Riddhima declined the call and sighed. she looked at herself in the mirror and ruffled her hairs reaching till her shoulder.

"Riddhima?" Aryan's voice came from the hall..

"Coming Bhai!" She replied running downstairs.

"Good morning Bhai" Riddhima chirped sitting on the chair.

"Good morning sweetie, here is your breakfast." Aryan said and passed her a plate of sizzling grilled sandwich.

"And I will leave you to the office today, no need to go by any cab." Aryan said and Riddhima nodded eating her sandwich, who knew which thought she was lost in.

"Bhai..I was thinking about something." Riddhima said and Aryan raised a brow.

"I knew it, you look worried since yesterday." Aryan said "Tell"

"I... again...sorry" She said bowing her head down and Aryan sighed, he pushed her chair making her stand up and pulled her along with him.

"How many times I have told you not to think about it. It was your mistake Riddhima. And I clearly know. That's why I saved you right? There was no fault of yours in our father's death." Aryan said and Riddhima nodded with a slight smile, which was actually an invisible smirk.

Flashback

"Come near me Riddhima, forget that I am your stepfather" He said with a smirk while Riddhima silently went near him.

"You are all mine" he whispered making her shiver and sniffle.

"One second please." She said slowly and rushed towards the other side, and pulled open the chain of the Chandler, which eventually fell on him.

"Still alive? Not fair" Riddhima said and took a piece of glass and stabbed multiple times on him, until he was dead.

Flashback ends

"Ready Riddhima?" Asked Aryan.

They both were sitting in the car, covered by paparazzi all over. Riddhima wore her shades to save herself from the eye hurting multiple flashes of the cameras.

"I don't like it " She mumbled with a frown.

"Like I love it " Aryan said and both giggled, moving towards the office.

"Take care..I will come to pick you up too" Aryan said and left and Riddhima entered inside the office.

Short hairs, white buttoned shirt with a light blue overcoat along with black flats, all eyes were on her. Riddhima felt weird looking at everyone staring her. She walked fastly towards her desk and took her seat.

"Ridz, did you get to know?" Prisha jumped making her flinch a Little.

"What?" Riddhima asked patting her shoulder.

"Manager...she is nowhere to be found now." Prisha slowly whispered to her.

Riddha sat up straight and took a deep breathe.

"What!? How? When?" Riddhima acted the best she could, and it worked; maybe.

"Yesterday she left from office but didn't reach back home." Prisha told and Riddhima nodded her head slowly.

"Guys guys guys! If you are done let's move to the meeting room." Shweta said and the trio reached to the boys.

Riddhima looked at Vansh and Vansh looked at Riddhima. Both stared at each other for a while and went inside.

"Hi guys! Can I join?" A new cheerful voice said, all turned to see a new girl in the office.

"Sure why not." Raj said with a flirty smile and left the chair which he had decided to sit on.

"Thankyou! I am Reza. Reza Khan." She shook hands with everyone and took her seat, between Vansh and Shweta where Raj used to sit.

Riddhima kept her hand on her chin making rhythmic sound on the table with her nails. She turned and looked at Reza who introduced herself and same did Riddhima.

"Hi everyone. Since our manager Meghna is not present here due to some problems, I am here to guide you all with your work. My name is Kabir Sharma, I am also working as an intern here, but for management." A young man came and started blabbering.

"Sorry to make you all bore but I am VERY talkitive." He said with a no worry smile on his face.

"Intern as a Manager! That's tough to go for." Anjul exclaimed not thinking much.

"Yeah lucky me. The proxy of manager is also not here." He said opening his laptop.

"That's great dude but now let's get to work." Vansh said breaking the chat as he didn't want the conversation to go towards the old manager.

"What work work brother, come on have chill today." Kabir said stretching himself on the chair.

"Um..I think Vansh is right." Riddhima aslo supported Vansh, she too didn't want that.

"Oh god... what's your name Miss?" Kabir asked making a bored face.

"Riddhima Chandra." Riddhima said boldly not even leaving a bit for him to think she is sweet and someone to adore.

"She doesn't deserve to look cute" Kabie mumbled under his breath and nodded to her with a smile.

A knock at the door disturbed the presentation and the door was open. The cops were standing to take everyone's statement for the 'Meghna Case'.

"Everyone please separate into three and move towards the mess." The policeman said and walked out.

All stood up and Vansh signed Riddhima not to come with her and she didn't do that too.

"Vansh Rai Singhania. Yes. So when did you last see her?" The policeman asked writing down his name.

"We last saw her after our leave. She was behind the car." Vansh said.

"We?" The policeman asked.

"Yes. Me and my friend Riddhima. Our house is at the same side so we went together." Vansh replied.

The policeman whispered something to the person standing next to him and he left the room.

"Do you suspect anyone for kidnapping her?" The policeman continued his questions.

"I don't know...I only saw her yesterday for the first and last time." Riddhima replied said casually.

"You went with your friend. Right?" The policeman asked her.

"Yes sir. I went home with Vansh." Riddhima said.

"In the CCTV footage of highway... We saw the car of you both, Meghna's scooter and a group of boys and girls on a bike. You think they can do that?" The policeman stared at her asking the question.

Riddhima gulped, her heartbeat rose at the question and she took a deep breathe.

"Group of boys and girls? I don't remember them." Vansh replied as the policeman stared at him too.

