Riya.

"It's really you!" Nirosha looked at me.

I was tied to the chair tightly, it was almost cutting my circulation, and my mouth was taped.

"I was surprised too, Your Papa wanted to lock her up here, When I saw her, I had doubt that it's the same girl in that masquerade ball you wanted us to get, That's why I called you," the bodyguard said.

My eyes grew wide.

The masquerade ball!? Was it him who tried to kidnap me that day? Nirosha did that!?

I looked at her, shocked.

"That's right, Ragunad, it was me," Nirosha said smugly, "Grandpa knew about it and he helped me to cover the incident because of his grandsons," she added while walking near.

"I warned you many times to stay away from him, now see what happened, you brought it on yourself, so enjoy Ragunad," Nirosha turned back to go and I started to make sound, trying to move in the chair.

"Surely you are not asking me to help you, right?" Nirosha turned around and bend down to the level of my eyes, "This is what you get for not knowing your position," she said and moved back, pleased.

"What's that!?" her eyes stopped on the now-torn Teddy and the necklace box that was sitting on the side.

They opened and checked the doll to see if there's anything hidden inside.

"Ah... It was left by Anil Ragunad. Your Papa wanted to know if there's anything inside, but it's just an old Teddy bear, nothing more."

"Then why are you keeping it here?"

"Some experts are coming to check it thoroughly before throwing it out," he said.

Nirosha looked at me.

"What did she do to make Papa go this extent?" she asked.

"He's controlling Nivin through her, He wanted to kill that boy, but since he needed him for the board meeting-"

"What do you mean!? He's controlling Neev? Papa's going to kill Neev?" she asked, looking shocked.

The words were painful, I felt it like physical pain, my eyes started to flow down.

"He might kill both of them after the shareholders meeting; He was talking about not leaving any loopholes like last time," the guard explained.

Nirosha turned to me, she looked angry.

"See what you have done to him?" she raised her hand and pulled the tape away from my mouth.

"Talk Ragunad, what's going on?"

"Nirosha," I gasped, "please...please help Neev, your dad is trying to take the company away from him, But I don't think he's going to spare him once he gets the control, please..." I cried.

"Miss! You can't do this, please go back, your Papa will fire me if he kn-"

"Shut up," she ordered the guard.

"But Miss-"

"I need to talk to her and you should wait outside instead of getting on my nerve," she pointed her finger outside, "Or do you wish me to tell him about your side business?"

The guy looked positively alarmed and left the room reluctantly. Nirosha turned to me then, she still looked pissed off.

"You bitch! All of this is happening because of you! It was never like this before you turned up! I can't even stop Papa-"

"You have to! If there's anyone who can stop him, it's you Nirosha! Please stop him, I heard him talking about taking his men to the company today, it didn't sound good, Nirosha, He was planning some kind of accident after he's elected, so that he can wipe away everyone there!"

"I don't know anything! I am not responsible-"

"You are!" I said firmly now, "you knew that he was the one who killed my dad and Nivin's dad, and you are still staying with him!" I shouted.

"Shut up Ragunad! I don't know-"

"We don't have time for this now, we need to act fast before he does something stupid, you need to stop him at all cost!"

"I don't have a choice in this, Ragunad! Do you know why I was against my Mamma and Papa's divorce even when they live separate? Because if she was to divorce him, I worried he would do something to her!" she shouted and I froze, "because he wanted to keep his position in the company... Because marriage is one of the rules for the CEO position,"

I never thought of it like that! I believed that Nirosha chose to stay with him for an easy life!

"Yes, pity me, Ragunad, you bloody bitch... The only thing that was stable in my life was Nivin and because of you... because of you, I lose him too, now you expect me to help you!?"

It was her who decided to marry Rohan, It was her who betrayed him, But I know I can't waste any more time arguing with her.

You have to find a way before the shareholder's meeting comes to end... focus Riya; don't let her distract you,

"It's Neev," I said desperately, "he... he's going to get hurt if we don't help him, You cared about him Nirosha, you were childhood friends-"

"Stop right there! I can't help him even if I want to-

"You can, just help me get out of here-"

"He chose you over me, Riya Ragunad, he replaced me with some third-rate girl," she said nodding her head, "I can't do anything," she looked like she's trying to convince herself.

