AUTHOR'S POV

Akshara placed her phone on the table and turned to her two best friends, brows raised.

"Why did you say that?

We don't have any plan of going to college before lectures start.

Do we?"

Aarohi and Tanishka looked at each other...

...and burst into giggles.

Aarohi flopped onto the sofa dramatically.

"Akshu, come on. Don't act innocent."

Tanishka wiggled her eyebrows.

"We know Apoorva aunty. She definitely kept the call on speaker."

Aarohi nodded rapidly.

"And it was dinner time. Perfect family gathering drama atmosphere."

Akshara narrowed her eyes.

"So?"

"So?" Tanishka snorted.

"So Riyanshi also heard everything!"

Aarohi leaned forward, smirking.

"Which means now she'll run to college early tomorrow like her life depends on it."

Tanishka added proudly,

"We basically gave her a reason to stop crying and START competing."

Akshara sighed deeply.

"That's not needed."

Both girls stared at her like she had committed blasphemy.

"Not. Needed?" Aarohi repeated.

"NOT NEEDED?" Tanishka echoed, offended.

Aarohi crossed her arms.

"Akshu, listen. Your so-called sister has been pampered her whole life."

Tanishka nodded.

"And now she'll go to college thinking she's queen bee."

Aarohi exhaled dramatically.

"At least let her try to make some friends. Build a tiny team. Feel stronger."

Tanishka gave a devilish smile.

"We're doing charity."

Akshara rubbed her forehead.

"You two are unbelievable."

"No," Aarohi corrected,

"we're STRATEGIC."

Tanishka pointed a finger at her.

"Equal rivalry, babe."

Aarohi chimed in,

"Exactly. What's the fun if our opponent is too weak?"

Akshara looked at them flatly.

"Opponent? Since when do I have an opponent?"

Aarohi and Tanishka answered together, loud and proud:

"SINCE YOU WERE BORN, BABY."

Akshara sighed again-

but a smile tugged her lips despite herself.

These two...

her madness, her chaos, her strength.

And whether she liked it or not-

The real game was about to begin.

Because with Riyanshi, the Maheshwari princess?

There was ALWAYS a rivalry.

And now?

It had just shifted to college.

Meanwhile at Maheshwari Mansion...

Little Paridhi slept peacefully in Shourya's arms, her tiny fingers curled around his shirt. Her soft breathing filled the room - gentle, innocent, unaware of the storms around her.

Shourya smiled faintly and brushed her hair aside.

Slowly, he laid her on the bed, adjusting her blanket with the tenderness only a father could show.

When he turned...

Pakhi was staring at the floor, lost in her thoughts.

Shourya's smile faded.

He walked toward her, slipped his arms around her waist from behind, and pressed a soft kiss to her neck.

"What happened, love?"

Pakhi turned in his arms, her expression calm but sharp.

"You know exactly what happened."

Shourya's jaw tightened.

He took a slow breath.

"Pakhi... she came just a few days back. And you're already trusting her?"

Pakhi's lips curved into a humorless smile.

"Because she is right."

Shourya's brows furrowed.

"What do you mean?"

Pakhi stepped back slightly.

"Tell me something, Shourya..."

Her voice was quiet, but her words hit like knives.

"Where is your younger sister?"

Shourya's expression changed instantly.

Dark.

Cold.

Haunted.

"Pakhi... don't talk about her."

Pakhi chuckled - not warmly, but bitterly.

"Look at that. You don't even want her name spoken."

Shourya clenched his fists.

Pakhi continued, voice trembling with controlled emotion:

"We are married for six years, Shourya.

Six years.

And I never knew you even had a younger sister."

Shourya swallowed hard, looking away.

"She did something... unforgivable."

Pakhi laughed, dark and disbelieving.

"Unforgivable? Shourya, your entire family uses that word like it's divine truth."

He glared lightly.

"Pakhi, I was young at that time. We all were. You don't understand."

Pakhi leaned closer.

"And so was she.

She was a child.

How can a child do something unforgivable?"

Shourya fell silent.

Pakhi continued, strong and fierce:

"I don't know what happened in the past, and I don't care about the details.

But I know one thing -

you all did wrong.

Terribly wrong."

Shourya stepped back, shocked.

Pakhi walked to the bed, adjusting Pari's blanket again.

"And I will NOT let history repeat itself with our daughter."

Shourya stared at her.

"Where the hell does Pari come in the middle of this?"

Pakhi didn't raise her voice.

"She didn't come in the middle, Shourya.

I'm stating a fact."

She turned to him, eyes firm.

"If you can blame a child for something 'unforgivable,' then one day...

you can blame Pari too if she makes a mistake."

Shourya froze.

Completely.

"Pakhi..." he whispered, shaking his head.

Pakhi looked tired.

"Tell me honestly...

are you trusting her above us?"

Pakhi looked him straight in the eyes.

"No.

I'm trusting truth above you all."

Shourya's chest tightened painfully.

"And you didn't see it...

but I did."

Pakhi continued:

"You didn't notice your father's face today.

But I did."

Shourya looked confused.

"His guilt, Shourya.

