Abhimanyu approached his brother Arnav, who seemed lost in thought, his eyes focused somewhere distant. Abhimanyu stood directly in front of him, holding his drink with a casual air. Arnav was about to snap in irritation, but after recognizing his brother, he sighed and straightened up.
"Did you find out who did it?" Abhimanyu asked in a cold, nonchalant tone. Arnav sighed deeply, his frustration evident.
"Bhai, weâll know by the end of tonight. Just be patient and step aside," Arnav replied, his voice carrying a note of annoyance as he glanced briefly at Abhimanyu before turning toward Arthi, who was engaged in conversation with Misha. Abhimanyu followed his gaze, noticing Mishaâs presence. He took another sip of his drink, set it aside, adjusted his coat, and then strode purposefully toward his wife.
Aavyan, watching the entire scene unfold, couldnât help but grin, while Ekansh, standing beside him, looked as irked as ever.
Arthi and Misha were engrossed in their own world, chatting and laughing softly.
"Arthi, youâve arranged everything so beautifully. Even I couldnât have done it better," Misha complimented, her eyes sweeping over the elaborately decorated party hall.
"Misha Di, if you were here with me, it wouldâve been even more spectacular," Arthi responded with a gentle smile.
"Arthi, Iâm sorry I couldnât be here to help. I got caught up with some urgent work at the office," Misha said, her voice heavy with regret. Arthi immediately reached out, clasping her hand.
"Misha Di, thereâs no need to apologize. I understand completely-work is important too. Everything turned out perfectly, so donât worry," Arthi assured her, her smile full of warmth and understanding. Misha exhaled softly, relief washing over her.
"Now I can finally relax," Misha said, letting out a small sigh. Then, with a teasing smile, she added, "And did I mention how stunning you look in this saree?"
"Misha Di, you look even more beautiful! You know I love this saree," Arthi said, eyes wide with admiration. Misha waved her hand with proud smile, her lips curving into a smile, and Arthi chuckled softly. But before they could continue, their husbands interrupted, their presence changing the atmosphere immediately.
"Sweetheart, itâs time. The party is about to start. Shall we?" Arnavâs tone was calm but firm. Arthi looked up at him and nodded silently. Arnavâs lips twitched into a rare, genuine smile as he gently took her hand and led her toward their table.
Two people were utterly flabbergasted at Arnavâs uncharacteristic smile-Ekansh and Aavyan. Aavyanâs eyes widened comically in surprise while Ekansh maintained his stoic facade, though inwardly, he was equally stunned, struggling not to let his shock show.
Abhimanyu, meanwhile, glanced at Misha, their eyes meeting for a fleeting moment before Misha abruptly turned away. Abhimanyu tried to offer her a faint smile but found himself unable to. Misha walked off before he could speak, her silence cutting deeper than he expected. He watched her retreating figure, his jaw clenched.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath. His eyes trailed down to her exposed back, and he cursed again. He wasnât sure whether he was more frustrated by her cold silence or the sight of her bare back, which sent an inexplicable weakness through him. Determined not to let her slip away this time, Abhimanyu began to follow her, his resolute steps shocking the onlookers, including Aavyan and Ekansh.
Aavyanâs shock quickly morphed into a mischievous grin, while Ekanshâs expression turned into a resigned sigh. When Aavyan turned to him with a knowing smile, Ekansh frowned.
"What now?" Ekansh asked flatly, already sensing that Aavyan was up to some mischief.
"Youâre next, Bhai. Smiling and trailing after your wife. I wish you the best of luck," Aavyan teased with a grin, then turned and sauntered off toward the center of the party hall. Ekanshâs hands curled into fists, and he let out a long sigh, knowing Aavyan wouldnât stop his taunting anytime soon.
Ekanshâs thoughts drifted back to his own unexpected marriage. Memories of that night flashed before his eyes-his wife, or rather the girl he barely considered his wife, standing alone on the deserted road. Her innocent, tear-filled eyes stared at him, the fear etched across her delicate features as he left her there, helpless and shattered.
He clenched his jaw, fighting the familiar surge of guilt and regret. No matter how much he tried to ignore it, the heavy weight of that night never truly left him. Pushing the thoughts away, Ekansh took a deep breath and turned toward the stairs, heading for the balcony to clear his mind. He needed fresh air, and more than that, he needed to escape the suffocating memories that haunted him relentlessly.
