Hey my lovely readers.
How are you all?
Are you all enjoying the book so far?
A lengthy and hopefully less emotional chapter ahead.
Let's begin with the chapter now.
Akash's POV
I was still stroking her hair as her head laid on my lap.
She was sleeping peacefully with a cute pout on her face.
If it would've been any other day, I would've kissed her senseless but now wasn't the right time.
"We've reached, sir" Mark's voice brought me back to reality.
"Okay" I said and he opened the door for me.
Sliding out of the backseat, I carefully lifted Siya in my arms and carried her bridal style.
"Mark, can you please carry the bag. It has all of Siya's documents" I said and he nodded.
Proceeding to the hotel, I heard him following me.
The people were shocked seeing me carry a girl but they didn't say anything. It was my hotel after all.
Once at the reception, I said to the receptionist "I need you to arrange the presidential suite for me."
"Right away sir" she said and immediately dialed a number.
Meanwhile I settled myself on the couch with her head on my lap again and Mark sat on the single couch beside ours.
I know he had many questions in his mind and he was equally worried about her as I was but I am glad he didn't ask anything, yet.
After around fifteen minutes, a bell boy came to me and said "Sir, the suite is ready. If there's any luggage, I can carry it for you."
"No that's not needed, I'll manage" I said and lifted Siya in my arms again, Mark was following us shortly after.
Once inside the suite, I made her lay on the king size bed and she immediately snuggled herself to the pillow.
Smiling, I covered her with the quilt and switched on the dim lights.
Taking a deep breath, I made my way to the attached balcony and looked at the numerous houses below.
Pulling a cigarette out of the case which was in my pocket, I was searching for the lighter when a hand came in my view with a lighter.
When I looked at it, I saw Mark lighting it for me.
Bending to the lighter, I lit it and taking a long puff, pulled it out of my lips and held it in between my forefinger and the middle finger.
Resting my hand on the railing, I was deep in my thoughts when Mark said "I read her medical reports."
I looked at him again and he said "she didn't deserve it, sir. I failed to protect her."
"Don't blame yourself. You were just following my orders. If I would've asked you to stay a little longer, probably she would've been fine" I said and looked ahead.
Taking a long drag from my cigarette again, I told him what actually happened and he was shocked when I finished telling him the backstory of her marriage day.
In the few months that Mark was Siya's bodyguard, I had already noted that he grew very fond of her and respected her a lot.
It sometimes used to make me jealous of him. He got to see her everyday while I was working my ass off to get deals in the initial days of expanding my business but I couldn't blame him. My Siya was a person who anyone could become a fond of. She had such an attractive personality.
I couldn't blame her if men got attracted to her but fate always brought me to her, knowingly or unknowingly, indicating that she was mine and always will be.
"I can't believe it. People like Amit's family still exist?" he said in disbelief.
Taking the last drag from my cigeratte and crushing it under my shoes, I said "this in India, Mark. Dowry and accidents related to it will never go from this country. The only thing I am shamed about is I couldn't protect my Siya from it."
My eyes went again to her sleeping form and a lone tear rolled my eyes.
Clenching my eyes shut, I took deep breaths to calm myself down.
I felt hands on my shoulder and when I opened my eyes, I saw Mark was looking at me with concern.
"I failed her once, sir. I promise I won't fail her again. Please give me another chance" he said.
Patting his shoulder, I said "you need to be her shadow."
"I'll protect her with my life, sir" he said and I smiled.
It was already six in the evening and I had to do some important phone calls.
"Take care of her. In case she wakes up, please switch on the dim lights and remember, only dim lights, not bright ones" I said he nodded.
Making my way to attached bedroom, I dialed the first person that came to my mind.
"Hello beta. how are you?" my mom asked.
"I..I am fine mom" I said in a shaky voice.
"What happened Akash?" she asked worriedly.
"Mom, is dad home?" I asked ignoring her question.
"Yes, he is but are you fine?" she asked again.
"Ad..Adarsh, is he home?" I asked again.
"Yeah, he just came back" she said.
"Mom, can you put your call on speaker and ask dad and Adarsh to come on call, please?" I asked her.
"Ye..yeah sure" she stuttered and kept the call on speaker and I heard her calling both dad and Adarsh.
"What happened Avantika?" I heard dad's voice.
