to come to basement if she doesn't come out by six thirty." He replied and I fumed at him.

"You are saying that now?" I shouted and rushed inside before turning towards the stairs to reach the basement and heard screams making my hands shake but I moved downstairs with those two following me.

I glanced to my side when I reached there to see her being pushed to the wall by someone and that is not Manish. She seems to be little unconscious too by the way her hands swayed.

"You bastard!" I shouted, pulling the man away and punched him before one of the bodyguards held his fallen form while another moved to another form who is rolling on the ground in pain and I can see it is Manish.

I moved towards her and held her, but she started pushing me away mumbling something and I held her saying, "Shh! You are fine."

She slowly opened her eyes and gave a shocked look and then she opened her mouth and started talking about pendrive making me wish I can kill her right there.

"You stupid, stupid fool." I said and lifted her in my arms when she swayed more.

I gave orders to the bodyguards and started climbing the stairs only to meet James on the way asking about my behavior with confusion clear in his tone.

"We will talk later about this woman's stupidity." I said and continued to walk and felt her placing her head on my shoulder.

I got inside the car which he stopped before the gate along with holding her and then felt tears on my shoulder making me tighten the grip on her.

When James started the car, I saw her asleep and stared at her face to blood near her mouth and a start of swelling on her cheek.

"Both of them should be punished like no one was. And call a doctor to come home." I ordered without looking away from her face.

"Trust me they will be." I heard his voice and glanced up to see his hands tightening on the steering.

"Maha!" we heard Sweety scream, then the moment I got outside the car.

"What happened to her?" she demanded, but we ignored walking to the house and she followed us.

I continued to walk until I reached her room and got her inside it before placing her on the bed. After a few minutes they both followed and stood in the room while I sat on the bed.

"He is here!" James said, pressing his hand to the ear and I nodded him asking him to get the doctor.

"Placing the ice will be fine." Doctor assured us.

"But she is unconscious." I pointed out.

"Must be the shock and her BP is also too low. Get her to eat some food." He advised and left.

After he left there was again silence and then we heard a sound, making us look at her while she blinked her eyes and finally got them widened looking at three of us.

"What..." she stopped abruptly wincing when she placed her hand on the wound.

"Be careful!" Sweety whispered and sat beside her while I was standing aside.

"What actually happened?" James asked and she slowly talked about the elevator incident and then in her cabin.

"I know if he misuses the data, then it will be a loss for the company. I thought I can handle him and I did, but the other man was a surprise." She said looking at her hands.

"I have never seen a stupid person like you." I shouted and she flinched but swayed again.

"When was the last time you ate something?" I asked directly and she frowned at me.

"I am asking something." I said, raising my voice.

"Uhmm... yesterday a little for lunch." She replied and I sighed before walking out of her room to call for some food to be sent and then called the people that held those two bastards and enquired what are they doing about them still fuming at this woman who risked herself for some stupid data.

*Swathi Pov*

The moment Nakul left, I stared at her asking, "Why didn't you come to me, Maha? Why did you went there alone?"

"Leave it, Di!" she said looking.

"Why the hell you didn't come near to me?" I shouted and she immediately turned towards me.

"When? When I take a guess thinking you are actually being my sister or like a person who is completely angry for stealing the love of her life?" she asked and I gaped at her.

"Be either completely angry at me or completely concerned for me, Di. Anyway with all the money I will get, I will not be coming near to you, right?" she added and I stood up from the bed.

"Maha!" I said but she shook her head.

"All these years I was hurt but hoped you will accept me as your sister not cringing when someone uses my name completely. I didn't chose it for myself, Di. My Mom did loving your Mom." She said and brushed her tears away.

"Maha! You should have come near me." James said and she glared at him.

"I was about to yesterday, but then I saw you both. How could you do this James? Did you forget everything? She is my sister." She said in an angry tone and he stiffened. Is she jealous?

She closed her eyes suddenly saying, "I am sorry! I am just... just feeling emotional. Do not mind my words."

But I just stood there like a statue repeating her words and silence surrounded us, but got broken when after some time Nakul entered the room holding a tray filled with too much food.

"Eat it!" he ordered placing it before her.

"This much?" she asked, but started eating when he glared at her.

