His eyes roamed over the phone screen. Not being able to see her face, he gritted his teeth. Minimising the gallery, he called his cousin.

"Mihir," his jaws clenched.

"Bro, what? I have a match tomorrow. Let me practise."

His hands fisted in frustration as he remembered the pictures. "Look, tell your assistant to do the work properly. Her face is not visible. If this happens again, I will-"

Mihir chuckled in the phone. "Really, bro? You are that desperate."

"Mihir," he was close to crush the very phone in his hand.

"Alright. I will talk about it. Right now, go with what you have, man. Let me breathe. If you are that crazy, stop hiding and start your game."

His lips quirked as he thought about telling her the feelings he had been going through. "She isn't ready. She will be just scared by my sudden appearance in her life. The flow is needed."

Mihir snickered lightly. "Flow won't be needed when she would find someone else, brother. Don't you know she is getting interested in that new professor?"

A deep breath followed by a mild humming. He chuckled lightly.

"Yeah, sure. But I don't have to worry about it as long as you got my back. Also, that none of this competitors will be having the family link like I do," he smirked. "Your mother has talked to her brother about inviting me at their home for Diwali too."

"Damn!"

He chuckled. "Yeah, damn. Now, you know, I got the lead." He hummed while Mihir breathed heavily.

"Now, all we need is to wait for Diwali then?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Until then, I will have to work with these pics only."

He heard Mihir chuckling and finally hung up. Checking the photos back, he felt his heart fluttering as new sensations crawled up his spine. He could feel his legs weakening as he saw her bare back.

"Lace," he whispered while zooming on her undies that she was removing before taking the shower. The photo was clicked perfectly but only if the photographer was creative enough to have her face involved too.

He leaned back on the bed and closed his eyes, his hand already reaching under his pants as he held his manhood and played with it until he was released from all the pleasure and insanity.

"Yes," he gasped while still keeping his eyes closed. "Yes, I am getting insane. I am getting mad in your love, Sakshi. Mad by your beauty. I can't wait to have you all to myself, Sakshi."

"All to myself."

_______

Sakshi widened her eyes.

"He what?"

Aakriti nodded. "The case is getting against him fully. The lawyer is not able to find anything still yet. All proofs are against him. The whole family was whispering midnight."

Sakshi was amazed. "You are so clever," she smiled yet felt worried for Shrey. "But this is serious."

Aakriti held her hand, "It is still not proved if he is at fault or not. There can be any story behind this act. Do you even know how she looks like?"

Sakshi lowered her eyes in thought. She shook her head while imagining that if Shrey had really done this. . .

She closed her eyes. How beautiful she would be that he lost his dignity for her! How attractive she would be that he couldn't resist her! Was he in love with her?

She bit her lip while looking up at Aakriti who was staring at something behind her. "Aakriti?"

"Sakshi, cover your face." She said hurriedly while opening the drawer and taking out the slip to write the timings for a doctor.

"Excuse me."

Sakshi froze. Her eyes widening as she noticed Aakriti smiling nervously at the person.

"Mr. Malhotra. It is nice to see you walking now," she smiled again, still nervous as both the girls' hearts were beating fastly. "How are you feeling this morning?"

Sakshi could feel goosebumps rising on her skin. She held her breaths and turned her back more to the person slowly.

"Um, thanks. I am cool as long as I am going home, away from your desperate doctors and all these media." He muttered dejectedly.

Aakriti's lips parted as she blinked, still feeling nervous to talk to a person who could be a rapist. "At least, your family is satisfied, Sir. They weren't ready to leave without proper reports-"

"Satisfied? Who? They?" He chuckled humorlessly. "That's just an act. When I will be back to my home, they will forget me. But leave that topic for now and tell me," he leaned closer while looking back at the corridor. "Is my brother planning a therapist for me?"

Sakshi held her breaths while listening to his soft voice. She could feel how deep it had gotten from last time, she had seen him. He sounded so serious, completely unlike the charming person he used to be. Only her heart knew, how much she craved to turn around and hug him tightly.

Aakriti chuckled while shaking her head. "No, Sir. I am not aware of his decisions. But he had taken the phone number from me. He is very worried for you," she smiled sadly.

Shrey hummed while rubbing his forehead. The nurse seemed familiar and he very well remembered that she was the one who had handed him the letter. But he couldn't just mention to her about how desperate he was.

