Riya.

"Riya Mehra, I'm a family friend, please be comfortable" I smiled sweetly for the umpteenth time.

The party has started and everyone was interested in me. Everyone was curious why I am staying with the Aldricks.

I sat in a far corner and drank water. I don't want to draw much attention to me, but it was difficult with the dress I'm in.

"Riyechi, come on, I will introduce you to my friends!" Danny was near me.

He grabbed my hand and I had no other way but get up from my safety spot.

"Hello dear" An elderly woman spoke, both of us turned to look at her.

"Danial, who is this beautiful lady?" she asked.

"She's a family friend auntie, Riya Mehra," he said, then turned to me.

"This is aunt Neethika" Danny introduced. "Nirosha's grandmother" He added undertone.

"Nice to meet you, Auntie" I smiled.

"Mehra?  I don't think I heard about any Mehras before, what does your father do?" she asked.

Just nirosha's exact words! wow! rich people judge you by your title!

"He is an architect," I said pleasantly like I was taught.

"What's his company name-"

"Hey, aunty!" I heard a male voice and I saw Rohan appearing from nowhere.

"My dear boy!" She looked delighted to see him, she embraced him.

"How have you been," He asked pleasantly.

"Better! we missed you boy"

"I'm back for good this time, Don't worry," he said cheerfully. Then they turned to me and Danny.

"Ah...I see you have met Riya!" He said.

"yeah, we were getting acquainted," She said.

"That's good" He smiled then turned to me. "Can I have this dance please?" he asked.

Anything to get out of this interrogation!

"Sure!" I pasted a fake smile and took his offered hand.

Soon we were on the dance floor, swirling around.

"Thanks for rescuing me"

"No problem" Rohan smiled. "You seemed to get into trouble all the time"

"True!" I said, now getting Nirosha's glare from the side. She was looking beautiful in a golden gown.

"Uh..oh, your fiancée is getting jealous," I said and the light in his eyes went out.

"It's okay," He said. "Just be careful about what you say, or they will cross-examine you"

"Like aunt Neethika? "

"Yea..and the person over there, talking to my dad is Nirosha's dad, Uncle Sebastian, he's the CEO of our company"

"Nirosha's dad is the CEO?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes, he's very sharp, so keep your distance," he said.

"Okay, then who else?" I asked him, he twirled me around and that's when I caught the eye of none other than Sachin Dixit.

"Oh shit!" I said, now trying to hide in Rohan's height and completely moving out of our dance step.

"What now?"

"It's ..it's ..Sachin Dixit, What is he doing here!?" I exclaimed.

"He is the young COO of hi-life industry, a family friend and business partner for over 25 years"

Great!

I took the wrong step again and Rohan looked amused.

"How do you know him?"

"College! can we please get out of here now? I don't want his fangirls to kill me tomorrow" I said and Rohan laughed.

"Of course! you are really something!" He said while leading me off the dance floor.

"Is it that bad in college?" He asked me.

"Trust me! you have no idea-" I stopped, looking in front helplessly.

"It's really you!" Sachin smiled. "you look gorgeous Riya! I almost didn't recognise you!" he said and I groaned inwardly, he turned to Rohan.

"Would you mind if I get her for a dance?" Sachin asked cheerfully.

Rohan looked between us, his eyes twinkling, I shoot warnings at him.

"Of course he wouldn't! I'm his date for the day!" Nirosha appeared from nowhere.

"Great!" Sachin took hold of my hand.

"But-" I started, but he dragged me to the dance floor again.

"So, why are you, who don't even acknowledge Neev from college attending his party?" Sachin asked, starting to dance gently through the other couples.

"I could ask you the same! why are you, who hates Neev, attending the party?" I asked back, I want to hold on now, I don't want to be in a trap.

"Your question is all wrong," Sachin said and I raised my eyebrows at him, demanding an answer.

"You see...I don't hate him" he said matter of factly. "And I know that he doesn't hate me too"

"Oh really? then what's all that in college"

"It's complicated to explain, We just..sort of..drifted apart"

"Drifted apart?" I asked, now really confused.

