"Friend?"

She finally asked.

"Huh? Oh yes! Batchmate."

She nodded and excused herself. She rushed to the washroom and splashed water on her face.

"She's just a friend, Sia. A batchmate. He's going to discuss business. Nothing else."

She convinced herself but her past trauma didn't let her feel at ease. She trusted Vardhan. Yes she did. He wouldn't do that to her. He wouldn't hurt her. But she had thought the same of Piyush as well.

Sia couldn't eat lunch. Vardhan enjoyed her turmoil but one part of him felt bad when she denied food.

"What's wrong? You're not going to have anything?"

He asked not being able to control himself. Why did he sound concerned?

"Umm...I lost my appetite."

She muttered not meeting his eyes.

"Have something with me."

A smile formed on her face at his invitation and she didn't decline. She had a few bites with him and was fine for the rest of the day. But the clock approached 6 and it was time for her to leave for home. And she remembered his dinner meeting.

Her stomach dropped again and she looked at him after collecting her stuff.

"It's 6. You're not going home?"

"Nah! I'll leave in an hour and will go directly to Payal's."

She nodded trying to act nonchalant. She waited for him to acknowledge that she was leaving. Maybe give a parting hug or kiss. But nothing. She left dejected.

Sia couldn't sleep the whole night. The entire night she kept turning and twisting thinking about Vardhan and Payal and their dinner meeting.

At one point, she had even picked up her phone to call him for updates but did not because she didn't want to come out as clinging or desperate.

The next day, she reached the office on time. She wanted to see him. Wanted to ask him what he did at dinner. Wanted to get her heart at rest.

But she froze when she entered the cabin. It was empty. There was no bag or stuff which indicated that he was in the office yet. And Vardhan had never been late.

Why was he late today then? Sia walked to her desk while gazing at Vardhan's with a scared look. Her heart thudded in her chest. No! Vardhan wasn't Piyush.

She kept looking between the time on her phone and the door. It was 10 am when he finally arrived and Sia sucked in a breath looking at him.

"Good morning."

She whispered after clearing her throat. He looked at her and nodded with a smile.

"You're early today?"

He asked her.

"I'm on time. Aap late hai."

"Ah yes! I slept late last night."

Why was her heart beating so wildly?

"K-kyu?"

"Had work."

His replies were curt. Was he losing interest in her or did she misread his interest completely? Vardhan wasn't lying. He did have work. He had left Payal's place by 10 and worked till late at night at his place.

Don't ask! Don't ask! Don't ask! Don't ask!

"Umm...Vardhan? How was dinner last night?"

"Oh! It was great!"

He was bored out of his wits but she didn't need to know that.

"At what time did you reach her place?"

"Around 8:15?"

He said with a thoughtful look. He did reach at around that time.

"Oh! Aur apne ghar kab pahuche?"

He smirked. Now's the time for the strike.

"I left her place by 12 or something so 1 baj gaya tha."

Sia felt her heart drop. What was he doing at her place for so long? Flashes of Piyush and his best friend came into her mind. She shook her head and smiled.

"Itni-itni der kaise lag gyi?"

"We were discussing work and we had a lot to catch up on. She was my batchmate remember?"

"We were catching up. She's my best friend."

She couldn't bear it anymore. She would not be able to go through another heartbreak. Excusing herself, she rushed to the washroom and locked herself in one of the stalls.

She placed her hand on her mouth and sobbed silently. She wished no one would hear her.

Vardhan looked at her face when she had rushed out. Did he overdo it? Yesterday he was enjoying because she looked restless. But today, she looked broken.

Fuck it! He couldn't do it. She may be a cheater but he was not. And he was done trying to pose as one.

His heart was continuously telling him that she was innocent. She hadn't done any wrong. He didn't know what to believe. His heart or his eyes. He had seen her with that guy when she was still with Armaan.

Before he could come to any conclusion, she came back. Her head was lowered and she silently walked towards her desk.

"Sia? Where did you go?"

She stopped short at her place but didn't turn.

"I had to use the washroom."

He could tell from her voice that she had cried. He walked towards her and turned her around. He held her chin and made her face him.

"You've cried?"

And now he felt like an asshole. Maybe be should've directly confronted her from the very beginning.

"Nhi...I..."

"Your eyes are red and swollen."

He said and she lowered her eyes.

"I...ummm....I have an irritation in my eyes."

She whispered but he knew she was lying.

"Sure! I believe you! Now tell me what's wrong?"

She met his gaze and her eyes started getting teary.

"You tell me what's wrong? Kyu aap ignore kr rhe hai mujhe? Itna disinterested behave kr rhe hai. Is it because of the...kiss? Did you not want it? Do you regret it? Was I...did I not do it right? I'm sorry! It was my first kiss and I didn't know what-"

She was cut off by his lips on hers. He kissed her softly. Erasing her doubts and a tear leaked from her eye.

He pulled back and rested his forehead on hers.

"I'm sorry if you felt that way. I was just too occupied with work. And that kiss was everything to me Sia. I do not regret it. I can never regret anything with you."

Why did his tongue get a brain of its own when she was around? He didn't have to think before saying anything to her. It all came to him naturally. As if it was a usual thing.

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