Chapter 61

Entering the house, Roli found a group of people in the hall while Jamanlal was instructing something to them. She reached her father as she asked "what is happening, Papa?". 

Jamanlal stood up from his place while others left, taking their notes. He turned to his daughter and replied "As you know we will have our friends and families get together every year. We couldn't attend it as we were abroad for the last three years. So, I've decided to host the event this year. I was instructing them about it". 

"That's great. We will get to meet them all after so long" Roli said, excitedly. Jamanlal was surprised to see her cheerfulness. He couldn't remember when was the last time he had seen her being so happy about anything. 

After leaving the country three years ago, she had turned herself into a different person, who would be calm all the time. Jamanlal tried to cheer her up a lot of times but to no avail. As time passed, he just gave up on bringing her back to her usual self and waited for her to come out of the shell she had created around her, while taking care of not to mention anything that would make her sad.  

"Roli, you seem so happy" Jamanlal felt a lot happier upon seeing his daughter's genuine smile after so long. 

Nodding her head, Roli went to hug her father and said "Yes, Papa. Today I'm so happy". 

"And that makes me happy, too" Jamanlal returned the hug with satisfaction to know that his daughter was finally started feeling happy again. 

"Mr Aggarwal has called me today and told me they have finalised our proposal for the project and that the work shall start soon. You and Sid have done a great job in making our dream come true. I'm so proud of you both" Jamanlal broke the hug and said with pride and admiration. 

"And we are going to celebrate this success at our get together party" he exclaimed, happily. 

"Then I will go inform Sameer about it. Don't know in which corner of earth this guy is. I will have to tell him to come back soon" Roli rolled her eyes as she remembered her friend who was travelling all around the world in the name of work. 

"Of course, you have to. Tell him to return as earlier as possible" Jamanlal added. 

Roli nodded and headed to her room to share the happy news with Sameer. 

Unlike Roli, who was being on cloud nine with happiness, Sid was in an absolute mess. 

Lounged on to the sofa in his room, Sid threw his phone on to the floor with such force that it crashed into pieces. 

He leaned back on to the sofa and stared into the emptiness before him. His eyes were red while his jaw was clenched tightly. He had never felt so clueless about anything. 

After clearing the misunderstandings with Roli earlier the day, his mind was filled with so many questions. To get answers he went to the Sunshine Resort after Roli left the office. 

When he reached the resort, however, all his queries had turned into mysteries. At first, the receptionist was not ready to reveal anything, pretending to not remember the incident three years ago, at all. 

But Sid had seen through her facade and forced the truth out of the receptionist. Upon Sid's force and the resort's manager's pressure, it was then revealed that she was bought by someone to keep Roli waiting and not to let her enter the room until being instructed. 

In the meantime, the receptionist had let a person into the room to change the pictures. Sid had to suppress the urge of beating up the receptionist after knowing the truth. He then asked about the person who gave money to the receptionist. 

Much to his surprise and shock, the receptionist revealed the person's name being 'Ritika'. He even showed Ritika's picture for confirmation and the receptionist confirmed that it was the same person who gave her money.

Sid was not beyond shocked to hear it as Roli already told about seeing Ritika in the resort's room. But, he still could not believe Ritika could do such a thing. 

Even if Ritika had done it, shouldn't she be extra careful and cautious? How could she let herself get caught so easily? And that's what made the whole thing fishy for Sid. 

Sid was sure that things were not as they appear to be. He was determined to find out the actual truth and he had made a plan for the same. 

~*~

"Again not reachable?!" Roli huffed as she stared at Sid's name on the phone screen. She was trying to talk to him since she reached home the previous day. But she couldn't get into contact. 

Deciding to talk to him the next day, Roli went to sleep last night. Today she got ready early and reached her office. She, however, received the same response even now while trying to contact him. 

"Stupid guy. Was always around me when I didn't want to talk to him and now when I'm dying to talk to him, he is disappeared" Roli hit the desk before her with a fist as she stood up.

"Talking behind the person's back is a sin" Roli turned around with a jerk while Sid appeared before her eyes. 

"You?" Roli was taken aback for a moment with his sudden entry. "Can't you just knock on the door before entering instead of scaring me like this?". 

"What can I do if you're scared of almost every single thing in the universe?" Sid had a hopeless expression on his face as he said. 

