"Di?" A knock on her door alerted her to the arrival of her best friend and bundle of joy.

"Mom!" A squeal and giggles followed as her daughter ran to her side.

Saumya smiled as she slowly walked into the room.

"Were you nice to Saumya Maasi, Manvi?"

Manvi nodded. Her eyes wide with joy as she beckoned her younger sister, who was holding Saumya's hand.

"Pia was not a good girl." Anika grinned as her other daughter's eyes widened in protest.

"No Mama! Mimi was the bad one. She refused to even finish her bread today."

Manvi's eyes widened at the betrayal. "Liar! You told me you would eat it."

Pia smirked and sat in the chair opposite Anika's table. Anika felt her heart clench as she watched Shivaay's smirk imprinted on her daughter's face. Pia might look like a small Anika but behaved like her ex-husband while Manvi was a Shivaay 2.0 in looks but a free-spirit.

Saumya looked exhausted as she took the other chair. Anika pulled Manvi into her lap as she looked concerned at Saumya.

"Sumo! Are you okay? Should I call Ru or the doctor?"

Saumya gave a small smile. "Di! I am just tired. Our Prince is really taking all the energy out of me."

Anika shook her head.

------------
"Welcome to Singapore." A voice echoed next to him. He smiled at the airhostess.

His sister sighed in relied after their long trip of about 8 hours including the road trip in India. She was looking greedily at the photos of the hotel they were staying at.

Shivaay rolled his eyes. "You know we are here to look into Dadaji's business right?"

Priyanka rolled her eyes. She had just tagged along to get a break from their grandfather's rich groom searching. He was trying to marry her off to one of the richest families in India. Two of their sons lived in Singapore so her grandfather had agreed to let Priyanka tag along with Shivaay.

As they passed the gates, there was a young man standing at the entrance with a sheet with OBEROI written on it.

"Are you the driver the hotel sent?" Shivaay asked the man.

The man shook his head. "No. I am Aryan Ranawat. My brother told me to pick you both and take you to the Ranawat Mansion."

Shivaay shook his head. "No, it is okay. We have a hotel booked."

Aryan grinned. "Arre Bhaisahab. Will you get me beaten. Bhaiya was so sure I wouldn't come here. He will kill me for sure."

Priyanka looked at the man curiously.

Aryan turned a bit red. "Bhaiya took Di and kids out for dinner."

Shivaay's eyes widened. "I did not know the Ranawat's had a daughter?"

Aryan shook his head. "No. Di is bhaiya's best friend. After so many days, Di agreed to go out with him."

Priyanka's eyes gleamed. Looks like groom was gone. Now it would be just a holiday. Her bhaiya really needed a holiday.

Flashback
Priyanka was going to the kitchen for a midnight snack when she saw a light in the study.

"Ayan, I am telling you that she is alive. I know it." Shivaay had been talking to someone.

"I have convinced Dadaji and her father that she is dead. But I know my Anu will not just die like that. She is not one to just give up."

He had cut the phone and leaned back on the sofa.

"Ani, where are you? I have made arrangements for us to disappear. I will find my cousins and then we can just disappear I promise."

Flashback ends

Priyanka was confused. Was her brother on their Grandfather's side or Anika's?
---------
Shivaay messaged Om as he sat in living room of his new apartment for the next 3 months.

"Reached. Any news? What was the lead?"

Flashback

Shivaay had followed Om to his work and ambushed him there.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Om yelled.

"Anu is alive." Shivaay whispered.

Om's eyes widened. "What?"

Shivaay nodded. "That wasn't Anika and Rudra."

Om paused. "You have got to be kidding me. It has just been 2 weeks since I cremated my sister and brother and you tell me this?"

Shivaay grimaced and sighed. "I know she is. She would not just die in the car crash. I need your help. But not even Mallika can know. My grandfather and their father are trying to takeover what belonged to her."

Om looked at Shivaay disbelieving. "I think you have lost your mind."

Shivaay clenched his fists. "No Om. Listen to me. It was only when Mallika was caught that Anika made a move. You really think they will die like that. No, they did it somehow."

Om glanced at Shivaay like he was a crazed man. "Stay away from us." He walked away.

Flashback ends

----------
Om glanced at his phone and grimaced seeing Shivaay's message. There was nothing at their tip. Just an empty cabin owned by a Sanam and Karan Khanna. Was he going mad hoping to find his dead brother and sister-in-law?

Flashback

As Om walked quickly away from Mr Oberoi, he glanced back quickly to see a forlorn Shivaay.

