22 Years Later...

Location: Oberoi Mansion

A woman walks into a luxurious bedroom with an aarti thaali and sees that the bed is made.

"Piya?" The woman calls out, looking around the room, "Are you in the wahsroom?"

"Yes Maasi!" A voice answered from the closed washroom doors. The woman smiled  as the doors opened a young girl came out wearing a salwar suit, her curly hair wet. "Im ready."

"Come...Ill dry your hair for you." The woman who was none other than Gauri Omkara Singh Oberoi said. She placed the aarti thaali down on the side table and plugged the hair dryer into the outlet.

"Arre Maasi...dont use Radha, she isnt working." Piya took the hair dryer from Gauri and took another hair dryer out from her dresser, "Here...Laila works way better and my hair dries in a few  minutes."

Gauri looked at her grown niece emotionally, it felt like only yesterday when she took the 5 day old Piya in her arms and promised herself that she would raise her like her own child. After all, she is Anika's daughter, her Di's daughter....its the least she can do for her Di.

"Maasi...Im very nervous." Piya mumbled as Gauri was blowdrying her hair.

"And why is my gudiya nervous?" Gauri asked.

"You know na...I have to give a speech infront of everyone at the graduation ceremony. How will I?" 

Gauri walked to Piya's side table and took a photo frame, holding it infront of of her. "Whenever you are scared....always remember who your parents are....Shivaay & Anika Singh Oberoi. Both, very brave and courageous people so as their daughter, you shouldnt be scared of a little audience. You are the college topper, that why you were asked to give this speech, just go up and be your self, Im confident that it will be amazing."

"I really wish Mumma were still alive." Piya said as she looked at the picture of Shivaay hugging Anika. Gauri looked away, knowing that Piya..just like the other kids of the house was told a lie. A lie that Anika was no longer alive. Its was Nidhi's doing...her way of making sure Piya would never look for Anika. So many years have gone by and even Gauri didnt know where her Di & Sahil are. "Its such a special day for me...Im graduating but Papa is too busy at work to attend and Mumma is- Im all alone."

"Arre Mera bacha....come here." Gauri hugged Piya and kissed the top of her head. "You are never alone okay? I know your Papa is busy but when you graduate you will see your Maasi, Om Chachu, Rudy Chachu & Bhavya Chachi in the front row...even all your brothers will be there. I told Yug & Sonia to come early from work."

"Piya Di!" Two younger guys came running in, pushing eachother out of the way.. "Wait im gonna show her first!"

"No..Im older, Ill show her first."

"Manav...Shaurya, whats going on? What will you two show me?" Piya asked. In front of her stood Manav & Shaurya Singh Oberoi, sons of Rudra & Bhavya.

"Di...Im going to wear this for your graduation. How do I look?" Manav asked as he held up a leather jacket.

"And Di, Im wearing this." Shaurya held up a red tshirt. "You dont have to tell me, I know I look more dashing than this idiot."

Piya & Gauri watched amused as the brothers argued.

"Oye..You are the idiot. Di tell him na-"

"OW!" Both the boys yelled out as a woman came in and smack the back of their heads, "Mom!"

"Kya Mom? Its Piya's graduation...her special day, why are you two bothering her? Go wear whatever, it doesnt matter because Piya is the one who should look the best." Bhavya told her sons.

"Of course Mom, Di always looks the best but we thought we should also look our best na...there are some really hot girls in college." Manav said.

"Do I send you to college to study or to look at girls?" Bhavya scolded. Gauri & Piya giggled as the boys ran out of the room in fear of their Mom.

After getting ready, Piya was coming down the stairs talking to Bhavya & Gauri when she bumped into a woman who was carrying a glass of juice. The woman dropped the glass, shattering it into pieces. Piya shook in fear as she saw who it was....Nidhi Das. 

"You little-" As Nidhi took a step towards Piya, Gauri & Bhavya protectively stood infront of her. Piya cowered and hide behind Gauri, grabbing onto her saree.

"It was a mistake Nidhi...leave it, pls." Gauri said. 

"Move.." Nidhi sneered. 

"Pls...dont." Bhavya begged.

"I said move!" Nidhi pushed Gauri & Bhavya away and grabbed Piya by her hair.

"Aah!" Piya cried out. Gauri & Bhavya got back up and tried to stop Nidhi. Hearing Piya's cry, Manav & Shaurya also came out. Everyone else was already at work.

"Di!" Manav grabbed Nidhi's hand and tried to pry her off his sister. "Let go of my di!"

"Why are you always after our sister? What did she ever do to you?" Shaurya yelled.

"Piya...tell your dear brothers, Maasi & Chachi to move away. You know what I do to people who interfere right?" Piya shuddered as she remembered the time Nidhi pushed her older brother, Yug down a flight of stairs just because he tried protecting her, since that day...she refused to let anyone help.

"Dont...pls, Maasi, Chachi...guys just move away. Its okay...Im okay." Piya begged them.