"Why didn't you have your food properly?" he asked, standing beside her with folded arms.

"I... I felt lazy along with worried for the events." She replied, not even looking at him.

"Lazy?" he asked in disbelieving tone.

"Yes! I was cooking for myself and I definitely felt lazy." She replied, nodding and he rubbed his temple.

"From Monday onwards Sweety and James will be dining in this house and you will be cooking for them." He suddenly ordered making all of us stare at him.

"What? I will not be here." James stated, but Nakul ignored him.

"For you also?" she suddenly asked and I would have rolled my eyes if not for the guilt doing its best to dig into my heart from the moment she uttered those words.

"No! Only for these two and I will get my own food." He said and she nodded before glancing at James.

"They both will be here because it is my order. You are behaving like my perfect bodyguard, right? Then I want protection while I am having food and you will be there doing it." He said looking at James and this time I indeed rolled my eyes while James just gave a nod.

"Why didn't you tell me, Maheshwari?" when he asked her this I tried to really not cringe but I ended up doing it.

"I tried, but you wouldn't listen to me." She mumbled and he closed my eyes while I glared at him.

"Why didn't you tell James, or at least Sweety?" he asked staring at her.

"She was angry at me and I was angry at him." She replied and I cleared my throat, whether to cry or laugh I don't know but I did.

"God! I can't believe this." He said, shaking his head.

"I asked the bodyguards to come to basement by six thirty if I don't return." She mumbled and sighed when we three just stared at her.

"Fine! It was my stupidity and if not for Mr. Singh I would have got seriously hurt. I will try not to do something like that again." She added and I sighed folding my arms.

"I can't eat more." Saying that she moved to get up holding the tray, but Nakul took it from her before leaving the room.

"I was just cranky and said all those things. Don't mind me." She mumbled and I stared at her.

"I wish... I wasn't so distant for you to not be able to reach me." Saying that I left the room and rushed ignoring everything around me, but then saw one of the bodyguards standing in the living room looking around.

When I slowed near the study room, he stiffened making me frown but I continued to walk ignoring him too and reached the outhouse.

I pushed the fabric away completely and then sat down, holding my head. When did everything reached to a point where I can't even be any help for Maha.

I took out my mobile and called Dad in the second and immediately when he lifted I said, "I will not be showing anymore anger towards Maha."

"Sweety! What happened?" he asked in a worried tone making me realize my voice is shaking.

"She... she is an innocent in all this no matter what her intentions were for this marriage. I can't... can't hurt her, Dad. I... I know I am not a good sister, but I don't want to be worst." I replied and took a deep breath to keep the tears on bay.

"What happened to her?" he asked in a panicked tone.

"Nothing! I am just feeling bad." I replied, not wishing to scare him or Mom about this.

"Okay! It is your wish, but you need not feel bad. Because it is better this than her staying with him. Anyway, divorce is going to happen. And keep in mind if Maha knows who Nakul is then she would have done worse than this. Your Mom was like a second Mom to her. You know, right?" he asked and I stayed silent.

"Why don't you come home for tomorrow? It is weekend only and bring Maha." He said, but I know I can't take Maha there until the bruise which is forming reduces.

"I have work to do, Dad. I will call you later." I said and hung up.

I know I am talking very less these days with him, but I don't know why I am not feeling to with everything that is going around.

I hugged my knees to my chest and closed my eyes, but opened them when I felt a presence to my side to see James sitting with frustration on his face.

"Her anger will always go away too soon than anyone can blink." I assured him and he sighed.

"Towards you also?" his question made me stiffen.

"I didn't care!" I said, shrugging and he pulled me to him, placing his hand on my shoulder.

"It's okay to be upset in real sense and not for an act." He said and I rolled my eyes but placed my head on his shoulder.

He held my palm with other and started tracing patterns on it making me glance at him to see that he is completely lost in his thoughts.

"Don't tell me you were feeling guilty." I said with a shock look making me roll his eyes this time.

"Not more than you for sure." He said shrugging and I sighed.

"It's okay! Everyhting is fine and that's all matters." I said and he turned towards me before brushing something away from my eye.

"Yeah! You are unable to see your disastrous designs because of which you are crying." He said nodding and I closed my eyes.

