The continuous sobbing had now melted all their hearts. Aditi was looking at Aarush while Aarush was glaring at the floor as Sakshi cried her heart out.

"He manhandled me, closed my mouth," she explained with horror in her eyes. "His eyes were not of a professor. He looked like a molester. A serial rapist. I was so scared. . ."

Aditi gulped while shakily rubbing her back. Sakshi drank the water they provided her as she further told, "When I slapped him, I thought it would bring some sense into him. But he has only gotten provoked. He thinks about our wedding night and fucking me, abusing me."

Aarush's lips parted, his jaws clenched just as he digested all the words.

"You should have slapped him again. How could you hear so much?" Aditi scolded while hugging her sideways.

Sakshi closed her eyes, "Bhabhi was right. If I won't ask Shrey about marriage any soon, I would get trapped badly with this molester. Tai ji isn't listening and Bhai doesn't find any reason to reject him."

"Maybe, you should tell everything to Shrey. This thing is getting out of hands. Otherwise, your sister-in-law wouldn't have sounded so worried," suggested Aarush while blinking.

"But how?" Sakshi shook her head. "His case solved just days ago. His uncle is sick, in a critical condition. On top of that, his cousin is wanting to get married. He is in the waiting list then how would Shrey even consider this. His parents won't be able to handle the news if they got to know, it's me. Rathore's sister."

Aarush twitched his lips. "Oh! Come on! That's upon, Shrey. What choices do you have then? Tell me. Do you want to get married to that Dexter? You need to tell Shrey everything. It's the only way."

Sakshi stared far at the wall, founding that scented candle the professor had gifted her. Her jaws clenched immediately as she got up and reached that shelf, throwing that candle away, stepping on it with anger in her eyes.

"Fucking monster!" She cried.

"Sakshi! You should tell everything to Shrey," Aditi said as Aarush elbowed her to say it to their lost friend.

Sakshi breathed heavily while looking at them. She gulped before nodding, "Okay-"

The bell rang immediately.

All their eyes moved at each other, and then both the girls looked at Aarush, making him shake his head. "I didn't call him, I swear. It's just coincidence or maybe, someone else."

Sakshi gulped, before turning towards the door. She closed her eyes and finally opened the door, founding the love of her life standing there. Her eyes brightening at the sight of him.

Not able to control anymore, she hugged him immediately, making him control the balance as he wrapped his arms around her reluctantly.

"I missed you so much. So much," she sobbed.

Shrey's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at her friends questioningly who only got up and nodded. "We are in our bedroom only. Sakshi will tell you everything," said Aarush while taking Aditi with him, who looked interested in watching the drama.

The door closed while Shrey entered inside, he closed the door after him when Sakshi pulled away. His lips parted at seeing her face.

Her whole face was red, eyes bloodshot. "Shrey," she wept slowly.

"What happened?" He asked lowly, afraid that her exam didn't go well or something worse. He was here to cry his heart out instead something had already happened.

Sakshi grabbed his arm, as he slowly pulled her to the couch, made her sit. "Why are you crying?" He asked, while wiping her tears.

She sniffled and looked away. "My Professor-"

His heart dropped immediately. Oh my God!

"He is your fiance?" He couldn't help but ask immediately, watching her stiffen. Her eyes widened as she looked back at him. "Correct me if I am wrong?"

"H-How do you. . ." She was terror-stricken.

Shrey gave her a hurtful look, his eyes betraying his strong behavior. They turned glossy as he asked, "Did you go on a date with him?"

Sakshi was shocked and confused. "No. No." Shrey had a hope flickering in his heart but it dropped immediately when she replied, "It was his cousin. They were catfish-ing me. . ."

Shrey's nostrils flared as he asked, "Were you with him on Diwali?"

Sakshi looked away, thinking hard. She remembered the moments on terrace. "For some time," she answered. But her throat vibrated as she cried, "I wanted to tell you this from so long, Shrey. I wanted to ask you if you-"

"How could you hide such a big thing from me?" Shrey asked, feeling hurt. "When were you planning to tell me, Sakshi. After getting married to him? After breaking my heart?"

Sakshi widened her eyes, shaking her head. "Oh God! No! I was planning to tell you, Shrey." Her voice hoarse as she nodded.

Shrey got up from the couch, his lips twitching as he felt betrayed. "So what now? What do I call it? That all this time, you were playing with my heart. Or testing yourself if you still loved me? But what? My time was gone and now, all of a sudden you have interest in that professor."

Sakshi got up, shaking her head as she tried to hold his hand. Shrey closed his eyes. "All this time, I thought we had a future. But I was wrong. You were booked already. Right? And I was a fool."

