I had spent the whole night staring at the white ceiling of the room while laying on the soft mattress. Sleep wasn't able to reach me. My mind was offered with flashes of Mr. Oberoi. It was getting difficult to wrap my mind from it. A yawn escaped from my mouth as I strolled out of the room, anticipating to meet the guard from last night, but sighed in relief at not finding any clue about him.

Though a fresh day had started but I was in need of rest. I walked downstairs to the restaurant. Diya was waiting for me to have breakfast. As I reached the location, my mood had a sudden shift upon finding Diya was having a conversation with Riddhi. She was like an angel in my life, pulling me away from the worries hovering around me. Suddenly, the notion of a wedding got into my mind.

I was so wrapped up in everything that I didn't have a conversation about the wedding with Mr. Oberoi. But I no longer considered it a safe option. He wasn't just a businessman there was much in his life and maybe Riddhi wasn't safe with him. I shook my head and walked towards them.

"Good morning, Angel." I greeted her taking a seat next to her.

She beamed in delight as she reached to wrap her hands around my elbow to pull me into a hug. "Good morning, Mumma..." She made me aware of a different side that I wasn't aware existed. A motherly side! Need I felt towards protecting her, saving her from all the evils even if it was to safeguard her from her father.

"What are you eating?" I glared at the plate before her and scowled at Diya. "You are spoiling the kid, Diya. Mornings aren't for junk food!" Diya was staring at me with an amused expression.

"I am not the one to blame, her nanny had ordered it." Diya defended herself but that amusing smile wasn't leaving her. I rolled my eyes at her, reaching for the menu book on the table. "Riddhi, you aren't going to eat it. Let's order something healthy for you."

"But Mumma, pizza is my favorite." Riddhi pouted, staring at the pizza with love. I was going to melt with her puppy orbs but I acted firm.

"Baby, it's not good for your health." I tried to reason out, "let's have something tasty as well as healthy, what say?" I attempted to cheer her up. "Something that we will call our dish?"

Riddhi's orbs sparkled with enthusiasm, she nodded her head vigorously in approval. Soon the waiter walked towards our table and we placed our orders. Riddhi was blabbering that how much she had enjoyed the previous day. She had spent the whole day along with the nanny, having a tour of the hill station. "You know, Mumma I missed you and Dada the whole day... I wanted you both with me on the train. The girl next to me was having so much fun with her parents."

Silence prevailed around us at that moment. Diya and I exchanged a look, a look that said we were raising her hope. Pretty soon, Riddhi would have to consider Anaya as her mother and she would be heartbroken but I wasn't able to must up the courage and tell her the truth. I couldn't hurt her!

"Why didn't you attend last night's event?" Diya inquired getting curious about the matter. Maybe it wasn't only me who had lots of doubts about Mr. Oberoi's life.

"Event?" Riddhi sounded confused, "I was so tired that Dada didn't want me to attend. Was it fun?" Her eyes again found me and I gave a slight nod. Soon the orders arrived and I got busy making Riddhi have her breakfast without spoiling her dress.

"Angel, keep the fork aside I will help you with it." I offered as I saw her trying hard to set the broccoli on the fork.

"No, dada says that I am old enough to have my food by myself." I groaned listening to Mr. Oberoi commanding his four-year daughter.

"He isn't aware that you shouldn't have junk food for breakfast but want you to eat by yourself." I rolled my eyes, "you should stop listening to that annoying father of yours." I grumbled while Riddhi stared at me with confusion written on her face. I could hear giggles escaping from Diya but I ignored her presence. "Let's allow you to be spoiled a little. I am going to make you eat your breakfast." 

As I was making her have broccoli, she made faces yet was masking a smile at me. I was having a smile as well when my sight went on a very familiar figure. Those set of black orbs were trained on me though he was sitting on the table at the corner. That annoying smirk played on his lip as he found my eyes on him. I averted my gaze. I had forgotten about him until my eyes again met his.