His guilt when Akshara mentioned your sister."

Pakhi quietly went to her side of the bed.

"Your father knows the truth.

And deep down...

you know it too."

She lay down, closing her eyes with finality.

Shourya stood there for a long moment, frozen, breath uneven.

Finally, he whispered to himself:

"Pakhi...

you don't know what she did."

His jaw hardened.

"And I...

can never forgive her for that."

He turned the lights off.

But sleep didn't come anywhere near him that night.

Next Morning

The Maheshwari mansion buzzed with subtle morning energy.

In the living room, all four brothers - Shourya, Ekansh, Samarth, and Kartik - were already dressed for office, files in hand, watches on, shoes polished.

But none of them moved.

None.

Because they never left the house without saying goodbye to their princess.

Shourya checked his watch for the fourth time.

"When is she coming?"

Ekansh crossed his arms.

"Probably choosing her outfit."

Samarth sighed dramatically.

"She takes more time than a bride."

Kartik muttered under his breath,

"At this rate, we'll miss office-"

But before he could finish-

Footsteps echoed on the stairs.

All four brothers looked up at once.

Riyanshi descended the stairs like she was entering a runway.

Black dress.

Hair perfectly styled.

Makeup flawless.

Confidence exaggerated.

Everyone in the living room stared.

Shailaja blinked twice.

Karishma's jaw dropped.

The daughters-in-law exchanged looks.

The brothers reacted instantly.

"Baccha... are you going somewhere?" Shourya asked, trying not to choke.

Riyanshi smiled sweetly.

"Yes. College."

Kartik couldn't stop himself.

"But... isn't that dress a little loud for-"

Three death glares hit him instantly.

Ekansh.

Samarth.

Shourya.

Kartik shut his mouth immediately.

Within seconds, the entire family gathered around her like she was going for war.

Karishma smiled softly.

"All the best, Riya."

Shailaja adjusted her hair gently.

"You look pretty."

Abhay gave a thumb-up.

"Slay them."

Saniya smirked.

"Just don't start fighting on day one."

Riya rolled her eyes.

"It's not my exam.

I'm just going to... make friends."

She said the last words loudly, indirectly announcing her real motive.

The brothers sighed proudly.

"So you want to socialise," Samarth cooed.

Ekansh pinched her cheek gently.

"Make good friends, okay?"

Shailaja kissed her forehead.

"Stay safe, beta."

Karishma hugged her.

"Don't stress too much."

Aaditya smiled warmly.

"Enjoy your first day."

And that's when Riyanshi turned to him with her signature entitled pout.

"Dad... give me your card."

The room went silent for a second.

Aaditya blinked.

"Card? Why-"

Riya huffed dramatically.

"Dad! I'm going to college.

I need to... you know... eat, shop, buy things, make an impression."

Shourya immediately stepped forward.

"Dad, give her."

Ekansh nodded.

"She'll need it."

Samarth added,

"First impression is important."

Kartik sighed but didn't dare speak.

Aaditya opened his wallet slowly.

Everyone watched.

Everyone pampered.

And Riyanshi?

Smiled like the world was hers.

After Riyanshi left proudly with Aaditya's card, the family slowly dispersed.

But Aaditya's eyes continued scanning the living room.

No Apoorva.

He frowned slightly and turned away, walking down the hallway toward their room.

He knocked softly.

"Apoorva?"

Her voice came faintly from inside.

"Come in."

Aaditya opened the door.

Apoorva was sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped tightly, face pale... eyes heavy with worry.

He closed the door behind him and walked toward her.

"Apoorva..." he said softly.

She looked up, hurt visible in every line of her face.

"Aaditya... she left without telling me. Without saying a word."

Aaditya sat beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"She needs time," he said quietly.

"You know she's always been reserved. She doesn't open up easily."

Apoorva shook her head helplessly.

"She's hurting, Aaditya. I can feel it. And I... I couldn't do anything."

Aaditya sighed, squeezing her hand.

"She'll come around, Apoorva. She always does. Let her breathe."

Apoorva dropped her gaze, voice trembling.

"But Aaditya... tell me honestly."

He looked at her cautiously.

She continued:

"Is it true what Akshu said?

That you... had another daughter?

And why... why doesn't she live with us?"

The air froze.

Aaditya's jaw tightened instantly.

His chest stiffened.

"Apoorva..." he said in a tone that carried warning.

She swallowed.

"Please. I'm your wife. I deserve to know.

Did you really have two daughters and if yes where is she..?"

He looked away, breathing unevenly.

Silence stretched between them.

Finally, Aaditya spoke-

voice low, controlled, almost forced:

"You don't need to know about her."

Apoorva's heart skipped.

"Aaditya-"

He cut her off.

"If it was necessary...

I would have told you."

Apoorva blinked rapidly.

"So it's true..."

Aaditya's fists clenched on his knees.

And then he spoke again-

cold, final, absolute:

"She died.

In a fire accident."

Apoorva gasped softly.

Her hand went to her mouth.

"Aaditya... I'm so... I didn't know..."

Aaditya stood up abruptly, as if the very topic suffocated him.

