Preeta sat back on her chair, leaning back and crossed her legs. She looked at them with a smirk.

"Now shall we get back to what really bring me here?" Her men pushed the Luthras so that they were all standing in a straight line in front of Preeta.

"We'll start about the business first; Luthra Company ka CEO will still be Rishabh but to the world, in reality I will be the one who will take all the decisions related to the company. All bank accounts, properties, everything you all owned will be controlled by me which bring me to the 2nd thing...

You guys are allowed to spend only 10000 rupees per month. All your cards will have a limit of 10000 rupees only. So if I was you, I would control my shopping. You guys are very fond of buying expensive dresses and all, right? Now you guys will learn to control your budget just like middle-class people because that's what you guys are right now, middle-class people."

"What are saying di," Sid laughed, "Middle-class earned more than that. They are just low-class people right now." Sahir joined his brother and they high-fived.

Kareena were looking at them angrily but she couldn't do anything in fear that they hurt her or her family. She was feeling very insulted, just not her, everyone had that angry but helpless look on their face. At that moment, her hate for Preeta grew more strong.

"Now the rules if you want to live peacefully in this house : 1st rule; all meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner will be cooked by this house's favourite bahus that is Sherlyn and Mahira and without any servants' assistance. They really love to sit and do nothing, right? We shall see if they really know how to cook or just pretend.

2nd rule; the house's cleaning will be done by the Luthra ladies, that is Dadiji, Kareenaji, Rakhiji and Kritika. You guys may divide the work between you all and yes, if I see even one speck of dust, I will make you clean the entire house again and again until it is spotless.

3rd rule; Breakfast is at 8 a.m, lunch is at 1:30 p.m and dinner at 8 p.m. Not one minute more or less. One minute late and no food for you until the next meal. So get used to wake up early and our cooks, make sure the food is ready before the said time else no one is eating for the rest of the day.

4th rule; Luthras' servants are mine. That's mean they won't be taking any orders from you all. So if you need something, do it yourselves. That means that you will be washing your clothes yourselves, make your bed and every little thing that you used to tell the servants to do, you guys will be doing it yourselves because from now on, you are no longer the boss of them.

Rule number 5 and the last rule; don't even try to break any rules I mention else you won't like the consequences. You saw what I did to Mr Kashyap, I won't hesitate to do the same to you all. Now do you have any questions?"

"What will you do if we refuse to listen to your orders? Huh? What will you do?" Karan asked, staring at her furiously.

"Then I will do what you all accused me of 6 years ago...I will kill Mahesh Luthra." Preeta replied coldly.

"NOOOO PLEASE NOT MAHESHJI...We will do everything you said but please spare Maheshji's life." Rakhi started crying bitterly while everyone stared at her in shock and disgust.

"I'm sorry Mrs Rakhi Luthra but I don't trust your words. Luthras are known to make fake promises. That's why to be sure that you guys will really do everything I say, from now on, no-one is allowed in Mahesh Luthra's room except for me. Without my permission, no-one is allowed near his room. Two of my men will be guarding his door 24/7 and I will give them the permission to shoot anyone who dare to disobey my order.

Sahir, please show them the room of Mahesh Luthra. On your way back, bring Shrishti and Mehr also." Sahir nodded and signaled two men to follow him.

Preeta relaxed back in her chair and drank some more whiskey. Some moments later, Shrishti and Mehr come downstairs. They went to their respective partners while Sahir came back on Preeta's side.

"Now that everyone is here, I can continue. Sameer and Rishabh, do brief your partners on what I said. Well-"

"Sorry to cut you Preeta-di but I don't see how it concerns us. We don't even stay in this house so these rules and things don't apply to us." Sameer cut her off. Preeta just smirked.

"Are you sure, my dear brother-in-law, that you don't want to stay here?" Sameer stayed silent, "You might have disowned them but they are still your family. I know for Rishabh's sake, you would try to convince Shrishti and Mehr to come here and they wouldn't refuse because they love Rishabh. So I'm sparing you the trouble.

