Tangled hearts in love

Chapter 9 - Stone hearted

Riddhima’s appearance made everyone gasp. Everyone in that room was ready to witness the Vansh’s rudeness towards Riddhima. Riddhima noticed everyone’s face, She understood something was wrong.

Her gaze immediately went to Vansh and Aryan. Blood on Aryan’s face and a glass Vase on Vansh’s hand gave a shock to her. She quickly rushed towards Aryan who was on the floor.

She kneel to Aryan’s height and was taking her first aid kit in her bag to perform first aid for Aryan. Vansh couldn’t tolerate her betrayal of him. He tugged her arms to raise her from Aryan. Vansh and Riddhima’s gazes met each other.

“Why did you steal the diamond? Finally, you showed your true color in front of me.” thundered Vansh by throwing her into the cabin’s corners were littered with shattered glass. She used her palm for balancing herself.

That time the broken big glass piece entered her tender palm and blood started to come from it. Seeing the blood in her palm, he couldn’t speak to her or even look at her.

“Why it is paining for me to see blood in her palm?” thought Vansh.

He was breathing heavily glimpsing at Riddhima’s palm. Mahendra Pratap signaled Ragini to take over control of the place.

“Riddhima, How could you even steal the diamond? Vansh, it is better to put her and Aryan in the jail in VR mansion and torture her.” Boomed Ragini making Riddhima gasp.

Riddhima recognized the situation going on in that place. She observed that Anupriya and Gayathri also started to blame her.

“Vansh, I told you before itself. This girl’s character is very cunning, She had even manipulated Aryan’s mind. Look at Ragini, she is even supporting you in this situation. I support Ragini’s idea, it is better to throw both in that jail.” Whined Gayathri.

Riddhima remained silent, she stood from her place and went near Aryan to complete her first aid for him. Being an MBBS student it is her motive to save the patient in an emergency. While she was moving toward Aryan, she noticed Ragini holding her wrist.

In one Swift motion, Riddhima pulled her wrist and placed Ragini’s hand behind her back. Riddhima’s blood-filled right hand was holding the broken glass piece near Ragini’s neck. Riddhima has taken the glass piece which entered inside her palm to defend herself.

Riddhima’s hand was trembling while holding the glass pieces near Ragini’s neck. Ragini was screaming in fear, Vansh was not scared as he know Riddhima won’t kill her. But others in the room were stunned and screaming to save her from Riddhima.

“Boss, I didn’t steal the diamond.” Exploded Riddhima.

“Then where is the diamond?” accused Vansh.

“It is in this room.” hissed Riddhima still holding glass near Ragini’s neck.

Vansh was bewildered and examined his room, already the custom officer has searched the entire room. Due to the customs officer's inspection, every item in that room had already collapsed. Gayathri was astonished to know where was the diamond hidden in this room.

“Where it is?” asked Gayathri.

“Every letter contains in a word.” Declared Riddhima and pushed Ragini forcefully to Mahendra Pratap.

Mahendra pratap held Ragini in his arms. Ragini fainted in her dad’s arms, and Mahendra Pratap carried her in his arms to the hospital.

Angre and Reyansh recognized what Riddhima was talking about. Others couldn’t assume what she told.

Vansh didn’t care about Ragini, he was sure that girl was trying to gain attention from him, so he quickly searched near his table. He found the post box and post box’s upper lid were a little far away from each other because of the customs officer's investigation. The coins in the postbox were scattered on the table.

“Open the base of the postbox in the anticlockwise direction.” Confessed Riddhima by tying her handkerchief around her right palm to control the blood coming from the slit.

Vansh opened it and found the diamonds in it. He gave the diamonds to Angre and observed Riddhima who was wiping the blood on Aryan’s head with the cotton.

“Tell me What happened yesterday?” asked puzzled Vansh.

“I want to talk with you alone along with Aryan.” Stuttered Riddhima.

Vansh’s glimpse made everyone walk out of the room. Anupriya and Gayathri wanted to know the truth, Rudra wanted to be beside his son who is in pain but they went out of the room because of Vansh’s gaze on them. But Angre and Reyansh stood beside Vansh.

“Boss, we are Panchamahabhutas, our duty is to safeguard you. So we can’t risk your life to Riddhima and Aryan.” Announced Angre. Riddhima agreed and told everything to Vansh.

