Samruddhi's POV:

The party ended soon after 11, everyone went to their rooms as they were tired. Anisha and Vanya decided to stay the night since they were too tired to go back home, so we ended up on my bed. Thay both fell asleep quickly, but I couldn't. Every time I closed my eyes, Siddharth's face came to mind, along with the way he held me and whispered things in my ear. A shiver ran through my body at the thought of him.

Why is he behaving like this? Saying things like that... I can't understand his intentions. Is it because of what Anisha said yesterday at the mall? Yeah, maybe that's it. But is he jealous? Screw it, Samruddhi, what are you thinking? Why would he get jealous? He doesn't even care about you. I sighed at my thoughts, and after struggling for a while, I finally fell asleep.

In the morning, Mumma came to wake us up since it was already 10. We got up and got ready for the day, then went downstairs for breakfast. Everyone had already eaten and gone to their respective work, leaving only me, Anisha, Vanya, Isha, and Naina. After breakfast, Isha and Naina went to office, I asked them to take a leave but they had important meeting today. Anisha, Vanya and I talked for a while—well, we mostly listened while Anisha talked.

After a brief chat, Anisha went home and Vanya went to her office, and I was heading back to my room when Mumma called me. So, I went over to her and asked, "You called for me, Mumma?"

"Yes, Samu. Can you please go and give your Chacha and papa lunch? They left early today"

I sighed and asked, "Why don't you send the driver? Why do I have to go?"

"Your father wanted to talk to you this morning, but you were sleeping, and he didn't want to wake you. So, he went to the office without talking to you."

"Papa wanted to talk to me, about what?"

"I don't know, Samu. You should go and ask yourself, or maybe your father was just missing you."

After listening to Mumma, I decided to pack the lunch and go. I went to my room to get ready. I wore a lavender crop top with wide-leg jeans and minimal makeup, then went downstairs to the kitchen where Mumma had kept the tiffin. I grabbed it and headed to my car, deciding not to take the driver today as I wanted to drive myself.

I reached Sharma Heights after 20 minutes. The office building was huge and beautifully designed by my Mumma and Chachi. Yes, Mumma and Chachi are best Architects in world and they have their own architecture company which is part of Sharma Enterprise. I greeted the receptionist and went up to the topmost floor using the private lift.

I headed directly to Anirudh Bhaya's cabin, as it came first. I never asked for permission before entering their cabin, as they had instructed not to. When I entered, I saw him sitting with Siddharth. Maybe I should have asked his secretary before entering, but before I could retreat, Bhai looked in my direction and called out, "Ah, princess, you're here today! Come in."

So, I went towards him. He stood up and made me sit in his chair, asking, "Are you missing me? Is that why you came?"

I laughed and replied, "I came to check if you're working properly, Bhai."

He laughed too and then asked seriously, "Is everything alright, princess? Why did you come to the office today?"

"No, Bhaya, I'm all good. I don't need anything. I just brought lunch today."

"Ah, okay. You brought us lunch today?"

"Yes, for you, Papa, and Chachaji."

"Alright then, wait here, princess. I'll go and call them, they're in a meeting with the finance department members." Then he went towards Siddharth and said "Sid I will be back in 2 minutes" to which Siddharth only nodded to bhai.

"Bhaya, let them finish their meeting, and then we can ask someone to call them."

"No, bacha, we can't let you wait. You know what Papa says, family is the first priority."

With that, he walked towards Papa's cabin, leaving me alone with Siddharth, who had been silent the entire time, quietly observing our interaction. As soon as Bhaiya left, Siddharth stood up and began walking toward me.

A sudden wave of fear gripped me, making my body tense as memories of yesterday flooded my mind. When I looked up, his face was just inches away from mine. His intense gaze locked onto my eyes as if he were searching for something deep within my soul.

I closed my eyes, took a shaky breath, and asked, "What are you doing, Siddharth?"

His lips curved into a faint smile. "What do you think I'm doing, Suger?"

I stared into his dark brown eyes, mesmerized. They were so captivating that I felt like I could look at them for hours, losing myself in their depths. But before I could process the thought, I felt something soft against my forehead.

Startled, I snapped out of my reverie, realizing he had kissed me—on my forehead. My brows furrowed in confusion as I looked at him questioningly.

Without breaking eye contact, he leaned closer, his breath brushing against my ear. In a low, possessive whisper, he said, "Remember, love, you're mine. Only mine. And I don't like sharing."

