Her eyes sparkled with an uncanny familiarity, reminiscent of Riddhima's. The contours of her face were equally striking, echoing the features of the one he had been searching for. His heart skipped a beat as he gazed at her, his mind reeling with the possibility that he had finally found her. The months of searching, the countless faces he had scanned, the endless nights he had spent wondering if he would ever find her - it all seemed worth it in this moment. 

"Riddhima..." he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. "Where were you, sweetheart?" He took a step closer, his arms opening to envelop her in a tight hug. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, his senses overwhelmed by the possibility of being reunited with the one he loved. He had dreamed of this moment for so long, and now that it was finally here, he felt like he was going to explode with emotion.But instead of the warm reception he had anticipated, she pushed him away, her eyes flashing with confusion and annoyance. 

"What are you doing, sir? Who the hell is Riddhima? I'm Aashna!" Her voice was firm, but he could detect a hint of fear behind her words. She took a step back, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape route. He felt a pang of disappointment and confusion, his mind struggling to comprehend the sudden turn of events.

"Riddhima?" he whispered again, his eyes scanning her face, searching for any sign of recognition. But she just looked at him with a mixture of confusion and alarm, her brow furrowed in distress. Her eyes, which had seemed so familiar just moments before, now seemed like those of a stranger, and he felt a pang of disappointment and disorientation. "Mr... aap kya keh rahe hain? Hume kuch samajh nahi aa raha," she stammered, taking a step back, her eyes wide with fear. 

Her words were like a slap in the face, jolting him back to reality. He felt like he was dreaming, and suddenly, he was awake, facing a stranger who had no idea who he was or what he was talking about. The realization was disorienting, and he stumbled backwards, his eyes never leaving hers. He felt like he was losing his grip on reality, like the world around him was spinning out of control. Who was this girl, and why did she look so much like Riddhima? And why, oh why, did she not recognize him?

"Riddhima, I'm Vansh! Vansh!" he said desperately, his voice cracking with emotion. He took a step closer to her, his eyes pleading with her to remember. He couldn't understand why she wasn't recognizing him, why she wasn't responding to his name. It was as if she had erased him from her memory completely.But instead of the recognition he was hoping for, she looked at him with a mixture of fear and annoyance. "Okay, last time, Mr. Vansh," she said firmly, her voice rising. 

"I'm not Riddhima. My name is Aashna, Aashna Raichand." She enunciated each word clearly, as if trying to drill it into his head. She took another step back, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape route. Vansh felt like he was losing his grip on reality. Who was this Aashna girl, and why was she pretending not to know him? He knew what he saw - the same sparkling eyes, the same mischievous smile. It was Riddhima, he was sure of it. But why was she denying it?

Vansh's mind was racing with questions and doubts. He felt like he was trapped in a nightmare, and he couldn't wake up. He took another step closer to Aashna, his eyes burning with intensity. "Don't lie to me, Riddhima," he whispered, his voice low and husky. "I know it's you. I can see it in your eyes." Aashna's eyes widened in fear, and she took another step back, her hands raised in a defensive gesture. "Mr. Vansh, please," she begged. "You're scaring me. I don't know what you're talking about." Vansh's face twisted in anguish, and he raised his hands to his head, as if trying to hold on to his sanity. What was going on? Why was Riddhima pretending not to know him? And who was this Aashna girl, really?

A tall, imposing figure strode into the room, his eyes fixed intently on Vansh. "Mr. Vansh, stop bothering my Ashu," he commanded, his deep voice firm and authoritative. As he spoke, he wrapped his arms around Aashna, pulling her close in a protective gesture. Aashna nestled into his chest, her eyes flashing with relief as she gazed up at him. Vansh's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the couple. Who was this man, and what was his relationship with Aashna? The way he hugged her, the way she looked up at him, suggested a deep intimacy, a sense of ownership. Vansh's gut twisted with a sudden, inexplicable pang of jealousy.

Vansh's eyes narrowed, and he took a step back, his gaze fixed on the man who had just entered the room. There was something about the way he hugged Aashna that seemed intimate, possessive. "And who are you?" Vansh demanded, his voice cold and authoritative. The man turned to face him, a look of calm confidence on his face. "I''m Veer Agnihotri," he said, his voice firm. "Aashna's fiancé. And I'd appreciate it if you would leave her alone." Vansh's eyes widened in shock, and he felt like he had been punched in the gut. His riddhima was engaged? To this man? He couldn't believe it. He felt like he was living in a nightmare, and he couldn't wake up.

