AR *Beloved Vengeance* PART 3 - 10th april :)

"For the last time, I know I am late, It's hardly my fault though, Try and ask that to my Mercedes." The lady snapped back to whoever it was on the other end of the line. The cabby rolled his eyes as he felt sorry for him and the person on the other end. Thoughts ran across his mind. 'Goodness, if she can avert her gaze a bit out of the mirror, she'll acknowledge that we are indeed in the middle of the London rush hour and its impossible for me to do 50 mph now isn't it?' The cabby, a guy in his early thirties, cursed himself for picking up the passenger first thing that morning.

His hand reached out to lower the volume. Twisting the dial he applied his handbrake and tapped impatiently on the wheel. The traffic lights were bound to take forever, considering the 15-20 cars infront of him in the queue. Blissful silence filled the car for mere moments as the faint voice on the end of the blackberry chirped meekly.

The cabby glanced in the central mirror as his gaze followed the lady in the back. Her face dawned a familiarity. He often encountered her type customers; egotistical, fake and 'superior' to the core. The cabby battled his thoughts. 'She's probably a lawyer or a doctor.' But alas, another gaze through the central mirror crossed out those options.

Gucci handbag, Louis Vuitton jacket, Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses. This was one of London's elite class. Bringing the clutch to the biting point, he crept up the car towards the lights just as they flashed red again. Shoving his earphones into his ears, he tapped rhythmatically to the music. Few moments later the lights flashed amber followed by green and he stepped on it. Hanging the ear phones around his neck, he couldn't help but overhear the conversation. During his profession he'd heard everything form divorces to the 'who's doing who' talks. Heck' what was one more?

The cabby laughed mentally, 'lets see' this one's angry on her husband' the poor chap probably brought the wrong colour Aston martin.' Weighing up his assumption he averted his attention back to the conversation.

"You better have understood!" With that she slammed her blackberry into her pocket.

The cabby was shock stricken with the sudden turn of events. She caught his eyes in the mirror, crooking a smile; she arched a perfectly done eyebrow and muttered.

"Shut up and drive."

"Good morning Miss Riddhima." The gate man whished her in his subtle tone. Merely nodding her head, she headed towards the lift. The elite lift for her only. Tapping her perfectly manicured fingers on the railing she lost herself in the meetings and her daily schedule.

This was Riddhima gupta. Or better known as RG in the coperate world. Owner of RG enterprises, her company spread over various branches of industries. From pharmaceuticals to chemical manufacturing. From clothes manufacture to fashion brands. Expanding into the business of phones was her next plan. Riddhima gupta had built herself, with nothing to take from a soul. Referred to as the 'dark horse' she was very deserving for the title. Every step she took spiralled her towards success. Winner of youngest achiever for the second year running, Riddhima gupta had all the reasons to be the proud, arrogant personality she displayed. One shrewd woman with a brain let alone the heart for hard core business.

Riddhima gupta walked out of the lift in pride. Her head held high as her assistants wandered behind her with the daily schedule. RG stopped and the whole bunch of army behind her came to a halt. Within her click of the fingers, they all dispersed nodding their heads. Only one person still trailed behind. A blonde, dressed in a pencil skirt and silk blouse rushed forward and held her office door for her.

"Thank you Sarah." The smallest of smiles stuck across Riddhima's face as she entered her office. Sarah quickly dumped her files on the table as she slid off the Louis Vuitton jacket form her boss's petite body. Riddhima sat down on her leather chair and signalled Sarah with her eyes.

Nodding her head, Sarah quickly dialled a number and waited for someone to pick up.

"Hello' yes hold on a moment." Sarah spoke hastily into the receiver.

"Here you go mam." Handing the phone over to Riddhima, she stood by the side.

"I hope you got it done." Riddhima gupta spoke finally, with the authority reflecting in her tone.

"Not bad Allen, done within an hour. I must say I am impressed." Her lips curved into a satisfactory smile as she hung up.

