Riya again entered inside the Rathore mahal, walking upstairs, she herself figured out a room.

It turned out to be a store room, but she cared less, changing herself out of the extra heavy lehenga, she wore the comfy clothes that her Abhi bought for her.

Folding the lehenga, she carried it out.

She again sat in the same place that she had before, her back resting against the pillar.

Keeping the lehenga beside, she opened her laptop.

As she settled and was engrossed in her own work she heard a shuffle, her eyes immediately looking in the direction of the noise only to spot a furry little animal there. A puppy.

The puppy barked once, slowly as if he was just learning the art of barking , he barked not in anger but in uncertainty on spotting Riya, who for him was a stranger.

Riya got up in a go, fearing that the barks might disturb the rest she quickly went to the animal.

While the puppy got scared taking steps behind on seeing Riya approach.

Riya saw the fear in the animal's eyes as she softly kneeled infront of him.

Her entire posture changing into a softer version as she called the puppy closer.

"Hey...It's okay..Don't.. Don't be scared.. ", she softly said as she opened her arms welcoming the animal.

And even though hesitant the puppy took slow steps towards Riya as if taking the leap of faith.

And in moments the ball of fur found comfort as Riya took him in her embrace, patting him in gentleness, stroking his fur in soft calming patterns. The puppy  relaxed instantly, curling into her chest, tail giving a weak but hopeful wag.

And it was strange.

For Rex, the little Golden retriever of Abhimaan, had never been so comfortable with anyone that to so soon.

But Riya? Riya surely knew how it's done as she returned back to her spot and continued her work while the dog still in her arms, resting in her embrace.

And it was for sure that the woman who could destroy without blinking was the same one who could make even the most frightened soul feel at home.

The night was spent with the device as she was engrossed in her work while the ball of fur in her arms wiggled and snuggled in her embrace.

On the other side, Abhimaan too was awake all night, running his phones, getting as much information as he could about Neha Shekhawat. And of his now wife, Riya Shekhawat.

The game of revenge had officially began.

~Next day~

Riya was sleeping with her back against the pillar, when Mridula and Nalini's low talks compelled her to wake up.

She opened her eyes lazily as she spotted the two ladies in front of her.

For a moment she felt a wave of shock, a certain wave of fear ran through her spine as her hands automatically went to her laptop, but she breathed a sigh of relief as she found it to be closed.

Her eyes then went to the puppy who was sleeping soundly beside her.

She gently caressed his head as she heard the ladies speak.

"Bahu.. Tum yaha.. ", Mridula asked with hesitancy as she could guess that her own son must have pushed her newly wedded daughter in law out of the room.

" Sahi kiya Abhimaan ne. Isko koi apnaye bhi toh kyu. Sirf ek replacement hai yeh. ", Nalini mattered in an unbothered tone.

Mridula shushed her, as she looked towards Riya and said, " Beta, aaj tumhari pehli rasoi hai. Yeh tumhare liye Saree aur kuch jeveraat hai. ", with that she took the saree and accessories from Nalini and was about to hand them to Riya but Riya held her laptop and stood up, as she denied to take those items.

" Jab aap log mujhe is ghar ki bahu kehlane ke layak hi nahi mante. Jab Mr. Rathore mujhe apni patni nahi mante. Jab mei sirf ek replacement hu. Toh yeh Rathore's ki bahu hone ki rasme mei kyu karu bhala?

I won't.

I want to freshen up, please tell me where I should. ", she stated it clearly.

Both the ladies were taken aback by her words.

This wasn't something both of them were expecting.

" Heh Ladki! Dekha didi kaise jubaan chala rahi hai. Galti inki thi, aur ab nakhre bhi yeh hi karenge. Wah! ", Nalini was quick to throw the taunt.

" Where should I freshen up? ", Riya again asked with a stoic face.

Mridula looked at her for seconds before she pointed towards a direction.

Riya picked the lehenga up and handled it to Mridula, along with the other jewelleries and then holding her laptop she walked towards the direction that Mridula had shown her moments ago.

