Thank you KeerthanaReddy0 & pavxoxo for pushing me to upload it today, I was feeling lazy;)

Nivin.

Sachin still looked shocked. "So you meant to say, Grandpa accepted your marriage because he knew things are going to be like this!?" Sachin exclaimed. "God! that's too low! he planned the marriage!"

"No," I looked at Sachin. "don't you see it? he planned the whole thing, from the moment he brought Riya in, he had been playing with our lives."  I said angrily.

"He must've thought you will leave Riya if you come to know the truth and now that you both stick together, he is blackmailing, Riya." Sachin said, "but something is really odd here, there's something we are missing,"

"I know, I want to know what's going on," I said. "I can't let Grandpa hurt her anymore."

"We will tell Harry to look into-" Sachin started.

"No, not Harry, I know someone else," I said. "There's a person who could find anyone in the earth," I said.

"You can't trust those people! don't do anything illegal! once you get tangled, you can't get away!" Sachin exclaimed.

"He's from racing, I can trust him as long as I keep my part of the deal." I said slowly.

"Nivin! You are a member of  Aldrick corporation, don't get involved in anything else."

"Let me ask him this one favour, There's no one as efficient as him," I said. "He would probably ask me to compete in bike racing for him, he had approached us before."

"I thought you gave up on racing after your marriage?" Sachin looked at me darkly.

"Yeah" I sighed. "okay...Riya wouldn't want it either."

I don't want him to get worried about me.

But no matter what, I have to know what happened to her Mamma.

I don't want to see her struggle...

I want Riya to have at least someone beside her permanently.

Sachin still looked at me, looking suspicious, of all the people, he's the only person I have this trouble with.

He knows me too well.

"I am going home now, I will see you tomorrow."

"You didn't forget the party tomorrow, did you?" Sachin asked me. I gave him a blank look.

"What! you didn't tell her about the party?"

Crap! I totally forgot about it!

"I will tell her today," I said.

"You can't do this, you don't know girls, they will need some time to pick up a dress and all to get ready for the party."

Did she ever get a chance to be normal like other people?

I cringed at the thought. I know she was brought up by orphanage, she was waiting for true love to start afresh but she was forced to be married to me.

"My dream? mm...it's just a loving family, living together in a little house, the laughter, the fights of children, a loving husband...like that"

"Neev?vare you listening?" Sachin was talking to me. "Are you alright?"

"Yea, we will discuss it later, I will go home early then."

Riya.

"I had a lot of fun Riya, it was great." Auntie Alice said.

"Don't spoil my mom too much Riyechi, she is too busy spending time with you now," Danny complained.

"I always wanted a baby girl, now I have someone to gossip at last" Auntie said.

I slumped down in the sofa. "It was relaxing." I said.

"It's the best spa in our area, of course they are good," Auntie Alice said. "I heard the new bags has come, we will go for it tomorrow." Auntie Alice winked.

"Girls!" Danny shook his head and I smiled.

I have been doing this for days now. I am trying to spend all of my time being busy, shopping with Auntie Alice will tire me completely and I will sleep easily.

It was dinner time and I got up.

"I will help Kamala," I said.

"You don't have to, moloo, I will get it ready," she protested.

"Two of the staffs are on leave today, it would be hard on you." I said.

We started to arrange the table, Auntie Alice came to help too.

"It's fun to do this when you have company, I never thought about it." she said happily.

We all sat down for dinner, I looked at Nivin's seat.

"Rohan and Nivin seems to be busy these days." Auntie Alice said.

"Too busy to even visit his home, if you ask me," Grandpa said negatively. his eyes lingered on me for a moment.

I cringed mentally. He has been hinting about our broken relationship whenever he gets a chance.

"I am home today." I heard his voice and turned around.

Nivin loosened his tie as Uncle Manoj brought his laptop inside.

My heart started to beat wildly.

"You are early today."

"Yea, I wanted to spend some time with the family," he shrugged.

"Ooooh..." Danny said meaningfully, giving me a look.

"I was starting to get worried about you," Auntie Alice said. "where's Rohan?"

