Aaina could feel the weight of the gazes on her. The eyes on her was suffocating her. And it didn't help that she had avoided crowds like this for more than a decade, avoided parties like plague. Well, parties that didn't take place in the four walls of the places she had known as home surrounded by the few people she knows and can call her own.

She hadn't attended any official party even as the top lawyer of her region. She hadn't attended any social gatherings or such events for years. But here she is now. Forced by circumstances and life that totally isn't under her control.

In her mind, she is making plans to make someone feel extremely guilty if anything goes wrong tonight. She'll definitely give him an earful. Who sends her here in such a short notice? She'll definitely make him feel as bad as she is feeling right now.

For she didn't want to return back to this city. Never wanted it. Never thought about it. And she absolutely didn't want to return to this city for an indefinite time. The city of dreams was her nightmare. It wasn't her home. It won't ever be her home. For it has crushed her dreams and home. Snatched away her happiness.

The City of dreams was a living breathing symbol of shattered dreams for her.

A symbol she didn't want anything to do with again but life had always found ways to contradict her. And so here she is surrounded by the people who shooed her away.

The people who broke her.

The people who didn't care and she fell apart. The people who were responsible for her misery. The people who made her the Queen of mean and freeing her demons.The people who made her a monster.The people who pushed her to the darkside. And here she is again, back in front of them embracing her darkness and demons.

A darkness rising to meet the light. A mirror reflecting their lights.

But still, even embracing the monster inside her didn't make her feel at ease right now. She felt like a burning doll walking on thin, cold ice. Venom fueling through her veins.

Calculating eyes, Smirking lips, Judging looks, and sneers. The usual from them thinking she was another pawn to take advantage of. Poor them. Unaware of the monster they created. And she wanted to look in their eyes and scream;

"Look what you made me do!!"

"I'll be your undoing."

"I'll rule you by your fears and boil you in your sins. I'll destroy you, "

But she didn't. She ambled through the frozen crowd arm hooked with Danika's. Both their head held high.

"Chin up, someday you'll be India's voice, "

"India's representative, "

"Enchant them, control them, make them believe everything you say, "

"They are all beneath you, "

She could hear the echo of the woman who loved and taught her hop in her mind. As she walked towards her greatest tutor, the woman who taught her to play this game. An easy smile on her face not letting it show the way her soul staggered near Ornov.

She didn't let her heart's melancholy show nor it wishes. For right now, her heart really wished she was really a feelingless robot. A robot who could be programmed to forget, to not love. Sadly, she isn't and one glance is enough to ignite a billion memories.

"You should have given me just a single reason, a single answer. I would have forgiven you, I would have let go, I would have still loved you. It wouldn't be hurting now, "

Her heart screamed and her gaze yearned to meet his head-on. She wanted to let him know the extent of the damage he had inflicted on her soul. Let him know, she still wasn't totally unaffected by his presence.

Danika's hand on her arm grounded her. Making her realize her purpose. Tonight wasn't Shivanya's night with a heart on her sleeves. Tonight is Aaina'a night and Aaina never did things by half.

And so Aaina walked past him with a bright smile to her Ishana sasuma apologizing sincerelessly. Letting go of Danika's arm, she embraced her soul mentor, hiding her face in her warm embrace and fixing her crumbling mask.

A happily composed mask on her face.

The game begins.

Tonight everything has to be perfect.

Tonight she can't let anything slip.

Tonight there will be a new moon in this city.

"It's okay, beta" And as always Ishana's words were placating, bright, and doting with her arms linking with Aaina's in a gesture of familial love and unity for the world to see. Aaina relished the small gesture of support.

"Still, sorry for making you wait mom—Dad, "Still Aaina apologized bashfully keeping up with the pretense. She looked around the room through the corner of her eyes. Noticing things. Paying attention.

Danika was greeting Reyaan and Aaina was glad for her support throughout the way. If it wasn't for her quick work and even hasty yet discrete mannerism. She would have never reached here as discreetly as she did neither would she be looking this picture-perfect image of a dark princess. She nodded in negative when Danika threw her a questioning look.

Smiling in reassurance, Aaina turned her focus back on Ishana. Ishana doing a noncommittal gesture of dismissal to her earlier words as she looked between Aaina and Danika curiosily not missing their silent eye convo.

"Was the journey fine? No problems, I hope" Ishana asked both the girls concerned.

"Absolutely ma'am, there weren't any problems on the way, " Danika affirmed softly shooting Aaina a hasty shut up lemme handle gaze.

