Neev.

"Come in," The order came. I looked at Riya, she looked a nervous mess. I wanted to hold her hands, but know I can't.

We opened the door and walked inside.

Grandpa was already waiting in the settee.

"Why did you turn off your phone yesterday?" He started as soon as we were in front of him.

"I didn't feel like answering" I shrugged, I couldn't help it anymore, I heard the soft gasp from Riya beside me.

"You are hopeless, Nivin, I was wrong to think I could straighten you" Grandpa said darkly.

"I didn't ask you to take me in" I said angrily. "All I wanted was my freedom" I said.

"And you? Where did you run off like that?" Grandpa turned to her.

"I...I..am sorry..my..phone..lost..I-" Riya was looking shaken.

"Riya! He set you up yesterday! He selected your hotel so that he can threaten us!" I said, losing it completely.

I dont want to see her like this!

"She knows what's the punishment for disobeying, don't you, Riya?"

"I am so...sorry..please forgive m-"

"Riya! stop it" I exclaimed again.

I can't believe the same Riya, who had challenged Grandpa after getting beaten up was talking like this now!

"I was wrong...please help me-" she started again.

"No! It was final, I asked them to discontinue the treatment yesterday, " Grandpa said coldly.

That's why Riya was insisting on coming back!

She's worried about her mamma's treatment!

"No..please...Please help her" tears were flowing down her face now, she was trembling from head to foot.

"I warned you of the consequences if you ever disobay me"

I couldn't believe my ears!

He is practically threatening Riya to be his slave!

"I was wrong...please help my mamma, she..she doesn't have another chance"

"Then you should have done better, but you messed up, you can just let her die in peace now-"

"No!" Riya screamed. "please...I beg you"

she dropped to her knees, tears flew down her eyes continuously, "Please help her, I beg you...I will...I will do anything for you...anything"

I was still frozen in my place, I looked over at my so called grandfather, never had I hated him as much as this moment.

"I can't believe you can stoop this low!" I said in an ice cold voice that was foreign to my own ears. "I can't believe you are this kind of monster!" I shouted the second sentence, fisting my hands tightly on both sides.

"You should never have disobeyed me in the first place!" Grandpa looked at me.

"You created the whole mess yesterday! You wanted to control everyone's life!" I said.

"Yes, I did! I won't tolerate anything that might affect the family reputation!" He said.

"Wrong! You don't want anything to happen to the company! all you care about is the company, you don't give a damn about the family!" I shouted again.

"I know what's going to make you suffer boy!" Grandpa snarled. "you are grounded, no phone, no car nothing is allowed for you, I am going to close down that clubhouse of yours and I am going to punish her" Grandpa looked at Riya darkly.

"I am going to punish the only person you ever care about now, for every mistake you are going to do, she will get beaten up and if any of you tried to escape, I will destroy the most precious thing close to you"

"You can't do this!" I whispered.

"I can and you know it!"

"No! not anymore!" I shouted. "Get up Riya" I ordered, she was still on the floor, kneeling in front of Grandpa. she didn't move.

"She's more smart than you Nivin, she knows what will happen to her mamma if she as much move a finger against me"

"You won't touch her!" I said back and marched to Riya and pulled her up by the elbows. "I am not going to just watch you doing this!"

"Don't be pathetic like your father, don't make the same mistakes"

"My father was not pathetic! don't you talk about him"

"Yes, he was, he ruined his life for a girl who ran away with his bestfriend, leaving you here, a burden to everyone else"

I stilled, the room filled with silence.

"I am not going to drink myself to death, don't worry, I am going to do much better"

"Oh! you are going to do much better?" Grandpa's evil eyes met mine.

"Yes, I am going to destroy the most precious thing to you, just like you told me" I said in a calm voice. "The company, I am going to dethrone you, the only thing you really care about" I said.

"You sure can joke" Grandpa laughed and pressed the bell.

"Escort her to second floor" Grandpa ordered as philip appeared.

