Chapter 7
At Noon: -
Ridhima made herself comfortable in the hot bathtub beside it been two hours since she is in it. She checks the time so she can be on time for new technical classes. She has no idea why she needed to be trained in all such aspects, however, as said yes for this new life, so she needs to learn what this life comes with. Being a physiotherapist, she knows how to keep her body fine even after being in pain, but the pain which she endured now is less than what her heart is going through.
She comes out of the washroom in her bathrobe but meets Sher standing in the middle of her room. She immediately turns back and shouts,
"What are you doing here? How come you can just enter like that?"
"You have a problem with locking doors. Do it first. Secondly, how are you feeling?"
asks Sher
"Why do you care? Isn't what all of you planned. To beat me black and blue?"
asks Ridhima
Sher smirks,
"Anger is good. But it is beneficial when uses in the right direction."
says Sher
"What do you mean?"
asks Ridhima
"Instead of feeling infuriated during trying times, it’s easy for us not think logically, but you may figure your way out simply by changing your perspectives,"
says Sher
"How should I do that?"
asks Ridhima
Sher knows he is revealing too much for her. But this girl needs to grow beside it can be possible when she knows how to attack by being using defence mechanisms. So, he says,
"Aggression correctly channelled overcomes a lot of flaws. Tapping into that aggression requires peeling back several layers of yourself.”
"You are saying before attacking, I need to control my anger and use it when needed?"
asks Ridhima
"Not all the time. I sense great fear in you, Ridhima. You have hate. You have anger. But you don't properly use them"
replies Sher
"I understand that, give me the solution then"
ask Ridhima
"That is something you to find out"
replies Sher
"How would I find a solution?"
questions Ridhima
Sher sighs and says,
"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
He continues by locking his eyes with her and says,
"Now, do you know yourself and the enemy?"
Ridhima nods in No.
"I expected this answer,"
says Sher
"Now, know yourself. Where your strength lies. Aliza is right, you have no muscle, so it won't be easy. So, try to gain defence mode first. Means, no matter how hard she hits, try to stand. Don't lose on the ring. Learn to tackle the attack. You would be automatically knowing how to strike back. Ah, forgot to tell you, when she is hitting you, make sure to observe her. The more observe the people, the more you know about them in the ring or off the ring, this works a lot."
He completes and tries to leave when Ridhima stops him and says,
"Thank you Sher"
with a smile on her face while he says
"Now, put on some clothes and go to Richie"
embarrassing her more while he leaves with chuckles.
********************************
Ridhima stands at the door of the Richie and tries to knock the door but it opens itself making her feel more nervous. Richie comes forwards says,
"Welcome and take your chair. Will start the class in a few minutes."
Ridhima takes the chair which is near the laptop and waits for Richie to come. While Richie reaches, he says Ridhima,
"To be a technical guy the most important thing is to always be calm and try to find a solution. If you are tensed, you will lose the concentration level. So, we will test your observance skills along with concentration levels today. After analyzing them, we can start the classes on that basis."
Ridhima nods her head and stares at him. She sees him with those eyes which are making Richie every uncomfortable. Until now he has been with Aliza and she never watches him like that. Aliza's eyes are always with fire, here he can see a lot of innocence and he doesn't want to be lost in them. It is too much for him to handle. So, he turns to her side and says,
"You have been seeing me for the past 15 minutes, now profile me Ridhima"
"Profile you? How should I do that?"
asks Ridhima
"You been in this room for the past 20 minutes, what you have observed about this room and me?"
asks Richie
"I can see you like technical stuff and those spectacles you use because you want to showcase your strict person who talks less. But, you're a sweet person, you have given me the chair which reduces the back pain as you might have already known how badly I was beaten by Aliza today morning. You asked to check my concentration levels, this will make me concentrate on tomorrow's training too. So, you're helping me with the skills which can work with mind and body.
You don't like me to stare at you because you felt uncomfortable, so you asked me to profile you. You're not hard to read but you mask with emotions. You try to talk less because you don't have a friend until now who can understand you. People might have left you beside because they unable to match the IQ levels you have and so you became a tech-savvy while inventing many new things for the Mafia"
completes Ridhima all in one go leaving Richie with a proud smirk on his face.
"You're not as dumb I thought to be,"
says Richie
"Excuse me, did you just call me dumb?"
asks Ridhima
Richie laughs at her cute anger face which eventually makes both of them in splits. Seeing her smiling face, Sher is happy. But why does he is feeling happy for her happiness, is something worried him? Unknown to him, Aliza is watching him smile for Ridhima's antics with Richie; while she leaves with a smirk on her face.