________ ____________________ _____________

The hallway of the Mahal was all silent as the anger and rage was flowing through the veins of the elders of Rathore's.

"Woh mana kaise kar sakti hai. Tum saas ho na uski, itna nahi karwa saki tum.

Pehli rasoi se kaise inkaar kar sakti hai woh. Aur tumne tabhi hume kyu nahi bataya! ", Leelavati shouted on Mridula who was standing with her head hanging low.

This was how it was.

The daughter in laws were under the control of the eldest.

They could never speak back or ask for any rights in the Rathore household.

Though the Rathore's were open with the idea of ladies working out but in the house the say of the daughter in laws were not of much value.

Leelavati was the one commanding the Rathore household.

Abhimaan, who was unaware of  all the choas walked downstairs, dressed in his casual wear. For he had taken off from office for that wedding thing. Only if he knew that it was going to render his life in such a great mess.

His hand had a bandage, covering the wound of the yester night.

He sensed the tense atmosphere around, but nevertheless walked to Leelavati and took her blessings.

Just then Riya too walked down, dressed in a casual kurta now.

She thought of informing the ones down about her going out, but before she could start, Leelavati bursted on her.

"Yeh ladki! Samajti kya ho tum khud ko.

Abhi ke abhi upar jao aur Mridula ne jo saree rakhi hai woh pehen kar pehli rasoi ki rasam puri karo. ", Leelavati commanded.

Riya sucked in a deep breath. She had to keep calm, as she couldn't have her mind frustrated early in the morning, for she knew that the day was going to be a long one for her.

" Sunai nahi diya jo maasa ne kaha. Abhi ke abhi jao. ", Nalini added.

Riya waited for a moment before she came and stood right in front of  Leelavati directly looking into her eyes.

Forwarding her hand in front of Leelavati, Riya demanded, " Iss mahal ki chabiya! "

Leelavati along with the rest were taken aback by her demand.

The ones around looked at her, being all shocked.

While Riya stood in front of the head, her hand forwarded, waiting for the keys that she just demanded.

" Kya keh rahi ho? ", Leelavati questioned after being baffled by Riya's demand.

" Iss ghar ki navi-nayeli bahu hu, toh ghar ki chabiya mere hawale sop deni chahiye ab aapko, kyu? ", Riya questioned in the same tone.

" Baukhala gayi ho kya?

Don't forget, yeh shadi kin halato mei hui thi. Iss ghar par thopi gayi responsibility ho tum. Ghar ki bahu nahi! ", Leelavati stated it dangerously.

Riya looked at her in surprise but it took only seconds for her expressions to change as she chuckled a bit and pointed it out.

" For the final time, aap log jab mujhe iss ghar ki bahu mante hi nahi hai toh kyu karu mei koi bhi rasm? Nahi karni mujhe. ", her voice was not loud but firm.

The family was taken aback by her straightforwardness and courage.

Nobody had an argument back, for they knew that what she said actually did make sense.

" Riya. That's not the way you talk to Dadisa. ", seeing that the rest were speechless, Abhimaan grunted to Riya.

Riya looked at him with a " I don't give a damn" look, as she walked to Ashwat.

"You said that your family will not bound me.

And neither am I someone who can be tied.

I am not going to give up on my life just because I am married in your house. And nevertheless, you too gave me your word.

I am going back to work. ", she informed him in a calm yet unemotional manner.

Her face, though looked tired but was devoid of any emotions.

Ashwat just nodded for he couldn't get away from his promise.

Riya didn't say much, just started to take strides away from there, but suddenly as she remembered it, she again turned to face Ashwat and informed, " Uncle, I have to get my things as well, toh aate aate late ho jayega. "

Ashwat gave her a slight nod and a warm smile which she acknowledged but didn't return as she just walked away leaving the fuming Rathore's behind.