"Well Sarah, that's another one in the bag." Riddhima gupta referred to Sarah as she nodded back pleasantly. Getting up she grabbed her coffee cup and walked over to her high rise office window. The massive window overlooked the Thames and the London eye. Riddhima gupta took small gulps of her coffee as Sarah organized her daily files for her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The frowns were very well visible on his face. Placing the file down, he scrunched his eyebrows as he rubbed his temples. The ginger hair fell just above his eyes. Slamming the file shut he arched back and lightly swung the leather chair sideways. His eyes shut momentarily as another voice came into existence.

"She got another one Adams." Chief walked in and flew a piece of paper on the table as he crossed his arms over his chest and stood expressionless.

"What is with this lady?" Adams scanned the paper as his face hardened all the while.

"Heck Chief, Another one' at the last moment' from the same guy!" His tone rose as he stood up slamming the leather chair into the cabinet.

"Calm down Adams, this ain't any way to handle this." Chief spoke in a calmer tone.

"Well it's about time; I paid RG a visit, right man." Adams crooked his face into a smile as chief returned a small smile as he exited.

Detective Adams walked around his table as he scanned the file again, adding the just acquired paper inside it, he flung on his overcoat and left the room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

"I am sorry sir, Miss Gupta is very busy today and seeing as you don't have an appointment, there isn't any possibility of you meeting her." The receptionist informed him with the plastered smile.

Without saying a word he flashed out his ID from his pocket and stuck it in front for her to see. The hesitation came flying back to her face as she swallowed down the saliva.

"Well sir, you still does not have an appointment so under company policy you can't meet her." She tried her best but his expression gave way.

Scanning her company ID he addressed her again, moreover in his harsh tone. "Well Miss O'Conner, if I can not enter in the civilised way - his face became void of any emotion as he spoke again ' I have other ways." He finished as the receptionist was already fumbling with the phone to inform her. Ignoring her, he walked towards the office door and as he clicked it, he knew she had been informed of his arrival. Her chair faced back to him as it squeaked gently. A blonde stood in the corner staring at him.

"Welcome Adams, what can I do for you?" With that he saw Riddhima gupta stand up as she walked towards him. He scanned her from top to toe. Seeing her in magazines, he had already admitted that she was an attractive woman, Thoughts raced through his mind. His eyes swallowed in her structures. The curves, the eyes' hell she was one sexy woman.

Riddhima could read the thoughts on his mind and chuckled slightly knowing the effect she was having on him.

"You were saying something?" Riddhima folded her arms across her chest.

He eyes instantly met hers and he inhaled deeply.

"Saying something? Well what about doing something miss gupta?" The shame had obviously abandoned him.

She chuckled again, "You are one fast detective." Her hair flicked from her shoulders as she walked back and sat on her chair. Signalling Sarah, she left nodding and Adams and Riddhima were left in the office.

"As I was saying detective, what brings you here today?" Riddhima made him a gesture to sit down.

"Thank you Miss Gupta." He sat down and slammed the file on the glass table.

Riddhima eyed the file and was very well aware of what was coming' she crooked a smile and relaxed back on the chair' she was ready for it.

Riddhima scanned the file and smiled again. Waiting for Adams to continue, she looked into his eyes as she found him already boring into hers.

"Well detective' I am waiting." Riddhima tapped her finger nails on the table top.

"Hmm' I guess I should Miss Gupta." He stood up and walked over to her window. Crossing his arms over his chest, he admired the view, inhaled deeply as he could tell Riddhima was anticipating what he was about to say.

"Firstly Miss Gupta, congratulations on the newly acquired project this morning." He crooked a smile. Turning around he was anticipating the look of surprise on her face, but indeed all he got was her usual radiant smile. Taken aback a bit he scrunched his eyebrows and continued' in his normal hard tone.

"Look lady, you have had us in riddles since a couple of months. I am going to get straight on to the point. All these contracts you have got, you have always got them at the last minute. Any normal person would find it a bit weird. Now care to shine any light on this. Moreover lady, all of them were supposedly going to go to ONE person. One person woman'!" he finished a higher tone than he started. His temper clearly rising. Riddhima's face was still that inevitable calm and subtle' the calm before the storm'

~*~*~*~*~*~

Riddhima lowered her designer glassses onto her salon perfect hair, settling them comfortly on her head. The usual company car had appeared and a the doorman had swiftly open the door for her. Seating herself down she picked up her tropical cocktail form the side and braught it to her lips. Taking a sip she closed her eyes and enjoyed the momentary solitude. It took 4 minutes and 20 seconds for her to savour her drink and on cue the car stopped. The door opened, the driver bowed lightly out of courtesy and left her to part towards her destination. A well rehersed routine.

