Pooja and Jatin were curious upon the sudden arrival of Dev. They were staring at him for the past 15 minutes while he was still playing with Ayaan, their one-year old kid.

"Are you going to start your questions or just keep on playing with Ayaan?" Pooja asked.

"Hmm...woh" Dev fiddled with his fingers.

"Why do I feel it's something about Sonakshi?" Jatin asked. Both Pooja and Jatin were now glaring at him.

"Urm, she actually.... She fainted in the office today!" Dev breathed one eventually.

"WHAT???" both Jatin and Pooja stared at him with terrified expressions.

"Yes, actually she skipped her meals plus... I pressured her to finish some work within a short span of time... So, I guess she fainted due to exhaustion." Dev explained. Pooja gave him an angry glare while Jatin just shook his head helplessly.

However, both of them unusually kept quiet, making Dev feel uncomfortable.

"Come on both of you...now don't stare at me like this. I know I have wronged, but I was angry okay? I never thought that things would go as bad as fainting.... I just wanted to teach her a good lesson, but it ended up really bad." Dev sighed and placed Ayaan in the bed near them.

"Now what do you really want us to say Dev?" Pooja asked with irritation.

"I want to know...............everything" Dev said and looked at her.

"If I had known everything, I would have done everything in my power and helped Sona. The problem is, I don't know!" Pooja felt rage when she stated that.

Jatin decided to interrupt that heated conversation.

"Dev.... I really don't know what to say. You see... Everyone have moved on from the past. It's only you who are still trapped in the past. Why can't you forget it? It might seem like Sonakshi is happy from the outside but trust me. She is not! Does that make you feel better?"

"What?"

"This is not her first time she skipped her meals.... She always does to finish work. She rests very little. She has worked day and night in this company because she really needed the promotion which you just royally snatched from her. She doesn't sleep much. After her suicide attempt, her body has become even weaker. One year after you left, her father got ill and she is the only person who is working to support her family and sister's education. Maybe that is another reason why she doesn't want to get married as well.......... Is this information enough?" Jatin explained in a single breath.

"Jatin.... Why did she try to su...suicide?" Dev asked with hesitation.

"I have no idea...I guess you have to find that out by yourself Dev. She refused to tell any of us. But I am sure, it had something to do with you" Jatin said as he remembered the promise that he made to Sona, that he would not reveal anything about that incident to Dev.

"I have something to ask you Dev..." Pooja interjected.

"Yes..?"

"Have you really moved on?" Pooja asked softly.

Dev took a deep breath before answering.

"I guess not.."

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

Sona's POV

The past few days in the office were so unpleasant for me. I have always showed myself as a strong person to people around me but yesterday I was so broken. Both physically and mentally. I buried my happiness with my own hands! I caused this. Life could have been so happy if I was able to see what was right or wrong back then. But then, nothing could change the events which already happened.

Dev wasn't being himself these days. Last few weeks, he turned so cruel towards me. His workloads were always increasing and he intentionally gave me work which I couldn't handle. I smiled sadly. I knew why he was doing this. This was his so-called punishments and I wasn't complaining at all.

Trust me.. I deserve more than what he has been giving me. I was never sad or upset that Dev was showing his anger, because I have caused him too much of pain for him. Too much that I doubt he would ever forgive me in his life.

Yesterday, when he left me in the office alone, I was so broken. Neil's attack in the pantry, embarrassment in the meeting room, Dev's threatens of firing me all strangled my mind. I felt so shattered. What would I do if he really fired me? I would become a person who did not belong anywhere. No one was happy with me right now. Dev pulled the last strings of my emotions. I felt extremely torn as I sat down as cried.

When I noticed the door knob opening, I tried gaining back my composure but I knew it was too late because he was already scooping me from the floor like a small child.

When he carried me and sat me on his lap, the pain pricked my heart more than anything. His anger did not hurt me. But his caring side did. Don't show your concerns on me, Dev.... I do not deserve this at all. I tried to run away from him but he held me strong in his arms.

How much I craved his arms for the past 3 years.

He consoled me by brushing my hair smoothly. I couldn't hold on to my tears anymore as I cried in his arms not being able to hold on to all the accusations anymore. I at least deserved some kind of respect as a woman. When I cried more, the side of my stomach started to hurt... I winced with every pull of my abdomen.

