Dedicated to pravalikachweetu, Thank you:)

*READ*

RIYA's MAMMA IS NOT HER BIRTH MOTHER; RIYA MET HER FROM THE ORPHANAGE, SO RIYA & NEEV ARE NOT BLOOD-RELATED.

Sachin.

Neev walked to the room as he owned it, all of the directors started to speak at once.

I was still taking in his appearance from the polished shiny shoe to the neatly kept hair. He was impeccably dressed, a charming smile was playing on his face.

He is up to something!

"What's he doing here?"

"I thought we fired him two years ago?"

"He is a messed up child"

"It was his project that gets approved"

"I heard he almost ruined the deal by saving some nameless girl"

"What's Neev doing here?" Rohan turned to me. Apparently, he is as clueless as everyone else.

"I have no idea," I said slowly. "I think he's up to something, he's trying to stop grandpa"

"That's impossible, he will only get hurt," Rohan said.

"That's enough" grandpa's sound echoed and silence fell. "I called him here," he said again.

Rohan and I looked at each other.

Nivin made a deal with grandpa!?

Nivin stopped near the podium.

"Shall I?" he asked grandpa and he nodded.

"Good morning everyone, I am Nivin Rosh James Aldrick, the only son of-"

"We know who you are! last time we checked, you were fired and a few days back you said you don't want anything to do with the company!"

Obviously, nobody has forgotten about it, Nivin had practically thrown away his chance then.

"I understand your concern Mr.moorthy, but you see, as our chairman want, I would like to do this Asian project" he smiled.

I have to admit it, he's really cool, I know he hates nothing more than this company, but he's playing it well!

"Last time you said you are not interested"

"Well...I changed my mind" Nivin said coolly.

Wrong answer!

"How do we know you wouldn't change your mind again?" Uncle Sebastian asked this time.

"You wouldn't, but it's the only way our company have now," he said. "I am ready to see through this project till the end, but I have a condition," he said.

Everyone started to talk again.

"Let's hear it, your condition" Grandpa said.

"I want my position back"

"Yes, we are ready to reinstate-" Mr.Ram started.

"I don't mean the ED position, I want to be the CEO of the company," Nivin said.

Silence filled the room for just a moment while everyone seemed to grasp what he said.

Then the room was filled with voices, everyone was trying to talk at once, everyone seemed outrageous.

"What's he doing!?" Rohan murmured beside me.

"Before you say anything else, hear me out," Nivin said in his charming but commanding voice and silence took over.

"I am one of the major shareholders in this company, I am also the current chairman's grandson and I am supposed to be the sole heir of this company" Nivin looked over at grandpa, who was listening. "It's the Aldrick's family business and we have been running it all these years, so technically, after my father, it's me who should take his place, not someone out of the family, I am sure we are breaking a tradition here" Nivin's eye's found Uncle Sebastian for a moment, the current CEO.

Uncle Sebastian returned his glare, refusing to back down.

"I agree, you are right Nivin," My dad said, surprising me, some of the director's started to protest but he continued.

"He is right, after James, it would be Nivin next, He could be a CEO, but only if all the requirements are met" my dad concluded, now looking at others.

I don't know if my dad is agreeing or disagreeing with Nivin, it was such a neutral statement.

"It's not only based on the shares boy, if you see the conditions, but you also have to be 25 or more, graduated with the required qualification, married and settled down," Sebastian said, looking angry.

"I am 26, I will be graduated soon, then marriage, I personally don't think it's relevant to this, but I respect the rule, if I have to get married, I will too," Nivin said confidently.

Score!

"Of course, we will select the CEO by the usual means, a voting will do, all I want is a chance," Neev said. "And I want you to know that you wouldn't regret selecting me" he pressed the remote and the projector was opened.

"It's my plans on Asian project," Nivin said and so it started.

I have to admit it, he's good! no, scratch that, he's wonderful when it comes to what he really wants.

Neev was going through the charts now, comparing, calculating, assuming and convincing everyone.

By the time his project was over, the room was in complete silence. I could say, everyone is impressed.

"You sure are your dad's son," said Mr.Ram and everyone clapped.

"Okay, I accept your condition," Grandpa said.

"But-" Sebastian started.

"We will open the CEO position for voting when you submit your project and hand over the rights to the company," Grandpa said.

It's a trap! If he hands over his project's right, Grandpa is going to throw him out again! He will be voted out like last time, grandpa can do that!

Nivin's eyes met grandpa's. He seemed to be thinking along the same line.

"That's a good proposal, so what do you say, Nivin?" Sebastian looked smug, now happy that things are in his favour!

"That's enough for me," Neev said at last.

*  *  *  *  *

Rohan.

