Vian carefully read the whole article and looked at Vansh.

" That's why I said you should have called me right away and not panicked doing something wrong. I got a call from the commissioner that you are their suspect. Now this is is going out of my hands too. I will try to talk to him in person. You continue with neutral stuff." Vian said to Vansh who nodded and left.

"No..bhai we didn't..I.." Riddhima was fumbling with her words.

"Riddhima. I know that you know something. Look, the world is not to simple as it seems to be. There is no one to trust on fully." Aryan explaining wiping more of her tears.

"I didn't do anything but..I am bound by a promise. And..and I assure you that I am out of this." Riddhima said with a shaky breath, and held Aryan's hand in affirmation.

"You are sure right?" Aryan asked, and Riddhima nodded hugging him tightly.

After a light hearted talk with Aryan; Riddhima came back to her room and opened her phone as she had nothing else to do. There were few messages on the friends group.

Raj: Guys end sem exams are here. Yash told me they are starting next week.

Shweta: Damn..we didn't even get to enjoy our internship.

Ankit: Exactly, now they will ask for documents and we have just one day attendance to show. 😕

Prisha: 2 day

Raj: One and a half day 🙃

Riddhima: leave internship let's focus on exams now. It's not going to be fun and games.

Raj: As you say my mother 🙏

Prisha: 😂

Shweta: what about time table?

Ankit: maybe we will get it tomorrow. Where is Vansh?

Raj: might be stuck somewhere, but let's plan something to do after exams.

Shweta: A trip!

Prisha: yeah for sure!

Raj: some cheap places to travel 😌

Riddhima: 😂 what about Dehradun?

Ankit: Done

Shweta: a big yes from me!

Raj: yes that would work!

Prisha: then who am I to deny? Done.

Riddhima: ok rest we will see later. Meet you all at exam!

The evening exams ended

All of them rushed out of the rooms jumping and clinging on each other, happy but more excited for the trip.

"First of all you all planned a trip without even telling me, and now you are saying we will go by train." Vansh huffed in annoyance of the grin of Raj which was his absolute hate.

"It's fine you can go alone with the expensive tickets." Ankit said.

"No it's not like that! Vansh will come with us." Shweta argued, and there was no one opposing it.

"If you all will waste your time here then how will we be able to catch the train on time?" Prisha said.

"How can you become my half mother in place of Ridz?" Raj said and all laughed.

Riddhima, who was silently walking with them smiled at last. Everyone had noticed her silence and decided not to ask her, if it could hurt her more.

"The moon came in the street after a loong time." Raj said and all looked at him confusingly "I am talking about trip. Now let's leave or we will actually get late."
.
.
.
.

"I really don't want to go." Riddhima whinned and saw herself in the mirror again to confirm her complete look. For the first time ever she had decided to grow some long hair, as she was not able to make any good hairstyles with her short ones.

"Riddhima are you ready?" Aryan's voice came from downstairs and Riddhima rushed out and saw her bags already placed in the car.

"Take care and enjoy" Aryan said.

"Don't worry I am not Aryan Chandra that anyone would come to me running for an autograph." Riddhima said and the duo laughed.

"Take care of yourself and don't go anywhere alone. You know I am really protective...wait... shouldn't I cancel my shoot and come?" Aryan asked teasing her.

"No. No. No need at all. I will stick to Prisha with a big bucket of fevicol. Ok?" Riddhima said and Aryan nodded giving her a light forehead kiss.
.
.
.

"If anyone is left tell him/her we are leaving." Prisha shouted loudly and all the friends rooted at their places stopping the nuisance created by them shuffling with bags.

"1..2..3..4..5..6..7.- haha. We have one more person with us." Ankit counted and laughed.

"What!?" All the others shouted leaving their bags with a thud.

"Um..Hi..if you guys want I can leave." A known voice said from the seat full with bags.

All the friends looked at each other and emptied the seat throwing the bags all over. It was Reza.

"Kids these days are so spoilt. CLEAN YOUR MESS" The TC said jumping in between the bags with a list in hand and pen in his mouth.

"Sorry we will clean it." Riddhima said with an awkward smile and started pulling the bags looking towards the TC who stared at them. She bowed her head to find a bag and moved ahead, but clashed her head into the ladder.

"Ooww" she said getting up rubbing her forehead but again clashed with the ladder hurting her head from the top and sat down on the floor.

"Wait let me check if there is any chance of bleeding." Vansh said and she kept quite, while Raj came and messed up all her hairs.

"Oh god are you even serious" Prisha said pushing away Raj and made Riddhima sit on the seat towards the left.

"Arre it's nothing to worry about. She's not a kid" Raj said patting her shoulder with full force making her fell on Prisha.

But Riddhima nevertheless pushed him back and he fell on the floor while everyone gasped at the sudden action, they never saw her being so aggressive. Reza and Ankit pulled him back to his seat as he stared at Riddhima in shock.

"First of all I already got hurt and you... Joking once is fine but you really irritate a lot Raj." Riddhima said and went away.

There was an utter silence, all just looked at each other asking 'is it real what we just saw'.

"She's really upset with something. 100%." Raj said still staring at the floor.

Vansh just took a breath and looked out of the window. Is it him being the reason of her change? Is she broken because of him? He should talk about it to her once he gets time. Vansh nodded to himself and looked back to his friends.

