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"Manipulation? Or love?"

Riddhima's POV:

I look at Sia whose face is hidden in Aryan's chest to hide her tears. Sia has been crying for an hour while Ishani looks worried. Pacing around the room is Angre. Vansh is inside ICU with doctors and there is still no news.

The pain of the wound in my ankle is making my feel dizzy now. Although the nurse took out that piece of glass and stitched it, I didn't took the painkiller that would mean I need to rest and I can't right now.

"You are giving me a headache, Angre." I say biting my lips so as my worried voice doesn't escape. Aryan called him just as we brought Vansh to the hospital while he even asked Sanskar to bring Sia and Ishani. 

I don't know where Sanskar is. He left as soon as he looked at me being worried about Vansh. I respect his feelings but he can't force me in this whole scenario. 

"Angre. Please Stop it." Ishani says and he stops parading only to start again after a few minutes.

"Riddhima, How did this happen?" I look up at Angre who voiced that question, now standing in front of me. 

"I have no idea." I say dropping my head on my hand. But still I got each one of their attentions.

"What do you mean you have no idea? You called Aryan to rescue him. You atleast know something." Ishani says coming to stand beside Angre. 

"I just got a message from him that he was waiting for me. I immediately went to look for him and that's where I..." I am interrupted with loud footsteps echoing across the corridors. 

Each one of us turn to look at the noise. A man dressed in Black Armani - Armani is it? If I'm not wrong - is coming towards us with two bodyguards beside him and two police officer after them. Who is he? I stand on my feet stumbling, cause at least I know police officers are here because of the case.

"Hi, I am Rehaan Oberoi. I am the owner of the hotel and one of the host of the masquerade party." He says extending his hands towards Angre who shakes it immediately. Does he know him? And Oberoi as in Armaan's brother? "I got to know about the case with Mr. Raisinghania. I hope he is fine."

His voice is calm but concerned? Definitely not. 

"He is inside ICU. We are waiting for doctors to come out." Angre says and I just look at them.

"Well. I am here because this can cause an unwanted controversies about my hotel. Which I don't want so I hope you won't share it with media." He comes straight to the point and he is threating us - so there it is the real voice behind the calm and allured face. 

"Why won't we? This whole damn thing happened inside your hotel. My brother was inside a cold storage for god knows how long. We have no idea what his condition his right now. And you are saying we won't inform the police officers?" Ishani says her voice raising with every word but before she can say something Angre holds her hand to stop.

"Miss. I think you don't know who you are talking to. Control your tongue." A police officer said that. Like can you believe? A police officer. That leaves us stunned even Ishani. But he doesn't say anything further as Rehaan shows him his hand to stop him.

"Ms. Raisinghania. I know what you are going through right now. But I would want you to wait for Mr. Raisinghania before you do anything you will regret." What the hell does he mean? And what is wrong with Aryan and Angre? Why are they not saying anything? "I will be waiting here for Mr. Raisinghania's statement."

"Why? So that you can force him to change the statement." I say folding my hands on my chest.

"Indebt person don't get use their vocals with us. Ms. Riddhima." I hear him say and I am left flabbergasted as he just smiles on my reaction and goes to sit on the chair while officers spread around the corridor. How does he know? But Of course brothers would know these things.

We wait for fifteen minutes until a doctor comes out and looks at us. I rush to listen to him stumbling from one foot to another.

"He is stable but still needs rest. He has cold and a fever so you will have to take care of him for few days. We will be keeping him here for observation today and you can take him tomorrow in the morning." I nod at his words.

"Is he conscious?" Voice comes from behind me where Rehaan is still sitting but looking at the doctor.

"Yes sir. But only two can go inside at a time." He nods at doctor's obedient voice. He signs him to leave and he does. Is this his hospital? Shouldn't we have known that waiters would ask them to bring us to his hospital so as he can easily threaten us to keep the case under folds?

Before we can decide who will. I see Rehaan and a police officer going in from the periphery of my vision. Ishani rushes to stop him. But one of the guards pull the door close and Angre pulls her back.

"Have you lost your mind? Do you even know who he is?" I hear Angre say holding Ishani's arms.

"I don't and I don't care. What if he does something with Bhai?" Ishani says voicing my thoughts.