"Er...he has something to take care of, still working," Neev said and Grandpa looked at him.

"Riya?" he said cheerfully, avoiding Grandpa and turning around to me.

His eyes landed on me, he smiled.

"Can I borrow you?" he asked.

"I...er...we-"

"Come on," he took hold of my hands and my whole body trembled. he put his hands around me and turned to others.

"We are going out for a date," he said.

I saw Grandpa's face turning into confusion. "please excuse us." Nivin said.

"Go and change before you go," Auntie Alice told me.

"Grandpa, I was thinking of moving back to my penthouse, it's more convenient for us now," Nivin said, "please think about it."

Nivin wants to escape this house, he is using me as a reason.

I know he's faking it, still, my heart's going crazy inside.

"We will talk about it later." Grandpa said.

10 minutes later, Nivin opened his car door for me.

"What is it?"

"Just get in Riya," he said and I got inside. he closed my door and walked to the driving seat.

"Seatbelt," he said slowly and I fastened it. we drove in silence.

"We are here," he said, coming to my side and opening the door for me.

I stepped out, we were in front of the department store.

"What is it, Neev, why are we here?"

"Follow me," he said, now taking my hand, surprising me, and started to walk inside.

Soon we were in the dress section. All the staffs looked eager to please us, it's a wonder what your title can do.

"How's this Ma'am?"

"This will look good on you, Ma'am."

"This is the latest one,"

"You will look sexy in this, Ma'am."

I looked over at Neev.

"Let's go back,"

"Pick something, Riya."

"I don't want anything," I said, I started to walk outside.

What's he playing at? it's only the two of us here, why is he acting all good and caring?

It's upsetting me too much.

He can't play with my heart like this!

"Excuse me," he smiled politely at the staff and started to follow me.

"Riya," he grabbed hold of my hands. "you can't just walk away!"

"I want to go home, Neev," I said, taking my hand away from him.

And that's when it happened, I was blinded by the flashes. Nivin covered me in a flash.

"Come on," he put his hands around me.

He wants them to see us together? he wants to show that we are happily together.

Somehow, it was hurting me more.

"Let's not walk out now, we will get a few things and go back," he said, smiling.

I could read his eyes well, he doesn't want me to reject him in front of the reporters.

I take his outstretched hand and tried to smile back.

It was too difficult for me, it felt like my heart is ripping apart.

He pulled me inside as soon as I held his hands and the staff blocked the reporters.

"What about this? I think it will look good on you." I heard him talking to me and I just nodded.

"And take these too," Nivin said and so it begin.

Nivin.

We were driving back, Riya was too silent.

"Are you still not well?" I asked her. "You should have told me earlier then, I wouldn't have taken you out."

"I am okay, Neev."

"Do you have a fever?" I asked and stretched out my hand to touch her face, she moved away, stopping me midway.

"I am alright, I told you," she said, her voice was distant, I know we are not exactly close now, but it's getting me bothered now.

"What's wrong then? you don't sound good." I said.

"I just want to get home,"

"We will go to the hospital if you are sick."

"You can stop it now," she said sharply.

"What?" I was dumbfounded.

"There's no press people here, Neev."

I slammed down the brake, the meaning of what she's talking about finally sinking in.

"You thought I arranged the press people there?"

I turned to her, my voice getting angry.

Confusion flashed across her. "you didn't?"

"And you thought I was putting on a show today?" I asked again.

"There was no need for you to take me shopping,"

"We have a party tomorrow, for my friends."

"What?"

She looked at me.

"We have a party to attend," I repeated. "tomorrow."

"I can't," she said. "I was thinking of starting with my part time jobs."

"You can't do that! you can't keep your jobs."

"Why? do you think it's beneath you too?"

"Riya," I warned her. "You are my wife, I can't let you do that! you know the conditions."

She's going to be targeted by the media, she is an Aldrick for God's sake!

"So I am supposed to quit my jobs too?"

I am getting irritated now, she seemed to be in a very bad mood too.

"You are being unreasonable, you know it."

"I am not!"she said.

She's determined to fight with me?

What's got into her today?

