"Achoo!" sneezed Pallavi. She blinked multiple times, feeling immense pain in her throat and head. She looked at her bedside draw and her face brightened a little when she noticed a bowl of nice warm soup. She picked up the ball and ate one spoon. She made a face when it tasted bland.

She was about to call for Prachi, when Vikram opened the door. "Vikram, please bring Prachi here. She did make the soup, right?" Pallavi asked but frowned when Vikram didn't move.

"Pallavi, Prachi did make the soup. In fact she served it to everyone else in the house too. I feel we were wrong to judge her like we did two years ago." Vikram confessed and Pallavi looked like she had just seen a ghost.

"Vikram, how can you say that?! That girl bought Maya in our son's life and she ruined her sister's life! Plus, she doesn't care for anyone. She couldn't be bothered making tea for her sick mother-in-law and even if she did make soup, she made it extremely bland! On the other hand, there's Riya, who made me such lovely tea yesterday! I'm sure she would've delivered it to me too if her foot didn't start paining." Pallavi scoffed, causing Vikram to sigh.

"Pallavi, Riya didn't make the tea. Prachi did. I saw her doing it. And we had the same soup, it's actually good! You might not be able to taste it due to covid." Vikram reasoned but to his dismay, Pallavi just become more upset.

"Wow. Now she lies too! I can't believe someone could stoop so low." Pallavi chuckled bitterly.

Vikram shook his head, sighing. He now truly knew that it was useless to reason with his wife. "Pallavi, if you need anything just call us but make sure not to leave the room and only use the bathroom in this room. We don't want Dida, Ranbir, Sid, Prachi or Riya to catch the disease too." Vikram ordered and left without listening to what reply Pallavi was about to give.

"First Prachi made Ranbir distant from us and now she's doing the same with Vikram and Dida too. But I know they will regret siding with her once her true colours are revealed." Pallavi whispered to herself, determined to bring out Prachi's true colours as soon she got better.

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Riya mumbled something in her sleep, shifting around uncomfortably. She opened her eyes, her vision feeling blurry and smiled when she noticed Siddarth not around. She turned to the draws on her side of the bed and opened the first one. She wearily moved her hand around the draw, looking for something but frowned when she couldn't find it.

She searched the other draws and began to panic when it wasn't in any of them. She moved to the closet and searched through her half. She felt her heart sink when there was no trace of it. Tears brimmed her eyes as she found it almost impossible to live without that thing now. It had bought her peace, relief, when even her aunt couldn't. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, in an attempt to calm herself.

She just needed to remember where she had put it last. Her eyes widened as she recalled dropping it. Soni probably would've cleaned the floor by now and she would have to live without it for a whole fourteen days. She cursed her fate as she couldn't even get someone to deliver it to her. It would raise the suspicion's of the family and her image would be degraded in an unrepairable way.

She sprinted downstairs, rushing across the floor, to the kitchen. In her hurry, Riya didn't notice Dida and so caused her to fall down. Despite hearing a scream, Riya ignores it and continues moving towards the kitchen. She goes on her tip of her toes and frowns when the thing she was looking for wasn't there. Someone, who was observing this from afar, cursed themselves for ever liking Riya.

Siddarth stayed out of Riya's sight and cursed his fate. At first, he had thought that he and Riya would make their relationship work somehow. But now, after knowing this about her, he wasn't sure if he even wanted to remain her friend. He sighed and continued keeping an eye on his so-called wife. He didn't want her to do anything that would ruin his brother's life or his.

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Dida groaned, keeping a hand on her back, in attempts of reducing the pain. Prachi, Ranbir and Vikram had come rushing to her after hearing her scream. She had expected Riya to help her up as soon as she heard her scream, and she felt immense disappointment when she noticed her rushing away. This was the girl she had once wanted to be Ranbir's wife? She was really questioning her choice now.

"Prachi, Ranbir, take Beeji to her room. I'll go call the doctor." Vikram commanded, though Prachi and Ranbir were already helping Dida up.

"Dida, how did you fall down?" Ranbir asked.

