(Merry Christmas in advance to my lovely readers.
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DIVYA
After a quick lunch, I found myself lounging on the sofa, scrolling through my phone when the doorbell rang. I glanced at the clock-2 PM. Who could it be at this hour? Pushing the question aside, I rose from the couch and headed for the door. As I swung it open, the sight that greeted me was completely unexpected.
Rohan stood there, his lips curved into a smile that was disarmingly sweet.
"Can I come in?" he asked, his voice warm and familiar.
"Uh, sure," I replied, stepping aside to let him enter, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. Why was I so flustered? I hadn't even invited him, and there I was, standing there like a statue. Embarrassment washed over me as he casually walked past and made himself comfortable on the sofa.
"Coffee?" I offered, hoping to regain some composure.
"Yes, please," he said with that same smile, and I quickly escaped to the kitchen, grateful for the momentary reprieve.
As I prepared two cups of coffee, I realized how much I'd missed him. We had become good friends, but he had left so abruptly the last time that I hadn't even had the chance to say goodbye. His unexpected visit brought a flicker of happiness, a warmth I hadn't realized I needed.
When I returned, carrying the coffee, I found him staring at the newspaper on the table. It was from two days ago, but I hadn't been able to bring myself to throw it away. The front page still bore the picture of Raghav and me, a symbol of a moment I couldn't stop replaying in my mind. How many times had I glanced at it and smiled?
I handed Rohan his coffee and sat beside him.
"So, congratulations," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.
"Thanks," I murmured, taking a sip from my cup.
"I always knew you were talented, Divya, but I didn't expect you'd find fame so quickly-and at such a young age," he added, his admiration making me smile.
I tilted my head, curious. "What brings you here today?"
"Celebration," he replied with a playful glint in his eyes.
I blinked at him, puzzled.
"What? I thought we were friends," he teased, pretending to sulk, which only made me laugh.
"Of course, we are," I said.
"Well, in that case, don't you think I deserve a treat for your big win?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
I chuckled. "Alright, when do you want this treat?"
"How about tonight?" he suggested, as casually as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Tonight?" I repeated. "Where do you want to go? A restaurant or...?"
"Let's go to a club," he said, cutting me off.
"Club?" I blinked, surprised.
He must have noticed my hesitation because he quickly added, "It's okay if you're not comfortable. We can go somewhere else."
"No, it's not that. I just thought..." I trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence.
"That I'm like my boss, all fancy and uptight?" he interrupted, laughing. I couldn't help but join him.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not Raghav," he said with a grin.
I nodded, my thoughts wandering to Raghav. No, Rohan was nothing like him. Where Raghav was distant and commanding, Rohan was approachable, easy-going. Raghav felt like an untouchable masterpiece-one of a kind, forged by the hands of fate.
"If you don't mind, can I bring some friends?" I asked.
"Sure," he replied easily, leaning back on the sofa, completely at ease.
A thought crossed my mind, something that had been lingering since I first met him. "Can I ask you something personal?" I ventured.
He glanced at me, intrigued, then nodded. "Go ahead."
"You seem Indian, but your surname is Jones. Are you half-Indian, half-American?" I asked, half-joking, trying to keep the tone light.
Rohan chuckled softly. "Trust me, Divya, I'm as Indian as they come. The orphanage I grew up in gave all of us the surname Jones. It was just a rule."
"Oh," I whispered, feeling a pang of sadness. He was an orphan.
Yet, it was strange-my life felt lonelier, despite having parents. Or at least, parents who were alive but absent in every way that mattered.
Rohan, sensing the shift, stood up to leave but not before handing me his phone number. "You decide the place and time. Just message me," he said with a wink.
I nodded, waving him goodbye before closing the door. Leaning against it, I sighed, trying to shake off the emotions swirling inside me. Without wasting time, I grabbed my phone and messaged my friends, asking if they were free tonight. Within minutes, they all agreed. It was Friday, after all, and everyone was buzzing for the weekend. Besides, they wanted to celebrate my win.
Sakshi suggested the Sapphire Club since she knew the owner, and getting in would be easy, even on a crowded weekend. I quickly messaged Rohan, letting him know the location and time.
With plans set, I tossed my phone onto the charger and decided to rest before the night. The sofa looked inviting, and I arranged the cushions before lying down. Within moments, I drifted into a peaceful sleep, the excitement of the night ahead swirling in the back of my mind.
I woke up to the sound of my doorbell ringing, groaning in annoyance. It couldn't have been more than a few minutes since I drifted off, right? I squinted at the clock-it was only 5 PM. With a tired yawn, I dragged myself off the sofa and shuffled to the door, my limbs still heavy with sleep. When I opened it, there stood Sakshi and Vaani, their faces bright with excitement and their bags slung over their shoulders.
