She was sleeping uncomfortably in the servant's cot, finally settling into some sort of slumber after a mostly fitful night. She never had dreams anymore. The night was usually a reel of memories replaying. She would unconsciously search her memories for the reason why she was still there and forcing herself to live such an unforgiving life.

But she knew -- she knew-- why, and yet a part of her was still miserable.

"Insolent girl!"

Sadhvi opened her eyes, only to be grabbed by her blouse and pulled out of the cot. She landed on the floor and quickly scrambled to sit upright. She came face to face with the portly head maid of Head House.

The head maid shook a pudgy finger in Sadhvi's face, with a disgusting scowl upon her lips and brow.

"Wake up on time, you fool. Just because the commanding Head picked you as his whore, doesn't mean you get so many privileges!" The head maid grabbed the servant sash from the armoire and threw it at Sadhvi's face. "And once Janya Goswami arrives as his bride, I'll see to it that you are thrown out!"

The head maid left the room and slammed the door after herself. Sadhvi stared at the door for a second, listening to her shouts and curses echoing in the hallway.

Sadhvi sighed and closed her eyes. She lowered her head and drew her knees towards her chest. She inhaled and exhaled deeply several times. She wasn't crying -- she hadn't cried in a long time. She was simply controlling her emotions.

Sadhvi's door was opened again. She looked up to see Pooja, her only friend among the servants.

"You okay, Sadhvi?" Pooja asked, fixing her hair into a bun above the nape of her neck.

Sadhvi was about to say 'yes', but then she closed her mouth and shook her head. Pooja sighed and crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe.

"Sadhvi, why do you continue the affair?" she asked. Sadhvi looked away, unable to meet her disappointed gaze. She knew the answer to this too.

Sadhvi gazed out the window as she spoke. "It sounds stupid trying to put my reasons into words, but in my heart I know they're the right reasons." She turned to look at Pooja again. Pooja only shook her head in disappointment.

"Get ready. Otherwise she'll beat you with a bat."

Sadhvi nodded and stood up. She put on a fresh blouse and was adjusting the sash as Pooja helped make her hair into a bun. Sadhvi looked up from beneath her eyelashes at her reflection in the dirty mirror. As Pooja put in the last pin, Sadhvi tried to smile, but it was forced.

She hated seeing her reflection like that. The sadness in her eyes, the curve of her lips, none of it matched. However, it has improved. Her life before Devraaj, although had more privileges, was much worse. Then she met Devraaj, and she got to escape that life. Yes, in his territory she had to hide, but at least she had Devraaj.

However, things seemed to be getting worse again. Now that Devraaj had to suddenly become the commanding Head, Sadhvi saw him less. And then Janya continuously came into the picture.

Janya was somewhat always in the picture, but before she was more of an after image. She was the Goswami heiress, destined to marry the young Head. Both Sadhvi and Devraaj knew that well, but it never mattered.

Now he and Janya were engaged. Everyone in the Head House knew of the affair between Devraaj and Sadhvi, and they all favored Janya. Nobody liked the "little servant whore" that Devraaj kept around.

*

Sadhvi angrily tossed laundry into a basket and carried it out to the laundry room. She joined the other two servants out there who were scrubbing the cloths. The head maid knew Sadhvi hated doing the laundry, so of course she assigned her to laundry duty all day.

Sadhvi looked up from where she was scrubbing to see the head maid with her arms crossed and observing the work. She smirked at Sadhvi before looking at the other two.

"Why don't you two help out inside? Today's an easy load, Sadhvi can take care of it on her own," the head maid said.

The two girls hesitated. They shared unsure glances before looking over at Sadhvi. Sadhvi only shot them a glare before they scurried away.

Sadhvi scowled after them as the head maid shot her one last smirk. Sadhvi scrubbed viciously, and slapped the next cloth into her bin.

"Stupid bitch," she hissed beneath her breath. "If she only knew who my father is, she'd bow at my feet and run scared."

Sadhvi's rant stopped there. No one in that household will ever know who her father is. Not only would they regret the day they found out, so will Devraaj, for that's a secret between the two of them. If anyone found out, they'd throw her out. What's worse, they'd do it at gunpoint.

Sadhvi continued to let her anger out on the cloths, getting them to be cleaner than they've ever been.

By hiding, Sadhvi has learned a lot about keeping secrets. She's gotten so good at it that she worries herself. All that time never saying a word, the time to act may be arriving soon. Devraaj had made her many promises, and she knew he had duties. But unless things changed, she could never say anything.

Sadhvi sat down huffing deep breaths. Keep quiet, Sadhvi, she thought, Don't let it get to you.

So many secrets. If only there was someone to tell.

*

Sadhvi sat nervously at the edge of Devraaj's bed. She wrung her hands over and over, trying to put her words together. It had to be said, no matter what.

The door opened and Devraaj entered. He looked worn out, rubbing his hand over his face.

"Sadhvi?" he asked. Sadhvi smiled, despite herself. She couldn't quite explain it, but he always made her happy. "What're you doing here?"

"Um... I had something to say..."

Devraaj smiled. "Okay, what is it?"

"I... uh... Dev, I think things are getting worse for us."

Devraaj furrowed his brows and kneeled before her. He held her hands in his and looked at her worriedly.

"What makes you say that?" Devraaj asked. He looked up at her face, seeing the worry in her eyes. He hated seeing pain in her eyes, for it brought him pain as well.

"Dev, everyone in this entire household wants you to be with Janya, and who am I to hold you back? I'm the girl who fell in love with you and ran away for you. But here, I'm the servant girl you keep in your bed and not in your heart. People here must either hear the truth or get what they want, and I'm not what they want."

Devraaj shook his head. "Sadhvi--"

"Nai (no), Devraaj. You need to accept it. You have to marry Janya... And I have to run away before I finally burst with the truth." Sadhvi lowered her gaze and held her words in; she's said enough.

"Sadhvi, I understand your reasoning, but why? I can't have you leave me. I know I've put you in the worst situations, but I'll find a way to fix this. Janya will understand, and everyone will accept it--"

"No. Dev it's time we grew up from our petty dreams about love. We both knew, going into this, that there wouldn't be a happy ending unless we bent the rules. But--"

"Rules don't get bent for us," Devraaj said, bitterly lowering his gaze and clenching his jaw.

"I'm sorry Dev." Sadhvi stood and let his hands drop from hers. She began walking out, but then Devraaj gently grabbed her wrist.

"Sadhvi, at least say goodbye properly?"

Sadhvi hesitated at first, but then she turned around and hugged him. He held her tightly in his arms, trying to comfort her as much as possible in one gesture. Silent tears ran down his cheeks, but she held her tears in. Sadhvi felt the burden of sadness, but her eyes wouldn't flow. She let him hug her, and took in his scent one last time.

They finally let go, and Sadhvi bid her leave. Devraaj sat on the edge of his bed and held his head in his hands. He'd pictured and feared this moment many times, but he never thought it'd happen.

He's lost his last string of hope, and now he'd have to lead a married life with a broken heart, as per his true love's wishes.

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Vinashaa cast
Ranveer Singh- Devraaj Majumdar
Deepika Padukone- Sadhvi
Parineeti Chopra- Janya Goswami
Sidharth Malhotra- Uday Raghavan
Alia Bhatt- Naina
Varun Dhawan- Vivesh Goswami