As Veer's lips brushed against Aashna's forehead, a surge of possessiveness and affection seemed to emanate from him. Aashna's eyes fluttered closed, and she leaned into his touch, her face tilted upwards in a gentle, trusting gesture. The tender moment seemed to speak volumes about their relationship, and Vansh felt a pang of unease as he watched them. Who was this Veer, and why did Aashna seem so comfortable with him? The questions swirled in Vansh's mind, but before he could process them, Veer's eyes snapped towards him, a hint of warning and protectiveness flashing in their depths.

.............

Vansh's eyes gazed blankly into space, his mind consumed by the memories of the past. Aashna's words continued to echo in his mind, but his heart refused to accept them. It still clung to the hope that she was indeed his Riddhima, that she was just pretending not to remember him. The rocking chair creaked gently as Vansh swayed back and forth, his eyes fixed on some distant memory. His mind was a jumble of emotions, torn between the desire to hold on to the past and the harsh reality of the present. But his heart remained steadfast, refusing to let go of the love he had shared with Riddhima. He felt like he was trapped in a never-ending cycle of pain and longing, unable to escape the memories that haunted him. And yet, he couldn't help but hold on to the hope that Aashna was indeed his Riddhima, that she would one day remember him and return to him. The thought was a fragile thread, but it was all he had to cling to.

The soft whisper seemed to caress Vansh's ear, sending shivers down his spine. "Vansh." The voice was unmistakable - Riddhima's. Vansh's heart skipped a beat as he spun around, his eyes scanning the empty room. But there was no one there. The voice had seemed so real, so familiar. It was Riddhima's voice, he was certain of it. He felt a shiver run down his spine as he turned back to face the front, his mind reeling with confusion. Was he losing his mind? Was he so desperate to hear Riddhima's voice that he was starting to imagine things? 

Vansh's eyes dropped to the floor, his thoughts consumed by the memories of Riddhima. He felt like he was trapped in a never-ending cycle of grief and longing, unable to escape the pain of losing her. And yet, the sound of her voice had given him a glimmer of hope. Had she really been there, watching over him? Or was it just his imagination playing tricks on him? Vansh's head spun with questions, but he knew he might never find the answers.

Vansh's heart skipped a beat as he felt a gentle presence behind him. He could sense her warmth, her energy, and her unmistakable scent. It was Riddhima. Without turning around, Vansh's eyes drifted shut, and he let out a slow, ragged breath. He could feel her standing behind him, her eyes fixed on him. The air was thick with tension, heavy with unspoken emotions. Vansh's mind flashed back to the passionate night they had shared six months ago.

 He remembered the way Riddhima had looked in that dress, the way it had hugged her curves and accentuated her beauty. And now, he could sense that she was wearing the same dress, the same scent, the same everything. It was as if time had stood still, and they were back in that moment, reliving the passion and the love they had shared. Vansh's heart was racing, his pulse pounding in his ears. He felt like he was on the edge of a precipice, staring into the abyss of his own emotions. And he wasn't sure if he was ready to take the leap.

"why are you doing this riddhima?" Riddhima's voice was low and husky as she spoke, sending shivers down Vansh's spine. "Why am I doing what, Vansh?" she asked, her words dripping with innocence. But Vansh knew better. He could sense the underlying tension in her voice, the unspoken emotions that simmered just below the surface. He turned to face her, his eyes locking onto hers with a fierce intensity. "You know exactly what I'm talking about, Riddhima," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "Why are you pretending to be Aashna? Why are you playing these games with me?" Riddhima's eyes flashed with a hint of defiance, but Vansh could see the faintest glimmer of fear lurking in their depths. 

"you are doing this to punish me right? for what i did in past, for announcing ahana as my wife?" Riddhima's eyes seemed to flash with a mixture of emotions - pain, anger, and hurt. She took a step closer to Vansh, her voice barely above a whisper. "Punish you?" she repeated, her words laced with venom. "You think this is about punishing you, Vansh? You think you're the only one who's been hurt?" Riddhima's eyes blazed with a fierce intensity, her voice cracking with emotion. "You broke me, Vansh. You shattered me into a million pieces when you announced Ahana as your wife. You humiliated me, you crushed me... and now, you think I'm just doing this to punish you?" Riddhima's laughter was a harsh, mocking sound. "You have no idea, Vansh. No idea what I've been through, what I've felt. You have no idea what it's like to be me."