Riya.

"Get out of the way!" Someone shouted, I opened my eyes and saw the person in the blue car looking murderous.

The cars were only inches away from me, dust particles still not settled. The one in the black car opened the door and stepped out.

he was wearing blue jeans, a white shirt that defined his well-packed muscles and a jacket over, he took off his shades and I saw the most beautiful brown eyes.

"Are you alright?" his voice was even better, he was scanning me from head to foot.

Sachin Dixit.

It's her!

I still remember her jumping in front of my bike a few days back. People were chasing her and she ran away as soon as I stopped the bike, not giving me a chance to even ask her name.

I never thought I would meet her like this!

"Seriously, Dixit? Are you doing this?" Sreejith glared at her from his sports car. "she ruined our race!"

"You were lucky Sreejith Varma, you knew I was totally beating you," I said with arrogance.

"And you know that the race was not over, Sachin Dixit" Sreejith replied acidly, now opening his door and stepping out too. And the once deserted area was filling with the students now.

"You are lucky, she stopped you from losing," I said smugly.

That seemed to get on his nerve, he turned to 'her' angrily.

Uh..huh!wrong statement Sachin!

I suddenly wanted to protect her, like that day, when she had begged me to help her.

"Let's settle this first!" I said and Sreejith turned back to me, probably stopping from attacking her, for now.

Riya.

Uh..what am I gotten myself to!?

I am not stupid, I know when I am in trouble, in fact, I have a sixth sense about sensing trouble - like now.

The student body was watching, nobody moved a muscle or do anything to help me as I awkwardly stood there, not knowing what to do.

The two guys now started some kind of war with words, a gang was already formed for both guys on either side.

I slowly started to walk, hoping to slip away unnoticed.

"Where do you think you are going?"

I turned around to find a beautiful girl in front of me, but her eyes looked evil.

"I..am sorry, I didn't mean to.," I said, hating myself for the slight tremor in my voice.

"You created all these mess and now you want to hide! you sure have some nerves!" She took me by the elbows and walked to the arguing gang.

"Guys, stop this now!" She said and everyone looked our way. She pushed me to them.

"Stay out of this Teena!" The owner of the black car, Sachin said, looking angry.

"She is the reason all of this happened, let her solve the problem!" Teena, the girl who dragged me said.

"I know you are trying to help, but do you think a clumsy little girl can solve our problem?" Sreejith said.

Did he just call me a clumsy little girl?

"Hey, I'm right here!" I said, snapping everyone's attention back to me, I straightened, raising my chin.

That's right, there is no need for them to treat me like this! I didn't do anything wrong!

I had seen worse things, I can manage a bunch of rich people!

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to interfere in your race, I was merely walking and I didn't do anything wrong!" I said, trying to sound confident.

I heard the gasps around and instantly knew that I have done something brave and something very very stupid.

The gang on both sides looked unbelievably at me. Sreejith guy glared at me, Teena like she could kill me and Sachin, I took a double look, he looked amused.

Don't worry Riya, they can't do anything to you!

"what are you?" Sreejith sketched me up and down and asked me distastefully.

He thinks I'm "something"!?

"Excuse me" I started to walk away, but I should have known it was useless as the gang now surrounded me.

"I have never seen you around, are you a fresher?" one of the boys asked.

"I Am not! I am a transfer student!"

"Oh! a new girl!" they all cheered.

"We have some rules in our college, if you want to attend this college, you have to follow them," Someone said and I looked around.

"Rules?"

"Yes and you could start by apologising"

"Are you ragging me?" I asked and they smirked.

"You are not even a first year, how can we rag you? it's your first-day task"

"I can't just let this go! I want to settle this between us!" Sachin said, it seems like he is more interested in the race than ragging me.

"We will settle it later," Sreejith said, not taking his eyes off me.

"So are you ready?" he asked me evilly.

"I can't," I said firmly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, " I said.

"She is all yours," He said to Teena, who came forward to grab me with two of her minions.

"Hey! let me go!" I tried to get out of their grip.

"What's going on here!?" I heard a very familiar voice and my heartbeat accelerated.

"Nivin! long time no see!" Sachin said but sounds like mocking to me.

Nivin's eyes first landed on me and his eyes narrowed, very slightly, then looked over to his gang, who all now seemed happy to see him.

