5/6/2024.

• • •

VR MANSION, 1 AM.

It was a dark night.

The sky was empty, the wind freezing cold. The guards at the gate huddled together in their little room, warming themselves with the heater and hot tea. The others only had the tea for warmth.

In this darkness three people, two men and a woman to be specific, stepped out and quietly walked towards the gate.

The man in the front was tall, with a broad build and dominating aura. Despite the secrecy, his confidence didn't falter. The two behind him followed in complete obedience. Each of them had a bag each in their arms.

The leader halted and casted a sidelong glance at the guards. They were sound asleep, and so were the rest. The entire mansion was under the control of the sleeping pills he had slipped into their beverages.

His lips curved into a malicious smirk. He reached out, hand covered by a glove, and pulled the gate open. He stepped out, his nose sniffing the gentle air of freedom. His subordinates followed, with the lady, also wearing a glove, shutting the gate.

They treaded down the road for a kilometre, and then came across a car left by the roadside. This time, the second man stepped forward, fishing out the keys from his pocket.
First, he opened the boot of the car and placed the bags safely. Following which, he opened the doors for his team and sat himself in the driver's seat. The lady sat beside him, and the leader behind.

His deep set black orbs stared off into the limitless night sky as the car rolled over the streets. The various turns and halts undeterred him from looking away and frowning.

A strange warm peace filled his heart, drawing a smile to his lips. Once again, he found his reason to truly smile. A smile he had lost once he had been married. Married to a woman he loathed from the bottom of his heart. A woman who had treacherously won over his wicked family - Ahana.

"When I grow up I'll make you my wife, sunshine." He smiled innocently at Riddhima. "I promise. You will live a lavish life, a life uncompromised of luxuries, wealth and security." He pressed a kiss on her hand, a gentle smile making its way to her lips.

Riddhima Birla.

His childhood best friend, his first love, and his promised wife. She is his world, his home, his happiness. He first met her when he was six, still healing from the disappearance of his mother, Uma.
Riddhima was quiet by birth, never talking - she was mute. But her presence spoke in her silence. She became Vansh's friend, and soon his ray of hope - his sunshine.

His family never took an interest in him, for as long as Ajay lived, and Vansh wasn't bothered either. He'd spend hours outside, talking, playing and picnicking with Riddhima. Sometimes it was the them, sometimes Angre or Mrs. D'Souza would join in too.

But once his father died, and everything ended up in his hands, he found his family sticking to him stronger than glue. And for his sanity, he hid Riddhima from his family. Business trips, late-night meetings, overtime - Vansh made various reasonable excuses to stay out of the mansion and spend his time with Riddhima.

"Sunshine, will you still marry me if I were to cast aside my family name and wealth?" He asked, and then bit his tongue, shaking his head at his stupidity. "I know you will. Because you love me, you love Vansh. Nothing else." Riddhima smiled, gently stroking his beard.

Vansh grit his teeth hard, clenching his fists hard. The mesmerizing smile on his lips turned into a dangerous frown. He bit his lower lip, drawing blood.

"Vansh, this Ahana Mehta. Your fiance." The floor beneath his feet slipped, and he stared at the women in horror.

Ahana Mehta. She was a colleague he ignored in college. To Vansh, she was a pesterous fly buzzing around him in full zeal. A notorious attention-seeker, a famous seducer - she had the entire college wrapped around her little finger. Well, except for Vansh.

He was a humiliating stain to her reputation, and she tried every trick in the book to win him over. To dominate and play with him. But Vansh never faltered; his heart, mind and soul had already been stolen by his beloved sunshine.

And so, she tried the dirtiest trick. She toyed with his family, got into their good books. They could never see her do anything wrong. She was an epitome of the perfect Bahu in their eyes.

Five years down the line, while Vansh promised everything to Riddhima, Ahana claimed everything that was his. Family, wealth, name, fame - she took it all. And in the end, she became his wife.

A wife he never wanted. A wife his family pushed upon him.

A selfish wife, Vansh noted. His income had suddenly become lesser than the expenditure. And that's when he made his mind. He stopped complaining about the finances and slept in Angre's room. He stayed away from the mansion for hours, crafting together the perfect plan.

And the plan was executed today.

Vansh could barely care about his family anymore. He had pushed all burden, along with the divorce papers, onto his snobby ex-wife. Everything was now her responsibility. Including looking after her soon-to-be-born bastard child.

Vansh chuckled. For a woman he hadn't touched since the marriage, it was impossible for her to bear his child. Ah, but, it didn't matter to Vansh anymore.

Vansh let out a mysterious giggle. Mrs. D'Souza and Angre glanced at him through the rear-view mirror and then turned back to look at the road.

• • •

Two hours later, on the outskirts, the car came to a halt. Hearing the screeches of the tyre, a woman opened the door and stared at the car in excitement.

Out ran Vansh, clambering the stairs and taking her into his arms. He laughed in happiness, spinning her round in his arms and then put her to his feet.

"I'm home," he smiled and snaked his arm around her waist, "sunshine."

Riddhima smiled. Moving his arm from her waist, she wrapped her arms around his and, led him inside the warmth of their house.

She sat him down on the couch and served him a glass of water. Vansh drank it all down. Tugging on her wrist, he had on his lap.

"I promised you, didn't I?" He started slowly, "You will be my wife. Legally, and eternally." He laced his fingers with hers. "Although I don't have the wealth I promised to you right now, I'll build it up in time. I'll build an empire greater and bigger than all my ancestors."

Slowly, he put her down beside him and caressed her hair. "Then we will marry."

Riddhima shook her head, holding onto his hand. Vansh looked at her in curiosity. "Then?" She pulled out a calendar, pointing to a date two months away. Vansh smiled. He pat her head, "As you wish, my sunshine."

Kissing her cheeks, Vansh disappeared into their room to freshen up. Riddhima ran about in the kitchen, preparing a dinner for four.

"Madam, let me help." Mrs. D'Souza offered, stepping into the kitchen. She had changed into a dark blue saree, her uniform, and a pair of comfortable flats.

Riddhima grabbed a pen and paper off the shelf, scribbling over it. She handed it over to the lady in question.

'Tomorrow. I will cook today.'

Mrs. D'Souza looked up from the note to see Riddhima smiling at her innocently. Holding the older lady by her shoulders, Riddhima guided her to the dining table and made her sit.
Holding out five fingers, she filled up a glass with water for her and jumped back into the kitchen.

"Sir, I-" she tried to clarify when Vansh stepped into the dining. He cut her off with a wave of his hand. "I won't scold you, relax. She's a stubborn one." He shrugged and sat across her. Angre sat beside Mrs. D'Souza.

"Did you delete the footage?"

"Yes, bo-- yes, Bhai."

Vansh nodded, staring at his empty plate.

A minute later, Riddhima stepped back into the room. A tray of steaming hot food in her hands, a triumphant smile on her lips and a prideful glint in her eyes.

Dinner was served.

• TO BE CONTINUED •

Heyo everyone!!

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Part two will be out tomorrow.

Do leave lots of comments!!