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One time when she was in a blind in a tree, waiting motionless for game to wonder by, she dozed of and fell ten feet to the ground, landing on her back. It was as if the impact had knocked every wisp of air from her lungs and she laid there struggling to exhale, to inhale, to do anything.

That's how she was feeling right now, trying to remember how to breathe, unable to speak, totally stunned. She stood in the middle of the living room, white as chalk. Her eyes and her mouth were frozen wide open in an expression of stunned surprise.

"You?!" she repeated yet again, not believing the person standing in front of her.

"Hello, Ms.Shraddha!" his smirk was something else, it was somewhat devilish and charming.

"You guys know each other?" his step-father jumped into the conversation.

"Of course not! I just know her name, which you told me a few minutes ago." he lied as she looked on.

"Okay. So can we talk about the deal already?" the old man was now getting impatient.

"What deal?" she asked as she was finally coming out of the shock-state.

"I already talked about the deal with you Mr.Kapoor and as I remember, you agreed to it!" varun replied.

"Wait, what deal?" she raised her voice slightly.

"You should sit first!" Varun suggested.

"No. I'm not gonna sit down. It's my house! Not your office, you can't just go around and order me like that!" she glared at him.

"Your house?" he chuckled which soon turned into a laugh.

"It's funny how you thing that this place is still your house!" he said and she glared at her father.

"I've placed the blank check on the table Mr.Kapoor, write down any amount you want!" varun told him and his eyes immediately lit up, not with happiness but with greed.

"And also you can keep this house too." he added and Shraddha gave him an unbelievable look.

"What's actually happening here? What did he promise you in return?" she asked varun and his eyes drifted to her father who was busy figuring out how much amount he should write.

"You!" the word that left his mouth was enough to break all the self-confidence she was holding till now.

"No. No. You're lying! He-he can't do this!" she stuttered as her hands started getting sweaty.

"He already did!" he said showing her the contract that her step-father had signed.

"You sold me?" she asked him as tears started forming in her eyes.

"It's for the best!" standing up from the couch he approached her.

"You sold me!" she repeated her words again, a little louder this time.

"Just think about it. We get to keep the house. And he's giving us more money!" he told her.

"No! You get to keep the house!You get the money! What about me?" she said wiping tears away from her cheeks.

"I did it for you! What other choice do I have?" he was trying every inch to defend his decision as varun was calmly observing the whole situation.

"No! You did it for yourself!" she yelled.

"Listen to me....." he tried to explain but she raised her hand to stop him.

"My old bruises hasn't healed yet. Stop giving me more!" by saying this she rushed towards her room. The old man tried to follow her only to be stopped by varun.

"I'll handle this!" he said as he made his way to her room.

"Kartik, can I ask you something?" Sara asked as they were both now enjoying coffee after a good dinner.

"Sure!" he nodded.

"What's up with varun lately?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" he furrowed his eyebrows at her.

"Look we both know he's not that kind of guy who's interested in dating women and his behavior with Shraddha lately is kinda strange." she told him.

"Maybe he's changed!" kartik replied.

"Let's not play dumb, kartik! We both know he's surely upto something." she gave him a look.

"Maybe. Maybe not!" he shrugged his shoulder taking a sip of his coffee.

"So loyal you are!" she shook her head in disappointment.

"Even if I want to, I can't tell you anything because even I'm not sure what's he doing with his life!" he told her.

"Let's hope he doesn't end up ruining someone's life!" Sara said as he looked at her.

"Leave me alone!" she shouted with tears in her eyes as she heard a knock on her door.

"It's me!" varun said as he entered the room halfway.

"It doesn't make a difference." she looked at him before wiping the tears off her face. He slowly approached her and sat beside her on the bed.

"Look, I know you're having a hard time accepting this news but face it. It is what it is!" he told her.

"Stop it! Nothing you say is gonna make me feel better!" she said, before he could reply his phone went off.

"What's the matter, suresh?" he asked on the phone.

"Sir, it's almost midnight. Rhea is asking for you!" he told him.

"Okay. Get her on the phone." he said and he did as he was told to.

"Daddy!" she said and he could easily guess that she had been crying.

"Hey, princess!" varun said and shraddha's head immediately shot up in his direction upon realizing who he was talking to.

"Why aren't you home yet?" she asked between her hiccups.

"I'll be home soon Rhee! Hey, wanna talk to someone?" he asked her.

"Who?" she asked and he gave his phone to shraddha, signaling her to talk to his daughter. Great! He's already controlling my life, she thought.

"H-Hi Rhea!" shraddha spoke, trying to sound as calm as possible.

"Shraddha!" Rhea chimed. Shraddha felt her smiling on the other side of the phone.

"Your daddy will be home soon Rhea! Don't worry." she told her and gave varun his phone back as she couldn't hold her tears back any longer.

"Rhea I'll be home in a while!" he told her.

"Not fair daddy! You went to meet shraddha without me!" she tried to sound angry.

"I'll make it up to you for that. Trust me." he said looking at shraddha and she immediately knew what he meant. After hanging up the call he stood up from the bed.

"Pack everything you need. I'll send the driver tomorrow to pick you up!" he said and left the room before she can even protest.

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