"She was everything in a world of nothing."

This place has once lost its all happiness, this place once was filled with misery but now it is brimming with joy again. The oberoi's have forgotten the past and moved on. They are happy with their family. Rikara and Ruvya were enjoying parental bliss while tejvi and shanky were enjoying being grandparents and pampering their grand children, they've forgotten about Anika and how her life was destroyed because of them but fate has a cruel way of not letting them move on completely, fate was not letting them forget the past incidences in the form of  Aradhya Oberoi, the daughter of Shivaye Singh Oberoi and Elina. A curse for her so called family.

Aradhya's birth was secretive, she was consumed when both her parents were highly intoxicated as a result their were many complications during her birth. Her mother had to be operated for her delivery and due to all this she was a weak baby,really weak her immune system wasn't strong and she fell sick easily. She was a burden to her mother, a hindrance to her plans to destroy Anika so she was dropped in an orphonage. A sick baby no one wanted,she craved for parental love and by some miracle she got her father back. The great SSO came to take her away from the orphanage. She thought she will finally get what she always craved for but she was unaware of the cruel reality that SSO only came to adopt her because her mother has told Rv about her existence on her deathbed and Rv has advised SSO that he has lost his one child forever don't repeat the same mistake with your other child but the great SSO took Rv's wisdom filled words as taunting words which punctured his ego. He adopted Aradhya but she never got the love She craved  for as soon as she was old enough to go to school she was sent to boarding school.

She could only stare at the other students with wistful eyes as they went back to their homes to enjoy the holidays with their family while she was stuck their for 12 yrs, wishing even she could go back and spend her times with her family but she never could and the news of her father marrying another women did nothing to calm her. She had only read about how horrible step mothers are and she didn't really wanted a step mother and top of that one she had no knowledge of.

After spending 12 years in isolation, she was finally back in her home, in her father's home city but still she feels just like a guest in her own home while the guest is treated like the daughter of the family. She thought drily as she saw the Nia Raizada sitting in the dinning table enjoying with her family surrounded by her cousins while her grandparents talked and laughed with her while also pestering her to eat more with a fond tone while no one even asked her to come down for breakfast, nobody cared enough to find out if she had her breakfast or not. she is just a mistake for them nothing more. she couldn't help but be a little envious when she saw her cousin's Geetanjali and Ruhaan laughing gleefully at some family joke which she was unaware of, her cousins were never sent to a boarding school, they lived here, studied in one of the best school and now both of them were in high school. And everyone in the family highly praised them for their achievements while nobody cared enough to find about her skills, her achievements with a heavy heart she sat beside her step mom, Ananya Oberoi and mumbled a small "Good morning" to everyone while the others nodded at her, her step mom wished her back serving her some still hot breakfast with a warm smile which she returned shyly. This was her first interaction with the elegant lady the world know as her mother.

She heard Nia Raizada whine about how it has been ages since she came here and no one even took her on Mumbai tour. Ruhaan and Gitanjali at once agreed with her, begging the others that they should go on a family tour. She doesn't know where she comes in this planning no one asked her anything, they just ignored her presence and she didn't knew where she came, what will she do today?? she was saved from embarrassing herself by her mom stepping up for her.

"I'm taking Aradhya with me to office today" she didn't ask anyone she stated that her tone was firm not up for argument

"okay" everyone agreed immediately, she really didn't have any value in their life

"if you're done, can we leave" Ananya Oberoi asked her eyeing her empty plate

"yes, can we go like this or I need to change" she asked her Ananya oberoi no mom she corrected her brain

"yeah, sure" replied Ananya eying her attire, she was wearing a black & white checked shirt dress with sneakers

nodding she got up washed her hands and left the premises of oberoi mansion in a very beautiful looking car, she doesn't know much about cars but this one looked exceptionally beautiful and costly. her step mom....mom she again corrected herself was driving the car with exceptional ease.

"office on Sunday??" she asked gathering her courage

"no, sweetheart we aren't going to office, not at all on Sunday" her mom replied chuckling lightly

"then where are we going??" she asked suddenly alarmed

"that's a surprise darling" she spoke with mirth shining her eyes and her lips curved in an mischievous smile, she looked so stunning and happy like that, it was first time someone talked to her with so much love, she was ready to go with this lady anywhere to her utter surprise they went to Essel world. She could only dream of coming to this place. she always wanted to come and visit this place but never thought she will be able to.

"this was the surprise place???" She asked her mom her orbs wide and shining with excitement

"yeah, always wanted to come here just needed a partner, now look I got one, Okay Aru do you mind If I call you Aru" she nodded her head in negative frantically, she got a sweet nickname why would she mind' so, Aru I'll go and buy our tickets, you wait here under the tree shade alright"

She nodded in positive as she watched her mom walk towards the counter, her wandering eyes landed on five extremely familiar looking youngsters standing under shade with a lady, the kids turned their backs on her and stared the lady with them when the lady spoke something to them. She watched as all of them started replying same time maybe they were asking why they can't go in, they were unaware but she wasn't when she saw two men walking towards them, the two men tapped the shoulder of the girl and a boy. They both turned back their eyes widening comically as they both shouted together " BABA.....MAMU...." and jumped on the men, hugging the life out of them when two more women and another teenager join the group. joyful greetings were shared within the group, the girl still didn't let go of her father while her father was also holding her, smiling widely at her. She couldn't help but be envious of the girl for the amount of love her father held for her. the guy, the boy called "mamu" was also resting his hand on the boy's shoulder protectively, his eyes filled with immense love for the boy while the boy who newly joined the group was smiling happily watching the duo as they finally made their way inside the park while her mom also came back with the tickets and they also entered the park.

"we will go to the water kingdom and enjoy there first, okay" she asked her and she nodded obediently in reply, she was happy with where ever they go first. They went to the water kingdom rented two swimming costumes and went to change. She was able to change first, so she decided to wait for her mom outside while waiting her eyes landed on the boy hugging the life out of his mamu again. He was standing there wearing swimming shorts, his perfect six abs on display as he stood there checking his phone after every 1 min and moving his hands from his hairs messing them up, yet looking so hot and sexy. And she suddenly remembers why he looked so familiar, why won't he, he was the only source of joy in her dull school life, his dance videos and his songs inspired her, made her day better. He was her first crush before she found out that he was her half brother, he was the son of her father and the women, whose life her father and her real mother destroyed. He was Tanish Sekhawat. the guy whom her father cherish, the guy whose favorite dishes is made in OM on his every b'day even if the guy is never in OM.

Feeling her heated gaze on him, he approached her and at the same time, the only girl in their group came out of the washroom looking so beautiful and stunning in her black swimsuit as she interlinked her arms with his and both of them stared at her.

"Hi, I'm Tanish Sekhawat and this is my sister Kashika Randhawa," he introduced themselves politely, this guy really was different.

"hi," I replied meekly

"and you're miss," Kashika asked politely, smiling softly

"I....I'm A..a...aradh...ya...o...o..b.ero..i" she shuttered out her name, fearfully she knew they will hate her knowing her origins.

to be continued