"Akash is on call" she said "he sounds worried."
"Akash, what's the matter child? Are you fine" I heard dad's worried voice.
"Dad, Siya" I said in a shaky voice and tears started flowing from my eyes.
"Siya, what happened to her? Is she fine?" I heard mom's voice.
"No mom, she's not" I said and started sobbing.
"Please don't cry beta" dad said.
"Bhai, what happened?" I heard Adarsh's voice from the other end.
"Mom, dad I need you" I said.
"Where're you?" dad asked.
"Siya's hometown" I said.
"Did you meet her? Is she with you?" mom asked.
"Yes, she is with me" I said.
"Adarsh, get the jet ready, we'll leave in an hour" I heard dad's voice.
"Yes chachu" I heard his voice.
"Don't worry son, we'll be there in few hours. Just stay strong, okay?" mom said.
"I'll wait for you both" I said and disconnected the call.
Taking deep breaths and wiping my tears, I made my way to her room and just then I saw her stirring in her sleep.
Mark was looking at her carefully and then I saw her opening her eyes.
"Akash" was the first word she said.
"Yes baby, I am here" I said and sat beside her.
"You didn't leave me this time" she said and tears made it's way to my cheeks.
Wiping them away, I said "no, I won't leave you now, ever."
She tried to sit using the support of headboard and I helped her in sitting up.
In the dim light, I could now see her well. She had become quite lean and thin. I could see her beauty bones which weren't visible earlier when I was with her.
She seemed so tired and I could see prominent dark circles under her eyes.
"Are you fine? Is the light better?" I asked her.
"Yes, it is" she said, closing her eyes.
When she opened her eyes again, she looked around the unfamiliar surrounding, probably accessing it.
Would she freak out?
"Where are we?" she asked in a low voice, looking around.
"We're in my hotel, my suite" I said, carefully.
I didn't want her to get frightened or worse, get panic attacks.
"Oh" she looked around once again and then looked at me.
"Where's papa?" she asked again, looking at me.
So far she was calm. Thank god or I don't know how would I handle her if she started getting panic attacks again.
The worst part was, I didn't know what could trigger her mind. I only knew about bright lights so far but if there's anything else, I need to find it out and quick.
"He's at home" I said and caressed her cheeks, making her eyes closed.
They were still so soft, like a baby.
She opened her eyes after a few seconds and looked at me.
"Why isn't he here?" she asked again.
"I...I took you from your home, with your papa's permission" I said.
"Oh" she said an looked down, staring at her lap.
I took my hands from her cheeks and waited for her to ask anything but when she didn't I said "do you miss him?"
"Yes" she said, still staring at her lap.
"He...he's with your mother" I said carefully and her head shot up at the mention of her mother.
"Please don't leave him alone with her" she said.
"Why?" I asked, inching close to her.
"They both fight a lot because of me since the day my marriage was..." she said and trailed off, gulping a lump which formed in her throat.
"I don't want them to fight. Their relationship was already on the verge of breaking and my marriage added fuel to the fire. The only time they don't fight is when I am around them but I've heard them fighting like cats and dogs when they think I am asleep when in reality I am not" she said.
"If I won't be around them, they'll fight all the time. I don't want my papa to suffer because of me. Already because of the marriage he had to listen to the taunts of many people, I don't want him to suffer anymore" she said and my eyes welled up with tears.
Looking away from her I wiped my tears when I saw Mark looking at us with moist eyes.
Wiping his own tears, he went out of the room, probably to give us some space.
Taking deep breaths, I looked back at her and saw her big doe like eyes staring back at me, expecting an answer from me.
"Don't worry Siya, he'll be fine, I promise" I said.
"Okay" she said and looked down.
"Do you...so you want to have something?" I asked.
It's been quite a while since she ate anything. She must be hungry.
"Yes" she said, looking up at me.
"Okay, let me order burger. You still like it right?" I asked and she nodded.
Calling the reception I placed order for her favorite veg cheese burger and some fries.
There was comfortable silence between us when I thought of asking the question that was bugging my mind.
"Siya, why don't you like to be in light anymore?" I asked her.
She looked at me for a few seconds but then didn't say anything and looked away.
Probably she didn't want to answer me so I didn't push her to say anything.
