For those of you who have missed the 3rd chapter, here is the link:
In the Name of Love (Ishq Mein Marjawan) – Chapter 3
“Ladies and gentlemen, a warm welcome to one and all.
“You all know right that why we have gathered here tonight. It is in honour of the amazing success shown by the Golden Tulip Chain of Hotels. I still remember, it was exactly one year back that I had decided to venture into luxury hotel business, and at that point of time, literally everyone who had heard of this idea believed that it was not going to work at all.
“They were surprised as to how VR Group of Companies, which was primarily a shipping company, was going to venture into something as different and vague as hotel business.
“So,” continued Vansh after taking a pause in between. “What did I do? Did I listen to all the pessimistic and disheartening words of the people around me? No. In fact, the only person whom I listened to was myself, Vansh Raisinghania. And because of that only, today I can proudly say that our new chain of hotels is on the number one position, that to within a year of launch, a great slap on the face for all my criticizers. And that is what should be the mantra of any individual who wants to achieve something in his life, to always listen to yourself.”
Vansh concluded his speech by raising a toast to himself, and the other onlookers joined in with him as well. “Any questions anybody?” he asked.
“Sir, I’ve a question here.” A journalist raised up her hand.
“Shoot,” ordered Vansh.
“Sir, my sources say that since you are really busy with your shipping company, you are planning to make your cousin, Aryan Raisinghania, as the Managing Director of Golden Tulip Chain of Hotels. Is that true, Sir?”
Vansh smirked at the lady. “Madam, I guess you need to change your sources, as they are guilty of spreading absolutely baseless and rubbish rumours. Vansh Raisinghania trusts no one, not even his shadow. Therefore till I am alive, no one, I repeat no one will ever get the authority to head any of my business, except me.”
Another round of applause followed, especially by the young ladies in the party, who were desperately vying for Vansh’s attention. But there were some people who were very displeased with this situation.
“What does this Vansh think of himself, huh?” asked Chanchal, Aryan’s mother. She along with her good-for-nothing son always felt threatened by Vansh’s money and power, and believed that they never got their rightful position in the house, in the business and in the eyes of the general public. “I had specifically asked you to talk to Vansh about this,” she said sternly.
“I did speak to him,” said Rudra, Aryan’s dad. “He had told me that he would think about it, but God only knows what happened to him. Wait, here comes Vansh. Let me speak to him again.”
“Vansh,” said Rudra meekly. “Remember how few days back, I had asked you to give your younger brother the responsibility of handling the hotel business? Beta, its not easy to handle two big businesses at the same time. You definitely need some help there.”
“Chachu, first of all let me remind you that there is literally nothing in this world that is ‘not easy’ for Vansh Raisinghania. And secondly, why don’t you ask your dearest son where he had been the night before yesterday.” When no reply came from the other side, Vansh allowed himself to give the answer. “He was at the casino, where he lost 30 lakh rupees in a bet.”
“What!” Both Rudra and Chanchal exclaimed in disbelief.
“Yes, and unfortunately he had exceeded his card limit that day and I had to intervene inspite of my busy schedule so that his rookie friends wouldn’t eat him alive.” Vansh was turning angry, but being a man of extreme self control, he maintained the calm yet dangerous tone of his. “This guy still can neither handle himself nor his indecent ways, and you expect me to assign my important business to him? Please Chachu, it is for your own good that I request you to stop living in this delusional world of yours.”
After Vansh left to attend the other important people in the party, Aryan came up to his parents. “I knew it. I knew that this son-of-a….. wouldn’t ever agree to make me the head of any of his business. He can’t see us successful and happy, or else his ego would hurt. But every dog has its day, and so will you too one fine day, Vansh Raisinghania.”
It was 9.30 PM. Even though only two and a half hours had passed since her parents’ disappearance, but to Riddhima, it felt like ages. She felt she was on the brink of losing her senses more and more with each passing minute. And now here she was, at the police station, where she was being asked to narrate the entire incident for a hundredth time again.
“Will you guys be only listening to my story, or would you even care to look for my parents?” she yelled out.
“Pardon her ACP,” said Dinesh. “She’s just a young girl who has lost her parents. And Beta,” he turned towards Riddhima now. “I know how difficult it is for you. But they are just doing their job. Please cooperate with them.”
Riddhima sighed with a sense of defeat. “I’ve already told you whatever I could. There is nothing more to add from my side.”
“Are you sure? Are you sure you aren’t missing out on any other minor details?” asked ACP Lakshya.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“What if your parents left for somewhere on their own accord?”
“No, they would never,” retorted Riddhima. “They can never be so careless and irresponsible about us.”
“And what about lies?” asked the ACP. “Do you think your parents would lie to their children and try to hide things from them?”
“What do you mean?” she asked bewildered.
