After disconnecting the call with Raymond, Katherine called up Akira again. She was hoping that at least this time she would pick it up. She had been calling her multiple times but she hadn't picked it up even once. She understood what that poor girl's heart might be going through, so she was patient.

Finally, on the umpteenth ring, she picked it up.

"Hey there Akira", Katherine said sighing out of relief.

"Hi, Katherine. How are you?", Akira asked.

"I am good. I thought you won't pick up this time too", Katherine said.

"Umm... What happened?", Akira asked.

"Can we not waste our time over telephonic conversation and talk about the elephant in the room", Katherine spoke with her usual directness.

"What do you want to talk about Katherine?", Akira asked

"I don't want to discuss over the phone. I will be free from my clinic at around 6 pm. So can we directly meet? I will come to your office to pick you up?", Katherine asked.

"I got my car to the office today. So just tell me where should I come. I will be there.", Akira said and sighed.

Then she added,

"I know about what you want to talk about, but don't you think there is any point of beating around the bush Katherine".

"I do not care about if things make a point or sense right now because nothing is. So if it takes me to beat around the bushes a hundred times, then yeah I would do that. So see you at 6. I will text you the address", Katherine said and then kept the call.

Akira didn't want to delve again into the depths of insurmountable pain. She didn't want to discuss the whole thing again but since it was Katherine, she couldn't say no. Life indeed was giving her lemons, but she was determined to fight back, all alone, by herself.

She started her system and completed the assignment given by Simon earlier and handed it over to him. She had some time left before she had to meet Katherine so she decided to work on her blog again. She opened the blog post and saw a couple more comments on her older posts and opened them to read.

"Your poems are so heartwarming. I can feel your pain" - Merhaba

"I guess if you consider infinity into account, then there is always a U-turn for someone to come around. So maybe you just need to hang on, someday someone will come and mend your broken heart" - RodeoMaverick

Somehow her heart was comforted by reading the comments like someone was caressing her and telling her that everything was going to be ok. She thanked them.

"Thanks, Merhaba"

"@RodeoMaverick, I wish that every word of yours turns true"

Then she looked at her watch and realized that it was time to leave to meet Katherine.

---

@Via Milano

Katherine saw her frail figure approach, and she waved at her.

Once seated, they both found a bit bit of awkwardness in between them. But Katherine, being Katherine decided the hold the reigns of the conversation.

"Did you get to talk with my brother Akira?"

"Yup", she replied

"So you are aware of the whole situation right?", Katherine asked.

"Uh. Huh", she replied.

Hearing her, Katherine handed her a Cosmopolitan and continued sipping on her Mojito she said,

"Then I guess you must be clear with the fact that its none of his fault or yours but you guys are punishing each other un-necessarily?", Katherine said looking into her eyes.

Akira gulped the whole drink after hearing her and said,

"Punishing? How am I punishing him, Katherine? I am giving him what he wants. He always wanted a kid and to have a family. So I am just pushing myself out of the canvas".

"Yes, that's true that he wanted to have a baby with Scarlett because he was in love with her at that time. But now he is in love with you. He wants to have a family but with you Akira", Katherine said and signaled the waiter for re-fill.

"Family with me? Then what about the baby? What about Scarlett? Is he going to desert them? Heavens will not forgive me if he does that for me Katherine", Akira said and teared up a bit. All the alcohol was making her more un-nerved.

"Yes, he wants the baby. But does he want Scarlett? Then the answer is NO", Katherine said.

"But he loves Katherine, they were engaged and now she is giving birth to his kid", Akira said.

"LOVED. In past tense Akira", Katherine said.

Akira heard her words and somehow it comforted her a bit. So she picked up her glass which had been re-filled and chugged it again, forgetting how low her alcohol threshold was.

"I don't know Katherine what I want. I really don't care what I want. I just want him to be happy. Whatever makes him happy", Akira said.

Katherine held her hand and said,

"You make him happy Akira. He can't take a single breath without you. He was in such disbelief that he ordered a DNA test just to confirm that it was his kid. So can you understand how much he wanted the situation to not happen?", Katherine said and looked into her eyes which were already a bit tipsy.

"What when?", Akira asked in surprise.

"He did it the very next day she came back here Akira. Heavens can tell how badly he wanted all of it to be a lie Akira", Katherine said.

Akira looked silently at the cocktail glass that she had emptied.

"My brother was never this miserable Akira, not even when Scarlett left and made us believe that the child was there no more. Does it not tell you anything?", she asked.

Akira who was circling the brim of the glass with her finger suddenly stopped and looked up to Katherine.

"Does he love me so much that he can forget Scarlett? Will my love be enough? Tell me, Katherine, tell me now?", she asked and her voice was almost on the verge of pleading.

"Why don't you ask him out?", Katherine said and smirked.

Akira could instanly feel the presence of someone behind her. Someone's hand rested on the back of her chair, slightly touching her back. She recongnised his touch and his musky smell.

"No way", she screamed in her head.