Maya: I miss her. I hope she is okay. 05:38 am

Jayden: Don't worry. She is doing great. Met her at the date. 05:38 am

Maya: I know, Jay, I am asking too much from you. But stick to the original plan. 05:39 am

Jayden: trust me, doc. I am just trying to talk with her. And to be sure, I am acting unlike me. She must hate me by now. 05:40 am

Maya: What did she say about us? 05:40 am

Jayden: sorry to tell you, but as you expected, she denied your existence. 05:42 am

Maya: hmm. 05:44 am

Jayden: Doc? 05:48 am

Maya: It pains a lot. Anyway, I don't want to trouble you anymore. 05:50 am

.......................

Jayden: Man, I think I made a mistake, today. 07:20 PM

Bruce: What is it? 07:20 PM

Jayden: I met Sara. And this time, I told Rishi to lie for me. 07:21 PM

Bruce: You promised not to go after her! 07:21 PM

Jayden: I don't know what came over me. When I saw her in the club with her friends, I wanted to talk with her. I told Rishi to befriend one of her friends. And before I know it, I was letting it all happen. Lies after lies. 07:22 PM

Bruce: You really are a jerk. What would you tell her parents? 07:22 PM

Jayden: I will have to think of something. Damn! 07:23 PM

Bruce: I hope that was all of it. You didn't do anything stupid, did you? 07:23 PM

Jayden: I kissed her! But then I cleared up the tension later. 07:24 PM

..........................

Pradeep: How's Sara? 09:48 AM

Jayden: She was so happy to get a position as Anamika's assistant. 09:48 AM

Pradeep: I asked you a lot, Jay. Thanks. Sara was always a bright kid. She deserves it. 09:49 AM

Jayden: Yes. I am already convinced of that. Sharp and observant. 09:50 AM

Pradeep: She definitely can take it from there. I am sure that the magazine will promote her seeing her talent. 09:51AM

Jayden: You haven't told Doc about what I did? 09:52 AM

Pradeep: She may not like it. So no. I haven't told her yet. 09:52AM

Jayden: You still want me to stick around her? 09:53 AM

Pradeep: Yes. That would be great. I hope this doesn't come in a way of your work! 09:54 AM

Jayden: No. It doesn't. Be assured. I will keep you updated. 09:55 AM

...........................

Bruce: You are ruining it, dude. 10:03 PM

Jayden: I only wanted to take her to the Gala.10:03 PM

Bruce: That's not a good idea, brother. 10:04 PM

Jayden: She blew me off. I don't need her. She thinks too much of herself. I hate that insensitive woman! 10:05 PM

Bruce: I know why you wanted to take her to the gala. You are batshit crazy to think that her parents will give you consent to date their daughter! 10:05 PM

Jayden: No. I wanted to end the freaking mystery once in for all and ask her to date me, instead of that lame friend of hers. It made me want to thrash his head when he kissed her! One minute I had her, next minute she disappeared into his arms. 10:07 PM

Bruce: You didn't have her, dude. Just let it go! 10:07 PM

Jayden: She is attracted towards me. It's obvious. 10:08 PM

Bruce: Get her out of your system, right now! Have a good time with your parents. 10:09 PM

.......................

Maya: Did she read the letter? I know you still meet her. 08:25 PM

Jayden: I wouldn't know, Doc. She is cold towards me. 08:26 PM

Maya: What's the matter? 08:26 PM

Jayden: She is in a relationship with Kush. They got together after the Gala. 08:26 PM

Maya: Is that why you were upset? 08:27 PM

Jayden: It doesn't matter, doc. All I know is that she seemed happy with him. He is a good man and liked her from well before. I could tell. 08:28 PM

Maya: What about you? 08:29 PM

Jayden: What about me? My work here is almost over. Will soon return to DC. 08:32 PM

Maya: You love her, Jay? 08:33 PM

Jayden: No. I don't. Anyway, I miss mom and dad. I miss DC. And I think I am ready to join dad in the office. It's time. 08:36 PM

I sat stunned, browsing through the screenshots of the online chats Sid had with my parents and somebody called Bruce. Everything seemed spiralling out of control. Soon, the tears ran down my cheeks. My mom and dad told Sid or Jayden to keep a tab on me. Who gave them the right to poke into my life, after the ache they put me through?

