A/N: Eid Mubarak and happy holidays! I hope everyone's having a great one.

***

As the men predicted, the Chandans were willing to relinquish the hotel in order to not offend the famed businessman, Vijay Arora and his son, the talented lawyer, Deepak Arora. Keeping to his word, Rohit also relinquished his bid on his land deal to obtain the hotel. To announce the momentous business deal, a press conference was called.

Everything at St. T was normal except this was Aarav's first day back since the incident. Kavya had just been dropped off when Aarav quickly stops her in her track.

"Aarav?" Kavya asked, surprised. "Why are you here? I thought you're still supposed to be resting?"

"I'm fine," he replied. "I need to talk to you about something."

Kavya nodded and he led her to a quieter part of the school.

"What do you know about this afternoon's press conference?" Aarav questioned.

"What press conference?" Kavya looked quizzically at him.

"I thought so," Aarav huffed. He hesitated but chose to tell her the truth after remembering her previous meltdown. "Your father... Our fathers are have agreed to a business deal."

Kavya's brows furrowed further.

"You know how our fathers hate each other," Aarav attempted. "Right?"

Kavya nodded.

"And business rivals?" He continued. Another nod. "So, you'd understand they don't do business together."

"Aarav!" Kavya got annoyed. "Why are you telling me this? I have to get to class."

"Ok," Aarav raised his hand in defense. "Saurabh's parents traded their hotel so that I won't press charges against him."

"Did you agree?" Kavya looked at Aarav wide eyed.

Aarav nodded, confirming her suspicion.

"Why?!" Kavya exclaimed. "Drugging people is a criminal offense. And what does that have to do with... My dad's involved with this?"

Aarav very reluctantly nodded. In the instance, he regretted it as he watched Kavya's expressions darken.

"I'm really fine with it," Aarav insisted. "If I didn't agree, the deal wouldn't have gone ahead. It's just business."

"Just business?" Kavya questioned. "In spite of everything, we're family."

"And that's precisely why I agreed to this," Aarav chimed in. "If they can agree to put aside their differences for a business deal..."

"Aarav!" Kavya stopped him. "Are you listening to yourself? A bunch of adults just used your life as a bargaining chip."

"There's no need to get so dramatic," he returned.

"You could have died!" Kavya shouted. "I don't know what's wrong with the entire family but I am disgusted with how easily everyone's willing to agree to trade your life for a business deal."

With this Kavya turned on her heels and left.

"Where are you going?" Aarav called after her.

"I'm going to find my dad," Kavya replied without turning to face him.

Aarav chose to let her go. She needed answers and he wasn't going to stop her from finding it.

In the morning rush, Kavya managed to slip out of school and called a taxi. When she got to the office building, she walked right up to the private lift. Coincidentally, the lift opened to reveal Aman, her father's company lawyer and best friend. She's only met him once when he dropped off some documents at her mother's house.

"Kavya?" Aman was surprised at the girl's appearance. "What are you doing here? Does your father know you're here."

She shook her head.

"I'm looking for him," she answered.

"He's not here," Aman revealed. "He's at..."

Aman stopped himself.

"I know about the press conference," she said. "That's why I'm here."

"Give me a minute," he told Kavya as he stepped out. "Let me call your father."

Aman speed dialed Rohit and explained the situation to him. Kavya could only watch as Aman held a poker face.

"He's at the hotel going through some last minute things with Deepak," Aman stated when the call ended. "I'll drive you there."

Aman led Kavya to his car. Once they were inside, he spoke.

"Your father's calling your mother and the school to let them know you're not going in," Aman finally spoke.

Kavya nodded.

"There's going to be media there," Aman continued. "So, you'll need to be careful."

Another nod.

"Give your father the benefit of the doubt," he added. "Things aren't always what it seems."

Kavya didn't respond to that. Silence took hold of the car.

"You've known my dad since you were kids, right?" Kavya broke her silence.

Aman took a moment to realize the question was directed to him.

"Yes," he replied.

"Were they happy together?" Kavya asked. "My parents?"

This was what Aman had feared. Rohit had never questioned that aspect of his life despite finding out the truth. However, to have it coming Kavya... That was a different situation.

"Why are you asking me?" Aman inquired, clearly uncomfortable.

"My dad doesn't remember and my mom won't talk about it," she revealed. "I just wanted to know if they were ever happy."

Aman nodded.

"I've never seen them happier than with each other, especially your father," Aman reminisced. "I guess that was, until you came along. You became his life."

"How did my dad turn into... This?" Kavya gestured.

"Rohit had been 'this' his whole life," Aman replied. "But 'this' doesn't mean he's heartless. I don't know how your father thinks, but I know he doesn't mean any malice. We're here."

Kavya looked out of the car to see her dad waiting for her. She hadn't noticed that they had reached the hotel carpark. Rohit opened the door and thanked Aman as Kavya stepped out cautiously.

"Keep your head low there's media people around," he told her as he guided her through the carpark. "We're taking the stairs. It's only a floor up."

Kavya did as she was told and kept her head down and eyes trained to the floor. The cement floor gave way to carpet and not long, she was ushered into one of the rooms. She looked up to see Deepak and a vaguely familiar older man.

Vijay felt his breath hitch as the girl's gaze landed on him. Her eyes. They were the same as those he fell in love with, the same as those that cried over him and the same as those who now look at him with utmost distain.

"Just give me one more minute," Rohit spoke, snapping him out of his thoughts.

And then they were gone.

In the smaller inner room, Kavya braced herself for a lecture that never came. Instead, Rohit stood at the opposite side, watching and waiting for her to speak up.

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Kavya inquired.

"Aarav was the one who insisted that he would be the one to break the news to you," Rohit replied.

"Aarav could have died!" Kavya lashed out at the mention of Aarav's name. "How did you think this deal was a good idea?! What made you think trading Aarav's life for a hotel is worth it?"

"If it were up to me," Rohit stated. "That boy would be rotting in jail."

"Then why isn't he?" Kavya demanded.

"There's something you need to understand," Rohit explained. "This hotel isn't like any random business dealing. Trading off this hotel could mean financial ruin for the Chandans. It's their main source of income. The fact that they're willing to exchange it for their son's freedom isn't something that comes lightly. If you think justice hasn't been dealt, that's on you because Aarav and Deepak thinks that this is enough. They were the ones who agreed on the trade off. You might think this is ruthless but this is business."

"Then why are you here?" Kavya pushed on.

"If you recalled," Rohit clarified. "There's a bidding war on a plot of land. As of today, the Arora Group are the sole bidders of that plot of land after my company pulled out of the deal citing funding issues. This funding issue stems from acquiring a new property from the Arora Group, a.k.a., this hotel."

"Why?" Kavya was utterly loss in the narrative.

"Because the opposite will happen if the Aroras hold on to the hotel," Rohit divulged.

"You're helping them?" Kavya couldn't believe her ears.

"If they can agree to put aside their differences for a business deal..."

Aarav's voice echoed in her head.

"That boy tried to harm you," Rohit admitted. "I couldn't let that slide. You might call it help but I have a personal vendetta with that boy as well."

Suddenly, a knock sound permeated through the room.

"Rohit," it was Aman. "It's almost time."

Rohit gave Kavya one last concerned look.

"Stay here until I get you," he instructed. "Don't move."

In the silence of the room, Kavya thought about everything Aarav, Aman and her dad had said. An idea suddenly begun forming in her mind.

***

A/N: Any guesses what Kavya's idea is? I'm so excited.