Novels by Rikki

AFTER SOME MONTHSWEDDING DAY REID'S POINT OF VIEWThe wedding day finally arrived.And I was sweating badly.Not the polite, composed kind of sweating.The nervous, slightly panicked kind.“Take it, Reid.”James pushed a neatly folded handkerchief into my hand before I could even ask.“Thanks.” James once my assistance said.Correction, not just my assistant anymore.Family.After secretly dating Mia for one year, pretending they were “just friends” and publicly dating for exactly one dramatic day before announcing their engagement, they decided by the third year that waiting was pointless.They got married.And somehow James, who once trembled during presentations, now stood in front of me calm and married.“Thanks,” I muttered, pressing the handkerchief to my forehead.He smirked. “You know, I was also this nervous on my wedding day.”“It’s not my first wedding either,” I replied dryly.He raised an eyebrow.“But it feels different,” I added quietly.Different wasn’t even the rig

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEWEthan had fallen asleep inside the farmhouse, curled under a thick blanket Isabella had tucked around him.Matteo and Isabella had long since gone in as well, leaving the yard bathed in moonlight and the faint orange glow of dying fire.The farm felt different at night.So still and silent now.Karline stood near the wooden fence, her fingers resting lightly on the cool surface. Beyond it, the fields stretched into darkness, silvered by the moon. A soft breeze moved through the grass.Reid stood a few steps behind her.He watched her quietly.There was something in his expression, not doubt, not regret, but a nervous weight.He swallowed once.He had rehearsed the words in his mind all evening.And yet now, standing under the open Italian sky, they felt heavier.He walked toward her slowly.Tired from the day.Content from the laughter.But carrying something fragile in his chest.KARLINE'S POINT OF VIEWI heard his footsteps before I saw him beside me.I di

AT NIGHT THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEWClosing time always came gently.The last customer waved goodbye, promising to come early the next morning for cinnamon rolls. Karline smiled and turned the sign on the glass door from Open to Closed.The soft click felt satisfying.Reid was already stacking the outdoor chairs neatly, lifting two at a time like it was nothing.“You don’t have to do all that,” she said, wiping down the counter.He glanced at her over his shoulder. “I know.”“But you still will.”“Of course.”Ethan dragged a small broom that was slightly too big for him. “I’m helping too.”“You’re mostly spreading the crumbs around,” Karline teased.“It’s strategy,” Ethan replied seriously. “Ants need food.”Reid laughed under his breath. “He’s got a point.”Karline shook her head, but her eyes were soft.Within twenty minutes, the tables were aligned, the lights inside dimmed to a golden glow, and the ovens turned off. Reid locked the door and tested it twice, out of habit.“Ready?”

THREE YEARS LATERTHIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEWThree years had passed.Life no longer felt like something they were surviving. It felt like something they were living. Slowly and peacefully.The little bell above the bakery door chimed as the last morning customer stepped out into the soft Italian sunlight. The street outside was calm, lined with flower pots and pale stone buildings that warmed under the sun. The scent of sugar and baked bread lingered in the air, sweet and comforting.Behind the counter stood Karline, tying a thin ribbon around a pastel pink box of pastries. A loose strand of hair had slipped from her bun, and there was flour faintly dusted along her apron. She looked content, not tired, not overwhelmed, just quietly fulfilled.“Mumma, all the blueberry muffins sold out?”She looked down immediately.Ethan stood in front of her, now eight years old, taller, leaner, with the same bright eyes and that wide, toothy smile that had somehow grown even more charming with time

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW The door closed quietly behind them.Karline stepped in first this time.She didn’t rush and simply walked forward slowly, taking in the silence of the house.Sunlight poured through the tall windows, resting gently on cream-colored walls and warm wooden floors.It felt calm, simple and beautiful.Ethan ran past her with a small laugh. “It looks so new!”Reid smiled faintly. “That’s because it is.”Karline moved further inside.Her fingers brushed the wall lightly as if she needed to feel it to believe it.“The color…” she said softly. “You chose this?”Reid nodded. “You once said white feels cold. And dark colors feel heavy. So… I tried to find something in between.”She smiled gently. “It’s perfect.”There was no exaggeration in her voice.Just honesty.She walked toward the living area.The furniture wasn’t flashy. It was not like their old home back in the new york but beautiful soft fabrics sofa.A wooden coffee table.A woven rug beneath it.“It’s bea

AFTER THREE MONTHSThree months had passed since the night the tent collapsed.Three months since blood on the ground. Since sirens. Since fear sat in Karline’s chest like a stone.Now, the hospital corridors no longer felt terrifying. They felt familiar. Almost gentle.Reid had been discharged a month and a half ago after spending six long weeks under constant monitoring. The doctors had been cautious, especially about the head injury. But every follow-up visit brought better news.“The swelling has reduced significantly,” the neurologist had said during the last appointment. “His procedures and medications will taper down gradually. A few more months of care, and he should be fully recovered.”Karline had nearly cried from relief.Ethan was recovering too.Reid had changed.Not dramatically in loud ways, but quietly.Deeply.He and karline attended therapy sessions without complaint, not just physical therapy for his shoulder and balance, but counseling too. For their trauma. For th

