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"The Masquerade Party."

Author's POV:

Looking at herself in the mirror in the heavy black gown, Riddhima couldn't figure out whether she was ready to have a conversation with Vansh about their past, every betrayal was still like a recent memory for her. Doesn't matter how many months or years ago those incidents took place.

There was a masquerade party in the honor of one of her colleague's relocation to this city and coincidentally Mr. Raisinghania's family was also invited as her colleague's eldest brother was a Business tycoon and a business friend of Vansh Raisinghania. Who knew what new twist and turns this party is going to bring into their peaceful life.

Riddhima's POV:

Yes, I'm going to go against the advice of one of my best friend and will finally ask him directly. "I'm Ready" I say to myself.

"Are you Ready?" hearing Sanskar's voice suddenly I looked back at him covered in a dark blue coat and pant with a peak of white shirt coming. "Riddhima, Oh. My. God. You look gorgeous."

"Really?" I asked as I looked at him eyeing me from my toe to head. Finally getting an eye contact I see him nod.

"Ofcourse. Let's Go." He says extending his left arm toward me. Joining his arm, we leave the room and make our way downstairs.

"Where is Sejal?" I ask looking up at him.

"You don't know?"

"Don't know what?"

"Sejal left for Delhi last night. Actually her mom was in hospital and she was getting extremely worried. So, I asked her to go back to her." I'm shocked. Like seriously. My best friend's mom was in hospital and I didn't even knew about it.

"Why she didn't tell me? And what kind of boyfriend you are? Why you didn't told me and what are you doing here?" I ask looking at our chats on my phone and literally being angry at him for being such a damn idiot.

"I'll join her within a week. Last night you were so tensed when I told Sejal about your condition, she asked me to take care of you and stay here. And how can I be with her when her mom doesn't even know about our relationship. You know how kinda Orthodox her family is." hearing him voice out those points. I know it's making sense but still Sejal would never leave so suddenly without telling me.

"Hmm...Still I think I should call her." I say already dialing her number. After a while I hear the computer voice saying her phone is switched off. "It's switched off."

"She must have forgotten to turn on her phone." Sanskar answers.

"May be... Will call her later tonight. Let's go."

Getting a nod from him we leave the mansion and make our way towards his car. Getting inside, I wait for him to drive and still nothing happens. That gurgling sound of car.

"What's wrong?" I ask looking at his confused face.

"I don't know. Look the tank is full. I think something is wrong with the car." He says still twisting the key in it's place. "Damn rentals. I think we should book a Cab."

"Hmm...I'll do." I say getting out of the car.

Vansh's POV:

Sitting alone inside the car, I scroll through my emails and meanwhile getting mentally prepared for the party. A knock on my car's window draws my attention. I look up at my three siblings with their biggest smiles pasted on their faces.

"What do you all want?" I ask being aware there must be some reason for such a big smile on their face.

"Since we all are joining you. We need your help." Ishani says as if I should be aware about their plan.

"Why will you three be joining us? It's a business party. You all are not invited." I say being totally aware that a plus one is allowed in the party. But they are not coming with us at all.

"What do you mean? We know a plus one is allowed." Aryan states joining their gang. Seriously? What do they want?

"A plus one, dumbhead. You all are three." I say starting to roll up my car's window.

"Don't worry about it. We've an idea." Sia says looking up from my car's head. "Riddhima. Can you come here, please?"

Hearing her yell Riddhima's name I look in that direction to see Riddhima and Sanskar talking in front of their car.

That black gown she is cladded in makes her look heavenly gorgeous. An off-shoulder showing off Riddhima's little mole on her neck. 

Hearing Sia's loud voice Riddhima looks up at her and nods. Walking towards my car. I notice Sanskar's curious eyes constantly following her and then he looks at me and gives a smile.

A FAKE one for sure.

"Riddhima we need your help." I look up from my car's window to hear Sia asks holding Riddhima's hand in hers.

"Yeah sure. If I can I will try. Say it." Riddhima asks looking at the trio.

"Since even Sanskar is joining you as an invited guest can we three join you three as your plus one. Please." Aryan says.

"Umm... I don't think so." Hearing Sanskar's voice everyone starts to look at him. "I mean that's not how it works. You all are Mr. Raisinghania's family members."

"So what, Riddhima is one of our family members." Sia says replying back to Sanskar in anger.

Like what is wrong with these three and what they'll be doing in such a party - masquerade and business party.

"I think it's perfectly okay Sanskar, we can do this." Riddhima says agreeing to their wishes. All while I just know I'm not a part of this fu*king conversation.

"But Ridd... " Before Sanskar to complete his sentence, he is interrupted by the sound of car pulling up outside the Mansion. "Cab is here. Let's go, Riddhima."