He looked back at the nurse and observed the nervousness on her face. Now, every woman would feel nervous to even talk to him normally. He was a rapist after all.

His jaws clenched and tried not to smile at his cruel fate but at last he did.

Aakriti could feel her heart dropping. This was such a tight condition. Sakshi wasn't moving, and if she would, Shrey might notice her. Things might get wrong because they were ex-lovers and his family was here only. Also, Rishabh Malhotra won't take a second to notice her and blame her for being an intruder or involved with the other party or any media. That man was so doubtful these days.

She waited for Shrey's further words but was afraid if he would ask her about the only thing, she couldn't answer him in front of Sakshi. She dearly wanted to help him in finding this precious girl not easily and with some efforts. But in front of Sakshi, she would have to control not sharing any clue.

The worst thing was that he was getting discharge within an hour only.

"Um, what is your name?"

Sakshi could feel a sudden doubt forming in her mind. Would he flirt with her? She kept thinking while filling the fake form that Aakriti had given her so no one would doubt.

"Aakriti, Sir."

Shrey smiled nervously. "Look, Aakriti. Thank you for that day." He pointed towards the corridor. "For that day, giving me that letter," he smiled.

Aakriti couldn't control the smug smile that was forming on her face as she glanced at Sakshi who had her face all covered and was filling the form. But she knew that the girl was squealing inside.

"That was my job as a nurse. I knew it would bring positivity to your day, Sir."

Shrey breathed slowly. "Yes, it did. Really. I am sorry that I doubted you before. You were right when you said that it was hard for you to come to me, I can. . ." He gulped. The back of his eyes filling with tears as he nodded. "I can understand."

Aakriti pitied him. He couldn't even talk without showing his sorrow. As if he still was living not for him, but because everyone was not allowing him to die.

"There's another letter," she gulped. She could see Sakshi taking a long breathe as she moved away from the counter and sat on the seat that was placed for the kin. The girl was too overwhelmed, she thought.

What amazed Aakriti was, that Shrey's face had lit at her words. His hands reached the back of his head as he snaked them in front to hold his face.

"Another one," he whispered with bright eyes while looking around carefully.

Aakriti giggled. "Yes. Do you want it? She was here yesterday. You were sleeping again."

Shrey shook his head as a naughty smile curved his face. "I wasn't sleeping, Aakriti." I couldn't. "You should have contacted me."

Aakriti could see Sakshi covering her face more. She was sitting so relaxed as it looked that a person was not comfortable to the AC and had covered her nose for her own comfort. No wonder, Shrey couldn't feel her presence yet.

"Um, so she gave it to you. Did she ask you what I said?" He asked with curiousity rising in his eyes.

"She was happy that it affected you. But she feels helpless to hide her name." She smiled sadly.

Shrey smirked. His mind already whispering to him.

Not bad, Sakshi.

He grinned to Aakriti's surprise. "Do not worry. After all, it is me who will find her. If she is helpless, let her be." He raised his eyebrows. "The letter. Hurry up, before my pain of a cousin comes back. . ." He trailed off while looking back at the corridor.

It was so terrifying for Aakriti to see him so confident all of a sudden. Or maybe, this was the magic behind Sakshi's words. They really affected him. It was clearly defined by the excitement on his face.

She brought it out from her pocket and handed it over. Shrey raised his eyebrows when he noticed her notepad and the paper in his hands. They were same.

"She writes in front of you only," he exclaimed.

Aakriti nodded while attending other person who was asking for the doctor's presence. She kept her eyes on Shrey too as she observed him smiling at the letter.

Just as he completed, she couldn't help but laugh at his wide smile.

"Somebody that I used to know," he grinned.

Even the person standing on the counter was looking at him weirdly. Shrey breathed heavily and nodded.

"I will go now. But I might come soon to ask you for her whereabouts, Aakriti. Because," he leaned closer for only her to listen, "I won't let this positivity go from my life so easily. I will catch her." He promised.

She kept staring at him and smiled nervously. "I will be here only as long as you don't ask me her name."

He laughed loudly and nodded. "I promise," he muttered while turning around and walking back to the corridor.

That was when Aakriti gasped. He was still in the hospital's blue gown. That man had the courage to leave his room and walk freely to her. She looked around. He so knew to take his chance.

His kin had gone to the home for his welcome. It was only his cousin who would come to receive him.

The person left the counter and finally, Sakshi rushed to her. "That was close," she giggled excitedly.

