"He ruled every room

he walked into...

Until she walked in and

changed the rules."

Kapoor Mansion – That Night

The storm outside had calmed.

But inside her — it was just beginning.

Saanvi slammed the door behind her, heels clicking furiously against the white marble of the Kapoor Mansion.

Her hair was still damp. Her lipstick smudged.

And her jaw locked tight like she was holding back a scream.

From the living room, Dadi — Neetu Kapoor — looked up from her puja thaali.

"Ghar aate hi aisi halat? Kya ho gaya, gudiya?"

(You walk in like this? What happened, my doll?)

Saanvi tried to smile, failed, and dropped onto the sofa beside her like her spine had melted.

"Bas Dadi... ragging ho gayi."

(Just... got ragged today, Dadi.)

Dadi narrowed her eyes — sharp, motherly, and full of intuition.

"Ragging? Ya kisi ne kuch zyada bol diya?"

(Ragging? Or did someone cross a line?)

Saanvi stayed quiet for a beat too long.

Then she laughed bitterly, pulling her leather jacket off and tossing it aside.

"It was just some senior... full of attitude. Tried to be smart, maine thappad maar diya."

(Some arrogant senior tried acting smart. I slapped him.)

Neetu raised an eyebrow — impressed and mildly concerned.

"Accha... aur uska reaction?"

(Oh? And his reaction?)

Saanvi shrugged.

"Shock. Ego hurt. Typical. Waise bhi, aajkal ke ladke 'no' sunte hi nahi."

(Shock. Ego bruised. Typical. Boys these days just can't take a no.)

Dadi set the thaali down and cupped Saanvi's cheek.

"Bach ke rehna gudiya raani... yeh jo college ki nafratein hoti hain na..."

"Zyada waqt nahi lagta inhe pyaar mein badalne mein."

(Be careful, my princess... these college hatreds? They don't take long to turn into something much deeper.)

Saanvi looked away, eyes flickering with something unreadable.

"Not this one, Dadi. This one's war."

After one hour

The storm outside had faded, but Saanvi's mood hadn't.

She sat quietly in her room, brushing the ends of her wet hair.

A soft towel was wrapped around her shoulders. Her eyes were distant, lips pressed in silence.

Suddenly—

Knock knock. Door burst open.

"HELLOOOOOOO, BOMBAAAAY GIRL!"

In walked Samyara Kapoor — all drama, all glitter, all noise.

High ponytail. Smokey eyes. Silver co-ords that screamed party starter.

Saanvi blinked in surprise.

"Sam?"

"Surprise, baby!" Sam squealed, arms wide open.

"Pura New York chhod ke aayi hai... aur tu yahan room mein sadh rahi hai?"

(Left all of New York behind and you're sulking in this room?)

Saanvi stood up and hugged her cousin, trying to smile.

"Bas... thoda tired ho gayi thi. College ka pehla din tha na."

(Just a bit tired. First day at college.)

"And you didn't call me? Rude!" Sam pouted dramatically.

"Kya scene tha? Kaisa laga tera pehla din?"

(What's the scene? How was your first day?)

Saanvi hesitated for a fraction. Her smile faltered, just a flicker.

"It was... fine."

(Bas theek tha.)

Sam, completely oblivious to the storm behind those words, twirled in front of the mirror.

"Perfect. Toh ab fresh ho ja. Tere welcome party ke bina mera Friday incomplete lag raha hai."

(Perfect. Now freshen up. My Friday feels incomplete without your welcome party.)

Saanvi chuckled softly.

"Tu kab se itni excited hone lagi mujhse milke?"

Sam:

"Jab se suna hai tu America se wapas aa rahi hai, college join kar rahi hai, aur Meera di tere welcome ke liye ek full-blown party throw kar rahi hai — with cousins, close friends, and possibly Meera di ke sasural se woh extra hot devar bhi aayenge..."

(Ever since I heard you're flying back from America, joining college here, and that Meera di is throwing you a full-blown welcome party — with cousins, close friends, and possibly that extra hot brother-in-law from her in-laws' side too...)

Saanvi raised an eyebrow.

"Hot devar?"

Sam smirked and leaned closer like it was gossip laced with diamonds.

"Door ka cousin. Name I'll tell you later. Looks? Killer.

Attitude? Ufff.

And ego? Just enough to make you want to slap and kiss him at the same time."

Saanvi's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Sam missed it.

"Ab chal! Meera di ne lounge book kiya hai. Sab wait kar rahe hain. You better look main character, not background extra."

(Now let's go! Meera di booked a lounge. Everyone's waiting. You better show up like a main character, not a background extra.)

Sam winked and walked toward the closet, throwing open the doors like a fashion tornado.

"Tonight, we party. Tomorrow, you can go back to breaking hearts."

Saanvi just smiled faintly...

Only she knew — her heart had already taken the hit.

Inside a luxe bachelor pad — dim lights, city view, glass of whiskey in hand — Aryan Mehra was leaned back on his couch, scrolling mindlessly.

Phone buzzed. "Aman bhaiya" flashing on screen.