"I don't cry!" I mumbled and opened my eyes to see him staring at me.

Maybe I was feeling weak or I just let my walls down because at that moment I felt warmth which scared the hell out of me making me jump away from his hold.

"I will be back." Saying that I walked off to the room and locked myself in the washroom.

"Dammit! You were supposed to act like you are attracted but not this. This is all because of that stupidest stunt I did by kissing. No! Thinking about the kiss is like red zone. Don't think about it. Remember this is just acting." I chanted, but inside I know I felt something just different now, but I am not going to think about it again.

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I started scolding myself and felt a little disappointment which was already there, not finding anything in Nakul's study, but I can reduce the leash of James and reach there again this time try for more time by my side.

I cleared my throat and walked outside to see James talking to someone on the phone while pacing the living room while removing his coat and pulling up the sleeves. Don't even think about it! I scolded myself again and reached my fabrics.

*Maheshwari Pov*

"Take this tablet! Doctor said this will reduce the pain." Nakul said after I stood up from the dining table finishing the food he ordered for me along with his.

"Thanks!" I mumbled, taking it and slowly walked to the basin still feeling weak, but my head is the one that is throbbing.

"That's why I said I will bring food near you." He said but I ignored him.

"I am fine, Mr. Singh." I said and started washing my plate.

Then I felt his presence and before I know he took the plate away from me. I stared at him, but he calmly washed them and then walked out of the kitchen.

Why is he doing all this? I thought, frowning and followed him, but he suddenly turned around, making me turn to my side and felt the wall to my back only to wince.

"What is it?" he asked frowning.

"I think... I think it got bruised when they pushed me to the wall... you know too many times." I replied and if I thought his hard expression is too much then now it is like he is about to burst.

"Next time use your brain dammit." He shouted and I frowned, but calmly walked passing him to reach the stairs and heard him sigh.

"I will bring the ice." I heard, but ignored feeling weird with all his attention.

I was kind of invisible all this time at the house except at the company. Then what is all this? I thought, frowning and reached my room.

I stood near the door waiting and the moment he reached I forwarded my hand, making him place the ice on it.

"Thank you for this, Mr. Singh. I will bring myself from next time without forgetting." I mumbled and he slowly nodded before walking to his room while I closed the door.

Until I was awake, I placed it on my cheek and when I felt drowsy with the tablet effecting, I placed it to my back and slept off.

I woke up startled releasing a scream and rubbed my hands before patting my cheeks realizing I am safe. I closed my eyes and then opened them hearing the door opening.

"Who... who is there?" I asked, pulling the blanket to my chest.

"Nightmare? You should have kept the light on." As I recognized the voice I calmed down, but panicked when he walked to me and laid beside me.

"Mr. Singh! What are you doing?" I asked, frowning and moved away to reach the other end.

"Look, I know for sure you would scream again like this all night and I already have little sleep yesterday. So, I want to sleep today without your screams. Just remember someone is here to hit the attacker and sleep." He advised and I laid down but the sleep was too far away.

"I am used to sleeping alone in the bed." He suddenly said out of nowhere.

"Me too!" I mumbled frowning.

"I roll on the bed from one place to another." He added.

"Er... me too." I mumbled, not understanding what he is saying.

"Good! Now remember this and don't scream at me tomorrow morning saying I did something wrong and did wontedly." He ordered and I suddenly laughed.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked and I can imagine a frown on his face.

"Today is the first day I heard you talking so much out of company compound, Mr. Singh." I replied and he fell into silence.

"Why is it wet here?" he suddenly asked and I remembered the ice pack which must have leaked a little because of pressure.

"It is a good thing it is in the middle of the bed." He added and I tightened my lips so that I will not laugh.

"Good night, Mr. Singh!" I mumbled, closing my eyes.

"Good night, Maheshwari!" he said back and I smiled hearing my name like every time. How can I make everyone call me like that only? But it became a habit of saying call me Maha during all these years. Well, I am satisfied with at least one person doing it.

So unconsciously I just mumbled, "I love it when you call me by my full name at the house, Mr. Singh." Before drifting off into sleep. I think I can blame the painkiller for that comment was my last thought before I completely fell into sleep.

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

so, here it is the early update...

how is the chap???

comment plz and vote...