"Yes, don't you know? We were best friends till college" He said, My eyes widened, but I don't know if I should take him seriously or not.

"Then your gang and things?"

"It's much easier for us that way," Sachin said. "enough about me, tell me, who are you really? "

"I Am Riya Mehra, daughter of the successful architect Mehra" I lied easily, repeating the same old story. "I'm an old friend of Aldrick's," I said.

"Don't fool me" Sachin said, holding me a little more closely. "Do you know who I'm? We have been having a partnership with Aldrick's as long as I remember and we are family friends too, if you are a friend I think I would've met you long before"

I tried to back away from his grip. "let go! why should I lie about such a thing?" I said

"That's why I'm asking you," Sachin said.

"Fine, but it's actually none of your concern why I'm staying with them!" I said.

"What did you say!? you are staying here?  In Neev's house?" Sachin narrowed his eyes. He stopped dancing and we both get out of the floor.

Oh shit! why did I have to blabber that! 

I mentally hit myself.

"It's nothing, let's drop this, okay?" I said, but Sachin took my hand and lead me away from the party and inside.

"What's going on?" he asked worriedly.

"Why are you concerned too much!?" I exclaimed.

"Because things are far more complicated than you think! you don't know the Aldricks as much as I do" Sachin said.

"My dad is out of station and Neev's grandpa is helping us," I said stubbornly.

"I know him very well Riya, he won't give a damn if he doesn't get something back," he said. "or..your dad must owe something to grandpa and he got hold of you as a surety?" Sachin asked.

"It's farfetched! God! can you hear yourself, Sachin?" I asked.

"Yea I know, but Joseph Aldrick is not someone with a helping mentality...unless" Sachin's eyes widened.

"Unless what?" I asked, now getting worried.

"Don't tell me that he is planning another arranged marriage!" he exclaimed outrageously. "Like he arranged Rohan's marriage"

"Rubbish!" I said, now getting suffocated at his interrogation.

I have to get out of here!

"Then why else would he make you stay here? let me warn you Riya, if you are doing business with him, be very very careful" Sachin said seriously. I gulped.

"It's nothing," I said again, now less confident.

Neev's warnings kept ringing around me too, he had told me similar things before.

"You don't know him! he was the one who forced Neev's five years of girlfriend to marry his brother, Can you imagine that? You don't know what he's capable of!" Sachin said. "And Rohan had to sacrifice everything too, Rohan broke up with his girlfriend because of him, their grandpa! "

I was stunned for a moment. It was news to me.

"Rohan has a girlfriend too?" I asked.

"He had a girlfriend, Riya, they were even engaged secretly, but he had to break up with her, just because Joseph Aldrick didn't approve it!" He said again.

I was shocked, I don't know what's going on in this household anymore! Sachin 's phone started to ring.

"Excuse me, it's an important call," he said

"Go on," I said, happy that I can escape his interrogation. I wanted some time to process the new information too. He waved his hands and mouthed 'five minutes' before moving away.

Take all the time you want..

I started to move back. I had had enough today and I want to escape.

I started to walk inside and a framed photograph Caught my attention.

I stepped inside the room that is filled with rows and rows of books and walked towards the photo in wonder.

It was Neev and Rohan, grinning and hugging, showing the medals around their neck.

Whoa! it must be taken a little back! they look really close.

The next one was the family portrait and I frowned, something was missing there and instantly knew what it is.

Where is Neev's mom? All others, including Auntie Alice is here! now that I think of it, I haven't seen any photograph of her, did she really run away as grandpa said?

I heard the sounds and started towards the door, but the sound was coming near.

Then I heard Rohan's angry voice and I hide behind a bookshelf just in time.

"You will not DISOBEY me!" Grandpa said now pushing the door open.

Both of them came inside and they closed the door behind. My heart started to beat faster.

"I can't do this till you keep your promise," Rohan said and I was surprised at the tone he is using with grandpa.

"Nirosha is ready for this, her family is ready, I have to announce your engagement!"

"No! The only reason I have done it before is to save Neev! he is been living through hell all this time! but no, you brought him back here!"