"Abhimaan isse pehle ki yeh ladki puri ki puri hath ke bahar nikal jaye, control her. ", Leelavati commanded as she walked to the dining table for breakfast.

______________ ____________ _______________

~ Evening ~

Mridula and Nalini were busy in the kitchen, while the men were busy in their work.

The youngsters were also around,

Abhimaan was in his room, going through his sources to gain information about the Shekhawat sisters for his resolution to avenge them was strong.

Leelavati was seated in the main hallway with her mala in her hand doing her jaap.

That's when the door bell rang.

" Shanaya, jaake dekh kon hai! ", Mridula told one of the twin, Shanaya Singh Rathore.

Shanaya opened the door but was taken aback to see the Shekhawats on the door.

" Dadisa! Badi maa- bade papa, maa-baba! ", Shanaya called out. She somewhere knew that the relationship was stained now, so not knowing whether to invite them in or not, she rather decided to call the elders.

The family members rushed to see what happened.

They all were perplexed as well , to see the ones in front.

" Shanaya, ja jaldi, tere bhaisa ko niche bula! ", Leelavati commanded as she looked at Naveen and Vishakha Shekhawat standing in front and warned, "Andar maat ayiye! Ab jo aage hoga woh Abhimaan khud decide karenge. "

The main door saw the exchange of dangerous eye contacts and  gazes, when Abhimaan walked downstairs with Shanaya walking behind him.

He took long strides as he came and stood to face them.

The Shekhawats.

"Ab kyu aaye hai aap log yaha? ", he questioned dangerously.

" Abhimaan.. Beta humari baat.. ", but before Naveen could speak it out, the Rathore's gasped to see non other than Neha Shekhawat come ahead from behind her parents.

Abhimaan felt anger rush inside him.

He was boiling, the betrayal, the insult, the humiliation that he faced, his family faced coming back to his mind.

"Wahi rukho. Himmat bhi maat karna andar aane ki! ", Abhimaan stated it out dangerously.

And that's when the drama unfolded.

Neha, with tears lacing her eyes started with it.

" Maan.. Please.. Ek baar. Ek baar meri baat suno.. Please.. Let us in.. Main sab samjhati hu. Please Maan. ", she pleaded letting her tears to take over.

" Ab sunne sunane ke liye kuch nahi bacha. You destroyed everything. Every damn thing! ", Abhimaan roared.

" Please Maan.. Please.. I know sab galat hua. But I am being trapped in it Maan. Please ek baar meri baat suno.

Maan.. Maan please Maan. ", her cries were so intense that for a moment it did pain Abhimaan, but his anger was high.

He turned his face away from her, but Neha fell on his feet and pleaded, " Maan.. Pehle meri khud ki behen ne mere sath galat kiya aur ab.. Ab tum.. Mera pyaar mujhse muh fer raha hai.. Please don't do this to me.. Please Maan. ", she pleaded.

But her words drew everyone's attention.

" Riya? ", Abhimaan asked in shock.

And Neha frantically wiped her tears as she nodded like a small child.

Abhimaan made her to stand up and he allowed her, Naveen and Vishakha inside.

Mridula handed Neha a glass of water which she drank.

" Kya matlab tha tumhara? Kya kiya Riya ne? ", Leelavati questioned.

" Jo kuch bhi hume dikh raha tha, woh sab dhokha tha, Leelavati ji.

Humari hi parwarish mei kami reh gayi thi jo Riya ne apni hi behen ke sath woh sab kiya. Hume toh ab bhi yakeen nahi ho raha, ki humara khoon bhi aisa kuch kar sakta hai. ", Naveen said in a defeated tone.

" Saf saf kahiye kya hua hai! ", Abhimaan said being frustrated.

" Main batati hu. ", Neha started.

" Maan, kal humari shadi ke din, I was getting ready in my room, for you.

Tab hi Riya room mei aayi, she looked disturbed. Usne kaha ki she wanted to use the washroom, I allowed her too, tabhi usne apna phone bahar rakha tha.