"He won't and don't worry Boss knows who he is." Angre says and that's enough to silent each one of the siblings. Sia looks worried as Ishani holds her in her embrace and I go back to sit on the chair thinking my turn is going to be taking time. 

"Riddhima, your wound." I hear Sia's concerned voice and look down at my feet. My footsteps are made of blood. Stitches came out. I can feel my head getting heavy. I should have taken that painkiller.

"Riddhima...try to open your eyes." I hear Aryan's concerned voice as he rushes to hold me and to stop me from falling but my head is... - hurting and I have difficulty in breathing. 

"Stay with us please." Sia says her tears now dried up and her voice concerned but I do lose conscious.

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I look at the clock, it's been half an hour and I am lying on the bed of one of the hospital rooms. The injury. I crane my neck to look down at my wound. New bandage means new stitches. 

Aryan's enters the room after a minute and relaxes when he sees me awake. "You okay now?" I nod and watches as he comes closer. "You want to talk to Vansh."

"Does he want to??" He nods immediately. "Then I think I will need your help."

Hesitating for a second or two, he lifts me bridal style so as I don't put any pressure to the wound.

Vansh's POV:

I can feel someone hitting my head with a hammer. Opening my eyes, I don't see anything only darkness. I blink and it feels something is on kept my eyelids. I feel a prick on my left arm and after few seconds. I can feel the pain decreasing.

Opening my eyes, I am instantly attacked with lights. I blink to clear my vision and then come across a doctor. Doctor? What happened?

I close my again and try to recall everything. Party-Riddhima-Message-Cold Storage-Wine-... Everything barge inside my head as a reel being unfolded. Opening my eyes I again look at the doctor. "How do you feel?"

"My head is hurting a little and my body feels numb." I say and blink to not let in blurry image again.

"That's good. We gave you painkillers and you will feel better in a while. I hope you know what's the day and date?" I hear his words and nod.

"Thursday, 14 September 2024. I was in a party." He nods looking impressed and tells me something about my family. As if his words had magic the pain fades away as soon as he leaves.

After a minute or two. I hear the door opening and turn to look at Rehaan Oberoi entering with a police officer. Of course he got to know. 

"Mr. Raisinghania. I'm here to take your statement." Police officer says but I know the deal that's going to be held tomorrow is important. I can't let this affect us and our reputation any way. Even if I have hold over mafia. It's one fourth to what they have. Oberois are constantly taking over the whole Mumbai in just a month of their arrival.

I can't let this affect my family by telling about their waiter and all.

"I was looking for someone but then I was one who opened the door to the cold storage and entered and fell. The door closed on its own and I was locked inside. There was no signal for me to call for help." I say hiding the fact about masked man and that waiter taking my phone.

"Then there is no FIR going to be filed again the hotel?" I shake my head and look as the officer nods at me and Mr. Oberoi, who signs him to leave with this index and middle finger. And he does.

"What happened?" I hear Rehaan ask as he sits on the sofa beside the window. 

"I think it was one of my enemy." I say and he raises his eyebrows.

"You know Mr. Raisinghania about the deal that going to be held between us. Your enemies could even turn out to become ours." He says and gets up."I think we should postpone our meeting for a week. You need rest."

 I nod as I get he is not concerned about my health rather he is giving me time to end this enemy. "I will need the CCTV footage to check. You can ask Angre to accompany you."

He nods and leaves the room. After a while or so Ishani and Sia comes inside worried. I calm them down and then it's Aryan, who tells me about Angre leaving with Mr. Oberoi. I nod already knowing the reason.

But I get to see the face I want to see after half an hour of my siblings leaving. Riddhima comes inside stumbling. But my eyes lands on her feet.

"That wound?" I ask concerned about how she got injured. 

"Nothing serious. Just a piece of glass." I feel relaxed and watch as she stumbles a bit closer.

Her face worried as she eyes me from head to toe. Looking at no injury she exhales a breath and then her eyes land on mine. Her cheeks turns red - Damn she is blushing. Coming closer she takes the stool beside my bed and sits on it.

"I hope you are fine." I just nod at her words and her face tells that she is relieved. 

"Riddhima, you messaged me to come to help you. Where were you?" I soften my voice and look at her confused face.