“Yesterday, After you left for your mansion, A customs officer is about to search your whole workplace, according to a phone call I received. So I asked for help from Aryan. Aryan assisted me and accepted it. From the locker, we removed the diamond. I set it down within the postbox's bottom. At 9 clock, Angre messaged me and informed me to go to my home. I tried to contact you but I don’t know your number. That time Something stroked in my mind that we didn’t erase the CCTV footage. So with Aryan’s help, I replaced the footage and deleted the videos yesterday, as well as the footage from when Mr. Francis first arrived at the office. We deleted the video when we entered the security room. But we failed to remove the video of us exiting the security room at 11 p.m.” revealed Riddhima.

“I have two doubts. First, Who told you the information that customs officers are going to raid my office? Next, If you don’t have my number. You would have informed Angre. Why didn’t you convey it to Angre?” questioned Vansh.

“First, I can’t tell you my informer’s name, It is my personal. Next, I couldn’t believe anyone. So I didn’t convey it to Angre.” Confessed Riddhima.

“Riddhima, You didn’t believe me. But you believed Aryan. Why?” asked Angre.

“Because Aryan was the one who brought Mr. Francis into office. He is not a fool to throw himself into this problem. My intuition told me that I can tell that to Aryan. But I didn’t convey the entire news to him.” Explained Riddhima.

She knelt before Vansh and told, “Now, you can take me and Aryan to the prison in the VR mansion.”

Aryan’s vision blurred and he fainted on the floor hearing Riddhima’s statement. Vansh patted his cheeks to wake him but nothing worked out.

“Reyansh, take Aryan home. Angre, call the doctor immediately to give treatment to him.” Stated Vansh.

Riddhima stayed silent and stared at the floor as Reyansh and Angre took Aryan outside Vansh's cabin. She attempted to defend him and the company's image while holding back her emotions, but he blamed her.

“Just stand up, Riddhima. Go back to your work.” Denoted Vansh hesitantly by viewing her wounded palm.

She got up and came out of the Vansh’s cabin.

“I have never seen such a stone-hearted person in my life. He didn’t even apologize to me. Ok, I can understand his ego and stubbornness but he didn’t even care about my red palm which is flowing like a river.” Mumbled Riddhima to herself a little bit loudly by hitting the nearby table with her legs in anger.

“Ouch” she screamed to herself by holding her legs and noticed Vansh standing out of his cabin listening to her beautiful scolding.

After she left his cabin, Vansh followed Riddhima with concern about her palm. But after listening to her scolding he concluded her scoldings were like honey to his ears. Riddhima clicked her tongue and was about to run from that place.

But Vansh held her wrist and tugged her into the washroom. He slowly undressed her handkerchief and splashed the water in her palm.

He again brought her inside his cabin after washing her palm. He took her first aid kit which was on the floor. He gave the first aid kit to her.

“Why are you giving it to me?” she stammered.

“You are an MBBS student, soon you are going to become a doctor. So you should be able to give treatment for your wound. You can’t get treatment from other doctors because you won’t trust your colleagues. ” He uttered.

“What logic!” panted Riddhima.

“The same logic when you told me that you didn’t inform about the customs raid in my office to Angre. Because you won’t trust your co-worker.” Mocked Vansh.

“Oh! Then tell me Why didn’t you trust me and questioned me about the diamonds when I entered your cabin today.” Sighed Riddhima.

No answer from Vansh. He glared at her for questioning him like that. Riddhima started to apply the ointment using cotton and tried to tie the bandage using her single hand. She failed and took a deep breath.

“I know that you don’t have answers.” Teased Riddhima again by trying her level best to tie the bandage in her hand. But it was impossible.

Vansh held her elbow and tugged her towards him. He tied the bandage knot tightly by showing the entire anger in it which resulted in pain in Riddhima’s palm. Riddhima closed her eyes and hissed in pain by holding his wrist to stop him.

“Because I belong to the mafia. I can’t trust anyone. I don’t have faith in anyone in this world. Even I don’t have faith in the god who created me.” blurted Vansh.

Though his intellect was raging, his heart was captivated by her courageous and astute actions today. How is it possible to be both attractive and bold at the same time? He had been wondering this ever since he had seen Riddhima.

