Chapter 10 : full proof plan

The evening air was cool as we descended the temple steps, the faint hum of temple bells still lingering in the background. I sighed, hoping for a quiet walk back to the bus stop, but Aryan, Karan, and Rohan were already waiting, leaning casually against the railings with amused expressions plastered on their faces.

“Why are you guys everywhere?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at them.

Aryan grinned. “We were here for a friend’s housewarming party nearby. Work stuff, you know.”

I nodded, not entirely convinced but too tired to argue.

Karan chimed in, “So, since when do you go to temples? Or is this a regular thing?”

“I go when I need peace,” I replied honestly. “It helps me take a break from... everything.”

They nodded in mock seriousness, but their teasing smiles didn’t waver. Vikrant, who had been silent so far, walked a little closer, his gaze fixed on me. I could feel his presence even without looking at him.

“How are you planning to go back?” Aryan asked, tilting his head.

“By bus,” I said simply.

The trio chuckled in unison, and before I could ask what was so funny, they walked ahead, leaving me and Vikrant standing alone.

I turned to follow them, but Vikrant’s voice stopped me. “Come. Sit. I’ll drop you.”

I looked up and saw his car parked right in front of us. His tone wasn’t a request—it was an order. I narrowed my eyes at him, crossing my arms. “You can’t just order me around, Vikrant.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. Please, aaradhya . Will you let me drop you home?”

His words were softer now, almost... polite. I studied him for a moment, debating whether to argue further. Finally, satisfied with his tone, I nodded and walked to the passenger seat. I heard him sigh and shaking his head .

As soon as I sat down, he started the car. The hum of the engine filled the silence between us.

“You shouldn’t get involved,” he said abruptly, his voice firm.

I didn’t need to ask what he was referring to. “Why do you care?” I shot back, looking at him.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning white. “Nothing,” he muttered, avoiding my gaze.

I sighed, glancing out of the window. I noticed Aryan, Karan, and Rohan in their cars following us.maybe  he thought  I would be a burden. “Fine,” I said softly. “I’ll be careful. Nothing will happen to anyone because of me. I won’t cause trouble or be a burden.”

He snapped his head toward me, his eyes blazing. “You think it’s about others?” His voice was low but sharp. “I’m worried about you.”

The sincerity in his words caught me off guard, and I felt a faint blush creep up my cheeks. I didn’t respond, unsure of what to say.

But then, as I glanced at him, the memories of my past life surged back—the battlefield, the cold, emotionless eyes of the man who had killed me. And now, here he was, with the same face but a different soul. The hatred I had buried deep within me bubbled to the surface.

“Aaradhya,” Vikrant said, snapping his fingers in front of my face. I blinked, breaking out of my trance, and realized we had reached my apartment.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and reached for the door, but his hand shot out, gently holding my arm.

“Do you hate me that much?” he asked quietly. “You don’t even look at me.”

The raw vulnerability in his voice made me pause. I turned to him, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “It’s your face that I hate. It reminds me of painful memories from my past.”

His eyes softened, and he let out a defeated sigh. “I see.” He hesitated for a moment before adding, “You look beautiful in the saree. Traditional suits you.”

I blinked, surprised by the compliment. “Thanks,” I muttered, looking away. I didn’t want to admit that his words made my heart skip a beat.

Before stepping out, I turned to him. “Don’t forget about the challenge tomorrow at the shooting arena.”

He chuckled lowly, his smirk returning. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

I stepped out of the car, but as I closed the door, I heard him murmur, almost to himself, “Feels like I’m getting to know a new person in you , kitten.”

The words lingered in my mind as I walked to my apartment. How could someone with the same face as my past tormentor make me feel so... different?

Next day ,

The morning air was crisp as we arrived at the shooting arena, the sun casting a golden glow over the field. Tanu and I walked in together, her excitement palpable as she chattered about the bets everyone had placed.

“Are you sure you’ll win, anshi ?” she teased, nudging me.

I smirked, adjusting the quiver on my shoulder. “It’s not about being sure. It’s about knowing.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Confidence looks good on you, princess.” I chuckled .

As we reached the arena, Vikrant was already there with Aryan, Karan, and Rohan. They were huddled together, whispering and throwing occasional glances my way.

“Finally,” Aryan said, clapping his hands. “The star of the show has arrived.”

“Don’t get too excited,” Vikrant muttered, his tone casual but his eyes sharp as they landed on me.

“Oh, come on,” Karan said, slapping Vikrant on the back. “You’re just nervous because you know she’s going to win.”

Vikrant’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he turned to me, his gaze unwavering. “Ready, kitten?”

I rolled my eyes at the nickname but nodded. “Always. And don't call me that .”

The others began setting up the targets, and Rohan announced, “Alright, folks, place your bets! Who’s taking home the glory today—our bro Vikrant or the mighty Aaradhya?”

To my surprise, all three of them—Aryan, Karan, and Rohan—bet on me.

“I’m offended,” Vikrant said, crossing his arms. “Not one of you believes in me?”

“It’s not about belief,” Aryan said with a grin. “It’s about common sense.”

“Plus,” Karan added, “have you seen her confidence? She’s going to crush you.”

Vikrant shot them a glare but didn’t say anything. Instead, he walked to the line, picked up his bow, and gestured for me to join him.

