"You don't even know how your mere presence has changed my life again."

Panchi stepped back in her home an easy smile placed on her lips as she hummed the punjabi song stuck in her head from Viaan's apartment. Who knew Viaan had a hidden home here too?? The most surprising fact were his neighbors namely Swadhin Raizada and Rohan Sharma. The whole floor belonged to those crazy cricketers and even the upper floor was hogged by her dear cousin brother and he didn't even one mention his secret hideout to her. This definitely called for serious retaliation.

She is relatively in ease from the past few weeks, weeks she hadn't seen one Omav Oberoi. She is still unsure why her heart felt like it has broken and shattered again watching him in that condition but she promised herself she won't think about him or his actions, it only causes her heart to beat painfully. It has been three weeks since that incident, two week since his discharge from hospital and a week since the finals. Two weeks since she last saw him and thanked him with a bouquet of bellflowers,Chrysanthemum, Irises and sweetpeas. The conflicted, melancholic, unrequited look in his eyes made the environment feel so sad and dire.

And the madness of the next week, surrounding the finals. She remembers the thrill and excitement of that day, sitting in the VIP box with Anya and Ansh cheering for her boys. Swadhin and Ro's opening partnership of sixes and Vi finishing in style with a six. The anxiety when in the last over 24 runs was needed and win was oscillating on the edge, with each six coming their side with each dot ball going back in their side. The closed eyes and crossed fingers as the endgame came nearer and nearer with the last ball and the breath holding silence that had enveloped the stadium, changing into deafening cheers and shouts of joy as the six landed beyond boundary. The almost mad celebration and Vi controlling his instincts to not kiss Anya in the stadium among all the excitement and happiness as he held her close, kissing her forehead instead. The hootings that surrounded then when Vi went down on his knees presenting his player of the tournament to Anya like proposing her with a trophy instead of ring and the shouts,wolf whistles and cheers from both the team and crowd. That night was crazy and she still feels drunk with that feeling of giddiness and goodness, drunk on chaos, happiness and giddiness though both social and simple media had a field day that night with their videos and pics going viral on all platforms.

Most of them were Vianya and then the fours celebration pics, the way Niks twirled Anya after getting the Emerging player award was another Viral clip and not to mention both Savvy and Ro hugging the daylights out of her was creating it's own speculation online. And now papps were coming with a new speculation about her and Savvy everyday. Their pics going in circles, unknown people finding unmistakable burning chemistry between them, everytime they're spotted together people going gaga about their cuteness made her laugh and cry at the same time.

Laugh when she was going through them with Savvy, sitting in his living room talking about stories, rumors and speculations. A smiling Savvy telling her about a mad speculation of rift between him and Viaan going in media because of Anya. The rumor was something like this that both Viaan and he were fighting for Anya's love and that was causing undeniable rifts and fights between the said besties. Savvy was infatuated with Viaan's manager and Viaan loved his manager the story was a hit among people and their supposed fight too. Both of them had laughed on the rumors and speculations until tears ran down their faces. She really enjoyed his company, specifically his stories and how warm and happy he made her feel with his words, just his words and actions.

She was walking towards her room, visibly happy and dreamy after spending the whole evening with Savvy, Ro, Vianya, Niks and Baby Ira. The guys were pure cartoons and there was no denying that fact. She was passing through her dear Rey meso's study when she heard the loud and familiar shoutings and froze on her spot, eyes wide and frightened.

"Why are you stopping him, Ishana. Let him speak and say how you're not destroying my daughter's future" that voice was without any doubt her mother's, her mother from whom she hadn't heard for so long.

"I...I'm destroying Panchi's future, you've not talked to her from years and now suddenly you decide she is getting married to an Oberoi, obviously I'll stand against such blatant decision Urmi. You can't take such decision without her consent, it's her life. She is happy, has made a name for herself in industry and enjoying herself. You can't just drop this bomb on her and ask her to marry Omav Oberoi because it will help in the upcoming elections. Urmi, she isnt a pawn or doll to do your bindings she is human with her own choices" she heard Ishana massi say in her calm tone though she could hear the edge on her tone and heard her mother's humorless bitter laughter echo.