"Its painful Mr Dixit.."

"Where?"

"Here.." I pointed to my lower stomach while he glared at me.

"That's because you haven't been eating anything cry baby! There is nothing in your stomach for you to vomit anymore. So, if you throw up, I am sure your liver will come out next time" he said while caressing my face.

I swallowed at his words. He can't. he can't do this. No not now... Not when I am trying to hate him please...Please, I don't want any kind of affection. Not from Dev, please. My mind kept on screaming these words.

"Cry baby??" I asked him with a frown.

"Yes...my cry baby"

My poor heart died at that moment.....

"I want to go home..."

"I will drop you.."

"I want to go home.....alone" I repeated.

Surprisingly he agreed and asked his driver to send me home. I was too tired to argue back or say anything so I just agreed to leave. When I came back home, my mum gave me a worried look. She rushed towards me and asked if I was fine.

I ensured her that I was fine and immediately left to my room. After all that was what I had been doing for all these years.

After I showered and sat down at my desk, something caught my eye. Natasha's wedding card!

Oh crap!!!

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

It was Natasha's wedding and Dev was invited along with lots of their schoolmates. Even Jatin and Pooja were there. Although Natasha wasn't close with Sonakshi after their break up, she still decided to call her to her wedding. Natasha had also personally called Sona and insisted her to attend the marriage. Hence Sonakshi decided to attend the wedding at least for the sake of Natasha.

Sonakshi knew what to expect in that wedding. Her old schoolmates were all going to be there and her worst nightmare of all, Dev might also be present. Hence she made a mental note to run away from that place as quickly as she could, after wishing the couple.

Finally, the wedding day arrived and Sona reached the venue on time.

When she entered the hall, she heard a few sharp gasps from her right. A few girls were staring at her in shock. She felt extremely uncomfortable with all the piercing gaze. She could not recognise most of them. But it looked like many of them could recognise her.

After greeting Natasha's parents, she moved towards the crowd and felt relieved when she spotted Jatin and Pooja in that crowd. She quickly walked towards them and caught their attention.

Sona's POV

"Woah my!!! Sona you look so....so beautiful" Pooja gasped when she met Sona.

"Thanks, and you look stunning as well... Where is Ayaan by the way"

"He is at his grandparents place. By the way did you see Natasha? We had so many memories with her right?" Pooja asked and I quickly nodded.

How could I forget? She was the reason I got to know Dev.

Suddenly there was a loud commotion at the entrance of the hall. When I turned that side to see what was happening, the entire scene stole my breath. Dev was entering the hall with a warm welcome from many of our schoolmates. After all, he was once the popular football player of our college. Most of them were surprised to see him while the rest of them were busy trying to engage him with conversations. I am sure everyone would have missed him. All because of me.

Dev had the kind of face that stopped everyone in their tracks. I guess he must get used to that, the sudden pause in a person's natural expression when they looked his way followed by an overcompensating nonchalant gaze and a weak smile. It didn't help that he was so modest with it. If anything, it only made the girls fall for him all the more.

He came towards us and greeted everyone with a warm smile. When Dev stood beside me, my entire face heated up. My legs became weak and I hoped that I didn't fall down. Where's the bloody chair?

Few minutes later, Jatin and Pooja disappeared in the crowd to wish the couple in stage. At that moment, Diya, a classmate of Dev ran towards Dev with a scream. She always had a huge crush on Dev since school days.

"Hi Dev!!!! Oh my god... You still look the same! So handsome! You are finally single, right?" she winked shamelessly and I rolled my eyes. Seriously Diya??

Dev continued talking to her till his eyes met mine. I realized that I held my gaze too long until Dev turned and gave me a small smile before continuing his chat with Diya. Somehow their closeness irritated me. She suddenly pecked him in his cheeks, making me infuriated for no reason. I just wanted to strangle Diya at that moment. I had never felt this kind of emotions towards anyone before. I just felt so uncomfortable.

Diya started to get touchier with passing moments and Dev was not even stopping her. I mean, what's wrong with him? As far as I remembered, he wasn't like this before? Or maybe he did not give anyone his attention when he was with me. *Sigh*

When I couldn't take their conversations anymore, I rudely interrupted them, "Mr Dixit, can I have a word with you?" I asked not even preparing myself for a conversation.