Something struck his mind and he looked out again, Riddhima was having a weird smile on her face or a .... Smirk?

"Riddhima?" He called out her and she looked at him adjusting her hairs.

"Sorry..I.." Riddhima said hanging on the window.

"No it's fine. Come inside." Vansh said and she nodded jumping back and came inside.

"Sorry Raj I was- I was stuck in something.. sorry." Riddhima said fidgeting her fingers.

"It's fine yaar... I don't care for that but I care for something else.. what are you stuck in? I mean if you want to share." Raj said.

A smile formed Riddhima's lips. She felt that she isn't alone, but she has her friends with her, Always. Realisation dawned upon her and she sat down next to Prisha who held her hands.

"Nothing just I was a little disturbed with these exams and all.. and also it's the same day when Ma.. *sighs* it's ok guys.. let's not get our mood off and enjoy our journey." Riddhima said keeping her head on Prisha's shoulder.

"You Laila Majnu can stop now? Let's play something." Ankit said to the duo and all laughed.

"Oh my god! I thought you were introvert!" Prisha teased Ankit who snickered.

"I speak less doesn't mean I am an introvert. Haven't you heard? Speak less and listen more. Learn something from Ridz yaar." Ankit said.

"Ludo?"

"No"

"Snake and ladders?"

"Big no"

"Raja Mantri Cho-

"That's childish!"

"Antakshari?"

"People around will beat us"

"Movie?"

"We are 6 not 2"

"Music"

"Only one pair of earphones can be connected"

"Count the bags"

"What is that?"

"Ticket"

"No that's not a game"

"Ticket"

"Oh ho I am say-

"TICKET!"

All looked at the TC who was staring at them while chewing the end of his pen. Everyone hurriedly took out their phones and showed their tickets to him who just stared at each of them.

"You 6, will get off at the next station." The TC said and left without even listening to them.

"The rudest man I have met" Reza stated.

"We are not getting down right?" Raj asked in confirmation.

"Of course not" Vansh and Riddhima said together.

"He isn't coming back to check. We won't get down." Vansh completed while Riddhima folded her hands sighing.

It was midnight and most of them were asleep, Riddhima had literally 'fought' for the seat at the left side of the coach. Her window was open and she gazed the stars listening to music.

And also, someone is gazing Riddhima from the upper birth at the other side, him too listening to the songs on his phone.

"Wake up we have to leave!" Prisha shouted at Riddhima and pulled her making her fall at the floor in one go.

Riddhima sat back up on her place with a yawn and collected most of the things in her purse, and ready to leave the train.

"Now let's count the bags" Shweta said and all counted their respective bags.

"All good?" Vansh asked.

"Yeah. All set." Raj replied.

"Come let's get down the train only stops for 5 minutes here." Reza said and all one by one came down with their bags.

Standing in a line, they watched the train leave and rushed up with their bags outside.

"Let's take a cab." Raj said.

"What about booking one online?" Shweta suggested.

"No it will take a lot of time. Let's take here only. Also we will need two-three cabs." Ankit replied and everyone agreed.

Dividing into girls and boys all sat in their cabs leaving for the guest house. There were checkposts set up everywhere and every car was being checked which confused everyone. In between this, Riddhima's phone rand with Aryan's call.

"Riddhima wherever you are, reach your nearest police station." He said as soon as the call was accepted.

"Wait..what? Why!?" Riddhima asked immediately.

"Check for messages on your phone, the commissioner called and told me that you aren't allowed to leave the city for a month." Aryan replied.

Riddhima fell silent for a long time, she was already out of the city, and now would be arrested for breaking orders and running away.

"I will call you after reaching" Riddhima replied with a sigh, and asked the driver to move to the nearest police station.

In the meantime, Shweta called the boys informing about them going to the police station not knowing the reason. The boys have too, changed their destination.

Riddhima ran inside the police station, and directly to the inspector present inside.

"Oh hello madam what kind of behaviour is this?" The inspector shouted seeing her running all over.

"I just got a message not to leave the city, and I..I just reached here." Riddhima said panting.

"Anyone else with you?" He asked sitting on his chair.

"Yes, Vansh Rai Singhania." Riddhima told and he called someone talking with a serious tone.

"WHAT? no..I don't think so she knows. Ohk. Yes alright I will keep check on it. Sure. Thankyou." He said declining the call and looked at her sighing.

"W..what?" Riddhima said looking at his sympathy full face.

And all of the friends made there entry together nearly breaking the door of the room, while the inspector snickered.

"We have to arrest you. Please co operate with us and you will be safe and sound." He said calling one of the lady officers to arrest her as all the friends gasped at his words.

Vansh too, came in front knowing that he would be too arrested if she is being.

"What?" He asked seeing him getting close.

"You won't arrest me?" Vansh asked

"For leaving the city?" The inspector asked and Vansh nodded.

"We only have arrest warrant for Riddhima Chandra, not for you." He said and Riddhima looked at him with her horror struck teary eyes as she was handcuffed and pulled outside.

Words- 2089

Votes- 25+
Comments- 6+

Sorry for the target but I felt a need for it because there is no response🙃.

How was the chapter? Hope you all liked it and do tell me your reviews😄. Wese...if response comes out good I will be more interested in writing regularly..be safe and take care!
Tanvi 💫