"I LOVE YOU."

Her eyelids fluttered and she took a deep breath. Her eyes didn't meet mine.

"Don't tell something you didn't mean Ved. Stop playing with me." She looked everywhere but me.

My grip on her waist tightened and pulled her even closer living no gap between us.

A gasp left her mouth.

Cupping her cheek with one hand I made her look at me.

"I have never been surer about anything in my life than I am of the fact that I love you." My voice was firm and confident. Even though my stupid brain took so long to recognize what my true feelings are, I was sure that I love her to the core. The months we have been apart was like having been in hell, it was like a part of me died."

Her eyes softened, tears brimming.

"I am sorry it took this much time for me to realize what I feel for you. I..."

Ding.

The elevator dings again and we parted away.

Slowly we walked out of the elevator.

"Now, can we talk?" She nodded and we walked toward my room.

I hissed when the pain shot through my leg. I was in an adrenalin rush that I forgot I had a twisted ankle.

She held my hand and led me to my room slowly.

She made me sit on the bed and slowly took a step back.

Holding her wrist I stopped her from moving further away.

When our eyes met I couldn't trace what was going through her mind. Her face was expressionless. There was doubt and uncertainty in her eyes.

"Niha."

I spoke tracing small circles on her wrist.

"I..."

"Don't make this up Ved. Not this time, please." Her voice was trembling.

"What?!! No, no. I... I am sorry. I shouldn't have startled you like this but please believe me Niha. I am not making this up. I swear. I do love you. Please, please believe me." I said pulling her closer.

Her eyes still held that uncertainty.

"What if this is another one of your tricks? You want me to be by your side for the shares. You need me for your fucking revenge, don't you? You can't let me go because if you let me go you lose. Right?!!"

Her eyes were narrowed at me and, her voice was burning my ears. She doesn't believe me.

I gritted my teeth and I could sense the rage fuelling inside me. But I know it's not her fault I brought this upon myself. I betrayed her trust. I let her down.

Inhaling deeply, I tried to calm myself.

Stop it Ved, stop being impulsive. It won't get you anywhere. I chanted in my head.

Taking a deep breath I opened my eyes.

She was keenly observing me, like a hawk.

"I... I know it's not easy for you to believe me and I have given you enough reasons for not trusting me. But what I said is true. I am in love with you."

I was nervous, I don't know how I sound but I hope it held the sincerity that she needed.

"Since when?"

She asked with a stoic face.

"What?"

"Since when did you fall in love with me?"

"I don't know when. Since I saw you for the first time?!!"

It came out as a question more than a statement.

I don't know when I fell in love with her. I was attracted to her when I saw her in that elevator.

Her body felt so perfect in my arms, from then she was always there in my mind.

"Maybe I was head over heels for you when I first saw you. Or it could be when I saw you storm inside my office to confront me. Or was it when you challenged me in the lift? Or when I saw your tear-stained face the other day."

Her eyes softened and looked away avoiding my eyes.

Holding her chin I turned her face towards me.

"I don't know when Niha. I wanted to keep a distance from you. I tried not to think of you but you were always there in my mind. Thinking about you gave a kind of relief from everything." Sighing I continued.

"I didn't want to involve you in my sick game. But that day when I saw that bustard hovering over you, all I saw was red. I wanted to rip him apart. It felt like he was taking away my most precious possession. That's when I realized I can't see you with anyone else and my possessive mind decided that I am not letting anyone take you away. I wanted to claim you as mine. So that no one dared to look at you.

But I convinced myself that it was just an infatuation, I was all alone for nearly a decade and you were just a passing cloud. But you awakened all the wild emotions I buried inside me a long ago, thinking they will never surface again.

But I was so wrong, you came into my life and without much effort, you broke all the iron walls I created around my heart.

I tried to tell myself that it was just lust and it will pass, I tried believing that I am doing all these to fulfill my revenge. I should let you go after everything.

But I don't know how, I was always attracted to you. As much as I tried to stay away from you I loved the attention I was getting from you. You were like rain in my deserted life.

