UNKNOWN TO HER - PART 1 ✔

PART 16

"Yes, father, I've seen her. She's alive. I can't fathom how she survived after being poisoned," Aakash Rajvansh relayed to his father over the phone, speaking about the enigmatic woman he had spotted at a resort in Mussoorie.

"Are you certain, Aakash?" his father questioned, a note of disbelief in his voice.

"I'm absolutely sure, Papa. She bears an uncanny resemblance to your Aunt Hema. It's as if she's been reborn. That's good news, isn't it?"

"Indeed, my son, it's wonderful news," his father responded, his voice choked with emotion before he ended the call.

Aakash had observed her entering room number 205 and his curiosity was piqued. He was eager to meet this woman who he suspected might be his cousin. He knocked on the door, but when he received no response, he cautiously opened the door. The sound of the shower running greeted him.

"Hello!" he called out, but there was no reply. It felt inappropriate to intrude while the shower was on, so he decided to wait. An hour passed, then another half, but there was still no sign of her. Concerned, he opened the door again, only to find the young woman unconscious, her clothes soaked as if she had just emerged from a swimming pool. Swiftly, he lifted her up and dried her hair.

"I need one of the best doctors to attend to her," he ordered over the phone, his gaze returning to the unconscious woman.

In her semi-conscious state, she murmured, "Mumma...where are you...why did you leave me alone..." The words tugged at Aakash's heartstrings. He had never imagined that a woman who owned property worth 3,000 crores INR would find herself in such a predicament.

"Di..." he whispered, stopping himself from saying more.

When the doctor arrived to treat her, Aakash noticed an 'Om' tattoo on her nape. This confirmed his suspicion that she was indeed his cousin. Quietly, he exited the room, closing the door gently behind him to let her rest. He resolved to speak to her the next day.

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Having tracked down Riddhima's location, Vansh made his way to the resort with a sense of urgency. He quickly located room number 205, where Riddhima was staying.

"Riddhima!" he called out as he flung open the door. The sight of him took her by surprise, and frustration washed over her. She turned on her heel and made to leave the room.

"Riddhima, wait!" he called out, reaching out to grasp her hand.

"Let go, Vansh, you're embarrassing me. Let me go." she pleaded, struggling to free her hand from his grip. But Vansh was relentless. He pulled her back into the room and locked the door behind them.

"I had no idea Sunny would do such a thing to you. Please! just listen to me for once... dammit!" Vansh pleaded, his voice choked with emotion as Riddhima continued to resist him.

"I hired Sunny to find out who was turning you against me." Vansh confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Riddhima responded with a sarcastic chuckle. "Really? You needed someone else to win your wife's trust and extract the truth from her? You didn't have the courage to do it yourself. You didn't feel the need to earn your wife's trust. Now I'm convinced that you were the one who murdered Ragini,"

"I knew you wouldn't tell me the truth. And... I did not murder Ragini," Vansh retorted, his voice rising in defense.

Riddhima fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "I told you, I married you because of a promise I made to Sejal. I've fulfilled that promise. Now it's time for us to part ways"

"Your promise to a friend doesn't give you the right to ruin my life. It's not just about you. It's about me too," Vansh countered, his voice filled with desperation.

"Exactly, Vansh. It's not just about you. It's about me, my life, my choices and, most importantly, my self-respect. Now tell me, why did you marry me?" Riddhima demanded, her voice steady and resolute.

"Because I was testing you to know whether you were telling the truth about the locket or not" Vansh admitted, his voice trailing off as he realized that revealing the truth about her parents could put Riddhima in danger.

"Who were you to test me, Vansh?" she retorted, striking him hard on his chest.

"I have many enemies, Riddhima. It was only natural for me to test you. I'm... sorry, Riddhima" Vansh apologized, his expression one of genuine remorse. The word 'sorry' seemed out of place, adding a touch of humor to the tense situation. It was the first time he had apologized to anyone, because nothing else mattered to him, not even his ego. And it was the first time she had heard an apology from someone, because no one else had ever considered her feelings.

Meanwhile, Angre was pleased with the progress. His boss was showing signs of change, and Riddhima's wounds were beginning to heal. He ordered his favorite cheese sandwich, enjoying the scenery and wishing for someone special to enter his own life.