She turned around to walk out again.

"You sounded like him now," I shouted, now taking a different strategy, "It all started when Julia rejected him from college, If you are not trying to stop him, It's as bad as killing them, if you are doing this just because Neev choose me instead of you, you are not different! You are a murderer-"

"Shut the f**k up Ragunad! I am not a murderer-" she shouted.

"Everyone gets a chance in their life Nirosha, An opportunity to decide their fate and it's time for you to make a decision, once everything is over and people died, no matter how much ever you regret, Nothing will go back, you can't change the consequences of your action, so decide now," I said firmly, looking in her eyes, trying desperately to convince her.

She looked startled.

"I swear Ragunad, You... you are a bloody bitch and I don't ever want to cross paths with you," she whispered. "It's already very late and I can't go there now, it's too dangerous,"

"Let me free, let me go then," I said. "I need to stop him,"

"Even if I want to, you can't get out of here, Papa's bodyguards are all over the place,"

Neev.

"I will ask you clearly for the last time now, Is it your project?" They asked me again.

"No," I answered firmly. No one moved this time and Sebastian looked smug.

I really wanted to wipe that smile off his face, but I held it in.

"We can proceed then," one of Sebastian's directors said and the discussion opened.

"As a representative of the factory workers, I put forward these conditions," The old man said and started to read all the pre-agreements we discussed earlier.

The salary rise and benefits, reimbursement for health issues, free education for the first born and housing help,

I would not have thought of them if it was not for Riya, It was a lucky deal for the workers, but I never regretted it as I kept thinking of Riya, who had grown up in the orphanage.

I couldn't even think about how Vivek, the loan shark, behaved with her too, so it was strangely a relief to help them.

But now, I can no more grant it, not when Riya's life is online.

Guilt filled me.

I really wanted to help those people, I really meant to when I offered my help, But I know, I have to deny all of that now  Because Sebastian wanted me to withdraw all of my promises as he wants to turn them against me.

Some of the shareholders were actually outraged at some of my offers, so I guess, they would be happy if I don't proceed with it.

Riya.

I stared at the door, all the hope is gone now; Nirosha has coldly turned away from me.

Neev is in trouble! Sebastian is not going to spare him, Whatever the result may be, I need to protect him.

I tried to struggle, but I was bound tightly to the chair, the rope cut into my hand from my trials to escape.

Now I know why my dad wanted me to learn those tricks and self-defence.

You can do it Riya, you escaped from Vivek's apartment once, relax and focus!

But even if I manage to get free, there are about six guards guarding this place! I can never overpower them-

I stopped as I heard the sounds.

There were shouts, bangs, and yelling.

Oh my God!

They are fighting? Fighting with whom!?

Nivin!?

Did he manage to get out of Sebastian's grip? But that's impossible as the shareholder's meeting is not over yet-

CRASH...

I flinched as the door was opened forcefully.

"Riya, Are you alright!?"

I stared at the most unexpected face in front of me, frozen in my spot.

Nikil Atharva?

Nikil pulled the tape out of my mouth.

"I am going to get him for this!" he said angrily and he started to untie me.

"What... what are you doing here?" I stared at him.

He gave me a look before moving back, "can you walk?" he asked me. I nodded and slowly got up.

"God, you are bleeding!" he took my hand and I snatched it back.

"I want to know why you, Nikil Atharva, would come here to rescue me, of all the people!"

"Let's get out of here and I will fill you everything on our way-"

"Unfortunately, I don't think I can come with you, I need to do something, Nivin is-" I started.

"Oh no! You are not going to the Aldricks," he pulled me back and said firmly.

"You had enough adventure to last a lifetime, and now, it's time for you to return back to where you rightfully belong-"

"Excuse me! I need to meet my husband-"

"A husband who can't protect his wife, I don't think so!"

I stared at him.

Who does he think he is to tell me this!?

"Look, if you don't know what's going on, don't judge others so easily okay? Neev is in danger now, because of me-"

"I don't know and I don't want to know, neither does you," Nikil clutched my elbow and walked out.

"Wait!" I grabbed the Teddy and the necklace box while he raised his eyebrows.

"It's mine," I shrugged, "and leave me!" I ordered.

"Come on," he pulled me out of there along with him.

