Hritika stood near the open door of the Neer's room, ready to fulfill her promise to Yara. She looked at Neer arguing yet again with Gyaan, ignorant of the fact that he was going to receive a shock today.

She was just about to step inside, when her phone vibrated. Removing the phone from her jeans, she saw that the head of the security department was calling her.

"You might have to wait for a few seconds," she muttered, while looking at Neer, before stepping away from the room's entrance and taking the call.

"Ma'am there's a problem," the head of security said as soon as she picked the call.

"Are the kids okay?" She asked hurriedly.

Despite the fact that looking out for the researcher's kids was one small task in the numerous tasks the department handled, and there could be any other problem, this was her first concern.

"It's about Miss. Maanvi," he informed, making Hritika groan.

"Of course! She must have supernatural senses to know that I was going to confess to her boyfriend. She chose the exact time to cause trouble," Hritika muttered under her breath, cursing Maanvi all along the way.

"Sorry Ma'am?"

"Nothing." Hritika cleared her throat, before asking in a frustrated voice, "What mishap did she create now?"

While keeping an eye on the kids for their safety, Hritika had also allotted a few men to keep an eye on Maanvi. She had feared that Maanvi could hurt the kids if she got a hint of what they were doing behind everyone's back.

Getting this call made Hritika think that her fear had come true. The girl did cause trouble. However, the reality was the exact opposite. The person she was thinking was the predator, actually turned out to be a prey.

"It seems like Miss. Maanvi is in danger," the head of security said, informing Hritika about what his team had seen while keeping an eye on her.

The higher ups of the media company that had given Maanvi such a high position and fame, seemed to be threatening her.

Hritika asked the security to gather more information about what was happening, before cutting the call. Thinking it wouldn't be enough, Hritika decided to speak with the girl herself and see what was exactly happening and to what extent.

Hritika looked back at Neer's room with a resigned sigh, "What a great timing!"

She laughed at the irony of her life. She was about to go and save the girlfriend of the person she loved. Talk about ruining your own chances.

★★★★★

It didn't take long for Hritika to make the arrangements to speak with Maanvi. One proof that Hritika was powerful and one claim that she could get Maanvi out of the mess was enough for Maanvi to agree to the meeting. At first, Hritika thought that Maanvi agreeing this easily was fishy. However, then she concluded that it was because Maanvi was desperate and badly needed someone's help. The girl was grasping at the straws.

Neither the werewolves, nor the elements knew what was happening. Hritika had only confided the fact to Yara, and that too after she was done meeting Maanvi.

"Where the fuck do you think you are going?" Yara shouted, pulling Hritika back, who was brisk walking towards Neer.

"It took lot of courage. Don't stop me now," Hritika told her pleadingly. It was talking all her strength to not break down right there and then.

"If it is so hard, then why are you doing this?" Yara questioned, clutching her hair tightly with both hands, "Why are you hell bent on breaking your own heart?"

"Do you really think I can make a future with him while hiding such a huge fact?" Hritika asked, before answering herself, "No, Yara. It wouldn't work out. To break his heart, to hide the truth from him, just so that I can get a place in his heart? That's beyond cruel, Yara.

"What will happen when he finds out the truth in future? Heck, even if he doesn't find out the truth, I will know it in my heart. And the guilt will never let me live in peace."

Yara sighed, giving up. Her heart broke for Hritika, but she understood where she was coming from.

"Go," Yara whispered, blinking her eyes at Hritika, praying to the Moon Goddess and even Hritika's human God to protect the girl's heart from getting shattered.

★★★★★

Hritika took a deep breath, before knocking on Neer's door. From the voices coming from inside, it seemed all the elements had gathered there.

"Coming," Ahana yelled from the closed door. "Oh! Hey," Ahana said with a smile, once she realized it was Hritika who had knocked the door.

"What's up?"

"Is Neer here?" Hritika asked, trying to look inside the room.

"Why did I even ask? She is always here for him," Ahana mumbled, with a roll of her eyes, before moving aside so Hritika could come inside.

"Neer, get up," Ahana shouted, throwing a pillow on Neer's face, who was sprawled upon the couch lazily.

"What?!" He growled angrily at Ahana, before he realized Hritika's presence in the room, "Oh! Hey," and greeted her in the same way as his twin did.

"I wanted to talk to you."

"Okayy, go ahead." Neer shrugged.

"Alone," Hritika said, earning 'Oohs and Ahs,' from other elements.

"Shut it," Neer mouthed, gritting his teeth at the annoying pests.

"Just tell it here or they will keep on teasing us," Neer said to Hritika, while making a face at the laughing elements.

"Neer, it's urgent," Hritika said, hoping he would understand the seriousness, but ending up earning more hoots from the elements.

Closing her eyes in frustration, Hritika ended up shouting, "Neer, Maanvi is in danger."

The room instantly fell into silence. No one was expecting her name to be called out again. And definitely not from Hritika.

"Who cares if the bitch is in trouble? She probably deserves it," Ahana said, after coming out of the shock. "Have to give it to her for her timing! Things were just starting to look up for us, and she had to make an entry to ruin it," she muttered, as she noticed the forlorn expression on Neer's face.

"Even if you found out, why would you tell us about it?" Gyaan groaned at Hritika, his thoughts aligning with Ahana's.

Sameera too agreed, asking Hritika why she thought it was a good idea to mention her name.

Before she could even think of giving any answer, Neer stood up, silencing everyone's questions with his glare.

"Let's go," Neer whispered to Hritika, as he held her hand and pulled her out of the room.

Neer led her to the nearby empty room, before letting go of her hand.

"Neer, Maanvi. That video wasn't her idea. She...she didn't do it in greed. Maanvi isn't bad...," Hritika spoke out disorientedly.

"Calm down," Neer said, putting his hands on her shoulders and making her sit down on the bed. He moved to take a chair and sat in front of her, before taking her palms in his hands and squeezing them in comfort.

"Relax first. Then slowly start again," Neer guided her, maintaining a calm front. But only he knew how fast his heart was beating.

"Maanvi didn't do it out of greed," Hritika said simply, not knowing how to start the dreaded conversation.

"That means it is confirmed that she was the one who released the video," Neer said, more to himself than to Hritika.

"It was out of desperation, Neer. It was either your video or her dignity, Neer."

"What?!"

Neer was in shock but what Hritika said next pulled the ground beneath his feet.

"She was being blackmailed."