Isha was making her way toward the party hall, drink in hand, as the nightâs festivities were about to begin. As she walked, she suddenly collided with a man, causing her glass to slip from her grasp and shatter on the floor. She glanced down at the spilled drink with an eerily calm expression, though her irritation was simmering just beneath the surface. Her eyes slowly moved upward, locking onto the man who had almost fully covered his face, just as the stranger sheâd bumped into earlier that morning had done.
"Donât you have eyes? Why is everyone bumping into me today?" Isha snapped, her hands resting impatiently on her hips as she glared at the man. He glanced around nervously before meeting her fiery gaze.
"Donât tell me you didnât see me! From this morning, people have been knocking into me and spilling my drinks. Whatâs the deal with you all?" Ishaâs irritation was clear, her face animated with frustration as she scowled at him. The man sighed, keeping his calm.
"If you want, I can get you another drink," he offered in a composed tone. Isha shot him a fierce glare.
"Donât bother. I can get it myself. Just do me a favor- get out of my sight. Get lost," she huffed, her voice laced with annoyance, before stomping off, muttering to herself. The man watched her leave, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips as he saw her pause in her step.
Isha, now a few feet away, halted as something clicked in her mind. Wait a minute...... that guy looks exactly like the one from this morning. She turned swiftly to check, but the man had already disappeared into the crowd. After scanning the area for a moment, she shrugged it off and resumed her walk toward the center of the party hall, brushing the encounter aside.
Meanwhile, Aditya, who had walked away from the scene, caught sight of Isha heading further into the party. With a faint smile, he shook his head and muttered to himself,
"Idiot woman." He adjusted his jacket and proceeded into the party, this time as a guest and not in his usual role as an undercover agent.
As Aavyan made his way toward the center of the party hall, his gaze suddenly caught a familiar figure entering the venue. For a moment, he stood stunned. It was Tara Roy. His rival. The very woman he had clashed with earlier that morning. But tonight, she looked breathtaking in her gown, radiating an elegance he hadnât expected. His feet rooted to the spot as he stared at her, everything else in the crowd fading away until it felt like just the two of them existed at that moment. A faint smile tugged at his lips before he snapped back to reality, mentally chastising himself.
"What am I doing"? he thought. They had just fought that morning.
At the meeting earlier, both Aavyan and Tara had been vying for the same project. Their professional rivalry had escalated into a heated argument, each throwing sharp words and challenges at the other. Aavyan had emerged victorious, winning the project, and the confrontation ended with both of them exchanging cold, hostile glares. Yet now, seeing her like this, it was as though their animosity had briefly melted away, replaced by something he couldn't quite place. But he quickly reminded himself of their feud and steadied his focus.
Tara, meanwhile, reluctantly entered the party hall, only doing so because her father had insisted on bringing her. As she moved through the crowd, she could feel someoneâs eyes on her. Glancing around, her gaze locked onto Aavyan, who was openly staring at her. For a fleeting second, she found herself caught in the moment too. But as their eyes met, memories of their argument from that morning flashed before her, and the irritation returned. She clenched her fists, her expression hardening as she recalled his smug challenge and how their encounter had ended with bitter words.
With a sharp exhale, Tara tore her gaze away from him and continued walking toward the center of the hall, her annoyance rising as she tried to push thoughts of Aavyan out of her mind.
Hrudhay began the party's announcement, his voice filled with pride as he spoke of his sons' accomplishments and the companyâs rise to the top. The guests responded with applause, the sound echoing through the hall. Ekansh and Aavyan exchanged glances, both wearing expressions of pride, while Arnav remained indifferent, his mind clearly elsewhere. Abhimanyu, on the other hand, stood cold and distant, his features hardening with each word his father spoke. He had long grown to resent any praise coming from Hrudhay, and his icy demeanor reflected that.
Misha, noticing Abhimanyuâs frosty expression, sighed softly but chose to remain silent. Instead, she kept up her smile, greeting the guests with warmth and grace, masking the tension that brewed between her husband and his father. As the announcement concluded, the party transitioned into full swing, guests mingling and engaging with one another, the earlier formalities dissolving into lively chatter and laughter.