Rai POV:                                

"It's been 5 years, Rudy. How are you?" I whispered softly, gazing at our photograph. A tear slipped down my cheek, a reminder of the love I once held so close. As the CEO of RO Enterprise, a flourishing fashion design company, I had thrown myself into my work, hoping to forget the ache in my heart.

But no matter how hard I tried, I could never escape the truth. I loved him with every fiber of my being.

The memories flooded back, a bittersweet symphony of our time together in college. After that fateful day, I returned home, but the very next morning, I boarded a flight to New York, eager to begin my fashion journey.

I immersed myself in my career, crafting exquisite designs, yet the shadow of Rudy lingered. He had always been my muse, but now he was untouchable, bound by family expectations. His grandmother had chosen someone for him—someone I knew nothing about.

While Rudy may have moved on, my heart remained tethered to him.Despite the distance and the ache of unrequited love, I couldn't help but feel proud of his success. Rudy, the great Rudra Singhaniya, celebrated as the "Businessman of the Year," number one in Mumbai. My heart swelled with happiness for him, even as it broke for me.

Lost in my thoughts, a voice pulled me back to the present. "Boss, we found him—the one who shared your secrets with your rival. Should we go, boss?" A man clad in black stood at the door, his tone crisp and urgent.I nodded, steeling myself.

We descended into the cold, dimly lit basement where betrayal awaited. A man sat tied to a chair, fear written across his face. He had sold my latest designs to my competitors, and today, he would pay the price.I approached, sitting across from him, my expression a mask of calm.

"Please, don’t kill me, ma’am!" he stammered, desperation lacing his voice. "I was blinded by money! I swear I’ll never betray you again! Please, just give me a chance!"

A smirk played on my lips. "You won’t need to betray me anymore because, for your actions, you won’t be alive to try." I motioned to one of my guards, and as I turned to leave, I felt no remorse.

In this world, I was not just a fashion mogul; I was also the Mafia Queen of New York and Mumbai. My dual identities were a carefully guarded secret. About being the CEO of RO Enterprise known only to my family and closest friends. To the world, I was a heartless businesswoman, yet to my family, I would always be their sweet daughter.

After a long day, I savored a quiet dinner, my thoughts drifting to my family. Tonight, I was bound for the airport, a flight to India. It had been two long years since I had seen them, and tomorrow they would be shocked by my sudden return. I could almost hear my mother's voice scolding me for staying away for so long.

At 6:30 AM, my flight touched down, and a wave of relief washed over me as I exited the terminal. My bodyguard awaited me, leading me to the waiting car. As we drove towards home, joy bubbled within me.

I was finally back with my family, but one person lingered in my mind."Kaise ho, Rudy? Thik to ho na? Pata nahi kaha ho tum. Aatehi tumhari bohot yaad aa rahi hai," I thought longingly, wishing I could bridge the distance between us.

Rudy POV:

"What the hell are you doing?" I shouted, my voice slicing through the low murmur of gossip that filled the air. My employees froze, their chatter dissipating like mist in the morning sun as they hurried back to their desks. Time was my most precious commodity, and I refused to allow it to be squandered within the walls of my company, "RS".

Everyone knew my name, the success that came with it, but few understood the sacrifices and pain that lay beneath the surface. Five years have passed since I last saw Rai, my best friend and the love of my life. I had spent every day since that fateful moment waiting for answers—waiting for the reason she had rejected me.

Our families remained close, yet neither side knew where she had gone. The mystery of her departure gnawed at me, a relentless thorn in my side.Since that day, I had forgotten how to smile. Happiness was a distant memory.

People admired me for my achievements, but they couldn’t see the emptiness behind my facade.

At just 25, I had built a successful business, yet my heart felt like a barren wasteland. The moment I stepped into the world of business, everything shifted.

I found myself entangled with the Mumbai mafia, a shadowy network that cleared my path in the darker corners of the industry.

Surprisingly, the elusive boss behind it all was a woman—a formidable figure who ruled both Mumbai and New York. But I had little interest in meeting her; our arrangement was simple. I paid them, and they handled my dirty work, in exchange I provide them with the best legal cover in return.

"Rudy!! Where are you, bro?" Om's voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality.

"Don’t call me Rudy, Om!" I snapped, glaring at him as he leaned against the doorframe, a playful grin on his face.