"That chapter of my life is over," he said sharply.

Apoorva looked up at him, eyes trembling with sympathy and confusion.

"I... I had no idea you went through something like that."

Aaditya exhaled heavily, rubbing his forehead.

"I don't want to talk about it again."

Apoorva nodded slowly.

"Okay... I understand."

But inside?

Her heart felt heavier than before.

Because Akshara was gone.

And her husband had just revealed a truth

buried in pain, ashes...

and silence.

Little did she know-

that lie was about to destroy everything.

On the other side..

The warm sun filtered into the villa's cozy kitchen, the smell of pancakes and fresh coffee filling the room.

Aarohi was sitting cross-legged on the counter, chewing toast.

Tanishka was pouring juice into three glasses.

Akshara, still in her loose morning T-shirt and joggers, sat at the dining table checking something on her iPad.

The three looked like a normal set of college girls having breakfast-

Except they weren't normal at all.

Not even close.

Akshara finally closed her iPad and looked at her girls.

"Did you get enough shares of Maheshwari Groups?"

Aarohi and Tanishka exchanged a look.

Tanishka shook her head.

"No. Not yet."

Aarohi's added,

"We've reached fourty-four percent, but the remaining shares are scattered.

Lots of small investors.

Might take some more time to pull everything silently."

Akshara leaned back, brows narrowing slightly.

"Why is it taking so much time?"

Her voice wasn't angry.

Just firm.

Focused.

Tanishka gulped.

"You want it clean and untraceable. That takes effort, babe."

Aarohi nodded.

"Everything has to look like individual investors. No link to you.

So obviously it's slow."

Akshara tapped her fingers on the table.

A sign she rarely gave-

meaning her patience was thinning.

"I want everything done before Riyanshi's birthday."

Both girls blinked.

Aarohi's toast almost fell from her hand.

"Twenty days from now?" she asked, dramatic as ever.

"YES," Akshara said calmly.

Tanishka raised an eyebrow.

"What's the rush?"

Akshara's lips curved into a slow, dark smile.

Not evil.

Not vengeful.

Just... cold.

Controlled.

"Because I want to give the Maheshwari family

a little surprise."

Aarohi grinned instantly.

"I KNEW IT! Birthday blast!"

Tanishka laughed.

"Oh God, let me guess-

You'll walk inside wearing something lethal

and drop a truth bomb?"

Akshara gave them a look.

"No.

There will be no truth bombs.

No drama.

No shouting.

No attention."

She took a sip of her coffee and added:

"Just reality.

Silently placed in their hands."

Aarohi whistled.

"You're scary."

Tanishka smirked.

"And I love it."

Aarohi leaned closer, elbows on the table.

"What kind of surprise?"

Akshara's eyes glinted.

"Let's just say...

the empire they hold so proudly won't quite be theirs anymore."

Both girls froze.

Then slowly began to grin.

Wicked.

Proud.

Excited.

Aarohi punched the air.

"THIS is why you're our queen!"

Tanishka added,

"And why Riyanshi should be afraid."

And just like that-

The real story was set in motion.

The gates of Imperium Institute of Business and Management College buzzed with early-morning excitement.

Groups of students chatted, clicked selfies, flaunted first-day outfits.

And then-

A sleek black car stopped at the entrance.

Every head turned.

Every whisper died.

Because stepping out in her bold black dress, sunglasses on, hair perfectly styled, was-

Riyanshi Maheshwari.

Maheshwari.

The surname that carried weight.

Power.

Influence.

Money.

And everyone here knew it.

Within seconds, a small crowd formed around her- mostly girls who wanted to stay in good books of one of the richest family in the city.

"OMG, Riyanshi, you look gorgeous!"

"Your dress is fire!"

"I heard you're a Maheshwari - like THE Maheshwaris?!"

"You're so lucky, girl!"

"Please hang out with us!"

Riyanshi removed her sunglasses dramatically and gave them a practiced sweet smile.

"I know, girls.

Thanks."

She walked forward with full attitude, the crowd following her like she was royalty.

A girl with long braids rushed to her side.

"Riya, do you need help finding your class? I'll take you!"

Another one chimed in,

"We can introduce you to the seniors!"

A third added,

"Come sit with us in the cafeteria!"

Riyanshi felt a wave of satisfaction.

Finally.

Finally, this was her place.

Not the mansion where Akshara had stolen all attention for a moment.

Not home where her brothers worshipped her but someone else's presence annoyed her.

Here?

She was the queen.

And she loved it.

She simply scanned the corridor once-

didn't see Akshara-

and felt her confidence rise.

"Oh good..." she murmured under her

breath.

"So she isn't here yet."

Her lips curled into a smug smirk.

"Let her come," she thought proudly.

"I'll show her who I am.

I'll make the whole college my side before she even enters."

She stepped forward, her new "followers" trailing behind.

Her heels clicked sharply on the polished floor.

Her ego rising higher.

Her plans for revenge forming perfectly.

Because Riyanshi Maheshwari was convinced-

This college belonged to her.

And when Akshara arrived?

She planned to destroy her.

To be Continued ....