"Where's she?" I asked him again, my sound raised this time. "I know, nothing will happen to her without you knowing it, so tell me" I looked grandpa.

"I think we are over this whole Naina thing?" He takes that dangerous tone with me, but I refused to back down.

I want to know what happened, I am not going to drop it until I know it.

"We were! if you had kept your promise, Did you do something to her after you send me away?" I asked him.

"I don't know where the girl is and I have nothing to do with her" grandpa said firmly. "and careful with your words boy!"

"I know she will never move away from that house and it seemed she was not there for the past two years!"  I told him. "I am going to find her for sure, and when I do, if I feel that her missing has anything to do with you, I will come again to see you," I said deadly.

Grandpa didn't even move, he was just keeping on reading whatever is that was in front of him, it infuriated me.

"I no more care about this damned business of yours, just wait till I find her"

Grandpa pressed the alarm.

"Yea, punish me all you want, but I am not going to back down from this, you should have left her alone when I agreed to your condition-"

"I told you, I have nothing to do with her missing" grandpa said, then looked at the doorway.

"Philip," he said. "Rohan is not to be let out of the house for the next three days, isolate him"

"What? you are going to lock me up? No! just punish me the way you do usually"

"Keep your mouth shut, or I am going to make it a week" Grandpa growled.

Riya.

I walked in slowly.

"Riya!" Annie exclaimed. "you are here" she turned around. "guys, look who is here" Annie shouted.

"Riya! we thought you will never come" Femi said.

"It's good to see you again" Jijo hugged me.

"I am sorry, because of me you guys got demoted" I looked at them. I know they all were fired because of me.

"Damn right you are, I finally had a chance to escape this hell and you screwed it up," Jansy said.

"I am sorry-"

"What the heck is wrong with you Jansy! you know what happened!" Annie shouted.

"It was not your fault," Femi said. "we all saw what happened, it was those rich kids"

"Good thing that guy appeared, or I would've done much worse to their goddamn party," Jijo said.

"She's bad luck, we always had some sort of crisis after you joined us" Jansy shook her head. "Boss is right about her," she said and went back inside.

I am glad my boss, Stephin is not here or she would have thrown me out of here.

"Don't mind her, she's just mad for not getting the money, she's struggling a bit" Jijo said.

I know I can't blame Jansy, she's having a hard time with her life, she's a single mother, so I can imagine what she will be going through, especially in our society!

"Are you okay though?" Annie looked at me.

"Are you guys really not mad at me?" I looked up at them.

They laughed. "We came back to where we started, and you were the one who worked hard to get that opportunity for us, it will come again," Jijo said.

I smiled and everyone cheered.

"But Riya" Femi started. "I never knew you would know Nivin Rosh Aldrick! he seemed pretty close to you?"
Femi probed and Annie gave her a warning look.

"Um...we kind of know each other," I said.

"It was more than knowing each other, so cool and cliché just like in movies," Femi said. "She said it was a mistake!" she imitated Nivin's voice and I laughed.

"He's a real catch girl, don't let him go!"v she winked at me.

"There's nothing like that!" I exclaimed.

"Give her some rest, Femi" Annie scolded her.

"Grab an apron and come, we are making a new cake today," Jijo said.

"Not today, I have to stop by mamma," I said

"That's right, how's your mamma doing now?" Annie asked.

I smiled. "Her surgery was a success, I was with her yesterday," I said slowly. "I was on my way to visit her, so I just dropped by," I said.

"We are glad Riya! finally, you can be at peace, you were worried about her all these time!" Jijo said.

I nodded slowly, trying to smile.

They don't know anything about how I am living under Joseph Aldrick!

"Anyway, I will see you guys next time, I will get going now," I said.

Soon I was out of there and in the local bus.

I opened my phone and checked again.

No texts from him.

I had messaged Neev about mamma, but there's no reply from him. I know he has read my message.

He is busy in the company.

But he could at least text you back Riya!

He's so stressed nowadays.

He knew how much your mamma means to you!

I tried to ignore it, but my heart seemed to be in pain.

It's been days since we talked freely!

"Wait! I have to get down here!" I jumped up when the bus started to pass the huge hospital building.

I tried to find my way out through the annoyed passengers, I can't blame them because I was spacing out until the bus was filled!

Okay, Riya, cheer up, your mamma is here!

I started to walk to her.

She was still recovering from the surgery and I have only a few minutes time.

Thankfully, she was awake when I walked in.

"Mamma.," I called softly, walking near her bed.

She was weak and seemed exhausted, but her eyes lit up when she saw me.

I am glad I am one of the people mamma would recognise anytime.

I held her hand, she wanted to sit up, I knew it from her face.

I shook my head slowly

"You can't move now," I told her gently, but firmly.

