The doorbell rings and I stride down the stairs to open it. We just came from jogging and Neil is in the shower so I was just going through my phone.

I pull open the door and my smile widens when I see Navya sleeping on Kabir's shoulder and Niam standing beside him.

"Good morning, Mumma." He greets me as he hugs me.

"Good morning, Niam." I laugh as I try to match his excitement.

"Hey." Kabir nods and I smile at him.

"Thank you for dropping them off on time," I say as I reach out to hold Navya.

"Uh, that's fine." He smiles politely.

"Why don't you come in?" I ask as I settle Navya on the couch and kiss her forehead.

"I actually have some work." He says unsure as he stands at the doorstep.

"Some coffee at least?" I ask.

He nods and walks in. Miss. Nazareth pours him some coffee in the cup and I sit at the table across from him. I already had my coffee with Neil in the morning but I just take a few sips so that he doesn't feel awkward drinking alone.

"Niam, come on, wake Navya up and fresh up soon." I turn to look at him who does some taekwondo stunts in the air.

"Yeah." He says as he proceeds with his action.

"Niam," I say and he turns to look at me when he hears the seriousness in my voice.

He grins before he walks to his sister sleeping peacefully on the couch. I turn to look at Kabir who sips on the coffee.

"Uh, I wanted to thank you for helping us by involving Roy," I say after a moment.

"I am glad I could do something." He shrugs. "I am guilty of what I did and there have been times when I look at Neil and think maybe I should have done things in a better way."

"You know everything happens for a reason." I smile slowly. "While I hate everything that has happened I do understand it had a reason and maybe we will know the reason soon."

He looks at me for a moment and he sighs. "I am sorry."

I look at him and I realize he still thinks he is responsible for the havoc in our lives in a way he is but I understand the pain of something happening to parents that is the only reason I understand him.

"I forgive you," I say with a small smile hoping this helps him a little.

"I knew you would." He shrugs. "But Neil wouldn't."

"I am not so good at forgiving you know," I tease him. "Value it."

"Uh, no, please don't think I don't value it." He says quickly. "I am thankful you were able to forgive me."

He hesitates for a moment. "The thing is that you heard everything that happened but you don't remember that is why you were able to forgive me."

He does have a point but I would still understand him because he did it for his mother. Maybe no one realizes how much my parents meant to me.

"And I have known Neil for a long time now." He says slowly. "It's sad to see him distancing from me. I think he's hurt for what I did and that I was hiding it all these years."

"Well, my husband is very understanding," I say honestly. "He is sad about it and I guess he has the right to considering he looked at you as a friend."

"I know. That's what bothers me." He sighs. "I had no idea things would go this worst when I took you from the hospital."

I look down at my coffee and for a moment I think about how our lives would have been if he didn't take me from the hospital or if Rayan wouldn't have taken me to London with him.

I shake my head clearing the thoughts away knowing there is no use in wishing for something when it has happened in the past. Nothing is going to change and if I want any of these to not repeat I need to focus.

"Hey," I turn to look as Neil walks inside the kitchen. "Thank you for dropping them."

Kabir nods at him as he stands up and I remember the first time Neil and I went to meet Sara and Kabir. While Sara and I were busy bonding up Kabir and Neil were talking all the time.

It is definitely not a good scene to see them behaving as strangers just greeting and thanking. That's when an idea pops into my head.

"Are you free today?" I look at Kabir as I stand up and Neil looks at us curiously.

"Uh, at what time?" He asks.

"For dinner?"

"Maybe." He says. "Emergency cases come out of nowhere."

"Okay," I say as I glance between him and Neil. "Sara and I were planning a double date maybe if you both are free we can go today."

"She didn't mention anything like that." Kabir frowns.

"Uh, I think she'll let you know soon," I say. "So?"

"I am okay with it." Neil shrugs.

"I will try to join." Kabir looks at me.

I go to take a shower after he leaves and I let Sara know about my plan through a text. I help Navya and Niam get ready while Neil packs their lunch boxes and then we have breakfast together before Neil goes to drop them off.