Without waiting for an invitation, they pushed past me, shamelessly barging into the apartment as if they owned the place. I rolled my eyes, closing the door behind them.
Sakshi flopped onto the sofa while Vaani made herself comfortable beside her, both completely at ease.
"Sakshi, would you like some coffee?" Vaani asked with a teasing smile.
"Yes, please-and something to eat. I'm starving," Sakshi said, turning to me expectantly, as if I was her personal chef.
I crossed my arms, placing a hand on my hip, glaring at them. "Hello to you too," I said sarcastically, shaking my head at their audacity.
"Divya, please, be a dear and get us something to eat," Sakshi said, dramatically fanning herself before switching on the AC, clearly settling in for the evening.
I sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. They were always like this-shameless and bossy, but in a way that I couldn't help but find endearing. Reluctantly, I made my way to the kitchen and prepared three cups of coffee along with a couple of sandwiches. The moment Sakshi spotted the food, she lunged for it, stuffing her mouth without a second thought.
"You have no idea," she mumbled through a mouthful of bread, "I came straight from court, and I was starving. Today was brutal."
I couldn't help but laugh softly at her dramatics.
"Oh, by the way, congrats, Divya. We always knew you were destined for something big," Sakshi added between bites.
"Thanks," I muttered, smiling at her enthusiasm.
"Alright, time to get ready," Vaani announced once Sakshi had finally finished eating.
Sakshi glared at her, mouth still half-full, and I burst out laughing.
After Sakshi inhaled the last bite, we gathered up our bags and headed to my bedroom, transforming it into a makeshift dressing room.
"I brought the perfect dress for you," Vaani said, pulling out a brown, off-shoulder mini leather dress from her bag with a flourish. The material shimmered slightly, hugging every curve in a way that was undeniably bold.
"It's beautiful, but..." I hesitated, knowing full well where this was going.
"No buts!" Vaani interjected, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. "You're wearing this. End of discussion."
I sighed, already resigned. When Vaani made up her mind, there was no arguing with her. We all changed into bathrobes and decided to do a little skincare routine before getting fully dressed.
With face masks on, we laid on the bed, reminiscing about the good old days. Back in school, we would have girl's nights like this all the time-experimenting with different skincare treatments, laughing at each other's messy attempts, and talking late into the night.
"I miss this," I admitted, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over me.
"Me too," Sakshi said softly.
"Is Ananya joining us tonight?" I asked after a while, remembering our fourth musketeer.
Vaani scoffed. "You wish."
"Aakash barely lets her out of his sight these days, especially now that she's eight months pregnant," Sakshi said, rolling her eyes. "He's become so possessive. No way she's coming to the club."
I hummed in response. Time really did fly. It felt like just yesterday we were finding out she was pregnant, and now she was almost at her due date. I couldn't wait to meet the little munchkin.
"Alright, time's up!" Vaani announced, and we all headed to the bathroom to wash off our masks. I glanced at my reflection, pleasantly surprised by how refreshed and glowing my skin looked.
We slipped into our dresses, and as Vaani had decreed, I wore the brown leather dress. It was undeniably stunning, but the bodycon fit hugged my figure a little too tightly for my liking. It clung to my curves, accentuating everything-including the parts I wasn't so fond of. My hips seemed exaggerated, and let's not even mention the little curve of my belly. I frowned at my reflection in the mirror, feeling a wave of self-consciousness wash over me.
"I look fat," I whined.
Sakshi raised an eyebrow. "You're not fat. You're curvy. There's a difference."
I pointed at both of them in frustration. "Look at you two-you both look gorgeous and sexy. And look at me."
Vaani chuckled. "Oh, Divya. Trust me, you look incredible. You don't know this, but guys these days are obsessed with curvy girls. Especially with, you know..." She trailed off with a smirk before delivering a playful slap to my behind.
"Fat asses!" she declared, laughing at my shocked expression.
Sakshi joined in, the two of them giggling while I stood there, both annoyed and amused. In the end, I was coerced into keeping the dress on, and Vaani did my makeup-a soft yet bold look that balanced the outfit perfectly. I grabbed a matching brown handbag from the shelf and slipped on a pair of brown heels. My accessories were simple, just a pair of golden hoop earrings. Sakshi curled my hair, leaving it loose and voluminous around my shoulders.
By the time we were all ready, it was close to 7 PM. Vaani then took charge of doing Sakshi's makeup-turning her into a vision with her black leather pants and corset top, while Vaani herself wore a black shimmering mini dress that hugged her figure in all the right places. Vaani was definitely our unofficial stylist.