"Riya, let's talk tomorrow, I don't think this is the best ti-"

"Why-"

"You are going to be targeted by the press, Riya! I don't want that." I said exasperatedly. "They will keep following you."

"It's not like you can always protect me, Neev." she said and my heart skipped a beat.

I am going crazy about this, I am worried about her and whatever I do, I can't stop it.

I want her to be safe.

"And college too, you need to start going, you can't stop it halfway, it's your last semester." I said firmly.

She looked at me.

"Why?...why are you doing this to me?I don't want you to be guilty towards me, you think we can't be together because of our parents, but they were never together, Neev, please try to find out what really happ-"

"Riya," I warned her.

"I still believe in my dad, he will never do that to his best friend, He loved me, that's why he sponsored me, Nivin, my dad never betrayed your father."

"It's not that I don't want to believe it, Riya, trust me when I say there's no one else in this world who wants to believe that as badly as I want," I said truthfully

"But I will never believe theories, Riya, I need facts, evidence, I don't want to trust blindly like my dad, I have promised it myself a long time ago."

...And I have broken it once, Riya, when I met you, I let down my guard and you came inside my dark and cold place, Riya, And now I am suffering the consequences, it's more lonely and dark now, morethan before...

I know you are suffering because of me too, even blackmailed to get married to me, I am sorry...

"Do you think that someone who loved his family could abandon them?my dad changed his name and adopted me, Nivin, because, he was avoiding people, people who framed him, including Joseph Aldrick." she said bravely.

"And your Amma, Neev, I think she was a victim too..."

I need to stop this conversation now, before it gets out of hand.

"What about your Mamma, Riya? Are you taking care of her?" I asked her back, speaking the first thing that came to my mind.

Riya looked startled, shock clear on her face.

"Riya?"

"Yea...I...I am taking care of her," she said, the confidence in her voice dropped, she moved her eyes away.

"How's she? still recovering from her surgery?" I asked again.

I want to know why she's hiding it from me, she could've told me Grandpa is blackmailing her with her Mamma, but she didn't and I want to know the reason.

"Yes." she leaned to the seat and looked out of the window.

She's lying!

I know she can't lie, she is a bad lier.

"I am tired-"

"It must've been some days since you visited her, I will take you to the hospital tomorrow-" I started.

"No!" she turned to me this time.

"Why? I have business to do there tomorrow, we can visit-"

"I...I can't, she's... she needs complete rest, we can't visit her." she said, her face turned worried. "And we... we have to attend that party too!"

"We will see her doctor then, you must be worried about her,"

She looked terrified now.

"I... I want her to get complete rest, we can visit her when she is... recovered." her voice trembled slightly and I decided not to push it.

"Okay" I nodded and watched as she took a deep breath, looking relieved.

She leaned back to the seat.

My heart started to beat painfully.

I know why she did it to me.

Grandpa threatened her with Mamma's life, he took her Mamma away and she was forced to get married to me.

I gripped the steering for a moment.

Just to destroy me, Grandpa even dragged her Mamma to this!

I turned to her side.

I am going to find your Mamma even if it's the last thing I am going to do, Riya, I am going to do that...

Riya.

I looked out of the window, now relieved that Neev has stopped asking me about Mamma.

Even though I can't tell him, lying to him make me feel guilty.

What's going to happen if he finds out Mamma is not there?

God! I don't want him to think that I have been lying all these time, he will never ever trust me then!

Nivin was driving in silence now.

Soon we were pulling to our driveway, I opened the door before Nivin could get out.

"Riya," I stopped when I heard him. Nivin passed the key to the watchman and came to me.

"I am sorry, I couldn't inform you about the party earlier, but please wear it tomorrow," he gave me a gift box, I was surprised to see it as I hadn't noticed it before.

"Are you home already?" we heard Auntie Alice's voice and turned around.

"Yea... There were reporters..." Nivin answered since I was still frozen in my spot, looking at the carefully wrapped box in my hands.

"Wow... it looks like a special gift," Auntie Alice noticed the box.

"We need to attend a party tomorrow, please help her to get ready," Nivin said.

Auntie Alice looked surprised to hear Nivin, but happy nevertheless.