"I messaged you. No Vansh. That's not possible." I hear her deny the reason something like this even happened to me.

"You did. I have the proof. Check your phone." I see and she shows me the screen and I go through the message. The last one was what I said when I was already inside the storage area and she messaged me with her question but before that there is nothing. "You did. I had received those messages. My phone."

Oh shit, that fake waiter took it. I huff and look around frustrated could it be one of those enemies who send me the message but how did they even got the hold of Riddhima's phone? 

"Was this phone always with you during the party?" I ask her and looks at her calmly I don't want to scare her after everything I have already done in the past.

"Yes..." She says and starts fumbling with her fingers. She is scared. "Wait No. I left it inside the room when I went to use the washroom."

"Were you alone?" I ask, sensing that something isn't right.

"For a while. Yes," she replies, and that response sends alarm bells ringing in my mind. For a while? What does that mean? I voice my thoughts, and she begins to open up about Armaan and Sanskar coming inside. She speaks genuinely, as if she trusts me enough to share everything about her past and her struggles. As she recounts her sufferings, guilt washes over me, twisting in my chest. I can't shake the feeling that I've contributed to her pain in some way. It's a heavy reminder of our shared history, and I want nothing more than to take her hurt away.

But then what she tells about Armaan's behavior. It makes me rethink the deal that's about to go down. I can't harm them; that would only backfire on me. But I can't stand by and let them hurt her. I won't let anyone hurt my woman and walk away unscathed. Wait... my woman? I shake off the thought, focusing instead on the bigger picture. But how did Sanskar know she was upstairs in that room? 

"How did Sanskar got to know about you being in that room?" I say and she looks up at me in the eye.

"I don't know." She says and looks away. There's more at play here than I initially realized, and I need to get to the bottom of it. Is she still hiding something? "You should rest. I'll leave."

"No. Stay." I say instantly holding her hand. "I mean medication hasn't taken any effect and I don't want to be alone. Anyway, Aryan said you rescued me. So, Thanks."

"It's ok." She nods and look at me.

"By the way. Wasn't breaking wine bottles a great move? You can say I'm intelligent." I say trying to lighten up the mood inside the room and it happens she breaks into a laugh. That sweet melody of her laughing makes a smile break on to my face. 

"Won't lie. I'm impressed." Riddhima says chuckling and looking at my face. "I didn't knew you were this intelligent."

"Hey, I am, and I always have been. I have a whole empire built on intelligence," I say, a swell of pride in my chest. I notice a smile creeping onto her face as she nods, a spark of admiration in her eyes.

"Riddhima, can I get your phone?" I ask, my tone shifting slightly, eager to bridge the gap between us. The moment feels charged, and I can't help but hope she senses the sincerity behind my request.

I see her nod and she hands me her phone. I instantly dial Angre as he went to the hotel to take CCTV footage. From the periphery of my vision, I see Riddhima slowly move towards the sofa and pick up a glass of water.

"Angre, ask them to give the footage when Riddhima went inside a room of the hotel and till the moment she came back." I say as soon as the call gets connected and hears his 'yes boss'. "And send me now. I even need a new phone with every contact."

Disconnecting the call, I turn back to Riddhima as she drinks water from the glass. Her hair flowing because of the wind. With me looking at her, she turns to look at me. 

"You want something?" I hear her ask as she comes closer to me.

"You." She raises her eyebrows while her flustered face looks amusing. "I mean, Can I get a hug?"

Her mouth opens and closes as if searching for words. I left her speechless. "A Hug? You mean Vansh Raisinghania. Wants a hug? From me?"

"Why am I not a human? Don't I have feelings? I just feel too tired after such a long and tiring day." I say and watch as she comes closer. 

Spreading my arms, I wait for her to hug me. While I was inside the cold storage for a moment I felt like I have missed so many things in my life and I just wanted a day to fulfill them. I missed my childhood moments, my mom, sisters, not to lie even my brother and Angre. But definitely in the first and last second, Riddhima was constant in my mind.

I have no idea, why that deep buried liking is making its way back to my heart now. But I feel my heart flutter every time I look at her. I have no idea, if I am feeling something for her. Is it love? 

May be this hug isn't just for me, even she needed it cause she comes closer and lying her head on my chest hugs me. This position might look uncomfortable to someone. But her arms around me give mind a peace. 

