Chapter 8: chapter 7

As the night dragged on, Naina felt herself drifting further into her thoughts, wishing she could escape the glitzy event. The conversation, the formality, and the overly bland food weren’t helping. She was trying her best to blend in when she spotted Anamay making his way toward her. His warm smile instantly brought her some relief.

“Naina! Good to see you here,” Anamay said, wrapping her in a friendly hug. He then gestured toward the man beside him. “This is James, a good friend of mine and Rivaan’s.”

James, tall and charming, offered Naina a dazzling smile. His blue eyes sparkled with mischief as he looked her over. “You look stunning tonight,” he said smoothly, his gaze lingering on her black saree. “Black really suits you.”

Naina blushed, unused to such compliments, and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Thank you,” she murmured, feeling a bit shy under his gaze.

James, clearly enjoying her reaction, continued to flirt. “So, have you had anything to eat? Or were you waiting for me?” he asked with a playful wink.

Naina chuckled softly, her shyness fading just a little. “No, I haven’t eaten yet.”

“Why not?” James inquired, his eyebrows raising with genuine curiosity.

Without thinking, Naina sighed and said in Bhojpuri, “Humka litti chokha ke craving ho rahi hai.” Her eyes sparkled as she thought about the spicy, hearty dish from her homeland.

James looked confused, tilting his head slightly. “I’m sorry, what was that?”

Naina realized what she had said and quickly switched to English. “Oh, I was just saying I’m craving some spicy food. This party food is too bland for my taste.”

James laughed. “I like that. We should go out for some real food one day, something with a kick.”

Before Naina could respond, someone called James from across the room. He excused himself with another wink, leaving her standing there, feeling a little more flustered than she had before.

From across the room, Rivaan watched the entire exchange, his jaw tightening slightly. He didn’t like the way James had flirted with Naina, nor the fact that she seemed to be enjoying the attention. Something about it gnawed at him, though he couldn’t pinpoint why.

Naina, now feeling the weight of the evening, was tired. She just wanted to go home. She sighed deeply, rubbing her temples. Anamay noticed and came over to her.

“You look exhausted, Naina. Let me drop you home. You’ve had enough of this party,” Anamay offered kindly.

Before she could accept, Rivaan appeared at her side, his voice cool but decisive. “I’ll drop her,” he said, looking at Anamay. “You need to stay here for a few more hours. I’m done for the night anyway.”

Anamay hesitated for a moment, glancing between them, then nodded. “Alright. Thanks, Rivaan.”

Without saying much else, Rivaan led Naina out to his car. The ride home was quiet, the tension between them softening in the silence. Both of them were lost in their own thoughts. Rivaan stole a few glances at her, noting how tired yet peaceful she looked, while Naina stared out the window, feeling oddly comforted by his presence, despite the strange evening they had shared.

When they finally reached her apartment, Rivaan stopped the car but didn’t immediately say anything. Naina, still in a daze from the night, turned to him, offering a small smile. “Thanks for the ride.”

Rivaan nodded, his expression unreadable. “Goodnight, Naina,” he said, his voice quieter than usual.

“Goodnight,” she replied softly before stepping out of the car and heading inside, her heart beating a little faster than she expected.

As she disappeared into her building, Rivaan stayed parked for a few moments longer, still lost in his thoughts, unsure why the sight of James flirting with Naina had bothered him so much.