Location: Oberoi Mansion

Seeing that Nidhi was not at home, Gauri & Bhavya made their way to the storeroom and unlocked it. Inside, they saw Piya sobbing, red whip marks all over her body.

"Piya!" Gauri sat down beside Piya and hugged her. "Im so so sorry bacha. If only I could do something to protect you...."

"Ahh!" Piya flinched as Gauri accidentally touched a sore area.

"Bhavya...hand me the haldi paste." Gauri held her hand out as Bhavya handed her the bowl of haldi paste. She then took some paste in her hand and gently started applying it on the wounds, blowing lightly to soothe the pain. "Its hurting alot na?"

"Maasi...Chachi...I wish....I wish I had died with Mumma." Piya sobbed.

"Piya! Dont say that....dont you ever say that!" Bhavya scolded while Gauri looked at her in shock, crying.

"I hate this, Chachi....I cant stand this any longer. Nidhi aunty always looks for reasons to torture me and I know...I know you all love me but you cant do anything! Even Papa is helpless...All I wanted to do was go to my graduation."

"You want to go to your graduation na?" Gauri asked. "Then you will go...You are the college topper, you were asked to give a speech, of course you should go....you will go."

"No...no Maasi I cant!" Piya shook her head in fear.

"Piya..."

"Chachi....you know what she will do if I leave today. Even you two unlocking this door right now is risky. No...pls go from here."

"Piya she wont find out, we will take you to the graduation and bring you back before she finds out. Nidhi is out for the day and you know her partying habits, she wont be back until late night." Bhavya explained.

"Haan Piya...it will be fine."

"No...no it wont be fine! Just go from here! I cant go to the graduation, my life is not like a normal girl's life that I can enjoy moments like this. Its in my fate to suffer and that's all I can do!"

"No Piya..."

"You wanted to go na bacha?" Gauri asked.

"I wanted alot of things...but I care about all of you more than going to the graduation. I dont want Nidhi aunty to harm anyone....anyways, look at me Maasi." Piya said, showing her wounds. "I cant go like this. Pls....pls just go before Nidhi aunty finds out you came here. Im begging you two...pls Maasi, Pls Chachi."

Gauri & Bhavya looked at Piya with tears as she pushed them out of the storeroom. Having no other choice, they locked the storeroom again.

"Piya....Ill come back with some food for you. At least eat that, okay?" Gauri told Piya through the door.

******

"What? Again?" Om asked Gauri. Once everyone came home, Gauri & Bhavya told them what had happened.

"What does Nidhi aunty have against Piya? Why does she always torture her like this?" Yug asked.

"Thats it...My daughter is not staying in that dingy storeroom. I will not allow it." Shivaay got up and went towards the stairs.

"If you let her out then I will kill her." Nidhi said as she entered. Shivaay stopped in his tracks and turned to glare at Nidhi.

"You bitch! How dare you!" Shivaay yelled.

"DONT raise your voice at me Baby....I really dont want to have to kill another one of your children." Nidhi smirked.

"If our hands werent tied...we would wipe that smirk right off your face." Om growled.

"Just let Piya go....she will stay away from you. We will keep her away but pls let her go." Gauri begged.

"Fine..." Nidhi agreed after thinking for awhile, "You know what...Im in a good mood right now so okay, you can go let the brat out, but... if she comes infront of me ever again, I wont be so nice then. Got it?"

"Jiju..." Gauri went to Shivaay who was still trying his best to control his anger. "Jiju, go to Piya....she needs you."

Shivaay took the storeroom keys and went upstairs. Once he opened the door, he saw Piya sleeping uncomfortably on the floor. Shivaay picked Piya, took her to her room and plaed her in bed.

"I'm such a failure...I failed Anika as her husband, I failed Ansh, as his father and now....I failed you too." Shivaay thought to himself as he tucked Piya in and carrassed her head, sitting beside her. "But this is the only way I can keep you alive...Nidhi left me with no other way. I wish I had just sent you with Anika"

As Shivaay watched Piya sleep, a tear fell and dropped on Piya's cheek, and she woke up.

