Armaan's Mansion

Armaan stares at Kavya's back, holding her wrist in a firm grip and Kavya keeps her eyes close, trying to calm the havoc in her senses.

She fails to find the courage to turn around and face the man, who has hurt her beyond her handling capacity, who had abandoned her after getting his benefits and simultaneously killed her self-confidence.

But a part of her, forces to remain strong and not show her weakness to him. It urges her to remember, how her life has turned upside down and filled with struggles because of him.

So, taking a deep breath, Kavya composes herself and pushes away every feeling, which can make her weak.

She opens her eyes and stares ahead with confident eyes, while pulling her hand to release from Armaan's hold.

But he tightens his grip and demands, "Where are you going?"

She turns around gracefully to glare at him and retorts in a flat tone, "Why should I tell you?"

Armaan demands with authority, lacing in his tone, "Because I am asking, Kavya."

Rihan rolls his eyes in irritation with Armaan's arrogance and thinks, 'This man needs to change his talking styles ASAP.'

Mary shakes her head in disbelief and thinks, 'I knew, this will happen.'

His words make Kavya angry and she demands in a harsh tone, "Am I asking you, from where are you returning after so many days?"

Armaan opens his mouth to speak, but Kavya beats him by asking, "Then why are you asking me?"

Armaan is taken aback by her harsh response and change in behaviour. He fails to believe, she is the same Kavya, whom he met a few days back.

Kavya continues, "And now will you let go of my hand? I am getting late."

Armaan leaves Kavya's hand without uttering a word, making her hand fall on her side. She lowers her gaze, feeling disheartened, for not getting a reaction from him.

But she waves it off and turns around to leave, only to stop by Armaan's words, "When will you return?"

Kavya didn't turn to face him and just twists her neck at the right to answer, "That's none of your business."

Kavya starts walking towards the exit, causing the sound of her heels, to echo in the silent corridor.

Armaan keeps watching at her back till she disappears behind the main door, trying to understand the change in her behaviour.

While Rihan thinks, 'How did she turn into Armaan's mini version? And what happened to her calm and friendly nature?'

He knew only one person can clear his doubts, so he turns to face Mary, who has a blank look on her face.

Mary meets Rihan's gaze and reads the doubt in his eyes. But she shakes her head and lowers her gaze, surprising him.

She thinks, 'I am not telling the boys anything. I will not ditch Kavya.'

Mary informs Armaan, whose eyes are still glued by the main door, "Breakfast will be served on the dining table in 15 minutes."

Mary didn't wait for a response and turns to make her way towards the kitchen.

Ruhi's Apartment

Ruhi walks towards the main door of her apartment and opens it with a smile.

Ruhi appreciates, finding Kavya on the doorstep, "Wow, madam on time."

But her smile drops, watching Kavya's blank face. She frowns in confusion, as Kavya takes small steps to enter the apartment.

Kavya sits on the brown comfy sofa and Ruhi moves closer. She places her hand on Kavya's shoulder, which makes a tear escape from her eye.

Ruhi asks with concern, "Hey, what happened?"

Kavya whispers, "He is back."

Ruhi didn't question, to know Kavya is talking about Armaan. She knew only he had this effect on her.

Within a second, Ruhi wraps her arms around Kavya, taking her in a tight hug. Kavya responds and more tears escape from her eyes.

Ruhi strokes her hair and consoles, "Ssshhh. It's ok Kavy. Calm down."

Ruhi keeps consoling her while Kavya sheds tears of her pain and sorrow.

Dining Room, Armaan's Mansion

Two butlers were serving breakfast to Armaan and Rihan, after they took a bath and changed into fresh clothes.

However, Armaan's mind remains clouded with Kavya's thoughts, trying to understanding the change in her behaviour. He fails to stop himself from comparing the Kavya, he knew and the one, he met today.

Her bright hazel eyes, were dark and dull today. Her sweet, soothing voice, was harsh and blunt. While her calm, cheerful aura, was replaced with a strong, dominating aura with a mixture of an unknown quality, which he is still unsuccessful to scrutinize.

Armaan tries to think what might have happened after he left, though he can't put his finger on any theory his mind was assuming.