Epilogue 1(Natasha point of view)***EPILOGUETWO YEARS LATER... PRISON***Pain.That's the only word that defines me now. Not my name. Not my past. Just... pain.It lives in my bones. It's stitched into my skin.I've been here for two years-twenty-four months of slow rot, surrounded by cement, steel, and shame.The food makes me sick. Sometimes the female prisoners beat me.I don't fight back anymore.Because maybe... just maybe... I deserve it.After everything I've done.Sometimes I think about who I used to be.Natasha Raghuvanshi. Beautiful. Elegant, wanted and untouchable.I believed the world revolved around me.But now... I can't even revolve around myself.My eyes sting as tears slip silently down my cheeks. I don't bother wiping them. There's no one to impress here. No mirrors. No cameras. No crowd.Just me and my sins.I wish I had made better choices.I wish I hadn't been so foolish.So arrogant.I thought I was perfect. I thought I deserved the best.But I didn't. I

Two Months Later –The skyline outside their house was different now—sleek towers, foreign language hoardings, and the unfamiliar scent of a new land. But inside, within the four walls they now called home, everything had started to feel like theirs.Raghav was now handling the main branch of his company abroad, a position of greater responsibility, yet he had not left behind the ones who stood with him in darkness—Leela and Bilal were right there, part of his growing world.What was once broken had now begun to rebuild.And at the center of it was love.Today, love was taking its grandest form.Their wedding._______The resort sparkled like a dream—hanging lights draped across the gardens like golden threads, soft music in the background, and the scent of fresh roses blended with incense.Guests were scattered throughout the open venue, chatting and laughing, the air rich with celebration.Three-year-old Esha twirled on the lush green grass in her beautiful bottle-green dress, her l

Soon they reached the hotel and departed the next day for Raghav's private jet.During the car journey, Esha was asleep in Kiyara's arms, her tiny body curled up peacefully. Kiyara’s head rested gently against Raghav’s chest as he softly rubbed her arms for warmth.Raghav looked down at them and whispered, "Kiyu, Esha is asleep… give her to me na now."Kiyara slowly shifted and carefully placed the sleeping child into his arms.Raghav took Esha gently, as if cradling a piece of his heart. He leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on her forehead."Kiyara… she’s so small," he murmured, his voice filled with the wonder and tenderness of a father.Kiyara nodded, her eyes soft."What if I… might hurt her?" he asked quietly, his hands trembling just a little."The last thing you’ll ever do is hurt her, Raghav," Kiyara whispered back, placing her head against his shoulder again.Raghav gently rubbed and patted Esha’s back, holding her closer — as if promising with every heartbeat that he’d

Raghav cupped her cheeks gently, as if touching a fragile dream he was afraid to shatter.His thumbs trembled against her damp skin, brushing the tears that refused to stop. His gaze searched hers like a man searching for light after years of darkness."Kiyu… it's really you," his voice cracked, barely more than a whisper — aching, raw, and breathless.A tear slipped down her cheek as she saw him, the man she thought she could never see again. For three years, she had imagined this moment. But now that it was here, everything felt more fragile than ever.Kiyara's lips parted, her eyes swimming with tears. She gave a slight nod, the movement almost invisible, but it was enough.A sob escaped him — soft, strangled."I tried to find you everywhere…" he confessed, his brows furrowed with pain. "Every day, every night…every damn place"Kiyara opened her mouth to speak but no words came. Her breath shook as her lips trembled."Raghav..I… I missed you,…" she finally managed, her voice breaki

After a few days…Raghav finally flew to Uttarakhand with his team and Bilal Baba. The snow-kissed mountains greeted them with a silence so dense, it felt like the earth itself was holding its breath.Their eyes scoured every face, every village, every trail, yet after 5 long days of relentless searching, there was still no sign of her—no Kiyara.The winter mist hung low, curling between pine branches and clinging to the ridges like whispers of hidden secrets.The nights were colder than he remembered, and the mornings seemed to punish his hope with the same monotony of silence.Standing at the edge of a narrow dirt path, Raghav finally turned to Bilal Baba, weariness layered beneath his voice."Let’s go and meet Lila chachi first. Finding Kiyara… it may take longer than we thought."Bilal gave a slight nod, his wrinkled eyes filled with understanding."Okay, beta."They both climbed into a creaking old jeep, its engine coughing to life as they followed a winding road through towering

(Raghav's Point of View)Location: Kashi | Time: Late Night, near Ganga GhatThe city was chaos wrapped in divinity-Kashi. A place where death met salvation, where every breath carried the smoke of agarbatti and the weight of a thousand chants. The narrow lanes curled like ancient veins around temples, homes, and history. The smell of sandalwood, marigold, ghee, and dust wrapped around me like a memory.In my hand, the rudraksh mala hung loosely-its beads cold against my skin. The same mala she had tied around my neck. I used to believe in God once.Before her.Before Natasha.Before everything I was crumbled like dust.The day I put sindoor in another woman's hair, I had buried my faith alongside my soul. But tonight, standing under the dark velvet sky of Kashi, with the stars hidden behind city smoke and temple bells echoing in the distance-I felt something stir inside me.Hope. Maybe just a flicker, but it was there.I walked toward the ancient Shiv Mandir that stood at the edge

