Ayaansh was busy with his toys when a sound of throat clearing made him look up. He grinned cutely, seeing his Dadda looking all nervous while staring at his wife, who seemed engrossed in her book.

Sahil took a deep breath before silently cursing himself for behaving like a teenager who was going to ask his girlfriend out.

He had decided not to go to office today for many reasons. One, he couldn't quite focus on work after his little reunion with his father, who turned out was not his father. Two, he had a lot to do to make Srishti forgive him. And three, Rohit had informed him about Vishal Saxena's case and it was a lot more complicated than it looked.

So now, all he was trying to do was gain Srishti's attention who was clearly ignoring him.

But was he giving up? Nah.

"Srishti, are you free today?" He asked hoping for her to say yes because of course she wasn't busy.

"No," Came her blunt reply and he went blank.

"So you are busy?"

"Yes"

"With what?"

"I am busy ignoring you."

It hit him right on the spot, as his jaw clenched in anger but he controlled himself and looked away.

He kept reminding himself that he was at fault so he had no right to get angry because Sahil Malhotra had never allowed anyone to even dare to talk to him like that.

But there was a first time to every thing and Srishti Malhotra surely made him realise that.

"Sahil Malhotra!" A voice boomed in the mansion and Srishti's eyes widened.

Ayaansh clapped his hands excitedly as if enjoying the drama that was going to happen. Sahil picked up Ayaansh and followed Srishti who ran out of the room.

When he got down, he found a furious Zevah being held back by her husband who seemed helpless.

"What's wrong?" He asked and her angry eyes landed on him. If looks could kill, he would have died a thousand times till now.

"You─" She stopped seeing Ayaansh in his arms.

"Don't use your son as a shield. I'm not going to spare you today." She warned him and Sahil looked at Srishti who wore a worried expression on her face.

"Srishti," He called out and gestured her to take Ayaansh. She did but was hesitant to go back to the room.

Sahil didn't miss the eye talking between her and Aditya but ignored it and faced Zevah who was just waiting for the two to go inside.

"You know, I could slap you right now but I don't want to waste my energy on a person like you." She spat angrily and he stood there saying nothing.

"Why did you do that to her, Sahil? She basically sold herself for the orphanage kids to you, fine. But did you really have to cheat her like that? Were you that desperate of having sex or a child?" Zevah couldn't keep calm after what she had heard from Aditya.

She wanted to strangle the man before her but knowing the two most important persons in her life, were related to him rather deeply, she couldn't do anything.

"I really wish she wouldn't have agreed to your stupid contract, Sahil. Atleast there would have been a chance of her meeting someone better, someone who would love her, and not use her." Her words were like prickly thorns to his heart but he didn't stay a word.

He stood there listening everything with his face emotionless.

"Zevah, that's enough." Aditya interrupted and she looked at him in disbelief.

"You're still taking his side?" She knew he was his bestfriend but so was Srishti hers.

"I'm not taking sides, Zevah. But after yesterday, let me atleast ask him if he is okay." The fire in her eyes dimmed at his words knowing he was talking about Sahil's father.

"It's alright. I know I don't deserve any sympathy after what I did, so you can curse me all you want." Sahil said and both their heads snapped in his direction.

Aditya clenched his jaw, glaring hard at him but when did that ever affect him?

"I need to talk to you. Alone." Aditya gritted and without giving him a chance to speak, marched towards him and dragged him out of there.

Zevah sighed, feeling a bit guilty but today or tomorrow, he had it coming.

────────

Sahil waited as Aditya closed the door and walked inside.

"Why did you close the door? We aren't doing something illegal." Sahil rolled his eyes but Aditya was in no mood to joke.

"Shut the fuck up. Now tell me what happened with your father?" He asked annoyed and Sahil raised his eyebrows.

"That's an interesting way to ask but nothing really. I asked him to never contact me again like he did these past years and that he really isn't my father." He shrugged nonchalantly but his tensed form and the pain in his eyes told a different story.

"What? He isn't your father then who is?" Aditya was worried because of the way he was acting.

"I don't care. I've lived all these years without a father and I can continue to do so." He gritted out and Aditya knew he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

"Alright fine. What about Srishti? Did she tell you where she suddenly disappeared?" At his question, Sahil's face hardened and it was sure something unpleasant was coming his way.