After ten minutes there was a knock on the door and once I opened it, I saw a waiter carrying Siya's snacks.
Taking it in my hands, I closed the door but not before saying thank you to him.
Once she saw it, her eyes lit up and made some space for me to sit on the bed.
Taking the tray from my hands, she opened the butter paper that was wrapped around the burger and extended it to me to take a bite when I sat on the bed.
A memory immediately made it's way to my mind.
"Why do you always make me eat first?" I asked her taking a bite from her burger.
"Because I feel so" she said, gesturing me to eat more from the burger that she was eating from.
"No Siya, I really want to know today. Why do you always feed me first?" I asked, taking another bite from her burger.
"That's because I feel so good to see you when you eat and moan in delight" she said, wiping crumbs from the corner of my mouth.
"Oh really?" I asked, feeding her the burger.
"Yes. I really like to feed you. I don't know I feel so content when I feed you" she said and fed me the burger again.
I felt someone shaking me lightly, making me snap out of the beautiful memory.
Her hands were still extended to feed me and I was staring at her.
When I didn't take a bite, she took her hand back and kept the burger on the plate and started staring at her lap.
Shit, what did I do?
"Siya" I said and she looked up at me with moist eyes.
"Baby, I...I am sorry. I was just...lost in some thoughts. Please, I am sorry" I said, wiping her tears.
"It's okay, I understand" she said and stared at her lap again.
Shit. How could I be so stupid? I made her cry.
I need to be more careful with her. She's more sensitive than before and I need to be very careful around her.
Taking the burger in my hand, I saw her looking at me.
I took a bite and forwarded it to her mouth and she took a bite.
Finally.
We fed the burger to each other and once she was done, I called the bellboy to clear up the mess.
"Baby, are you comfortable in these clothes? Do you want to change?" I asked her.
She looked around and then looked back at me.
"My clothes?" she asked, looking at me.
"I...ummm, I didn't bring them" I said, sheepishly.
"Oh" she said.
"Don't worry, I'll arrange some clothes for you" I said and immediately dialed Mark's number and asked him to get some clothes from Siya's house and also escort Mr. Verma here.
My mom dad will be here in few hours and it's better if we all take a decision for her, together.
Though I've already made myself clear to her family, it's better if her father and mom-dad have a one to one conversation as well. It would at least give her father some peace.
He must be worried about her daughter and I know it very well that if someone elder talks to him, he'll at least be at peace.
"When will I go back home?" she asked after few minutes.
"About that, would you like to stay with me?" I asked her carefully.
"With you?" she asked, skeptically.
"Yes, I mean" I didn't know how to convey it to her that I want to to take her away from her parents with me, to the US but obviously with her consent.
Her wishes have never been respected by her parents and somewhere, even I crushed her wish when she wanted to marry me.
I had already decided, I would never do anything without her consent now.
"Will papa come with me, too?" she asked and my heart clenched looking at her innocent face.
"Do you want him to come?" I asked and she nodded.
"Okay, I'll talk to him" I said with a smile.
In the next half an hour, Mark came along with her father and a bag in his hands.
"Papa" she squealed and running to him, hugged him tightly.
"My baby" he said and kissed her forehead.
"Papa, Akash will be taking me with him" she said with a smile.
"Oh, that's so good. So do you want to go with him?" he asked and she nodded.
"You'll come with me, too, right?" she asked expectantly and he looked at me as if asking me what to reply.
"I...I don't think I can come, beta" he said stroking her hair.
"Why?" she asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
"I've already taken a lot of leaves since last year. I don't think I can get anymore leaves" he said.
Her smile vanished hearing him.
"Oh" she said and looked down.
"Siya, why don't you change. We've got your clothes" her father said.
"Okay" she said and taking her clothes, went to the washroom.
"She wants you to come with us" I said once she was out of earshot.
"Yes, but I can't" he said, looking down.
"If it's just about leaves, we can find a solution for it" I proposed.
"It's not about leaves. I can't leave Jyothi alone" he said, looking at me.
"Even when she has made your and your daughter's life heck?" I asked.
"Whatever or however she is, she's my wife. I've taken seven sacred vows to be with her, forever. I can't break it" he said.
This man here was full of surprises.
"You really are a good man, only if you would've taken Siya's side when she needed your support, I would've admired you. You tried to be a good father but I am afraid, you couldn't" I said and his face hung low in shame.