"No wait..." Ishani's sudden voice comes before Riddhima could even take a step. "How can you both go together. I mean, look we three are your plus one. And you all will need to go in there with your plus one. Right?"

This is sick!

"Yeah, but we all can meet together outside the venue and go in together. Right?" Sanskar frustrated voice surrounds us.

I know Sanskar has total point but I even get what my damn siblings are doing right now. And they are go to go through hell for putting me through this.

"Like come on. Don't you know about Mumbai's traffic. What if one of us gets stuck there. Then?" Ishani says getting an agreement for the other two. "So, I'm Vansh Bhai's plus one, Sia is for Riddhima and Aryan for Sanskar. Right?

"I think it's fine Sanskar. At the end we all are going to same place right. We can come meet there." Riddhima says looking at him to convince him.

"Fine." Sanskar agrees reluctantly to her request.

"So let's go. Cab is waiting." Aryan says moving towards the cab.

Why the damn are they all already dresses as if they were sure, we are going to agree? We? When did I even agreed to their demand and when did I gave them the permission?

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Riddhima's POV:

Giving my Invitation card at the entrance I enter and take out the mask from my bag. Looking around at everyone cladded in one of their best gowns I can't even be sure that do I even fit in such a high class party of Oberoi's family. Well.., It's not just an invitation to me - he is going to ask me to pay my debt.

Oberoi's - this family comes from old money. Each one of their siblings have a flourished business while having goods, property and wealth in abundance. They even have contact with bad society. There relocation to Mumbai must be cause of some major reason. I didn't want any connection with such a family until one of their brother - who was my senior in the college - helped me in getting admission in Delhi's college to complete my studies. I'm still indebt to him. 

I wouldn't have came here if I knew Vansh knows them. This could turn out be a major problem for their business and for my life. That's why I took Sia as my plus one so as to not give them any sign. Fumbling with my fingers, I look around the hotel in search of the second brother of the family. Hopefully I don't think he is here yet.

"How do you even know them, Riddhima?" Aryan asks. Everyone is tying their masks.

"We were.." I'm interrupted by Sanskar.

"Why do you want to know?" Sanskar says still frustrated by our previous conversation. But that wasn't the big deal. Right?

"It's ok, Sanskar. Actually one of their family members was my colleague." I tell him to end his curiousness but not giving any hints for how do I know them so much?

"If you all done. So can we go and enjoy the party." Vansh says unknowingly reaching to my rescue. 

After a while everyone goes in different direction and Sanskar still stays beside me. I really don't want to mingle with any one who comes to this party. My hands are still slightly shaking, I need to stay away from there eyes. 

Taking a glass of juice in my hand, I try to blend in the shadow's of the corner where no one will you notice me.

"Why did you even agree to their rubbish demands?" Sanskar asks interrupting my thoughts.

"Sanskar, please. Let's end the matter." I say now becoming frustrated because of his constant problem with their innocent request. Sanskar doesn't know anything about my situation.

"I didn't mean it in that way, but if it bothers you then fine." I nod finally he won't bother me with this. "What is the problem? Why are you so tensed?"

"I'm..." I'm interrupted by a deep manly voice coming from behind me.

"Are you, Riddhima?" I can't forget this voice, turning around I look at The Armaan Oberoi - a best doctor for the world and god knows what from the inside.

Covered in complete black tuxedo with a peak of white shirt in middle and the upper two buttons open which is still showing his chest hair. A black mask covers his eyes.

"No. I'm not tensed." I say trying to calm my heart rate as not to give him any idea. 

"Good. How are you?" Armaan asks with a fake polite tone, like he cares.

"I'm fine." I say looking at him. "Thanks for inviting me."

"I hope you WILL enjoy the party." Armaan says briefly eyeing Sanskar. I get the voice, he wants to talk personally but I don't want to. Still I nod and watch him leave.

"Did he just ignore me." Sanskar says from behind. And I chuckle.

"You know him personally?" I ask and look at him to see him smile at me and shake his head.

"But you do?" I nod and then start to mingle with those whom I know.

After an hour of talking with few of those whom I know from college, I leave the party and make my way towards the restroom to take a break from the chaos going through my brain.

Moving along the corridors, I ask a waiter to show me the restroom. I move in the direction he showed and open the door to make into a bedroom. 

Looking around to confirm it's empty, I enter closing the door behind me and make my way towards the bathroom.

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Precap: 

"Riddhima..try to open your eyes." I hear his voice but I can feel my pulse rate is decreasing and my head - it is hurting. "Stay with me, please."

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Hey guys that's it for today I hope you all liked it and do share your views and suggestions with me it motivates me to write more.

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Krisha💚