Main tayar ho rahi thi na, tab Riya ke phone pe baar baar calls aahe ja rahe the. Maine usse bataya, but she said ki ignore.

Par koi char- pach calls ignore kar sakta hai, 20-30 nahi. Aur Riya washroom se bahar aah hi nahi rahi thi.

Toh at a point I decided and picked up the call.

And that's when I got the biggest shock.

Woh.. Woh call kisi aadmi ka tha, woh Riya ko blackmail kar raha tha ki agar woh abhi ke abhi usse Red Rose Hotel mei milne nahi aayi toh woh un dono ke intimate pictures social media pe post kar dega. Main dar gayi.

Maine Riya se bhi iss bare mei baat ki. Woh bohot dari hui thi, uska woh dar mujhe genuine laga.

Us ladke ne sirf aadhe ghante ki mohlat di thi. Hume kuch samaj nahi aaya ki kya kare. Main Riya ko uske pass nahi bhej sakti thi, I just couldn't take the chance. Par phir yeh dar bhi tha agar woh pictures viral ho gaye to. Sab khatam ho jata, Maan.

Isiliye.. I decided that I go instead.

Riya ke liye kiya.. Uske liye yeh step uthaya maine. Par pata nahi tha mujhe ki woh khud mere peet piche chura ghop degi.

Maan.... Jab mei Red Rose Hotel mei pohochi, uss kamre mei pohochi, toh kisine mujhe kamre mei band kiya.

Main kal pure din kisi kamre mei locked thi, main chilati reh gayi, darwaza peeth ti reh gayi, par koi nahi aaya.

Waha phone ka network bhi nahi tha.

I was waiting for you, for Riya to come to save me.

Par koi nahi aaya. I was alone. Alone in that room.

Aaj .. Aaj 11 baje achanak woh darwaza khul gaya.. Aur darwaze par mujhe yeh chitti mili.. Dekho!! ", Neha let it all out with tears flowing down her eyes as she narrated the happenings to the Rathore's.

She handled the piece of paper that had something written on it to Abhimaan.

And as Abhimaan read through it all, one could see how red he turned.

Hello meri pyari Neha di,

Kitni bewakoof hai aap.

Maine aapse kuch kaha aur aapne maan bhi liya?

Humesha se main sochti thi why you always get the best. Pehle baba ki company, aur ab Abhimaan bhi.

While mujhe kabhi nahi milta.

Yes. I was jealous of you. Very jealous.

You were very proud na that Abhimaan loves you a lot, trusts you a lot.

Now look what I did.

Jab tak aap wapas aaoge, tab tak Abhimaan mera husband ban gaya hoga. Humesha ke liye mera ho gaya hoga.

Adding to it, aapse nafrat bhi kar raha hoga, yeh lag raha hoga usse ki aapne usse dhokha diya, uspe cheat kiya.

I feel so sad for you.

Maze ki baat batau, apko bheja bhi ek aise hotel mei jaha jane par aapke character pe sawal uthenge. Mere dear husband, Abhimaan khud uthayenge yeh sawal.

Chalo, now that I am leaving you, do come to visit me and my husband.

Lots of bad wishes,

Yours,

Riya.

"What nonsense is this! ", Abhimaan shouted as Leelavati took the letter from him.

Neha continued crying.

"Isiliye woh ladki aaj subha jaldi jaldi kahi bahar gayi hai! ", Leelavati connected the link.

As Mridula read the letter, she too said in a stuttering voice, " Kal.. Kal jab mei usse gehne dene gayi thi tab maine usse kisi se yeh kehte hue suna tha ki, ' What if I want to be the replacement. '

Abhimaan looked towards Neha, who was sobbing badly.

Through his sources he had got the information that Neha was in that Red Rose Hotel and now after listening to her side of the story, he felt that all the dots of the information that he got from his sources connected.

Though his sources couldn't find much information about Riya, rather than just some random stuff, but those random stuff too felt linked.

Riya. Riya was behind it all.

Abhimaan gritted his teeth.