"She's very difficult sometimes" the nurse who was checking on her stated.

I know she'll get panicked at unfamiliar people and surroundings, she was there in my orphanage as long as I remember, and the outside world is foreign to her.

"You have to be good mamma, you are not well, okay?" I patted her hands. "Be good" I repeated.

Even though she can't talk, I know she can understand me.

"She is restless whenever she wakes up," The nurse told me again.

I turned to her. "I have something for you" I take out my old iPad from the bag and opened the one music file that was there.

The room filled with the sweet melodic piano tone and I could visibly see her relaxing.

"I am sorry, I can't play this on piano now, but when you are out of here, we will play it together" I promised.

Yes, we used to play it together, I learnt it from her during my childhood.

Mamma slowly closed her eyes again.

I looked at her. She was really good at piano. Whenever I had trouble sleeping or whenever I was sick, she used to play me the tones. She would sit the entire night if she had to, just to cheer me up.

And the one that's playing now is her favourite tone in the entire world. She would instantly calm down whenever it is played.

The music held so many memories for me, I remembered the orphanage days.

I wiped my eyes when the nostalgic feeling started to fill me.

"Mamma?" I looked at her, but she seemed to be sleeping now.

I looked at her for some time.

Neev hates piano, he almost attacked me that day when I touched it from Aldricks!

I suddenly remembered his angry look when I tried to tone the piano that day.

You are pathetic Riya! you are thinking about him again?

I took a deep breath.

Okay...I have to stop this!

I turned to the nurse. "please play it for her, she will calm down"

* * *

Dinner time is over and yet Nivin is still not here. I felt disappointment. It's like this for the past one week now.

Nivin started working in the company and he's completely dedicated to whatever it is that he's doing.

Grandpa didn't seem to mind him coming late nowadays so I guess it's pretty important project.

The only time we meet each other is at breakfast now, But since both of us have to go in opposite directions, we will just greet each other and say bye at the doorstep.

A part of me is really disappointed because he doesn't seem to be concerned about me anymore.

Well...Riya, it's not like he's your boyfriend.

The second voice reminded me as always. I shook my head.

"Oww!" I touched my neck. I have difficulty in moving my head as I was tripped and hit my head on the locker.

"So much about taking care of me" I muttered angrily.

Yes, I am mad because Nivin Rosh Aldrick's practically ignoring me!

You told him to stop worrying! you promised him you are going to take care of yourself!

Well, I did, but he can at least ask me how I am!

"I am going to get mad if I am going to keep talking to myself" I muttered again. I walked to the terrace, the favourite part of Neev in the whole house.

"Riya?"

"Auntie!?" I can't imagine why Auntie was alone on the terrace, it was the first time, especially this late!

"What are you doing here at this time?" she asked me.

"Trouble sleeping" I sat beside her.

I can't tell her that I am actually waiting for some jerk!

she looked troubled.

"What is it? you look...disturbed?" I asked.

"No" she shook her head slowly.

"Did you...drink?" I looked at her closely. she's not behaving like herself.

"I...I wanted to calm my nerves" she said.

What the heck happened for her to drink!?

"Can I help you with anything?" I asked slowly.

"I am...I am worried about Rohan" she said.

I know Rohan has been locked up for the past three days, he was only let out today.

I tried to talk to him, but he seemed to be angry and mad at everyone, He is refusing to talk to anyone.

he has transformed from this sweet, helpful person to a real devil now.

I can't blame him because I know he's frantically searching for Naina and locking him up now had just infuriated him.

"What about him?" I said. "He is let out today, so don't worry about him" I tried to calm her down.

"He's been drinking too much after grandpa locked him in," Auntie Alice said.

I too know about it, grandpa locked him up for three damned days. Rohan is no more that cool and logical guy.

"He's stressed at the moment, he will be alright in a few days" I consoled her.

"I am worried, he's never been like this, he's aggressive to everyone, refusing to talk! he's...He's acting just like James, Nivin's dad"

I stared at her.

You are worried Rohan might drink himself to death like James?

The thought didn't surprise me, both were madly in love.

"Rohan is one of the most logical people I have ever known, he will be okay in no time"

"So was James, it was James who built up the sinking Aldrick's corporation again, he was the most logical, caring people I had ever known" Auntie Alice whispered, she shook her head again.

"It's karma, God's punishing me for my sins" she whispered.

"But you didn't do anything! it was not your fault" I said.

"I didn't do anything then, it's one of the things I regret till now," she said. "maybe if I had, James won't be gone, Julia won't be gone," she said, her voice trembled slightly.

My heart stopped at her words. she is talking about Nivin's mom and dad!she knows what happened!

"Auntie, what are you talking about?" I asked slowly.

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