"Good, "  Ishana nodded relieved and Aaina let Dani deal with this as she turned her attention towards Reyaan, who was till now watching them chatter amusedly

"Looking dashing Dad! " grinning cheekily, Aaina complemented Reyaan making the good-natured man laugh and embrace her with a familiar warm hug.

"Thank you betaji, you're looking no less yourself, " Reyaan spoke almost indulgently smiling at the cheeky girl, who'll soon be his nephew's wife but is part of their family even before that. She was such a sweet little thing and Reyaan had always wanted more daughters.

"After all, I have a reputation to keep da, " Aaina retorted stage whispering conspiratorially and Reyaan nodded seriously playing along with her words.

"Yes, absolutely, of course, of course,  the best-dressed family title should be ours," Reyaan declared almost pompously making both Danika and Aaina break in fits of amused giggles while Ishana just shook her head at the antics while leveling them with a fond exasperated look mumbling "Geez, these lot. What to do?"

The said lot just grinned unaffected in her direction.

"Alright, Alright...Aaina, here meet my dear friend Gauri and Omkara Oberoi, " Ishana said exhaling softly as she introduced Aaina to Omkara and Gauri who were standing a little away from the Kundra family to give them space for their reunion.

"Hello, nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Oberoi, " Aaina greeted Om and Gauri docilely with heart-winning smiles. She can be as endearing as a white fluff ball if she so wants too.

"Same here beta but please call us massima and bapi, or if you prefer Gauri and Om, every Kundra child addresses us so after all, we are almost family, " Gauri said conversationally with her eyes twinkling in mirth. She was feeling so happy to see her daughter again.

"Well, you're godparents for my children. You're family not almost family, " Ishana cut in fondly, reassuring Gauri that they were family indeed.

"Sure," Aaina affirmed with a shy smile. 

She was feeling mighty proud of her acting skills right now and even more proud of her decision to seek Ishana first. She wasn't sure whether or not she'll be able to act all shy and distant around her Gauri Ma and bapi. She was sure she'll give something up due to her failing poker face or something. But she hadn't and if in future she slips and calls them Ma and Bapi then she can surely use the present conversation context as leverage though the corner of her eye she saw Danika slip. No doubt she was going to Ansh.

Pleased with herself, Aaina let Gauri and Ishana lead her around the hall. Introducing her to the affluent of the city businessman, builders, producers, politicians, lawyers, the elites, the heirs and she continued with her play.

Nodding obediently like a picture-perfect daughter-in-law letting her mother-in-law introduced her to the members of the elite atrocious circle. Smiling and assessing the murky waters and people around her as they assessed her.

Aaina was feigning her behavior and expression for most of these greets but she really didn't need to feign the bashful expression when Ishana ma indirectly announced her the heir of Themis law firm.

Though, the expressions of utter shock on the faces of the people in the circle, she was being introduced to wasn't quite well hidden.

"Mrs. Kundra is quite lucky she got such a beautiful and intelligent successor, "

"Yes, yes, did your nephew really choose her, or was it your choice, tell us?" Another one asked jesting.

"My nephew's choice is my choice after all, " Ishana smirked.

Aaina wanted to roll her eyes.

"Well, isn't that really touching Ishana dear. But you didn't tell us your daughter-in-law was going to grace our party?"

On hearing the new voice, Ishana along with most of her circle turned back to see Mrs. Raichand smiling amiably at Ishana with the Raizada's, the Oberoi's, and the Malhotra's walking beside her.

"Well, It was a surprise to be truthful. A surprise from dad if someone's words should be taken in context," Ishana said evasively smiling at Mrs. Raichand.  Not giving away anything.

"Oh!" Mrs. Raichand exclaimed not knowing what to make of that statement yet.

While Ishana and Mrs. Raichand was involved in their chat. Aaina's eyes were locked on the people who followed Mrs. Raichand. More specifically, on the two whom she had known as her parents all her life.

Aaina's eyes slid from the woman who birthed her to the man who was her father until he wasn't. Another man in her list of man's who left her without giving any reason. The man she thought will always love and protect her. The man who exiled her.

Why? She doesn't know.

Why?

The answer she still seeks.

Here standing before him with her eyes gazing directly in his. She could only question him in her mind— are you proud of me now, father? I've become just like you. A beast. I've heard all about your past you know the God of destruction. The Devil. I'm the Goddess of vengeance. The demon of the courtroom. A black diamond.

Are you proud now? I've become like you. I've become everything you were in your youth. I've become everything you wanted Ansh to be. Are you proud of me now? Do you love me now? Am I enough? Am I capable of being your blood, your desired child now?

Am I?

Aaina wanted to fling these words on her father's face. she wanted to show him her scars and the bullet wounds still littering her skin. The hideous white criss-cross of pain on her back. She wanted to scream, yell, and rage but that reaction will prove she still loved him. She still cared for him. She still has expectations for him.

