CHAPTER 1: Part 2 (PARTY CRASHING)
~ ISHIKA (POV) ~
The clock on the wall ticked past 5:30 PM. Official office hours ended at 5:00, but I was still glued to my chair.
I needed to leave now to reach Saanvi's house and get ready for the party, but my senior is an incompetent nitpicker who has no clue about actual work. Her only joy in life seems to be making mine difficult. If I asked to leave, she'd probably find a pile of files for me to sort just out of spite.
I took a deep breath and stood up, preparing for a battle. But just as I looked over the cubicle wall, I saw her grabbing her bag and walking toward the elevator.
She was leaving. Without checking on me.
This is a miracle.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, God," I whispered, grabbing my bag and practically sprinting to the exit before she could change her mind.
>>>>>>>
6:25 PM.
Me and Mehak were at Saanvi's place, and the room looked like a tornado had hit a clothing store.
Since I hadn't brought clothes with me, we were raiding Saanvi's closet. There was no strict dress code, which meant everyone would be in western wear—glamorous, chic, and likely expensive.
"Listen, guys," I said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "We still have time. Let's stop this madness and forget about it. We can have a girls' night right here! I will ask my Mumma right n—"
Saanvi snatched the phone out of my hand before I could dial.
"No!" Mehak and Saanvi yelled in unison.
I groaned. "This is hopeless."
I'm small in stature and on the chubby side—but strictly in the cheeks and bosom, which feels incredibly unfair. Trying to find a dress in Saanvi's closet—who is basically a stick-thin model—is a nightmare.
Mehak had pulled out several dresses, but zippers refused to close and fabric threatened to tear. Finally, Saanvi dug deep into the back of her wardrobe.
"This might work," she suggested, pulling out a flowy, elegant piece.
Mehak nodded in agreement. "Perfect."
We admired it for a moment. It was actually... beautiful.
"We don't have time to stare," I said, snatching the dress. "Let's get ready fast, we don't have time to chitchat."
I rushed to the washroom to change.
~ AUTHOR (POV) ~
Aanika was doing her last-minute rounds. Everything was perfect. The decor, the lighting, the catering—it was flawless.
Everything except the man walking in her direction.
The cheater she had dumped.
She rolled her eyes hard enough to hurt and immediately pivoted, walking in the other direction. Hopefully, he hadn't seen—
He caught her hand.
"Please, listen to me," he pleaded.
Aanika grit her teeth. This guy was a pain in the butt, always coming back like a persistent itch.
"Let go of my hand," she hissed, her voice low and filled with venom.
"Not before you hear me out."
"What? What is your problem?" She yanked her hand back. " Ek baar mein samajh nahi aata kya? (Don't you understand at once?)"
" Tum kuch bhi karo, main nahi chodunga, (Do whatever you want, I will not leave you,)" he insisted, trying to look romantic but looking pathetic instead.
She sighed, crossing her arms.
" Bako. (Bark/Talk.)"
~ ISHIKA (POV) ~
As we pulled into the sprawling palace parking lot, the car fell silent.
Our jaws dropped. "Magnitude" wasn't the word. It was a fortress.
Towering turrets and ornate domes seemed to touch the night sky, illuminated by golden floodlights. Sprawling gardens and manicured lawns stretched out as far as the eye could see, filled with luxury cars that probably cost more than my entire life's earnings.
" Aanika ne kahaan milne ko kaha tha? (Where did Aanika want us to meet?)" I asked, shivering slightly. It was 8:30 PM, and the night wind carried a chill.
"Right here," Saanvi said, her voice cutting through the air.
"Here you are, guys," a voice called out.
Aanika appeared from the shadows, looking stressed but stunning.
"Where were you? We've been waiting here for ages," Mehak said, her voice tinged with irritation.
"Something came up at the last minute," Aanika explained breathlessly, checking over her shoulder. "Listen carefully. Keep these with you at all times."
She handed us a stack of IDs on lanyards. Worker passes.
"If anything happens, come to me directly. Don't mess anything up, act like you belong, and you're good to go."
"Okay," we replied in unison, clutching the passes like lifelines.
"Let's go," Aanika said with a determined nod.
Saanvi grinned, the excitement returning. "Let's enjoy the party."
~ MRITYUNJAY (POV) ~
The party was already in full swing when I arrived.
The air smelled of expensive perfume and desperation. I scanned the crowd, looking for Janvi to give her the birthday present and get this over with. But just as I took a step, a familiar presence blocked my path.
Bade Rana Sa.
"You're late," he stated. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried the weight of a gavel strike. His cold, critical eyes swept over me, assessing me not as a grandson, but as a subordinate who had stepped out of line.
"Couldn't leave the work," I replied, my voice flat.
I didn't offer an apology. He knew full well I had no interest in this circus.
"Come with me," he ordered.
It wasn't a request. Though every instinct in me wanted to walk away, I followed him. He was the only man in this family who commanded my respect—even if his obsession with marriage was becoming tedious.
We stopped in front of an older man and a young woman who looked like she was about to faint.
"Meet Mr. Khurana and Aaradhya. This is my grandson, Mrityunjay," Bade Rana Sa introduced us.
The girl's face turned a shade of red that was becoming increasingly irritating to look at.
" Khamma Ghani, Rana Sa, " Mr. Khurana greeted me, bowing his head respectfully.
I gave a curt nod. Aaradhya's blush deepened, her eyes fixed on me with an infatuation that made my skin crawl.
When will this be over?
" Aaradhya beta, jao Mrityunjay ke sath baat karo. Khurana, chal mere sath. (Aaradhya child, go talk to Mrityunjay. Khurana, come with me.)"
Bade Rana Sa walked away with his friend. Leaving me with... this.
Silence stretched between us. I stood perfectly still, waiting for her to break.
" Ji... aap kya karna pasand karte hai apne khali waqt mein? (So... what do you like to do in your free time?)" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I like to play with Saber," I replied honestly.
"What is that?" Her voice stuttered, eyes wide with confusion.
My patience snapped. I looked down at her, my expression dead.
"A big cat."
"Oh... okay." Her voice squeaked.
She took a step back. She was scared of me. Good.
Keep that fear. It will save you from a miserable life with me.
The silence returned, heavy and suffocating.
"My... my father must be looking for me. I'll go look for him," she stammered, pale.
With that, she turned and practically fled, disappearing into the crowd as if a predator was chasing her.
To Be Continued...