Priyanka's eyes trail over the puddles of water he leaves in his wake on the gleaming floor. He has taken off his shoes which now stand drying on the balcony. Barefoot, he pads in and barely meets her eyes when she hands him a towel.
Quickly she retires behind the finely filigreed wooden panelled partition that serves as a changing room for her. Taking off the dupatta that she had laid her hands on first thing after entering her room, she proceeds to change into a set of dry clothes. When she comes out, hair turbaned in a towel, he is rubbing his hair dry. The wet shirt sticks to his back and Priyanka's eyes are inadvertently drawn to the ripple of his muscles as his hands move. It has a hypnotic pull to it and when she looks up again, she finds the ACP looking at her.
"You n-need to change into s-something dry," she mumbles before heading to the wardrobe. She tries to ignore how his eyes follow her or that she senses his gaze on her quite so keenly. She finds an over sized fading grey T-shirt belonging to O Bhaiya that she had stolen long back. It is made of the softest material and she often wears it to bed. This has to do for now. He doesn't speak when she thrusts it into his hands but his eyes narrow for a second before he accepts it.
She is unprepared for the lightness in the pit of her stomach that hits her when he takes the shirt off and the wide expanse of brown skin of his chest meets her eye. He is all muscle, with not an ounce of fat to be seen anywhere. All hard angles and planes, there is something wild about him. She sees a scar or two and can't help but wonder what had caused the wounds. He lets the wet shirt fall to the floor and puts on the dry one without ceremony. He gives a shake of his hair almost reflexively and wet droplets scatter, some landing on her face. She flinches and he looks momentarily embarrassed.
"I should leave now," he says.
She notices a piece of weed stuck in his hair.
"You've got something..." She tries to point out. He fishes around in his hair, missing the offending tuft of green.
She lifts her hand and plucks it out. Anika chooses that moment to stumble against the door.
Priyanka and Ranveer look up at the noise. Anika wishes she was anywhere at that moment but here. Not again! Not again would she be pulled into another Oberoi mess and then be blamed and punished for it!
"Sorry...I'll come back later," she stutters out before turning to leave.
"Anika, don't go," her friend calls her back. Ranveer watches Anika, his eyes revealing nothing.
Anika tries to leave but Priyanka runs up to her and hauls her in.
"Stay here please!" she whispers to Anika.
"Does she live here?" Ranveer asks finally. The question hangs in the air.
Anika's nose flares slightly but she remains silent and instead looks at Priyanka.
"How does it matter to you?" Priyanka asks him, irritated.
Ranveer cocks an eye brow at this but does not push.
"OK. I am leaving," he says as he puts on the wet shoes.
With the shirt bundled in his hand, he walks towards the French window that opens out into the balcony.
"Let me come with you!" Priyanka runs after him. "You'll run into a guard and get found out!"
Ranveer is annoyed now. The air of mystery and half-truths that fills this mansion is suffocating.
"Why can't I just leave by the front door then?" he asks, stopping suddenly. Priyanka almost bumps into him.
She looks at him distraught as he rounds on the two women.
"Enough hiding! We are supposed to be getting married! Why hide? I could have been just visiting you for a little chat between prospective husband and wife!"
As he speaks, he steps out of the room and strides down the corridor. Priyanka and Anika hurry in his wake.
"Was he?" Anika hisses at Priyanka, mid-trot.
"What?!" Priyanka hisses back, distracted by the sudden unwelcome turn of events.
"Was he visiting you for a bit of chat between husband and wife!?!" Anika grits out.
Priyanka stops, startled by her friend's question.
"Of course not!" she exclaims, indignant at the assumption.
Somewhere ahead Ranveer has stumbled into O Bhaiya's studio.
"Wow!" comes his exclamation.
The girls set aside their misunderstandings for the moment and rush ahead.
"Oh god! He'll have us all killed!" Anika mutters as the two girls exchange looks of nervous apprehension at what might lie in store if the ACP was discovered in the house at this time of the night. Priyanka doesn't put her family past calling a shotgun wedding.
They somehow manage to reach the lobby without further and Ranveer is casting looks of exasperation around him, when suddenly they hear a voice call out.
"Who is that with you Prinku?"
Priyanka wheels around in shock to find Daadi standing at the bottom of the staircase. Behind her is Pinky, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Before Priyanka can say anything, Daadi comes forward.
"Ranveer beta, have you brought the kundli with you? I knew Premji would go out of his way to see to this matter. Such an absolutely charming man! His assurances today have driven away whatever little apprehension we had regarding this match..."