Those flashes came revolting back and it was getting difficult to concentrate on the girl before me and not to spare another glance at him. Why was he staring at me? Maybe he was keeping an eye on me. No! Maybe it was due to his daughter accompanying us at the table. I was brought out of the thought by a feminine, soft voice.

"It's time for Miss Riddhi to get back into her room." She stood before our table with her head bowed.

"Hmm... yeah..." I glanced at Riddhi that was shaking her head in denial.

"I want to stay with you, Mumma."

"I will soon get busy, angel." I attempted to convince her. "You get into the room, do some..."

"She loves painting..." her nanny pointed out seeing I was at a loss of words. I gave her a cut node and requested Riddhi. "I can't imagine she agreed without showing any tantrums." Her nanny, who didn't seem five-or- more years elder than me. Smiled in appreciation, "she never agrees to have healthy food." She muttered on finding a piece of carrot left on the plate.

"From today she is going to have healthy food, correct?" I asked Riddhi and she nodded in agreement.

"You are going to come to meet me, right?" Riddhi confirmed as she wrapped her arms around me again for a hug.

"Promise," I raised my head towards her nanny and she gave a slight nod. "Make it a point that Mr. Oberoi doesn't have any problem with it," Nanny assured with a nod again. "Now, be a good girl and go to your room." Riddhi stood from the chair and her nanny grabbed her hand. Riddhi waved at me as she walked out of the restaurant with a smile playing on her lips.

"She really brightens your mood," Diya commented staring at me with admiration. I gave a simple nod, concentrating on the breakfast. "I just feel that poor child is in so much mess."

I stared at her, "I know!" I sighed, "I wish I could help her out. I can't even imagine why Mr. Oberoi is marrying a woman that won't ever be her mother. She won't even try you know..." I expressed my displeasure. "At a moment through Riddhi's love for his father I feel he cares but the way he is adamant to damage her future, I really doubt he even loves her?"

"Is she kept hidden from his second marriage?" Diya pointed out another fact. "Maybe he hadn't mentioned Anaya to her or she would never have the misconception of you being her mother."

"I don't even understand why she considers me her mother?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Diya shrugged her shoulder. "The way you take care of her, the way you shower her with love. That everything is new territory for her. From her talks, it's clear her life revolves around her father and her nanny. They are the only people she has any physical contact with. And so if anyone else showers her with the love only her dada had offered her, she doesn't want to lose it. So subconsciously she had made a relationship with you as in that manner you're going to stay with her forever."

I stared at Diya for much longer, "what are you?"

Diya giggled in return, "child-psychology just makes me curious and not to forget she was craving for a mother for a pretty long time. Maybe she had heard from someone that mothers are good. Or maybe Mr. Oberoi never attempted to brush off the notion of her mother from her life. He wanted her to remember her, to love her. He didn't want to erase the notion of a mother from her life because maybe he really cared about his wife."

I shrugged my shoulder not wanting to comment a word. After yesterday's event, I was coming to doubt every notion I had about Mr. Oberoi. Was his illegal stuff the reason behind Riddhi was attacked? Those whispers I heard in the forest, who were they? That guard questioned if he could use chloroform in such a causal manner that I could still shiver as that voice got into my ears. My heart was convinced that Mr. Oberoi was a dangerous human and it was better if I stayed out of his reach.

"Just leave the matter," Diya shoved it off seeing me lost in thoughts. "I needed to question you on some matters," she paused for a second checking for any hint of discomfort. "I found you in a very uncomfortable position with Mr. Oberoi, I know it's none of my business but I know you... so I was just..."

"Don't worry it was just a hit of the moment. It wasn't like what it looked like," I attempted to clear my thoughts to provide with appropriate words. "He was fuming in rage due to the open venue as Riddhi is allergic to colds. He was showering his anger on me when you budge inside the room."

Diya shook her head, "I knew it but just for a mini-second I felt as if he was forcing you, taking advantage. I was just foolish," she waved her hand away. "Maybe he seems arrogant but isn't someone as cruel as that."