"Par-"

"Maasi aapko meri kasam!" Piya cried. Gauri knew Nidhi was dangerous so she had no ther choice but to stop. Nidhi grinned in victory and dragged Piya back upstairs. "Aah...Im sorry Nidhi aunty. Let me go pls."

"Mom...she is going to hurt Di again....Do something!" Shaurya looked at his mother. Bhavya closed her eyes as tears ran down her face. 

"This is ridiculous. Im going up there and Im going to stop that woman!" Manav declared. Gauri held his arm as he turned to go upstairs. "Chachi....why? I know you love her, you love her more than you love Yug bhaiyya then why dont you ever do anything?"

"And you always stop us to!" Shaurya added.

"AAH!" Piya's screams could be heard from all the way downstairs.

"She's whipping her again! Do something Chachi...Mom...pls! Stop her!" Shaurya begged.

"We cant..." Bhavya whispered.

"Why?"

"Because this is the only way she will let Piya live!" Gauri yelled. "You think we like this? You think we dont want to go and stop her? We do but we cant because Nidhi is a heartless, cruel murderer...she killed your brother...she killed Ansh when he was just 4 and she can do anything so this is the only way to ensure that Piya lives!" 

A few moments later, they heard the click clack of Nidhi's heels and sure enough she came back downstairs with her whip in her hands. 

"That brat isnt going anywhere today." Nidhi said.

"Its her graduation day Nidhi..."Gauri said.

"Does it look like I care? If anyone dares unlock that store room door, then the only thing that will leave this house today will be Piya's dead body. Have I made myself clear?" Nidhi asked. Everyone had to nod in agreement because they knew...she would do it.

Nidhi rolled her eyes and looked at the broken glass on the floor and then looked at Gauri. Then with a smile and a sugar coated voice she said. "Now Gauri...be a darling and get me another glass of juice okay?"

When Gauri didnt budge, Nidhi's voice changed to more threatening, "NOW!"

Gauri left and went into the kitchen while the others had no choice but to get on with their work.

******************

Meanwhile in a another part of the same city....

A few kids were playing cricket in the streets, a young girl in her 20s, who is wearing ripped jeans and a tshirt takes the bat and gets ready. A 10 year old boy thows the ball and the girl swings & hits the ball.

*SMASH*

The sound of shattering glass make the kids freeze in fear as the ball flies right through a neighbours window.

"Oh crap!" The girl yells. "Phail gaya raita."

"KAVYA!!!" The 45 year old woman, Mrs. Jha  who lives in the house yells as she sees her broken window. Yep this is Kavya Trivedi, the other daughter of Anika & Shivaay, Piya's identical twin sister.

"Kavya you are so dead now." Kavya mumbled to herself as the furious Mrs Jha storms out. The kids quickly scramble away while Kavya stands there trying to act casual.

"Kavya Trivedi!"

"Oh! Hi Aunty." Kavya put on a grin, hiding the bat behind her, "Whats up?"

"Whats up? Look at my window!" Mrs. Jha yelled.

"Oh no! How did that happen?" Kavya gasped.

"Ahaha! So innocent...drop the act Kavya, I know you were playing cricket with those darn kids again. This is the 5th time I've had to replace my windows....Ive had it!" She grabbed Kavya's arm and started pulling her. "Im going to complain to your mother....these kids are small but you? A grown girl and no sense of responsibility....And Anika....doesnt even know what her daughter is upto."

"Shit...Ma will kill me." Kavya mumbled. 

"What did you say?" Mrs Jha asked, turning to look at Kavya. 

"Nothing...its just, I dont think Ma will be too upset with me. After all, compared to your daughter, Im an angel." Kavya replied nonchalantly.

"What do you mean?" Mrs. Jha stopped in her tracks.

"What I mean is, at least I am graduating today....unlike Sheena."

"How dare you? Why wont my Sheena graduate? You are lying."

"Aunty I can assure you that Im not lying. Just call the college and check if you dont believe me. Actually she missed so many classes na? Thats why...and I mean I dont blame her, how will she attended classes when she is spending all her time with Rocky?"

"Rocky? As in...as in that Geetanjali's son, that Rocky?" 

Kavya nodded cheekily as she watched literal smoke come from Mrs Jha's ears.

"SHEENNNAAAA!!" Mrs. Jha screamed, she let go of Kavya and stormed back into her house.

"Hahaha!" Kavya started laughing.

"You will never change will you?" A man, who was watching the whole thing asked in an amused tone. 

"Why on earth would I want to go and change? I am perfect just the way I am." Kavya replied. "Right Mamu?"

"Right." The man who was none other than Sahil Chaturvedi laughed. "Vaise...dont you think you should be getting ready Kavu? You'll be late for your own graduation ceremony."

"I am ready." 

"Ready?" Sahil looked at Kavya up and down. "You're going to wear this?"

"Haan...what difference does it make? Ill be waering a robe on top anyways na? Chalo....wait, where are Mami & Ma?"

"Simran will meet us there cause she has an emergency at the hospital and Di is waiting for you at home."

"Oh! Okay lets go!" Kavya dragged her Mama back home.

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Note: Hope you like the story so far. Pls comment and let me know what you think.