Vansh's pov

Riva wanted to meet Riddhima. Though I told her not to disturb her, but she requested and I can't deny her more. Well, I also wanted to check her. She was not feeling good, I can tell that. I opened her door and found her standing in a secluded corner, with tears.

I suddenly felt a pain in my chest. I thought it was just Riva, whom I cannot see crying. But today, seeing Riddhima like that, I got to know. 

I marched towards her and placed my hand over her shoulder, to tell her, that I am here, no matter what. She was startled by sudden touch and glanced me sideways after wiping her moist eyes.

"Why are you crying?", I immediately asked to let her know, I saw her tears.

"Crying? I-I wasn't crying!", She stuttered and I chuckled at her. Riva and she are totally same. Both stutter when they are lying. 

"I know you were crying. Don't worry about Ahana's words. I will not let anything happen to you and our Riva.", I whispered in her ears and watched her weeping more.

I knew she was thinking about her words. I myself was thinking that, but I have planned everything. I will not let her harm my family.

"All I want is Riva's happiness. I can do anything for her.", She whispered back and we both smiled at each other, then at Riva who was looking at us with confused eyes.

"Hello Baby Doll", Riddhima shouted while stretching her hands and Riva jumped into her arms.

I adored their bond and we all spent some 'family' time, talking, laughing, joking, playing with each other. I noticed Riva's smile which was reaching her eyes. She never use to smile so brightly. It was definitely Riddhima's work. Moreover, Riddhima's happiness also didn't went unnoticed. She was super energetic with every thing we did together. 

I didn't know when time went, I glanced at my watch and was shocked it was already time for dinner. Before I could tell them, the lights suddenly went off, followed by shrilling screams of my two ladies.

"Aaahhh!", They shouted together, deafening my ears and clutched my shirt from either sides.

Riva hugged my legs while Riddhima cling to my shoulders. 

"Riddhima you too?", I mocked and she hit my chest. I chuckled at her fear of darkness and marched towards dining arena with both of them.

We reached the dining where we find others placing candles over the table. We all sat and started our meals. Riddhima was telling about her family, how they use to eat together like this, and occasionally do such candle light dinners. Everyone was patiently listening about her family. She told us about her parents and her younger sister Ishani. Riva was adoring her dreamily, while Aaryan was constantly asking about Ishani.

 Fascinated with her tales, Chachi too wanted to play dumb-charades, like her family. Everyone agreed instantly and here we were sitting in the living room together, playing it. 

Everyone was enjoying it to the fullest. 

"Tick tick 3, tick tick 2, tick tick 1. You lose Aaryan!", Riddhima and Siya shouted together. They both have given a movie to him, and he couldn't act in the given time. They celebrated their victory with a weird dance and Riva too joined them. 

I watched Aaryan and Angre who were amused at them. Chachi and Chachu too were hooting for them. I glanced at mom, who was staring everyone with a small smile. I walked towards her and sat beside her.

"What happened mom?"

"Nothing. I was just watching them.", She sighed and stroked my hair.

I glanced her with confusion and she chuckled at my reaction.

"Tell me, when have you seen them so elated? When your father was here.", She replied.

I recalled our old times. Indeed, we all were happy when Dad was alive. After his death, the house lost it's happiness. I had never seen them celebrating or enjoying anything like today.

"The reason for this happiness is Riddhima.", She spoke while staring Riddhima. I too glanced her and instantly smile arrived at my lips. 

"She makes everyone happy. Vansh, she is the one.", She patted my shoulder and moved towards Riddhima and others.

I stayed there, thinking about mom's words. Yes, she definitely makes me happy, my family happy. But was it right to think this way? She has her own family, why will she accept me, the man who has a daughter. Though Riva is her daughter too, but still, what about her parents?

I shook my head. I should stop thinking about this.  

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I felt heaviness over my shoulder. I rubbed my eyes and glanced at my shoulder and smiled widely to find Riddhima sleeping there.