"Are you sure?" The policeman asked

"Yes sir. I haven't seen them" Riddhima replied as best casually as she could.

"Ok you can go." The policeman said and Vansh went away after greeting him.

"Thankyou sir" Riddhima said and went outside.

Both came out at the same time and looked at each other, Vansh raised his eyebrows asking her and she blinked her eyes slowly in affirmation.

"I really think it's something big going on. Police is also here to look for her!" Shweta said as they all sat at their meeting room again.

"They asked me so many questions...even if I told them I wasn't present yesterday. I have seen her for once only." Reza said being irritated.

"It's fine. They are doing their job." Vansh said as he opened his laptop.

"If done let's get to the presentation." Raj said and they all nodded.

All of the friends were chatting and moving towards the other cabin when Ankit hit the file on Raj but instead it went on Prisha. She punched him on his stomach and everyone started fighting like little kids.

Riddhima watched Vansh hitting Ankit on his back with a file while Shweta was busy with Prisha.

"Guys stop it we are at work!" Riddhima said giggling at everyone's realisation.

"Where is that new manager?" Prisha asked as soon as they entered inside.

"Looks like this company just works on inters" Shweta said and all chuckled.

"Where is Raj?" Ankit asked

"Reza is also not here." Shweta said and all hummed understanding what it meant.

Riddhima was back in her seta next to Vansh, and everyone was waiting for the meeting to start chatting to each other.

"All fine right?" Vansh asked Riddhima and she nodded in yes.

"Yeah just fine. But.. let's just forget it now " Riddhima said and smiled a little seeing a smile curving on Vansh's lips.

"Hey guys we are back!" Raj said entering with Reza and they both took their seats.

"Looks like you all know each other?" Reza asked.

"Yes. We are together since college." Vansh answered.

"And we always cheated in exams together." Prisha said and all laughed.

"So if you don't mind...can I join?" Reza asked fidgeting her fingers.

"Sure why not? That's nothing to ask for." Riddhima said and smiled.

3 hours of chatting, swiping the phone, and much more went away while the 7 of them sat in the room. Riddhima kept peeking at Vansh in between who was busy typing on his phone. Her phone pinged with a message from Prisha and she opened it.

Prisha: Bro freaking 3 hours you are just staring at him again and again!

Riddhima stared at Prisha with a sigh and typed back.

Riddhima: and you the idiot is staring me?

Prisha: I am telling you just tell him before it gets late why don't you understand!

Riddhima: I don't want to be heartbroken knowing he doesn't likes me back...

Prisha: But you will still do right. You will still love him. Just inform him that you love him that's it! It's his decision to love you back or not.

Riddhima: I don't get a single thing you are trying to say.

Prisha: I am saying just say him I Love You. If he says he doesn't lives you which he would not than just leave *shrugging*

Riddhima: I get now..but..

Prisha: no buts please...just go for it in the evening. Ok?

Riddhima: I will try

Prisha:  you will do it my swear.

Riddhima felt irritated and said it out loud.

"Oh gosh Prisha whyyy"

Everyone looked at her on her sudden reaction to 'nothing' and she smiled sheepishly.

"Secret talks han" Raj stated.

"So what? There's nothing to hide about." Prisha said being irritated.

"Why the hell are you guys here?" A man came up in his business suit, he was working here too.

"Waiting for the new manager" All said nearly together.

"New manager? First of all Meghna Mam got murdered and there is no new manager." He said "now go they have declared a holiday as there is no one to manage things."

Everyone was a little thrilled by his words and there was silence for a while.

"We'll sort that later, let's go for now." Ankit said, and all stood up collecting their things while Riddhima and Prisha were literally talking with their eyes.

Riddhima sighed and nodded to something on which Prisha smiled. They all came to exit of the office where everyone was going here and there to get there vehicles and go back home.

"Come let's go." Raj said.

Raj, Riddhima, Vansh and Reza all of them walked towards their way to their car. Today also, Vansh has came by his car with Riddhima, where they had discussed what they would answer if they come to investigate.

"Reza where do you live?" Vansh asked as soon as they dropped Raj near his house.

"Left from the highway." Reza replied.

Both Vansh and Riddhima looked at each other as they drove through the highway. Police was roaming around and a small place closed, mainly because some blood spots were spotted on that area.

"Looks like something happened." Reza said peeping out of the window.

"This is an accident prone area. Maybe that only." Riddhima said.

"Bye guys. Thanks from dropping me here." Reza said getting off the car.

"No need for thanks Reza." Vansh said and they went ahead.

Luckily, because of coming through the highway Riddhima and Vansh had got a little time alone. Riddhima was fidgeting her fingers looking here and there anxiously.

"Any problem?" Vansh asked noticing her sweating.

"Huh? No..I mena yes. No." Riddhima stuttered on her words.

"Are you fine Ridz? What yes no?" Vansh asked.

"Actually I want to tell you something." Riddhima said.

"Yes I am listening. Continue." Vansh said.

Riddhima Shut her eyes tightly, and took a deep breath.

"I love you"

Words- 2043

Next chapter on upcoming Saturday (maybe)
Votes- 25+

Comments-10+
OR
Views- 150+

I have gone mad 😂 no targets for now I am good without that.
And also...Nani's home is a different fun! Have a great day!
Tanvi 💫