Randhawa stands, momentarily stunned at this onslaught of warm praises for his relative. Daadi continues meanwhile, "You know how it is with us old folk. You two have decided you want to get married but this matching kundli business is only to ease our hearts. Think of it as silly superstitions of the older generation."
"Kundli?!" He finally manages to rasp out. Irritation exudes from him in waves. Such superstition at this day and age!!! And they expected him to be a part of this mumbo-jumbo!! If the pretence of it all wasn't enough, this certainly had to be the last straw!
He opens his mouth, ready to vehemently proclaim his absolute revulsion for all matters concerning astrology. But he is interrupted by Priyanka who deftly takes over the conversation, clutching at the straw that Daadi's misunderstanding had offered them. Ranveer was not as experienced as the Oberoi daughter in getting out of such tight spots with sanity intact.
"D-d-daadi, that's just the p-p-problem!! You s-see Ranveerjee has l-l-lost his k-kundli. C-can't P-p-panditji do something ?"
All that he was going to say are forgotten as her words reach him. Ranveer JEE!?! The word draws forth such a weird rush of emotions in him, that he is suddenly left floundering.
Daadi continues to protest, saying she will convince Premji. Her words fall on deaf ears as a shocked Randhawa is shepherded out of the house by an anxious Priyanka.
As they watch him leave, Pinky wonders aloud, "Was it raining? Why was Damaadji's hair all wet?" Daadi turns around, her eyes questioning. Pinky continues, "And his pants--"
Anika is beside her in a flash. "Can I sleep in the guestroom on the third floor? They have not yet put a bed in my room."
Pinky's eyes narrow in distaste and she sets aside her desire to play detective for the more immediate task at hand-- showing Anika her rightful place. But she has Daadi to contend against and soon Daadi and Pinky are engaging in a duel of sorts on whether Anika will sleep in the guest room or in Shivay's room. Priyanka's eyes shine with silent gratefulness as she meets Anika's eyes. The two of them edge away from the debate and set off in the direction of Priyanka's room, exchanging fleeting smiles that reveal their relief at the calamity averted.
Priyanka's phone buzzes. Both women look down at the screen. A message flashes.
Have an idea. Call me when you can.
------------------------
Ishaana glances around the busy lobby as she waits. Around her, patients, family members, doctors and nurses bustle around. The buzz from the many voices create an almost deafening din.
"Girl, you brought this on yourself!" she mutters to herself. She never did get the hang of leading a peaceful life, did she! What was the need to take up Omkara Singh Oberoi on his challenge? Really, sometimes she did act like a headless chicken. Another voice pipes up from within. Answering his challenge had wiped off that smug look off that man's face for sure. And the money offered was good and she could really pay off a lot of that worrisome debt that was making life difficult for them of late.
Shrugging off the thoughts, she stands up with a professional smile. The nurse has returned.
"Okay, we have just received the clearance and you can now start on your research. Here's the identity tag that you must wear for as long as you are within the hospital premises and the clearance only pertains to the Emergency Ward. You need to ask for further permission if you want to cover any other unit."
Ishaana nods solemnly as she quickly puts on the tag that reads "Varuna Upadhyay, Press".
The con woman was on a mission.
----------------------------
Tej Singh Oberoi looks at the proof.
Shakti!?
Shakti revealed those photos to the press!?
Svetlana stands before him, her face drained of all emotions as always.
" Thanks Svetlana," Tej says hollowly, still shaken by this revelation.
Had he underestimated Shakti all these years?
He had thought that while there was much cause for resentment between them, the reputation of the family came above all such things. But if Shakti was capable of divulging photos to discredit the image of the daughter of the family, he must be capable of much much more!
How many of the past media scandals that had embroiled Tej Singh Oberoi had been made possible by his younger brother?
Tej's hand shakes slightly as he reaches for the cigarette case.
"You may go Svetlana," he mutters. As the door closes, Tej crushes the cigarette in his hand. He does not like being a sitting duck. Counter attacks were more his style.
He picks up the phone and dials a number he was not in much habit of calling.
"Omkara?" he grits out when the line is answered.
Okay that was me after reading the POV of Tia. Girl that was so sad. The way she was forced to take the life by her cruel and mad Mom and the way Vicky being Khanna around her was just so ... 😭 😭. I like Anika's POV about her marriage and etc but today the limelight was completely on Tia and Vicky. I never really felt the pain both of them had gone through but today u made me realise that. Also the way Tia was being subjects to Shivaay's expressionless life where she had to fit in was so ... 😭. No seriously that was so emotional. U r amazing Twerps! Even without PriVeer u managed to make me like ur update and not just any part,this Tia and Vicky part. I loved it 😊. Sorry for replying late.Update soon!! 😃 Thanks for the PM. *khushi k aasoon 😭 *