When Riddhima opened her eyes, she became aware of their proximity. He could not stop staring at her face. Her elbow was being crushed by his hands. Although hearing that he had no faith in anyone in this world hurt her. She wasn't prepared to let go of his hand, and he didn't want to sever their connection either.

They weren't aware of how long they had been holding each other while standing in this posture. But soon the moment was spoiled when Angre knocked on the door. Both realized it and came back to their normal position.

“Boss, You need to go to your home soon!” told Angre.

Vansh was joined in the car by Riddhima and Angre. When the car came to a stop in front of the gate, the mansion's inside was filled with the sound of quarreling. Vansh entered the VR mansion, and the house fell silent.

Chanchal and Rudra were sobbing silently in the corner. Sia was sitting in her wheelchair and crying continuously while Anupriya, Gayathri, and Ishani were controlling her by clenching her wrist. Riddhima noticed Sia was trying to avoid Vansh. Reyansh came out from Aryan’s room along with the doctor. The doctor left the place by telling some medicines to Reyansh.

“The leader of the fire clan, I think you are the happiest person in this world now. How could even break your cousin's head like that?” choked Sia, the younger sister of Vansh.

Vansh remained serene when she talked. Riddhima rubbed her eyes to view it carefully. Sia continued her scolding but Vansh didn’t utter a word against his sister. His eyes were pleasant fully watching her scolding. Riddhima was shocked by Vansh’s attitude towards Sia.

“Sia, he is your elder brother. Talk properly with him. Give some respect to him.” Warned Anupriya.

“Respect! Why should I respect him? For caging my parents in that damaged building or For caging me in my room for 13 years or for breaking my cousin’s head. Reyansh take me back to my room, I can’t tolerate him.” concluded Sia, tears started to flow from her eyes while screaming at his brother.

Vansh didn’t convey anything still he was staring at his little sister. Reyansh was about to take her back but Riddhima stopped him.

“It was my mistake. I shouldn’t have involved Aryan in this situation” stated Riddhima before everyone.

“I know that it was your mistake. Because of you, Aryan is suffering, Ragini is in hospital.” blamed Anupriya.

“Stop accusing her. Everything has happened. We can’t change anything in past. Aryan has saved our reputation so he will be rewarded by having a 25% share in my company” announced Vansh by leaving the place.

Anupriya couldn’t tolerate the fact that Vansh is supporting Riddhima. Everyone dispersed in the living area. After a few hours of interacting with Sia, Riddhima tried to stop her sobbing. Sia and Riddhima went to meet Aryan. He was smiling at Riddhima when she entered his room. His parents were sitting near him.

“Sorry, Aryan. I shouldn’t have involved you in it.” Apologized Riddhima.

“Don’t ask sorry, I should thank you. After this diamond issue, my granny and Vansh Bhai are believing me. You are a good witch.” grinned Aryan.

She had a good interaction with them. A few minutes later, she was walking in the corridor and noticed Vansh standing in the garden. She reached near him.

“Boss, I want a holiday for 20 days.” Announced Riddhima.

“As you know the rules, no holiday.” Pronounced Vansh.

“My exams are going to come soon. I didn’t prepare anything for it. So I want holidays to study. Just one month is left for my exams.” Requested Riddhima.

“No, I can’t give you.” Declared Vansh.

“At least please grant me leave for this week. I am going for a medical camp,” told Riddhima.

Speculating at her bandage in her hand, he agreed to her permission. She jumped in joy and left the place running through the garden wishing him ‘thank you.

---

For Riddhima, a week went by swiftly, and the depth of her hand wound was not great. It started to vanish gradually. She went to the medical camp every day, but on the last day, she was worn out. She was dozing on the bus on the way to her house. She noted 11:45 PM on her wristwatch when she got home.

She proceeded to the section of the garden where her room was. She swung the door shut. After reviving herself, she got to work on her approaching exam preparation. At precisely midnight, she heard frantic tapping on the door. She checked in her head to be sure it wasn't her aunt or uncle vigorously tapping the door.

In trepidation, she approached the door gently. It may be a ghost, she speculated. She looked at the man in the black tuxedo who was standing in front of her and supporting his right shoulder with his left bloody hand as she opened the door. When she saw his face in the moonlight, she let out a gasp.

“Mr. Firestorm!” she mumbled.

What happened to Vansh?