"No!" I said angrilly, taking her hand firmly.

"You think you can really stop me?"

"Yes, I can, touch her and your dream Asian project is going to fall, I am going to sue you for using it, you and I both knows what happens if that happens" I said

Grandpa stared at me.

"You wont dare!"

"Try me!" I said firmly, Grandpa's eyes moved to Riya who flinched visibly. I could still feel her trembling in my grip.

"Make sure the treatment is resumed, or I will do everything to mess up your largest project" I warned again.

"Are you threatening me?" Grandpa asked me dangerously.

"I am going to do much more than that, just watch now" I said and walked out, dragging Riya along with me.

Riya.

"Why did you do it!? don't aggravate him more!" I pleaded with him.

"I promised I will protect you, Riya" He said, still dragging me all the way upstairs.

"He can make yours and my life a living hell Neev!" I tried again, but Neev doesn't seem to be affected.

We were finally at the terrace overlooking the garden and pool in the second floor. Nivin pulled me to the railing and let go of my hand.

"Riya, what's wrong with your mamma?" he asked.

I know I haven't told him about her.

"Um..Neev-"

"I really wants to know, tell me, what's wrong with her?"

"She is...a kidney patient she needs dialysis every two days, but now we have the donor for transplantation, the surgery date is almost fixed, that's why I can't risk anything now, " I told him slowly

"She's admitted to our hospital?" Neev asked me and I nodded 'yes', surprised.

"Did you come to the Aldricks for her?" he asked me again.

"Partly," I said slowly. "I wanted to know about my real family too, Grandpa talked to me like he knows my family, I wanted to know what really happened with Uncle Ananth too, my life was a mess then, you know how Vivek was behaving with me" I stopped. "so when Grandpa offered me this, it was an escape route for me and mamma really needed help too"

"So he trapped you to come here" he stated.

"It was my decisio-"

"Please, Riya! it's how he works! he knew you were struggling! he knew you were looking for your family! so he baited you!" Nivin said.

"I know I am such a fool to come here, when I thought about mamma's treatment, it was the best chance we had then"

"Don't blame yourself, he did this to you" Nivin said slowly. "And the hospital, It was established by our late grandmother to help people who really need it, not to threaten them or control them!" he said.

"We are helpless Neev, we can't do anything anymore, if Grandpa ever refused the treatment, we are going to be thrown out to the streets and I can't afford the treatment"

"As long as I have this Asian project, he won't do it, don't worry Riya, I will find something to protect her within this time"

My eyes filled at his sincerity, but I know I can't drag him to this.

"Neev, Grandpa hates my guardian, I can't go against him or mamma will-"

"Like I told you, you can't get anything out of making a deal with him, he's really cunning, you will only get hurt," he told me patiently.

"We all are helpless Neev, we can't do anything about it!" I said exasperated.

Why can't he just try hard to keep out of trouble!? Even if we manage to do this now, I am sure Grandpa will just get angrier and he will find other ways to destroy us!

I can't risk anything now, mamma's life is on line now!

"Yes, we can" Neev said, determined now.

"What are you talking about?"

"What else? I am going to get into that goddamen company! and I am going to destroy it"

"You don't mean it" I exclaimed.

"I meant every word of it, because that's the only way to stop him from destroying anymore people" Neev said firmly.

* * *

Rohan.

"Moved? moved where? what are you talking about?"

"It seems like she moved out two years back, quit her job and never kept any contact" Harry, the private detective said.

"There's no chance! she won't..she won't move like that" I said.

"I am also aware of her sentiments of that house, but it's exactly what happened, I tried in all directions but it's dead end everywhere," Harry said firmly.

I know Harry and his team is the best when it comes to investigation.

"Okay, I will call you later Harry"

I disconnected the call and leaned to the chair, I am still at my office.

There's no way she will do it, I know how much that place meant to her, besides, there's no other place she could go!

I still remember that day clearly. I don't think I can ever forget it.

