Note: This chapter will contain flashbacks of two years ago only.

•••

Every now and then Advay was looking to his left side where Zuri's cabin was separated from his cabin with just a wall-size glass. She looked deep in thoughts, staring on her computer screen and doing nothing.

He felt odd. She loved working, she wasn't a lazy secretary.

All of a sudden she stood up and marched to his cabin. The determined look on her cute face was quite amusing.

He felt like she is Rani Laxmi Bai and is ready to fight the Britishers in the revolt of 1857.

But where are the Britishers?

Mumbai still has Victoria Terminal but Victoria's army is gone a long time ago.

Advay was about to shout, "Inquilab Zindabad!"

But, "I love you." These words froze him.

Oh! He went to the wrong history chapter. It's not "Revolt of 1857", but "Romanticism".

That reminded him of French Revolution, Bourbon Dynasty, Napoleon Bonaparte, Battle of Waterloo and French Kiss.

Now you must be thinking from were this French Kiss came into history.

Well, what can you expect from a playboy?

"Advay, are you listening to me?" Zuri shouted.

"Huh! Yes, I am. By the way, what were you saying?"

Zuri, for the first time in her life, felt so much irritated.

"I... I.. nevermind." She turned back. Maybe it was a wrong move to confess her love. He just won't care. One night and it's over from his side. Why she had to fall in love with him leaving all the decent guys apart on this earth?

She felt his hold on her wrist.

"I heard, you said you love me." He was smiling. Believe it or not, it's the first time some girl said this to him.

He pulled her close and made her sit on his chair and himself sat on the table. She looked up to him.

"Are you sure? That you love me. I am not the best guy for you." He asked.

"I don't know." She was puzzled about her feelings. She loved him, but only love isn't enough.

"Zuri, it's not a joke. It's about you, about us." Advay was internally glad, but he knew very well that his companionship will cause her a lot of problems.

"I know, I... tried to control. But..." Her eyes filled up with tears.

"Eh... Don't cry. Okay, I like you. You are perfect for some idiot like me. But my lifestyle isn't good."

"I agree, your lifestyle isn't good. But you are a good person. And I never judged you for being so... messed up." She chose light words to point out his not-so-innocent activities.

"Then why you kept your distance initially?"

"You were not my type, neither I was yours."

"And now I am your type?" He asked teasingly.

"That's upto you."

"What do you mean?"

"Can you at least try to be a one woman's man?"

He chuckled.

"Zuri, a sailor amist the ocean is directionless without the moon. I am just like a sailor who was lost. But maybe I found the moon in you."

"Let's get married then."

"I am asking again, are you sure?"

"Yes, I am."

•••

Zuri is innocent.

This is what others think about her.

But trust me, she isn't.

She is reckless.

Someone who doesn't care about the consequences. Someone who thinks that things will itself change for good. Someone who uses her innocence as a poison.

It will take eternity to understand how selfish she is.

Her innocence is toxic. It will force you to fulfill her desires, her wishes, her demands.

And toxic innocence forces you to destroy yourself by your own hands.

{This is the Zuri I know. Now who is better, Zuri or Advay?}

•••

"So Advay proposed you?" Ziya asked with venom dripping from her tone.

"Actually I proposed him." Zuri said with her eyes closed. She couldn't afford to look at Ziya's boiling red face.

"Are you insane, Zuri? He is not a nice guy." Ziya shouted at her.

"If he is bad, then who are you?" Zuri asked with equal anger.

"You are comparing me with him?"

"Yes, I am. He fucks for fun, you fuck for money. What makes you a better person than him?"

"Zuri, are you out of your mind?" Ziya had no reply. Isn't Zuri right? Ziya and Advay are on the same page.

"I will marry him, with or without your consent."

And that was the end of their conversation. Zuri locked herself in her room.

That night Ziya couldn't sleep. Zuri never behaved like this. So selfish. So mean. So arrogant.

Her 'good sister' facade was over.

If Ziya was selfish to earn money by selling her body. Then Zuri was equally selfish to not try hard to stop her.

She never stopped her because she knew if she did, they will be pennyless.

She faked helplessness.

Again, her toxic innocence.

•••

Zuri Advay Singhania.

Sounds beautiful, right?

Advay and Zuri did a simple court marriage.

No functions, no guests, no feast, no show off.

Zuri looked so happy. She was glowing with elation in a red Kurta-Plazo. She looked like a married woman. A red bindi, red lipstick, heavy Chooda on her wrists. After the signatures Advay filled vermillion on her partition and secured a Mangalsutra around her neck.

A happily married couple.

Vansh and Ziya were the witnesses, who were quite shocked to witness each other at the marriage court.

At least they felt at a little ease in each other's presence when they were angry on their siblings.

This marriage was a ruin according to both of them.

Last night, Vansh tried hard to make Advay cancel this marriage, but no avail. Vansh's interference only made Advay more adamant on marrying Zuri. Especially when Vansh spoke those words before walking away, "At least I don't fuck my stepsister."

Why Vansh can't be happy in Advay's happiness like normal siblings do?

But again, they are not normal siblings.

•••

A night before Zuri and Advay's court marriage, Advay had visited Diva.

"Oh, you didn't visit me last week." Diva was oddly cheerful.

"I never saw you so cheerful." Advay leaned against the door.

"Come inside."

Advay followed her to the living room.

"Diva, we need to talk about something important." Advay turned serious.

"Even more important than a delicious dinner?"

"Yes."

"Okay, then. Go ahead."

"I am marrying." Advay was expecting her to shout, to slap him, to curse him.

But...

"Congratulations!" She hugged him.

"Aren't you angry? I mean, we are together for years."

"Advay, we are step-siblings. Marriage with you was never something I really wanted. I was with you because we had a connection, understanding and something special. But it's clear as sky that we don't love each other. Honestly, I wanted to end this for a very long time but I didn't had the heart to hurt you. So I kept quiet. But now when I know that you also want to end this affair, I am over the moon!"

"Diva, just simply say you are seeing Abeer and want to be with him."

"Okay, yes. I want to be with him."

"Alright, I should leave then, your house as well as your life."

Advay was about to leave when Diva called his name.

"Advay..."

"Hmm?"

Diva wanted to tell him that just a day ago she found out she is pregnant with his child. But she kept quiet. She didn't want to ruin his happiness. She has Abeer, he has someone else. A happy ending.

"I am happy for you."

Advay gave her a tight hug and left with a smile.

•••

That was their last meeting

A meeting when Diva kept her pregnancy a secret to let Advay live happily with his love.

It was unexpected.

That's it.

•••

"Will you marry me? As in a contract marriage." Vansh said to Ziya when they were having a lunch at a fancy restaurant.

"Why?"

"Because I just feel like we will make a power couple. Moreover, we have something special."

"Something special?"

"Yeah, something in the middle of attraction and affection."

His reply, his smile, his fascination left her speechless. Like this something special was his only dream.

"Alright, but no emotions involved." She pointed her fork at him.

"No emotions involved." He clicked his fork with hers.

"No girlfriends." She pointed it again.

"No flings." He clicked it again.

"No sex." She again pointed the fork.

"Just kisses." He again clicked the forks.

Ziya narrowed her eyes at him.

"I am helpless, you are such a good kisser." He defended himself innocently.

And both of then ended up laughing.

Not a bad start for a happily-ever-after.

•••
Again, who is better, Zuri or Advay?

Next chapter will be the last one.
There will be a surprise as well.