"Shrey, this isn't true. Bhai and I have refused for the proposal-"

Shrey let out a scoff. "I know what type of a man your brother is. Of course, he would chose a professor for you. Why would he chose me? Why would you even talk about me to him?"

"Shrey!"

Sakshi gulped shakily. "You don't understand. I don't want this marriage. I want you. . ."

Suddenly, Shrey remembered their conversation on the terrace. "You are engaged to another man. Even then you were asking me for sex?"

Sakshi's heart curled up when his eyes suddenly started showing disgust towards her.

"How could you? Even after knowing what I went through, you had the heart to do all of this. Why didn't you tell me before? Why hiding it if you didn't want him? I don't understand. . ." He ran fingers through his hair.

Sakshi gasped in shock. "No. That is not the truth."

He looked down at her, his eyes showing the fire. "Tell me the truth, Sakshi. Then, tell me the truth."

Sakshi pressed her lips tight, her heart vibrating in her chest. A tear slipped from her eye as she looked at him hopefully.

"Marry me."

Shrey stiffened, his head straightened as he looked at her. "What did you say?"

Sakshi looked at him confidently. "Yes," she wiped her tears. "Marry me. I don't want him. I want you. I love you, Shrey. Marry me."

Shrey was silent for a moment as he slowly processed her words. A marriage so soon? His uncle was sick, company wasn't doing well, Rishabh's own wedding was hanging. What about his own self? Was he ready?

"I couldn't tell you because of the circumstances. I never meant him my fiance because he wasn't my fiance. But my family likes him. I won't marry him, Shrey. I will tell my family about you, break this arrangement," she said, confidently.

Shrey breathed slowly as he imagined telling his family about Sakshi. How would Rishabh behave? How would he face Raghav? It won't be a tough ride. He wasn't a loser but his family had suffered enough. If he brought this up all of a sudden, his uncle won't be able to survive this.

He knew about Raghav enough to guess that this won't go well. He could take revenge by affecting their business deals. Rishabh would blame him again.

"Tell me, Shrey. Would you marry me? Tell my brother that you love me?" She asked, staring at him.

Shrey looked at her, feeling his heart breaking. "My family has suffered enough. I can't bring this all of a sudden, and ruin the repairing that is being done."

Sakshi's heart broke. She smiled sadly. "Then, how should I get away from that professor? He is the ideal choice for my family. I am needed to tell them about you. You will have to answer them."

Shrey swallowed while looking at her, his legs had started to shake. "Why everything on me all of a sudden? If you'd been honest enough from the beginning, it wouldn't have gone that much. If you don't like that professor, I could have beat the shit out of him. But no, you were letting it happen. Leading him on."

He breathed heavily. "Now, when I am here to interrogate with you, you leave the whole burden on me. Asking me to marry you? Of course, I want it to happen. But how would I answer my family, my cousin? The circumstances are tough and how would I face your brother with my anxiety attacks. I am barely catching up with my work at the company. I have barely recovered and you," he breathed hard, sweat tickling down his ear.

Sakshi gulped, understanding each word of his. "I know," she let out a sob. "But I am helpless now. Nothing can happen except for me to reveal it to my family."

Shrey flared his nostrils, giving a sad smile to her. "Here I had thought, we would recover together. We would grow together that even your family won't be able to say no. But you didn't give me enough time. I am sure, in their eyes, I might still be a rapist."

Sakshi sobbed softly, reaching him as she squeezed his hand. "I will be with you. I will fight for my love. I can do it. But I need you beside me, Shrey."

"I. . ." Before he could even speak, his phone beeped. He was trying to ignore it when it beeped four more times. Shrey furrowed his eyebrows while picking out his phone from pocket. He gulped while unlocking it.

His breaths leaving his lungs, when he stared at the screen in horror. There she was, clinged to a wall with the man he had met yesterday. Both looking into each other's eyes, way too closer than any normal teacher-student to wouldn't.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he locked his phone without even showing her. He chuckled out crazily, looking at her, removing his hand from hers.

"I needed you beside me, too. But how would that be possible when you'll be standing in someone else's arms." He taunted coldly, giving her blank look, his eyes showing no emotion except for a tear that left his eye.

Sakshi widened her eyes. "What? Is it something on your phone? Show me-"

"Enough!" He yelled, stepping back and glaring at her. "You had your revenge. You broke my heart, terribly. When I had told you, I loved you. I did and I do even now. I dreamed of a future with you. You didn't even give me the time to believe in my dreams."

He backed away when she whimpered immediately. "Shrey, you are misunderstanding everything. It's not that way. . ."

"You could have told me about it. But you didn't. That gives me enough picture of your intentions," he said, coldly opening the door.

"Shrey!"

Aarush and Aditi opened the door and before they could even observe what was happening, Shrey had left a sobbing Sakshi, alone.

