Riya.

"Why? are you afraid that I am going to revea-" Rohan started.

"That's enough Rohan, you have crossed the line today, you disappointed me!" Grandpa said.

"Philip" The order came and everyone stilled.

Phillip came to the room, waiting for the order.

"Take him to the second floor," Grandpa said. I shivered, I could still feel the whipping, the memory still fresh in my mind.

"No," Auntie Alice said, she turned to Grandpa. "he was not in his right mind, he doesn't mean anything"

"You heard me, Philip," Grandpa said and Philip came near Rohan but before he could hold him, Rohan shook him off and he was on his feet.

"No, Please forgive him, he didn't mean anything," Auntie Alice said again, now looking desperate. Everyone at the table was still frozen.

"Let him reflect and ask for forgiveness then" Grandpa ordered again. Everyone turned to Rohan, who was still looking furious.

"I meant every word I spoke!" he said firmly, his eyes still on Grandpa "I haven't done any mistake," he said.

"Philip"

Philip tried to hold Rohan who pushed him away again and gave him a look. "Don't touch me!" Rohan ordered, but he still followed Philip.

"Please stop this...please...Rohan-"

"Don't worry about me, Mom," Rohan said.

"Please tell them to stop, he doesn't know what, he's talking about," Auntie Alice took Uncle John's hand desperately, who slightly turned his head away.

Apparently, Uncle John can't do anything either. Rohan was at the doorway when he turned back.

"And yes, I am not going to marry her anymore" Rohan added. "I am sorry, Nirosha, I can't do it."

Nirosha just looked at him, It looks like she's relieved to hear it.

Everyone at the table was still shocked to move. Then Auntie Alice started to follow Rohan.

Everyone else waited until Grandpa finished his dinner. As soon as he was out of the room, everyone started to get up.

"What will happen to Rohan?" I asked Danny, worried.

"No one can help him but himself, If he can just say sorry.." Danny dragged off.

"I don't think it is possible," I said.

In my experience in Aldrick's household, one thing I learnt is everyone is stubborn and strong-willed. The words 'Sorry' and 'Thank you' doesn't simply exist in their dictionary!

"Yea, Rohan won't admit he is sorry till he is really sorry," Danny said. "Let's hope mom will somehow stop his punishment," Danny said.

"What if she can't? Rohan will be beaten up" I said anxiously.

"It won't be worse like Brother Neev, Rohan will be okay" Danny consoled me, but he still looked worried.

"Don't pretend like you care" Nirosha's voice cut across us and Danny and I turned to look at her in shock.

"Don't forget that you are just a newcomer here" Nirosha spit out and walked away.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Danny looked at me confused.

"Ah..just ignore it" I shrugged, I took a tray out and started to load it with food.

"Riyechi, What are you doing?" Danny asked, looking at me.

"Nivin," I said.

"What! are you crazy!?" Danny looked at me incredulously. "Don't go near him now, he's super pissed now" Danny said.

"I know," I said, now taking the mashed potatoes.

"Do you have a death wish? nobody goes near him when he's angry" Danny warned me again.

"I know, that's why he should have stayed away from me" I shrugged again, Danny looked confused.

"he interfered with me in college and now its revenge" I started to walk, leaving a gaping Danny behind me.

Neev.

That rascal, who does he think he is? I really think he's making the biggest mistake of his life by agreeing to marry her! it's NOT because she's Nirosha that I am concerned, but he took it the wrong way! and Nirosha!what did she mean by that? she-

"Ah-" I dropped the now shattered glass down, the cut in my hands started to bleed, making me aware that I have been crushing it.

"Are you just going to sit there doing nothing? It's bleeding too much!" I heard the sound and turned around.

I can't believe she has the nerve to come here!

Riya placed the tray on the table and walked near me.

"Do you have a bandage?" She didn't seem to be affected by my glare and took hold of my bleeding hand and examined it. "it's deep!" she exclaimed.

"Get out of my room," I said dangerously, pushing her hands away. I am really angry now and everyone else knows better than to come near me.

She muttered something that sounds like 'stubborn idiot' and started to go through my desk and shelf.

"There have to be a first aid kit, you are a biker, after all"

"Don't you hear me! GET THE HELL OUT OF MY ROOM" I lost it, she looked startled, fear flashed through her eyes for a moment.

"Then you should have left me alone in the first place!" She tried to be brave.

"What!?"

"You interfered in my college life when I clearly told you to stay away, so consider it as revenge!" she said.

"Riya Mehra, do it when I ask you nicely" I lowered my voice and threatened.

She took a kerchief and approached me with no care in the world, She took my hand and pushed me back to the settee chair, surprising me.

"Sit still if you want to get rid of me and allow me to bandage you" she sat in front of me and started to wipe the blood.

"Don't glare at me like that, I am not scared of you" she added, still not looking up at me, concentrating on my injured hand.

