Riddhima looked at the beach house in awe

Don't know why but she felt an instant peace the second she stepped out of VR MANSION
BUT she can't leave vansh's family while those two monsters were still lurking around
She just hopes that this meeting gets over soon so that they could go back.

Vihaan smiled seeing her serene expressions

Angre's idea was not that bad

Indeed keeping her away from that mental house hold was best for her.

Vi: dollar biwi
Go get freshen up
At evening one of the business associate is coming, we both have to meet him

Riddhima looked at him dazed

Were they supposed to share the room here too?

Vi: my room is right next to yours
Call me if you need anything

Riddhima sighed in relief

Walking into her room, she fell on the bed with a thud but sleep was far way from her eyes

It had been the same since the vansh fell from the cliff

She was struggling to sleep since

Taking out the bottle of sleeping pills, she popped on into her mouth

As the pill started doing its magic, riddhima slowly drifted into a calm sleep.

Evening:

Vihaan welcomed the business associate and sat down with him discussing god knows what

Riddhima looked at his partner uncomfortably

By the time he has gotten here, he had been stealing glanced at her

Eying her as if analysing her

Feeling suffocated, riddhima got up from there and left to her room.

As soon as she left, vihaan turned to the man and asked

Vi: what do u think arjun?

A: i will be very honest with you
The medicine which you showed me, that she is taking and observing her closely, i have came to only one conclusion
She is in severe depression
There is a constant fight going on in her mind
One side she wants to be free and happy
And other side, she wants to protect each and every member of her family , without caring that those people are toxic for her.
Vansh's death has effected her badly
You will have to be very gentle with her
One wrong move can compel her to take some drastic step.

Make her comfortable with yourself
So that she opens up to you
She should feel soo comfortable that she should place her heart infront of you
Only this way she would be at peace
She wants to trust someone
But her past experiences have made it impossible for her to share her inner turmoil

Vihaan nodded with full determination

Vi: one more thing
(Secret conversation)

A: no
Don't even think about it
At this point
It can be proved very dangerous for her.

Vihaan nodded

Arjun took his leave and went from there.

Vihaan knocked on riddhima's door

R: come in

Vi: hey
Come lets go for dinner

R: iam not hungry

Vi: seriously dollar biwi
You haven't eaten anything since morning
Plus iam very hungry

R; then go and eat

Vi: naaaah
You are coming with me and yes
You will be paying for our meal
You know
My fees for dealing with that business associate

R; fine

Vihaan smiled

Oh he knows how to get his work done

Moving out, both were headed to a fancy restaurant

Vi: what do u want to eat??

R: anything would do

Vi: come on dollar biwi
Were you always this boring

Riddhima's eyes welled up

R: no
I was a very chirpy and fun loving girl
But then
A storm came
And the old riddhima died a very painful death

Vihaan cupped her face

Vi: the old riddhima is still alive
She has just built a steel wall around her
She needs to break it and emerge more powerful and lively than before

Riddhima looked at him overwhelmed

Vi: so dollar biwi
Fancy restaurant
Or road side spicy burger

Riddhima hesitated for a second but then slowly whispered

R: pizza

Vihaan smiled

Thats what he wanted
He wanted her to voice out her desires
He wanted her to smile
He wanted to bring her to life
And he would do that, no matter what it takes.

Vi: well, pizza is on me,
Only if you beat me in race to the pizza store

Saying so Vihaan started running

Riddhima too followed him

Riddhima finally reached the store before him

Vi: not bad

Riddhima smiled while taking deep breaths

It felt soo good to be free after soo long

Next morning:

Riddhima walked into the kitchen to see vihaan preparing breakfast

Vihaan saw her and smiled

Vi: good morning dollar biwi

R: good morning
How long do we have to stay here?

Vi: don't know
Why?

R: we have left the whole family alone at the mercy of kabir and anupriya

Vi: chill riddhima

R: i cannot
They are my family

Vi: oh really
Did they ever consider you as their family
The answer is a big fat no
Only you consider them your family

R: dadi and sia love me

Vi: really??
Well as for now sia is in coma
And if dadi would have considered you family
She would have not asked you to get married to kabir

R: i dont care
Vansh was their protector
And because of me, he is gone
Its my duty to protect them all

Vi: kabir and anupriya wont do anything
They only harm the family to make you vulnerable
Because they know, that family is your weakness
Besides, angre is there to protect them

R: but

Vi: riddhima
Iam also not enjoying here
We are here on a business trip not on holiday
As soon as vansh's work finishes, we will go back

Riddhima nodded

Vi: come on now
Have your breakfast
And plzzz
Give this brain of yours some rest

R: pancakes?
How do u know that they are my favourite

Vi: i have my ways dollar biwi

Riddhima rolled her eyes and settled down on the dining table

Vi: so,

R: so?

Vi: tell me something about yourself

R: you know me
Iam riddhima vansh rai singhania

Vi: riddhima
You have an identity other than being mrs vansh rai singhania, i want to know about that.
I want to know riddhima, the one without the rai singhania's surname

R: i....i

Vi: come on

Riddhima played with her fingers

Vi: okay,
Tells do one thing
You tell me one thing about your self
And then
I will tell you one thing about myself
Cool?

Riddhima hesitated a bit but then said

R: iam a physiotherapist

Vi: iam a hacker and businessman

R: you are a businessman???
Then why did you take money from me to play vansh

Vi: because iam a businessman
Come on riddhima
Not everyone is kind like you
This world is selfish
No one helps another without their benefit

R: i live in sunshine orphanage

Vi: well, you have already seen my house

R: i wanted to be a cardiac surgeon

Vi: really?
Then why did u choose physiotherapy?

R: I had secured a seat in one of the best medical collage but they gave away my seat to some other students because the principal was bribed by the rich parents
I had no choice than to choose physiotherapy

Vi: iam soo sorry

R: its fine
Time healed that wound too

Vi: i wanted to be a basket ball player
But after my dad's death, all responsibilities fell on me
I had no other choice but to give up my dreams

Riddhima squeezed his hand lightly

Vihaan smiled at her

R: i had many friends but sejal is my best friend

Vi: you are lucky you had friends

R: you never had friends?

Vi: never got the opportunity to make friends

R: i love playing guitar

Vi: i love playing basketball

R: i had only one boyfriend in my entire life

Vi: kabir?

R:hmm

Vi: i too had only one girlfriend
She was a betrayer too
She just loved my money

R: and mine just wanted to use me as a pawn to take revenge from vansh

Vi: we will not let him succeed riddhima

R: whatever we do, we can't bring vansh back

Vi: iam soo sorry

R: oh, I forgot to tell you the most important aspect of my life

IAM AN ORPHAN

VI: and iam an orphan despite having a family

R: being an orphan was never a curse for me
But now that I remember  how people used me just because i had no one to call as mine, I realise that indeed being an orphan is a curse.

Vi: this world is evil riddhima
If one wants to survive
He will have to make himself of stone
Thats what my life taught me

R: iam tired

Vi: i know
Just remember
I will always be there for you

R: they all say this
But no one stays
Everyone leaves

Vihaan tried to lighten up the mood

Vi: come on dollar biwi
Lets go to beach

Riddhima didn't argue

Both walked up to the beach

Riddhima sighed happily feeling the cold wind kissing her face

Vihaan held her hand and led her near the ocean

Both dipped their feet into the cold water

Riddhima felt a wave of peace wash over her

Vihaan smiled seeing her relaxed

Hands intertwined
Both basked in the glory of eachother's presence

Unaware to them, a pair of eyes was watching them seething in anger.

Who do u think was watching them??