I look down at her and she how she is leaning towards with her waist in a painful twist and her ankle must be hurting. Scooting closer to the edge I try to give her comfort. She puts a hand on my chest to stop me.

"Stop. What are you doing? You will get hurt." She says worried and tries to leave the hug. But I tighten my arms more to stop her. 

"Don't please. I'm fine." She checks me and lays back her head. I cup her cheeks with my right hand. 

For a while, neither one of us say anything. I just breathe in her scent. But then her voice comes to me.

"Vansh, why did you do those things with me in the past? You bought me? Why?" She asks the question which I was dreading to hear.

"I...I am sorry. I don't know. May be I wanted you to fall in love with me cause neither I have ever been loved nor anyone has ever looked at me with love apart from Anu mom and my siblings. But even being abnormal I want someone to love me. Just ME AND NO ONE ELSE." I say emphasizing the last sentence. But she breaks the hug and moves apart from me.

"That's not how you love someone or even make them fall in love with me. I'm tired of telling everyone that love can't be forced. You can't make me love you. I can't love you if I don't feel anything for you." I hear her raise her voice as if she is irritated. Tired of telling everyone? Who else did she told about it? But right now that's not point. She is talking to me about past. That's what I need from her - to clear these misunderstanding between us. I need her to talk. I need to answer her.

"Riddhima, I kno..." I am interrupted by her voice.

"No you don't Vansh. You don't. You don't make some love you by marking them with a knife. You don't make some love you by holding a knife on their throat. You don't make some love you by buying them as if they an object. No Vansh You don't know how I felt during those moments. I felt caged even when I was in no cage. I felt lonely even when I was with your family members." I can see the tears marring her cheeks as she angrily wipes them. "I should be the one wanting to feel loved. My father and step mother sold me to you as debt and you bought me. The moment I met you in the middle of the road, I didn't liked you but you yourself turned my dislike to hatred. I wanted to study I told you b...but forget about it. You need rest."

She says instantly dropping the topic and making her way away from me. I stand on my feet and tug her closer, pulling her towards me by her waist. I look at her wide and slightly reddish eyes that she has from crying. 

Before she can wriggle or protest I drop my lips on hers to calm her anger and make her feel my emotions. I know the doctor asked me to rest but I need her closer more than I need to breathe. I don't deepen the kiss just lay it on her lips. Gladly or to my luck, she closes her eyes and takes a deep breathe relaxing. But her anger is still there is she even going to forgive me? No hope gotten yet as she pulls back and tries to move away but I don't let her. I don't give her time to process what I did and start putting my POV.

"Riddhima, I know whatever I did was wrong. When I first looked at you I didn't knew anything about you but your anger and charm still got to my heart. I had no intention to make you feel caged. But I wanted to marry you. I would have given you every space, time but after our wedding. Which never happened. When I told about my behavior towards you to Anu mom, she was so angry that she slapped me, scolded me and stopped talking to me for weeks. I understand I committed a sin. But I just wanted you to love me like I love you. I never had any bad intention towards you." I say and look at her eyes. Her anger getting calm.

"I have no idea if you had bad intention or good. But you did hurt me. I'm not forgiving you. Not this easily." I nod at her words in anger.

"But you can stay with me here tonight. Just for few hours." She thinks about it for a while and looking at the sofa she nods. No way she is going to sleep on the sofa? But I have no right to stop her. YET. "Angre will send a video to you and will send a new phone. Can you ask Aryan to bring it inside when it comes? And even tell them to go back home you will stay here and Rehaan keeps this place safe. They don't have to worry."

"Aren't medication taking any effect?" I chuckle at her words and lay back on the bed. "By the way, with everything going on I forgot to ask. How did you even end up inside the cold storage?" 

"A waiter stole my phone. I think he was fake one, he even told me you were inside cold storage and a masked man pushed me inside. When I went to check if you were there or not." I say recalling the moments. I haven't told about this to anyone just her.

"You went in there for me? To save me?" I hear her question even when she is saying it as fact.

"Anywhere for you sweetheart." I say with a smirk and she as she rushes out of the room flustered probably to inform them.

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Precap: I look at her bound to a chair and feel anger and hatred towards her. Just why I did that?

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