You were the fresh breeze in my lonely life. And, without knowing I started to look forward to our future.

I loved how you sent me off to the office and how you welcomed me back home. I loved every moment with you.

I loved the creases on your forehead when you are upset, the pout when you are sad, and the small talks during our dinner. The cuddles you gave me in our bed. The kisses hugs, the nights we made love, everything about you was so fascinating.

I even tried to guess what dish you will cook for us in the evening, during my office hours."

I chuckled at my stupid self.

"You were right, I was confused. There was a time I doubted myself, about my feelings. I felt like I was being overly possessive over you.

When I asked you for a chance I wanted to know what am I going through. Sometimes I felt like I was just using you for my comfort. And I was not doing right to you.

I wanted to let you go and find your happiness. But, I am a selfish jerk to let you go. In the last ten years, I have changed into someone whom I recognize barely, and, then you appeared in my life.

And for the first time in years, I felt like I am a normal person. I was carefree around you. I didn't feel ashamed to let you see my vulnerabilities.

For the first time in my life, I was eager to leave the office early so that I could spend more time with you.

I indeed wanted to save you from the clutches of your so-called father."

I gritted my teeth to not think about that evil man.

"But more than anything I wanted you for myself. I wanted to keep you away from all the evil eyes, but I am sorry I was the one who hurt you badly. I promised you to not hurt you and I broke it."

I could feel my eyes burning and the tears threatening to fall. My voice was becoming hoarse and I couldn't meet her accusing eyes.

"I broke your trust and, in the way, I broke your heart. I am sorry I doubted you.I am sorry I didn't trust you for a moment. But, please believe me, down in my heart I knew you were innocent.It's just my wicked mind did not allow me to think properly.I have trust issues and I act dumb sometimes. I am sorry I acted impulsively. I am sorry I brought my bitter past between us. I am sorry I judged you by someone else's action. I am so, so, sorry."

The tears I held back flowed freely wetting my cheeks.

I looked at her face to meet her welled-up eyes.

"I couldn't forget the look on your face that night when you saw me with Arohi, the hurt and betrayal in your eyes are eating me alive to date.

I swear there is nothing between us. I was wasted that night. I was angry and hurt. And I was jealous."

I admitted the truth. Her eyes showed shock and I saw the corner of her lips turning into a small curve but she covered it quickly.

I felt a little relaxed and bit my lips to stop the smile playing on my lips.

Holding her wrists in my hands I looked into her eyes.

"It's true, Niharika. It was nothing but pure jealously. I couldn't see you with anyone else and, I was afraid, that you might leave me. I know I am not perfect. I have a lot of flaws and it is a task to live with me.

I have a rough past and living with it for many years have an impact on me. And when I saw that photo everything came rushing into my mind. I was jealous and scared of you leaving me.

I drank to ease my pain and, I passed out in the bar. I didn't know it was her, I swear. All could think and see was only you.

I was missing you badly and in my state, I thought it was you. I kissed her thinking it was you. I know it is not an excuse but please believe me there is nothing between us now.

Moreover, she is not in her senses, she needs help and she is admitted to a mental hospital now."

Niharika gasped in shock.

"Why? What happened?"

"She. She tried to kill me." I sighed.

"WHAT?!!"

She screeched.

"Yeah, if it was not for Kavya now I might be six feet under," I said while shrugging my shoulders.

"What happened? Tell me. Why did she try to kill you?"

She asked impatiently.

I scoffed and pulled her by the waist making her stand between my legs.

"Now, that is a story for another time. For now, tell me what do you think about our relationship status? I promise I will be good this time. Can please forgive me for one more time?"She stood silent.

"Niha."

She looked at me with her brown dove-like eyes.

"What if?!! What if you can't change? What if everything repeats? You are still bitter about your past and, you are not able to forget it yet. You didn't forgive those who are responsible for it.

And to date, you are blaming yourself for your father's death even if it was not your fault. The revenge was the only thing that driven you till now. You lived for it. Everything you did was for it. What if you can't forget it or forgive them?

And what if I come between you and your revenge? You..."

