Maya's pov:

"You know what, for the first time in life I felt motivated to do my work. For the first time in life, I felt that there is someone who wants me to grow and get ahead in life. My parents, they always were the people who pulled me down. They never let me get get ahead in life even if they didn't know the work I do. But, you are the first person after Daisy, who came to know about my work and rather than trying to pull me back and make me sit back at a place, you pushed me towards hard work and helped me in every possible way.

I promise you that, you don't have to worry about my safety anymore. I won't go back to my parents. One thing is for sure, I'll have a word with them. But, after sometime. Not right now. I need to sort some things and work on a few and I promise you will be the one who will be the happiest with my decision." I told Xavier.

"I don't know what you are going to do but, I trust you with everything. Just make sure that you are safe and secured. I will never want you to get in any trouble. But, keep this thing in mind that even if you feel this slightest of need for help, I am just a call away . No matter where I will be, you will find me next to you the very next moment.

Even if we won't be together anymore from tomorrow, but you have to promise me one thing. You will never ever feel yourself alone. If not as a husband, then you will find me as a friend with you whenever you need me. You have Dan, Lucas, Mimi and Liam with you even if you won't be related to me anymore. And most importantly, you will have me."

This storm, in this wind that howls, he is the gentle centre. And so I come to rest at his side. Every person needs a harbour, a secure attachment of love - for without one we are in such pain, so lost, shutting down. Then life becomes a torture we are expected to endure, surviving, not living. Were it not for him, there would be no relief, no emotional morphine. He is my hero and my heroin. Of course I am addicted to him - but for every reason that is pure and right. He is my safety, an anchor I hold onto, that I tether myself to because I want to.

"Maya!" He called out loud.

"Huh."

"Where are you lost?"

"Uh.. nowhere. Anyways, thank you so much for everything you did. I have no words to express my gratitude to you."

"That's not needed Maya. I did nothing for you. Everything I did, was my own selfishness. Everything I did for you, it was for me and my inner satisfaction. "

I smiled at his words and felt so grateful for having him in my life. But, it seemed like my smile brought back many good memories for him. His eyes started glistening with water and before I could notice that, he got up and said, "Good night Maya. Let's sleep. Tomorrow's going to be a long day." And, he furiously walked to his room.

Xavier's pov:

My heart broke and I bled an ocean through my eyes. My soul felt wafer thin. My body trembled and chilled. Yet even this magnitude of grief passes. And while it does, I learnt more about pain than I ever wanted to know. I couldn't hold back anymore. I collapsed beside the bed and cried my heart out , letting flow all my emotions that made their way through my tears. I tried to hold it in , but I cried my eyes out. It started feeling as a my heart is frozen and the tears are its beginning to melt.

No! I can't keep on crying like this. I have to understand Maya, even if she is not expressing it . I can imagine how much she must be suffering. Even if she doesn't love me, but I know she's emotionally attached to me and that might be breaking her down completely. If I fall weak right now , then who will handle her? I can let this happen. My emotions ; they come after hers. My tears can wait in my eyes till I wipe hers.

Not caring about anything else, I stood up, wiped my tears and ran upto Maya's room. I banged at her door loudly and she came out worried.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Came her scared voice.

As soon as I saw her, I completely forgot about my reason to come here.

"Xavier! What happened?" She raised her voice a bit.

"Uh... nothing." I didn't know what to reply.

"Then?" She asked back.

"Yeah. Have you taken your medicines?" I came up with a reason.

"Uh...no. I forgot."

" I so wish to shout at you now but , I won't. What are you? A five year old kid?" I yelled and went inside her room. I angrily took out the medicines and fed her by my hands. She looked at me so peacefully. Her small smile felt like heaven.

"Why are you smiling?" I asked irritated.

"Because I want to." She replied, smiling even more. I sighed in annoyance and left her room.

Before I could reach the door, I felt a tug at my wrist. I looked around to see her holding my wrist tightly.

"What happened?" I asked.

Instead of replying anything, she took me aback by hugging me tightly. She wrapped her arms around my torso, so tight as if her life depended on it.

I stood there, as it is, in surprise. When finding my arms weren't around her, she looked up to me and took my arms, wrapping them around her waist.

"Let me cherish this moment. No past, no worries, no pain, nothing. Just let me feel you this moment." She said.

My emotions, they broke the shackles of ego and released my hands from the handcuffs of reluctance. I let myself flow with her heart and hugged her tight.