"For once, can't you think about your daughter and not your wife?" I asked him.
"The reason I don't want to come with you all is because I know you'll take good care of her. We, as parents have caused enough pain to her to last a lifetime. I want her to get cured under you, with your love, not with us where she would be constantly reminded of the tortures she went through. I am not coming with her, for her. Moreover she needs you, not me" he said with sad eyes.
"I understand" I said.
We then heard door clicking of the washroom and Siya entered the room.
"Do you want to watch something on TV?" I asked and she nodded.
Handing her the remote, she shifted from channel to channel but I think she couldn't get anything interesting to see.
Finally she settled on an english channel and what she was watching, I had no idea about it.
"I think I should leave" her father said.
"No uncle, please stay for some more time. My dad and mom are on their way to this place. They'll probably arrive in an hour. I think you should meet them" I said.
"Akash. I don't think I'll be able to face your parents" he said and tears were flowing from his eyes.
"Please uncle, if not for me, for Siya" I pleaded.
he looked at me and nodded.
There was comfortable silence for around an hour when I saw Siya dozed off on the bed.
I covered her with a quilt and kissed her forehead once.
"You love her a lot, right?" her father asked.
"More than my life" I said, still looking at her sleeping form while stroking her cheeks.
Then there was a knock on my door indicating that someone had arrived.
I opened to reveal mom and dad with a very worried expression on their face.
"How are you beta? Are you fine?" mom said, looking at me while entering the room.
"Now I am fine" I said and hugged her.
Once inside the room, mom dad were shocked to see Siya's father sitting on the chair but didn't probe him.
When mom's eyes fell on the sleeping form of Siya, she was relieved at the same time shocked to see her.
Sitting beside her, she stroked her hair lovingly and kissed her forehead.
"She's become so lean than the last time I saw her" she said after a few minutes of observing her.
Then something struck her and her eyes widened.
"She...she isn't married?" she asked with bulging eyes looking at her father and then at me.
"No" her father replied.
"How did you know mom?" I asked her.
"There're no signs of marriage on her. Look, no vermillion, no nupital chain and no toe rings. Look there's neither any wedding or engagement ring" she said, showing me her empty ring finger.
"Oh" I said.
"What's going on here?" dad asked.
"Dad, why don't we sit and talk about it in the other room?" I suggested.
"Okay" he said and they all went to the other room.
"Mark, take care of her please and make sure the lights should remain dim" I instructed him before going to the next room.
We were all seated on the couch with no one saying anything.
"Now enough of this silence Akash, tell me what happened?" Mom asked.
Me and Siya's father exchanged glances before telling them both about the incident that happened on her wedding day.
Mom was on the verge of tears by the time we ended up telling everything and dad was consoling her.
Mom really admired Siya.
"My Siya is strong. She'll overcome this depression. I know it" mom said wiping her tears.
I am glad she had accepted her wholeheartedly, just like my dad had.
"Mom, dad I wanted you both to meet uncle and let him know that we'll take care of her from now on. She has been in depression for a long time and I don't want to delay her treatment anymore" I said.
"Of course son, I fully support you" dad said.
"Mr. Verma, rest assured, my son will take good care of Siya" mom said, facing her father.
"I am sure he will" he said, looking at me.
"You were right Aman sir, we don't deserve daughter like Siya" he said with a sad smile, looking at dad.
"Let bygones be bygones Mr. Verma. Our priority should be to help Siya overcome her depression" dad said, looking at him.
"You're right" he said.
"Dad, I am planning to take her to New York, with me" I said.
"Are you sure you can handle her alone?" mom said. "She might need someone to be around her all the time. With the expansion of your business, are you sure you can give her enough time?"
"No matter whatever happens mom, me and Sid will handle it. If I've to work for 24 hours a day, I'll but I'll make sure that I give enough time to her. I don't want her to stay away from me" I said.
Dad was looking at me skeptically but then he said "son, I understand you're worried for her but she isn't suffering from some seasonal disease which can be cured in a week. The state that she's in, we're not sure how long it'll take her to recover from it. She needs someone around her 24*7. Are you sure you can manage? If not, you can leave her with us. I promise we'll take care of her like a daughter."