Aakriti was truly amused by both these characters. They both were excited to meet each other but didn't have the idea of their bond, all this time.

"Yes, it was. But he is closer now, Sakshi."

Sakshi's smile was wiped off as she thought of the case again. Her eyes got stoned over the nurse.

"What do you mean?"

Aakriti shrugged her shoulders and gave her a smirk. "He looked so changed from the last day. He looked determined. He read the letter and was extra-charged." She chuckled.

"He seems to value this admirer, Sakshi. He won't let you go. But for that he needs to know that it's you and he is close to finding you," she exclaimed while continuing her work.

Sakshi gasped and felt her heart fluttering. She didn't know if she had to laugh or cry. But for now, she knew that she had to get out of this hospital.

Because every time, she would think of breaking the rules. Her mind would flash her brother's face which had always been enough to pull her back.

Back from the danger zone. Especially when right now, it was Shrey.

________

Aarush bit his nail while staring at the paper— he had wrote the clues on. It was clear that the young professor was surely handsome but not enough than this old friend, for whom a nerd like Sakshi would miss her lectures when she had already missed many.

Aditi was trying to ask him about what worried him when Sakshi was gone to her relatives. He had scoffed and changed the topic.

Having a brother like Raghav Singh Rathore wasn't that unlucky. It was like a shield- a protection. When clearly on the same time jerks like Ronnie, creeps like that admirer, and seducers like this professor and that suicidal guy were surrounding her mind, he needed to be there for her as Raghav would be.

He needed to take this whole phase in a brotherly mode whether or not it would make Sakshi roll her eyes.

She was naive and she didn't know it.

"Sanity check. You are eating your finger now." He looked frustratingly at Aditi and sighed.

Removing his nail from between his teeth, he looked back at the professor. He had noticed how he was continuously looking at them. He clearly had noticed Sakshi's absence.

Aarush gasped mentally.

The man got another chance to call her in his office. He would again offer the notes, again talk about the reason.

Aarush narrowed his eyes. He started shaking his legs in deep thought which would always irritate his friends.

"You done with next one's report," asked Aditi in a whisper while sighing lazily and staring at the professor.

Aarush curled his lip at all the girls. They were not studying. They were lusting. "I did," he slid the homework to Aditi's side and rubbed his forehead.

"Submit it for me. I am not attending this one," he continued writing the notes while Aditi looked at him in confusion.

"What? Why?" She groaned. "I am not going for it alone. First, Sakshi ditched me and now, you."

Aarush looked at her. "You will have to. It's the assessment. I have Sakshi's report with me too. If you want to copy, do it. But submit it. Because I am having a bad headache, Aditi."

Aditi swallowed. "Alright. Stop crying."

The professor stopped teaching and crossed his arms while staring at them. "Mr. Mehra, if you are not well enough for the class, then must leave and rest in my office. I will be there to check up on you."

Aarush opened his mouth in shock and was about to reason when Mr. Nair gave him the stern look.

"To my office. Now!"

He sighed and closed his books. Packing his bag, he got up and walked out of the class while cursing the man.

Either he was a very strict professor or a clever winner. Only the smart one would go for impressing the best friend. Though, he couldn't just blame this professor so soon.

It was them who were provoking Sakshi to notice him, not the other way round. But this professor himself seemed to focus on their group more. Maybe, this was happening because of Sakshi's bad days in his early classes or he was simply attracted to her.

He had to find out and he would by this meet in the professor's office now.

______

"What do you think?"

Please vote and comment.

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Guys, one-sided communication never gives the best possible output. I have been noticing the no. Of comments and votes decreasing. I don't know why and it makes me feel demotivated which I try not to be.

If you are not liking the book enough, you may tell me your opinions, suggestions (politely, of course.) But please comment your views because without them, I get no idea of how the book's going.

When I am trying to give you two long (2500+ words) updates in a week, I expect much feedback from you too. Those who already do, I am grateful to them.

The Soldier of Sins, my book have 60+ regular readers and whenever I update it, if I check. There will be 30 reads and 30 votes, 77 reads and 60 votes. It's ratio is better than TDP whose 40% of Readers vote and comment. I will understand the ones who are just testing my book but those who seem to follow it regularly, please take care that your author awaits your opinions.

I just hope, you will give a thought to it other wise, even your reads are valuable for me. I will be happy by that only and will still do my work effectively and efficiently.

Also, that from now we will be having much fun chapters. The Revelation of Secret admirer is near.

Thank you.