In the meantime, on the other side, Akshay's sole motivation behind coming back to the UK was to meet and see with full eyes his new love Sofia.
Dune and Deborah had given him the address of the house where they had spotted Sofia. When Akshay landed in London, he had a lot of additional work due to which despite his strong will, he was not able to go to that address!
The additional work was because of the recession in the IT industry. Due to that, in addition to handling the onsite part of the projects, Akshay also had to handle a couple of other small projects. Raghav kept his distance from Akshay. He talked to Akshay only for work. While Rebecca was friendly with Akshay as earlier.
Meanwhile in India, with her yesteryear friends, Richa kept herself busy with her acting in short films. She also got roles in a weekly comedy program named: "India Laughs Out Loud!".
She got the role of a fat lady and was successful in using body shaming as a part of the humor. It was a program in which different skits were enacted on stage and people used to taunt each other regarding baldness, fatness, and ugliness and make the viewers laugh.
Richa's mother was staying with her currently to look after the house and kids and to keep Richa company. Richa's mother sensed that there was something wrong with the married life of Richa and Akshay, but she didn't gather the courage yet to start a conversation with Richa about it yet.
On the other side, the young generation like Arpit and Rohini would not listen much to their grandmother. Rohini was in a relationship with a boy called Golam. Neither Richa nor her mother was aware of this.
Rohini's boyfriend Golam was chatting with her while Richa's mother was busy doing house chores.
Golam: Hey, send me your pic.
Rohini: Yesterday only I sent u my pic.
Golam: Not that pic. A nude pic.
Rohini: Come on. I won't.
Golam: Then I will end our relationship.
Rohini: You boys want it so early nowadays.
Golam: Disgusting. You are so old-fashioned. You are aunty type.
Rohini: What? No. I am not.
Golam: Then send me your nude pic.
Rohini went inside the bathroom and her grandmother was unaware of this. She clicked her half-nude pic above her waist…
Akshay received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number. The profile picture was that of Sofia. The message was: "I am dying to meet you, Akshay. Please come!" And one address was given below which was different from the one given by Dune and Deborah. Akshay was so eager to meet Sofia that the next day he took sick leave and at 9 am he boarded the train which led him to the suburb in which the mentioned address belonged. Akshay only called Rebecca and told her where he was going. No one else knew why Akshay took sick leave.
While traveling to the address, the words during his conversation with Rebecca, Raghav, and Sofia were echoing in his mind:
Raghav...
"So, Akshay why are you after other ladies?"
"It's none of your business Raghav! Don't try to become my wife!"
"Foolish Raghav! A typical Indian male!" Looking from the window of the train, Akshay thought.
Rebecca...
"Can one person fall in love with two people at the same time?"...
“Yes, you can fall in love with two people. One might make you feel safe, loved, and connected while the other might bring out your sexy, wild side!"
"I felt relieved from a sense of guilt now! Can you talk to her on my behalf?"
"Only Rebecca understands my real feelings!" Akshay thought.
Sofia...
"Let us not give any name to our relationship!"
"If one of us is encroaching on the other's freedom and personal space, we will have to discontinue the relationship."
And then he recalled the kiss on the terrace of the Royal Guardian hotel...
"I am eager to meet Sofia now!", Akshay was restless now on the train.
Finally, the train reached Bexley. Akshay got down and quickly started walking toward the house on Granville Road.
He had taken a rose and an expensive gift for Sofia in his backpack.
It was afternoon and the streets were deserted. In some houses, people were watching movies on TV while sitting on the sofa with a pet cat sitting in the window.
There it is! B33. The house of Sofia!
He pressed the doorbell button but there was no sound. Hence, he knocked on the door.
But later he realized that the door was open. He entered the house and with a habit, closed the door. There was darkness inside. He slowly walked ahead cautiously. He called, "Sofia? Sofia..."
On the lunch table in the hall, there was a candle lit up.
And in its dim light, he noticed a face of a lady with blonde hair. The face was smiling cunningly at him, but she was not Sofia. She was someone else.
