Tangled hearts in love

Chapter 14 - Room no. 356

Her hands trembled after seeing the message in the tissue. It was the message to Vansh, she shouldn’t have read it. she scolded herself for trying to peep to read what message was in the tissue.

“What was the message?” asked Angre with curiosity while Vansh was waiting for her to read the message.

She held up some courage to tell the message but words refused to come from her mouth.

“Riddhima, come on tell us.” Encouraged Reyansh.

“I want an…” she started to read but stopped and ended up saying, “No, I can’t tell you what was the info in the tissue. Let’s go home.” pleaded Riddhima.

“We are not going home until you read the message.” Ordered Vansh stubbornly.

Riddhima held up some courage to convey the message this time. Riddhima’s forehead was sweating, and the tissue she was holding even became wet due to sweat formed in her palms. Finally, she took a deep breath and read the message.

“I want a one-night stand with you in this hotel. Room no. is 356, sharp at 9 P.M. Waiting for you.” Stated Riddhima by reading the message in tissue.

Vansh didn’t express any feelings on his face. While Angre and Reyansh chuckled silently looking at Riddhima’s situation.

“Is any other thing written on the tissue?” enquired Vansh.

“Yes…a pink lipstick mark on the tissue.” Told Riddhima to forward the tissue to Vansh.

Vansh examined it clearly, he smirked glancing at the tissue. He signaled Reyansh to come near him, he whispered something in Reyansh’s ears. Reyansh bowed his head and left the place.

“Angre get the spare key for that room no. 356. I should go before her and make some arrangements.” Demanded Vansh standing from that place.

He walked to the reception area and waited for the keys, Riddhima also followed him. She wanted to stop him but she didn’t know how to stop him. She didn’t have any right to stop him. She was puzzled by the current situation.

“Boss, Something is fishy. Let’s go back.” Confessed Riddhima with fear.

“Riddhima, It is normal. I will be comfortable with her. Why are you worrying for me?” queried Vansh.

No words came from Riddhima’s mouth. “Why is he so desperate to meet her? Is he like other mafia leaders? Is he a womanizer like Kabir? Who am I to worry about him?” Riddhima's thoughts came to end when she noticed Vansh got the spare key for the room from Angre.

Riddhima couldn’t imagine Vansh with women, her heart was in pain to see the eagerness that he was showing to meet that lady. She understood how much curiosity he had to go to the room before she arrives.

She glanced at her watch, It was 8.10 P.M. She decided to return to her home, she was not ready to witness Vansh with another woman. She viewed Vansh walking towards the lift with Angre.

She rushed to get permission and leave the place immediately. She heard the conversation between Angre and Vansh.

“Boss, the room is on the last floor in this building.” Conveyed Angre.

Vansh whispered something in Angre’s ear. Riddhima was not interested in listening to it. Angre nodded his head and left the place.

“Boss, I am returning home. I feel sleepy.” Told Riddhima to give a fake yawn.

“No, you are coming with me.” denoted Vansh pressing the lift button.

“What? Boss, you are going to enjoy yourself with her tonight. Why should I come with you?” uttered Riddhima.

“You told me something is fishy. What if a problem occurs to me? So stay with me and protect me.” ordered Vansh observing the lift door opening.

“But boss,…” Riddhima couldn’t end her statement. He tugged her inside the lift clenching her wrist.

Riddhima went into vexation. Why the hell should she protect him while he was enjoying the night with that girl? So many questions were running through her mind, But he was standing in the lift placing his both hands in his pant pocket calmly. While Riddhima decided to stop him somehow.

“Boss, please don’t go. You are a gentleman.” Told Riddhima in tension.

“May I know the reason for calling me a gentleman?” interrogated Vansh.

“In this five months of journey with you, I have never seen you smoke or drink.” Replied Riddhima fidgeting her fingers.

He liked the way, she had noticed this much about him. He noticed her eyes which were ready to stop him from going. But he decided to take her along to that room.