I couldn't agree with her because somewhere he had taken advantage though I was equally responsible for giving in to my hormonal needs. He made me feel cheap. As if I was a slut, the thought itself made me feel disgusted. "The engagement ceremony was worth it though it took longer than expected as Mr. Oberoi was missing from his own engagement." Diya chuckled, shaking her head. My face was pale, rather than attending his engagement he was occupied with me. I felt like a homewrecker! Though Anaya wasn't a good human yet she didn't deserve it.

"I better get into my room. I am not feeling nice after last night's event." I confessed she stared at me with a concerned look.

"I know it's getting difficult to distract your mind after such an event yet you should try or you will lose your mental peace." I gave a nod, assuring her that I will take her point into consideration. I stood from the chair, pressing a smile at her. I felt sudden waves of guilt covering me. I acted so inappropriately last night. I should have brushed him away, and slapped him for acting in such a manner but I was enjoying it. How could I? Was I that in need of pleasure? From when I started acting on hormonal instincts?

I was cursing myself when my sight locked in the glass door. A familiar figure followed me. My eyes widen in horror as realization took over me. That guard! The guard from last night was following me. I take a cautious step forward, keenly observing him. How long was he following me? Was he in the restaurant? Had Diya noticed his presence? No! If she had, she would have mentioned it to me.

He was wearing less-suspicious clothes. A pair of trousers and a V-neck t-shirt. His hair messing around his forehead as if he hadn't enough time to settle it down. Those pair of black orbs were fixed on me, accompanied by a stern face. He seemed a harmless visitor but I knew he wasn't. Why was he still following me? As if I had any proof against them. I narrowed my eyes, turning to face him. It was better to have a direct conversation with him.

Suddenly the sternness of his face faded away maybe for a minute overtaken by surprise but soon he grabbed a hold over himself. He kept moving though I was rooted to the ground. "What can I help you with ma'am?" He bowed slightly in respect. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Just leave me alone."

"Except that, ma'am." He pressed a smile. I glared at him not backing away. "Orders, ma'am..." he muttered under his breath.

I waved my hands in exclamation. "Stop with these orders!" I groaned, grabbing the attention of passers-by. "I am warning you, Mr..." paused for a second but continued not waiting for an introduction. "Mr. Whatever... I am not going to play along with this orders...orders game. You better walk off or I can complain to police officers that your boss is hindering my privacy." I warned him, pointing a finger at him.

"You won't ma'am..." he whispered softly but it got in my ears that only triggered my anger.

"You just aren't aware what possible things I can..." the remaining words were sealed in my lips when a familiar deep, husky voice got into my ears. The warm breath fanning my cheeks made my knees weak and my heart accelerates at a dangerous speed.

"May I know what possible things are you capable of?" I could feel his lip turning upward in a smirk but I stood there still as I was trapped between two giant men. "You may leave," he mentioned to the guard before us. "Make a point that you don't stroll far away," his voice was hard and the guard gulped lowering his head and providing a small nod. I couldn't believe myself that such a giant man was afraid of someone. He could tackle any human even Mr. Oberoi but maybe my thoughts weren't accurate as he soon rushed away from us.

"Don't stare at him with so much love. I might simply knock a bullet in his head for your such attempt." My jaw dropped open on registering the words uttered by Mr. Oberoi. I wanted to convince my heart he was just joking but his tone displayed, he was hell-serious. I turned to face him, eyes bulking out of the socket due to his words.

"Who... are...you?" My voice was a soft murmur. I wasn't sure if I was ready for the answer but it was better than dying in anxiety.

He raised his brow, keenly observing my face. "You aren't prepared for the answer." He voiced out casually as if his response hadn't triggered my anxiety.

I took a step backward in fear. The look on his face conveyed, he didn't appreciate my move but he stood his ground. "What do you want?"

"You..." he whispered without displaying a hint of emotion.