"It was not for Neev only, it was for the other girl too, and I'm keeping that promise till now"

"Keep Naina out of this! she is out of my life the moment I broke up with her two years ago! don't drag her back!" Rohan's sound changed, I could still feel the emotions underneath it.

Naina is her name? Rohan's girlfriend?

I listened, I could still see that he is not over her.

"Then just do as promised, don't create any problem now," grandpa said.

"What about Riya? I know you have some plan or you will never bring her home, who is she really?" Rohan asked. "And don't tell me that crap about her father being away, I know it's bullshit!"

My heart started to accelerate.

"So concerned about everyone! let me warn you, Rohan, this is only going to create trouble" grandpa said. "You know what happened the last time you tried to disobey me," grandpa said.

Silence filled the room.

"I had someone to protect last time, but I can't keep doing this, not again grandpa," Rohan said firmly. "And Let Neev have his way, leave him alone," Rohan said.

"You just think about your engagement, I will take care of other things" grandpa ordered.

"Not unless you tell me your plan! I don't want the history to repeat itself" Rohan said.

"What do you mean?" grandpa sounded wary now.

"Grandpa..please let go of the past, Neev is not your son to punish..he is your grandson! he's already has had enough of these"

"Don't teach me what I should and shouldn't do Rohan!" grandpa sounded so angry, I gulped. I cannot believe Rohan is standing against him, that too for Neev!

"Okay, just leave Neev on his way and I will agree to this engagement"

"I locked him up because he was going to ruin this party of yours," grandpa said.

"I don't think so, we both know that Neev doesn't give a damn about the company or this stupid party!"

"Why are you too much concerned about him?" grandpa asked now.

"Because he doesn't deserve any of this, his father wouldn't want any of this for him-"

"DON'T TALK TO ME ABOUT HIM! if he was so concerned about his son, he shouldn't have taken his life!" grandpa's voice sends chills down my spine.

"Punishing Neev for him is not right!" Rohan didn't back down. "You know perfectly well that Nirosha was his only friend for these years and you took her away too! "

"Watch your words Rohan" grandpa now growled. "Are you talking back to me because now you are the new GM?  I can take it away any time I want!"

"It's not about your title grandpa! I know about auntie Julia and I know that she didn't abandon her family like everyone believed" his statement was met with complete silence.

"How did you know" grandpa whispered deadly.

"It's not important, but I can't stand and watch it if you do the same to Neev, you made his mom disappear"

"Are you threatening me Rohan?" grandpa's eyes narrowed.

"Why do you think I went abroad two years ago? why do you think I let Naina go?" Rohan's voice changed slightly. "I left her when I heard what you did to Neev's mom! I didn't want to destroy her life too"

"Are you talking about that third-rate bar dancer again? I thought you came to your senses, Rohan!"

"She has a name! Naina is not some third-rate bar dancer and you know it! she's the only good thing that's happened to me, but I left her as you wanted me to!"

"All I do is filter our bloodline! not just anyone can enter the family"

"Taking a baby from his mother and keeping the father away is not right, I cannot allow it"

"I had my reasons for doing that, Rohan"

"And look at what happened, their family is completely broken, Neev lost his dad and mom! he's alone in this world-"

"Enough Rohan!" grandpa roared. "do you want me to punish you?" He asked. "I was holding it because this is supposed to be your day!"

I shivered at his tone.

"Go ahead, because I can't agree with this marriage, I was not interested anyway"

"Even Nirosha agreed to it for a better  future for both families!"

"That's one of the reasons why I can't do this, it's not the future of families we are talking about, it's future of business!" Rohan said.

"Rohan" I heard the new voice from the doorway, I heard the footsteps coming inside before I got a glimpse of him, Nirosha's dad- Sebastian.

"I have voiced my opinion, the choice is yours" Rohan walked away and closed the door behind him. I was even afraid to breathe now.

"So he is rebelling now?" Sebastian asked coolly like it's not about his daughter's marriage they were discussing.

"He will come around, I will make him," grandpa said.