With that, he straightened up and returned to his seat, leaving me frozen in place, my heart pounding in my chest.

I was so shocked, but I quickly adjusted my posture when I noticed someone entering the cabin. It was Papa, Chacha Ji, and Bhai.

Papa walked towards me with a warm smile, saying, "I heard my princess came with lunch." Smiling back, I hugged him tightly.

"Let's have lunch together today," Papa said cheerfully. But then his gaze shifted to Siddharth, and he invited him to join us. Sid nodded silently, and we all headed to the eating area.

We settled down at the table. Papa and Chacha Ji sat beside me, while Bhai and Siddharth took seats across from us. The atmosphere was light as we enjoyed lunch, chatting about random topics.

In the middle of it, Chacha Ji asked, "Bhai mentioned you're planning an outing with Isha, Naina, Anisha and Vanya?"

"Yes, Chacha Ji, Samiksha is joining us too" I replied with a smile. "We're planning to visit an amusement park, watch a movie, and have dinner together, a total girl's day out"

The conversation shifted after sometime to something else, but Siddharth's piercing gaze never left me.

After having lunch, Sid and Bhai went towards Bhai's cabin, and Chachaji went out for a meeting. I went with Papa to his cabin. We were sitting on the couch, and my head was on Papa's shoulder. Then I asked, "Mumma said you came to my room in the morning. You want to talk about something, Papa?"

"No, bacha, I just had a bad dream and wanted to know if you are safe and sound," Papa said while kissing my forehead. I gave the best smile of mine to Papa at that. I know my father is the top businessman in India and is known for his strictness and anger, but for me, he is the best father who cares and loves his children so much.

We sat like that for a while. Then I bid bye to Papa as he had a meeting which he was going to cancel because I was here, but somehow, I convinced him to not.

The elevator doors were about to close when a large figure stepped in, forcing them to reopen. My heart sank as I realized who it was—Siddharth.

I muttered a curse under my breath and considered stepping out, but the doors had already closed.

Sid leaned against the wall, his signature smirk plastered across his face. His sharp, dark eyes were fixed on me.

"So," he said casually, his voice smooth yet taunting. "A girl's day out?"

My eyes widened in shock, and I could feel my heart rate spike. "It's none of your business," I replied, trying to sound confident but failing miserably.

Sid's smirk deepened, and he moved closer. His towering figure loomed over me, and I instinctively took a step back.

"Everything related to you is my business, Sugar," he said, his tone dangerously soft. He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, his fingertips grazing my skin. Before I could react, he leaned down and pressed a kiss just below my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

I froze, my mind scrambling to process his words and actions. "Let me go," I whispered, trying to push him away.

Sid chuckled; his breath warm against my cheek. "If only it was that simple." Then he kissed my cheek lightly before stepping back.

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Without another word, Sid walked out, leaving me standing there, my heart racing and my face burning.

I hurried to my car, needing the fresh air to clear my thoughts. As I settled into the driver's seat and started the engine, my mind was spinning with confusion and frustration.

I drove home in silence, my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. Sid's words echoed in my mind. What was he planning? Why couldn't he leave me alone?

One thing was clear: I wasn't going to let him win. Not this time. Not ever.

"I don't want you in my life, Sid," I whispered to myself as I parked in front of my house. "Not anymore."

Next Day

Author's pov:

The next day, we went to the amusement park, and we had so much fun! We laughed, screamed on the rides, and made the best memories. Afterward, we decided to watch a romantic movie. I still don't know why we picked that genre, but surprisingly, it turned out to be really good.

By the time the movie ended, we were all starving. Someone suggested going to one of my father's restaurants for dinner, and everyone agreed. After a short drive, we arrived at the restaurant.

As soon as we walked in, the receptionist recognized me and quickly called the manager. He appeared in seconds, looking a bit nervous.

"Miss Sharma, it's an honour to have you here," he said politely before turning to a waiter. "Is Miss Sharma's table ready?"

The waiter nodded, and the manager led us to our table. "Please follow me," he said with a polite smile.

We settled into our seats, and the staff brought us water and menus.

Once we placed our food orders, Anisha leaned forward with a nostalgic smile. "It's been so long since we spent a day like this together."

"It really has," Samiksha replied, her grin as wide as ever. "But today has been amazing."

