MAANYA POV

"Stop before I beat you," I call out when I see Paakhi adding salt to a customer's coffee.

This has been happening since yesterday evening after she came back from her shopping trip alone! We were supposed to go together but I got a call saying, she bought everything and coming back with our goods in a tempo and I must help carry them to the cafe's depository.

"Either you tell me what is going on or you just get out of here," I order, tired of patrons complaining.

"It is nothing, I'm just stressed thinking about today's event." She explains. I don't know why but seeing the forlorn look on her face and her explanation doesn't relate.

"Paakhi, we are a family, we share everything, right?" I make her remember our promise.

"I will tell you everything, but after this event today, okay?" She confesses.

I smile and squeeze her hand in comfort.

"Now go at the back and let me handle these customers otherwise, they will sue you for killing their tastebuds." I tease, making her laugh.

She walks away and I prepare another coffee for the angry man, scowling at me.

"Here, " I smile, serving the scowling man his coffee.
He takes a sip and replies, "I thought it would be special since you took forever to make it."

I fake smile and reply, "Sorry for the delay sir."

He just nods and I walk away, serving another customer.

"Maanya dear, it's time for you girls to leave," Nona calls out.

I nod and pass my tray to the waitress beside me.

"Are you sure, you don't want your Nana or Abby to go with you girls?" She asks following me to the kitchen.

"No Nona, we can manage. We are big girls now." I joke around.

"Now I know why you girls planned this date for me and Savita." Uncle Abby reprimands referring to the date we girls planned for both of them.

"Don't overthink this, we did this so that you guys can spend some time together." Paakhi earmarks, causing Uncle Abby to comment "As of we don't spend enough time together"

"Working together or chatting about us girls, is not considered as quality time." I chide causing Nona, Paakhi, and Aunt Savy to laugh.

"I'm always outnumbered with you girls." He whines.

"Then why do you even try!" Paakhi quip.

I laugh harder listening to Uncle Abby mumbling, how we bully him.

"Now eat your lunch and get going." Aunt Savy command, passing us a plate full of Rajma rice.

We cheerfully oblige and after eating, we hail a cab and leave for The Hotel Madison blue.

The ride is too long to comprehend, there is heavy traffic due to an accident in the middle of the road that blocked our way.

We are getting calls from the Management Team, and Paakhi is sweating profusely, even I'm on the verge of a breakdown.

"If they cancel our contract we will be over, we bought all the decorations from our savings and if they refuse to pay, we have to close our company. "
I hear a tremor of horror in her voice.
I know how hard she worked for us to gain some name in the market. And then we also donate to the orphanage and help financially at the cafe.

"Don't think like this, everything is going to be okay," I assure her.

"How? We are three hours late, and the guest will be there any second." She chides.

I nod in understanding and question the driver, "How much longer do we have to wait in this jam?"

"Police has just arrived, they are now clearing the traffic." He answers politely, I nod and turn to Paakhi and mumble.
"Did you hear this, we will be there before everyone arrives."

"Yes thanks, I'm happy we dispatched decorations in the morning hence the hall will be decorated." She answers,

After 40 minutes of stagnant driving, we reach our destination and Paakhi flies out of the taxi after tossing the cash at the driver.

I follow behind her and ignore the strange looks from everyone in the hotel lobby, probably wondering why two girls are fleeing towards the elevator.

Paakhi shoves her foot between the closing elevator doors, making me blush in embarrassment at her indecent behaviour.

"Why are you blushing?" Paakhi asks looking at me weirdly, I shrug in nonchalance making Paakhi roll her eyes.

On our floor, she again sprints towards the hall but halts when she sees the manager of Madison Blue outside the door talking to a server.
Seeing us he steps in our direction and says, "Everything is ready inside, and Mr. Yash has instructed that the satisfaction of the guest is your responsibility. Do everything and then your cheque will be signed."

We nod in understanding and walk inside the double doors to see the elegant black and gold balloon decorations, and our signature boards saying funny bachelor jokes.

We even arranged a king style throne for the groom, "What is this?" I hear Paakhi mumble in horror.
I impersonate her reaction because what we are seeing is far away from what we arranged. Yes, the above decoration I mentioned is what we expected but the reality is far more varied
Then our idea.

Entering this hall, one can say that we are in a strip club, yes, the decoration is... I can't even comprehend a word seeing the neon pink lights in the dim room and the poles around give me a creep vibe.

Reading quotes like 'Super Pussy ' instead of 'Buy me a shot, I'm tying the knot.' The quotes we put so much effort into finding.