Perhaps yesterday after playing, we all might have slept here itself. I stared around and found everyone sleeping there. Riva was lying over Riddhima's lap and the latter was protectively covering her head.

"Good Morning Vansh", I heard mom shouting and I immediately looked towards her.

"Mom! Why are you shouting?", I whispered. I don't want to wake anyone. Oh-kay I don't want Riddhima to wake.

"Because you were busy adoring Riddhima. I called you three times!", She yelled and I looked anywhere but at her.

Was I seriously so engrossed in Riddhima that I didn't heard mom's voice? What's going on with me?

"Go now and prepare for it!", I heard her again.

"Prepare for what?", I asked meekly and earned a glared from her.

"God Vansh! You haven't heard anything I said, right? Oh this lover boy will make me crazy. I said today we will be doing a small Pooja together, so be prepared.", She said and left from there.

Did she just called me lover boy?

I glanced towards Riddhima who was still sleeping over my shoulders.

I don't love anyone.

"What?", I heard Riddhima's soft voice.

"Uh.. Good Morning Lov... uh.. Riddhima.", I said and left her there.

Vansh what are you doing?

I smacked my head and went inside my room.

Author's pov

Vansh dressed in his yellow traditional kurta and went downstairs to check the preparations. After carefully examining everything he went to check Riva.

He asked Siya about her but she didn't knew where she was. Thinking her to be with Riddhima, Vansh went towards Riddhima's room.

"Riva", He said while entering the room.

Riddhima who was struggling with her saree plaits was astonished with the sudden voice and dropped some of the plaits, making her saree loose.

"Uh I am sorry. I thought Riva is here.", Vansh said with his flushed face.

"It's okay. Riva is with Aaryan. By the way can you call Siya? I had made these plaits with so much hard work but some fool just barged in and spoilt my hard work.", She suppressed her laugh as she taunted him.

"You called me fool?", He glared her and she giggled.

"No not you but the one who barged in.", She said.

Vansh rolled his eyes and earned a chuckled from her.

"I am not fool. And what hard work? This is just a matter of two minutes!", He said ruffling his hair.

"Matter of two minutes? It ain't Maggie. Okay mister!", She said while trying to smoothen the plaits.

She felt a warm touch at her shoulder and gasped as she saw Vansh folding the plaits like a pro.

"Oh my god! Vansh are you secretly a saree draper?", Riddhima giggled and Vansh rolled his eyes.

He attached the plait with the blouse at her shoulder through safety pin.

"Tadaa you are ready", he said and made her stand near the mirror.

"Aww thank you my official dresser!", She said and cupped his cheek, bringing him close to her lips.

Seems like she got to know what she was doing, thus she left his cheek and looked anywhere but at him.

Vansh could feel uncomfortableness in the surrounding and thus acted like nothing happened.

"Um.. let's move downstairs.", He said and she nodded, still eyeing the floor in embarrassment.

They both moved towards the door where they found Aaryan and Siya standing with a smirk. Riddhima gulped and rushed downstairs, leaving Vansh behind for the teasing sessions.

"Since when you were standing here?", Vansh asked coldly.

"Since you were behaving like a saree draper.", Siya said and Aaryan giggled.

"Stop it.", Vansh yelled and moved.

"Pehla nasha..Pehla khumaar..", Aaryan sung the lines.

Vansh shot him a death glare and walked downwards, leaving his two siblings laughing.

"Siya, this is awesome news! Bhai is in love.", Aaryan said dreamily.

"Yes!", Siya too clapped her hands childishly.

"Let's tell this to your Romeo!", Aaryan said and Siya smacked him.

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"What? Boss loves Riddhima?", Angre shouted when he heard the breaking news from Siya and Aaryan.

They both nodded like a robot, together.

"He does. But he is not aware. We will make his feelings reach his mouth.", Siya said with determination.

"So Mission Confession is on!", Aaryan cheered and they all hooted.