Did he really think they were alive? Was there hope? Had Saumya been lying?

His phone rang at that moment. "Hello Raj! Any news? Where did those necklaces come from?"

His friend and a detective, Raj Mehra sighed. "Om, are you sure your mother did not get these from somewhere. It seems like ancestral property. Also there is a mark of someone who restored the jewellery. An Amor logo."

Om grimaced. He recognised the name. A few years ago, his mom had sold her brain child away to help Om and Rudra go to university.

"I researched on the company. It is owned by a Veer Malhotra. Tried contacting them, but Veer said that he cannot take the call without his manager, a Sanam Khanna."

Was Shivaay right? Did Anika and Rudra have any connections with the Khannas? The necklaces had been in his mother's locker and there had been some notes from Rudra like he was trying to find where they came from.

Flashback ends

Om groaned. This was the 100th time that he got tips related to the Khanna siblings. Was he holding false hope?

His phone buzzed. He opened it to see a picture of his kids, Anushka and Ruhaan. Ruhaan was holding on to his younger sister like she was going to disappear.

Was he losing time with them chasing nothing? He was tired of keeping it a secret but he did not want Mallika to hope and long for Anika if there was no Anika to hope for. She had already become a shell of the person he knew.

------------
Priyanka was walking through the garden when she heard two kids giggling and a man talking. She peeped over a Bush to see a man sitting next to two little girls and playing with dolls.

"The dragon puffed out fire as the brave princess fought to save her sister."

"Veeru, no, she is saving the Prince. Girls can save themselves." One of the girls squealed.

He laughed. "Okay baba. Your Veeru made a mistake."

"Manvi, don't interuppp...p story" The other girl stammered out.

"Pia, it is don't interrupt." The man explained. While he was explaining Manvi got up and started towards the pond nearby.

"Manvi! Come here. Don't ruin your dress. Your mama will kill me."

Manvi grinned glancing back with her sparkling green eyes.

"Yes Manvi. Come here." The one he had called Pia called out.

As the little girl ran, Priyanka rushed and caught her arm.

"Leave me." Manvi whined and strained against her grip. As the man and the other little girl ran towards them."

The other child looked at her angrily. "Who are you? Leave my sister alone."

Priyanka smiled and bent to the child's height and tried to sign to her. The kids watched her puzzled.

"Beta, she is saying that Manvi could have gotten hurt." Veer answered. Priyanka looked up in surprise. How did he know?

Manvi looked up at her. "Veeru, why does she not talk?"

Veer grimaced but lifted Manvi up. "Bachcha she is talking in her way."

Pia looked up. "She special like Mehe maasi."

Veer smiled. "Yeah. She is like your Mehek Maasi."

Pia grinned at Priyanka and then slowly tried to sign to her. "I learn. Maasi teach me." She said.

Priyanka smiled and then slowly signed back at her.

"She says she can also teach you."

Pia's eyes widened in joy.

At that moment, a car drove into the foyer and a man got out and waved at them.

"Your mama came. Time to go home."

Manvi pursed her lips. "I don't want to go."

Veer smiled. " You have to baccha. Let me ask your mama then tomorrow you can stay here."

Manvi whined. "Call Mama now."

Veer grinned and took his phone out and called someone with the phone on speaker.

"Hello V! I sent Ramu. He will pick the girls. I got stuck in the office."

The voice seemed so familiar to Priyanka but she could not spot it.

"Can Manvi stay here?" Veer asked.

The voice groaned. " V, not today. I need her to finish her homework for pre-K. She hasn't finished writing it. Tomorrow?"

Veer answered affirmatively and kept the phone.

"Badmaash, you did not finish homework? Today you finish it then tomorrow you can come. Now go with Ramu kaka."

Manvi grinned. "Okay Veeru."

Priyanka watched the two little girls flit down the path and jump into the car.

"You must be Priyanka. The Oberoi Princess." Veer commented.

Priyanka gave a stiff nod. She hated the nickname media had given her. Thankfully he did not call her the Ice Princess, a name she had received after her Anika Bhabhi had died and she has retreated from the spotlight.

She pointed toward the car and signed. "Who are they?"

Veer grinned. "They are my best friend's kids. Manvi and Pia."

Priyanka smiled. It looked like Veer had a crush on their mother. She was out of the woods. She did not have to worry about him falling in love. She was free.

"You will get to know our little devil tomorrow when she stays over. Maybe she will bring Pia as well."

Veer smiled and then glanced at his watch and his hissed. "Shit! I have a meeting with your brother in 5."