"Enjoying herself, making a name for herself..... I have seen how she is doing it, her pics with that cricket boy splattered in papers and not alike, ruining our image and you did nothing, you still allow her to be with that boy and what wrong we did expecting something from our daughter after all we did for her, after all money we invested in her and the way she ruined us sleeping with that unknown guy. We can expect something in return from her can't we?? Or you want to make her totally like you wayward and ruin us, make us so ashamed that we can't even meet anyone's eye in the society." her mother accused Ishana massi with such venom in her tone that she felt tears brimming in her eyes, tears of anger and frustration

"Urmi" the warning in Reyaan meso's voice was clear but her mother seemed to be not in the mood to heed anything else.

"Urmi....I'm just telling you ask her opinion what if she likes Swadhin, what if she wants to marry him?? Dont force her into something she doesn't want or something because of which she will remain unhappy all her life" she could feel the tightness and stress in Ishana massi's tone as she tried to make her mother understand, tried to fight for her rights again.

"she is my daughter Ishana....don' act as she is yours. I know you can't have children doesnt mean you'll get away with hoggling and stealing other's children, first Anika's and now my. I mean Ishana, I know you dont like Oberoi's and the way Omkara oberoi let you go still has you all bitter and enraged but this isn't about you and just think after all which guy will accept a barren women like you in right sense of mind...doesn't mean you have any right to stop my daughters marriage with his son. Let go of the past Ishana and let us decide what's best for everyone.
We're her parents, it's our right to decide her marriage don't interfere into our matters and I can clearly see how my daughters image is presented in media because of you. Her pic with that cricket boy everywhere, dragging our name in mud and you dont do anything I cant let our name ruin anymore. So, she will marry where I say, to whom I decide and the Oberoi's are taking her even after knowing her past you should be happy for her instead being the thorn of our path and what you say that cricketer?? What if he suddenly decides that she isn't good enough for him?? What then, she will have a similar fate as yours the scandal of the year story printed  across the world, our family humiliated and ruined, Mom's heart attack did yoh forget everything you caused because you wanted to be free." She could hear her mom's words like poisoned daggers stabbing Ishana massi again and again, repeating similar words, words will impact the most, words which will kill and shatter the heart as her mind took unconscious dip in another such yell match between Ishana massi and her parents, as her mind replayed all the Insults Ishana massi and Reyaan meso has bear because of her, all the insults and poisoned words thrown their way because of her. It's all because her isnt it, it's all her fault yet her massi and meso are bearing the burnt of her mistakes, her short comings, her parents.....no this needs to stop, she never wanted to be the reason of all this. She didnt want all this fighting even that day she was ready to accept her fate and even today she'll accept it to save her massi from her mom's clutches.

Wiping away the furious tears, burning against her skin. She entered the study startling all its occupants, determination  shinning brightly in her watery reddish eyes as she looked at her with, unimaginable fury. She didnt give her any chance to speak, no she couldn't say what she wants to say if she hears her mother's words again. She might just even do something she'll regret all her life.

"I'll marry the guy, you want me to marry. I'll marry where you want me to marry but you won't have any right on me after that, you wont contact me or massi, you won't interfere in my life. You won't be my parents if it's acceptable to you than I'll marry the Oberoi" she spoke with derision in eyes with specks of hope here and there, hoping they won't accept this ridiculous demand but her hope went down the hill.

"Okay, so you'll marry Omav Oberoi" her father asked her still not believing her words

"Yes, I'll but don't forget this deal. You won't contact me or wish anything from me ever again." Her eyes were on fire and she forced her body to not move hearing the gasps from Ishana and Reyaan. She will break down here, break down in a sobbing mess if she turned right now.

"Deal" her parents uttered the words without any emotions while her emotions went haywire, nodding she ran out of the room to her room.

Locking the door, she fell down on the cold floor letting the screams and sobs erupt, again questioning God why she couldnt be Ishana massi's daughter?? Why he has written such fate for her?? What else did Omav want from her?? Why this marriage she cant back out from her??? Why Ishana massi and Reyaan meso always gets insulted because of her?? Why is this happening now?? Why now when she is finally happy and moving on??? Why now???