"welcome man!" Sreejith fist bumped and gave him one of those man hugs.

Ha! I should have guessed they are your friends! No wonder they all have the same rotten attitude!

"So..what's going on?" He asked again.

"This bitch over here said she can't do our first-day task, she even ruined the race," Teena said. "We were taking care of her"

"About the race, I want to do it another day," Nivin said to Sachin.

"I will look forward to it then" he answered.

"And this" Nivin said and punched Sachin straight in the middle, I winced as Sachin doubled over. "Is for bringing Philip and gang to our clubhouse" Nivin finished.

"What do you think you are doing!" The girl in Sachin's group shouted. "Are you alright, Sachin?" She turned to him.

His gang supported him while one of them came forward to punch Nivin back, but Sachin held his shirt from behind, stopping him.

He raised his head to look up at Nivin, to my surprise, he was actually smirking victoriously. "We will settle this later, Nivin"

"Just stay away from me, Dixit, You know better than to get involved," Nivin said.

They seemed to have a staring contest for a while, both of them refusing to break the eye contact.

Teena and her minions were now gripping me, her nails cutting into me.

"Let me go!" I shook her off me and the two pairs of eyes landed on me.

I started to walk again but something slammed to me from behind. I lost my balance and flew forward, my face was only inches from the car and I closed my eyes for the second time, waiting for the impact.

Something warm and strong circled my waist suddenly, I was surrounded by a muscular wall and a delicious cologne. I heard the gasps again, before opening my eyes.

The first thing I noticed was the fire in Nivin's eyes as he was directly in front of me.

"Hey! don't damage my car!" The smooth male voice said and I came to know that I was in Sachin's arms, my back pressed to him, his hands still around me.

I jumped away from him. "Er..excuse me.." I trembled and did the only thing I could, I ran away.

Nivin.

I looked at her running away, then at everyone who was still frozen. I noticed Sachin's eyes following her steps and I saw something there, something I had never thought I would see in his eyes.

"Don't tell me that you are interested in her!" Teena takes a step forward.

"He is not!" Mia said as she glared at Riya's retreating form now.

"If you want to throw something again, throw it somewhere else, not my car," Sachin said coolly, now walking back to his car and starting it.

"And Nivin, the college will be more interesting, now that you are back!" he said pleasantly, but I know better because I know the bastard better than anyone.

"I hope you will be always happy to see me," I told him and walked away with my gang.

* * *

Riya.

Total disaster!

That was one thing I want to tell anyone who asked about my first day. Thankfully, it's over already, I sighed in relief.

That teena and her minions had taken it as their life's mission to torture me, as a result, I was slipped in the bathroom, my dress is full of stains and I skipped my lunch to avoid them in the cafeteria.

Oh.. and there was this another girl who warned me off her supposed boyfriend, Sachin. I scowled at the thought, as if I don't have enough on my plate already!

The bus came and I got inside. There was no empty seat.

Oh, joy!

This day sucks!

"Hey, Riya?" I heard a voice and turned around to see a girl around my age.

"come..sit" she invited over to her side. I looked at her doubtfully. She could be one of Teena's minions for all I know.

"It's alright, I'm not one of them" She laughed and the way she told me 'one of them' was what made me move forward and sit beside her.

"You know me?" I asked her.

"Ha! everyone knows you, the new girl, the transfer student, I heard the story about the morning too, too bad I was not there!" She said.

"I would've loved to see you talking back to them!" She said and I rolled my eyes.

"I am Meera Hareendran by the way!we are the same batch, Event management!" she shook my hand.

"I don't remember seeing you"

"You were too busy with Teena and Mia to notice me" She laughed.

"The girlfriends?" I asked darkly. "God! don't remind me!" I said.

"Not the girlfriends, Mia is Sachin's ex and Teena is her archenemy, She is not Nivin's girlfriend, but she has a major crush on him and everyone knows it except for him!" she laughed.

"Do everyone have to do the first-day task?"

"It's more like creating a category, if you are rich, all you have to do is throw a party and they will be very good. Tasks and things are for people like us, the low social class" She said.

"This college sucks!" I said.

"Join the club," Meera said.

Soon, she said goodbye to me and I felt a little relieved. I waited for my stop. it was the same stop Nivin ditched me in the morning, if I remember correctly, It's only 5 minutes away from his home.