Author's pov:

In her embrace, the world stopped still on its axis for Xavier. There was no time, no wind, no rain. His mind was at peace.

How could it be that she hadn't seen my love for what it was before? Pure. Unselfish. Undemanding. Free. He thought to himself.

Maya felt her body press in, soft and warm. This was the love she'd waited for, prayed for. She inwardly thanked God and hugged all the tighter. A love like this was to be cherished for life. Finally, I am home in his arms. She thought to herself.

"Your hug is stronger than anything I've ever known, as if holding me wasn't quite enough, you have to feel every ounce that I am press into every ounce that is you." She wisphered enough for him to hear.

In that moment of feeling her so close, he was awake somehow, more alive than he has been in so very long. It helps. So if it would be okay, if it's what she wants too, wrap those arms around him every chance the universe is kind enough to bring. For in this world, this is his gold, his food and pure rain... it is the love that makes everything else possible.

His train of thoughts broke when he felt wetness on his shirt. He tried detaching himself from her hold, but she refused. She felt his heartbeat for a while before releasing.

He looked at her and his heart ached seeing her red, teary eyes.

"Promise me, you'll take care of my life." He said wiping her tears.

She knew that he was talking about her when he said His Life.

"I will. But, you also have to promise to that you'll not let yourself fall down. Stay strong. Take care of yourself and Anna."

"I will." He said and quickly went towards his room. He knew that if he stayed a second more, he'll definitely lose his control over himself.

......

Sometimes, there are days in life where you feel you have no reason to survive, no reason to live. But, these days are the struggles that certify us of being a stronger person. There are days where you don't want to live, you just want to survive it. This day was the same for Xavier .

There wasn't even a single second yesterday, when he fell asleep. The complete night, he was thinking about Maya and trying to understand her. It was such a vulnerable moment for both of them. But, still she seemed so calm. It should have been vice versa.

She was the more valuable one in this relationship and he was the one who should have handled her. But, it seemed otherwise. She was all calm and silent while he was the one facing continuous breakdowns. There were moments where he felt like questioning her regarding her decision like Why the fuck can't she cancel this divorce?

He wanted to ask her this but it would have been a pressure to her to answer it. He didn't want that. Still, he was hoping for something better even if the chances were only one percent. He was feeling as if his love should force Maya to change the decision and come up to him and ask him to stop all this.

It was almost 10 am. They should reach the family court till 11. Xavier went to the living room to see that Maya was already there, talking to someone in call.

"Yeah. The procedures should get over within half an hour. None of us both have anything to argue about or drag it ahead......Yes that's fine by me. Book my tickets for the afternoon flight...... Sure..... Thank you so much..... Ya see you."

She turned around to see Xavier looking at her.

"Where are you going?" He asked her. Fear was completely evident in his tone.

"I have got a good deal with a good company in Asia. I need to visit them to sign the contract. I'm leaving today afternoon." She replied.

"Ohh. Congratulations and all the best."

Not having much to talk, they both left for the court. The procedures began real quick as soon as they reached there. Finally, it was the most difficult thing that was to be done today. Their signatures on the papers. After that, they will be no longer be related to each other on any basis.

"Xavier you have to do this." Lucas kept his hand over Xavier's trembling fingers and provided him the strength to do it.

Xavier signed the papers and a tear from his eyes escaped that moment. Before it could fall on the papers, Maya put forth her hand and caught it.

"It's time to be strong. You promised me that you won't fall weak."

He nodded at Maya and forwarded the paper towards her.

She took a deep breath before signing it.

That was it. His hopes crashed. He was no longer her husband. She was no longer his wife. They were DIVORCED

.........

"It's time for you to go Maya." He said, releasing himself from her hold.

"Will you do one thing for me?" She asked him, raising her head from his chest.

"Say it."

"Stay at the mansion." She said.

"No Maya. That's your mansion now. I can't stay at your place. It's legally yours." He replied.

"You're right. It's legally mine. But, I'm insisting you. Anna is alone there. She has been facing health issues lately. She needs her son with her. Please."

He kept quite, not knowing his reply.

"At least, till I come back. Please."

He couldn't refuse her. "Okay." He said.

She smiled at him and hugged him the last. After bidding adieu to Lucas, she left for airport. Her smiling face was something that made Lucas sure that she'll succeed in whatever she planned to do.

