52| Endgame.
Theme song~
Sahi galat from Drishyam 2
Aayansh rests his hand on Tara's lower back, both with possessiveness and protectiveness as they make their way out of the ballroom, after the conference ends.
When tara holds his tricep, demanding "I wanted to meet-"
The same moment, a voice from behind catches their attention, "You are here because you know I'm not your sister and you don't want me to take her rights?"
Tara's gaze lingers on Aashika, who's standing a distance away from them.
Without turning, Aayansh opens the car's door and makes Tara sit inside. Then he turns to face aashika, his one hand tugging into the pocket and face evilly calm as he says "Soch soch ki baat hai, think as far as your brain allows, Mannat, or whatever your real identity is."
He ignores the instant change of her demeanor and sits inside the car, while Aashika's eyes flick to Tara and something clicks in her mind.
The abrupt knock on the door pulls aashika out of her slumber, with a decent voice "Cari?o, everyone's waiting for you at the breakfast table."
Her eyes shift to the entrance where the Spanish head maid of this palace vale?tina is standing. Aashika gets up in bed, pressing "I'll be there, you can leave."
Vale?tina nods before leaving from there.
Aashika exhales, her mind occupied with several thoughts as she stands up and walks to the grand mirror.
She slides it aside and enters the space within, it's another room, hidden from others eyes.
She turns on the lights, letting her gaze travel to every corner.
Aaina's photos adorning the walls, their memories, Aayansh's childhood pictures.
Some pics where they're together, like the happiest alive.
A pic in which four year old aashi is sitting on Aaryan's lap, and seven months aayansh is in Aaina's arms and they're giggling together.
A clip in which aaina is recording the moment when aashi walked on her own feet for the first time and many more.
A shelf containing aaina's death certificate, her professional life's details, about her hospital and business ventures, her personal information and medical certificates, aashi's death certificate.
Aashika sits at the desk and unlocks her laptop, she opens the folder named 'Checkmate'.
Scrolling through it, she comes across O.R's confidentials and employee history.
She opens her own former profile as 'Mannat sinha', when she used to work in this company as a mere employee, just to get back into this family.
Verifying this profile, she deletes every record of 'Mannat sinha' from the company's history.
Now this means, Mannat sinha never worked in this company.
She had hacked company's confidentials long ago, knowing Aaryan Oberoi once using her as aashika to get O.R in his name, will definitely try to wipe her off by using this identity and proving her as mannat- a mere former employee in O.R again.
But now? This name and O.R have no links, they never had, after Aashika wiped off her former identity from the company's history.
And for Oberois, Mannat is just an abandoned child with no official or formal information, and who was living within them for the past seven years as a colleague.
A slow smirk curls aashika's lips as she leans on the chair, murmuring "Let me show you how to master a game, father."
After around half an hour, aashika reaches downstairs, at the breakfast table where the family is present already.
She's dressed up in a red tailored suit, shoulder length hair free and light touch up on face. She sits on her chair unbothered, while their attention diverts to her.
"You're being announced as O.R's official face today, in the conference" Aaryan presses, taking a sip of juice from his glass.
"Yeah, I know," Aashika answers, having her breakfast and forcing a smile at him.
"Good, so I act like an oberoi there" He adds, "And speak only as much as you're permitted to."
"Exactly, i don't trust you" Anika murmurs, stuffing a sandwich in her mouth.
"I never asked for your trust" Aashika mouths, without sparing a glance at her "Keep it to yourself, Mrs. Oberoi."
Anika's eyes narrow at her, but she doesn't say a word while Aashika's eyes shift to her father, unreadable but a quiet storm.
??
The colossal ballroom buzzes like a still chaos, voices humming mildly, cameras flashing and eyes both curious yet confused.
A sleek black podium stands at the center of a raised stage, flanked by a wall of flashing cameras. Behind it, an LED screen pulsed with the company's emblem.
Rows of chairs stretching, major journalists both foreigner and native standing in decorum, recorders, and elites/bureaucrats with their attention frozen. Security scans every movement, while assistants adjust mics with precision.