"Hey! Let me go! What do you think you are doing!?" I got angry now.

Nikil stopped in front of a heavily built man and I stopped struggling.

"Take care of everything here and come back," he ordered before starting to drag me out again.

I watched around with wide eyes, Nikil's men have now overpowered Sebastian's men.

What's going on!?

Nikil opened his car door and pushed me inside before walking around to open his door.

I know I can't escape him now, not when that gigantic man was still watching us.

"Where are you taking me?" I looked at him darkly when he started the car.

He looked at me for a moment, his eyes reaching mine.

"To your real family, Riya," he said and I stilled.

No... You can't forget Nivin now, everything else can wait, Nivin is in danger and I need to help him!

I learned to the seat and hugged the teddy to me while he accelerated.

"Aren't you curious about your real family, Riya?" he asked me while driving.

"I was, once upon a time, Nikil, but I am not that excited now," I said.

My head was already buzzing with all the things that are going on.

"Riya-"

"I need to find Neev-"

"Stop talking about him!" Nikil looked angry, "your life is endangered because you are connected to him!"

"He's my husband and I love him," I said firmly. "He was the only person who was there with me when I was fighting alone,"

"And look at where you ended up," Nikil said while trying to accelerate past the signal at the junction and stopped when one of the scooters came in front, Almost hitting them.

"What the!" Nikil cursed as the signal turned red and the traffic officer blew the whistle, signalling him to stop.

I took that moment to act, I lunged at the unlock button and Nikil couldn't stop me as the officer was already watching.

I took hold of the teddy and the box while Nikil tried to stop me.

"Riya!" he exclaimed as I unlocked the door and jumped out in the middle of the road.

I lost my balance and fell down; the necklace box fell down and moved out of my hand.

"Riya, Are you okay?" I heard his voice, it seems like he cannot abandon the car and step down. I didn't bother to reply, I was too busy searching for my necklace that has flown out of its box.

I was already attracting enough attention from the vehicles around; some of them were blowing their horn impatiently as the signal was turned green again.

There it is!

I took the necklace and my heart skipped a beat as I saw that one of the petals of the pendant is missing.

I bend down and picked it up.

"Riya, get in the car!" Nikil shouted, but I turned around and ran out of the busy road.

Neev.

Sebastian looked happy with the response, the shareholders meeting was coming to an end, anyone could easily guess what the results are, It was sure to be in his favour.

Sebastian looked pleased as he came to the podium to deliver the closing speech.

Silence filled the room and he cleared the throat.

"So, Instead of the traditional ways of selecting the chairman from the same family, we need to think about new changes that are beneficial to everyone-" he started, "and the incident with Joseph Aldrick has already brought us bad reputation-"

He was cut off as the audio system was turned on, and some shuffling noises filled the whole room.

Sebastian stopped midway as everyone started to look around.

What's going on?

Sachin, Rohan, and I looked at each other.

Then the voices filled the room.

"Why...?" said the ragged voice, "why did you...?"

"I think you already know James, it was a pity to see you struggling every day; I am only going to ease your pain forever,"

"You know, I would...have...given you anything, you could've just asked me,"

"No, you wouldn't have!"

"Sebastian... Don't do this..."

"I started this a long time back, James, the moment you snatched away Julia from me, I was planning this,"

"It... It wasn't father! It was you!" James said, his sound rising a bit, "It was you who took her away!"

"It was your best friend Anil, not me."

"I know it's not Anil, I know him. Father and you just made up the whole thing!"

"Such a trust, I am touched at your friendship, James!" Sebastian's words sounded mocking.

"Where's she?" James asked, "where did you take Julia..." James' voice cracked slightly.

"I never thought you will be like this James, you were practically destroying your life for a girl?"

"What did you do? Answer me! What did you do to her-"

Sebastian chuckled, "That's another story James; I never thought the invincible Joseph Aldrick was this easy! Your father truly believes that your wife ran away with Anil, he bought my story! He is hunting down Anil now; he's going to destroy him too,"

"You can't... he can't... Anil knows everything... he will contact Dev... They will-"

"Whoa! just wait there, Dev is someone I need in my legal team, so I assure you that he will never find anything about these, and you and Anil Ragunad will be no more,"

"For the company... You are doing all these for the company? It's my family business, so you want to destroy me? And Anil, He's never going to hand you his shares, he knows you! He will never do that,"

Sebastian laughed aloud, "You see, he is with my lawyer now,"

"What did you do?" James whispered.