"Let's go Xav. Dan and Anna are waiting at the mansion." With that Lucas dragged a broken Xavier with him.

Xavier's pov:

"Mimi wait!" I shouted. As soon as I entered Mimi's room, I saw that she was trying to bend to the ground to pick up her fallen medicine.

She stopped on the way as soon as she heard my voice and sat back on the bed. I hurriedly ran to her, picked up the medicine and fed her.

" Mimi, you know that you aren't allowed to bend this much. Why don't you take care of yourself when you know that you are not well?"

"Sorry Xavier." She apologized.

She looked at me for a moment before saying, "How are you child? I missed you so much."

"I won't lie to you Mimi. I am not fine. Your Xavier has broken down completely. He is no longer this strong man you raised."

I rested my head on her lap and let myself feel the love that I am craving for.

"You know what Xavier, I have something for you." Saying this she got up from her bed and went towards her cupboard. In that moment, I took a look at her and found that my issues that really taken a toll on her health. She was no longer the happy , cheerful lady that used to spread smiles from the second she get up.

Even though I was continuously talking to her on the call, but she needed someone at this moment with her 24/7. But, I was too busy in my issues that I had forgotten that she is my mother who has taken care of me in my lowest and I left her on herself when she needed me the most.

In this situation, Dan was the one who has been a continuous support to her. Even after handling her continuous exhibitions and fashion shows, she was the one who stayed with Mimi at nights. Even Lucas took care of her when Dan couldn't make it up. I was really thankful to these guys who made up for my absence.

Mimi took out something from her cupboard and came up to me. She opened a wooden box and took out a beautiful, diamond studded bracelet from it.

"Your mother made two bracelets of the same design. She has herself designed it and got it made in the most pure gold and most shiny diamonds. She made one for Dan and one for your wife. She once told me that it was a dream of her to see both of her daughters wearing this bracelet and living their life to their happiest. Before she could get to see Dan and your wife wearing this, she left this world. But, I remembered it very well where she kept this. I took it out from her locker and kept it safely with me. I gave one of this to Dan as her wedding gift and kept this other one for your wife. And now, I am giving this to you. Take care of it and make sure to hand it over to Maya safely. It's your mother's blessing for her."

My eyes watered listening to Mimi.

"Mimi, you do know that we're divorced now, don't you? She is no longer my wife."

"I know that. But, my heart says that everything will be fine soon. Do you trust me?" She asked.

"That's not even a question. I trust you more than myself."

"Then, keep this with you." She said handing me the bracelet.

I was amazed at her hope to see Maya back as my wife. But, I know that's not gonna happen. Still, to keep her heart I took the bracelet. We talked for a while before she started to feel tired. I left to my room after tugging her to bed.

I kept the bracelet in the locker safely and sat on the bed. All the memories of Maya and me together started to do their flashbacks into my brain. Her beautiful smiling face; cheerful smile; her grey, doe eyes; her soothing laugh and everything. I didn't realise when a tear slipped through my eye.

Accepting the reality, I kept my heart and mind aside and let my body rest.

I got up in the morning and did my chores. Mimi tried to sound normal and lighten up my mood. I tried to smile for her but couldn't. My heart, my soul ; everything ached. But, I promised Maya that I'll keep on staying strong for her. I as usual went to the office and Chris came upto my cabin.

"Sir, this is your schedule and your coffee." Here, I come back to my normal routine.

"Okay. I'll check that."

"Sir, this is for you." I looked up to see a white envelope in his hand.

"What's this?" I asked him.

"It's better if you check it yourself Sir." He said, kept the envelope on my desk and left.

They say - If you can learn to grow stronger in any storm and be wise enough to welcome the sunny days as time to make solid progress, your life will be part of the inspiration heaven needs.

And, I know that your life is an inspiration for millions of people. Just one thing to note , I'm your biggest fan amongst all. Whether you agree or not, that's upto you. I know that whatever happened between us has taken a huge toll on you. But, that doesn't mean that we stop thinking for others. You have to remember that you provide bread and butter to hundreds of thousands of people. You can't take risk with their families.

Work hard as twice as you did before and make sure to remember that you are my inspiration and my inspiration is supposed to be there till the last. And, it's just the beginning now. You have to go much ahead and conquer the world. Keep working and making me proud. Your every accomplishment is my success. Making me successful is in your hands now.

Take care.

Maya.