The Games We Play - A RiAnsh SS |PT 1 - PG 2| - Page 2

Oh..my.. goodness!! What a twist!!😲

Amazing prologue!!👍🏼

Do continue soonishhhh Dear..😳

Originally posted by: Fa13

Oh..my.. goodness!! What a twist!!😲

Amazing prologue!!👍🏼

Do continue soonishhhh Dear..😳

Thank you for your kind words!

Part 1

Kabir.

Kabir was here.

Here.

In VR Mansion.

Kabir.

Her Kabir.

Riddhima was certain it was him. How could she not be? She would know his voice, his eyes anywhere. Countless nights she had fallen asleep to that voice talking in her ear. Countless days she spent looking into those warm brown eyes.

Kabir had altered his appearance to become Kanav. He was clean shaven, his hair was cropped short, and she was sure he had added prosthetics to make his nose appear larger and rounder. He might fool the family, he might even be successful in fooling the great Vansh Raisinghania, but he couldn’t fool her.

What was the purpose of him inserting himself into the house? The reason he had approached her was that she was untrained and would slip under the radar of Vansh’s suspicion. Like that made any difference, she huffed. Vansh seemed suspicious of her regardless. She wasn’t sure if it was because he was suspicious by nature, or if it was because she seemed to make silly mistakes and get herself caught red handed often.

Ishani had told the family that Kanav moved to Malaysia a year ago, but they had dated before his move. How long has Kabir been playing this Con? Was it his plan to insert himself into VR Mansion this whole time? If so, why did he need her? What good was she - a civilian, when a trained agent was planning to infiltrate all along?

It was well after the party and Riddhima was pacing her bedroom, lost in her thoughts.

When Kabir had introduced himself as Kanav, Riddhima had been rendered speechless. He had greeted her casually, calling her bhabhi, and moved onto greeting the other family members. She had felt Vansh’s already firm grip around her waist tighten, which brought her out of her stupor. When she looked up at her husband, he was watching Kanav/Kabir interact with the family. His body beside her was tense, his expression unreadable. Riddhima had gulped and hoped that Kabir didn’t put himself in any sort of danger.

So to not raise suspicion Riddhima allowed herself to be held by Vansh until he chose to let go. She tried to get rein in her racing heart and put on a mask of indifference. When Vansh finally released her and moved away she inhaled and exhaled a lungful of air.

She saw Vansh pause for a moment and she cursed herself for her outward signs of stress. However Vansh continued on his way into his study.

After this Riddhima set her sights on getting Kabir alone so she could ask about his next move.

This seemed a bigger task that she initially thought. He and Ishani seemed loathe to leave each other’s sides. She kept waiting for Kabir to excuse himself and step aside. He did not. The entire party went by. Vansh spent time across the room standing with Angray. She spent time standing with Siya. She only spoke when spoken to and tried to not stare too obviously at Kabir, while also trying to catch his eye.

Riddhima had to keep reminding herself that Kabir is on a mission. Especially when he put his arms around Ishani, or laughed with Ishani, or seemed to lose himself in Ishani’s eyes. She reminded herself that she too was married to someone else, and she wore the evidence of that, her sindoor, mangalsutra, and ring, plain as day for him to see. She reassured herself that he must be feeling as she is, as though being circled and plucked by vultures.

Riddhima finally saw her chance when Kabir was refilling his drink at the bar counter. She joined him at the pretence of getting herself a glass of water. Kabir, her Kabir, abhorred alcohol. He had once shared a story of an alcoholic Mother. But she observed as Kanav/Kabir refilled his glass for the umpteenth time. She frowned. He must be throwing it our somehow, she reassured herself.

Before she could speak, she heard a sharp, “Not now Riddhima,” leave his lips. He walked away, sipping his drink, leaving her more confused. Her eyes met her husband’s across the room and quickly turned away, grabbing her glass of water and returning to Siya’s side.

Riddhima continued to pace the room lost in her thoughts. She didn’t notice when Vansh joined her, or how long he stood observing her behaviour.

‘Something on your mind Sweetheart?” His question made her jump and she was suddenly aware of how close he stood. Vansh was leaning against a pillar and she had been seconds away from colliding into him. She backed away a few steps and tried to mask her features. “N-no. Why?”

Riddhima inhaled a breath when Vansh stood to his full height. He took a step closer to her, towering over her, a mock concerned expression his face. “Sweat on your forehead, hands wringing together, pacing uneasily. What else would I think?” She soothed her features and wiped her sweaty palms on her dress. Vansh, ever observant, lifted one side of his mouth into a small smirk. “Don’t tell me ke mere intezaar mein inti bechain thi Sweetheart.”

Riddhima raised her eyebrows at his bold statement. Smug ba**ard. “No,” she huffed. “I was just thinking.”

“About Kanav?” Riddhima felt her heart thud in fear as she started dumbly at Vansh. How does he always know? “Arrey darling. Meri hi wife,” Vansh stepped closer, “Mere hi ghar mein,” he took another step closer, “Kisse doosre aadmi ke baare mein sooche.” He stepped within centimetres of her, their bodies nearly flushed together. “Aur mujhe naa pata chale.”