This isn't just a press conference-it's a show of power.
Aashika sits on the chesterfield sofa, encountering the media in front. Oberois are sitting in their respective seats and their legal team, board members of the company are also present here.
The media gets permission to ask their questions before the oath ceremony.
"How are you feeling after becoming the lead of Asia's largest estate?" "What are your strategies to take O.R to new heights?"
"Is your grandfather, who started this legacy, is he your inspiration? Or are you going to draw your own paths?"
"Do you think you're capable of handling this position? Or is this just a birth privilege you're getting?"
Aashika's eyes shift to the reporter who asked this question as she answers, "Birth privileges can offer you opportunities, not the path to success.
" She turns toward the other reporters "Similarly, you all have the right to ask questions, that doesn't mean you'll spit every useless shits coming in your mind. "
"This girl is so keen to ruin our reputation" Anika grumbles, maintaining fake expressions on her face.
Here, Aashika's manager tells her, "Ma'am, there's an issue. Please come to the executive suite, board members are waiting for you out there."
She gives a slight glance to him and excusing the media and people here, she makes her way to the executive suite. While Aaryan, Rithvik, Rivaan and others are staring at her with confusion.
The members and stakeholders stand up as soon as she enters, greeting her but their faces dripping bewilderment and shock.
She sits on her head chair, questioning "What's the matter?"
"Matter is quite clear and simple, Miss Oberoi," Her eyes land in the direction of this voice, where a man is sitting, wearing a formal black-colored suit.
"This company comes under the ownership of a single person- sole ownership.
And unfortunately, that person is not you. " He adds, his voice respectfully calm.
"Ma'am, He's Moksh Deewan" Aashika's manager informs, while she's already staring at moksh with an unreadable gaze. "A lawyer and the head of the legal team which claims you or anyone doesn't have any say in this estate and related matters anymore."
"Any proof, Mr. Deewan?" Aashika demands.
"Yeah, sure" Moksh says, indicating something to his assistant and he puts forward a red file, adding, "Your grandfather's will, according to which you and your brother were the sole owners of this estate, as said earlier.
There's a correction in this, your name is nowhere mentioned, only one name and one owner exists as per the will. "
Aashika, who's reading the file, realises Moksh is not lying. The red file itself is proving moksh's each word accurate, which is practically impossible.
"And" She pressed, looking straight into his eyes "Who's that sole owner?"
"Mr. Aayansh Oberoi" Moksh answers, "This estate comes under his sole ownership, both legally and morally."
The floor beneath aashika and other people's feet slips away, how suddenly everything flipped. Slow murmurs fill the surroundings-Aashika Oberoi was supposed to be announced as the fresh face of O.R along with the oath ceremony, but now? she's left with nothing.
Outside the suite, this news has already spread in the media and other people, chaos has erupted with the uncertainty of the situation.
"What the hell is happening?" Anika mutters in her breath, maintaining a mask on her face "You were going to use mannat as your pawn to get the estate back? And here Aayansh-"
With a fake smile, Aaryan cuts her off silently "Just shut your mouth for now, and smile."
He tugs his hands in the pockets regally, encountering the media reaching them as a reporter asks "Your son is finally joining your legacy, Mr. Oberoi, what do you want to say about the same? How are you feeling?"
"Pride is the only feeling that can describe this moment for me" He answers, his expressions composed.
"But as per our information, Ms. Aashika Oberoi was supposed to be announced as the fresh face of OR?
And now Mr. Aayansh Oberoi has claimed the estate legally at his sole ownership, going against his grandfather's will.
Was it planned or sudden legal changes in the will?
" Another media person throws the question on his face.
Aaryan exhales sharply, processing his answer "Actually, nothing was planned. But we're more than satisfied with whatever decision my son took."
"I have a question" A young man raises hand confidently, "Didn't your father trust you enough that he handed the estate to your Late wife Mrs. Aaina Rajvansh Oberoi, until your children get mature enough to take their responsibilities?"
