London, 9:00 AM

"I don't care about it, Mark. I just want that deal, okay? Do you think I’m stupid enough to leave this behind and go to India?" I said to him while handing over the file. "And I don’t want any problems, understood?" He nodded and left my cabin.

Damn, I don’t want to go to India. I mean, I’m settled here—why do I need to move there? Where my so-called family is waiting for me. These thoughts only bring bitter memories I hate from the bottom of my heart. Do they really think that if I move to India and stay with them, they’ll bring back the 12-year-old Armaan who once begged them:

"Dad, Maa, I don’t want to go to the hostel. Maa, please, stop Dad. Please!" Saying it tears welled up in his innocent eyes.

And remembering those words, a tear rolled down my face. I wiped it quickly. All of this happened because of her. I hate her.

Maine dost maana tha tumhe, par ab tumse bada dushman mera koi nahi.

Seventeen years. Seventeen years I’ve stayed away from my family, alone here. But now, it’s her turn. I’ll destroy you, Mannat Desai.

---

Dehradun, India, 7:00 PM

I’m standing in front of Shanti Bhawan. Nothing has changed—everything looks the same as before. The only thing that’s changed is me.

I moved forward into the glamorous party and searched for my favorite woman—the one for whom my heart still holds love. When I spotted her, I called out:

"Dadi!"

She heard my voice, and of course, everyone else did too. They all started greeting me. I smiled and walked to her, taking her blessings. I met my dad, chachu, chachi, and finally, my mom. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and pulled me into a warm hug, but I didn’t hug her back.

“I’ll freshen up and come back,” I said, removing her hands from my shoulders and heading towards the stairs.

"Bhai! Mujhe bhi toh milo!" I heard my younger brother, Ayaan, call out. He ran to me and hugged me tightly.

“I missed you, Bhai! Finally, you’re here. Now all the distance between us will end,” he said, his last words filled with meaning. I nodded but didn’t respond and moved to my room.

Suddenly, the lights went out, plunging everything into darkness.

I heard my dad and chachu say, “Let me check!” Others were murmuring about some technical problem. Why wasn’t the inverter working? My head throbbed with frustration. I just needed a warm shower.

---



Mannat's POV

Half an hour earlier (6:30 PM)

I was dancing with Ayaan, casually chatting when he said:

“Bhaiii, jaise hi aaye, unhe apne dil ka haal bata dena. Aur intezaar mat karna, samjhi?”

He twirled me in a circular motion as we continued dancing.

“Dhat! Aisa thodi na hota hai. Ladka ladki se bolta hai, ladki nahi! Armaan ko toh apna promise yaad hi hoga, haina?” I replied, smiling widely. But as I finished, his expression turned sad—or maybe something more.

“Kya hua? Is there any problem? Maine toh in satarah saalon mein ek baar bhi usse baat nahi ki. Par tum toh usse baat karte rehte ho, aur tumhi toh kehte the ki he also asks about me. Ab woh mujhse tabhi milega, jab woh India aayega, nahi?”

I asked him again, but looking at his face, I felt something was wrong. I was about to ask him more when my college friends joined us. They started dancing to their favorite song. At first, I said no, but eventually, I joined them, forgetting my earlier conversation with Ayaan.

About 20 minutes later, we stopped dancing, grabbed some water, and began talking, laughing, and teasing each other. My best friend, Chavi Rathore, told me she was leaving because her warden had called her back to the hostel.

I dropped her off at the door and said, “Bye! Aur sun, hostel pahuch ke call kar dena, samjhi?”

“Jii, meri maa,” she replied as the cab drove off.

I smiled, thinking about Armaan. Just a few more hours, and he’d be mine. I’d ask him why he never called me, if he ever missed me. I’d also punish him—when he comes, I’ll make sure I don’t talk to him for an entire day!

But then an elderly aunty came over and told me that my blouse knot was open. Embarrassed, I thanked her and went upstairs to fix it. Every room I passed was crowded with people. Privacy didn’t seem to exist here. I kept roaming the corridor, hoping to find an empty room. Finally, I found one and entered.

“Thank God!”

                Thank you>