"Pinch me!" I hear Paakhi mumble.

"Huh?!" I ask, thinking I heard her wrong.

"Pinch me, because I think I'm hallucinating." She elucidates looking around.

"If you are hallucinating a Vegas strip club then I guess both of us are hallucinating," I mumble.

"Hey, what are you doing just standing here? Get to work, my best friend will be here any minute." We hear a squeaky voice of Saurav beside us.

"Umm...I think there is a misunderstanding here, we were not informed about this." Paakhi says disgusted by her surroundings.

"Stop being a bitch and get to work, before I call Yash and cancel your cheque." He snorts and walks away.

I look dumbfounded at him, realizing why Paakhi is so disgusted by this man.

"That idiot just called me bitch, and what are we supposed to do? Serve drinking wearing thongs?" Paakhi exclaim.

"I hope not, lets start by keeping our bags aside and checking the kitchen, I hope our menu didn't change." I hope, walking towards the door beside the bar area.

"You said?!" Paakhi scoffs looking at the cake in the refrigerator, our cake design was a man passed out covered by alcohol bottles around him.
It was so nice but looking at the sets of boobs saying lick me repulse me.

"If they had everything arranged then why do they need us?" I kid annoyed.

"That is what I wonder too..." Paakhi says in wonderment.

"Move your ass girls, the groom is here. Serve the drinks to my man." That irritating man again shouts at us.

"Ask the servers to do so. We will help out in the back." Paakhi chides at him.

"Server? What server? You guys have to do it." He rasps out and walks out.

"Maanu we have been tricked, we are the hired servers at a stag party." I see Paakhi groan in irritation.

"Should we leave, " I asked agitated.

"No, we can't you know that."
She said quietly seeing the chefs entering the kitchen.

I nod in understanding, that she's referring to our money crisis.

"You two chicks move, we are all jammed up." A pale skin, fair hair woman call out at us.

We saunter off in the wild setting mentally preparing to endure this crazy party.

"Where is my drink?" I hear Saurav calling out obnoxiously.

I feel Paakhi stomping her foot and walking towards the bar.

I stand still and skim the crowd to see a rowdy gang of elitists.
They are literally hooting looking at the stripper room set.

I control my running psyche when I feel a passive jab from Paakhi. I see her carrying a tray full of beer bottles towards Saurav and his friends.

I heed in towards the bar and pick up the other tray sitting there.

__________________________________

"Hey babe, get me some chicken wings." I nod obediently for the umpteenth time.

"A plate of chicken wings please, " I convey the order to the kitchen staff.
After a nod of approval from them, I step back into the party to see a guy circling Paakhi.

Paakhi as a good girl stands to the side, acting to enjoy his silly moves.
He tugs her towards him and in an instant sluggish move, he shoves Paakhi onto the person behind her causing that man to topple over Saurav, but the best part is, that amidst this mess the man who topples over Saurav slams his hot chicken curry over Saurav's face.

"Motherf*cker" I hear Saurav cuss holding his probably burning face.

I walk towards Paakhi and help her up.
"Get me some water!!!" He wails scurrying around aimlessly.
His friends run around in search of water, causing a chaotic scene.

Paakhi and I stand aside, enjoying the show.
"We'll be punished for enjoying someone's misery." Paakhi utter, enjoying Saurav's misery.

I can't blame her, this guy has been ordering us around like a dog, asking us to clean their mess.

I know most people might think that this is degrading but no work is small until you think it is disrespecting.

"You bitch, why didn't you get me a glass of water? Were you enjoying my misery?" Saurav lashes out at Paakhi.

"I was looking around for it too, you only asked us to serve drinks and no water! So there is no water around." Paakhi lies through her teeth.
I bite my lips to conceal my laughter.

Before he could speak again his friends take him away and ask us to go to the kitchen.

I tug Paakhi inside the kitchen, towards the pantry.
"I want to leave!!!" I whine massaging my legs.

"Me too, I think they will just cut the cake now and leave." She says adjusting her shirt and walking away.

"What the -" I whisper looking at the entrance door. There stands a beautiful yet sexy girl in a short red dress. Her hair is ruffled messily giving her a wild glimpse.

"Is she a -"

"Stripper!" I complete her sentence.

We hear another round of hooting in the room and slowly step back to hide in the dark spot away from the prying eyes. But before we could,

"Waiters, bring us each a beer, now." We hear Saurav bark.