Aaryan's jaw clenches when another one interrupts.
"Wait, aren't you doing partiality with your daughter? I mean, she too has an equal claim and does she agree with the sudden shift?"
"You don't have to be so concerned about me" The reporter who asked this and others turns to aashika who's heading toward them with a composed face as she adds, "I agree or not, that's clearly my call.
You all were supposed to record the drama for the nation, not to throw judgements or pass comments on our family matters. "
"Apologies Ms. Oberoi, we were just doing our jobs" A channeller presses, bowing their heads.
Here, someone's there who's watching all this drama closely on the screen in front of him.
Smoke curls up from the edge of the cigar as aayansh leans back in the chair, staring at the headlines and live- casting through the screen, their faces?-his family's, especially aashika's. He's in his cabin, watching them being trapped.
His face is calm and unreadable as he crushes the cigar in the ashtray, resting his head on the headrest of the chair and closing his eyes-no one can predict what's going on in his mind.
A knock on the door rumbles and without moving or being affected, he permits in his usual cold tone "Come in."
Asher walks in, his head down. Stopping in front of him and putting forward some documents, he mouths "Boss, Mannat, the lady on sig?ora's (Aashika) place is connected to Vaniore Dominion?- the emerging mafia syndicate in Asia, not directly involved.
And Mannat was faking to be her as Mr. aaryan Oberoi wanted her to. "
For a moment, silence hovers the place. Aayansh's eyes are still closed and face calm, head resting on the crown as he's rotating the paperweight with his one hand.
Asher's eyes gets thin with confusion, that why is aayansh so unaffected hearing all this, then pausing a moment, he adds "Boss, Mannat is connected to mafias and no one knows about this, the same time she's living sig?ora's life within oberois, I think she's having some hidden motive behind all this. "
"A-aap kya soch rahe hain?" He stutters in a low voice.
"Soch soch ki baat hai" aayansh opens his eyes and looks at him, stopping the paper weight, an evil smirk working on his lips "Insaan wahi tak soch pata hai jaha tak uska dimaag sochne de aur utna hi dekh pata hai jitna use dikhaya jaaye. Jo usse aage dekh paaye, he's the king."
Further confusion flicks in Asher's eyes, but he doesn't dare questioning.
"Also, b-boss, I had a doubt." Gathering the courage, he says "Many in the underworld were having a wish to end your heir. So whatever happened with signora and your unborn children-"
"Limit your fucking tongue, Asher" Aayansh cuts him off, his voice darkly calm and cold gaze sticking to asher's face which makes him tremble at his place as aayansh adds, "I hate anyone even mentioning my wife or my children on their tongue."
Cold sweat drops gleaming through asher's forehead, his eyes glued to the polished floor.
"And having a wish or having the courage to do the same are two different things" Aayansh concludes and asher stutters in response "I apol-"
"Out" aayansh orders, and without wasting a second, asher leaves the cabin.
He stands up, stopping near the glass wall, he stares at the world outside.
He Presses a cigar between his lips and lightens it up, and thinking something, an evil grin curls his lips.
They say villains aren't born, they're made. But let's not forget, this villain was born a villain- in everyone's life.
Evening~ 7.14 P.M
Lately, tara has been keeping herself busy with work and other things as much as she's able to.
Aayansh stops the car in front of her studio, and Tara steps out with Hazel. Her eyes directly land on aayansh, he's standing leaning against the car and doing something on his phone with usual cold face.
A plain black T-shirt hugging his muscular frame, layered under a blazer and pants.
Seeing aayansh, Hazel leaves after wishing Tara right away, and Tara walks to him whose eyes are still on his phone. She keeps staring at him when without lifting his eyes, he says "You can do much more than staring, you know that, right?"
She gets back into her senses, "Huh? I- I was just-"
He grabs her wrist, opening the door and making her sit on the passenger seat. He himself sits on the driving seat and leans on her to fasten her seat belt, pressing "Sometimes accepting is better than pretending."