__________

"She slapped you hard, I won't deny." Mihir chuckled, while playing with his phone. "Now what, she must be crying and calling her home."

Kabir sipped his coffee, checking the papers. "She won't. She is horrified enough to not call home. She is in no condition to tell them about this Shrey Malhotra," he smirked. "Though, I am impressed how you found out about him."

Mihir chuckled again, smirking proudly. "I just had to show my dick."

Kabir shook his head. "I wish I could do that. She hadn't left that room then, I am sure. The boy didn't touch her yet. Sounds like a nun to me. If I had been him, I wouldn't leave her the first week."

Mihir sighed while sipping his own coffee as he checked a student's paper, chuckling when he gave the girl two extra numbers. "What next?"

Kabir's smile faded as he put his pen and stared far while sipping his coffee. "She is crying. He will be crying. I have gotten the slap but it's him, who got the slap of life. There is going to be so much misunderstanding. Both would hardly breathe."

Mihir shook his head. "Poor girl, she had a last exam day after tomorrow."

Kabir raised his eyebrow. "It's of my subject. What do you think I'll fail my future wife?"

Mihir hummed. "What if she says no to her family again? You'll fail her?"

Kabir chuckled. "I can't fail a bright student. That's not professional. Now, is it? But I can surely do the worse," he said, confidently. "I can fail her, in her family members' eyes."

Mihir raised his eyebrows, now turning serious.

"Though, I won't do that. It won't be needed," Kabir put the mug away and continued checking the papers.

"How?"

Mihir's eyebrows narrowed as Kabir explained, "Their love might be true but not strong enough to suffer the fire, I lit with the spark last night. She will say yes to her family, on her own."

Mihir shook his head, not understanding.

"Just wait and watch."

_________

Shrey reached his home with his heart heavy. He couldn't focus on the world in his eyes, his own world was losing.

The sudden laughter brought him out of his thoughts. His inner victim turning silent. He wiped his eyes, and entered the drawing room.

"Shrey?" Before he could even respond, someone wrapped his strong arms around him, patting his back.

"Good news, bro. Good news," Rishabh laughed, while pulling away and took the sweets from his aunt. Picking a piece and putting it in Shrey's mouth who was looking at him confused at the sudden show of affection.

It had been days since they hugged. What was new?

"The project I had been researching from a year, Shrey. You remember the Arora builders. They have accepted my proposal of sending our interns to them and in return they are merging a portion of their work with us. Can you imagine, how advantageous that would be for us? Dad's so cheered up."

Shrey stared at him, slowly chewing the sweet. "Their customers will be ours? Savings costs?"

Rishabh smiled goofily. "Damn! Yes!"

Alisha chuckled and came to hug Shrey. "He even got the invitation from a State University for a lecture, for the blogs he put on."

"Must be some link," Shrey muttered, rolling his eyes.

Rishabh smirked, "The marketing in-charge is one of my old teachers. I could do that for him. Now, can't I?"

"Especially when it's adding on to your CV. Of course," Shrey grumbled, while advancing towards his room. "Congratulations!"

Rishabh's smile faded as he looked at his Aunt crazily. "What's wrong with him?"

Shrey's mother smiled, shaking her head. "He's just tired, dear. You both sit, I'll bring something to eat for you both."

He nodded quietly as he watched her leaving for the kitchen. As deep inside, he had recognized that Shrey wasn't happy with his progress. His cousin was never of jealous types. Then, what could be the reason?

"It's been day since I stayed with you guys. I have an off tomorrow. Won't it be great if we go and watch a movie tomorrow?" Rishabh asked, watching his aunt smiling widely.

"Well. . ."

Alisha came forward to hug her from the side. "Oh! Come on, Chachi! It will be fun."

Rishabh looked at the Shrey's room, sighing when he found the door closed.

"Okay. It's been so long, since you stayed. Even your Chachu comes home late. The home feels empty."

Rishabh nodded. "He never skips visiting Dad. So, movie tomorrow?"

His Chachi chuckled.

"Shrey'll be coming too."

He watched her face turning nervous but she nodded nonetheless.

"Only if you manage to convince him."

_________

"What do you think?

Made it possible-'Quadruple update' (If anybody remembers)😜

Anyway, I was thinking about how I have been getting much praises from readers of my fantasy book- Petals of Azalea. It is the book I adore so much that I can cry. I am glad the way how it shaped out because it is now completed. It will be great if you all check that one out. I know some of you must already be reading it.

Also, please check out- 'Misty'. My dear new book, I feel so excited about. I feel no shame in promoting my books in my other books 😂 because that's how I am connected with you all even after being miles apart.

Hope, you liked the chapter. Please vote and comment. (Silent readers, you too)