Paakhi storm towards the bar, probably to serve, and vanish from there before the stripper starts her act.
I follow her, and after I serve the last person, I step back into the dark spot and wait for Paakhi.

But she is just standing there, beside Saurav's seat. I see a nervous look on her face and a smirk on Saurav's.

I intend to walk to her and yank her here but the fuzzy electric guitar that begins sawing through the melody about three minutes in, made me halt.

The stripper walks towards the center where the groom is sitting and sits on his lap.
She sways her hips in his face causing other guys to cheer.

I see Paakhi looking everywhere except at the stripper.
I know why she is uncomfortable right now.
Her memories will strike her if she'll stay there for even a second more.

My attention again shifts to the stripper who is now, pecking every guy in the room, her red stain lips leave a red mark on each of them.

I see her slowly but sensually taking off her dress and swinging it at -

At Paakhi, causing Saurav to laugh in her face. He walks towards her and takes the dress from her and sniffs it looking into her eyes.

Paakhi glare at him and step to cross him but he yanks her to him and whispers something in her ears causing her to widen her eyes in fear.

I leave my safe place to walk in her direction but the guys in between block my way, they are so lost in the act that they don't reply to my request.

There is Paakhi still shocked and scared. I feel helpless right now, I can't reach my friend in distress.

I look around for away, but the area they chose for this strip dance is covered by couches joined end to end in a circle. There is no space to reach Paakhi who is at the opposite end, the only way to reach her is currently covered by drunk men dancing manically.

I think of the only person who will help me, I run to the kitchen and look for my bag, and retrieve my phone and call Arhaan.

__________________________________

AARHAN POV

"What is wrong with him?" I see Shaurya implying to Viren who is currently shouting at someone on call.

"He decided to break up with Paakhi," I answered sadly, seeing my brother concealing his feelings with anger.

"Break up? When did they start dating? And why wasn't I informed? I was the one to ship them!" He rambles off.

"They were not dating, it's just that he decided to stay away from Paakhi forever." I clear.

"Why? Other than him being rude, obnoxious, and an idiot." I laugh at that and reply, "Someone blackmailed him with Paakhi's name." I explain everything else from today morning.

"I don't know what to say? He changed when Paakhi entered his life and now her departure will make him return to his lonely self."  Shaurya mumble probably remembering the time when Viren left all of us.

We both get startled when my phone ring abruptly.

I smile when I look at the caller id, "Hey beautiful, " I answer.

"A-Aarhan? Please come soon!!!" I hear her startled voice. I suddenly get frightened and ask "Where??? Maanya??? Hello?? Are you there?" I question feared when her voice gets muffled by the pop music in the background.

"Arhaan, Paakhi, he is...Paakhi, please c-... to blue." She says.

"Paakhi? What Paakhi??" I ask but the line went dead.
I try calling her again but her phone is switched off.

"Paakhi? What happened to her? Where is she?" I hear Viren imploring while walking towards me.

"I don't know, her voice was muffled, I couldn't make out her words, except Paakhi, he and blue," I inform them.

"Blue? Was she talking about the sky?"Shaurya question.

I glare at him causing him to shut his mouth.

" Where are they?" I ask nobody.

"Should I call Aditi and ask her?" Shaurya asks and grabs his phone to call Aditi.

"Hey, Aditi-"

"No babe, it is not tha-"

I yank his phone from him when I see that he is wasting time.
"Look, Maanu and P are not home so come in 5." I hear her say.

"Aditi! It's Aarhan, tell me where are Maanya and Paakhi?!" I inquire.

"Aarhan? Why? What happened? Why do you sound so stressed?" She questions me.

"I will but first tell me their location." I make a deal.

"Hotel Madison blue, hall on the third floor. Now tell me." I tell her in short and hear her cursing, I pass shaurya his phone and exit the terrace.

"Madison blue, they are there," I inform Viren, he brushes past me down the stairs and even ignores mom.

"Where are you guys going?" She asks me anxiously. 
"Nothing mom, relax. I will tell you when we'll return." I say assuringly.

She nods in understanding and steps back. I exit the house to see Viren backing his car and enter the car.

I didn't say anything just silently messaged our security team to follow us.

" I'll kill anyone who hurt her." I hear him declare.

"Why? She is nothing to you right?" I pry him.

" yes, I'm doing this because she was my friend." I hear his reply.

I sigh irritate with his nonchalant attitude.
I again try Maanya's phone but it is still switched off.

"Ass!!!!!" Viren curse and blare horn at the car ahead, when it still doesn't budge, he exits it and runs towards the hotel.