Aryan (groaning): "Kya hai yaar..."

He picked up.

Aman:

"Party hai aaj raat. Aa raha hai na?"

(There's a party tonight. You coming?)

Aryan:

"Naah bro, mood nahi hai. Aaj college mein koi bhootni mili thi, pura din kharaab kar diya."

(Nah bro, not in the mood. Met a witch at college today, ruined my entire day.)

Aman (laughs):

"Chal bakwaas band kar. Aaja. Teri bhabhi khush ho jayegi. Party usne hi plan ki hai — apni cousin ke liye."

(Stop whining and come. Your bhabhi will be happy. She's throwing this party for her cousin.)

Aryan (bored):

"Shaadi-shuda hai kya?"

(Is she married?)

Aman (warning tone):

"Bakwas band kar. Meera tujhe zinda jala degi agar tu us ladki ke aas paas bhi bhatka.

Aur sun — wo ladki tere budget se bahar hai bhai."

(Cut the crap. Meera will kill you if you even hover near that girl.

And FYI — she's way out of your league, bro.)

Aryan laughed lazily, rolling his eyes.

"Bhaiya... meri league ke bahar ki ladki ab tak bani hi nahi."

(Bhaiya, no girl's been born yet who's out of my league.)

Call disconnected.

He tossed his phone aside and ran a hand through his hair.

"Lagta hai aaj kismat hi kharaab hai meri... har taraf attitude factory ghumi ja rahi hai."

(Looks like I'm cursed today... everyone's walking around like they're CEO of attitude.)

He stood up, grabbed his jacket and keys.

"Anyways... let's go.

Maybe bhabhi ki cousin thodi better nikle...

wo US return wali se."

(Maybe bhabhi's cousin turns out better...

then US return.)

SMIRK. DOOR SLAMS SHUT.

Soho House, South Bombay

Lights dim. Bass drops. Whiskey in veins and lust in the air.

A sharp cut between strobes and shadows—

And Aryan Mehra walked in like he owned the night.

Tailored black shirt. Rolled sleeves.

His tattoos peeked from beneath the cuffs.

Watch flashing. Eyes bored.

He didn't look around.

People noticed him anyway.

Aman was already at the bar.

"Finally."

(Aman smirked, raising a glass.)

"Mood toh theek hai na? Kisi ko thappad nahi maarna is baar?"

(You're in the mood, right? No slapping anyone tonight?)

Aryan chuckled dryly.

"Depends. Kis kis se milwa raha hai tu?"

(Depends. Who exactly are you introducing me to?)

Aman laughed.

"Chal, bhabhi ke paas chal. She's dying to show off her cousin."

Aryan rolled his eyes, took a sip of his drink, and leaned back on the bar counter.

"Let the circus begin."

Aryan leaned on the bar, swirling his drink like it held all the answers to his bad mood.

Aman chuckled, leaning beside him.

"Waise tu har party mein itna bored kyun hota hai?"

(Why are you this bored at every party?)

Aryan (smirks):

"Kyuki har jagah wahi cheap makeup, fake smiles aur wannabe crowd. Kuch naya nahi hota."

(Because every place is filled with cheap makeup, fake smiles and wannabe crowds. Nothing new ever happens.)

Aman grinned knowingly.

"Toh aaj kuch naya ho raha hai."

Aryan raised an eyebrow, amused.

"Jaise?" (Like what?)

Aman shrugged casually, sipping his scotch.

"Meera di ki cousin aa rahi hai. US return. Rich, educated, independent. Aur sabse important— single."

(Meera di's cousin is coming. Fresh from the US. Kapoor estate's princess. Rich, educated, independent. And most importantly—single.)

Aryan snorted.

"No another US return bhai, Tu mujhe rishta karwa raha hai kya?"

(Are you trying to fix my marriage now?)

Aman smirked, but his tone turned teasingly serious.

"Nahi, bas warning de raha hoon. Us ladki se door rehna.

Meera bhabhi teri chamdi utaar degi agar uski cousin ke aas paas bhi nazar aayi."

(Nope. Just giving you a warning. Stay away from her.

Meera bhabhi will skin you alive if you even breathe near her cousin.)

Aryan chuckled darkly.

"Yeh bhabhi logon ki cousin har baar no-entry zone kyun hoti hai?"

(Why are these bhabhi's cousins always a no-entry zone?)

Aman rolled his eyes.

"Because some girls aren't part of your game, Aryan.

And trust me—this one's way out of your budget."

Aryan tossed back the rest of his drink, that familiar smirk playing on his lips.

"Budget meri aankhon mein hota hai, bhaiya."

(My budget is what I choose to see, brother.)

Suddenly the club lights shifted — a soft golden hue sweeping across the marble floor.

Footsteps.

Whispers.

Heads turning one by one toward the entrance.

Aman looked over his shoulder... then gave Aryan a low nudge.

"Bhai... she's here."

Aryan followed his gaze.

His smirk faded.

His drink froze mid-air.

And his heartbeat?

Just one beat too loud.

And there... she came.....