To my surprise, I saw his car at the stop. I slowly started to walk to the house and the passenger door opened.

"Took you long enough!" Nivin said, angry for having to wait for me.

"What do you want?" I asked as he blocked me.

"Get in, grandpa will be there"

"I don't want to"

"Do you think I want to?" his expression darkened."We have no choice"

I ignored him and walked straight. he followed me in his car.

"Walk if you want another session with my grandpa" He shouted and I sighed.

I don't think I have the energy to face him after this tiresome day!

I stopped walking and opened the door to his car.

"What the heck!" Nivin looked me up and down, disgusted.

How dare him!

"It's your fangirls, hope you are happy" I scowled, getting inside.

"That's what you get for talking back," he said smugly.

"I don't owe them anything and I'm not their slave" I retorted.

"You broke the rule," He said darkly, now accelerating the car.

"Seriously? Do you call that a rule? it seems like a total discrimination to me! how is it fair that the rich make the rule?" I asked incredulously.

"It's s reality, accept it" Nivin shrugged.

"Whatever, I had never been to a worst place before! it's not even high school for God's sake!" I said, looking outside.

As soon as I stepped out of the car, I saw the housekeeper Kamala looking shocked at me.

"Oh dear! what happened to your dress?" she ran to me in concern.

"Oh..it's...it's nothing, don't worry, I will clean it" I assured her and Nivin gave me a strange look.

"Nonsense! give it to me, I will do it" she said.

"Uh..it's ok" I am feeling uncomfortable now, Kamala is too nice to me.

I hurriedly walked inside before anyone else saw me.

At last, I was in my room. I freshened up and lay down on the soft bed that I could never afford in my life probably.

I bit my lips and started to think about how I get this deep.

I can always just slip out!

But what about mamma then?

Fooling the whole house about being grandpa's friend's daughter is too tiresome!

Is there a better idea, Riya? you want to help investigate Uncle Ananth's accident too!

I sat up.

"Argh! it's getting me mad"

"Are you talking to yourself, Riyechi?" I heard a voice from the door and turned around.

"Daniel!" I said, he smiled.

"Call me Danny, Mom is calling you," he said.

what now?

"Good luck, if she wants something, just try to agree, she will have her way anyway!" he gave me the tips and I smiled at him.

"I will keep it in mind"

* * *

"A party?" I asked again.

"Yes," She told me proudly. "You will go shopping with my stylist"

"Uh...I don't think I need it, I will pass the offer, but thanks" I said, trying to be pleasant.

"You don't understand! it's not one of those regular party, its a party to welcome the GM of Aldrick's corporations, many VIPs will be attending" She said again.

"Uh! do I need to attend this?" I asked slowly.

I have more important things in my life than shopping!

"I already called her over and its final, do you think grandpa will allow you to skip?" Auntie Alice's eyes narrowed.

"but-"

"you can't appear in these clothes," She said, eying my dress distastefully "And take this" She placed a card in my hand. "Grandpa wanted me to give you this credit card," She said.

Now my ego is bruised.

"I..I can't accept it, I really can't.."

"Do you have any dress with you? I'm not talking about your jeans and tops"

I opened my mouth, then closed.

"I thought so!" She said, Sounding final.

Everyone in this house is controlling and manipulative!

Nivin.

"where did you say she is gone?" I asked her again.

"Shopping with Kiran," Auntie told me, I know Kiran is her stylist.

"I wanted to get her a few things. If she is staying here, she must as well adapt to our lifestyle" She told me.

I slowly nodded my head."That's why I gave her a credit card" She said.

"Uh, you gave her a credit card?" I asked her incredulously.

"Kiran is with her, besides, She is grandpa's friend's daughter so I reckon there is nothing to worry," she told me, I had a feeling that she is waiting for me to speak up.

"Um..you are right, Grandpa trusts her," I said slowly.

But I don't! I know that she is a golddigger!

"Anyways, I don't want to ruin the homecoming party of our GM, I want everything to be perfect." She said as I started to walk.

Ooh! So that's it! You want to make everything clean and ready for Rohan!

"Of Course," I said and walked back.

"uh, Neev, when I say everything, it includes you too," Auntie Alice said.

"Don't worry, I am not going to ruin your party" I said with as much politeness as I could.