"Actually I was going up to meet Pallavi and Riya was going towards the kitchen I think. She didn't notice me and was in a hurry so she bumped into me and I fell down," Dida explained.

"I'm sure she noticed. She'll probably want to blame this on Prachi too." Ranbir mumbled, earning a glare from Prachi.

"Ranbir, why would Riya do that? Prachi is her sister. I get that the two don't have a great bond but they've tried to start afresh." Dida reasoned and Ranbir shot Prachi a look. Prachi shook her head, not wanting anyone to know anything, yet.

"Dida, leave it. Ranbir is just upset with Riya for trying to marry him in the past. Should we give you some ibuprofen?" Prachi said, ignoring the frown on Ranbir's face.

Dida shook her head, "Could you bring a pillow?"

Soon, Dida was laying down on her bed and is waiting for a doctor to come. Ranbir signals something to Prachi. Prachi ignores him and asks Dida if she needs anything else.

"No, the pain will reduce itself. I'll ask Vikram to not call a doctor. Prachi, you know, if your mother was here with you today, she would be very proud of you." Dida smiled, confusing both Pranbir.

"My mother is with me. We met her a few days ago," Prachi replied and Dida looked at her with wide eyes.

"Your mother is alive? Why didn't the two of you tell us? Abhi would've been so happy to know!" Dida exclaimed, momentarily forgetting about their rivalry with the Mehra's.

"Papa knows. He's met Maa too! We didn't tell you because Mom might've gotten upset after hearing Maa's name. Besides, Papa isn't in contact with any of you anymore. And Riya, she will probably still hold grudges against Maa for whatever happened in the past." Prachi explained, her blood boiling as she recalled all the venomous stuff her so-called sister had said about her mother.

"Really? That is great news! I'm sure Pallavi and Vikram will forgive and forget, if not for you and Ranbir, then at least for Sid and Riya." Dida seemed ecstatic, making Prachi and Ranbir sigh at the same time.

Before Dida could say anything Vikram barged in with a doctor. "Doctor, please ensure that you do her check-up properly. Nothing should happen to her." Vikram urged Prachi and Ranbir out of the room.

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"Prachi, why didn't you let me reveal Riya's truth to Dida? Mom may be blind with Riya's love but Dida isn't! I'm sure Dida would at least try to investigate the matter even if she didn't believe us." Ranbir questioned, after ensuring that door was properly closed, so that no one could hear them.

"Ranbir, I don't feel that we should reveal Riya's truth yet. It's not the right time. Everyone will be shattered after learning about this and Sid, you and I are the only ones who are in a healthy condition." Prachi advised but frowned on seeing the fury in Ranbir's eyes widen.

"Riya is a bad omen. Ever since she's returned look at everything that's happened! She intentionally tried to hurt you, and I'm sure it wasn't the first or last time she's doing that, mom caught covid, Dida hurt her back and Dad's heart problems are increasing too now! We can't just stay quiet. Prachi, we need to something and soon. Who knows what Riya will do next," Ranbir reasoned.

"We will do something. But until then let Riya think she has the upper hand. I need to talk with Maa. She'll know the right thing to do. She always knows. And I'm sure she'll give me the right advice. Maybe if I had talked her about the deal before, Mom and Dad would've willing accepted our relationship." Prachi whispered the last part in a tone so soft, that even Ranbir could barely hear her.

Ranbir clasped Prachi's hands in his own, "Prachi, that's in the past. We promised each other to forget about it, didn't we? And Maa will definitely know what to do. We can also know how Chief is doing! But we do need to ensure Riya exits our lives. For good this time."

Prachi nods and the two smile at one another, both on the verge of tears. Their family was broken now, all due to that witch. They vowed that together, they would force her out of their lives. That would be the closest they could get to a happy family.

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(1500+ words)

How's the update?

What was Riya so desperately searching for?

And in case any of you are confused, Vikram was the one listening to Pranbir's conversation in the previous update!

Also, I'm surprised with myself, 4 chapters in and I have not once kept this story on hold!

Do vote if you liked the update, if you didn't, please do comment and provide feedback!

This story will be having two updates a week now. Wednesday's and Friday's.

Until Next Time!

~ Riya Sharma