......

"What are you doing, Rohan?" Mom said anxiously. "You are not fully recovered from Grandpa's punishment! don't do this!"

I was packing my bag.

"I am going out of this house, I no longer want to live here, I am going to marry her, mom, I can't do without Naina," I said, still packing.

"Have you gone mad!? he told you not to meet her! you know you can't escape him, he's going to find you"

"I can't abandon her, we are already engaged, I am going to marry her even if Grandpa agrees to it or not"I took my bag and started to walk.

"No! I can't allow this! you are going to be caught by him, don't do this Rohan"

"Mom please, I dont care about this company, I dont care if she's rich or poor, I love her mom!"

"I know, but Grandpa's going to destroy both of you"

"I will protect her" I said firmly.

"You are doing the same mistakes of Neev's dad! he married the girl he loves against Grandpa's will and look at what happened after!"

"I don't really call it love if she runs away with-"

"Julia didn't run away with his best friend! they forced her away!" Mom shouted. I stopped dead in my track.

"What do you mean?" I asked

"Nobody knows what really happened, the Julia I know loved her husband and son with all her heart, as far as I know, she will never do it, " mom said

"Then all these time..Neev.."

"We can't do anything about it! Nobody knows what really happened, the subject is forbidden, but you see my point"

I looked at the watch, I don't have much time, Naina is waiting for me.

"I am sorry mom, I have to go, she's waiting for me, I will come back, once we get married, there's nothing Grandpa could do, I will protect her" I said, still not backing down-

"Sir?"

I snapped open my eyes, my secretary was infront of me, she seemed to have been talking to me.

"Yes?" I looked at her.

"Sir, it's the files you asked for today's conference" My secretary placed it on the table.

"Cancel everything, I am taking the afternoon off"

"Excuse me sir, I think I heard you wro-" she looked surprised.

"Cancel everything, I am taking the day off" I repeated.

* * *

Sachin.

"We don't get a response anymore, it's been three hours since he was inside," my manager said, worried.

"Maybe they don't want to get disturbed" I suggested

"I think something is off and it's a VVIP guest," my manager said again.

"Okay, I will be there" I promised.

The VIP guests always seem to get others in trouble, I know I have to sort it out.

Soon, I was on the floor that was richly furnished. Two of my managers were already knocking on the door.

"Sir, please open the door"

"Just get the security officer, let's crack the password," I said.

So five minutes later, I walked inside the room.

"Sir-" I stopped. "Rohan?" I exclaimed while he looked up at me.

"Ah..Sachin" he slurred.

I have never seen Rohan this drunk in my life! he was still in his suit, his shoe polished, his tie still in place, But his face was flushed and he looked drunk.

I turned to the staff. "I will take care of this, you can go out"

"Close eet" Rohan said again. "Don't..wan..pr..ess" he was still drinking.

Ha! He is still worried about the press in this state!

"I think that's enough for today"  I said, taking the seat opposite to him.

"She's...gone..vani..shed.." Rohan took the next bottle. "All..bcoz ofme"

"What are you talking about? who's gone?"

"She..she's gone..you know..she..don..t have..a pl.ace to go"

I sighed and took out my phone and dialled.

"Hello Sachin" Nivin was serious, I just want to roll my eyes.

"We have a problem"

"What is it?"

"Rohan is here in the hotel, drunk" I said.

"What!? Rohan? drunk?" Neev sounded shocked.

"Yes, my managers said there's some problem and I had to crack the password to get in," I told him. "So imagine my surprise when I saw him here" I said.

"Grandpa prohibited all means of transport after yesterday," Neev said.

"I will drive him there, but I don't think Grandpa will be too happy to see him like this" I said.

"Okay, he's not here at the moment, take the poolside road, you know what to do"

"Okay" I said.

Both Nivin and I know each other's houses like the back of our hands, especially the escape routes and exits.

"Good, I will wait you there" Nivin cut the call.

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