Finally, he gives up and glances around to find Mary, as she is the only person, who can calm his growing anxiety.

When he doesn't find her, he clicks his finger, drawing both the butlers' attention and orders, "Call Mary."

One of the butler bows in response and moves towards the kitchen to call Mary.

While Rihan smirks and asks, "Affected by Kavya?"

Armaan glares at him and orders, "Shut up."

Rihan snickers in response and grabs the glass of juice to take a sip. He watches Mary is nearing the table and faces Armaan with the same blank expression, which she masked earlier.

Rihan thinks suspiciously, 'What has happened to Mary?'

Armaan demands, "Mary, I need to know what happened after I left for LA."

Mary informs in a flat tone, "Nothing special, Kavya made herself comfortable in her room and shared about her likes and dislikes in food, so I can plan the menu accordingly."

He scowls at her, expressing his disappointment with her response and silently threatening to speak the truth.

But Mary stays unaffected because she knew, Armaan will not harm or shout at her. She has raised him as his own son, which earned her immense love and respect in his heart.

Mary wasn't an employee for him, she held an important position in his life and now, she wanted to test that position to gain justice for Kavya.

Rihan observes the silent communication between Mary and Armaan, though he chooses to not interfere.

Armaan pinches the bridge of his nose in defeat and asks with a hint of irritation in his voice, "You won't utter a word, right?"

Mary lowers her gaze and keeps her lips sealed, making Armaan shake his head in disbelief.

He grabs his black coffee mug and asks, "So you are a Kavya loyalist now."

Mary informs, "She is your wife and I have equal responsibilities towards her, as I have towards you."

Armaan sighs and takes a sip of his coffee. He remembers Kavya's harsh words again and couldn't stop his thoughts from diverting to their last conversation, which happened on that dreadful night. He knew, he has hurt her and somewhere, it made him upset.

He asks without making an eye contact, "Was she..."

Mary frowns and he clears his throat before completing, "Upset after I left?"

Rihan raises his eyebrows in amusement and gazes Armaan, whose eyes are glued on his coffee mug.

While Mary fights back the smile and states, "In a marriage, there is no place for the third person, Armaan. Husband and wife should themselves talk with each other."

Armaan shifts his gaze to Mary, who then adds, "Even if they don't have a healthy relationship, the communication should be straight and clear."

Armaan sighs again and asks, "Do you know, when will she return?"

Mary answers, "She will be late."

Armaan nods and lowers his gaze, thinking for a moment. Rihan and Mary keenly observe him, trying to analyse what he is thinking.

But before they can understand, suddenly, Armaan removes his chequebook from his blazer pocket. He signs a blank cheque and gives it to Mary, who frowns in confusion.

Armaan instructs, "Give it to Kavya when she returns."

She takes the cheque and he continues, "Inform her, it's for her personal expenses."

Mary opens her mouth to deny, but Armaan orders, "Don't argue on this, Mary, I had promised her father to take care of her every need. So, give it to Kavya."

Mary nods and asks if she can leave. Armaan nods, giving his permission and she turns to make her way back to the kitchen.

Rihan grins and opens his mouth to tease, but Armaan orders first, "We are going office."

He didn't wait for a response and stands up to move towards his room to change in formals.

While Rihan stays back and murmurs, "It's more complicated than I had assumed it to be."

He sighs in helplessness and murmurs, "But why is the arrogant spoiling my Sunday?"

Ruhi's Apartment

Kavya is lying on the sofa with her head resting on Ruhi's lap, who is sitting on one corner. Ruhi is stroking Kavya's hair gently as her eyes are close.

Kavya apologises with closed eyes, "Sorry."

Ruhi asks with a frown, "Why are you apologising?"

Kavya opens her eyes to meet her gaze and confesses, "I shouldn't have reacted in this way. I knew, one day he will be back, I had prepared myself to face him. But...but I don't know why, I couldn't control myself after seeing him. He...he just-"

Ruhi interrupts while stroking her hair, "Ssshhh, it's alright. Sometimes, we fail to have a control over our emotions, but at least you didn't react in front of him."

Kavya nods with an "Hmm" and sits up, moving around to face Ruhi.