"Bye, Mumma." Navya kisses my cheek.

"Study well, okay?" I ask as I kiss her cheek. "Bye."

"Nav, hurry up," Niam shouts from the car.

"Don't shout." She says irritated as she rushes to the car. I laugh as they continue to argue. I had stopped by their school a week ago to know how they are doing and the teacher seems to like Navya more because she is intelligent. That doesn't mean my son isn't intelligent he just doesn't tell the answers right away. Sometimes he stays silent even if he is right and I can understand him because I was the same as a student.

I finish applying lipstick when I hear Neil walk inside the room. Last night I just got so emotional after I saw the girl die in the accident and I couldn't control myself.

We didn't really speak last night except for him consoling me which I really needed. I just started missing my parents all over again and I got a bit scared. I had to call Sara and talk with Niam and Navya for a while to keep myself calm.

We drank the coffee in silence, work out, and jogged in silence. I look at him through the mirror and he meets my gaze. I just can't stop myself from gawking at how hot he looks in his suits.

"So last night I didn't ask you." He says as he walks inside. "Why don't you want to work with me first?"

"Because I don't want people to think I fetched my first deal because it was with my husband," I say frankly. "Which wouldn't be wrong because you would do it with me regardless of whether it is beneficial to you or not."

He stays silent because he knows I am right. I clasp my watch and grab my car keys.

"Shall we leave?" I ask as I turn around.

"And what did you decide? About Vidhyut?"

I sigh. "I am not thrilled to work with him. I have some plans and you need to trust me."

He nods not looking happy with it. I look up at him as he puts his arms around me and leans down to kiss me. He leaves me breathless when he pulls away.

I purse my lips as I reach out to wipe the lipstick off his lips. Then he leans in for another kiss and kisses me harder, I don't mind he is letting his frustration out in a kiss because he knows he won't be able to change my mind.

"Are you okay?" I ask breathlessly after we pull away.

"You have no idea how crazy you drive me." He shakes his head.

"I am sorry." I smile. "I promise it will be worth it."

"I am never going to be happy with you working with him but I also know I can't force you." He puts a hair string behind my ear.

I am also not happy with him involving Rayan in our lives but I didn't push him so much to stop meeting with him because I know he is not an idiot and knows what is best.

That's what I expect from him, to trust me in my decisions.

"Okay." I shrug.

"I asked Sara's father to not follow you around..." He says and my smile widens.

"Really?" I ask surprised. I was irritated by him following me around I felt like a baby.

"Yeah. I know you can take care of yourself." He smiles.

"I can." I roll my eyes. "Thank you."

"Promise to call me whenever you are in trouble." He looks into my eyes and I still recognize the fear in them. Fear of losing me.

"I promise." I hold his hand in mine before I kiss it.

❊❊❊

I shake hands with Mr. Pandit and Mr. Singh, his president as we close the deal. I feel proud, happy, and satisfied all at the same time as we sign the contract.

"Thank you for making this happen in a short time," Vidhyut tells me as we walk to my office.

"Of course, this is what I needed," I say as I sit on my seat, and he sits in front of me.

"So you were right when you said you'll convince your husband." He chuckles.

"Well, he isn't thrilled about me working with you." I shake my head. "No one would be I guess when someone looks at their wife in a dirty way."

"Well." He leans back in his chair. "I am a man and I certainly am not a gay so it's common for me to have an attraction towards a female."

"You are right." I nod. "There's attraction, admiration, love at first sight, and then there is lust and all you think about is taking her right away."

He cocks his head as he looks at me a bit amazed. "And certainly not every girl is happy to walk with you in the bedroom."

"Even though it's common to have a desire you are not supposed to give them dirty looks. You may go ask about their interest and lead things instead of undressing them in your head. I glare at him as he looks at me astonished.

"Okay." He says straightening up. "I am married if that makes you feel better."

"Oh, please." I roll my eyes. "Nothing makes me feel better because I am not afraid of you. If I find you inappropriately looking at me then I am going to kick you in the balls and smash your head across the wall until you bleed and beg for forgiveness."