Riddhima tensed, sensing danger. She, the prey, stood under the microscope of him, the predator. This was when she often felt the most vulnerable. Despite his statement, Vansh emitted no jealousy, no anger, no real emotion. Outwardly all she saw was curiosity and a hint of amusement. However, who knew what went on in that mind? Who knew what he was really thinking? Sometimes she felt like he knew everything about her and was just toying with her to get her to confess.

When he was this close to her she struggled to think clearly. It felt like he could read all the secrets hidden away in her mind. He can’t. He doesn’t know anything. Don’t act guilty. Riddhima searched her brain for some explanation for her previous nervous pacing.

“You know Kanav already.” It was a statement, not a question.

“No, of course I don’t.” She didn’t sound convincing even to herself.

Vansh lifted an eyebrow in question. “No?”

“No.”

“You should. He’s the police inspector who came to arrest me some weeks ago.”

She felt her breath catch again. Vansh has recognized him! Of course he had, and she shouldn’t have underestimated him. Nothing seemed to get past him, and this wasn’t likely to either. What is Kabir thinking by coming here!

Riddhima twisted her face in surprise, as though just making the connection. “That’s where I’ve seen him. He looked familiar.” Vansh didn’t look convinced, his unnerving stare not shifting from her for a moment. She had to get away from his stare. She turned to the dresser and started to remove her earrings, just for something to do. “If you recognize him, then why didn’t you say anything? Why let him into the house?”

Vansh chuckled. “Sweetheart, by now you should know me better than that. If he’s here with a false identity, he has a purpose. I would rather have him here, in my kingdom, under my nose, where I can keep an eye on him.” Riddhima met Vansh’s gaze in the mirror and he smiled a terrifying smile. “As you know, I will get to the truth of this, just like how I get to the truth of every other secret, and secret keeper in my house.”

With that Vansh strode out of the room, leaving her even more worried.

It was well into the night. Though she was tired, Riddhima kept herself awake, listening to Vansh breathe. It took a long time for his breathing to slow and even. Even after she was convinced he was asleep she forced herself to stay still for another half hour. As quietly and slowly as she could, she slid out of bed and snuck out of the room.

The hallway dark, as was the rest of the house. Though she hadn’t been here long she was familiar enough with her surroundings to find her way to the guest wing. There were empty suits beside the one Vansh had provided for her once. She figured that Kabir would be in one of those.

As she was walking by some heavy curtains, she heard his voice whisper urgently, “In here!” There was a distinct lump behind the curtain. When Riddhima pushed the drapery aside, there stood Kabir, her Kabir. He held her by the forearm and pulled her behind the curtain as well. She rushed to him and hugged him tight, immediately feeling her stress melting away. He was her home, her love. He’s here. Everything will be fine.

Kabir pulled away quickly, too quickly for her liking. “What are you doing here?” She asked in a hushed tone. “I was coming to look for you in your room.”

“I heard someone coming and hid behind here. It’s probably best if you don’t come to my room Riddhima. If we are every caught it might be hard for us to explain.” Riddhima frowned in confusion at his demeanour, however brushed it aside. They were both in the loins den. “Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho Kabir? Ab kya plan hai?”

“I can’t tell you anything yet Riddhima, I am here with only one purpose, bring down Vansh Raisinghania. I need you to keep doing whatever you are doing and finding intel on Vansh. I will operate a different way, but you’ll be safer not knowing what my plans are.”

Riddhima could barely make out his eyes in the dark, but he sounded determined. “You need to be careful Kabir. Vansh recognized you as the inspector that came to arrest him for Ragini’s father’s murder. He’s dangerous.”

Kabir cupped her face gently. “Don’t worry about me. I know what I’m doing. You just have to keep pretending that you don’t know me, and keep looking for clues. Can you do that for me Riddhu?”

Riddhima felt tears prick her eyes as she placed her palm on top of his. You could ask for my life Kabir and you would have it. That would be a lot easier to give than to do the things you ask. How do I pretend not to know you? You’re my everything. She didn’t voice her thoughts and simply nodded. “Anything Kabir.”

“Kanav,” He corrected.

She didn’t have the heart to say it out loud. “Of course,” she agreed.

Before re-entering her room Riddhima took a few drop breaths to calm her racing heart. If Vansh had managed to wake up she needed to appear calm, maybe even drowsy and tired. I just went to the kitchen for water. She repeated this in her mind as she snuck into the room. All was quiet though and Vansh didn’t appear to have moved, nor did it sound like there was a change in his breathing.

She slid quietly into bed and shut her eyes, finally allowing herself some much needed sleep. As she drifted off she remembered that Kabir never did answer her question as to why he was in the hallway in the first place.

Across the room, as one pair of eyes shut, another flickered open. Of course he heard her leave. Did she really not know about stealth? He had kept track of how long she was gone, and watched covertly as she had returned. Interesting, very interesting,

Wow this is amazing!!! 👍🏼

Characterization is done perfectly.

Suspense is keeping me hooked up

Will be waiting for next update 😎

This is the vansh that I want to see in real, who is a mafia and nothing can get past him.

Wow what a wonderful chapter, loved it so much. So excited to read the next chapter . ❤️

Oh my god what a brilliant concept really hats off to you👏👏

Amazing yaar .loved it 👏👏

Wooww wooww

Vansh ki 1k eyes 🤣

Loved it !!! So intriguing !!!!