We finally left the apartment and made our way to the Sapphire Club. Traffic was light, so it only took us fifteen minutes to get there. Outside the club, we spotted Harsh, Arsh, and Aman waiting for us, looking just as excited for the night ahead. Thanks to Sakshi's connections, we were able to skip the line and enter the club, where she had even booked a private area for us.
As we entered the club, the heavy bass thudded through the air, syncing with the flashing disco lights that danced across the room. I climbed the staircase leading to the private area, where plush leather sofas awaited us. Once we settled down, Arsh was the first to raise his glass.
"Congrats," he said warmly.
"Thanks," I replied with a smile. Arsh had always been like an older brother to me, caring and protective. I just wished he hadn't fallen for Maya-she was nothing but trouble. But that was his choice.
Soon after, our drinks were served, and Vaani wasted no time in urging me to take tequila shots. I wasn't much of a drinker, and tequila wasn't exactly my go-to. But with her persistent nudging, I gave in. The alcohol burned down my throat, leaving a fiery trail in its wake. A few moments later, the buzz hit, and I started to feel the warmth spread.
The boys were in high spirits, laughing and talking about random things, while Vaani and Sakshi threw back their drinks as if it was water. The carefree vibe began to settle in, and the night seemed to flow easily. That was until I saw Rohan finally arrive, walking towards us with his easygoing charm.
Vaani nudged me with her elbow, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "He's hot," she whispered with a playful smirk. I rolled my eyes at her but couldn't deny it-Rohan did look good tonight.
He quickly hit it off with Arsh, Aman, and Harsh, easily joining their conversation. As they got into their own world, Vaani, ever the instigator, whined like a child, tugging on my arm.
"Come on, let's dance!" she urged.
"You guys go. I'm not really in the mood," I protested.
"Oh, come on, Divya! Live a little!" Vaani insisted, pulling me up from my seat with Sakshi close behind, ready to join in the fun.
"Rohan, you should join us!" Vaani added with a grin.
"Sure," he said, standing up to follow.
I grimaced as I glanced at the packed dance floor, watching people lose themselves in the music, bodies swaying chaotically. I wanted to retreat upstairs, but before I could even think about it, Vaani had dragged me straight into the thick of the crowd and abandoned me there.
Feeling utterly lost, I stood there, unsure of what to do, until Rohan appeared in front of me. He smiled, trying to ease my nerves.
"You look beautiful tonight," he said, his voice barely audible over the music.
"Thanks," I replied, feeling my cheeks warm.
Just then, Taylor Swift's Lover began to play, and the soft melody of the song stirred something inside me. I couldn't help but hum along, swaying my hips ever so slightly to the rhythm. Rohan stood stiffly in front of me, as if the whole scene was foreign to him. He didn't seem like the type to get lost in a crowd like this.
My head started to feel light, no doubt from the alcohol. I leaned into the music, throwing my head back and closing my eyes, letting the moment carry me. But just as I found a semblance of peace, someone shoved me hard from behind, making me lose my balance.
Before I could hit the ground, Rohan was there, his arms quickly steadying me. I placed my hands on his shoulders, trying to regain my footing. But just as I began to settle, a firm grip yanked me away, pulling me back sharply. My body collided with something solid-someone solid.
I winced at the sudden impact and turned to see Rohan smirked at someone behind me. That's when the familiar scent hit me-a spicy, intoxicating cologne I knew all too well.
I slowly turned my head, and my breath caught in my throat. Standing behind me was Raghav, his grey eyes boring into mine with an intensity that made my head spin even more. His gaze was fierce, unreadable, and something about the way he stood so close made my heart race.
"Raghav," I mumbled, more to myself than anyone else.
He didn't even glance at me. His focus was entirely on Rohan, who stood a few feet away, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips as if this was all some sort of game. Raghav's grip on my wrist tightened, and without a word, he turned and began dragging me through the crowd, his hold unrelenting.
"Raghav, let go of me!" I shouted, trying to pull away, but he only gripped me harder, pulling me toward the exit with an iron grip.
What is happening? Why is he acting like this? Is he... jealous?
My mind raced, but Raghav didn't give me a chance to figure anything out. The moment we were outside the club, he pushed me against the nearest wall, caging me in with his body. The cool stone pressed against my back, and a small gasp escaped my lips as the air left my lungs.
Raghav stood mere inches from me, his eyes dark and dangerous. He placed both hands on either side of my head, trapping me. His presence was overwhelming, a storm brewing behind those grey eyes that left me breathless.
He leaned in closer, his face just inches from mine. His breath ghosted over my skin, sending a shiver down my spine as his voice dropped to a possessive growl.
"You're mine, Divya. Only mine."
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Vaani's Outfit
Sakshi's Outfit