"Totally worth it," Naina chimed in, nodding enthusiastically.

Isha, always composed, raised an eyebrow playfully. ""Waise Samiksha didi, kya aapne pata lagaya ki aapka secret admirer kaun hai?"

"Nahi," Samiksha said, blushing slightly. "I still have no idea. "Lekin jo letters woh likhta hai, woh itne sweet hote hain—main tho usse bas ek baar milna chahti hoon."

"Kyun na aap Siddharth bhai ya Ranveer bhai ko bata dein? Woh usse fatafat dhoondh lenge." Naina teased with a mischievous grin.

"Haan, aur phir shayad woh usse wahiin pe maar daalenge, for daring to send love letters to their sister," Vanya added with a laugh.

Samiksha's eyes went wide in mock horror. ""Bilkul! Bhai toh pakka usse maar daalenge, aur phir meri love story shuru hone se pehle hi khatam ho jayegi!" We all burst out laughing at her dramatic reaction.

But just as we were enjoying the moment, I suddenly started coughing. At first, I thought it was just something stuck in my throat, but the coughing grew worse. My chest felt tight, and my vision blurred as breathing became harder.

"Samu! Are you okay?" Samiksha cried out, her smile vanishing as she rushed to my side.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Naina's voice was full of panic as she moved closer.

"I... I can't breathe," I managed to say, though my voice was barely a whisper.

Isha jumped up to get help, her calm demeanor replaced by urgency, while Anisha held my hand tightly, trying to keep me steady. Vanya glanced at the food and gasped.

"This dish has peas!" she exclaimed. "She's allergic to peas!"

Without wasting a second, they helped Vanya up and rushed her to the nearest hospital. The ride was tense, with Anisha holding Samruddhi's hand tightly, whispering, "Stay with us Samu, please. You'll be fine."

At the hospital, the doctor acted quickly. After administering an injection and ensuring her vitals stabilized, he reassured them. "She's fine now. She'll wake up soon. Just make sure she rests properly."

They all sighed in relief, and Isha stayed back to handle the medications and paperwork while the others accompanied Samruddhi to a private room to let her rest.

Back at the Room

They sat around Samruddhi's bed, watching her closely as her breathing evened out. Vanya brushed her hair away from her face. "She looks so peaceful now, but she scared the life out of us," she muttered.

"How could Didi eat something with peas? She knows how dangerous they are for her!" Naina said angrily, pacing back and forth.

"Calm down, Naina. But I remember her clearly saying to avoid peas in any dish. How could they be so careless?" Anisha replied, her frustration evident.

"Still, we should've been more careful," Naina responded, her voice tight with anxiety.

"Let's move to the garden and talk. Maybe if we're nearby, she'll wake up," Samiksha suggested.

"I'll stay here with Didi until she wakes up," Naina said firmly, her calm demeanour reassuring everyone.

The others nodded and left the room to sit in the Hospital Garden, though worry lingered on their faces.

In the Garden

As they settled down, Samiksha's phone rang. She glanced at the screen and froze. It was Siddharth. Everyone exchanged nervous looks.

"Answer it," Anisha said nervously, "but don't tell him anything about Samu."

Samiksha nodded, her hands trembling slightly. She knew how protective her brother was, especially when it came to Samruddhi.

She picked up the call, trying to sound casual. "Hello, Bhai."

"Hello, Princess. What are you doing?" Siddharth's voice was calm.

"Nothing, Bhai. We just came out for Dinar," she said quickly. "Do you need anything?"

"No, but why do you sound nervous? Is everything okay?"

Samiksha's eyes widened at his question, panic creeping into her voice. "Everything's fine, Bhai! You're overthinking. I'll call you later, okay? Bye!"

She hung up before he could press further, letting out a deep breath.

"What did he say?" Vanya asked anxiously.

"He asked if something was wrong," Samiksha admitted.

Everyone exchanged nervous glances. They knew Siddharth well enough to understand that if he sensed something was amiss, he'd find out the truth in no time.

""Bas yeh umeed karo ki tumhare bhai yahan na aa jayein." Anisha muttered. "Agar woh aaye, toh hum sabka the end pakka hai."

"Haan, Siddharth ko pata chal gaya, toh Samu ke family ko bhi pata chal jayega," Vanya added.

They sat in silence, tension thick in the air, knowing that if Siddharth arrived before Samruddhi woke up, they'd be in big trouble.