My heart was beating anxiously, as I turned to face the person, I wasn't desiring to meet. He stood just an inch away from me. That familiar face brought back those memories, which I still treasured.

"Aachal," I heard him sigh as his orbs soften. His black orbs were staring at me with love, the same admiration that it always held. "How are you?" I could feel his concern yet I opted to ignore. I couldn't allow him to melt my heart. I couldn't forget the days I had invested to heal from the wounds he offered to me.

"What are you doing over here?" Diya jumped in between as she pulled me towards her, as if his mere presence could cause harm to me.

Mayur passed a glance at Diya, his smile fading away. "I need to have a conversation with her." He expressed, as if he was dying in anxiety. "It's urgent," he pressed as he scanned our venue in search of someone.

"I am not in a condition to talk..." At that moment my orbs locked with the black jacket he was wearing. Flashes of past incident came back into my brain. Flashes of that black leather jacket, which I had brushed off as my imagination but maybe it wasn't. "I will talk to you," I mumbled but Diya voiced her disapproval as she forced me to glance at her.

"You won't," she offered me a pointed look. "How can you forgive him so easily?" Diya was staring at me in disbelief. "How could you forget what he had done to you? The days you have spent dealing with those pain, agony."

"I hadn't forgotten it, Diya." I blinked her orbs in assurance. "I want to have some conversation with him." Diya stood unconvinced yet she didn't argued. I passed a glance at Mayur, he was staring between us as if allowing me with time to reconsider my decision. On seeing I wasn't going to back off, he gestured me to follow behind him.

The hall was packed with numerous guest. Soft melody was playing in the background, while lots of chores were happening. It wasn't a place to have a serious conversation. We moved out of the hall, towards the restaurant at the corner.

"What you wanted to talk about?" I asked as we entered the restaurant.

"Have a sit," he pointed at the chair. His orbs kept glancing at the glass door as if he was scared of getting noticed.

"I don't have the whole day," I groaned at him losing my patience. "I have to attend the event and look after the preparation," I shook my head. "If you have nothing important, I would love to leave."

"I wanted to apologise," he mumbled. His orbs lowered down in embarrassment. "I realised my mistake long back but never must up the courage to contact you and express my apology. I can't immature, I couldn't have treated you in that manner."

I gave a slight nod, urging my orbs not to end into tears. The male standing infront of me didn't deserve it. He no longer had the authority to glance at me in my vulnerable state.

"I want to ask you something," I pressed, avoiding to glance at him. "When had to arrived here?"

"Few days back," came his short reply.

"Were you involved with the attack on..." I kept it incomplete as I raised my head to glance at him.

His black beautiful orbs soften, as his face appeared gulity. "I didn't knew you would be involved with..." He kept it incomplete, he was ashamed of his deeds. He took a step forward as his gaze went on the white cloth wrapped around my forehead. "I didn't meant to harm you neither..." His orbs moved towards my growing bump, "why didn't you mentioned about?"

"You didn't had the time to listen," I faked a smile at him. "You had your future set and I was the burden on your way," I dried a laugh. "I won't be able to forgive myself if I had burden you with the child as well, so I decided it to not be revealed."

Mayur was staring at me, blankly but his orbs were filled with emotions. I heard him sigh as he opened his mouth, "you shouldn't have being here." I could feel that anxiousness in his voice as he scanned behind me.

The care, the worry, the love was yet visible in his orbs. His brow were frowning in worry at something behind. His jaw clenching as if he didn't appreciate the view. He was a foot taller than me much of Mr. Oberoi's height, but he wasn't as mascular as him. Mayur had the aura of friendliness surrounding him. People often found it easy to communicate with him.

"Some of them are dangerous," he orbs found mine at his statement.

"Why were you behind that innocent girl? What had she done?"

"Sometimes human are targetted because they are someone's weakness," he mumbled. His tone had the tougher edge, as if he was controlling his rage.

"You shouldn't punish her for the sins, she never committed. How could you even think of harming her?"