"No dad, as I said, I won't let her stay away from me, no matter how hard I've to work" I said.
"Okay, if you say so but just so you know, if anytime you need our help or think you are unable to manage, just let us know. Me and Avantika will be there for her" dad said.
"Thanks dad" I said and going to him, hugged him.
"Anytime my son" he said and standing up from the couch, he hugged me back.
"I still remember when you were in college and your pictures were leaked, I had called you about it and you had told me that you're as serious for her as I was for your mother. I had doubted you then, thinking it was just a fling and you would forget about it but boy, you proved me wrong and I am glad you did. I am so proud of you" he said, patting my back.
"Thank you dad" I said, breaking the hug.
"Dad, can I ask you something?" I asked.
"Sure, son" he said, sitting on the couch again.
"I am sure you know that we've started making name for ourselves and cracked few good projects as well. You never said you're proud of me then, then what made you say that you're proud of me now?" I asked him.
He chuckled and said "money, deals, projects they're all materialistic things, son. The real wealth is family, relationship and most importantly, someone's love who you love dearly, with all your heart. The way you stood up for Siya, fought with her mother and are ready to go to any lengths to be with her shows that you've grown into a fine young man, like I've always wanted you to be."
"I am proud of you not because you'll be a billionaire yourself soon but because of the wise and loving man you've turned into. Avantika has really shaped you into a man that our society direly needs and I am so proud of her. I am proud of you because you've been raised by a queen" he said, looking at mom who had a beautiful shy smile on her lips.
I felt like pinching her cheeks, she's so cute.
"I've always wanted to be like you dad. I am just following your footsteps" I said.
"When do you plan to return to New York?" he asked me.
"We need to arrange for Siya's VISA before we go there but looking at her condition, I don't think she'll be able to attend the VISA interview" I said.
"Don't worry about it. Just apply for her VISA, I'll make a few calls and her VISA would be approved. She doesn't need to do anything that would trigger her" dad said.
"Thank you dad" I said.
"Anything for your happiness" he said.
"Akash" we then heard my Siya's voice and I immediately switched on the dim lights.
"Yes baby" I said, standing up.
"You were not there when I woke up, I thought you left me" she said with tears welled up in her eyes.
"No baby, I won't leave you" I said and hugged her.
She was sniffing by now but I stroked her long black hair to calm her down.
When she was a little calm, I said "see, who's here to meet you?"
She then looked up from my chest past my shoulder and her eyes widened.
She hid her face in my chest, making me confused.
"What happened baby?" I asked her.
"What if your mom dad don't...don't want you to be with me?" she asked innocently and it broke my heart.
I turned around to look at my parents but their eyes were fixed on Siya which help a lot of pain.
Mom then stood up from the couch and proceeded to me, making Siya cower more to me. She had clutched my shirt in a death like grip.
"Siya" mom said and stretched her arms to her but she backed away from her.
Mom looked at me as if asking for help and I blinked my eyes in assurance.
Turning to her, I said "Siya, mom wants to talk to you."
She looked at me and I gave her a small smile.
She then looked at mom and probably contemplating whether to go to her or not, she finally took her outstretched hand.
"We all love you Siya. We would never take Akash away from you" she said in a motherly tone.
Siya looked at me with frown and I blinked my eyes in assurance.
She then looked back at mom and asked "promise?"
"Promise, my baby" mom said and hugged her.
I am glad she hugged her back but with some hesitation.
Stroking her hair, still in each others embrace, mom asked her "would you like to go to New York with Akash?"
"New York?" she asked, breaking the hug.
"Yeah, Akash lives there right? If you go with him, he will take care of you and always be there with you, like you want" mom said, stroking her cheeks, lovingly.
She looked at me for a few seconds and then back at mom.
"Ok...okay" she said and looked down.
A huge relief wash passed me and I smiled. This is what I wanted.
I know it would've been difficult to convince her but mom made it so easy for me.
I mouthed her thank you to which she just smiled.
Finally, we would be going to New York.
How did the chapter come out?
If you all liked the chapter, please vote comment and share my book.
Please follow me on wattpad and instagram for sneak peaks and updates. Readers following me on insta already know that I post sneak peak of my updates on it one day prior to my updating schedule.
My insta ID-magnificent_shobhana.
Till next chapter, tk cr bbyee
Tadas.