As from today, you and your family are welcomed back in this house and this is my order. Also, since you still have a share in Luthra Company, you will be working here and in your company simultaneously. I won't control your band cards but yes, if I found out that you gave any member of the Luthra Family money then I will force to give you the same limit.

I shouldn't be doing you any favor but it won't be fair to you. You already have your own business that you build from scratch and hard-work and that I admire you. But else, everything else is applied to you, your wife and your assistant-like sister. I hope that I'm clear.

You can go back to your house. Come tomorrow with your luggage and one last thing, everything that happened here will stay between us. We will pretend for the world that we are a happy family. Don't worry, I will explain about my return and all. You all just have to smile and pretend to be happy. Don't mess it up else you know what can I do."

Nobody said anything. Shrishti was about to go upstairs and take Samar when Preeta stopped her.

"Shrishti, don't panic if Samar isn't waking up. I have mixed a small dose of sleeping pills in his and Shreya's ice-creams. " Everyone looked at her alarmed.

"Are you mad! Who the hell do you think to mix sleeping pills in children's food! I will go and check Shreya." Mehr said in a panic voice.

"I may be a gangster Mehrji but I'm not a monster. For your information, I'm also a doctor so I know the correct dose and why I give them? I don't think you would have liked to explain the children why we were all shouting and why were there gunshots. So I just spare them from getting traumatised." Mehr blushed in embarrassment.

"I-I'm sorry for calling you 'mad' and shouting on you. I just..." Preeta cut her.

"I know. She might not be your biological daughter but she is your own. It was your motherly instinct that talk. But yes, do control your voice else..." Mehr nodded.

"This woman is not my daughter's mother. I'm the mother!" Sherlyn burst out angrily. Preeta rolled her eyes.

"Listen I'm not interested in your drama. You guys will deal this tomorrow between yourselves. Now let them get home and everyone, go to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day and I hope you all remember the rules. Move!"

Everyone started moving to their respective rooms when Preeta stopped Karan. Everyone stopped and looked at them.

"Oh Karan baby, be a sweetheart and take out all your things from your room. As from today, it's mine." Preeta said with an innocent smile.

"You can't throw me out of my own room! I won't accept it!" Karan burst out furiously.

"Don't make me tell my men to throw out your things forcefully. Take your things and go in another room."

"You're not the boss of me Preeta! This is my room and no-one is allowed in there. Not even you!" Preeta stood up and stopped right in Karan's face.

"I think you have a hearing problem like your bua. Let me remind you that I'm the owner of Luthra House, company and properties. In one snap of my finger, I can throw you and your entire family out and I will make sure that no-one help you.

So either you listen to me quietly and you get your things out of your room or I apply force and punish you for you disobedience, the choice is yours." Both of them shared an intense eye-lock of hate.

"Why do you want our room? This house has enough rooms. Choose another one. Moreover, you don't have any right on our room." Mahira said, rolling her eyes.

"Why do you say 'our room' Since when's Karan's room is yours ?" Preeta asked amusedly.

"Obviously since I married him. Everything Karan owned is mine since I'm his wife." Mahira replied.

"For once you said something right; Karan's wife own everything he has, it becomes theirs right. Then let me remind you Mahira, that technically I'm still Karan's wife, his official and first wife. So I have a right on his room. You heard your second wife's words Karan." Preeta smirked.

Mahira looked at her speechless, how she managed to turn her words in her (Preeta's) favor. Karan glared furiously at Mahira.

"You are not my wife Preeta. I never accepted you as my wife." Karan spoke up. Preeta looked at him bored.

"And I'm not dying to be your wife. You are nothing to me. But I must admit that being married to you gives me so many benefits to me and I'm so going to exploit it. I have proof that you married me before Mahira so you are stuck, sweetheart. Now be a good boy and take out your things. Your room is one of the best room of this house and I, Miss X, deserves the best. Okay?" Preeta cupped his face and blew him a kiss.