She took long steps towards her destination, cluctching her jacket closer and cursing herself for not picking up her scarf. If her mother could have seen her now. "How many times have i told you riddhima? Wrapping up will keep you warm." How she was right and riddhima hated when her mother was right. Her pencil heels tapped rythematicaaly on the concrete slabs and she turned the final corner. The ivy had prospered since her last visit. The welcome board had long rusted. Riddhima knew that the gloom that surrounded the building on the outside was blown up 10 more times inside.

She hastily climbed up the steps and entered the building. Heaving the victorian door open she headed towards reception. The receptionist, Rosie, sat with her head buried in book. As always. Riddhima tapped the glass frame. "I am here to see patient in room thir..." The words were left incomplete. "Go right ahead Miss Gupta." She added with a smile. Riddhima failed to reciporocate. She made her way thorugh the corridor. Taking her lefts and rights. Twisting the door knob she stepped in and inhaled the heavy air.

The blinds were still closed. Riddhima tried to force a smile but she knew there was no point. Half heartidly she shifted closer to the bed. The iron frame had started to rust, just like the figure lying on top of it. She inched closer. Grabbing the stool, she slumed down. The aged hand sat lifeless on his side. She touched it only to pull it back. Ice cold. She tried again. Clasping it betwen her own palms. "How are you dad?" Riddhima whispered. "Sorry i was soo late." She nodded as if there was a conversation going on that no one else could know was even occuring. "Sorry dad, you know how busy i get." Riddhima smiled. "Can i have a hug daddy.." More of a statement than a question, Saying so she moved closer to Shashank Gupta and wrapped her arms around him. "Happy Birthday dad." Placing her head between his arm and his body, she inhaled the familair scent. A strong whiff of disinfectant travelled through her. She backed off. Kissing his templed she watched him flinch a bit and then settle down again in the embrace of sleep. She turned and giving one final glance, slipped out of the room towards 'home'...

Rosie bore her brown eyes in to the back of the figure. Riddhima gupta. The person who owned it was as myseterious as the name reflected. Rosie Franks had spent 25 years of her life in this job. 25 years of watching adults drop their elderly parents here. 25 years of the old people looking forward to sundays... only to be disappointed. 25 years of lonely christmases. The elderly care home had 45 occupants. Each with their own stories. Shashank Gupta had been one of them. But far stranger had been his daughter. After she dropped him off, the man was half dead anyways. Suffering from psychological trauma, the old man bareley responded to anyone. His daughter didn't even try. She knew what time they admistered his daily drugs to him and they were heavily sedetating so she always chose that time. Everyweek, everyfriday, 6pm... without fail... Rosie smiled again, she expected today to be different, she had glossed through Shashank Gupta's records and knew it was his Birthday today. She had expected Ms gupta early today. Alas... Whenever you think you know people, somehow you just can't seem to know them enough. This was one mystery left better to Ridhdima gupta herself.

Riddhima stepped inside the house. A smile crept on her lips. Her dinner had been set on the huge magahony table. The familiar scent of cheese laden, baked penne pasta crept though her nostrils. Just out of the oven...steaming hot. Ridhdima smiled inspite of her self. A genuine smile in the whole day. Dropping her keys on the table. she sat herself down on the chair. Amar Kaka walked in with a place full of garlic bread slices. Some plane whilst others with golden mozarella cheese steaming off. Riddhima looked at him and her eyes eyes twinkled. The old man placed his hand on her head and Riddhima just smiled. He left her to it.

She gulped her dinner in silence. The tingling senstations of the food warming her senses. She sat with her loneliness. She liked it this way.... rather she had to like it this way...