"I wasn't going to harm her," he sighed. "I was just going to pull her away from the danger, she is in." He groaned, "it will be better if you don't get indulge in the matter. It can burn you," he warned, his orbs pleading me.

"I never wanted to get indulge in the matter but I can't give quiet knowing that you're going to harm that innocent princess."

"We aren't going to harm her," I heard a familiar masculine voice. He entered into the resturant, his orbs scanning the surrounding as he spared a glare in Mayur direction. "I had warned you to stay away from her. If my slightest chance they get aware about your association with her," Tanmay passed a glance in my direction. "She will be in danger," he shook his head in displeasure. "He had his eyes set on her," Tanmay groaned at the end.

I stared in between them in confusion. "We can't go in detail with you about the situations," Tanmay rushed. "But I can assure you we aren't going to harm your innocent princess. We don't harm innocent people unlike him," there was venom in his orbs as he addressed about Mr. Oberoi. Contradictory to the friendliness he had displayed towards him just a day back.

I was curious, I wanted to ask so many question. Yet I wanted to remain in dark. My instincts yelled that those answers would only lead me into more trouble. I wish, I hadn't walked out with Mayur. I wish, I had declined his offer of having a talk with me maybe than I could be in dark. I wouldn't be able to know things, I was aware at the moment.

I had promised myself to maintain distant from Mr. Oberoi's life and yet everything around me was associated with him. What had Mayur to do with Mr. Oberoi? And why they had teamed up against him?

I excused myself not wanting to overwhelmed me with more information. As I made my way out of the restaurant, I took a breath of relief. I masked a smile as I walked inside the venue, concentrating on the event at the hand.

Guest kept moving in but there was no sign of either of would-be-bride or groom. Time kept ticking while murmur started surrounding us, I passed a concern stare at Diya. She looked anxious as she walked towards me. She grabbed my wrist and drag me out of the hall.

"There is a trouble," she mumbled, her orbs were staring at me in anxiety. "Anaya is missing," she whispered it softly as there was a risk of the news getting in the guest ears.

"What you mean by she is missing?" I almost whisper-yelled. Why couldn't we offered with some minute of peace. "Now, what is she after?" I couldn't help from sounding frustrated. Unlike, Diya I wasn't worried about her rather annoyed at her impulsive decision. If she had to do it in end, why she even troubled herself and us with the preparation.

"She had really disappeared from the resort," Diya was attempting to make me realise the seriousness of the situation. "I heard the conversation going between Mr. Oberoi and Anaya's brother. Mr. Oberoi is against informing the officers while her brother was crying in worry. I don't think that Anaya is just messing around with us. What if she is really in trouble?"

"How can she disappear from the resort without none noticing it?" I shook my head at the thought, "someone would have notice it!" I pointed out, there should be something.

"If Riddhi could be attack, why can't Anaya be made unconscious and later disappeared from here?" Diya pointed out and I give it a thought.

There were people who were after Mr. Oberoi. They won't mind harming anyone to get to him. I just had converse with one of them. I was against the idea of harming an innocent soul. It was inhuman to punish someone for the crime they had never committed.

___

Hours flew by, but there was no sign of Anaya Kapoor. I kept staring at entrance with a faith that maybe she was just showing tantrums. Just attempting to make Mr. Oberoi taste his own medicine.

Murmurs kept getting louder with each passing second. Guest around us were losing their patience. I kept praying things to sort-out. I wish miracle could take place and the event could start, my orbs were rooted on the entrance. A slight glimmer of hope reached my heart as I got a glimpse of Mr. Oberoi. He waited for a second, glancing at something behind, rather muttering something to his companion.

A wave of silence settled among us. Everyone's eyes were set on the human at the entrance.

"Finally," I sighed in relief maybe it was first time that I was glad on glancing at him. I shove the thought off as I passed a smile at Diya. As if indirectly conveying to her that our planned event wasn't going to end up into a disaster.