Is she really stupid? even I don't know what I will do when I am mad!okay..stay calm, she will go out now..hold it..hold it

I closed my eyes tightly, frustrated. I suppressed my anger until she was done with bandaging.

"See, it was not that difficult!"

You have no idea!

"I won't say it again, get out of my room now," I told her, still keeping my eyes closed.

"Tada!" She said cheerfully. "You can now open your eyes!" She said and I opened my eyes to see her carrying the tray full of food.

"RIYA MEHRA!" I jumped up from my seat, "OUT OF MY ROOM" I shouted, the windows rattled, but the stupid girl didn't seem to understand.

"You don't have to be this loud! the whole house seemed to shake now! it's only food!" she said.

Seriously!

The last of my control snapped, I marched to her and she moved back slightly in fear. I got hold of the tray.

Only food? I will show you!

She pulled the tray back. "Nooo" she shouted. "leave it"

I was not going to give up, I pulled it out of her hands with all my anger, pushing her down on the hard floor on the process and raised the tray up.

"YOUR PHOTO! HUGGING YOUR PILLOW, I AM GOING TO UPLOAD IT!" She screamed, stopping me midway.

She took out her phone and flashed it at me from the floor.

"What the f**k!"

"So Neev, if you throw it away, I am going to upload it on your fan page" she smirked evilly.

Did she just threaten me!?

"You don't dare!"

"Try me!"

I pushed the tray back on the table, making some of the content spills out of it and I turned to her, my eyes fixed on her phone.

"Delete it" I ordered.

She slowly moved back and just when I tried to get hold of her, she missed me and started to run for her life.

"Riya! I am warning you!" I followed her, she was on the other side of my king-sized bed, and I was on the opposite side.

"Riya, stop playing around" I warned her again, but she clutched her sides and started to laugh, the rich sound filled me with warmth unexpectedly. I stared at her.

Nivin, what the hell, what do you think you are doing?

I shook my head to clear it. "Riya Mehra" I shouted before lunging at her like a predator, she tried to run away, still laughing.

"Who wants to see the photo of baby nivi-" She started to flash her phone, still trying to get away from me. I pulled her back.

"Whoa-" she was surprised to land on the bed. I tried to snatch her phone away and she started to giggle like a high school girl.

"Shut up," I said, Annoyed that the sound is affecting me more than it should. I pulled her phone away.

"Give it back to me" she shouted and started to attack me. I pushed her on the bed with my left hand while trying to delete the picture with the right.

"Aaah!" I dropped the phone in surprise. "Did you just bite me!?" I turned to her who lunged at the phone, but I trapped her and she pushed me next to her.

"Oh no, you don't" I rolled her away from the phone, and before I know it, she was on top of me and I stilled.

My hand was on her hip and I tried to stay still when the clueless girl wriggled over me.

"Stay still" I groaned, now trying to move her away from me, unfortunately, my hands came in contact with her skin when her top rode up and she stilled, her eyes growing wide.

"You..you pervert!! let go of me!" she rolled around and we were in a more compromising position, I was on top of her, my hands locked under her and my face in level with her heaving chest.

Great!

"Get off me" she started to struggle while I was trying my hardest to get away.

"Don't move!" I said and she started to kick me and nail me.

"You have to stay still for me to get up-"

"Get off me! get off me now or-"

"I am telling you not to move!"

"I'm going to screa-"

"Riya, listen to m-"

"HEL-"

"Riya! shut up" I somehow pulled my right hand away from her and closed her mouth. "I am going to get up, but I am trapped in the sheets with you, do you understand," I said slowly, looking at her eyes, she slowly seemed to grasp the situation, looking around. she nodded slowly, her eyes still wide.

Finally!

I sighed in relief and took my hand from her mouth.

"Okay, roll back to left, so I can take my hand back," I said, she gave me a look, but did so. She was above me once again.

"Okay" I pulled back my hand.

"Wait!!" She said. "Don't move," she said and I noticed my watch entangled with her dress.

"I will separate it," I said and brought my right hand over her and we both stilled, we both felt it, I was practically hugging her to me while trying to reach there.

Soft pink lips!

Whoa! it was what that jerin told her, why should I think of it now?

"Er..it's the watch.." I said, dragging my eyes away from her lips.

"Um..take it off," she said.

"Yea.." I started to work, it was a difficult task.

"Don't..don't touch me!" She said. I was aware of brushing my fingers on her skin too but it was difficult not to touch her.

"Neev!..no.." she started to giggle.

"What the!-"

"Don't tickle me, I am ticklish there-" she started to giggle again, making it really hard for me to concentrate.

Soft pink kissable lip-whoa! stop right there Nivin Rosh Aldrick! you better run for your life before it's too late...

I was well aware of her body, in fact, everything else seemed to fade as her presence and scent filled me.

yes, I am a hot-blooded male too.