Amar looked at the creature sat on the chair. He had a view of her from the open plan kitchen. Riddhima gupta. Hell.. he's known her since she was brought home from the hospital. He was loyal. To Shashank sir and padma mam. Amar took a seat on the breakfast bar. Wiping the lone tear that has escaped his eye, he

felt particularly sad today. Again he lost himself in the happy memories of past time. Happir time. To 24 years ago. A broken man.. wandering down the streets of Mumbai. Amar Rai... He had lost his only daughter in a car accident. The motherless daughter was all he had in the first place. Not able to pay for her treatment, he had watched her struggle and then her tiny frail body gave up. He never had anything to live for after that. That night, Amar had stood on the end the bridge, overlooking the vast ocean of water below him. As the world had started to fizz before him he Looked at the sky for the last time and jumped. Not before a stong arm had pulled him back though. That was Shashank gupta. A lady stood a few feet behind him. A protective arm over her bulging stomach.

Amar had no recollection of when and how he ended up in the plush bedroom. HIs vision blurred and he had to shut his eyes as he couldn't foce them open. Trying again he looked to his surroundings. A lady sat at his bedside. His brain cells gained conrtol again as events from the night rushed back. She smiled at him and instantly he felt sisterly love for the woman. Amar didn't know how long he lay in the bed under sedatives. But that night had come as a secret blessing for him. He met Shashank and padma gupta. Inspite of controlling a big empire they were the most down to earth people he could have hoped to meet. Life had presented him with his share of woes but atlast a new begining. Amar Rai was showered soo much love by the Guptas that he never left the mansion. But a self made man, he earned his bread and butter by sheer work. Emplyed as the house manager to assit padma during her preganancy, the two could be be mistaken for long lost siblings.

6 weeks after Amar had been saved by Shashank gupta, Padma gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. And Riddhima gupta was born. Amar couldn't have been more ecstatic. He saw his own daughter in her. Watching her grow up, he was a third parent to her. Hearing her call him 'kaka' with her broken hindi was music to his ears. His life cosisted of just Riddhima. Correction... His, Shashank's and Padma's day revolved around the little angel. Their lives were a perfect dream just until...

Amar wiped his tears dry and watched Riddhima take sips form her glass. The girl sat across the hall was a creature his heart failed to aknowledge. She was not Riddhima. She was Riddhima GUPTA. Her soul was lost and her heart in torment. Amar smiled at her yet and from across the hall, her smile became visible as she got up, mouthed a thankyou and walked towards her room.

Amar Kaka watched 'his little' Riddhima's retreating figure, he closed his eyes and wished Shashank sir a silent 'happy birthday'. He spared a moment in thought to the past, how Riddhima and Shashank sir would demand the pasta and garlic bread on his every birthday. Then padma and him would watch the duo gobble the delicacies in competeition. Like every year Amar continued it. He made the food and Riddhima didn't complain. Maybe these little reminders were all him and riddhima needed, this much was enough.... well atleast Amar kaka thought it would be enough....

Riddhima slumped upon the rocking chair. She closed her eyes. Amar kaka's gentle reminder had put her soul in even more torment. The fire of vengeance burnt with rising flames inside her and she was boosted with motivation once again. Her fists tighted until her wrists burned with two aching points. She released her muscles and felt the soothing sensations flood her once again. Her eyes closed and she realized she missed something else today.... someone else rather. Armaan... and in the flick of a moment she rose from her position and decided... it was time to pay him another visit.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

ta da... hehe... sooo sorry guys... hell knows the last tym i updated... i promised a part in my easter hols n here i am... i was unable to retrieve my files so just had to write the whole part from scratch again.... hence the addded delay...hope its bearable... next part: ready to meet armaan? lolz... i understand that m writing a complicated story here... a lot of things have been brought up in this part and all these will be clarified in the next 2 parts... this part was necessary as a foundation... will update next week.... :D

guys.. i am really sorry but i feel as if i am disappointing a lot of people..not to mention confusing them with this plot line... if you have anything to say to me.. please be blunt and i will take in a high spirit.... thanks all.... and love you tons.... cheers... rav...xx

❤️hai Rav ❤️

updates again....😃

pm list...😳

Originally posted by: Angelic_Swancy

reserved WOMEN

edited

I'm coming back tomorrow to comment

I just wanna say.............

I LOVE U MORE. Don't u dare argue with me otherwise u'll loose me for bad!

Originally posted by: k_anjali12

reserved

Originally posted by: chahat_j

hey dear...

nice begining...looking out for more...

please PM me also if possible.

love,

Chahat