Which she doesn't absolutely not, so hiding the moisture in her eyes behind close lids. She stood behind Ishana docilely holding her tongue in until Miss. Raizada's words greeted her. For the world can't ever know that Shivaaye Singh Oberoi and Anika Oberoi. She'll make sure they don't know.

"So you're the infamous Aaina Randhawa. Huh"

Aaina just smiled a tight-lipped smile nodding lightly. While her eyes took in Miss Raizada's appearance thinking; Is this lady really related to Savvy? And what's with the tone of the question?

Of course, she is Aaina. And it's not like her face wasn't splattered on the newspaper every day in the last 3 months.

Doesn't this lady reads the newspaper? Leave the newspaper. Doesn't she watch prime time news at least they had featured her like after every damn week in the last few months? Well, the high profile cases under her were the real reason but still.

"It seems your daughter-in-law isn't a chatty person outside the courtroom, " Miss. Raizada noted.

"Be thank full, I'm being polite." Aaina hissed in her mind.

"She is. She is just a little shy," Ishana declared wrapping an arm lovingly around Aaina's shoulder while Aaina continued with her docile, all smiles avatar for now.

"I understand, "

With that said Miss. Raizada seemed to be done. Finding nothing special in Aaina from her behavior and mannerism for sure.

When the silence around them seemed to be dragging awkwardly with no one coming forward to break the tension in the air. Mrs. Raichand stepped in the role.

"Aaina dearest, what's with the sudden surprise visit? Is this the surprise from PM? I thought you said you couldn't attend, " Mrs. Raichand poked warmly.

"Well, dearest Auntie are you asking for the official reason or the unofficial version?" Aaina chirped with a freezing, hell thwarting smile.

"Both dear, " Mrs. Raizada continued totally unaware the way Aaina's eyes lit up like a predator's watching its prey.

"Well, officially it's because Grandpa wanted me to be the chairmen of the dept.   specially made for security and re-establishment of trafficking victims and witnesses. Recently he had received many complaints about foul play and he thinks who to trust more than family in such matters. Unofficially, I'm here to take care of Ma and Dad and of course, attend your daughter's special day. Dadu specially sent his good wishes, " Aaina smirked watching the color drain from the faces of people around her.

It was a widely known thing that the Raichand's wanted the position of Chairmen to the department. And well, there had been a number of incidents that needed to look after.

Who thought the PM will send someone totally new and an outsider at that? An outsider who is a wild card right now. It was a bitter realization.

Aaina loved their falling faces.

"So, Aaina dear, never heard about your parents what do they do?" Mrs. Malhotra forwarded the conversation with the most common question asked to young people around the country—Mummy-papa kya krte hai? Though it was versed better than that the gist was still the same.

Snooty people trying to find faults.

"They were civil servants, " Aaina's said impassively.

"Following their footsteps, I see. BTW won't they mind you living with your in-laws before marriage?" Mrs. Malhotra continued asking with a malevolent smile.

"They're dead, "Aaina deadpanned.

"Oh!" Mrs. Malhotra mumbled amidst the sharp intakes of breath behind her which weren't exactly missed by Aaina. She just chose not to react.

She was waiting for the usual when and where did you meet Vihaan? How did you fall in love sort of questions? But she was saved by a rather unexpected person.

"You've such uncommon irises, " Mudit Malhotra said sauntering towards them with the rest of the gang walking behind.

"Good way or bad?" Aaina asked with a perfectly arched delicate brow.

"I'll say good. They're beautiful" Someone whose name she had forgotten complimented.

Aaina gleamed.

"I think I've seen these eyes somewhere else too, " Mrs. Malhotra mused looking at her.

Aaina beamed.

"I wonder, where? eh!!" Aaina asked tilting her head on a side innocently. A half-smirk tugging at the corners of her lips as her eyes gazed at the mirror image of her irises. Daring anyone to point it out.

Call her out.

"You wonder what dearest Aaina?" The totally insufferably cocky tone of her one and only twin made Aaina turn around quickly with most of the people gathered around her.

Muttering a quick excuse me to the elderly. Aaina walked towards the newcomers.

"Hello to you too, " Aaina's lips curled into a smile as she hugged her twin.

"Well, someone didn't inform me of their arrival, " Ansh grumbled complainingly

"Well, someone was herself unaware of her arrival, " Aaina countered shrugging evasively.

"Well, after landing, " Ansh still pestered though never the one to accept defeat easily.

"I called Panchi, " Aaina side-stepped the whole situation as Ansh whizzed around in a dizzying speed to face Danika.