However, jealousy controlled my mind at that time.

Before he could answer I heard Diya's furious voice.

"Can't you see that he is busy? Why do you always have to be that bitch? You just interrupted our conversation like a desperate slut!" she yelled making me flinch.

Of course, this wasn't the first time I heard those kinds of words from her but hearing it in front of Dev just made me feel so cheap. I did not have the courage to even see his face as I turned away from them.

Just then, I felt Dev's hand wrapping around my waist, pulling me to face him. He looked at me with concern.

"Are you ok, love?" he asked me, totally ignoring the puzzled Diya. My eyes widened. Love?

"...Y..Yes" I whispered as he gave me the most heart-warming smile, that I couldn't help but smile back at him. That was the most genuine smile of mine after a long time.

He then turned to Diya and gave her a death stare before uttering the words which caused butterflies in my stomach.

"Dare you use those kinds of words against her one more time, I would crush you like a piece of insect in front of these people." he spoke in a warning tone before taking my hands and bringing me towards a table, leaving a frightened Diya behind.

As Jatin and Pooja joined us after a few minutes, the food was served to us on the table. To my horror Dev sat next to me and Diya joined us by sitting beside him. Why does she always have to be clinging on to him? I can't believe this girl!

But relief flooded inside me when Jatin and Pooja sat across our seats, engaging us in conversations.

After that incident I did not have any courage left in me to talk to Dev. I sat down and quietly started to eat my food in silence. But life wasn't that easy for me... I accidently brushed my right leg slightly against Dev's legs.

My food choked when I realised it wasn't the table stand which my leg was leisurely brushing with. It was indeed Dev's strong pillar-like legs. When my legs touched his, I felt his body immediately stiffening from my touches. He turned to look at me with shocked expression which immediately turned into an evil smirk. Ouh no!

His legs immediately moved forward and brushed my foot. I froze at the sudden skin contact. I realized that he took his legs out from his shoe and was playing with the rim of my pants. My breathing quickens as my pants started to rise higher and higher. He was literally feeling my skin, which caused goosebumps on my skin. I looked at him with a startled expression. But he remained calm and continued talking to Jatin over the table like nothing was happening.

I slowly placed my arms on his thighs in an attempt to move his legs. But that seemed to encourage him more. He started out very slow then moved his foot up and down my leg making me shiver. When I tried to move my legs away, his hands came down and gripped my thighs strongly. I gave him a warning glare. But knowing him, I could see that he was enjoying this stupid game which I unknowingly started!

I stopped moving my legs as he continued his not-so-innocent moves with me. Being with him for three years, I knew his dirty games too well. Any protests will only increase his desires. When his toes started to tickle my calf, I lost it.

"Dev!!!" I jumped angrily. Shit Shit Shit!!!!!!!

Jatin Pooja and Diya got startled. They stopped eating and looked at me. Dev turned and looked at me casually acting as if nothing happened. His legs were still at the same position doing its job. I closed my eyes in embarrassment and mumbled a sorry before turning my attention to the food. That's when Dev leaned forward and whispered softly..

"What's wrong love??"

"Devvv please.......stop it.." I pleaded, getting tired of his games.

I no longer wanted to stay there. Dev was indeed making this entire event difficult for me. I won't lie and say that I didn't like it. But his teasings were making me nostalgic about my college days. This wasn't good.

Realising my discomfort, he stopped playing with my legs after a while. I finished my food in a hurry and prepared to leave the place immediately. I did not want any more drama happening in the wedding.

I went towards Jatin and told him that I wanted to leave early. But Jatin was concerned on my safety. He did not appreciate my idea of travelling alone since it was raining heavily outside. He requested me to leave with Dev, but Jatin did not realise how ridiculous that idea was. Standing Dev's presence for another second could give me a panic attack! How could I leave with that devil?

Before I could stop him, Jatin was already asking Dev.

"Dev, if you are leaving now, do you mind dropping Sonakshi at home? I really don't want her to get caught in the rain..." he said and I face palmed myself. Why Jatin??? Why??