I remembered the smiling face of Lyra, my baby sister. She was always a weak girl, but her face always glowed. The early memories were flooded with us playing together. She was my doll. I pampered her when my parents were busy in their work life. I had always seen my mom, a neurosurgeon, coming after dinnertime. She used to put us off to sleep and when we woke up in the morning, she used to be gone.

My dad, on the other hand, was always on tour. We never found him home. Being a corporate lawyer, he spent most of his time in the office and the court. I recalled being a rebellious girl, demanding their attention. I had used all the tricks in the books, from fighting in the school to pick up fights in the house. They never came to my school, be it the sports day or the annual function. I had felt alone, scared, and ignored, especially after they kept Lyra away, saying that she was ill and needed care.

When I turned thirteen, they sent me to Nani's place without even asking me. And when they came back a month later, they told me that Lyra died. That she was killed in an accident. It was so all of a sudden, that couldn't come to get me from India. That was my final straw! I put my foot down and decided to live with Nani in Mumbai.

In the first year, they often visited me and tried convincing to come back home. Whenever Nani had taken their side, I fought her. They sent me gifts, lured me into getting an admission in Medical College and Law College in Georgetown. I turned them down and took admission in Mumbai University. Soon, they gave up and I saw less and less of them. Although, when Nani died, they started calling me often. I did what I did best; I ignored their calls.

And now, this. Sid was actually spying on me. The fact became hard to disgust. Did he love me at all? What happened yesterday? Was it fake too? A plan to take me back to DC?

"Sara?" called Viraj, in a voice that seemed coming from afar.

I looked at him. "Why would you tell me all this?" I mumbled. I was happy before. I wished to be ignorant again, coz I wanted Sid. I could not think to live apart from him. The lie was sweeter than this ugly truth. He manipulated me. He lied to me every single time. Could I trust him again?

"You deserve to know the truth. That is why," he replied. "He is a liar."

"How did you get these?" interjected Kush.

"Why did you snoop in his cell phone?" I questioned, furious. I knew that he must have accessed the phone when I kept on charging at his parents' house.

"I told you already. I suspected him from Cara's Birthday party. I was worried about you," Viraj explained, sitting beside me.

When his hand got closer to mine, I moved away. "You have no right to interfere in my life. You are neither my friend nor my boyfriend."

"Come on! This is all I get for caring about you. I still love you, Sara. Please just, forget about that Sid and think about me. Remember the times, we spent together. I will give you the time and space in the relationship. I have changed. Really!" he requested, clutching my hands in a firm grip.

"I don't love you, Viraj." I snapped, irritably. "And I cannot respect you after this. You think, you own my life. You think that it is your right to interfere in my affairs. Let me tell you, loud and clear. I don't want you anymore. I don't want to even see you. So please, will you just leave me alone?"

"This is insanity, Sara. Have you lost your mind? You used to love me..." he breathed in. "I have left Cara for you."

"I did not ask you to," I shot back, hating his guts. "You and I would never happen. So just, get the hell out of here."

I stood up and was joined by Kush. "Dude, you need to leave. And if you come back again, or bother her ever again, I will not think twice before breaking your bones," Kush hissed, advancing towards him.

Viraj snorted and smirked. "Loverboy, keep your words to yourself. Don't talk in between the two adults here."

Kush took a long breath before landing a punch on the side of his face. I was bewildered for a second, as I saw Viraj tumble backward, while Kush pressing his knuckles with the other hand. "Stop it, both of you," I shouted. "Viraj, leave now! Or I will call your parents!"

"Fine," Viraj gritted his teeth, gasping for air. "I know, Sara, you will regret this!"

I slammed the door on his face, breathing shallow!

**Follow me on twitter...https://twitter.com/Ms_Enigmatic!**