Kavya suggests, "Let's go."

Ruhi frowns and Kavya continues, "Our girl's day out plan is pending, so let's go and explore the city. Mary said Mumbai is beautiful."

Ruhi asks with concern, "Are you sure you want to go?"

Kavya nods with confidence and confirms, "100%"

Ruhi smiles and grabs her hand, speaking with excitement, "Let's go and have some fun."

Ruhi and Kavya grab their handbags and leave for exploring the Mumbai city.

8 pm

Kitchen, Armaan's Mansion

Kavya enters the Mansion and directly makes her way to the kitchen. She finds Mary busy in cooking and greets her, earning her attention.

Mary asks with a smile, "Welcome home. How was your day?"

Kavya informs with excitement, "Awesome, you were right, Mumbai is beautiful."

Mary places her hand on Kavya's shoulder and asks with concern, "Are you okay dear?"

Kavya answers with a cute, sad pout, while caressing her tummy, "No, I am starving. You know, Ruhi ate my candy floss, when I was talking with Myra on the phone."

Mary smiles and cups her face, while informing, "Don't worry, I have made your favourite Chinese food today."

Kavya grins and turns to sit on the kitchen stool and demands, "Then give me the yummy food."

Mary asks, "You will eat here? Not at the dining table?"

Kavya demands, "Why should I eat at the dining table?"

Mary opens her mouth to speak, but Kavya interrupts with fake amusement, "Oh! My landlord has returned, so you are asking?"

Mary doesn't respond to the title, she gave to Armaan and Kavya continues in a taunting manner, "But why should I eat with him? I am not his wife to keep my eyes fixed on the door and wait for him to return from office or whatever place he has gone. Then serve dinner with my beautiful hands and requests him to eat, while expressing my concern that he worked hard."

She grins and goes on, "I am his tenant, who should either eat in her room or in the kitchen. Plus, I get to chat with a wonderful and charming person like you, while having breakfast and dinner. So, why to compromise by eating with a selfish pig?"

Mary giggles at her words and feels glad to see her staying strong even after meeting Armaan in the morning because first, she feared, Kavya will breakdown in front of him.

In the past days, she has witnessed her heart and dreams breaking into million pieces with the struggles to gather herself and stand for her self-respect. These were difficult to manage in a short span of time, so she is happy with Kavya's unaltered confidence.

Kavya informs in a serious tone, "Mary, just because my landlord has returned, me and my habits will not change. Since day one, I am eating my breakfast and dinner, here with you, while chatting. So, the routine remains unchanged."

Mary nods, deciding to motive her, instead of reminding of her wounds.

So, she pours a glass of water for Kavya, before asking about her day, as per the routine. Then serves dinner and Kavya pays for it, while sharing the events of the day.

Kavya realises something, after first bite and asks, "Did you calculate the rent of my room?"

Mary remembers the blank cheque Armaan gave and debates with herself, whether to give it to Kavya or not.

But her attention is grabbed by Kavya, who pokes her hand and glares playfully as her silence, expressed she hasn't done the work.

Mary rolls her eyes, before complaining, "Don't give me that look, my boss came back without any prior notice. So, my entire Sunday has passed in cleaning and organising his bedroom and office room. He doesn't allow anyone to enter those rooms, except me."

Kavya sighs dramatically and teases, "Fine, I give you the liberty to please your boss today."

Mary chuckles and Kavya continues, "But I need the amount tomorrow."

She turns serious and requests, "Please be fast, Mary. I can't live with the burden of relying on him for a roof on my head."

Mary nods in understanding and they continue to talk as usual, diverting themselves from the sour topic.

After eating, Kavya wishes Mary good night and goes to sleep.

10 pm, Dining Room

Armaan enters the dining room after attending the office and a butler serves his dinner.

However, his eyes starts finding Kavya on his own accord and his eyebrows furrow on not seeing her. So, he demands the butler to call Mary, who obeys and Mary appears after some time.

Armaan asks, "Did Kavya return?"

Mary replies, "Yes, long back. She had her dinner and went to sleep."

Armaan questions, "She ate and went to sleep?"