My heart started to beat weirdly now.

"Okay..let's get this over wi-"

"Nivin!" she started to struggle, unfortunately, we were at the edge of the bed. "don't touch-"

"Riya! Stay still or we are going to fall dow-Riya!" I started but it was too late, we lost our balance and started to fall down.

"Aah.." Riya screamed, she was going to hit her head on the lamp desk and I pulled her away, tucking her head in my chest and protecting her with my hands securely.

"Aah" I hit the ground with a groan and lay there for a moment, still enveloping her inside my hands and she was clutching my shirt tightly, closing her eyes and waiting for the pain and impact, I smiled slightly before registering her lips, my heart started to beat again.

She slowly opened her eyes and we stared at each other. I started to take her face in my hands, drawing it closer slowly.

"Brother Neev?...Riyechee-"

And that did it, we both scrambled away from each other, getting entangled in the sheets and falling back again and getting up again.

Both of us stilled, Riya gasped as we registered the people on the doorway.

Danny looked shocked, Kamala with wonder and Nirosha with a death glare.

But I was more shocked at myself.

I can't believe I was thinking of kissing her!

Riya.

"Um..it..it was an accident," I said slowly.

"Did..did Brother Neev hurt you? I saw you falling down" Danny said confused.

"No no" I shook my head.

"Are you alright?" that made my heart stir, I turned to a concerned Neev.

"Um..yea...I am alright" I said quickly.

"Are you sure?" Neev asked again.

"Brother Neev! Did you hit your head somewhere?" Danny asked him now. but Nivin was too busy looking through my phone.

"Where's it?" he looked at me. I shrugged innocently.

"I don't have any photo, I was just messing around," I said.

Kamala and Danny laughed.

"All of you, get out of my room" Nivin shouted at others while dragging me out by my elbows and closed the door in our face.

I smiled victoriously.

"Riyechi, you are cool," Danny said, Giving me thumbs up.

"You are the first one who ever tried to talk to Nivin when he's this angry!" Kamala said.

"It was nothing-" I stopped, now noticing a furious Nirosha for the first time.

"Um...Nirosha-" Danny too noticed her and started, but he was stopped by her.

"We will see each other," she said coldly, warning me and walked away angrily.

*  *  *  *  *

Nivin.

"We need to talk" Sachin dropped opposite to me. he placed the coke on the table.

"What is it you want?" I raised my eyebrows, my tone making it clear that I don't like his interruption.

"Why do you keep making him angry?  I can understand if you are not willing to do what you don't like, but refusing to attend the party is-"

"I don't like anything that's involved Grandpa" I shrugged. "And there's no need for me to explain anything to you" I started to walk away.

"He is planning something," Sachin said. That got my attention, I turned back to him.

"He is planning something to make you attend the party" he warned, his tone serious.

"There's nothing he can do to make me come there, I am not his puppet anymore," I said. "And stop bothering me!"

Riya.

"Do you guys want to enjoy my pain? why are you here?" Rohan asked us without turning around to look at us.

"I am..I am sorry" I said slowly. I was in Rohan's room along with Danny. Rohan was Leaning against a sofa chair in his balcony, a faraway look on his face.

Both Danny and Rohan looked at me.

"You helped me before, But I couldn't do anything for you"

Rohan smiled. "You are too funny sometimes"

"Nobody can change Grandpa's mind Riyechi," Danny said, then turned to Rohan.

"Does it hurt a lot?" he asked.

"What do you expect After getting beaten up?" Rohan gave Danny a look.

"Um..sorry" Danny winced.

"It was not as bad as Nivin, you know my Mom" Rohan said again looking back, deep in thought.

Looks like Danny was right. He had told me that his mother will somehow find ways to help Rohan.

So Auntie Alice must've stopped it somehow.

"Are you alright now?" I asked again.

"That rascal.." Rohan said. Danny and I looked at each other. "he has been getting beaten up for as long as I remember, too stubborn to accept any help!" Rohan said.

He is talking about Neev!

My heart ached for the lonely boy. I was also shocked to see Rohan's caring.

Rohan looked at us. "If you guys have done with your consoling, I have things to do" a determined look came over his face.

"Are you telling us to get out now?" Danny asked.

"Exactly," Rohan said, now getting up and walking to his table. Danny and I looked at each other again when he opened his laptop.

It was only a couple of hours before he was beaten up, no wonder he is the GM, He is such a workaholic!

I walked out with Danny, my phone started to ring. It was from the hotel which hired me, they already contacted me before asking to arrange everything for the party.

"I have to take this," I told Danny and he nodded.

Nivin.

"what does he want now?" I asked Philip, I really can't think of why Grandpa wanted me in his company!

"They all are waiting in the conference room," Philip said and I started to walk.

"They?" I was confused.