A single day had changed a lot, a single day had tangled lives and relations. A single day had witnessed the beginning of the game, as the opening moves were performed.

______________ __________________ __________

~Somewhere else~

"Ma'am, here! ", a moderately built man with good heights and calm demeanor forwarded two files towards her, which she took and went through with a scrutinizing gaze.

She was?

Riya!

The same Riya.

Riya Shekhawat.

And the man was ?

Rachit.

Her most trusted one.

After a while she forwarded her hand and Rachit slipped in a pen.

Signing the files she closed them.

" What's the count, Rachit? ", she questioned in a sharp gaze.

" 7 more to go. ", Rachit informed.

" The Bangalore one will be the next! ", Riya proclaimed.

Rachit just stared at her. The girl in front of him, his Ri Di , who was the reason for his existence. He admired her wholeheartedly.

And more than being grateful, he worshipped her would be the right thing to say.

" What about them? ", Riya asked in a low tone.

" Ma'am.. I.. ", This time Rachit had no answers.

" I'd like to have a meeting with

Dr. James.", she said as she got up to leave.

~After a while~

Rachit was running behind Riya who was about to set her foot out of the hospital.

" Di.. Kitne fast chalte ho yaar aap! ", he huffed.

And then they began walking beside each other, " Acha suno, I arranged your scooty. It'll be delivered at the Rathore mansion before you reach. "

"Thank you! ", Riya said in a duh tone.

" Di ek baat puchu? ",Rachit asked further.

Riya looked at him for moments, as she stood in front of the car's door, settling inside the car, she motioned him to do the same.

He sat on the driver's seat.

Putting on the seatbelts, Rachit began the car, while Riya said, " Chal puch! "

"Di, Shadi was not in it na? Toh yeh sab? ", he was skeptical, yet he asked.

" I have to figure that out myself Rachi !

Tu toh janta hai na, it's.. It's all a mess. Sach kahu toh.. Main khud nahi janti kya ho raha hai.

Ek pal mei hi sab.. Sab kuch baddal gaya.

Rishto ke dayre badal gaye. Jo kabhi nahi socha tha.. Woh sab ho gaya.

Par filhal.. Nothing of it matters.

The only thing that does.. ", she was expressing herself so clearly for the very first time.

Rachit looked at her, shifting the gears smoothly.

He was the only one who knew it all. Everything that happened and how it all happened. Atleast at the moment.

" Di, hum sab aapse sehmat hai. Sab aapke sath hai.

Bas.. We all are concerned for you. ", he added as the car drove towards the Rathore Mansion.

" Janti hu. Sach kahu toh aaj sabse baat karke, I felt like the burden was off my chest.

Tum log nahi hote toh pata nahi kya hota mera. ", she sulked.

"Aap nahi hote toh hum hote hi nahi, Di.

Aap ho isiliye hum hai. ", Rachit's words held genuineness. And pure admiration.

Riya looked at him for a moment.

" Ab terese mere naam ka mandir banana hi baki hai na? ", she questioned, her tone utter friendly.

Something that she hadn't used in the past few days.

" Banane ke bare mei soch hi raha tha. ", Rachit added and Riya chuckled.

They chatted for a while, the car finally coming to an halt outside the Rathore Mahal.

Rachit looked at the palace.

His Di was a part of this family now.

But was she really?

" I don't know how I should be feeling about this marriage, Rachi.

I really don't know. ", Riya sighed, her words holding the frustration as she looked towards the Rathore Mahal.

" Everything will fall into its place, Di.

Eventually, everything will. ", Rachit said.

His words giving Riya the assurance she needed.

But then, what he asked next was the real game changing question.

" Di, uss Neha ko aaj hi chodna jaroori tha kya?

Kuch din aur sadne dete na usse uss band kamre mei. ", Rachit said in a bored tone, as if he was not talking about something as serious as that.

Riya looked at him with something different in her eyes as she said, " Aaj hi chodna jaroori tha."