The evening air outside Leena's apartment building was cool and quiet. The city lights flickered softly across the parking lot as footsteps approached her door.
Knock. Knock.
Leena opened the door.
Alok stood there.
For a moment she simply looked at him.
Tonight he looked very different from the nervous delivery boy she had first met. Alok was tall, with a lean but well-built frame that showed through his fitted black shirt. The sleeves were rolled slightly above his wrists, revealing strong forearms. His dark hair was neatly styled, falling slightly over his forehead. His sharp jawline and confident posture gave him a calm, effortless charm. Under the soft hallway light, his eyes looked darker, observant, and a little cautious.
Leena's eyes moved slowly from his shoes to his face, examining him like she always examined everything.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Looks good," she said simply.
Alok raised an eyebrow. "You told me to dress well."
Leena nodded once, then stepped back slightly.
"Wait outside," she said. "I'll get ready."
Alok leaned casually against the hallway wall while she closed the door.
A few minutes later the door opened again.
Leena stepped out.
She wore a simple black dress that fit perfectly along her waist before falling softly to her knees. Her hair was tied back loosely, a few strands framing her face. The minimal makeup only made her natural features sharper—especially her eyes, which tonight looked focused and alive.
Alok straightened slightly when he saw her.
For a brief moment neither of them spoke.
Then Leena turned toward the elevator.
"Come on."
They walked down the hallway together.
The elevator doors opened with a soft metallic sound and they stepped inside. The quiet hum of the elevator filled the small space as it moved down.
Neither of them spoke, but there was an unspoken understanding between them tonight.
When the elevator doors opened again, they stepped out into the parking area.
Alok's black bike stood near the corner.
He handed her a helmet.
Leena took it, slipped it on, and climbed onto the seat behind him.
A moment later the engine roared to life.
The bike sped out of the parking lot and into the glowing city streets.
The party venue was already alive when they arrived.
Ruhi had chosen one of the most elegant rooftop banquet halls in the city. Warm golden lights hung from the ceiling like floating lanterns. Large glass windows opened toward the skyline, showing the sparkling city beneath the night sky.
Inside, soft music floated through the air.
A grand piano stood near the center of the hall where a musician played gentle jazz melodies. Guests in elegant suits and dresses moved around the room, holding glasses of champagne and laughing in small circles.
Waiters walked gracefully through the crowd carrying trays of drinks.
The place smelled faintly of perfume, wine, and fresh flowers.
Leena and Alok walked inside.
Near the entrance stood Ruhi and Tushar, greeting the arriving guests.
Ruhi noticed Leena immediately.
Her face lit up.
"Leena!" she said, walking toward her quickly.
Leena gave a small smile.
"Happy birthday to the birthday boy," she said, looking at Tushar.
Tushar smiled politely.
"Thanks for coming."
Ruhi then looked curiously at the man standing beside her.
"And who is this?" she asked playfully.
Leena answered calmly.
"A friend. From the orphanage."
Ruhi nodded warmly and turned to Alok.
"Welcome. Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the party."
Alok smiled politely. "Thank you."
Ruhi soon turned back toward greeting new guests while Tushar remained standing near the entrance.
But his eyes followed Leena for a moment longer as she walked deeper into the hall.
He watched her talking with Ruhi, observing quietly.
Leena and Alok moved toward the grand piano.
They stood beside it while the musician continued playing a slow, elegant tune.
Alok picked up two glasses of champagne from a passing tray and handed one to her.
Leena took it but barely drank.
Her eyes were calmly scanning the room.
Observing everything.
Every person.
Every movement.
Suddenly a small shift in the crowd near the entrance drew attention.
Samarth had arrived.
He walked in confidently with a woman beside him.
Sam looked exactly as people expected him to look—tall, sharp, effortlessly elegant. His dark suit fit perfectly, his hair styled neatly, and his confident presence naturally pulled attention toward him.
Beside him stood a woman in a stunning red dress that flowed smoothly as she walked. Her dark hair rested across her shoulders and the bright color of her dress made her stand out immediately in the golden light.
Together they looked like they belonged at the center of attention.
They approached Ruhi and Tushar first.
There were greetings, smiles, a brief exchange of polite conversation.
Then Sam and the woman moved toward the bar.
Sam picked up a glass of champagne and handed one to her.
They stood close together, speaking softly. At one point he pulled her gently closer, his hand resting at her back as he leaned down and kissed her lightly.
She laughed softly, clearly enjoying the moment.
Around them, more guests continued arriving.
The music grew slightly louder.
The room became livelier.
A few minutes later the entrance doors opened again.
And this time—
Sami walked in.
He wore a dark charcoal suit that fit his tall frame perfectly. The clean lines of the jacket emphasized his broad shoulders, while the white shirt beneath added a sharp contrast. His hair was slightly tousled in a way that looked effortless, and the faint shadow along his jaw gave him a more rugged edge.
He carried himself with quiet confidence.
Not loud.
Not showy.
But impossible to ignore.
As he stepped into the hall, the warm lights caught his face, highlighting his sharp features and calm expression.
Several people turned to look.
But Sami's eyes were already moving through the crowd.
Searching.
And then—
They stopped.
Across the room.
Near the piano.
Leena with that Same Man
Sami's POV
The office was quieter than usual that evening.
Most of the staff had already left, but Sami was still sitting at his desk, a file open in front of him. His eyes moved over the legal lines and property notes, but his focus kept drifting.
His phone buzzed on the desk.
A message from Ruhi.
Don't forget the party tonight. Come early.
