Sonakshi walked towards Dev's cabin. She had kept a voice recorder in Dev's cabin even before anyone had entered the cabin. It was the main reason she had come really early. She had reached the office even before Arjun.

She saw Natasha exiting Dev's room looking a bit angry. She did not know what could have pissed this self-obsessed powdered daughter of a rich businessman. Sonakshi did not want any conversation with this self-obsessed lass in front of her.

Natasha looked at Sonakshi. Sonakshi understood that she was recognized.

"Sonakshi?" Natasha asked with disbelief.

Sonakshi did not want to speak to the woman in front of her. All her past flashed across her face. The way Natasha had betrayed her came in front of her eyes. Sonakshi did not give any acknowledgement or did not even react that she recognized her.

Sonakshi royally ignored Natasha.

SONAKSHI'S POV

Why is she here in front of me?
Why should I even acknowledge her existence after what she did to me?

No, I am not going to be weak and forgive this woman in front of me. Especially after the number of mistakes she has committed. Not after the damage, she caused me.

She moved forward towards me. I could see a glassy layer of tears in her eyes. She wanted me to recognize her.

No, Ms Gujral. I am never going to forgive you for what you did to me.

She called me again, "Sonakshi?"

I decided the best option would be to move away from here ignoring her. I walked ahead. She caught my wrists and hugged me. I wanted to push her off. I did not want this.

She started crying. Ugh, the tears are so fake.

I rolled my eyes.

Such a drama queen!!

Now, I decided I should stop this woman to affect me.

Screw the past Sona.

"Excuse me, Ms Gujral. I would appreciate it very much if you would get off me and let me move ahead. I need to reach my boss's cabin," I said formally.

I wanted her to know that I do not care an ounce about her. I did not care if she is still worried for me. I do not care if she lives or dies. I calmed myself down and detached her from my body. I should not take any stress. I breathed in and out to soothe the fire inside my body.

I then looked up to see her. She looked at me as if someone had killed her. I know she must be acting.

"Sonakshi, I am sorry," Natasha finally said.

Oh, so she came here to apologize to me. So great. After seven years, she is standing in front of me and apologizing. After my life gets spoilt, she is apologizing. Why is my hand not going to slap her?

"Sonakshi I am sorry. I know I made a mistake..." Natasha started again.

"It was not a mistake. A mistake is an accident. Cheating and lying are not mistakes, they are intentional choices. IT WAS A SIN!" I yelled, losing my cool.

"Sonakshi..." Natasha said

"No Don't. You do not have the right to call me Sonakshi. It is Ms Sharma for you Ms Gujral," I yelled, "You cannot seek forgiveness for a sin, Ms Gujral, the only way you can remove that guilt that is there in your heart is by atoning for your sins."

"Sona...I," Natasha said. She was crying now. I did not want to look at her. I did not want to fall weak looking at her tears.

"Ms Sharma for you," I shouted, "I will not give you a chance to atone for your sins. I WANT TO SEE YOU SUFFER!"

Her eyes widened looking at me. She clearly did not expect this. She expected me to be the same carefree forgiving Sona that she knew.

That she destroyed.

I had become something no one could imagine.

"We were best friends," Natasha tried to reason.

I let out a humourless chuckle.

"We were," I said stressing the word were, "You destroyed our friendship."

"Sona. Please forgive me," Natasha cried.

I felt as though I can't breathe. I started gasping for air. I couldn't even get a word out of my mouth.

I suddenly felt someone picking me up. I heard his voice.

"Mia Bella"

DEV'S POV

"Sonakshi, I am sorry," I heard Natasha's voice outside my cabin.

Natasha is speaking to Sonakshi. Does Natasha know Sonakshi? Why is Natasha apologizing?

I will need to have a friend-to-friend talk with Natasha later. Sonakshi still did not greet Natasha. Why is she silent?

"Sonakshi, I am sorry. I know I made a mistake..." Natasha started again.

Natasha made a mistake. What was the mistake? I want to know. I moved closer towards the door so that I could hear their conversation more clearly.