"That was... amazing." He chuckles nervously.

"You think I am thrilled about working with you?" I raise my eyebrows. "You aren't the only businessman you know I could work with anyone but I choose you. Now ask me why."

"Why?" He frowns.

"Because I need something in return." I smile slowly. "I have no interest in dealing with you and arguing with my husband over this but I still didn't back off because I need something in return."

"I think we agreed on a contract, there isn't anything like I need to give something to you in return." He looks unsure.

"I know." I nod. "You got an opportunity to work with the new CEO of Parikh Enterprises first and it benefits you because I know there were rumors around you being a jerk. When I start working with you again it gives you a good image out there, doesn't it?"

"It does." He clenches his jaw.

"I know that's one of the reasons you made sure this deal happened as quickly as possible," I smirk. "So, because I choose to work with a jerk like you you need to give me something in return."

"Or?" He arches an eyebrow.

"Or maybe I'll give an interview letting everyone know how much of a jerk you are. Let everyone know why Parikh Enterprises and Khanna Corporations stopped working with you."

"You are not doing that." He glares at me.

"Just do as I say and I won't do that." I give him a wicked smile as I lean back in my seat.

"Okay." He sighs. "What is it?"

I spent the entire month of September being busy and I made sure I didn't waste any time. I wasn't sitting with my arms crossed waiting for Roy to come back and join Myra.

Zar and I paid a visit to the bank and using Zar's identity card we were able to look into Maya Kashyap's bank account details.

At first, we thought it wasn't helpful until we went through everything again and the lady there gives us the details about how she changed her surname a few years ago.

Her name was Maya Pandit.

And when we hacked her online transactions we found Vidhyut Pandit's name in it and he has transferred some amount to her.

When I got the idea of who Vidhyut Pandit is I had to do some background research and I came to the conclusion Maya Kashyap is Vidhyut's cousin from his mother's side.

The only reason I didn't tell Neil anything about this is that I didn't want to tell him until I'm sure and until I finally find the person and make sure I get my hands on her first.

"Maya," I say slowly wanting to see his reaction. "She is your cousin, isn't she?"

"She is." He frowns. "What did she do?"

"Why would you ask that?" I look on suspicious.

"She is crazy." He shakes his head. "A little dumb I would say. She just needs money and I keep sending her some money."

"Do you have an idea she has been blackmailing me for money saying she would kill me and my husband? She roams around in a hoodie and she almost tried to kill me in a car accident."

"What the fuck." He shakes his head in disbelief. "This can't be true."

"It is," I say. "I hope you know a thing or two about me losing my memory."

"Yeah." He nods.

"So someone wants to kill me from long back and now they are after my husband too. We haven't reached the person yet but I know it's not your cousin because as you said she is too dumb and stupid to do anything like that. She is just going around and passing threats because someone asked her to without having an idea what is going to happen."

"What do you want me to do?" He asks anxiously.

"I just want you to talk to your cousin and get everything out of her mouth. Who is asking her to do it and everything." I shrug.

"I can't do that. She is a psycho I can't deal with her." He shakes his head.

"Either you do it or I'll devastate your reputation in the business industry and also I can put her behind the bars you know." I give him a pointed look.

He looks at me for a moment and then he nods. "I'm gonna try."

"Try until you succeed," I say. "No matter what I need you to get everything out of her mouth."

He nods and I give him a small smile feeling happy that my argument with Neil will definitely be worth it if I can get some help from his cousin.

"And what is Maya's husband's surname?" I ask as he stands up.

"Kashyap." He says.

And that's where Maya Pandit turned to Maya Kashyap.

❊❊❊

How was it?

Whose side are you on now? 😂

How is Avni going?

Well, I am definitely disappointed by the less number of views and comments but since I am enjoying writing I am going with the flow.

Even though I know some of you are interested the low number of views and comments just make me feel like no one is interested in the book.

So, I might end the book in no time, hopefully, that is in some 40-50 chapters.

Do vote, comment, and share your views.