“What? Riddhima, you are crazy. I can’t be a gentleman. When did I behave so gently towards you?” enquired Vansh.

When the lift came to a stop on the fifth floor, Riddhima was about to respond. Riddhima saw six inebriated boys and two girls waiting in front of the elevator as it opened. The males and the girls entered the elevator together in some way.

The lift quickly grew overcrowded. When the elevator door shut, Riddhima observed that the drunken boys she had been watching had only desire in their eyes. She made a clothing adjustment.

Vansh swiftly pulled her into the corner of the elevator by squeezing her elbow as a boy was about to trip over her. He encircled her waist with his arms, drawing her in closer. Due to his hands being on her waist, she was breathing rapidly.

His lethal stare at the youngster was enough to make him stand up straight. Before a few minutes had passed, the boy's mouth, which was drooling Riddhima, had stopped drooling. The boy's head was turned to face the ground.

For a little while, Riddhima was unable to comprehend what was occurring in the elevator. Then she observed Vansh clutching her in one hand and carrying a revolver in the other.

Action speaks louder than words. In the present context, it holds. Vansh became enraged after witnessing the boy's conduct. How are the boys even able to look at his Riddhima in this way?

The gang hurriedly departed the area as the lift came to a stop on the 15th floor so they could look at his pistol. While Riddhima found Vansh's demeanor amusing.

“This incident in the lift is enough to prove, you are a gentleman,” Riddhima said glancing at his face.

“Looking at my gun, there are running to save their life from me. Do you still think am I gentleman?” queried Vansh still holding her.

“I don’t know about others' view of you but you are a gentleman to me,” mumbled Riddhima.

“I am not a gentleman so I wanted to experience it tonight.” Orated Vansh pushing her away from him.

“Boss, What about Ragini then? Are you going to cheat her?” accused Riddhima.

“Riddhima, Still, my engagement with Ragini didn’t take place. So it is not wrong.” Smirked Vansh.

For a brief while, Riddhima felt awful about herself for believing this man was a gentleman. The elevator door opened as it approached the top floor. He headed toward the room, but Riddhima was standing near the lift. Her legs resisted approaching him.

She had not imagined Vansh in this manner. According to her, Vansh was her firestorm who saved her from the hospital fire. She had given a better impression of him. She didn't want to harm Vansh in the way she had imagined.

Vansh began to snap his fingers in her direction. She came to reality, he signaled her to walk along with him.

They both arrived in front of room 356. With a spare key, he unlocked the door and entered. Standing outside, Riddhima had a great deal of hatred toward him. He examined and returned to the front of the room in two minutes.

Riddhima resisted looking at him and made every effort to focus exclusively on the ground. Her heart was warning her something dangerous was about to happen today, and she appeared nervous.

“Riddhima, Nothing is going to happen to me. Why are you looking tense? Just relax.” confronted Vansh.

“Again, I am giving you a warning. Before a week, some stranger tried to kill you. Now, it is not safe for you to spend a night alone with a strange girl.” Riddhima fretted conveying it to him.

She pressed the word ‘alone’ while saying to him. He noticed her ignorance while she refuse to speak looking into his eyes.

Suddenly she felt his hands on her wrist. She raised her eyebrow, he smirked and tugged her into the room. Due to the sudden force, she collided with his chest.

“Who said that I am going to be alone in this room with that girl?” whispered Vansh in her ears, making her eyes widen.

She wanted an answer from him, so she looked into his eyes to know the answer from him.

“You will also accompany me,” replied Vansh giving a shock to her.

“What?” puzzled Riddhima earning a smirk from Vansh.

Angre and Reyansh knocked on the door, Riddhima tried to stay away from Vansh’s hold noticing Angre and Reyansh. But he refused it.

Reyansh gave a box to Vansh, he handed the box to Riddhima.

“Boss, leave me. Why are you giving me this box?” murmured Riddhima.

