In my Devil's Arms

And so they both became more and more close. She would easily hold his hand or hug him. He took her out on picnics. They visited her favourite stone beach, had ice creams and even talked for hours on phone. At night when everyone slept they would spend the night talking to each other.Riya's feelings grew for him. The days they could not meet made her uneasy. The engagement was becoming more and more burden for her.

Vicky knew she loved him. But the engagement needs to be broken first. And she should be the one to do it.

On the other hand Suhasini Deshmukh was a woman with a strong sixth sense. She sensed something wrong with Riya. She looked lost always. So one day she followed Riya when she went out at afternoon on a weekend.

AND WHAT SHE SAW STUNNED HER.

Riya and Vicky were sitting cozily on a beach drinking coconut water. He lovingly put her hairs back from her face as she shyly looked down. Vikram Oberoi.

No she thought Riya belonged to Manav. Vikram was Manav's boss the one who sent him to Pune. God she never realised. He really was shrewd. SHE NEEDS TO SEPERATE THEM.

But she didn't know. Vikram has played his cards perfectly.

Pune

" Papa this is Manav Deshmukh ", said Sonia." He works in my office".

Colonel looked at him keenly. All Manav could think was the gun. Curse his bosses.

" You are making those houses for retired officers", said Sharman. He was Sonia's cousin.

" Just designing the architecture", he smiled.

" Man that navy commander loves you", said Sharman. " He says you converted a garbage in Mumbai to a palace.".

Manav chuckled. " It was a good office. Just that architect was incompetent. I got a great team", he said looking at Sonia.

" I am building a house too. Can you have a look", said Sonia's aunt.

" Yeah", said Manav.

He geled well with everyone except colonel. His boss's warning would stop him every time. Colonel was a taciturn too.HE WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO PLEASE.

Mumbai

Suhasiniji was sitting with an astrologer holding Manav and Riya's kundalis.

" Can we hurry up the marriage punditji", she asked.

" No", came the answer. " There is a turmoil ahead. Only when its clear you can go ahead. Be patient".

But she can't. Vikram Oberoi was not a turmoil but a hurricane. He was going to destroy her well laid plans.

WELL SHE WAS NOT WRONG IN THINKING THAT.

Oberoi House

" She confessed to that king's potrait that she loves me", said an exasperated Vicky to his father. " But to me she says nothing".

" Relax", said his father.

Ramcharan was amused looking at his son. He was behaving like a teenager. First sweet love. THANKS FOR HER SHIVA.

" I can't", Vicky sulked.

" Here", said his father handing him two tickets.

" What are these", asked Vicky.

" Tickets for Mrs. Chadda's Art exhibition.", said his father.

Vikram grimaced.

" Do you want me to get married to Riya"?

His father chuckled.

Pammi chadda was a certified gold digger and a shameless b*tch. She was married to Jashwant chadda thrice her age and still would enjoy charms of young men. Well Vicky, Gaurav and Vinod have done that and got bored too.

" She is yuck", said Vinod one day and others agreed.

" So plastic ", said Gaurav.

They had no scruples but they did have standards.

" She will definitely flirt with you I am sure of that. And Riya will defend her territory. She is possesive of you. That is how you bring feelings to the surface my boy", said his father.

" Okay", said Vicky.

" Call her".

Vicky came with a long face in 5 minutes to his father.

"Manav's mother picked up. She is at her friend Laxmi's home. I guess aunty does not like me".

" She won't if she guessed you are trying to break Manav and Riya up. Remember she is the one who proposed this union", warned his father.

" Do you think she guessed"?

" Yes", answered Ramcharan. " She is a shrewd one. "

" I need to see her now", said Vicky. " Can I go to Laxmi's house".

" Certainly not", said Ramcharan. He is so desperate. Idiot thought Ramcharan as he shook his head.

" Why", Vikram was short of stomping his feet.

" You'll scare her away you moron", said his father. " The pass is valid upto weekend. "

He met Riya next day at the palace and extended her the invitation.

" I would love to come but I don't understand art", she said.

" But you do love the art at my palace", he said.

" That is historical ", she said.

" Riya love", he said holding her hand. " We'll just go. If we like anything we will buy. "

" Okay", she smiled.

At the exhibition

Riya wore a navy blue shift dress with a french twist and black heels. Vicky was in a blue tux too. Custom leather shoes and Rolex.

" Vikram darling", came Mrs. Chadda as she hugged and kissed his cheek. RIYA DID NOT LIKE IT.

" Pam", said Vicky. " How've you been"?

PAM THOUGHT RIYA ANGRILY

" Lonely without you baby", she said caressing his hand. " And cold too". She touched his torso.

Riya imagined them entangled in sheets. Noooo he is mine she thought.

Vicky politely seperated himself from her.

" I was busy", he said.

" Heard you bought a palace", she said batting her eyes.

Barf thoght Riya.

" So you are king now handsome", she said touching a finger to his face.

" Hardly", he said. " Rogue maybe", he smirked.

SHAMELESS B*STARD THOUGHT RIYA. Okay enough for her.

" I was thinking maybe we can"....

" What about Mr. Chadda", came a sharp voice.

Riya could have eaten her tongue. She just couldn't stop seeing the witch immersing her claws in Vicky.

Vicky looked at her. His dad was a genius. She was angry.

" Pam meet Riya. She is a research scholar at JB college", said Vicky.

" Wow she is young", said Pammi. " Change of taste Vicky. Hello kid". She deliberately insulted Riya.

" Hello aunty", she replied sweetly. An eye for an eye.

Vicky was finding it hard to control his laughter. Pammi fumed as red as an engine and left.

" You slept with her", hissed Riya. Little fireball☄️.

" Not one of my wise decisions ", confessed Vicky raising his hands. " But immediately regretted it".

Before she could say another word another lady came in

" Hi Vicky", she said.

Riya glared at him.

" Hello Tanya", he replied.

She looked at Riya suspiciously. But thankfully was more respectful than Pammi.

" And this beautiful young lady is"

" Riya Sachdeva ", she introduced herself.

" Nice meeting you", she said. " Where's Gaurav "?

" Umm", he said.

" Ghosting me", she said sadly. " I should have known".

Riya felt bad for her. She seemed nice.

" Ms Tanya", she said.

" Stop wasting your time on floozies and fickle men and get a nice sturdy one for you. You are beautiful and smart."

Tanya was surprised by the courage of this young girl. She looked at her and chuckled.

" Coming from you this is a perfect advice".

YES BEING WITH THE BIGGEST MANW*ORE DOES THAT TO YOU.thought Riya

" Take from the one who is experienced ", she said sharply.

Tanya looked angrily at Vicky.

Then she said to Riya, " You really are young for this kind of experience. Best cut your losses and run . See you Vicky".

She left.

" Riya".

" WHAT", she screamed.

" I am sorry", he said looking guilty .

She shrugged. " Association with you Mr. Oberoi comes with its set of character assassination and losses".

" So will you run", he asked skeptically.

" In these heels", she pointed at her shoes. " I can afford a broken heart not a leg".

He chuckled, " I really like your company".

" For self preservation reasons I can't return the favour", she said cheekily.

He threw back his head and laughed.

" Lets take a look at the art", come he said holding her hand.

" Lets do it", she said. " Bring it on."