"Ridhima, in this technical world you need to be super-fast. Your fingers should work like magic on the keyboard. Hacking is like entering into someone's mind. Always remember this that, The strongest weapon is the human mind"
says Richie
Richie continues by saying.
"Now, I will send you into a state of your darkest fear, let's see to what extent you can crack it with your observation skills and concentration. Once you can overcome your darkest fears, then your mind will give a chance to focus on the rest of the things."
"Is this necessary to learn such stuff for a technical person?"
asks Ridhima
"Well, for a normal person. No need. Considering you're going to be part of Mafia, over and above, part of Emperor’s team, yes, you need it, Ridhima. Trust yourself, you will win for sure"
says Richie.
Ridhima nervously sits on the chair which is prepared for her. Richie brings an injection with serum saying,
"Ridhima, I will inject this Serum near your neck. Now, where it takes, it will be up to the darkest fears you hold. I would be watching your thoughts on this screen. Remember this, the situation will make you believe that, everything is real. However, know yourself and you will win all battles."
The moment Richie injects the serum, Ridhima loses her consciousness.
**********************************
In Ridhima's Mind: -
She wakes at up a place where she is unable to see anyone. She is left all alone. She is unable to see anyone from the place she is. The moment she takes a step forward, she faces with Vansh standing before her.
Seeing Vansh before her, Ridhima runs to him and says,
"I know Vansh you would be coming for me. I know you would trust me that I didn't do anything. I know Vansh, I did wrong but trust me, it was never my intention"
while trying to hug him but Vansh pushes her down and says,
"Don't. You have hurt me Ridhima. You deserve to be alone. People like you are unable to love anyone. You ask for love, but in return you only betray. What kind of Love it is if you cannot give loyalty in return? You have proved today Ridhima, that people like with no family name and blood are the ones whom one shouldn't trust. Such people are better to be abandoned in such a deserted place."
Vansh leaves from the place while Ridhima runs behind him but, she gets lost in the desert; At the same time, she sees some birds from the sky are following her. In seconds she understood the birds are going to hurt her. She runs and runs and falls. She notices water reflection near her and then she remembers it is not real. "Yes, this is not real" Ridhima repeats and jumps into the water swims.
*********************************
Ridhima wakes up from the sleep and looks at Richie and bows her head down. Richie comes near and says,
"You've done well, Ridhima"
"You've seen everything, right?"
she asks
Richie nods and sits beside her while holding her hands and says,
"I repeat, you've done well."
"You think I'm stupid enough to run into his arms, right?"
says Ridhima
"No, you're not. Ridhima, whatever we have seen in your mind is not real. However, we know the cause of the fear. Abondance. You're afraid that someone would leave you all alone. You fear to live alone, Ridhima"
says Richie
"I, I want to, I did wrong but, he didn't trust me,"
says Ridhima
"Whatever you did with Vansh is a beautiful betrayal, Ridhima. Betrayal because, yes, you didn't reveal the truth to him. Beautiful betrayal because you did everything to save him and his family. Such betrayals are forgiven by God himself. You need to forgive yourself first to escape from your inner demons"
says Richie
Richie drops Ridhima at her door and says,
"Ridhima, until unless you win yourself, neither Aliza nor I can teach you anything. It is not easy to win yourself in a day. But you need to start somewhere. If you can, then everything would be easy. The day you meet yourself, you don't need any other person or thing in this life"
leaving Ridhima in deep thoughts, Richie leaves in a confused state that he has spoken too much first time in his life.
The only person who is affected by her abandoned scene is The Man himself. He knows it very well yet seeing her in that state says, even after ages she is the same girl who he sent to an orphanage, a girl who has fear of living alone.
Sher sees his expression and asks,
"King, you knew right? I mean her deepest fear is Abondance"
"Oh yes, I know Sher,"
says King turning towards him
"Then?"
says Sher
"Sher, when you became part of my team, you went through similar tests, then why not worrying about Riddhu?"
asks King
"I feel we are making her take everything one single day. We need to give her sometime King"
replies Sher
"Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust. Ridhima has got enough time until now. Now it's time to sharpen her. I don't want to hear any more concerns or tales about how she is feeling. I want to only know about her improvement"
shouts King in anger.
Sher doesn't know what to say. He never saw King being concerned about any person. Why her? God knows. Sher bows to him and leaves the room while King turns towards the screen watches Ridhima who is sleeping.