"Come on," Nivin passed the box to Uncle Manoj, who was taking our bags inside and he takes hold of my hand.

"Go on, I will be there in a little while." I smiled at him mechanically.

He looked at me for a moment, but nodded anyway before walking in.

I walked to Auntie Alice who smiled at me. "You know, Neev has started to talk to me!" she said.

I smiled. "He's a bit stubborn but he's good at heart," I said. "Don't leave him alone when he is pushing everyone away, it is the time when he needs everyone the most,"  I said again.

I don't want him to be alone even if I am not here.

"I am happy that you are here, Riya." she told me sincerely as we walked inside. "Everything has been more easier,"

My phone started to ring, my heart jumped when I saw the number, it was from the orphanage.

Sister Theresa!

I have been calling her for some days now, it seemed difficult to get my birthday gift.

"Five minutes Auntie," I told Auntie Alice before moving to a side.

"Hello, Did you get it, Sister?" I asked as soon as I answered the call.

"Riya, I found it, it is in a bank locker, you are supposed to get it on your birthday only,"

"But it's urgent, Sister, I really need to get it."

"Yea, I know, I have requested it, But they will need some days to process it and when they do, they will call you."

"Call me?"

"Yes, it's in the high security area, I think only you could personally open it, no one else have access to it." she said.

My heartbeat accelerated.

Only I have access to it? what's inside it?

"Okay, sister, I will wait for their call then," I said. "Thank you so much."

I disconnected the call.

"Riya..." I heard Auntie Alice and turned back.

"Yea, coming," I walked out, my mind full of questions.

Neev.

My phone beeped and I opened it.

"It's the CCTV footage from your hospital before that patient's disappearance."

I read the message from vikram, He's an underground fighter who manages everything for his leaders.

He's dangerous, but dependable.

He's too fast, but worth the risk.

I opened the file and stilled.

Riya!?

I watched in shock as I saw her running away from her Mamma's room, a security guard closely following her.

I fisted my hands when she was pushed to a wall.

Philip! that bastard!

I fisted my hands as I saw him taking her bag away from her, forcefully.

I looked at the date, it was around one week before our wedding.

Riya went to the hospital to meet her Mamma and something happened! It must be something really serious for Grandpa to send Philip after her!

When I told vikram to find Riya's Mamma, I never imagined something like this to exist!

It's just before our marriage! It's the time she went missing, the time she ran away to Priya's house!

My phone beeped again.

"She was the last visitor for that patient, I don't know if it's useful, but I find it suspicious... So, Is our deal still on?"

I read his message.

He want me to go for a racing for him and it's pretty dangerous too.

No, I am not concerned about the racing, I am more concerned about my promise to Riya.

I had promised her that I will never endanger my life again, that I will quit it.

I am starting to break all of our promises one by one it seems.

I am sorry Riya, but I can't let you go alone, I will find your Mamma for you, I want to do at least that for you not to worry about you.

I typed a quick reply to him and walked to the gym.

I need to calm myself down or I am going to grab Philip the next time I see him.

I can't let Grandpa suspect anything, I can't even punish that rascal for manhandling Riya!

I will ignore it now, but I am definitely not forgetting this debt, Philip... I will be sure to repay you accordingly.

45 minutes later, I was ready for bed, but Riya seemed to be busy downstairs. She has formed some kind of bond with Auntie Alice and others.

I took my phone and started to come downstairs.

"Thank you!" I heard Auntie Alice and stopped midway.

She was examining a bag and I saw Riya laughing.

"Of course, I saw you falling in love with it when you saw it in the magazine." she said.

What! The only thing she got willingly was that bag, it was for Auntie Alice then?

"Wow! you remembered it?"

"I remember everything," she said. "I will keep you all in my heart, you know, we are family," she said.

"You keep talking like you are going somewhere!"

"I just feel lucky to get a family, it gets me emotional sometimes, nothing else." Riya smiled again.

I let go of the railing.

She's trying to say her goodbye.

I realised, I have started to see through her perfect smile now, it's starting to bother me too.

I turned back, my heart felt so heavy suddenly.

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