Mr. Oberoi walked into the venue. His head raised up in pride, his aura screamed arrogance and yelled respect. He was in his normal, professional attire. He hadn't wore the clothes designed for him for the event. He was wearing a black blazer, a white shirt within it, accompanied by the black pants. His feet took him towards the small platform. The ceremony was going to take place on the stage. It was beautifully decorated with variety of flowers. A couch was arranged on the middle, the furniture coordinating well with the background. I felt proud of our work.

"I am pleased that you all offered us with your presence." He masked a smile at the audience, it was a fake one. "Many of you would be curious, why have I called you, here? Some of you are part of media," he signed. "Many had problem with my private life, why I kept my face hidden from the world. Until recently, I didn't realise, the damage I was doing to myself."

"You all are invited for very prestigious event," he groaned. "You are going to meet my family, my lifeline. People I had kept hidden from the world. People who means the world to me." He passed a smile as his orbs moved towards the entrance. A familiar human walked inside, the guard that I despised but in his arms rested Riddhi.

She was wearing a pretty blue, fairy dress. Her black hairs were tied into a ponytail, she was staring at the audience with a frightened orbs.

"Is he planning to introduce Riddhi to his world?" Diya sounded excited about the situation but I was staring at the event with caution gaze. Though I wanted that Riddhi's identity should could out to the world yet it was dangerous for Riddhi. She was hidden from the world yet people were targetting her, if she would be brought infront of the world, her life would turn dangerous.

Guard kept taking her towards the raised platform until she jumped from his arms and rushed towards his father. Her orbs sparkled in enthusiasm as she was beside his father. She considered him as her safe place, her heaven. Maybe he was sane only for her.

Mr Oberoi smiled at it reached his eyes, he was happy showcasing his world to the world around him. At that moment, he was a proud father and for a moment I doubted if he was as cruel as I claimed him to be?

He leaned down and grabbed her in his arms. People around him was staring as him with new-found curiousity. Who was the girl in his arms?

He planted a kiss on Riddhi cheek which made her giggle in response, "she is my daughter." Mr. Oberoi announced to the world around him.

"Miss Riddhi Shlok Oberoi," he was proud as he announced it to the world. Riddhi's innocent orbs were staring at the audience while people gasped in horror. They had never imagined the most eligible bachelor to be father of a child.

"Oh! My!" One among them scream in horror. "You and Anaya are already married with a child?" There was pure horror on the senior citizen face. She seemed terrified as she was staring at Mr. Oberoi in question.

"Who Anaya?" Mr. Oberoi passed her a perplexed look. "Oh, Anaya Kapoor," he shook his head. "Daughter of Rishabh Kapoor?" His brow were raised in inquiring until the lady nodded in agreement.

"How can you believe in those rumors," he shook his head. "I am only connect to Anaya as brother-in-law, don't spoil such a beautiful relationship by those stupid rumors."

"Brother-in-law?" The gasp were heard again. People were staring at eachother in surprise. I wasn't much interested in the film industry. I was aware about Rishab Kapoor but I hadn't heard about Anaya or any of his children before. They might be just starting their career. And if Mr. Oberoi was married to Anaya's sister, why was the entire drama invented?

"Rishabh don't have another daughter," came a firm response from the audience. As if someone was triggered by the revelation. "What are you trying to drive at?" A man in very much old age, stood from the chair. His orbs were glaring at Mr. Oberoi, warning him to back off.

"It's not my role of revealing the truth to you," Mr. Oberoi passed a mocking smile at the senior human. "Your son will do the need full, but I am here to introduce my wife to the world. The human that was kept hidden from the world from the minute she was born, she was labelled as a disgrace for her family." He masked a smile as he descended down from the stage.

I was witnessing the drama with my wide orbs until he came and stood before me. "Come love, you no longer would be hidden from the world." His orbs were staring at me with a promise and my heart budged out of my ribs. What was he doing? Why was he doing?

"Mr... Oberoi..." Diya gulped as he pointed gaze felt on her, warning her to shut her mouth.

"Mumma..." Riddhi screamed as she jumped from Mr. Oberoi's arms towards me.