"I don't mean it-"

"Yeah, I know you meant well," I said and walked away.

I want to get out of this hell!

* * *

Riya.

I was dead tired when I was back. kiran had dragged me from shop to shop insisting that I should take care of my wardrobe.

I have tried to point out that I was not staying long here, but she didn't give me a chance! The fact that I was spending their cash got me more irritated.

I have to pay all of this back one day! I know nothing is free in this world.

I dragged my feet to the room and slumped down on the bed.

The door opened and a scowling Nivin Aldrick was standing there.

Oh please! I don't have the energy to face you now...

"Did you enjoy the shopping?" He asked me rather rudely.

"Don't you know how to knock?"

"I am sure that you can't wait to enjoy the wealth of Aldrick's," he said.

I sat up on my bed, my eyes flashing in anger, it was too much.

"I don't want your money, Nivin Rosh Aldrick, there are things more important to me," I said.

"I have seen you in that apartments, do you think I'm stupid?"

"Get out of my room," I said slowly, it was too much for me now.

His eyes turned dark, He was a real devil now.

"What did you say?" he said dangerously.

"I said get out of here, I don't want to see you" I yelled at him.

"You bitc-" He took three steps forward and took hold of my dress, shaking me."What the f*** do you want? I know you are after something here, is it money? did you play innocent and tricked grandpa too? why else would he bring home someone like you?!"

"Let me go!" I struggled to get out of his grip, now smelling alcohol and realising that it's s not the ideal time to fight.

"Who are you? why are you lying?" he said, his face was too close, his eyes showed the fire and hatred, almost destroying me.

"I am not!" I tried one last time to get away, my dress tore slightly in the front, I covered my chest with my hands.

he froze for a second, taking in my reaction.

"Why are you hiding from me?" he asked slowly.

Oh no!

I moved back, but he caught hold of my hand, he pulled me to him.

I gasped at the closeness. He was warm and solid against my trembling body.

"Take these away" he forcefully gripped my hands and held it with one of his hands. "I have seen you before, why are you acting like this" he imprisoned me within his hands, he was too strong, all my struggles were worthless.

"Don't..touch me!" I clenched my teeth.

"Don't act innocent in front of me" he said slowly.

And he buried his face in my neck, I froze. it was entirely a different feeling. I shivered as I felt his breathing against my sensitive skin and I forgot to fight, staying still inside his arms.

Next thing I know, I was flying through the air, then I hit the bed and fell down. I looked at him in surprise. he looked disgusted.

"This is only the beginning," he said darkly. "Don't think you can fool everyone here, Mehra, just wait, I am going to throw you out for sure"

He stomped out of my room, leaving me confused and shaken.

Its ok..its ok..you can bear this..riya, you are strong..it's ok...

The first tear rolled down and I couldn't control anymore.

Think of mamma, Riya, she wants your help, there's no one else who can help her.

"Riyechi?" I heard the small voice and wiped away my tears. I noticed Danny taking a tentative step towards me.

"Yeah...I was just..you know, Something fell in my eyes.." I started to say.

"its okay chechi..don't take it to heart, Brother Neev is usually good, he is mad because the bodyguards didn't let him outside today," he said slowly.

I mentally groaned, now worrying about how much he heard.

"Don't worry, he's not himself today, he won't bother you again"

I looked up at him. he sighed.

"It's not my place to tell, but there is a lot of things you don't know about brother Neev and he is drunk today, it's s so unlike him, I hope you understand," Danny said. "Take care chechi," He said finally and turned around.

"I came here to call you for dinner"

"Please tell them I'm sleeping," I said.

"but-"

"Please Danny, help me"

When he closed the door and disappeared, I layed back down.

What does he mean? It's so unlike him? As if!

Don't think too much about that jerk Riya, you still have other important things to worry about.

I took out my phone and dialled automatically.

"Priya?" The call was attended on the first ring itself.

There was silence at the other end.

"I know I promised not to call you, but I feel all alone here," I said again.

"What the hell did you do, Riya? I clearly told you not to go there, why did you do something so reckless? I was planning to cut all means of contact with you" she said firmly.

"No! You are the only person I trust, don't cut me off"

"You didn't listen to me Riya, I clearly told you to stay away from Aldricks"

"But..It..it was the only way.."

"Only way for what?" She asked me sharply.