And what is this about the conference room? Grandpa knows how much I hate his company now.

I walked to Grandpa's study thinking about what exactly I did to antagonise him.

I knocked on the door and opened it, I was not prepared to see a dozen or so people inside, all in suits.

"Come in Nivin" Grandpa ordered from his chair.

"What's going on here?" I looked around, now spotting Sachin, his dad Dev, Rohan and other directors.

"We want to congratulate you, son" One of the older men stood up.

I must've looked blank because he went on explaining. "We have decided to reinstate your position as executive director"

My eyebrows shot up, my eyes snapping to Grandpa, who had practically thrown me out of this very room three years ago.

"Excuse me?"

"Yes, its true," another one said.

"Why don't you come and take a seat," Grandpa said calmly.

I would rather be jailed than be in the same room, but I want to know what's going on.

I walked to the conference table, sitting in an empty seat near Sachin.

"When is the earliest day that you can join the company?" Mr.Ram, a senior director asked.

"What made you think that I want to join the company?" I asked back, I still remember the time I was kicked out, they had all voted against me.

They all looked uneasy now.

"Your project is accepted by the selection team of Asian projects, Nivin" Sachin's dad, Uncle Dev said calmly.

"What!?"

So many memories were flashing through my eyes. The hard-working days to come up with the best plan, sleepless nights, just to please Grandpa and he had practically thrown it away without a second glance.

I glared at Grandpa. "So you are telling me that you used my project without even asking me first?"

Again there was shuffling as everyone felt uncomfortable.

"I am the chairman of this corporation since you are still registered under the company, there was no need for me to get your permission," Grandpa said.

Seriously!?

"Then you can carry on with the project without me too," I said, trying hard to control my fury.

I am sure that there is more to it. Grandpa would never consider me coming back unless it is a life altering situation. I know that.

"Er..you see, they want the exact person who prepared it, or they are going to cancel it" Sebastian, the CEO said uneasily.

Cold fury filled me, I couldn't control it anymore, I turned to him.

"Are you telling me that you already tried to give it someone else?"

I am seeing red now, not only they used it without my permission but also they wanted to give it to someone else! The selection team want the same person who prepared the project and that's why they want me in the company now!

No f**king way!

"I don't want anything to do with the company and I don't want you to touch my project" I fisted my hands tightly and got up.

I want to leave here before I do something I regret.

"We can't afford to lose that! its a matter of our reputation! our company has been number one for the past 40 years, if we lose this, J.S group will rise to number one"

"That's your problem" I walked out.

"Think of your father, son, he tried hard to bring this company to its position n-"

"SHUT UP! SHUT THE HELL UP, DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT HIM!DAMMIT!"

My fist collided with the wall, I didn't even feel the pain.

How dare they mention my dad!

I stormed out of the room.

"Neev" I heard sounds behind me, But I was already in the elevator, the door started to close.

"Wait" Someone was already there. the door opened back revealing Sachin and Rohan.

"Neev, don't be stupid, I know how much you worked hard on this project!" Sachin said.

"It was us, who submitted your project, we wanted it to get approved, we knew it was good", Rohan said as both of them followed me inside.

"Yes, we tried hard to submit it without letting Grandpa know that it's your project! he came to know about it only after it was selected! he doesn't have any other choice now"

"Neev, we didn't know he would try to give it to someone else, we were shocked too, but now they don't want anyone, they want you to do it, it's your chance", Rohan said again.

"I have already told you, I don't want anything to do with this goddamn company! stop bothering me" I shouted, still unable to hold it.

"Don't be stupid Neev! you should attend the business party Grandpa's throwing, I heard the election team are coming, they will be happy to meet you"

"Wait, Nee-" But I was already walking out of the elevator.

"Neev-"

Rohan was cut off when I started my bike, I raced forward and away from the company, not even bothering to put on my helmet now.

Riya.

I am feeling nervous now. Tomorrow is the scheduled party. I already arranged everything to be perfect.

It was only 5.30 in the evening and I am happy to have finished all my part-time jobs.

Good thing I have the sense to take leave in other places, or I would have gone mad!

The phone call brought me back to the present. It was Neev.

What does he want? I couldn't even see him in the college today!

"Hello?"

"Is this Riya? oh thank God, it's you!" I heard a girl's voice first, making me confused.

"You have to help us, Neev is here, drunk out of his mind"

"What? Amy?" I instantly recognised her voice.

"yea, you've to help us get him home!  we can't come here and you know what happens if he breaks the curfew, that monster Grandpa of his will punish him"

"Where are you now?" I asked her.

"Our usual place"

"What? that clubhouse?"

"You have to help us, Riya, he's refusing to go home"

I closed my eyes and sighed. It's very difficult to convince him if he's being difficult, I know it, But I can't think of him getting beaten up, again!

"10 minutes, I will be there"

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