“Let’s see what you’ve got,” he said, his voice challenging.

I smirked, taking my place beside him. “Don’t blink. You might miss it.”

The competition began, and I felt the familiar rush of adrenaline as I drew my bow. The string hummed under my fingers, and the arrow flew straight to the center of the target.

“Bullseye!” Tanu cheered from the sidelines, clapping her hands.

Vikrant stepped up next, his form steady as he released his arrow. It landed close to the center but not quite there.

“Not bad,” I said, feigning nonchalance. “For a beginner.”

He shot me a look, his lips twitching as if holding back a smile. “Beginner, huh? Let’s see if you can keep up.”

The rounds continued, and with each shot, I could feel his gaze on me, studying my every move. His arrows were precise, but mine were flawless.

By the final round, it was clear who the winner would be. I released my last arrow, and it struck dead center once again. The cheers from the sidelines confirmed my victory.

“I told you!” Tanu exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement. “I knew she’d win!”

Karan and Aryan clapped, laughing as they handed over their imaginary winnings to Rohan. Vikrant, however, remained silent, his eyes fixed on me.

I turned to him, extending my hand. “Good game.”

He stared at my hand for a moment before taking it, his grip firm but warm. “You’re full of surprises, kitten.”

Before I could respond, he pulled me closer, his other hand brushing against my lips. The boldness of the gesture left me frozen, my heart racing.

“What are you—” I started, but the words caught in my throat.

He smirked, his voice low. “Just making sure you remember this moment.”

Snapping out of my shock, I stomped on his foot, hard. He winced, stepping back, but the amused glint in his eyes didn’t fade.

“You’re  a  shameless idiot ,” I muttered, my cheeks burning as I turned away.

Tanu grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the exit. “Come on, we’re going to be late for class.”

As we walked away, I could feel his gaze following me, and his parting words echoed in my mind.

“You’re something else, kitten.”

I didn’t dare look back, but a small, involuntary smile tugged at my lips. What was he doing to me?

It had been a week since Aaradhya started working with us on the case, and I wouldn’t admit it aloud, but she was far sharper than I had anticipated. Her ability to pick up on even the smallest details was unmatched. In just seven days, she’d found two major leads—leads we had overlooked despite working on this for weeks .

I leaned back in my chair, watching her from across the room. She was engrossed in some files, her brows furrowed in concentration. This Aaradhya was a revelation.

I couldn’t help but recall that moment. The way her cheeks had turned a deep shade of pink, her eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and indignation. That blush had stayed with me, haunting me in the quiet moments. And lately, she had started wearing more traditional attire. It wasn’t heavy or overly elaborate, but it suited her perfectly. She didn’t even need to try—she looked breathtaking just being herself.

Tomorrow was the big day. We’d finally have the culprit in our grasp, and Aaradhya had played a crucial role in making that happen. No clue escaped her notice, and once she saw something, she never forgot it.

I smirked, remembering an incident from a couple of days ago. Aryan had been playing some complex video game during a break, his hands flying over the controls. Aaradhya had watched him for barely a minute before taking over. To everyone’s astonishment, she played flawlessly, mimicking his moves as if she’d been practicing for weeks.

“Who even does that?” Aryan had grumbled, throwing his hands up in defeat.

She had just shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips.

And here I was, trying to figure her out. Aaradhya always kept her distance, but I wasn’t blind. I could see the way her eyes softened when they met mine, the way her breath hitched during those rare moments we stood too close. She felt something for me, just as I did for her.

Which brought me to the plan.

“Alright, guys,” Aryan said, rubbing his hands together as we gathered in the canteen . “We need to get Aaradhya to the storeroom. Ideas?”

Karan leaned back against the wall, grinning. “We could say we lost something important and need her help finding it.”

Aryan snorted. “Yeah, because she’s totally going to fall for that.”

Rohan chimed in, “What if we tell her there’s a secret file related to the case in the storeroom? She’s too curious not to check it out.”

I shook my head. “She’s smart. She’ll see right through that.”

Tanishka , who had been silently listening, rolled her eyes. “You boys are hopeless.”

We all turned to her.

She crossed her arms, smirking. “Leave it to me. I’ll get her there.”

Aryan raised a brow. “And how exactly are you planning to do that?”

Tanu gave him a withering look. “Do you really think Aaradhya would say no to me if I asked for her help? I’ll tell her I need something from the storeroom and that I’m too scared to go alone. She’ll come with me.”

Karan clapped his hands. “Genius!”

Rohan grinned and turned to me . “And once she’s there, you and her  ‘accidentally’ get locked in. Simple.”

I looked at her , my expression serious. “You’re sure she won’t be mad about this?”

Her eyes  softened, placing a hand on my shoulder. “She cares about me, mr. Oberoi . She’ll do it for me. And besides, we’re not doing anything to hurt her. Just… giving you some alone time.”

I nodded, my resolve strengthening. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

As we finalized the details, the excitement  was palpable. Tanu would take Aaradhya to the storeroom, and the rest of us would ensure the door was conveniently “malfunctioned.”

Tonight, I’d finally get to see what Aaradhya truly felt about me. And maybe, just maybe, I’d tell her how I felt too.