Thank you, everyone, for voting and commenting on the previous chapter I love you all :)

*****"*

"Sonakshi, we need to get married."

Dev told her as they sipped their coffee, the cool breeze flashing on her face, the morning affecting her truly.

She frowned and wiggled her brows.

"Dev, I said yes. I mean we are getting married. So, I don't understand "

"We will be getting married next week "

Coffee spilt from her mouth as she tried to recover from the shock. What was he saying? Next week? Is he gone mad?

"Stop joking. " she scolded him.

He laughed dryly and face palmed himself. He wiped the coffee off from his mouth and smiled sadly looking at her. Sonakshi's heart broke looking at him like this.

How much she knew him? But whatever she knew about him, he was one of the best people she ever met. She respected him because he respected her. She adored him and loved to spent time with him. The way his eyes travelled down her body the way his hands hold her when she falls the way his words give her strength and motivation no one ever sounded like this.

"I don't want to hurt you sona" he whispered.

She looked at him curiously digesting his words.

"What happened? I know something is wrong. You are acting like this since yesterday. What happened dev. "

"I am sounding like what "

"Like a broken man. I mean you are not sounding like the dev which I knew. "

"Which dev you know? "

" that dev who lights the whole room with his smile. That dev who takes care of me. That dev who respects everyone. That dev I knew whom I cannot describe in words. "

He smiled sadly at her.

"Then marry me. "

"When did I say that I won't marry you? What's wrong? "

" everything is wrong. Everything is fucking wrong "

He banged his fist on the table she was shaken by his aggressive nature. He was never like this.

" I just want one thing from you Sonakshi. Please marry me. "

"This is not easy dev. We are still trying to understand each other I am still adjusting. I have college, dreams - "

" I know this is not easy Sonakshi. But try to understand I understand and feel everything you are suffering right now. But this is important. I can't see my family suffering. I want you to help me. "

" family. Are uncle and aunty fine? "

" Sonakshi this is about business sweetheart. Dad has signed some papers. Some papers were never meant to be signed. And the only solution to overdo the mistake is to get a new CEO. And the new CEO is me. I will be the new CEO. "

" But you are the CEO, right? "

"Not legally  Sonakshi. When dad made the contract for the CEO position he added someone. I mean he added something that means to be done - "

" and that is you getting married right. Wow, stop playing with me. I know this all is a sick joke. "

She laughed humouredly. Grabbing her purse and cell phone she was about to exit when he handed her a set of papers. She cocked an eyebrow at him while he just stared blankly at her.

"Have a look. And thanks for telling me that you don't trust me. Check the papers. You can get it to check from any lawyer.  And my coffee is finished you still have some left.  I will take your leave. Bye, Sonakshi. I will wait for your answer. And one more thing if this doesn't happen then soon you will witness the downfall of Dev Dixit "

He kissed her forehead and bid her goodbye. There was no hint of happiness and longingness on his face. The only expression he had was of pain and betrayal.

.........

"Dev " 

Karthik tapped his best friend's shoulder in order to comfort him.

"Karthik, she was hurt. I saw that in her eyes. She was about to cry " alone of tear passed from his closed eyes which were not missed from Karthik.

"When you know that everything you did was for her. For her own welfare. Then why are you regretting your decision dev? You have promised Prakash, the uncle. Be a man and save your woman from everything. "

"Since when you got brains "

"Since you got emotional and lost your brain. Just look at you a girl has literally hypnotized you by her looks huh "

He chuckled and looked at his best friend who was busy drinking his beer.

" Beer is not allowed in my office "

" I don't care. I need this and this is tasty. So no rules followed "

" did someone kick your ass? "

" Nope," he said popping the p of nope.

"Liar liar pants on fire "

Karthik checked his bum and then looked at dev who laughed like a maniac.

"What the hell you mad man? That was a pun "

"Who taught you that pun? "

"Sonakshi when she was drunk she was singing this in the car "

He smiled fondly remembering that night. Everything was good and smooth but life will always play it's an evil game.

"Drunk Sonakshi is total mood."

"Oh God! I still remember the way she pulled your hairs. "

He laughed while Karthik scowled.

"Stop it. Okay that's not at all good "

"Why? Little Karthik is offended. "

" I will kill you "

"You always say "

"Shut up "

"You shut up "

"Get out "

"You get out this is my office "

"Ok then I will go and inform Sonakshi about your plan "

"Try me," he replied dangerously.

"Woah man you getting hard huh! I was joking. You know what has a sip of this beer and life will be all set "

"Beer and life set "

"Beer gets you banging deer "

Dev banged his head in dismay after hearing his stupid friend's idiotic line. But he was grateful to him. After all, it was Karthik who made those papers and handled all the legal matters related to Prakash and Sonakshi. Once he was Sonakshi get married. Prakash every penny will be owned by Sonakshi. Because of a serpent was planning to take everything including Sonakshi away from Prakash.

. ..........

I know this is short but I never enjoyed writing this chapter. Sonakshi is hurt so am I.

So I just made it short and ended it.

Sorry, but I just have a very soft spot for Sonakshi.

You guys can expect double updates from tomorrow as I will be starting a new book and I want to concentrate my whole mind on it.

Be safe and secure at home. Enjoy quarantine. ❤