"And you, aren't you my PA?? How can you hide such a thing from me? How can you snatch such a spectacularly dashing entrance from me?" Ansh demanded from Danika with a whiny undertone in his words.

Danika looked totally unimpressed with her boss's antics.

"I was on leave bossman, "

"But still, you should be on my side. Aren't your loyalties to me. Your one and only?" Ansh still poked around with a wounded expression.

Danika rolled her eyes, used to her boss's antics.

"You don't own me, bossman, " Danika said totally unmoved.

"But...don't you love me the best Dani? How can you make me suffer this mind-numbing boring party alone? When did you join forces with the enemy?" Ansh demanded gesturing hastily towards Aaina symbolizing the enemy.

Danika rolled her eyes again. Why was her boss being so–overdramatic right now? 

"Well, I'm sure you weren't that bored Ansh looking at your company. Won't you introduce us?" Aaina butted in. Deciding to save her friend from her predicament while crossing off another task from her list.

"Hello, I'm Omisha Oberoi," 

Omisha forwarded her hand to the girl she had overheard about all her life but known truly just recently. A friend she will be able to publically acknowledge from now on.

"Aaina Randhawa," 

Aaina took her hand with a slight upward tilt of her lips. Both the girls getting hit with a strong sense of deja-vu.

"Nice to meet you, Omisha," Aaina smiled though her words.

"Call me Misha, Please. No need to be so formal," Omisha asked pleasantly with a warm smile.

"Only if you call me Ina, " Aaina replied returning the smile with sparkling eyes.

"Deal, " Misha agreed immediately.

"Well, looks like I didn't need to do the introduction, huh," Ansh said in a too bad sort of manner, looking between the girl's shaking his head.

"Well, you were too slow" Misha dismissed him with a haughty look.

"Hey!!" Ansh yelped indignantly while the girls shared matching grins under Ansh's scrutinizing gaze.

"You are ganging up on me that's so unfair. You can't gang up on me, " Ansh demanded than scowled watching the girls giggle.

"Don't worry, bossman. We won't boss you around much, " Danika said very somberly. Stifling her smile watching her boss face scrunch up in a menacing glare. He looked cute though like an angry kitten ready to pounce on her. Totally harmless.

"You're supposed to be on my side. You unloyal fellow, " Ansh grumbled scowling at the now visibly laughing beautiful girl. God, she looked enchanting while smiling it was so hard scowling at her. The way her eyes sparkled, her teeth tugged on her lips, the corner of her lips curling and uncurling.

Bloody distracting.

"Are you waiting to mingle with the crowd or something?" Aaina demanded mock haughty as she watched amused the way her twin got lost in his PA again. Misha seemed to amused to try and save Ansh from falling in the dig. So, unfortunately, she had to rescue her twin before he made a fool out of himself.

"Huh, " Ansh spluttered totally thrown out of the loop by the sudden question. He had actually heard just half of it. He was a little bit distracted right now. He would have prepared better if someone had forewarned about such a situation.

Aaina and Misha just gave him an impatient look. Demanding to be fast or forget any help from them.

"Oh!!! I just know the perfect place, " Ansh started happily all but ready to disappear from the plain view. He was feeling like a bloody spotlight was on him, following him around cause everyone's attention seemed to linger on him for one reason or another.

Couldn't even stare...ugh, he meant glare at his PA freely here. Bloody annoying people.

They were about to leave when the voice of Ornov laced with bitterness and gloom approached them. Ornov whose presence made Ansh roll his eyes, Misha give him haughty disinterested looks while Danika stood silently with them expressionless

"Aaina Randhawa, " he asked again with a distasteful expression.

"Yes, " Aaina affirmed looking at him quizically not letting any trace of recognition appear on her face.

"I'm Ornov Raizada, " he introduced himself getting Aaina won't.

"Okay,  nice to meet you then, Mr. Raizada," Aaina said intending to cut their interaction absolutely there.

"Ugh...will you like to have a dance with me?" Ornov asked looking flustered while shooting disdain filled looks towards Ansh and Danika. He thought he'll have a better chance of making Aaina confess of being Shivanya without their presence.

Aaina didn't know what to say? She couldn't reject right now. It'll be impolite plus strengthening the speculation of her being Shivanya. She had to agree but could she really withstand close proximity with this man? She didn't know.

"No," Ansh rejected the offer for her quite coldly.

"Never knew in your family boys made decisions for girls, " Ornov retorted wickedly and Aaina could feel Ansh's temper about to make an appearance. Omisha and Aaina both held his arm stopping him from hurling something giving towards Ornov.