Sami glanced at the time and leaned back in his chair.
He had planned to stay longer at the office, but there was no real reason to. Ruhi had insisted enough already. With a quiet breath, he closed the file, picked up his keys, and left.
By the time he drove back to his apartment building, the sky had already turned dark blue.
He parked in his usual spot and turned off the engine.
For a second, everything was quiet.
Then the elevator doors across the parking area opened.
Sami looked up casually—
And then stilled.
Leena stepped out.
She was wearing black.
A soft black dress that fit close at her waist and fell smoothly along her legs. Under the parking lights, the dark fabric gave her an almost unreal elegance. Her hair was half tied back, but the loose strands around her face moved softly in the evening breeze. Her neck and shoulders looked bare and delicate, and the simple silver chain resting against her skin caught the light whenever she moved.
She looked nothing like the tired, guarded woman he usually saw in hallways and elevators.
Tonight she looked composed.
Beautiful.
And completely out of reach.
Sami's eyes stayed on her a second too long.
Then another figure stepped out of the elevator behind her.
A man.
Tall. Well-built. Dressed in dark clothes that somehow matched hers without looking planned. His shirt fit neatly across his shoulders, and there was an easy confidence in the way he walked toward her.
Sami didn't know who he was.
But the sight of them standing together made something harden inside him.
Leena walked with him toward a black bike parked near the corner.
The man picked up a helmet and handed it to her first, then stepped closer and adjusted it for her. His fingers moved near her jaw as he fixed the strap beneath her chin.
Sami's expression darkened.
The gesture was small.
Normal.
But it felt far too familiar.
Leena moved to sit on the bike, then paused.
The dress made it awkward.
For a second she struggled with the fabric, trying not to lose balance. Then she gathered one side of the dress carefully in her hand and lifted it just enough to swing her leg over.
The movement was quick, but intimate in a way Sami did not want to notice.
His jaw tightened.
Leena settled onto the back seat and placed one hand lightly on the man's shoulder.
That simple touch—
That one casual, effortless touch—
sent a sharp heat through Sami's chest.
The bike engine came alive with a low growl.
Neither of them looked uncertain.
Neither of them looked like this was new.
And somehow that was the part Sami hated most.
Leena turned her face slightly just before they left.
Her eyes moved across the parking lot.
And found him.
For one brief second, they looked at each other.
She gave nothing away.
No explanation.
No pause.
Then the bike pulled away and disappeared out of the gate.
Sami stayed where he was.
Still.
Silent.
His fingers tightened around his car keys.
He had no right to feel this angry.
No right to feel anything at all.
Leena could go anywhere she wanted.
With anyone she wanted.
So why did it feel like something had been dragged sharply across his nerves?
Why did the image of her hand on that man's shoulder stay in his mind like an insult?
Sami looked toward the now-empty gate, his face hardening.
He let out a slow breath, but it did nothing to cool the sudden heat in him.
He didn't know who that man was.
He didn't know where they were going.
And he didn't know why the thought of Leena leaving with him made him this furious.
But for the first time, the emotion had a shape.
Jealousy.
And Sami hated it.
Sami arrived at the venue later than he expected.
The rooftop hall was already alive when he stepped inside. Warm golden lights hung from the ceiling like floating lanterns, casting a soft glow over the entire space. Through the tall glass walls, the city stretched endlessly beneath the dark sky, its lights flickering like distant stars.
Soft jazz music drifted through the air from the grand piano placed near the center of the hall. Guests moved around in elegant circles, glasses of champagne in hand, their voices blending into a quiet hum of conversation and laughter.
Sami paused just inside the entrance, adjusting the cuff of his charcoal suit.
He had barely taken a step forward when his eyes moved across the room—
And stopped.
Near the piano.
Leena.
She stood exactly where the soft light from the chandelier fell over her. The black dress she wore earlier now seemed even more striking under the golden lights. The fabric traced the curve of her waist before falling smoothly along her legs, and the loose strands of her hair framed her face perfectly.
In her hand was a champagne glass.
And beside her—
That same man.
The one from the parking lot.
They were standing close enough that their shoulders almost touched.
The man held a glass too, his posture relaxed, one arm resting lightly against the side of the piano as he spoke. His dark shirt fit well across his broad shoulders, and his expression carried an easy confidence.
Leena was listening.
And smiling.
Sami felt something tighten in his chest.
Not the polite, distant smile she usually gave people.
This one was different.
Real.
Soft.
The man said something again and leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice.
Leena tilted her head toward him so she could hear.
He murmured something near her ear.
For a brief second his face was close enough that his breath brushed against her hair.
Leena laughed.
A light, quiet laugh that Sami had never heard from her before.
It was the kind of laugh that made her eyes shine.
And for some reason—
That sound made Sami's jaw clench.
His fingers tightened slightly around the glass he had just taken from a passing tray.
Across the room, Leena lifted her drink slowly, still smiling as she replied to whatever the man had said.
The two of them looked comfortable together.
Natural.
Like they had known each other for years.
Sami tried to look away.
He told himself it didn't matter.
Leena had her life.
Her friends.
Her choices.
But his eyes moved back again anyway.
The man leaned slightly closer once more, saying something in a low voice.
Leena looked up at him with that same quiet smile.
And Sami felt a sharp, unfamiliar irritation spread through him.
He didn't even know the man.
He didn't even know why this bothered him.
But watching them together felt strangely unbearable.
Sami took a slow sip of champagne, though he barely tasted it.
His gaze stayed fixed across the room.
On the woman in the black dress.
And the man standing far too close beside her.