King touches the screen and says,
"Very soon, you will learn everything Riddhu. Your mind is clouded with many things which are why you're unable to see anything. But this won't be continuing. From now onwards, no would leave you. You will have everything in your new life. But, then, it comes with a cost, Riddhu, losing your old self"
says King while smiling.
*********************************
VR Mansion: -
Vansh is busy in his matters yet he feels as if someone is calling him. He checks all the sides of his room yet finds no one expects Dadi who stood at the door and watching antics. He goes near and asks,
"Did you called me Dadi?"
Dadi smiles at him and says,
"I didn't, but someone from your heart might have called you. Due to which you are running hither and thither."
Vansh sighs and says,
"Dadi, please.No more topic of Ridhima"
Dadi takes a chair beside him and says,
"Do you even realize what you're doing, Vansh? I'm not here to give knowledge about anything. Why don't you just turn off your brain and let your heart do the talking?"
"I think I have no heart. And I had a mind once which I gave to her"
says Vansh
Dadi chuckles and says,
"I know you better than you know yourself"
Vansh: You never had a camera in my head!
Dadi: Did you lose your mind all at once, or was it a slow, gradual process?
Vansh gets up from the chair and sits on the bed facing another side while Dadi moves near him and says,
"I understand you're hurt. In pain. But without knowing the entire truth only framing her as a cheater is wrong. Vansh, trust your heart, does it allow you to go away from her?"
“What is it in us that seeks the truth? Is it our minds or is it our hearts?”
asks Dadi
Vansh still doesn't look at her and goes near the window and stands. Dadi reaches him and says,
"It is ourheart which needs clarification, Vansh. Rest up to you"
saying Dadi leaves the room leaving Vansh in his thoughts.
**************************
On Cruise: -
It is already 9 PM when Ridhima wakes up from the sleep. She looks herself in the mirror to know she is worn out. She gets into another hot bath and comes out by 10 pm to notice Aliza standing in her room.
"Argh, wait, let me guess, I didn't lock the door, right?"
asks Ridhima
Aliza chuckles and says,
"Yes. Looks like it's a kind habit for you?"
"I need to change it soon,"
says Ridhima
Aliza tries to say something but Ridhima catches her off-guard by saying,
"Don't say thank you. I know it is your job. You want me to be as strong as you. I understand."
Aliza smiles and says,
"thanks. I never told Sorry, so"
Ridhima takes a chair opposite to her and says,
"It's Okay. I understand."
Ridhima sees dinner on her table and asks Alia,
"Mind having dinner with me, if you're sorry?"
Aliza never had dinner with anyone. Yes, occasionally with Mafia teams, but she is habituated to eat alone. Ridhima sees her lost in thoughts snaps her fingers and says,
"Aliza, come back to the cruise."
Aliza smiles at her and says,
"Why not? Let me try how does it feel to have dinner with someone."
"Oh, man! It gives you solace to have dinner with someone. Now, tell me about yourself. As I know you'll know about me?"
asks Ridhima.
"There is nothing about me, Ridhima. However, one day I will share if I need to"
says Aliza in a straight tone. Though Ridhima is taken back she understands where she is coming from, so leaves the topic aside.
They both dine on the table, however, doesn't know how to start a conversation. So, while Ridhima having her food, Aliza says,
"Eat a lot. Tomorrow I'm going to beat you more"
Ridhima looks at her angrily but in seconds she smiles and says,
"Sure, go ahead. I will make sure to take an attack from you."
Aliza looks at Ridhima while eating and says,
"Ridhima, remember that the one who wins the battle makes many calculations in their temple before the battle is fought. The one who loses makes but few calculations beforehand."
She continues by locking her eyes with her,
"So try to plan so that you can play the game. I understand sometimes, it might not go according to the plan, then you need to change your stance in seconds. Though it comes with experience. They said right, there are experiences we struggle to find meaning in and can take a toll on our mind, body, and spirit. So, whatever you learn - failure or success, learn it. Every nerve of your body should know it."
Ridhima smiles looking at Aliza and says,
"I don't know to what extent I can able to play such games like you four does. But I try to make sure not to disappoint you all."
Aliza cuts her in the middle and says,
"Don't work for us Ridhima. Work for yourself. You cannot make all of us happy every time. You be happy and then it will radiate everywhere."
Until next update - be safe, kind and courageous and do a review too :)
Chapter 8 - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/5196200?pn=34#155231639
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