A short while later, a black car stood parked by the side of a mountain. Akshita stood leaning against the car with her arms crossed, gazing at the view before her. Just then, Advik arrived, holding a can of cold drink in each hand.

Advik extended one can toward Akshita and kept the other for himself. Akshita opened the can, and both siblings leaned against the car, lost in thought as they watched the setting sun.

Taking a sip from her can, Akshita said, “Papa called. He’s calling us home for Mom’s death anniversary.”

Advik nodded in agreement, looking straight ahead. “Yeah, he called me too. I didn’t want to talk to him, so he was calling me from Bua’s number. He told me to come home as well.”

“So, you’re coming, right? With me... to the house?” At Akshita’s question, a mocking smile appeared on Advik’s face. He laughed and said, “Home? You see that building as a home? Akshu, that is just a house. It used to be a home back when our Mother was in it.”

Akshita glared at her brother and said, “Come on, bro. How can you say that? How could Papa have a hand in whatever happened to Mom? We’ve seen how much Papa loved Mom. In such a case, if Mom passed away in an accident, how is it Papa’s fault?”

“Shut up, Akshu. If you don’t know anything, then keep your mouth shut. The accident Mom had was the result of one of Mr. Merchant’s old enmities. An old rival had blown up Mr. Merchant's car with a bomb; it’s just that Mom happened to be in that car instead of him by mistake. If Mom hadn't been in that car that day...”

“Then Papa would have been in her place...” Akshita interrupted, stating the blunt truth.

Advik looked at Akshita angrily and said, “You know nothing. Mr. Merchant has hidden many secrets inside his heart. But mark my words, one day I will uncover all of them.”

Akshita shook her head and said to Advik, “Well, I’m going. Your problem is with Papa, not mine. Papa loves me just as much today as he did when Mom was alive. And yes, he loves you just as much too; he’s just unable to show it to you.”

Opening his car door, Advik said, “And I don't want to see it either. But one thing I can say with certainty—one day, this false veil of his love will surely fall from your eyes too. Mr. Merchant is a hardcore businessman, and he doesn’t value anyone’s feelings above his business.”

“Bro, if nothing else, at least you can give him some respect; he is our father...” Akshita said irritably. Advik smiled and replied, “I know, that’s why I put a 'Mr.' before his name. I say you should call him Mr. Merchant too. Anyway, you don’t look like his daughter from any angle.”

Advik had said this in jest, but Akshita looked at him angrily and stomped her foot. “How dare you, Bhai? Why do you always make fun of me by saying I don’t look like his daughter? Listen to me loud and clear—I am his daughter. My name is Akshita Merchant. The daughter of Naksh Merchant. And in this entire world, I love my Papa and my brother the most.”

Then, looking up toward the sky, Akshita added, “And Mom, you too.”

Advik smiled, shook his head, and said as he sat in his car, “I’ll reach home on the day of Mom’s anniversary. Don't bother me with phone calls before that.”

Advik drove away, and Akshita, shaking her head, walked to her bike. She put on her helmet and looked at the winning trophy placed on the bike’s fuel tank.

Picking up the trophy, Akshita smiled and thought to herself, “Actually bro, your idea wasn't that bad—if you want to move forward, you must learn to push others back.”

In reality, the reason why the other bikes couldn't finish the race was Akshita's cunning mind. She had tampered with the other bikes or created obstacles in their path, which prevented them from finishing the race, leading to her victory.

Hotel King Star...

This was Advik's own five-star hotel. Advik had his own suite on the VIP floor. The hotel ranked among the top five hotels in Mumbai. It boasted a luxurious mall, spa, swimming pools, a disco nightclub, and many other amenities that fueled its popularity.

The hotel had always been the number one choice for celebrities. Therefore, whenever celebrities or foreign guests visited Mumbai, this hotel was one of the best options for their stay.

Near a pillar in the parking lot of this very hotel, a few bikes were parked. Standing behind them was Avni, whom her friend Pinky had called here. However, the watchman hadn't allowed Avni to enter through the main gate. Avni was wearing jeans, but she had paired them with a cheap kurta and a multi-colored cloth bag slung over her shoulder. Then there was Avni’s long braid, which she had pulled to the front, and the golden bindi on her forehead.

The staff working at this hotel arrived well-dressed, and the guests were all VIPs. In such a setting, the watchman didn't want to lose his job by giving Avni entry. That’s why he had turned her away from the gate. Standing at the edge of the parking lot, Avni was trying to call Pinky. The phone was ringing, but Pinky wasn't answering.