I follow him tossing the car keys to one of our bodyguards.
He sprints off to the elevator but when it indicates the elevator is going up, he takes the stairs.

I follow him, hopping steps.

Reaching the third floor, he bursts through the door ahead and instantly halts.

I crash into him, "owe man!" I say rubbing my nose.

"What the fuck?" I hear him mumbling accessing the surrounding.
I look around to see strip club decor. I'm shocked seeing this.

Shortly my gaze set on a figure bend forward with his head in his hands.

I walk towards it to reckon a familiar figure, I rush towards her and hug her.

"Arhaan?!" She instantly starts wailing loudly in my arms.

"Shhh...Beautiful, Are you okay? What happened?" I ask her softly.

But instead of her reply, I hear her snorts and muffled words.

"Can you please speak coherently?" I hear Viren's agitated voice.

"She left without talking to me," Maanya replies, wiping her tears.
"She was crying Aarhan, please find her." She begs me.

"Maanya?!!"

"Aditi!" Maanya stands up and rushes in her arms.
I see Shaurya behind her and speculated that he must have driven her here.

"Viren!" I scream when he throws the glass vase on the wall.
"Control yourself!" I tell him, "use your energy in finding her."

"What if something happens to her?" He asks anxiously. My brother says he doesn't love that girl when he is going nuts over here.

"Let's move and look around for her," I announce.

He nods and we walk towards the door, as we were passing the girls we heard Maanya saying, "He whispered something in her ear, and then I saw a frightened look on her face.  She was so scared Aditi... And then she rushed out of here ."

" I might know where she is!" Viren declare.

"Where? " all of us ask him simultaneously.

"When the last time she was upset,  she took me to this place and told me that she always visit there when she is down. " He calls out and rushes outside.

We all follow him and I help,  Maanya in the backseat of Viren's car. Whereas Aditi and Shaurya take his car.

Viren zooms past cars and drives to the outskirts of the city, I look at my watch to see it is past 10 at night, and instantly my concern for Paakhi's whereabouts upswing.

After 45 minutes of driving or I should say flying, we reach a dead-end, I mean seriously! The ahead road is irregular.

"Viren! There is no way ahead." I warn him, he doesn't listen to me and drives.

I feel Maanya clutching my bicep, I squeeze her hand in assurance.

I see a determined look on Viren's face and shut up, believing my brother's instinct.

He drives fir another 10nminutes and parks on the side. The only thing I can make-out outside by car headlight are rows of trees.

"Paakhi!!" I hear Viren jump out of the car and call out. His voice echoes in the silence, the rustling of leaves render it to be a precarious location.

Everyone call our her name but still no reply, "I don't think she's here." Shaurya announce.

I feel Maanya shaking beside me. I clutch her to me and call my PI to track Paakhi's phone.
"Not useful, she left her bag at the hotel." Maanya outcry.

"I think I know where she would be..." Aditi mumbles uncertain.

All of us look at her expectantly, she looks at Maanya and says, "What if she went to him?"

Maanya immediately stops crying and stare at Aditi fussed.
"Stop talking in puzzles and state where she would be." Viren exclaim.

"Chill dude, we are more concern about her than you." Aditi chides back.

"Don't talk to me like that." He reprimands.
"Or what?!" Aditi remark.

"Don't behave like children, let's look for Paakhi." I intervene.

"Beautiful? Where is Paakhi?"I ask her lovingly.

She takes a deep breath and looks at Aditi, " are you certain she went there?"

"If she didn't come to this place where she supposedly comes when she is upset," Aditi says looking at Viren provoking him to glare at her.
"Then the only place is him."

"Who is this him? Is she with a guy? Why would she go to a guy and not come to her when she is upset? What is his relation to her?" Viren fire one after the other questions at girls.

"Why should we tell you? Do you like her?" Aditi asks suspiciously.

"Like?! Me? Of course not, she's not my type." He answers.

"You are actually a jerk." She calls out and storms towards Shaurya's car.
"Now follow us!" She exclaims and shut her door. Shaurya sprints to his car and we all drive to supposedly another destination.

"How do you put up with that exaggerating woman!" Viren exclaims angrily.
Maanya ignores his tantrum and looks out the window.

"Do you know who that guy is?" Viren questions me. I deny with a shake of my head and continue updating my security team about our whereabouts.

After driving for another 20 minutes Shaurya parked a car outside an ice cream store.
"She comes here when she is upset?!" I exclaim in surprise.