Tara blinks at him, while he starts the car and she frowns, "You also pretend that you don't feel anything for our babies, don't you?"
Aayansh's eyes are on the road, his face remains neutral as he says "I'm not someone to pretend anything, Amour, the moment they left us, I accepted it."
"That doesn't mean I didn't have fatherly emotions for my children" He adds and Tara stares at him for a moment.
Then, she rests her head on his shoulder, the cool air touching her face as she closes her eyes and covers her ears with headphones, while Aayansh is holding her one hand, his focus both on her and the lane ahead.
After around two hours of driving, he stops the car and they both step out. As Tara's gaze travels to the front, her eyes freezes. It's a farmhouse, surrounded by plush gardens and it looks so modern and enticing from outside.
"Come" aayansh takes her hand in his and walks ahead, tara is staring around with curiosity when she sees the name plate, where AayRa is written with elegance.
They walk inside, tara's dull face lightening up a little, her eyes scanning every detail as she roams freely, muttering under her breath, "This is so beautiful."
She sees the pool outside through the glass walls, the fountains, open farm and the grand lawn.
When aayansh scoops her into his arms from behind, nuzzling his face in her neck, she freezes. His breath hot against her neck, hands wrapped around her stomach firmly but he doesn't say a word, just breathing in her scent.
She rests her hands on his, over her waist, murmuring slowly "aayansh-"
He doesn't answer, without moving a bit and seizing her small frame the same way.
He kisses her neck, shoulder and collarbone, slowly but intensely and she tilts her head, her eyes close and breath quickening.
"You're so tempting" He whispers, his lips touching her earlobe as he's losing his control with the taste of her.
"Aayansh... I'm on periods" She murmurs, her breath shaky and aayansh stops, his face still buried in the curve of her neck as he takes a deep breath to control himself-knowing she wouldn't be able to handle him in this condition.
He turns her toward him and noticing light moisture in her eyes, his gaze turns serious as he cups her cheek and says "Go to the room and rest, I'm coming."
She nods and he presses a kiss against her cheek before she makes her way to the lift to reach their bedroom.
Dialing someone's number, aayansh walks to the glass door, staring outside as the call picks within a single ring and he orders "Get a jet ready, India. tonight." He disconnects, eyes still glued to outside and face lacking any emotions.
Aayansh reaches the room. Taking off his blazer, he tosses it on the couch and looks at tara who's sleeping in the hammock at the balcony, curled up in herself.
The fresh dinner is still on the coffee table, untouched. He walks to the balcony, picking her in his arms and breaking her slumber, he sits on the couch with her in his lap.
Hiding her face in his chest, she whimpers with irritation "Aayansh.. I'm sleepy"
"You can sleep after the dinner" He asserts, forwarding a bite toward her and unwillingly, she opens her mouth and starts having the food. He stares at her and understanding quickly, she feeds him the same way.
After getting done with the dinner, she questions in a slow, sleepy voice "You're going to india?"
"We are going" He corrects, cleaning the curry from the corner of her lips with his thumb, his voice and expressions severe.
"Why so... suddenly?" Sleep drowning as she closes her eyes.
His gaze drops to her face, she's already asleep, her steady breath flowing on his chest. He keeps staring at her face with an unreadable, intense gaze, then lifts her up and lays her in bed carefully, covering her with a blanket, he makes his way to the closet.
After a few minutes, he comes out, wearing his casual trousers and checking something in his phone, he keeps it on the nightstand and sinks into the bed, pulling tara up on his chest, he closes his eyes.
In an underground safehouse, someone who's wearing a black jacket and jeans, face half hidden with the darkness, she's stepping ahead like a walking menace when she notices a faint noise from behind.
"Turn" The voice cuts through the silence, as a man points his gun at the back of her head. She doesn't turn, doesn't flinch, just takes her gun out of the waistband and places it on the ground.
"Hands up and turn" That man snaps again, and she brings her hands up and turns toward him slowly, her eyes calm but lethal.