Avni tried calling Pinky once more, but again, it just kept ringing. Just then, the watchman walked up to Avni and said, “Hey girl, you’re still standing here? Haven't left yet? Go on, get out of here.”

He was a burly, tall, imposing watchman with a thick mustache. Anyone would be intimidated by him, but Avni gathered her courage and said, “Chacha ji.”

Hearing “Chacha ji,” the watchman was stunned. His eyes widened, and he said sternly, “Chacha ji? Do I look like your uncle? Look, let me tell you, you can't get entry into the hotel by trying to act like a relative. Now, get out.”

But Avni requested earnestly, “Please just listen to me. Look, I’m not lying. My friend really works inside. She’s the one who told me to come here. She’s just not picking up her phone right now. Until she answers, I’m just standing right here. As for calling you Chacha ji, you are older than me. How else could I address you?”

The watchman saw an innocence on Avni’s face. He looked at her and said, “Look child, I’m saying this for your own good. Since you just called me Uncle, I’m advising you like my own daughter. You cannot stand here.

This is the parking gate and the boss could arrive at any moment. If he sees you, he’ll be furious with me for no reason, and I don’t even know what he’ll do to you. Our boss has a very bad temper.”

“So? I’m not exactly trying to claim ownership of his hotel. I’m just standing here in the corner. Your boss will drive past from there, right? See, I’m all the way over here. He won’t even notice me... just let me stand here for a little while. Just until my friend arrives.”

Before the watchman could say anything, a horn blared at the main gate. The watchman’s eyes went wide. Adjusting his cap, he said, “Quick, hide behind this pillar! The boss’s car is here. If he sees you, he’ll throw both you and me out of here.”

Avni nodded quickly and hid behind a pillar. The watchman rushed to the gate and opened it quickly. Advik, looking at the watchman irritably, began to drive the car toward the parking area.

However, just before entering the underground parking, Advik caught sight of a pair of eyes peeking from behind the pillar. Advik’s eyes narrowed; he had a cigarette between his lips. As he blew smoke out of the window, he tilted his head to get a better look at those peeking eyes, but suddenly his phone rang.

Advik’s attention shifted to his phone, and in the next moment, Avni hid completely behind the pillar so Advik couldn't see her. He looked at the phone; it was a call from Mihika. Seeing the call, Advik closed his eyes tightly. He answered and said, “Yes, sweetheart.”

“Advik, send ten lakh rupees to my account right now. I need to go shopping,” Mihika ordered from the other end.

Getting out of his car, Advik said to Mihika, “I am your fiance, not your credit card. Go and ask your father.”

With that, Advik hung up and walked straight toward the VIP lift. But he stopped suddenly, looked back toward the exit, and stared at the pillar where he had seen someone peeking during his entry. But there was no one there now. Advik shook his head and headed toward the VIP lift.

As soon as Advik left, Avni came out from behind the pillar. But her eyes were still fixed on that black car in the parking lot. Looking at the car, she smiled and thought to herself, “Just watch, one day I will have a car just like this.”

Just then, Avni’s phone began to ring. She pulled it out and saw it was Pinky calling. She answered and said, “Pinky, why aren't you picking up? I’m standing in front of the hotel parking at the address you gave me. But the people here aren't letting me in.”

Pinky replied, “Yeah, actually I was at work, so I kept my phone in my bag. Okay, you stay right there in front of the parking. I’m coming to get you.”

Avni said okay and hung up, waiting for Pinky to arrive. Ten minutes later, Pinky appeared. But seeing Pinky, Avni’s eyes narrowed. Pinky was wearing a short skirt, and her top looked so ridiculous that it barely covered her front. Pinky’s waist was visible, and she wore a headband with bunny ears on her head.

Avni just stared at Pinky with her mouth agape. Pinky walked up to Avni and said, “Sorry I couldn't pick up the phone, I was busy.”

Then, looking Avni up and down, Pinky asked, “What on earth are you wearing?”

Avni was speechless. She was so shocked by Pinky’s revealing outfit that she didn't know what to say about her own.

Pinky slapped her forehead and said to Avni, “Oh man, I told you to wear something decent! You’ve come dressed like such a 'Behenji.' No one will even give you entry into this club like this, and you’ve come here to ask for a job in these clothes?”

Avni looked at Pinky with startled eyes and said, “Pinky, what are you wearing? Why are your clothes like this?”

“Every waitress working here has to wear these clothes. Avni, I’m a waitress at the nightclub here. And this is my uniform. I have to serve drinks to people wearing this. And if you want to work here, you’ll have to wear this too.”

Pinky had laid it out in plain words. Avni’s eyes widened instantly. She had never even seen such small clothes, let alone thought about wearing them.