"It's not my fault. You do even simple things in such weird ways to scare me" Roli retorted back immediately. 

"I will deal with you later. Now we are getting late so let's get started" Sid glanced at his wristwatch and turned around to leave. 

"Where are we going now?" Roli was perplexed as she had no meetings scheduled for the day. 

"Come with me" Sid held her hand and started walking. Roli had no other options than to follow him. 

Sid literally pushed her into the passenger's seat before occupying the driver's seat. He started driving while Roli continued to shoot her questions.

"Where are we going?" Roli let go of her strict facade and returned to her usual self with him as she poked her finger at his arm.

Without answering her, Sid smiled inwardly upon seeing her playful antics like she used to do in the past. He missed her tantrums so much. 

"Here we are!" The car had come to halt and Sid turned to Roli. "Get down". 

"It's your office" Roli glanced out from the window and realized it was Bharadwaj office. 

"Did you think I would bring you on a romantic date or something like that?" Sid raised his eyebrow with a smirk. 

"I didn't think anything" Rolling her eyes, Roli got down from the car. Fighting back a chuckle, Sid too got down and reached her. 

Soon they both entered the office building. Immediately, Sid's PA reached him and informed "Good morning, Sir. Everything is ready for the press conference". 

"That's good. I will be joining in a little while" Sid responded while his PA nodded before leaving. 

"Why did you bring me here?" Roli was still clueless. 

"You will know soon. Let's go" Then again Sid held her hand and walked into the conference hall. 

"You sit here. I will get back to you" Sid made her sit in one of the tables in the front row and went on to the stage. 

In a while, the meeting was started and the reporters started asking their respective set of questions about Bharadwaj Enterprises and its financial position. It was a formal meeting that would occur every year. 

"And also Congratulations Mr Siddhant Bharadwaj for winning the Best Young Businessman award for the second time in a row" wished one of the reporters at the end of the meeting. 

"Thank you so much" Sid replied with a smile as he continued "And I would also like to announce something". 

"What is it, Sir? Are you venturing into the business?" Queried one reporter, excitedly. 

"No. It's not about business. But, my personal life" Sid said, leaving all the people present in the hall in anticipation. Even Roli began to wait eagerly to know what he was about to say.

"I would like to introduce the most special person in my life to the world" Sid's gaze landed on Roli, who widened her eyes as she found him walking in her direction. 

Reaching her, Sid forwarded his hand, asking for hers'. Roli was in shock even to respond to him. So, he took her hand, making her stand and brought her onto the stage. 

"Here she is, the most special person in my life and soon to be my wife" Sid announced, holding on to her hand, firmly. 

Roli felt like she was dreaming. She even forgot to blink her eyes. She never expected him to do such a thing. And it happened so suddenly that she was beyond stunned. 

"Wow! That's great news. Congratulations to both of you" wished the reporters while clicking pictures of Roli and Sid together. 

"Thank you so much for all the wishes. And the meeting will be concluded by my team. Thank you once again" saying that Sid left the conference hall, still holding Roli's hand. 

He then walked into his cabin along with Roli. She was still in shock. When the cabin's door got closed, Roli looked at Sid in amusement. 

"What did just happened now?" Roli was literally at the loss of words. 

"Press Conference" Sid answered rather casually. 

"And what happened in that press conference?" Roli urged. She was worried that it all might be her dream so she wanted confirmation. 

Sid switched on the TV in his office, instead of answering her. The press conference was being telecasted on almost all of the business-related channels. His lips turned upward as the first step in his plan was successfully implemented. 

"Did it really happen or am I still dreaming?" Roli stood next to Sid as she wondered while watching the video clip of Sid announcing their relationship on TV. She was still unable to believe it happened. The next moment she felt a slight stinging pain on her right cheek. 

"Ouch" Roli shoved off Sid's hand while rubbing her cheek. "Why did you pinch me?". 

"I was just helping you to realise that it's not your dream" Sid said as a justification. 

"Really?" Roli stopped rubbing her cheek and looked at him as if she wanted to hear it from him again.

Sid looked into her eyes, leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on the cheek he just pinched. 

"You still think it's a dream?" Sid's husky voice whispered near her ears. 

Roli wanted to say something but their lips were just an inch apart that she couldn't utter a word. Sid entwined his fingers with hers as he filled the gap between them.