"Okay, okay! We have a meeting with Mr. Sehgal at 11:00 AM, so get ready, yaar," he replied, unfazed by my irritation. With that, he sauntered out, leaving me to contemplate my own life choices.

Sometimes, I wondered if I was truly the CEO or if he was the one running the show.

Omkar Singh had been my childhood friend and was now my closest confidant. Even as my best friend, he insisted on calling me Rudy, a name reserved for someone who was no longer in my life.

After ordering breakfast, I forced myself to eat, knowing I had a meeting to prepare for. The minutes ticked by, and soon I found myself sitting in a conference room, discussing deals and strategies.

Once the meeting concluded, I retreated to my cabin, where my phone buzzed with an incoming call from my mother."Rudra! What are you doing? I called you five times!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of concern and frustration.

I glanced at my phone, realizing she was right. "Mom, relax! I was in a meeting," I replied, trying to keep my tone light.

"Okay! Now listen. We have an invitation to the Oberoi mansion at 6:00 PM. You have to be there. I’m hanging up now. Remember, beta, 6 PM!" She hung up before I could protest.With a resigned sigh, I acknowledged that I had no choice but to go. I returned to my work, the weight of my responsibilities pressing heavily on my shoulders.

As the afternoon wore on, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that clung to me. The invitation to the Oberoi mansion stirred something inside, a mix of anticipation and dread. Would Rai be there? Thoughts of her swirled in my mind, reminding me of the laughter we once shared, the dreams we painted together.

But those dreams felt like distant echoes, lost in the corridors of time.And I prepared for the evening.

Oberoi mansion

In the evening , Rai was in the kitchen with her mom and keep asking that who are coming. Who are the guests . But her mom told her everytime that it's a surprise for her .

In the morning when she came to house her mom hugged her instead of scold her . She got surprised that her mom missed her that much . Then she met her Papa and then her brother who is her hero . Then they all spent the whole day with joy . And now Rai waiting for the guests.

Rai POV:

Exactly at 6 PM, the doorbell rang, echoing through the house like a long-lost melody. My mother dashed to the door, her excitement bubbling over. “Careful, dear!” my father called after her, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I smiled at the warmth of their banter, but my heart raced with anticipation.

When the door swung open, I was greeted by the familiar faces of my extended family. Badi Maa, Bade Papa, and Devika—Rudy’s sister and my little princess—stood before me, their expressions a mix of surprise and joy.

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as I took in their presence, but I fought to maintain my composure. Badi Maa enveloped me in a tight embrace, her tears soaking into my shoulder as she whispered, “Kaha chali gyi thi beta? Kisiko kuch batay bina aur ph bhi nahi kiya? Badi Maa itni parai ho gyi thi kya?” (Where did you go, child? Without telling anyone anything? Are we that far apart?)

I bowed my head, seeking their blessings before pulling away. Devika rushed forward, throwing her arms around me with such force that I stumbled slightly.

I hugged her back fiercely, both of us laughing as we reminisced about our childhood adventures, my journey in fashion design, and everything that had transpired during my absence.

The moment was pure magic—until the doorbell rang again, shattering our joyful reunion.

“Beta, jara dekh to kon aya abhi?” my mom urged, her curiosity piqued.

I nodded, heading to the door, but a sense of unease washed over me as I approached. What was this feeling? I couldn’t shake the sensation that something monumental was about to happen.

When I swung the door open, time seemed to freeze.Standing before me was none other than Rudy.

My heart skipped a beat, and my breath caught in my throat. His expression mirrored my own—shock and disbelief etched across his handsome features.

We stood there, locked in a gaze that felt both familiar and foreign, as if the world around us had faded away. Minutes stretched into eternity as we took in the sight of each other, memories flooding back like an overwhelming tide.

“Who is it?” my mom’s voice pulled me back to reality, shattering the spell that had bound us.

I quickly averted my gaze from Rudy, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily in the air.

Without thinking, I gestured for him to come inside, my heart pounding as I stepped aside. The moment felt surreal—my past and present colliding in an unexpected twist of fate. What awaited us in this reunion?

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Helloo lovely peoples ❤️👀 . Hope you all are doing well. So I decided to post new and first chapter of this novel today. And guys please if you like this story please do follow and vote so that'll encourage me to write next part soon👀. Otherwise I'll loose the interest of writting if you don't vote or support me .
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