And the moment he takes a step near her, in a blink, she pulls out the boot knife from her boot and plunges it in his throat, leaving a scream.
The gun from his hands falls to the other side and his body dodges down on the ground lifeless, some of his blood drops get on that woman's face as she tosses the used knife aside and picks her gun.
"Smart Move" Another man's voice gets into her ears and she warns, "Do not try to play games with me, Enzo."
She turns, cleaning blood drops from her face with a handkerchief "When you know the next throat can be yours too."
"I'm not playing, La donna" Enzo smiles, passing another tissue to her "Not with you." He steps toward her, chuckling "But your brother, the padrino seems to be doing the same."
[La donna is a term used for a respected mafia woman, the lady who commands everything.
Padrino-the Godfather or ultimate leader of mafias]
That woman, who's no one but Aashika, lifts her eyes to Enzo D'Amico who's the consigliere to the Vaniore Dominion- the emerging powerful mafia syndicate in Asia, aiming to conquer the countries within the subcontinent and establish their power.
And Aashika is the Donna of this syndicate, who is a man with a hidden identity as per others knowledge. Only Enzo and Sia, his girlfriend and aashika's trusted one knows this truth and almost everything about aashika.
"You were dying to see your brother, but look, he snatched everything from you, ruined your years planning in a single moment.
You adopted a fake identity just to get into your family and take back everything that was yours, to get to your mother's culprit, but now?
Game has been flipped, Donna. You're not the trapper anymore, you're the one who's trapped.
" Enzo murmurs, his voice thick with suspicion as he notices aashika's expressions.
"Righttt" A crooked smile curls aashika's lips, sitting on the chair, "I trapped my own family for years" She tilts her head and glares at him
"And you're trying to trap me in your words?"
"No, Donna" He hesitates but aashika cuts him off "Don't manipulate your own words."
He bows his head with the realisation.
Here aashika's expressions flips, something lethal crossing her features as she murmurs under her breath "I can't let aayansh know of my existence, my reality or anything. Not after whatever he did deliberately," She exhales.
"Forgive me for these words" Enzo interrupts her thoughts, his voice low "You have to go against your brother, not for your own blood feud, but to shake his regime before he destroys our syndicate in Asia."
Aashika glances back at him, as if something destructive is going on in her mind.
??
Oberois' are in white. Rithvik and Aaryan Oberoi are busy talking with their business colleagues, savoring the champagne from their glasses.
The soft hush of music weaving through the air.
Anika who's wearing a white net saree, she's standing with meera, holding a glass of red wine as she throws a quick glance around and mocks "Party is being held in our own palace and we don't even know who has organized it and why?"
"Aur barbaad hone ke baad kaun party karta hai" She slurs in her breath, making sure no one hears her.
"Barbaad karne wala" They both turn to the direction of this voice where aashika is standing, dressed in a white, off shoulder bodycon and she's looking absolutely gorgeous.
Meera shakes her head, joining her lips together while anika mutters "Barbaad toh tum bhi hui ho, actually sabse buri tarah, mere bete Aayansh ke haatho."
"Come on, be for real, Mrs. Oberoi, he's not your son" Aashika smirks, "And don't be so concerned about me, mujhe barbaadi ko aabadi mein badalana boht achhe se aata hai."
She walks past them, leaving them bewildered.
Near the mocktail corner, Rhea and Riva are standing, both staring at the same man who's looking for someone.
"Isn't he so hot?" Riva says, mesmerized.
"No lies, but don't stare at him like a hungry witch, log tujhe hi hawasi samjhenge" Rhea asserts, taking a sip from her glass.
"As if I care? Mai hun thodi si hawasi" Riva grimaces.
"And hot hai toh hai, aur hot ladke taadne ke liye hi hote hain. God, I need to know his name-"
"Moksh deewan, Malang Deewan's elder brother and David Deewan's son" Rhea cuts her off, and Riva's expressions flips.