"Mmm...Papa?" 

"Hey princess." Shivaay smiled lovingly at Piya. Piya looked around and then realized she was in her room.

"What I doing here? Nidhi Aunty will-"

"Relax..relax!" Shivaay calmed Piya down, "Nidhi wont say anything....she is the one who allowed you to come out."

"She did?"

"Yes....Piya...what do you think about going on a little road trip with Isha?" 

"Roadtrip?"

"Haan...I think it will be good for you. You can get away from Nidhi for awhile and just have fun. It can be an after graduation treat."

"Will...will that be o-okay? Nidhi aunty wont mind na?" Piya asked fearfully.

"She wont...I promise its okay." Shivaay replied, "So? Will you go?"

"I will Papa." Piya hugged Shivaay.

"Good...Ill let Isha know." Shivaay stroked Piya's hair.

"I dont know what difference this trip will make but I have this feeling something good is going to happen....something that might turn my life around." Piya thought to herself as she fell asleep.

Location: Kavya's apartment.

"YAAS!" Kavya yelled as she finally entered her home at the end of the day. "Im officially graduated...no more studying! Yay!"

"Hay bhagwan!" Anika walked in behind Kavya with Sahil & Simran. "Just look at this girl, she is excited not because she graduated but because she doesnt have to study any longer!"

"Of course Ma....you know how I hate studying. Honestly, I dont even know how I graduated but now that thats all over, its time to enjoy!"

Chuckling at Kavya, Anika walked towards her room. She went to her wardrobe and took out a photo of two babies.

"Meri Piya....you must have graduated too na? I wonder if you hate studying as much as your sister? No...Im sure you must be very intelligent and studious like your Papa....hai na?"

"Who are you talking to Ma?" 

Hearing Kavya's voice, Anika quickly hid the picture and turned to face her. "What? No-nobody...I was just wondering what will happen now that your graduation is done. I think you should join the office...at least then poor Viraj will have some motivation na?"

"Oh come on Ma, Viraj is anything but poor...anyways I will definitely join office cause other wise Ananya aunty and you will have a tough time with that idiot." Kavya replied, "Vaise Ma...I was thinking, before I start office can Gia & I go on a small road trip?"

"Roadtrip?" 

"Haan, that roadtrip we have been planning for months. I told you about it remember?"

"Yeah, I remember now....I dont know Kavu...just you and Gia alone?"

"Pls Mumma? You know how tough your daughter is na? I promise Ill call you every two minutes...Ill let you know where we are and everything but pls pls let me go. Even Gia's nani agreed."

"Kaki agreed?"

"Haan." Kavya looked at her mom hopefully.

"Ok then." Anika sighed, "If Kaki agreed then I have no reason to say no. Go Kavu...and have lots of fun."

"Yaas! I love you Mumma! I love you I love you I love you!" Kavya squeezed Anika tightly.

"Bas bas...enough with the love. Ill be squashed." Anika laughed.

"I'll go tell Gia right now!" Kavya jumped up.

"Arre wait!" Anika called after her daughter as she left. Kavya ran to her room and knocked on the wall by her bed twice. from the otherside, two knocks came as a reply and Kavya went out to her balcony. From the apartment nextdoor, a girl who looked Kavya's age came out to her balcony....this was Kavya's best friend Gia Sharma.

"Gia...Mumma agreed!"  Kavya squealed.

"Yaay! Roadtrip is on!" Gia jumped in excitement. "I cant wait! Ive already packed."

"How did you know Mumma would even agree?"

"Anika aunty never says no to you...and even if she does, you know how to turn it into a yes so I had no doubts." Gia replied.

"You know what Gia? I am just getting a feeling that this trip will be very memorable...like life changing types!" Kavya said.

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Note: Hey Readers! This chapter isnt too long but I think this is the perfect place to end this update. Next chapter....the sisters will meet!