"Sure...no worries" Dev stated calmly and immediately bid goodbye to a few of his friends before walking towards the entrance of the hall. My mind screamed at me. How am I going to survive the car journey alone with him?

How?

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

It has been 10 minutes of silence in the car. He did not initiate any conversations, which made it all the more awkward. I took this as the best time to ask him a few questions that were nagging me at the back of my mind.

"So, can you explain what was that about?" I asked with a straight voice.

"What?"

"The stunt you pulled under the table!"

"Ouh that! Yea you can't blame me. It was your legs which teased mine first." he said still focusing on the road.

"It was a freaking accident, Mr Dixit! What would you do if I did something like that during one of your meetings?" I asked and immediately regretted my question. Shit can you kill yourself right now Sona? Just die!

He looked at me with a surprised look and a winning smirk. Urrgh. How much I hated that expression. I leaned back on my seat with my eyes closed in embarrassment. I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me fully. I felt tormented. He knew me too much. Inside and out. That was the problem. Now he would take this as an opportunity to tease me more! But thankfully, he kept quiet.

Just as he was driving, his phone buzzed and caught his attention. He received the call and was talking softly, when I saw his expressions slowly changing from calm to anger. His face was reddening in anger. Who was it on the phone?

As we reached my place he waited for me to step out. It was still raining slightly and when I placed a leg outside the door, he pulled me back by my wrists and whispered,

"Trust me... I won't mind if you decide to seduce me during my meetings, Ms Sonakshi Bose..."

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

Dev's POV

The day was so unpredictable for me. I was so happy when I attended Natasha's wedding. That was officially the first wedding I was attending after I came India. When I saw Sonakshi there, my heart literally skipped a beat. No matter how far I was away from her, the attraction I felt towards her remained constant. She had the kind of understated beauty which pulled every guy towards her. Perhaps it was because, she was so disarmingly unaware of her prettiness.

I could feel her gaze from the corner of my eyes when I was speaking to Diya. I knew she did not like Diya's presence anywhere near me. Her face flushed red when Diya pecked my cheeks. I knew what angered her. I did not like Diya's approach too, but I continued to entertain her as I loved Sonakshi's jealousy-state.

However, the entire moment was broken when that useless bitch started to abuse Sonakshi right infront of me. Before I could register her harsh words, I felt Sonakshi's face losing its glow and looking so defeated. I could deal with anything but that broken look on her face. I was so furious that I had to give it back to that idiot, Diya. I can't believe she dared to question Sonakshi in my presence.

At the table, when I felt her legs brushing against mine slightly, I lost all my senses. A small touch from her was enough to evoke all the fading desires inside me. I didn't mind teasing her a bit more and started playing footsie under the table.

After a while, I felt her fidgeting and she wasn't focusing on her food anymore. So, I decided to stop my tortures and let her eat in peace. Nowadays, I was more concerned on what she ate more than what I ate.

The car conversation just made my day. I knew it was a slip of her tongue, but her facial expressions after she said those words were worth watching. Her face turned like a beetroot. Still my shy kitten...

However, all my happiness was washed out when I received the phone call from the office...

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

Now standing infront of the CCTV, I watched the video which was playing in the control room in my office.

That was the breaking point of my patience. It was the video clip of Neil almost closing his distance with Sonakshi in the pantry room. She had slapped him after dropping her coffee mug with that documents in her hands.

I felt proud for a moment, seeing how Sonakshi defended herself at the right time. But that did not give any bloody idiots to take advantage of her. Hell, the way that bastard looked at her made my blood boil. She has been going through so much and yet, she never bothered to tell anyone about it?

Seriously?? And all I did was, getting worried about those useless documents?

I realized how much of an idiot I was. Instead of giving some emotional support to the poor soul, I tormented her more. She didn't even trust me enough to share with me about her problems. Now, I knew why she was acting this way.

Anger and guilt consumed me.

That Neil has to pay for all the deeds he did to Sonakshi.

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

Precap : MOST AWAITED SONAKSHI'S PAST!!!!!!!!

WHOEVER WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT SONA'S PAST QUICKLY COMMENT! ONCE COMMENTS ARE HIGH ENOUGH I WILL POST THE NEXT UPDATE!! :D