Mary nods, fighting back the smile, which is threatening to appear on her lips, seeing the hurt in Armaan's eyes.

Mary maintains a blank look and asks, "Anything else?"

Armaan shakes his head and starts eating his dinner, making Mary smile in contentment.

Mary thinks, 'You need to learn her value, Armaan and understand what she has gone through.'

She turns to make her way back in the kitchen, leaving Armaan alone with his thoughts.

Armaan lifts his spoon to have another morsel, but stops midway and places the spoon back. He flicks his finger and a butler appears in front of him and bows.

He demands some alcohol and the butler nods, before brings whiskey for him.

Armaan takes a large sip, while remembering Kavya's words -

"Watch out where you are walking Armaan....Now will you let go of my hand? I am getting late....That's none of your business"

He empties the entire glass in second large sip and stands on his feet, to walk out of the dining room.

Outside Kavya's Room

Armaan reaches outside Kavya's room and debates with himself, whether to enter the room or not. He glances at his watch to see the time as 11:05 pm.

He murmurs, "No one sleeps so soon."

Armaan raises his hand to knock on the door, but stops midway and remembers her harsh words -

"That's none of your business"

He sighs in frustration and turns around to walk back towards his room to enter.

Next Morning - 5 am

Kavya's Room

Kavya's alarm clock starts ringing and she stirs in her sleep, slowly waking up to start her day.

She extends her hand to shut the alarm, but halts midway as a thought crosses her mind and she smirks with her eyes still closed.

Armaan's Room

Armaan stirs on his bed as his deep slumber is getting disturbed by an annoying sound, coming from the other side of the door.

The sound keeps increasing with each passing minute, haunting his ears and killing his sleep, bit by bit.

Finally Armaan sits up on his bed and throws the silk duvet on the floor in anger. He raises to his feet and makes his way to open the door, when the sounds dies on its own.

He frowns and opens the door to check around for the source of the sound. But as it has stopped, he fails to know and decides to ask Mary later as he was still sleepy.

He walks back to his bed and falls on his stomach, while closing his eyes to sleep again.

But within two minutes, Armaan hears another annoying sound of something is banging. He frowns in his sleep and assumes as if someone is opening and shutting the wardrobe and drawers with force.

He turns around to lay on his back and opens his eyes, glaring at the ceiling as the gradually, increasing and annoying sound fills his ears.

Armaan promises, "Even if it is Mary, I will fire her without paying the dues."

He jumps to his feet and marches to the door to open, but stops as the sound dies.

Armaan growls in frustration and opens the door, before peeping out to yell, "Who the hell is making sounds here?"

Kavya's Room

Kavya giggles in silence, while standing at the dressing table and combing her hairs to get ready for the day.

She recollects her father's words, which he said, when she was 10 years old and had borrowed earrings from her cousin, but failed to return on time -

"Princess, always return what you have, which doesn't belong to you....and if possible, return with bonus, so the giver stays happy with you."

Kavya smirks as she catches the faint conversation of a furious Armaan and confused Mary. She hears, Mary is assuring him, there is no one on the floor to cause any sound.

Soon she hears the door closing sound and assumes Armaan has gone back to sleep.

She thinks, 'I have spent two sleepless nights in this Mansion, Armaan. One down, one more to go.'

Living Room

Kavya makes her way to the main door after having breakfast and sharing the evil prank, she played on Armaan with Mary.

Though she even apologised to Mary for not informing earlier because of which she had to face his anger at early in the morning. Mary forgive her as he deserved to be troubled for his deeds.

Kavya sends a message to Ruhi, still smiling to inform, she has left and continues to walk.

But halts, hearing a familiar voice, "Where are you going at this hour?"

Kavya turns around and smiles in contentment to see the sleepless eyes of Armaan, as he is sitting on the couch with legs crossed.

She retorts, "How many times do I need to repeat myself, that's none of your business?"

Armaan sighs in frustration and stands to his feet for talking further. But Kavya turns around to leave without giving him a chance to speak.

He stares at her back as she exits the door and disappears from his sight.

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

That's all for now.....will update next part as soon as possible.....hope you liked this part, do give your reviews...till then Keep Smiling and Take Care

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