"Please gentlemen, make sure he does what he was ordered. I have other important things to do that entertain this stupid family. What are you watching? SHOW IS OVER. EVERYONE BACK TO THEIR ROOM NOW!" Preeta said to her men before shouting at the Luthras.

Everyone scurried away quickly to their rooms. Shrishti came back with Samar in her arms and stopped in front of Preeta. There were only the Mehtas' brothers, Shrishmeer and Mehshabh.

"I don't know what happened in these 6 years that make you turn like this. I feel that you are a stranger despite being my own sister and I don't know what to do. But I'm only thankful that you are alive and I support you in these decisions. Teach them such a lesson that they will remember for their entire life." Preeta nodded sternly.

"Sahir told me how you all support me despite being 'dead' for all these years. I'm sorry Sameer, Rishabhji, Mehrji, for treating you all harshly in front of them. I don't want them to think I'm doing a favor to a Luthra.

Sorry Rishabhi, Sameer, I know they are your family but what they did to me and my family, I can never forget that. I will take my revenge on them. I will make them suffer as they did to me. Just a warning to you all, don't come in my way. I don't want you all to burn in my Fire Of Revenge. Stay out of my way and listen to the rules."

Preeta gave them a stern look and left towards the garden, signaling her brothers to follow.

Just before she left the room, she stopped and without turning back, she said : "and don't worry, I won't do anything to Mahesh papa. He is like a father to me. He considered me and Shrishti as his own daughters. He is innocent and I don't go after the innocent. That's my principle."

Preeta left the room with Siddhart following her, not before giving them a cold look. Sahir looked at Rishabh who was avoiding his stare. No-one was looking at him; the wound of his betrayal was still fresh.

"I know a simple sorry won't fix anything. I broke your hearts, your trust, your loyalty. I do regrets my action but when I remember the real reason behind my betrayal, I don't regret. Mere liye, nothing is greater than my family; my brothers and Preeta-di, our adopted sister. I hope one day you find it in you to forgive me. Till then, I won't cross your ways. Good luck." Sahir left the living room.

Mehr placed a comforting hand on Rishabh's shoulder, "It's gonna be okay. Everything will be alright now. Preeta is back and she will do everything right."

Rishabh smiled faintly and kissed her forehead, "I know...I trust her."

Shrishmeer hugged him in a comforting manner before they took their leave. Mehr hugged Rishabh for a last time and left behind Shrishmeer. Rishabh watched them go, his heart half happy that his small family will be here with him as from the next day, but the other half is nervous of the change that is taking place.

*********************
Sahir joined his siblings on the bench. He took the cigarette from Preeta's hand and took a puff himself. He then forwarded it to Siddhart.

"No, not tonight. I don't want to smoke." Preeta and Sahir looked at him shockingly.

"Are you alright? You never refuse a cigarette." Sahir asked.

Siddhart just sighed and looked down. Preeta and Sahir quickly realised that a serious conversation was going to take place.

"Hearing Kareena Luthra's words, about Preeta being behind Kabir bhaiya's money, brought back the past memories...I wasn't better than her, was I?"

"No Sid, we are not having this conversation again! It's in the past. It wasn't your fault. Forget it." Preeta said sternly.

"How can I forget? I nearly put you in danger because of my words. You could have suffer another serious attack!"

"But instead it brought me back right? It brought me back from the shock and trauma. You saved me in a way. You, Mehtas' brothers, are my saviors. Don't even forget that."

"How could you have forgiven us? We treated you so bad in that 3 months... We thought that you were a gold-digger. We thought that you wanted to ruin the relationship of bhaiya and bhabhi. You don't know what words we were saying behind your back." Sahir spoke up this time.

"We weren't much different from Kareena Luthra." Siddhart said bitterly.

"SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!" Preeta roared angrily, "now open your ears wide, never, and I mean NEVER, ever compare you two to that pathetic of human being! Do you understand?"

"But Preeta-di-" Both said together but Preeta cut them.

"No! You guys judge me because you didn't know me. Kabir bhaiya spent most of his time taking care of me that he didn't realise that he was hurting bhabhi. But you guys realised it, that's why you hated me and I understand. First impressions do matter and I ruined it.

These Luthras had known me for 2 years. I have been by their side for two freaking years. Kareena Luthra never like me, she was only grateful when I fucking save Karan Luthra from that molestation case, that was the only and last time.

Karan Luthra had been my best friend, we are inseparable. But because of one fucking misunderstanding, he tagged me as a traitor. He didn't trust me, he wasted these two years of friendship. He chose to believe the words of our common enemy rather than mine.

Rakhi Luthra was like a mother to me. But you didn't see the look she gave me when I was accused of killing her husband. It was pure disgust. She also know me for two years. She loved me a lot. Where was her love and trust when I was accused?

Do you guys understand now? Luthras is a pathetic family. Despite knowing me for 2 years, they didn't hesitate to throw me out of their lives. They tagged me as a gold-digger, traitor, murderer despite knowing me so well.

That's the difference between you and they. YOU didn't know me, you judge me. They know me but still they judge me. From now on, no one will ever blame themselves again nor will you compare yourself to that family again. Understand?"

"Understand di....We are sorry." Both Siddhart and Sahir said.

"You don't know how much you two mean to me. When I was drowning in despair, you guys were the hope of my life. Kabir Mehta freaking gave me a new life and I will always be grateful. I can still remember how he saved me from my death..."

FLASHBACK STARTS, 6 YEARS AGO

"...Goodbye..." and she removed her hands from the railings, embracing the water and the darkness with open arms.

But instead of feeling the cold water, an arm was wrapped around her waist and the person managed to bring her back on the road. Preeta opened her eyes and saw a man in his thirties looking at her in concern and anger.

"Are you mad! You could have fell into the water and died! Why are you sitting up there?" Preeta stared at the person angrily.

"Why did you save me? You should have let me fall. I don't want to live. There is nothing left to live for! Mind your own business!" Preeta pushed him away and ran towards the bridge again but the man held her wrist.

"Hey I don't know what you are going through but don't do this. Think of your family! How devastated they would be if they got your death news. Think about your husband, I'm sure he must looking for you as a mad person." Kabir said, staring at her mangalsutra and sindoor. Preeta chuckled humorlessly.

"My husband won't even care. All I know, he wished me dead. He believed that I'm a gold-digger. He threw me out of his house. He accused me. He wanted to destroy me and he succeeded. I can't face anyone. Please let me go and don't come after me. Let me die! Forget all this." Preeta tried to remove his hand from her wrist but Kabir tightened his grip, "I said LET ME GO! LET ME DIE! LET ME TAKE MY LAST BREATH! I WANT TO DIE!" Preeta became hysteric.

She was so overwhelmed with pain that she didn't know what to do. She just wanted the pain to end at once. she doesn't have any reason left to live for. She was just broken in millions of pieces. A new found strength surged into her and she managed to push Kabir away. This time, she ran towards the road. A car who was coming at full-speed saw her and tried to apply the brakes but in vain. The car hit Preeta and she fell some meter away from the car, blood started oozing from her. Kabir and the driver rushed towards her.

"Oh my god! Kabir! I swear I didn't saw her. She just came out of no way. Please do something, I don't want to end up in jail." The driver was revealed to be Kavya, Kabir's wife.

"Don't worry we will take her to our house. She will be under our responsibility. I won't let anything happen to her. Let's go." Kabir picked her in his arms and placed her in the backseat of Kavya's car and they drove towards Mehta Mansion.

Screen focused on Preeta's phone on the ground next to the bridge and her dupatta hanging on the railings.

FLASHBACK ENDS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here you go!
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04/02/2022