It was morning and I got ready earlier than the usual time as I wanted to avoid her at any cost. I could not face her after yesterday.

I went downstairs and saw Maharaj Ji preparing breakfast for us. I told him, " Maharaj Ji, I am leaving for the office, have to prepare for a meeting, just give me tea and some toast or thepla. Whatever you can cook in 5 minutes. "

He prepared me a cup of tea and thepla. I had them as fast as I could and rushed out.

I reached the office before time and the cleaning staff and security guards were surprised to see me. I tried to concentrate on work but last night's event was distracting me.

Munim Ji came to meet me when he got to know that I came so early.

" What happened, Beta Ji? Any problem? You have come office early at least by an hour. " He asked.

" No, Munim Ji! I am planning to go to Delhi next week for a few days, so I want to finish off any pending work before that. " I said.

" Sure!! " He said and turned to go but I stopped him.

" Munim Ji, I want to know something, please tell me whatever you know about this thing. " I said.

" Sure, I will." He said.

" Do you know Roshni and her parents? " I asked.

" Yes, of course, I know them. What about them? " he asked me with interest.

" What happened to her parents? " U asked and his smile vanished.

" I am sorry, beta... but why are you asking it? " He asked with a tensed face expression.

" Munim Ji, please tell me, what happened to her parents?"

" They died when she was very young and since they were your grandfather's trusted workers, he decided to take care of her till she is married to a nice and decent person, he treated her like his daughter. " He said.

" That's not what I am asking about, what happened to them? How did they die all of a sudden?" I asked.

" Er... They... Were.." he was hesitating.

" Killed?? As in murdered?? " I asked and he nodded hesitantly.

" Why?? Who would do that?? And why?? " I asked.

" I don't know... "

" You know a lot more than that. Tell me!! As I am not going to leave this topic. " I said.

" Ji!! No one is sure why her parents were killed. Both her parents were extremely talented and dedicated workers in our business. Her mom was the most fantastic and talented jewellery designer and used to create very unique, beautiful and elegant jewellery designs. While her dad was the best craftsman we had. He was very passionate about his work. He could create wonders with the designs his wife would make, they used to challenge each other and in the process, they used to create masterpieces." He said still smiling thinking about the old days.

" Wow!! That's incredible. I want to have more such dedicated people with us. I wish, I had the chance to meet them. Did they have any dispute with anyone? Any enemies?" I asked.

" Dispute? Enemies?? No!! They were such lovely people. " He said.

" But then who killed them? And why??" I was very confused.

" Since they were so talented and the beautiful pieces created by them sold very well, at very high prices, our rival companies wanted to hire them. They offered many perks and higher wages to them but they refuse to join them, saying that they want to work only with Shah Jewellers because your Dadaji treated them like a family. Seriously, they both were our greatest assets. " He said.

" Did someone from our rival companies...? " I asked.

" No!! When your grandfather came to know about this, he became overwhelmed and gifted him a very rare and extremely precious diamond to them. It was worth a lot, he was so happy and proud to receive such a price from your Dadaji and kept it as a prized possession and his wife created a design of a beautiful pendant while he wanted to make that pendant for their daughter. The diamond must be worth at least five million now. It seems that they were killed because of that and some other diamonds. He was working on them the previous night. There were signs of a robbery at the crime scene, those robbers wanted to get hold of all the diamonds." He said.

" Oh, my God!! And where is that rare diamond now?? Stolen along with the ones he was working on?? " I asked.

" No!! He doubted that he could not keep it safe so he gave the diamond and his other precious Jewellery to your grandfather to keep them safe for the future of their daughter. The couple even saved the diamonds he was working on as well. His wife seemed to have hidden the diamonds in the secret pocket of her petticoat (underskirt). When the police came they retrieved them from her body. " He said.

" Oh, God!!! I am feeling so bad for them and Roshni. Where was she at that time?? " I asked.

" She had gone to school and by the time she came back, her whole life had changed, She was so shocked to see them covered in their blood. The poor child seemed to have turned into a stone. She didn't say a word. And when their bodies were being taken away, she cried so much, that we all shuddered." He said.

I could feel her pain. Poor girl. I wanted to give her a tight hug.

" So where is the diamond?? It is with us?? " I asked.

" No, on her 18th birthday your grandfather gifted it to her and made her keep it in a safe deposit in a bank locker. " He said.

" Oh, God!! She has it?? " I was so scared for her safety.

" Yes, and if anyone comes to know about it, her life would be in danger too. That's why your grandfather selected you to take care of her. As he was sure that you could keep her safe. Please, take good care of her. Your grandfather has been feeling guilty that her parents lost their lives because of him. " He said and I nodded.

" Anything else? " He asked.

" I shook my head and he left.

The truth behind her parent's death shook me as well. But soon I was distracted by her. Even after 10 minutes, I was still thinking about that simple kiss

This situation was getting out of control, I need to stay away from her.

*******

Roshni's POV

Maharaj Ji was preparing fresh butter out of curd when I went to the kitchen.

" Maharaj Ji, do you need me to help you in making breakfast?? Or have you already prepared the breakfast?? "

" Bitiya, I made thepla for you, as Manik beta, asked me to give him tea and thepla before he went away. Do you want to have anything else? " He asked.

What??

" He has already left??" I asked a question which was already answered by him.

" Yes, about seven in the morning. He had to prepare for a meeting. " He said, I felt like crying because he was avoiding me now.

" Oh, ok, I must leave too, I have an exam today. " I said and turned to go.

" No!! Have something before you go to college. " He said.

" I am not hungry and I feel too heavy and nauseated during exam if I eat before it. "

" I will pack it for you, and have them after the exam. " He said and I nodded. Though I was not in the mood to eat anything.

*********

The college timing was over, I went back to haveli and kept myself busy for the whole day.

But Manik didn't come back till dinner time. I was getting worried about him so I called him, and he picked up the call.

" Manik Ji, it's very late, you haven't come back yet... Is everything alright?? " I said.

" Yes, I am fine, don't worry. Listen, I will be late, please don't wait for me, I am too full to have dinner anyway. Bye, good night." He said and disconnected the call.

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