Sahil informed him about what happened and Aditya was relieved that she was safe and that the culprit was caught.

"I need your help." Sahil blurted out, all of a sudden making Aditya fold his hands and stare at him.

"I actually need your wife's help." He corrected which made Aditya drop his arms and glare at him.

"What kind of help?" It made him curious and he wasn't going to help him until he knew. Sahil sighed knowing Aditya wasn't going to help him without knowing the details, so he told him.

"I want to earn Srishti's forgiveness. I need her in my life." He confessed directly and Aditya was frozen for a second before a huge grin appeared on his face.

"And why do you need her?" Aditya smirked fully enjoying this but the next second his smirk dropped.

"I don't know. I just need her." Slapping his forehead and muttering something under his breath, Aditya walked out of the room leaving Sahil confused.

"Is he going to help or not?" He asked himself in a frustrated voice.

────────

Zevah found Srishti sitting beside Ayaansh and lost in her thoughts as she didn't even pay attention to what Ayaansh was showing her.

"Srishti."

She looked up and stared at Zevah with a blank look. Zevah came beside her and made her stand before making her sit on the bed.

"Do you want to stay here?" Zevah asked sincerely and Srishti felt her throat clogged. Her eyes brimmed with tears and the next second she flung her arms around her bestfriend, who held her protectively.

"Just tell me, Srishti. I can't let you suffer more than you already have. You can come with me if you want." She soothingly rubbed her back as Srishti sniffed in her embrace.

"I'm fine." Srishti replied as they pulled back and wiped her tears.

"I wanted to leave the minute I found out and I did, but it didn't do any good." She sighed and Zevah tensed.

"What happened?"

"The guy we met for business in Germany turned out to be a stalker. He attacked me that night but Sahil's father saved me." Srishti explained and Zevah clenched her jaw.

"Where is that bastard now?"

"Arrested." She visibly relaxed at that and took a deep breath.

"I'm staying here for Ayaansh, Zevah. I can't leave him neither can I separate him from his father. Sahil has already been through that and I can't put my son through the same thing." Zevah mentally cursed Malhotra for hurting the woman who cared about him even after all his deeds.

"Alright. But if you need me, you tell me." Zevah said sternly to which Srishti smiled and nodded in positive.

Just then Aditya came barging in which startled Ayaansh. The toy fell from his hand and he stared at Aditya who gave him an apologetic look.

Aditya expected him to smile at him but Ayaansh just ignored him and went back to playing. Narrowing his eyes at junior Malhotra, he thought of dealing with him later.

"How are you, Srishti?" He turned his attention towards her and saw her giving him a small smile which made him sigh.

He looked at Zevah and gestured her to come out but she frowned. Srishti saw the interaction and chuckled.

"You can take her. We won't mind. Right Ayaansh?" She asked him but he again ignored them and kept his attention on the toys.

Aditya smiled sheepishly before he held Zevah's hand and pulled her out.

"Aditya, what's wrong with you?" Zevah said irritated as he pulled her out in such a hurry. She rubbed her wrist when he let her go and shot him an irritated look.

"Someone needs your help." He stated and she looked confused.

"Who─"

"No!" She immediately denied seeing Sahil and glared at Aditya.

"Look, I know you hate me but I need your help. It's for Srishti." Sahil stepped in the conversation and both men stared at her expectantly.

"What help? And why are you doing this?" She crossed her hands interrogating him just like her husband did. Aditya smirked and Sahil shot him an annoyed look.

"Your husband asked me the same thing and in the same way." Sahil said shaking his head and Zevah flushed as she immediately dropped her hands and cleared her throat.

"Anyways to repeat my answer, I want her to trust me again because I need her in my life." Zevah's eyes widened and she looked at Aditya who nodded.

"And why do you need her?" Sahil let out a frustrated groan.

"I don't know. I just need her." Aditya repeated rather mimicked with him which earned him a harsh glare.

Zevah hid her smile and cleared her throat gaining their attention.

"Fine. I'll help you. Not for you but for Srishti." She said arrogantly and Sahil sighed in relief whereas Aditya grinned wanted to kiss his wife in that moment.

"What help do you need?" She repeated her earlier question and Sahil bit his lip before he blurted out the next sentence.

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