With shaky fingers she held her phone and stared at it with blurry eyes. The tears wont stop neither her fingers as she tapped on his name and typed the message with all of her strength. She didn't know writing a message could be this hard, this much consuming and killing.

"I'm getting married" she didn't know sending a message needs this much courage or breaks you quite like this. The blue ticks appeared but now answer or query came her way and her heart weeped a little more.

The ringing of her phone startled her as with weeping broken tone, she answered his call and a famine voice greeted her with questions she just cant answers without breaking down and crying for an eternity.

"Panchi, what happened?? Who are you getting married to?? Panchi" she sounded urgent and scared and her own hiccups and sobs weren't helping the situation in any way.

In a breaking and shivering tone she narrated everything to her, sobbing and hiccuping. She told her about the insults and tears and a daughter's deal with her own parents.

"Have they gone nuts??? Oberoi family is no less than a battle ground. Everyday their is a fight to gain the ultimate power. The patriarch is only for name, a puppet ruled from the shadows and they're sending you in that war ground, where the hyenas are waiting to tear you apart." She hadn't heard her this angry ever, she was always calm and calculative never letting her fuse blow somewhat like this.

"Doesnt matter to them, it's all somewhat related to elections and like always every change in my life is all thanks to Omav Oberoi" her words mixed up emotions haywire and tone somewhere between a plead and shout, devastation and anger fell on the ear of a girl burning in fury.

"Its not about Omav, it's someone else" and ofcourse she had never heard so much venom in Anya's tone ever

"Panchi, listen back out from this marriage please" and now Anya was begging her to do something she can't and she have never heard Anya beg too.

"I can't, I won't give them anymore chance to insult someone because of me" she was rigid on her decision and she knew it.

"Panchi" was it sigh and helplessness that surrounded Anya's tone, the girl who positively claims she can handle everything sounded helpless and tired.

"I can't back out Anya, I just can't now and look after Savvy please" she didnt know why she was requesting this, why she was begging Anya to look after Savvy when she knows Anya always does that and she'll always look after the boys.

"I...I'll handle them,I..I'll look after everything....don't worry I'll make sure no hyena reaches you there and I'll be there in 5 mins" Anya's words were breaking tone shivering but she knew this was a promise, she'll be here.

"You dont have too, Ira needs you" she cant be selfish and she knows it, she will sob the whole night and knowing Anya she'll stay here with her whole night and no, she can't handle that.

"Well, her father and uncles can handle her for one night. They should make themselves useful too and I'm coming." There was no space for any arguments, no space or words to make Anya stay where she was and she will be here as she promised, even though her words were broken. She knew Anya keeps her promises, Anya always keeps her promises.

"Okay...Ansh bhai??" There was doubt and uncertainty in her voice, dealing with bhai now will make the situation more worse and everything will go down the hill, more than they already were.

"Dont worry, he'll stay here tonight" Anya promised and Anya keeps her promises.

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In another section of her house Panchi's parents were talking.

"Do you think she meant it??" Urmi asked her husband with fear in her tone

"Meant what??" He asked his wife sounding confused as he looked at her

"She'll never talk to us again, she'll never contact us or call us her parents again" she asked her husband thinking about this point again and again.

"Naah, she is angry right now so this is nothing but her anger speaking when she will cool down and see how happy she'll be there than she'll forget all about this rubbish deal." Her husband reassured her and she smiled

"Yeah, she'll be happy and as Mrs Oberoi promised help in the election. I'll win and baba will finally be proud of me. He'll be proud of me for winning the election and Panchi will be happy surrounded with all the luxury and even Omav is in music industry. Mrs Oberoi seemed such a good lady and I can't even imagine why is Ishana so against this marriage." Urmi lamented

"She is just jealous and still angry on the Oberoi's" her husband informed her with a shake of his head.

"We'll happy, Panchi will realize what we did for her secure future. Everything will be fine." They mused together

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"I wont ever talk to them again, I wont ever contact them our relation will be over with this marriage" Panchi promised to herself, she repeated the world till it was ingrained in her soul.

..To be continued..