AUTHOR'S POVThe atmosphere around the billing counter changed within seconds just a moment ago, everyone had been laughing and showing off their shopping bags.And now Helena and Logan were literally sweating.The cashier stood there awkwardly, while the pile of expensive shopping bags remained on the counter waiting to be paid for. The people standing behind them had already started whispering."Didn't they say he was paying for everything?""I thought he was rich.""Maybe his card got blocked.""That's so embarrassing."The whispers weren't loud but they were loud enough for Helena and Logan to hear every single word. Logan clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white."This has to be some kind of glitch," he muttered under his breath, refusing to believe what was happening. Without wasting another second, he grabbed his phone and walked toward a quiet corner of the mall.His heartbeat had started racing, there was only one explanation. It was Niara's card, she must

AUTHOR'S POVSoon, the group completely forgot about college and threw themselves into shopping.Helena walked through the mall like a queen being escorted by her followers. Every few minutes, she would point at something, and Logan would immediately tell the staff to pack it.A pink designer dress."Pack it."A silver necklace."Pack it."A limited-edition perfume."Pack it."Expensive heels."Pack it."Matching handbags."Pack them too."Since it was Helena's birthday week, Logan wasn't just paying for Helena's shopping.He was paying for everyone's shopping.Whenever one of Helena's friends liked something, Logan would casually tell the cashier to add it to the bill.A bracelet. A new pair of shoes. A handbag. A bottle of expensive perfume.Everything was being added to Logan's card. The girls were practically treating him like a walking bank."Oh my God, Logan, you're literally sponsoring Helena's birthday at this point," one of the girls joked, laughing.Another girl held up a sh

Niara's POV The final bell rang, signaling the end of classes. Students immediately started pouring out of their classrooms, filling the playground with chatter and laughter. I was walking beside Maddy when my eyes landed on a familiar group standing near the college gate. Logan, helena and a few of their friends. Helena looked especially excited as she talked nonstop, her hands moving dramatically while her friends listened with interest. Logan stood beside her with a small smile, occasionally nodding at whatever she was saying. I already knew where they were going. Shopping just like in my first life. Only this time, things would be different. "Looks like the princess is preparing for her birthday," Zulia snorted inside my head. I almost laughed. Instead, I walked toward them with a sweet smile. The moment Logan saw me approaching, his expression softened. Or rather, he made it soften. "Niara," he greeted warmly, looking at me as if I was the most important person

Author's POV"May I ask why you're sitting at the family breakfast table?" The room instantly fell silent. Logan froze even the servants standing nearby looked shocked.Before Logan could answer, his father hurriedly stepped forward, looking nervous."Alpha, please forgive us if we've done something wrong," the older man said respectfully, lowering his head. "Young Master Logan has been Lady Niara's friend since childhood. He has always been allowed to sit here with the family." His voice was polite filled with respect and fear."That may have been the case before." Alpha Cedric remained silent for a moment befoore he calmly placed his cup down. A strange feeling settled in Logan's stomach."However," Cedric continued, "after yesterday's stunt, I believe it would be more appropriate for Logan to sit where the other servant families sit."The words hit the room like a thunderbolt, his face immediately paled.His father looked horrified even Helena seemed stunned. For years, Logan had e

NIARA POINT OF VIEWLaying on my bed, I couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened today. For the first time in my life, Logan had apologized to me instead of me apologizing to him.A bitter smile appeared on my lips. I had given him too much power in my first life. So much power that he had slowly started overshadowing me. I was the future Luna, yet I had acted like I was the one lucky to have him.How pathetic. How blind in love I had been."At least you finally realized it," Zulia said lazily inside my head."Thank you for the support." I rolled my eyes."You are welcome.""That wasn't support.""It was honest support."A small laugh escaped my lips despite myself.Soon after, I pulled the blanket over myself and closed my eyes. It was already close to midnight, and I needed to sleep. Just as I was about to drift off, my phone suddenly started ringing.The sound echoed through the quiet room. My eyes immediately opened.Who would call me at this hour?Frowning, I gra

NIARA'S POINT OF VIEWI was sitting in the family lounge with Mother and Father, enjoying evening snacks and tea.The warm atmosphere felt strangely comforting.Mother was discussing preparations for an upcoming gathering while Father listened with occasional comments.For the first time in both my lives, I wasn't sitting there wondering when Logan would arrive.I was simply enjoying my family's company.Then a servant entered."Alpha Cedric, Head Servant Carter and his son have arrived."Father's expression hardened immediately."Send them in."A few moments later, Logan and his father entered the room. The moment Logan saw me sitting comfortably beside my parents, his eyes darkened.I almost smiled.His father bowed respectfully like usual. "Alpha. Luna.""I heard there was an incident at college today." Father folded his arms and said in his vice full of authority."It wasn't a huge issue, Father." I said softly and gently placed my teacup down.Father's face softened instantly li