"I will choose you. I will always choose you Niha." I said without any doubt.

"The love I have for you is much more than my revenge. I agree that it was my driving force. But it is nothing compared to you. It might take some time for me to come out of it but I swear I will try to fight it. I will try to forget and forgive. I promise.

From the moment you disappeared from my life the thought of revenge never crossed my mind. That is when I realized how important you are to me.

You are the solace of my life Niharika. I can't live without you. You are the air I breathe. So please give me one last chance. I beg you."

I tightened my hold on her waist and looked at her hopefully.

Her face was stoic. She caressed my cheeks and looked into my eyes as if trying to read them.

"Please tell me something." Her silence was creating havoc inside me.

Sighing she removed my hands from her waist and stepped back.

"I need time Ved." She said not looking at me.

My heart was beating like a drum and fear was consuming my soul. She turned around to leave but I held her wrist and tugged her.

"Niharika." My voice was broken.

"I will think about it Ved. As I said I need time to clear my head. Please. A lot happened and like I told you before, I am going to prioritize myself from now. I can't give in to the emotions again. I am fed up with others using me as their tool. Heartbreaks are not so easy to handle, you know."

"I'm just tired. Of everything." She sighed and turned around to leave.

"How long?" I asked.

"I don't know." She said while shrugging her shoulders."Good night Ved."

She walked out of the room without giving me another glance.How much more my heart should break to get her to forgive me?!!

*****************

I haven't heard from or seen Niharika for two days and, I was getting impatient with every passing second.

I was missing her but I was scared to face her. What if she decides that she doesn't want me in her life anymore?

I can't blame her. I did something fucked up and I am worried now. She deserves a lot better.But I am not sure that I am willing to let her go. She going away from me terrifies me to no extent. I could feel my inner evil trying to take control of my mind to propose his sinister ways to make her stay.

Closing my eyes I took deep breaths to calm myself. Be a good man to her Ved, at least for once. Please be prepared to let her go if she wants it. Her happiness should be your priority. Don't make her hate you more than she does now. You should be happy to know that she is living happily somewhere even if it is not with you.

Yes, I should be happy with her happiness right?!! I leaned back to my bed, trying to control my wild mind.

I was lost in my thoughts when the door opened. I looked up to see Niharika walking inside.

My heart was thumping against my ribs like a drum. Along with the butterflies making a fluttering sensation inside my stomach a dreaded feeling was consuming my heart. My palms went cold even when my lips were smiling.

She came near my bed and gave me small smile.

I wanted to ask her many questions but my tongue was tied due to tension.

"How are you feeling now?"

She asked in a soft voice looking at my injured ankle and chest.

"I am good. It is not paining much nowadays."

I gave her a tight lip smile, dreading the conversation coming my way.

"Sid told me that you both can leave in two days."

"Mmm, that is what the doctors told me."

I replied without looking at her face.

Then an awkward silence filled in the room for a few moments until she cleared her throat.

"Ahem, Ved."

I gulped and my fingers held the bed sheets tightly, preparing for anything she is going to throw in my way.

"You remember you said that you will choose me over your revenge right."I nodded in yes.

She took a deep breath before speaking again.

"Is it possible for you to let go of your revenge for me?"

She asked eyeing me suspiciously.

"Yes," I said without thinking for another minute.

I wanted to sound so confident, who knows maybe it will make her consider me a little and give me hope in ray.

She nodded acknowledging my answer.

"Then want you to meet someone."

She said to me giving me a stern glare.

"Who?!!"

My forehead creased and I looked at her questioningly.

Instead of answering me, she looked at the closed door.

"Please, come in." She said.

My sight fell on the door and in a few seconds, it opened slowly revealing the person behind it.

My eyes hardened and narrowed into slits as I watched the person entering the room. My fingers turned into fists and dug into my palms. The room felt like it was closing around me. I could feel my range expanding and I gritted my teeth in annoyance.

Standing in front of me was none other than MRS. UMA VARUN ARYAN, the woman who gave birth to me, the woman who caused all the havoc in my life, the woman who made me the evil, I am today. The woman I hate most.