"I've heard this name somewhere" She mutters, after pausing for a moment.
"Of course you did, he's the same lawyer who was there in the conference that day. Both these brothers are here in David uncle's place" Rhea tells all in a single breath.
"Whatever" Riva snuggles, giggling "This Moksh is mine."
Here, aashika reaches the backside of the palace, a hidden microphone connects to her ear as she mumbles slowly "I don't know, but I feel aayansh is doing all this deliberately. He might come here, or maybe he's already present-"
Just when she collides with someone, she drags her eyes up to moksh but before he can touch or hold her, she snaps "Hands back."
Moksh stops, taking his hands back "Okay, cool,"
"Oh, so you're also here," aashika says, staring at him.
"Of course, I am here" Moksh smiles, "But with proper invitation."
"Invitation doesn't mean you'll roam here as if you own this property" she says, her tone dripping sarcasm.
"Damn, calm down, woman" Moksh chuckles, "That day I just did my job, and I've no intention to get such a gorgeous lady as my enemy."
"Do not cross your limits, Mr. Deewan" Aashika warns, "Especially when you don't know with whom you're playing."
Moksh's eyes narrowed, and ignoring him, aashika makes her way ahead.
IN A PRIVATE VILLA, INDIA
Tara is standing near the bed, staring at the dress kept in front of her, she's lost in some deep thinking.
"Come back to this world, amour" This voice in her ear drags her out of her thoughts and she turns, only to find aayansh who has just entered the room, staring at her only.
"Tum kab aaye?" Her brows twist in anticipation.
"When you were lost in your thoughts" He says, removing the strands of hair from her face.
"By the way, get ready, we have to attend a party." He adds, picking his phone from the night stand.
"Aayan" She murmurs, staring at the dress with a weird gaze "I want to stay like this only."
Aayansh turns to her, his intense gaze scans her from head to toe for a moment. She's just wearing his oversized hoodie, covering her legs just above the knees and falling gently from her left shoulder, her hair tied into a messy bun.
"Of course you can stay like this" He says, taking slow steps toward her, "In my clothes, or without them too, you have no idea how delicate you look like this."
Her knee collides with the edge and she sits back in bed, lips parting and eyes slightly wide "Wh-what are you-"
Aayansh rests his one knee in bed and towers over her head, an evil smirk ghosting on his lips as he cuts her off "Shh, I'll dress you in my own way."
He makes her stand on her knees in bed, her hands get on his chest as he removes that hoodie from body in a single stroke, throwing it aside, he grabs her waist and pulls her close.
Her sensitive breast collides against his hard chest, making her gasp, her cheeks turning red.
Keeping his eyes on her flushed face, aayansh leans down and presses his lips to her cleavage, biting over there, he slowly sucks the sensitive spot between her breasts. While she's tugging his hair with all her strength, moaning his name softly like a curse.
He kisses all over her chest, his hands roaming on her bare back as he picks that gown from the bed, his lips now sucking on her jaw as she winces.
After some time, tara stands in front of the boundier table, giving a final check to her look.
She's wearing an off shoulder full length, black gown, slightly curled hair settled on the left shoulder, light diamond earrings and the ring aayansh gave her.
Smokey eye make up, wine color lipstick and black louboutin.
She's actually looking like the princess she is, not from some fairytale, but a beautiful part of a dark tragedy.
Aayansh's arms around her waist pull her out of her delusions.
A black tuxedo fitting his muscular frame with precision, hair settled, freshly shaved face, the crisp black shirt tucked into the pants under the blazer, an expensive breitling watch around his wrist and eyes as always unreadable.
"Which party are we going to? You didn't tell me anything" She murmurs curiously, playing with his calloused fingers.
"You wanted to meet my family, right?" He says, his chin resting on her shoulder.
A big smile curls tara's lips as she says "We're going to meet your family? Why didn't you tell me before? And-"
"You know mujhe zyada sawal pasand nahi hai" He cuts her off, and after a few moments. He detaches and holds her hand, adding "Let's go."