"Like I said before, your friendship is touching,"

"You bastard, you blackmailed him! You made a deal with him for my life!"

"Relax James, I just promised to give you back to him without a scratch, which I plan to do... you can just drink this,"

"You can murder me Sebastian, but I am not going to drink myself to death,"

"Oh you will," Sebastian chuckled again, "for the sake of your family, you will James."

"Don't touch Neev!" James said fiercely, "father is heartless, but not as much as to kill his grandson, he won't allow you!"

"I am not going to kill your son, James; he is one of my cards to play your father," Sebastian said cruelly, "I am talking about this... I got this photo especially for you; you were missing her all these time,"

"Julia! Where is she? You locked her up all these time?"

"She's waiting to go back to her family; she's crying for her son all the time, you can decide James, what do you want? Julia or yourself? Whom do you want to save?"

"Don't.touch.her."

"Then you can just take a sip, it's very simple, you wouldn't even know any pain,"

"Anil warned me about you, Sebastian, but I thought father hid her away, I knew she didn't go out of India,"

"Yea, I knew you were chasing her James, I was right behind you," Sebastian said.

"We have evidence too, you are not going to get away," James said slowly.

"I know about Ragunad's secret locker, I was preparing for this for a long time now, I know everything," Sebastian said, "and now, you will drink that, it's time your best friend is coming here to take you," Sebastian said.

"You are not going to get away,"

"I said NOW!"

"How can I trust you to keep Julia and Neev alive?"

"I haven't done anything to them these past years James; I told you everything I am going to do,"

"Sebastian... you... you can take everything... every single thing... I want to... see my family, one last time-"

"You have 10 seconds to drink it or Julia will be dead,"

"One last time-"

"10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... That's good, see... it doesn't even hurt," Sebastian said. "And just wait, you will not be alone; your best friend will be joining you soon,"

"I... I love them... Julia... Neev-" James voice slowly cut off.

"Sure, I will give them your message," Sebastian snickered.

There was shuffling of feet. "I think...he is dead,"

"Should we move the body, Sir?"

"No, it's his vacation house, he usually comes here to drink," Sebastian said.

"JAMES!" A far away sound was heard.

"I think Anil is here, sir..."

"Leave me! Where's James?-"

"Let him in," Sebastian ordered.

"James! What did you do to him!? Why is he not moving?"

"We didn't do anything... he drank himself to death-"

"You bloody bastard! Did you kill him? I gave you everything and you-hey leave me,"

"You can just give us that password, Anil, and we will let you go,"

"You expect me to believe that? Leave me I said!"

There were some sounds.

"James... wake up... wake...up James... okay... hang on, I am taking you to the hospital- Leave me!"

"Password Ragunad,"

"Take him to the hospital; I will give you everything you need, take him now,"

"James is already dead, there's no way for him-"

"I am never going to give you that password-"

"Are you sure? Tell me Ragunad... how's your wife and your baby girl-"

"I will kill you if you touch them!"

"Too bad, I am going to find them now,"

"You can't even lay a finger on them, Sebastian, I knew you, you can't ever find them,"

"You sure?" Sebastian asked dangerously.

"Leave me! Sebastian please... please take him to the hospital, James saved you, he accepted you in his company, he helped you throughout your life, save him now please... please..."

"I don't want to be his dog anymore-"

There was a punching sound. And-

"Ahh..."

"Are you alright, sir?"

"James? Hang on..."

"Get that bastard away from here!" Sebastian said angrily.

There were loud voices and then, the recording stopped.

The room was still dead silent, Even Sebastian looked shocked.

I felt detached, my heart was beating painfully, my head was bursting, and my hands were shaking too much.

I just heard the last moments of my dad's life.

"NOW!" Sebastian recovered first as he shouted.

A blasting sound echoed throughout the building and the fire alarms went off.

All of the directors jumped to their feet and everyone started to run out as the whole building erupted in chaos.

It just left the rest of us; the Aldricks, the Dixits and Sebastian.

---------------------