“Strip your dress and wear the dress present inside the box.” Demanded Vansh.

“I can’t do it and I am not that type of girl you think.” Mocked Riddhima.

“Ok fine. Then I will strip the dress for you and make you wear the dress right, now.” Swore Vansh in his cold voice making Riddhima shiver.

“No need. I will go and change it in the bathroom.” Urged Riddhima running into the bathroom carrying the box.

She assumed that in the box there will be a revealing dress to satisfy Vansh. She opened the box and witnessed a black tuxedo suit with the same color pants. It was a similar dress that Vansh was wearing.

She was confused glancing at the dress. She checked the box completely.

“Riddhima, Just a Shirt and pants to wear, what takes you so much time? If you are not coming in two minutes, I will get inside,” growled Vansh from outside.

She equipped herself with that dress. When she opened the door, Angre and Reyansh were halting the electricity connection to the lights in that room.

Vansh examined her from top to bottom and said, “Perfect.” At the same time, the entire room became dark. Angre turned on his phone’s torch light. Vansh placed a cap on her head.

“Now, we are on a mission to trap that girl.” Told Vansh bluntly making the trio confused.

“Why are we going to trap her?” asked Riddhima.

“I will explain to you later. But I am 100 percent sure that she is coming to kill me,” stated Vansh.

“What?” said the trio in unison.

“Riddhima, you will be acting like me. I will interact with her by hiding the backside of the bed. Reyansh and Angre make sure no one enters the corridor of this floor. Before she enters the room, grab her phone.” Explained Vansh.

“What should I do when she tries to touch me?“ doubted Riddhima.

“Riddhima, that lady will never try to touch you. But one thing is sure, she will try to kill you.” Told Angre.

“Why is she going to kill me?” queried Riddhima.

“You are going to act like a boss. So, she is going to kill you.” Confirmed Angre.

“So, you are trying to make me prey to hunt her.” Blurted Riddhima glancing at Vansh.

“Yes, that’s my plan.” Assured Vansh.

“Why the hell should I act? Why not Angre or Reyansh?” scoffed Riddhima.

“Riddhima, you are a woman, she is also a woman. You should learn to handle her. This is like a training section for you.” Uttered Vansh.

“I am going to become a doctor. Why should I get trained for this?” thought Riddhima.

The final notion left Riddhima's mind. she was asked to sit on the bed while he pulled her wrist. Behind the bed, he sat.

Angre and Reyansh were standing outside the room when she saw them leave.

That same lady who asked for a one-night stand for Vansh arrived at the room sharply at 9 P.M. Angre got the phone from her and asked her to enter the room.

The lady noticed a shadow sitting on the bed. She assumed that must be Vansh. She came towards the shadow black figure slowly.

“Hey handsome man, Why have you turned the light off?” interrogated the lady.

“Because I want to see your face in natural moonlight through the window.” Commented Vansh from behind the bed.

“Is this the time for you to flirt with that girl?” scolded Riddhima in her mind. She closed her eyes and regained her voice.

Yes, she had witnessed the same voice of the lady in the dark room. She tried to recollect the moments. She recognized the lady’s voice.

The lady was none other than the one who entered Riddhima’s room by breaking the door. On that day Vansh played smartly by telling them as a ghost. She couldn’t believe it. It was the same woman a week ago who tried to kill Vansh, Kabir and Rishab are standing before her to kill Vansh again.

Before Riddhima could react, She came close to Riddhima and sat on Riddhima’s lap. She encircled her left arm around Riddhima’s neck.

“Shall we start?” asked that lady which made Riddhima gulp her saliva hard from her mouth to her tongue.

Vansh didn’t give a reply. That lady started to nuzzle into Riddhima’s neck. Suddenly, she took the handkerchief in her right arm and placed it in Riddhima’s face.