"Well, aren't you asking about everyone for a dance tonight Raizada. Well, everyone besides your Gf, " Omisha commented snidely from her side rewarding Ornov with a disdain full look.

Ornov looked visibly flustered and uncomfortable under Omisha's quip. Even a little disbelief shined in his eyes and Aaina knew she couldn't stretch this moment any far. She had to give her an answer fast. Feeling like a drowning child confronting her hydrophobia standing on the edge of a water body. Terrified. She met Ornov's gaze with a sly haughty smirk.

"Sure, " She spoke with more confidence than she actually felt but as if the gods had heard prayer in that precise moment. Reyaan called for them.

"Sorry, I've to go, maybe next time," Aaina told Ornov totally not sorry for leaving him behind that moment.

•••••••••••

It hurt the moment, she watched him take unconscious steps towards Aaina the moment she passed by him. It hurt more when he approached Aaina again, leaving her behind like a month drawn to a flame. He looked totally taken by her. Spellbound. His eyes following her.

And it hurt, hurt so badly. She had loved him. Always did. From the moment she first saw him. She cared for him and always helped him secretly. She wanted him to succeed, fulfill his dreams, and be happy. She lend him her shoulder whenever everything became too much for him. She loved him and only him.

And she had never wanted anything in return besides his love. The day he asked her out. Still, is the happiest day of her life. He loved her right that's why he asked her out, right? But why he isn't in love with her anymore? Is she that hard to love? Is she not good enough for him? Is she not beautiful enough? Is she not competent enough?

She doesn't know. It hurts. It hurts so much watching him watch her lost sister. For she knows Aaina Randhawa is Shivanya Oberoi. In the past, watching her in news clipping and media she had not dismissed the notion of a doppelganger. It was possible she looked similar yet very different yet watching her in front of her eyes. She knew it was her those eyes that smile, it was all her sister.

But did Shivanya had really forgotten them? She won't blame her if she did. She was happy watching her sister happy. She has so much to tell her but what if she isn't good enough again?

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

"Oye, Dani take a good pic, " Ansh demanded posing at the balcony with a beautiful glass of cocktail.

"Well, the pic is good. What can I do if you have a face like this? I can't change your face now can I?" Dani retorted scowling.

"Hey, I'm the most handsome man on the planet, " Ansh yelled scandalized.

"Disillusioned fellow, " Dani muttered sagely.

Aaina and Misha just laughed silently watch the bickering duo. They were currently packed away in a secluded corner of a large Victorian balcony after meeting the people Reyaan and Omkara wanted to introduce them too. Taking pics to post on Insta and tease certain cricketers.

"You okay, " Misha asked her sipping on her strawberry daiquiri.

"Yeah, fine, " Aaina mumbled through Misha still looked at her totally unsure and Aaina changed the subject before she could ask more.

"You're looking great, Mishu. Savvy will surely like it. Why don't you post a pic?"

Misha blushed brightly at Aaina's words was she really that transparent in her affection for a certain cricketer. She wanted to deny but Aaina had ready pushed her towards Ansh and now, she was the one posing with Ansh as a photographer.

"You okay?" Dani asked taking Misha's place in her side and Aaina exhaled looking so done with everything.

"What's with everyone asking the same question?" Aaina asked Dani exasperated.

"Well, besides the fact that Ornov and you were childhood sweethearts and the school's "it" couple you mean?" Dani asked Aaina tilting her head in a you tell me manner.

"How do you know?" Aaina asked surprised, she thought they had kept their relationship under the wraps in school.

Dani sent her a look that screamed you are better off not knowing and before Aaina could start her pestering mission. Ansh screamed for a group photo. They were just deciding on their utterly ridiculous posses for the photo when a throat cleared behind them.

For a moment, they decided to ignore it. It was possible someone had a sore throat. The throat cleared again and they turned towards the source of the sound.

Mrs. Anika Oberoi stood behind them looking majestic in her white gown looking like an angel and claws dug at Aaina's heart. She had nothing to do with her. She waited for Mrs. Oberoi to leave but she didn't.

Dejected, Aaina sent a look towards her companions and watch as they left squeezing her hand gently mumbling some utterly lame excuses. And just like that, it was just them remaining on the secluded balcony.

Mrs. Anika Oberoi and her. She was waiting for the accusations, the blames, the screams, and all the new sins she committed according to this lady. She was waiting for her to try throwing her down the balcony. She was anticipating a violent showdown.

Aaina wasn't at all expecting Anika to call "Shivanya" in a pained tone.

~to be continued~

Heya people, what's up. Sorry for the late update but it's 4k+ words. I hope you're happy with the update. See you all soon.