"It was not a mistake. A mistake is an accident. Cheating and lying are not mistakes, they are intentional choices. IT WAS A SIN!" Sonakshi yelled suddenly.

OMG! That wildcat can shout so loudly. She has so much hurt reflected in her voice. This is making me so curious now. Sin? What was a sin?

Those words captured my heart.

A mistake is an accident. Cheating and lying are not mistakes, they are intentional choices that we make.

"Sonakshi..." Natasha said.

"No Don't. You do not have the right to call me Sonakshi. It is Ms Sharma for you, Ms Gujral," Sonakshi yelled, "You cannot seek forgiveness for a sin, Ms Gujral, the only way you can remove that guilt that is there in your heart is by atoning for your sins."

Her words were again ringing clearly in my ears.

You cannot seek forgiveness for a sin, the only way you can remove that guilt that is there in your heart is by atoning for your sins.

Wow, Sona! Beautifully said. I love your thoughts. They show your wonderful character.

"Sona...I," Natasha said. She was crying now.

Really what the hell was happening outside? Natasha, literally that girl was crying? A woman who makes others cry buckets was shedding tears herself?

"Ms Sharma for you," Sona shouted, "I will not give you a chance to atone for your sins. I WANT TO SEE YOU SUFFER!"

The way Sonakshi was speaking was making me fall more in love with her. The authority in her voice was just pulling me towards her. I never knew she had this ferocious side of a masochist too. Interesting woman.

"We were best friends," Natasha tried to reason.

What the heck! This is not true. Natasha never told me.

Natasha and Sonakshi were best friends?
How in the world was this possible?

Then I heard Sonakshi. She let out a humourless chuckle. I never heard this tone of her voice. Not that I knew her a lot but still. It could scare anyone to the core. It contained immense bitterness and hatred.

"We were," She said stressing the word were, "You destroyed our friendship."

"Sona. Please forgive me," Natasha cried.

I waited for Sonakshi to say something more. She did not speak anymore. Suddenly I heard someone gasping for air. My eyes widened with fear.

I rushed and opened the door and looked at the woman in front of my cabin. My assumption was true. It was Sonakshi gasping for air.

I rushed towards her and picked her up in my arms in bridal style. She was still gasping for air.

Two words involuntarily left my mouth.

"Mia Bella"

Dev called Dr. Sinha to the office. He had checked Sonakshi. He had given her some medicines. Dr. Sinha did not speak much to Dev today. Again, Dev had that nagging feeling that he had met Dr. Sinha somewhere earlier before knowing him as Sonakshi's psychologist.

Dev was apprehensive of what he was doing now. Sonakshi had lost consciousness. Dr. Sinha had advised her to take rest the rest of the day. He would have anyway given her the day off.

Now, Dev couldn't barge into the Sharma house with a sleeping Sonakshi. The only option he had left was to call up her family. He had Suraj Sharma's contact open. He just had to click the call button now.

He was nervous. Hell nervous! Anyone would have a hearty laugh seeing the cold mafia sweating to talk to the elder brother of the girl he loved.

He clicked the call button.

"Hello," A voice spoke.

"Is this Suraj Sharma speaking?" Dev asked nervously.

"When you don't know whose number it is, then why do you call?" Suraj said agitatedly, "Yes. It is Suraj here."

"I am Devrath Dixit speaking," Dev said and stayed silent.

"What do you want? Why did you call me?" Suraj spat.

"Your sister is unconscious. The doctor has asked her to rest the whole day," Dev informed him.

"I am coming to pick her up right now," Suraj said and cut the call.

"That went well," Dev said to himself, satisfied that there was no argument between them.

He turned to look at Sonakshi who was sleeping due to the medicines. She looked like a cute bunny.

A Khargosh. In Hindi.

"You will always be my Mia Bella, Sona," Dev said, leaving a breath.

Sonakshi stirred in her sleep. Dev moved closer to her. Sonakshi felt his presence and said a few words. The next words that Dev heard made him feel like the happiest man on earth.

"Mi sento al sicuro con te"

WORD COUNT: 1654 WORDS
DATE UPDATED: 8th Jan 2023

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