Riddhima collapsed when she smelled the handkerchief, she fell on the bed. That lady hovered over Riddhima’s body and tapped her smartwatch and gave a voice message,

“I have done my work. After 10 minutes, Come to the room to kill him with your hand.” That lady conveyed the message with honor and pride.

That lady recognized something was missing while placing the handkerchief on his face. She recollected Vansh having beard before an hour in the restaurant, but it was missing now. Before, she could react something was placed behind her back, She realized it was like a gun. She raised her hand.

“Yes, we shall start now.” Thundered Vansh to that lady from behind her.

The light in the room was switched on. As soon as Angre entered the space, Vansh ordered her to hold her wrist behind her back. The smartwatch was taken by Reyansh and given to Vansh. He looked over the message that the murderer had sent.

Suddenly, He remembered something his missing in his life, and his gaze went towards Riddhima who was lying in the bed with no words.

He rushed towards Riddhima, she took her in his lap and patted her cheeks. No response came. His heart was beating fast viewing her in this condition. He instructed Reyansh to take care of her.

He took the pillow by standing up from the bed. He glared at that woman for doing this to his Riddhima. He came near that woman and placed the pillow with his left hand near her leg. He aimed the gun in his right hand toward the pillow.

The bullet from his gun penetrated the pillow and made its way to her legs when he shot it. He did that to block out the sound of the gunshot from the outside. Angre was keeping his palm above the woman's lips, preventing her from screaming.

“When will she wake up?” exploded Vansh indicating the fingers in the direction of Riddhima.

“After… 15 minutes… she will wake up…” cried the lady due to the pain.

“What is your name? So how are related to the killer who is coming to kill me?” inquired Vansh to the lady while Angre was holding her.

She didn’t reply, she remained silent. She noticed again, he was about to take the gun and shot at her.

“I am Mystica, The killer is my brother. Please leave me. It is paining.” The woman sobbed terribly.

“Angre, tie a cloth tightly in her leg, I don’t want any blood loss from her,” grumbled Vansh.

“How did you know her only purpose was to kill you?” asked Reyansh to Vansh.

“First, I recognized her voice when she came and talked to me in the restaurant, The same voice, I heard that day when she tried to attack us in Riddhima’s room. So I recognized who she was. Second, I examined her neck closely, she was wearing a costly rare diamond piece on her neck. Third, her lipstick mark. It was red in her lips, but in the tissue it was pink.” Elaborated Vansh glancing at Riddhima.

He was angry at himself for involving Riddhima in it. He went near her and caressed her puffy cheeks. Angre gags Mystica’s mouth with a piece of cloth. Reyansh tied her hand behind the back with a cloth and placed her on the bed near Riddhima.

Ten minutes passed, An unconscious Riddhima was covered with a blanket over her completely by Angre as his boss instructed him.

The killer arrived five minutes late, after the instructed time. The killer opened the door and was stunned to witness his sister sitting near Vansh in the tied-up position. He noticed Vansh aiming the gun at Mystica’s head.

The killer was also carrying a gun in his hand. Vansh was smirking looking at the condition of the killer.

“I don’t know who you are. But convey to me, Why are you trying to kill me, Kabir, and Rishab from last week? If you are not going to tell, I am going to blast your sister's head.” Warned Vansh with a smirk on his face.

“I want to rule the entire Mumbai mafia, so I tried to kill you, Kabir, and Rishab.” Shouted the killer.

When Riddhima regained consciousness, she overheard two people arguing with one another. She recognized both voices and knew that one voice belonged to Vansh.

She was interested in finding out who desired to control Mumbai. She gently rose from the blanket, gripping and shaking her head.

She straightened herself and sat up, gazing at Vansh as he was holding the woman who had knocked her out.

When she saw that Vansh was glaring at someone, she turned to face the door. She gave the individual a terrible glance.

“Mr. Pranav Dixit, What are doing here?” guessed Riddhima looking at the killer.

How are Pranav and Riddhima related?