“Look at this CCTV footage that we obtained from the mall.” Saying this the ACP played a video on the screen in front of them. The video showed Sushant exiting the mall via the fire exit. “As per your claims, Sushant was supposed to meet his brother Dinesh at the main gate. Since you guys were at the gaming centre, to reach the main gate, one would have to walk in the left direction. Sushant did walk towards the left, but once he was out of your sight, instead of continuing up straight, he took a sharp turn towards the fire exit, via which he exited the mall. And all this means that Sushant was definitely trying to hide something from you all.”
Before Riddhima could say anything, another video played in front of them. This time it showed Sunidhi using the same fire exit.
“Sunidhi told you that she was going to use the washroom. That was a lie, because she was in actual following Sushant,” said the ACP. “So,” he said looking in Riddhima’s direction. “Do you know of any secrets that they might be trying to hide from you all?”
“I know nothing of that sort.”
“Well, ok then. The fire exit opens up to the right side of the mall. And another CCTV in the parking lot confirms both of them heading away from the mall in the right direction. I’m going to send a search party that is going to start looking for them. If we get any information regarding them, we’ll call you up,” said the ACP. “Until then take care.”
“Alright Sir, we’ll be heading for home then,” said Dinesh. “And don’t you worry about the kids. They are my responsibility now and will be staying with me and my family where they’ll be taken good care of.”
“Look at that pretty girl dancing with Vansh Bhai,” said Ishani pointing in a couple’s direction. “I think they both really make a good pair.”
“I don’t agree with you,” said Sia. “Just because she looks beautiful doesn’t mean that she is perfect for him. They have no chemistry between them. Look at Bhai, he is not even looking at her during the dance.”
Ishani and Sia were Vansh’s sisters. Ishani was a rich spoilt brat who always wanted her way, while Sia was the totally opposite of her. Being wheelchair bound, she knew the hard realities of life and did not live in any fantasies unlike her sister.
All the aunties in the party wanted their respective daughters to dance with Vansh and thus try to get a chance to impress him. Vansh hated all this, but being his courteous self, he had to oblige into all the requests. Right now there were four other girls waiting in line to dance with him.
“God only knows who will be that girl whom Bhai would be able to fall for again,” said Ishani gulping down a drink. “If he goes at this pace rejecting out all the beautiful and classy women, then in the end he would have to settle down for a nobody.”
Just then Gayatri comes up to both the girls. “Have you seen Anupriya anywhere? Everyone in the party is asking about her. Even I’ve been trying to look for her since more an hour.”
“We have no idea, Dadi,” both the girls replied in unison.
Just then they spot Anupriya entering the party.
“Mom, where have you been? Dadi has been looking for you forever,” said Ishani.
“Actually I had to attend a call from a long lost friend. Since the party was buzzing with loud music, I had to go outside to talk to her,” said Anupriya. “I’m so sorry Maa. I was so deeply engrossed in the call, that I had lost all count of time.”
“Its ok,” replied Gayatri. “Its just that Vansh wanted to acquaint you with some of his important colleagues. You know right how you hold a very important place both in Vansh’s personal as well as professional life.”
“Yes, I do,” she replied with a smile.
Dinesh took Riddhima and Ishaan to his house, where his wife, Meera, and his children, Adi and Nikisha, welcomed them home with open arms. Even though both Riddhima and Ishaan didn’t feel like eating at all, they were asked to take a few morsels atleast.
At the dining table where dinner was being served, Riddhima kept stealing glances at Ishaan. His eyes were swollen and red, and tears continuously kept flowing down his cheeks. “He’s been crying for the past four hours,” thought Riddhima to herself with a lump in her throat. She wanted to wipe off his tears, hug him and reassure him as well, but unfortunately, she herself was so broken from inside, that she couldn’t bring herself to do so. After all how can a completely broken person ever be able to mend another broken person?
Riddhima was asked to share the room with Nikisha, while Ishaan shared with Adi. Even though Nikisha pleaded Riddhima to try to sleep, she being her adamant self, continued to pace up and down the room. “Please God! The only thing I ever ask for is for my parents to be returned back to us, safe and sound.” She kept crying softly as she recalled all the happy moments she spent with her family.
Suddenly a realisation dawned upon her. She quickly took out her phone and tried to dial a number. But the dialled number appeared to be switched off. She then decided to send a message instead.
I tried to call you, but your phone was switched off. As soon as you recieve this message, give me a call because I’m stuck in a really big problem here. Both Mumma and Papa have disappeared and cannot be found. I know that you are stuck up in your own problems, but I also know that you’ve got a handful of contacts who can prove to be really useful in this case. I really need you, and I know that you won’t disappoint me.
Precap : Riddhima recieves a shocking news that will change her whole life.
Vansh and Riddhima meet.
Again a very long update! Do comment below to express your thoughts on this. Question for you all :
Who do you think did Riddhima message for help?