Nobody replies to me, so I look around to see both Maanya and Viren outside the car.
I meet them at the opposite side of the road and follow Aditi towards a steel gate covered by stone walls on both sides.
I see a board on the wall but due to dim lighting, I couldn't read it.

As we step inside the gate, I instantly realize where we are, the beautiful tombs and luscious grass are contrary assets to my beliefs of this place, this place is important in bringing perspective and serenity, because they bring us a connection to where we came from, help us realize the delicacy of life, and they help us to relax a little bit through their calmness.

"Why are we here?" My loud brother for the first time whisper maintaining the calmness of this place.

"Where do you think?" She immediately halts causing us to glare at her. But her attention is sustained by something ahead.

I gaze in that direction to see someone sitting near a tomb, staring up in the sky.

I squint my eyes to see that someone is Paakhi, her hair in a sloppy bun over her head and her eyes shut.

We all stand still afraid we will disturb her peace.
But my idiotic brother had to be the one to destroy it by stepping on the mud pit and splashing it on Aditi causing her to shriek.

Paakhi promptly turns around and stands up seeing all of us.
Maanya and Aditi rush forward and hug her hard. Till the time they talk my curiosity takes over me and I step forward to read the engravings on the tomb.

'Here lies the superman, Mr.Raghbir Kapoor.'

The first thing that pops into my mind is the man her father? Or Brother?

And the second thing is his birthdate date is missing, just the death date is written which was 24 May 2016.

My attention shifted to Shaurya as he hugs Paakhi and sobs like a baby, so cute! Unknowingly these girls have entered our lives and established their place there.

"You scared us, Never do that again," I confess while hugging her.

She nods with a smile and looks around, her eyes wander everywhere, and when they don't see what they want they are instantly filled with hurt.

I look back expecting to see Viren there but I don't find him. I usher all of them out of their apprehensive for Paakhi to see Viren, but when we reach our cars, I find no trace of him, I look into the car to see car keys in the ignition.

He left! I don't know what is going in his mind but his decisions are not only hurting him but Paakhi too.

I drive the girls to their apartment and drop them there so that they can spend some time together.

"Take care of her, and I will see you." I peck her and she leaves for her building.

I drive to the den, knowing well where to find my brother.

Leaving the elevator, I walk upstairs to the terrace and take a seat beside him.

"Don't!" He blurts.

"I didn't say anything!" I accuse.

"You were about to..." He mumbles leaning back on the sofa and resting his head on its back.
I can see the exhaustion masking his face, he is not physically exhausted but the weight of his emotions is too much for him to handle.

"Are you happy?" I wonder openly.

"I will learn with time." he sighs.

"But you don't have to..." I try again.

"Not again Arhaan, not again." He grunts.

"Not everyone gets to explore the refinement of love. I for sure don't." He declares.

"So you love her? " I pry.

"It doesn't matter, we are too apart to be together," he confesses.

"The distance you can overcome though..." I tell him.

"Don't you remember what happened to the woman I love? Do you want Paakhi to go away too?" He said angrily.

"Stop blaming yourself, I thought you forgive yourself for that?" I ask worriedly.

"Forgive?! How can I forgive myself for killing someone?" He scoffs and walkaway.

I sit stunned, regretting my insinuation on this situation. Reminiscing his past will destroy him completely.

__________________________________

Unknown POV

"You didn't tell me anything about this!" I barge into the bar and glared at the sinister man in front of me.

"Come have a drink!" He says cheerfully ignoring my bitterness.

"No! Tell me what you said to her? She left the hotel bawling her eyes out." I ask angrily.

"Nothing we just talked." He says nonchalantly.

"You told me you were going to warn her about Viren?!" I ask agitated.

"Oh yes, I was about to but I forgot." He says and mimics a sad expression.

I walk towards him and hold him up by his collar.
"We made a deal! I'm paying you to hurt that Viren Singh and not some innocent girl."I demand.

" Hurting her will pain Viren Singh," he utters trying to pull away.

" why?" I ask confuse.

"Don't you see it? They love each other." He coughs out.
I push him away and bang on the bar table.

"He can't destroy one more life! He doesn't deserve someone as beautiful and kind as her; I will do anything to save her from him; That man can't love anyone, He just loves himself. He is a devil!" I say and angrily gulp down a bottle of whiskey.

I need to think of something and that too soon...

__________________________________
(Saurav above)

Hey, I'm back!

Sorry for the delay but my college is so hectic and tiring that I'm unable to write.

But let me know how was the update.

I didn't edit it, so please feel free to point out the mistakes.

Have a great day ahead!!