"To know what happened to Uncle Ananth...I am sorry I didn't discuss it with you first"

"What if it's Joseph Aldrick? what are you going to do If Uncle Ananth is killed by him Riya?"

"I knew the risks when I was getting involved"

"Do you hear yourself Riya? The fact that you don't even worry about your safety is more dangerous" she said angrily.  "And we don't even know if it's him, we don't know our enemy, Riya"

"We are not going to find out anything if we keep sitting there, doing nothing and you will have to hide forever"

"Is that why you stupidly get involved in something like this? without even proper evidence? you disappointed me Riya"

"It's true that I don't have enough evidence, but I have this feeling deep inside"

"What are you talking about?"

"I believe Joseph Aldrick knows something about uncle Ananth, or someone like him wouldn't have come searching for me," I said firmly. "And there's also another thing, if he's really close to Uncle Ananth like he said, he would've known about your existence, but he's completely ignorant about you"

"I wouldn't be so sure Riya, There's a reason for Uncle to hide me, no one knows about my existence apart from you, you know how meticulous Uncle Ananth is, If he didn't want anyone to find out, he would do that"

"So you don't suspect Joseph Aldrick then?" I asked.

There was silence at the other end.
"We can't be sure, the fact that he came looking for you, took you in, enrolled you in that college could mean two things Riya - either he is very concerned about your safety or he wants to keep a close eye on you"

I shivered at that. "I will take care, don't worry about me," I said.

"Let's just not hurry now, we have waited a year now, we can wait longer," she said. "And Riya" he added after a moment. "Right now, your safety is more important to me than Uncle Ananth's accident"

My eyes started to fill. "How's your health? how are you?"

"I Am doing good, take care of yourself. I'm sorry I can't do anything about mamma and the loan sharks, I am sorry you have to endure everything alone Riya" she said. "But I promise, I will try my hardest to recover my lost memories," she said.

I could feel her helplessness too.

"Don't push yourself too much Priya, you are already doing good, Don't be hard on yourself" I said.

I know how much pain she had to go through again and again in those therapy time.

I have seen her drenched in sweat, shivering and panicked many times after the hypnosis treatment.

The only thing she could recollect is her accident, I couldn't even think how horrible it must be!

"I Am grateful that you are alive, you are as good as my sister, you know that, I really miss you these days," I told her sincerely.

"We will meet soon, I miss you too Riya," she said. "but don't try to call me again, I will contact you if there's anything urgent"

"Mm..goodnight" I mumbled as I cut the call. I instantly felt better.

She's right, I can't suspect everyone I meet.

Priya is someone I met after Uncle Ananth's accident.

Priya is a survivor of the same accident that killed Uncle Ananth. Both of them were together in the car when some people chased them that night. Even though She survived, She has lost the sensation in her legs and all of her memories that day.

When I rushed to the hospital, both Uncle Ananth and the girl brought in with him was seriously injured and I couldn't ask him a single question I wanted to ask, instead, he requested me a favour.

I had no choice but accept it since he was on his deathbed.

So I promised to take care of the other girl, who was still battling death.

"I..am sorry to leave you..but it was the only thing I could do to protect..you, please ..forgive me Riya and keep your promise..keep..her..safe..she knows..everything..she's. .in ..danger..they..they will come again..both..of you..safe"

He had wanted me to transfer her to another hospital and never to come back, even if he is to die.

I still remember the words correctly. and he had died leaving me with a lot of questions.

It was the strangest favour I had even heard of, but I had to do it.

I still don't know why he is sorry to me.

Did he know to which family I belong to? Did he know my biological parents?

I did the only thing I could, I waited for three whole days with the unconscious girl, until she opened her eyes, I wanted answers and I wanted it badly.

But fate had other plans because the girl who woke up was not the girl who was brought in. It was a new one, who didn't remember anything, not even her own name.

And I couldn't abandon her too. I know the feeling of being abandoned without anyone to help you.

Almost everything changed around me frequently after that. We grew close over the last months, she's like an elder sister to me, we take care of each other, like a real family.

I have always wanted to be a part of a family since my childhood, I guess mamma, Priya and Uncle Ananth are God's gift to me.

Uncle Ananth is already gone, Mamma is under treatment and Priya cannot come out of her hiding, not until we know who our opponents are!

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