"There's something interesting I thought you would like to know," Sebastian said, now taking some kind of envelope out. "My private detectives just traced her," he said.

I couldn't see what's inside while grandpa opened it.

"This is..but..how come!?" I had never heard grandpa's voice so shocked before. He was looking at a photo.

"She's undergoing treatment in a hospital, she cannot walk and she's confined to a wheelchair," Sebastian said and my heart started to hammer in my chest.

No way...it cannot be...

"And do you know the most interesting thing?" Sebastian laughed. "she's lost all her memories, she can't even remember her name," He said.

Priya!

Oh my God!

What's going on? how do they know her?  It was them who tried to kill her?

And how come they find her? we even avoid contact as much as possible! she's not active in any of the social media! 

Did Uncle Ananth ask me to protect her from them? when he said people will come in search of her, did he mean joseph Aldrick is one of them?

I started to hyperventilate.

"And do you know who her guardian is?" he laughed again.

"It is Riya Mehra, the girl you have been protecting under your roof, she's  guarding her now"

My hands and feet were ice cold now.

"Riya? do you think-?" grandpa started.

"No, the girl can't remember anything, I told you, so there's no way Ms.Mehra will know about her secret"

"This is getting more and more deeper!" grandpa said. "We have to be very careful about what we do now and I don't want to leak this information out, especially now"

"We will take it slow, since the girl doesn't remember anything, we will wait for now, but we need to know how Riya Mehra came to this scene"

"I will find about it"

"God! I really should give him the credit! how well he planned everything so cleverly! the first one almost made me speechless!" Sebastian said.

"Careful now, we can't predict his moves, so we don't know when he is going to trap us again, just be very careful"

"Don't worry" Sebastian assured. "we have come this far so we will take it to the end"

"Let's get back to the party for now, we will discuss this later," grandpa said.

And they left. I was still rooted to the spot. I don't know what's going on anymore.

They were tracking Priya? why would they do that? did Priya and Uncle Ananth get into the accident because of them?

And what's this secret Priya is supposed to know?

And who is trying to trap them? who had planned everything so well!?

I think I will go crazy now!

Is it possible that grandpa is the one who was doing this all the time?

NOT HAPPENING! not if I can help it! I have to get out of here before it's too late!

I have to get out of Aldrick's now!

Neev.

The race starts in 35 minutes!

I looked at the watch and got really irritated. It's one of the main races. If I can't do it, my team will surely lose!

I threw the flower pot to the wall in anger.

What did he think about me! I'm not a prisoner! wait till I get out of here!

I slammed my fist to the wall.

Dammit!

Riya.

I finally reached my room.

I started to dump my personal belongings to the small bag as it was not much. I heard a knock and went very still.

Danny opened the door.

"Uh..chechi! what are you doing here? the party is downstairs, Brother Sachin want me to search for you-what are you doing? Are you going somewhere?" Danny looked around the room and I jumped in front of the packed bag.

"Riyechi?" he asked.

"Uh..you see, something urgent came up, a family emergency" I lied quickly.

"Did you tell grandpa?" he asked while coming inside the room.

"No!" I said a little fiercely and Danny looked at me suspiciously.

"I..I mean, I don't want to disturb anyone, I will leave quietly," I said.

Danny sighed, then folded his hands across his chest. "I Am not stupid chechi, if you want to sneak out of here, you have to fool the entire 14 security guards and even if you did, the back gate is now closed to prevent Bother Neev going out"

"It's really urgent Danny..you have to help me, there must be some way out of this jail" I whined.

"Nobody can escape grandpa, the only one who did it was Bother Neev and he is locked up now," Danny said.

"There has to be some way!" I slumped to the bed.

"Forget it or....you could ask Bother Neev!"

"I doubt he will help me," I said darkly.

"He is locked up anyway, so give up now, you know what happens if grandpa caught you sneaking out," Danny said and I shivered, thinking about the beating.

"Where is Neev?" I asked slowly.

"Don't do it chechi, you will get into trouble"

"Not more than I already am!" I got up, determined. "where is he locked up?"

"You want to get out that badly?" Danny asked.

"Yes," I said.

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