The car stopped a little distance away from the gates.
Beyond them—
Lights. Cameras. Movement.
The kind of energy that didn't belong to ordinary people.
Veer stepped out, adjusting his sleeves, eyes briefly drifting toward the red carpet area.
Luxury cars rolled in one after another.
Famous faces stepped out—
Smiles polished, confidence effortless.
Paparazzi flashes lit the night like lightning.
Names echoed in the air.
Among them—
Sushant Singh Rajput walked past, calm, composed… almost detached from the chaos around him.
A few rising actors followed.
Some familiar.
Some soon to be famous.
Veer watched quietly.
So it begins…
But that wasn't his path tonight.
Not yet.
He turned toward the normal entrance.
No red carpet.
No cameras.
Just security.
He pulled out the invitation Suhana had given him and handed it over.
A quick check.
A nod.
"Go ahead."
Simple.
Clean.
Unremarkable.
Veer stepped inside—
—and instantly felt a hand grab his wrist from behind.
His body reacted on instinct.
Grip tightening.
Balance shifting—
ready to twist, ready to throw—
Then—
"Relax."
He froze.
Turned.
Suhana stood there.
Smiling.
Warm.
Alive.
For a brief second…
Veer felt something strange.
Relief… mixed with a faint sadness he didn't quite understand.
"Hey," she said softly.
"Hey," he replied, matching her smile.
Inside his head—
Hahaha… young master, the shadow chuckled, this isn't some cultivation manhua. Relax. It's just a lame fan story.
Veer ignored it.
Completely.
"Come," Suhana said, pulling him along lightly. "I'll show you around."
The inside of Mannat was no less overwhelming.
Elegant.
Controlled.
Every corner whispered status without shouting it.
They moved through small groups—
Actors.
Writers.
Producers.
People who built the industry from shadows.
Suhana introduced him casually.
"Veer, this is my friend…"
"This is my cousin…"
"And him—don't mind him, he thinks he's the next big thing."
Veer responded politely, measured.
Observing everything.
"You're quiet," Suhana said, glancing at him.
"Just taking it in."
She smiled. "Nervous?"
"A little."
"Good," she teased. "That means you care."
Veer looked at her.
"I do."
For a moment—
She didn't look away.
Look at them, the shadow murmured. Half of these people don't even know they're about to become famous…
Veer's gaze drifted across the room.
And some already peaked, he replied internally.
So?
So… Veer's eyes sharpened slightly, we can change that.
Movies that didn't exist.
Songs never created.
Stars waiting to be made.
Careful, the shadow warned. Play it wrong, and you'll look like a fraud.
Play it right…
Veer didn't finish the thought.
He didn't need to.
They turned a corner—
—and Suhana slowed down.
"Mom."
Veer followed her gaze.
Her mother stood there, already looking at them.
She smiled.
But something about it felt… measured.
Controlled.
"Mom, this is Veer," Suhana said.
"I know," she replied calmly.
Then, as if correcting herself—
"I mean… I've heard about you."
Her eyes scanned him.
Polite.
But distant.
"Nice to finally meet you."
Veer nodded slightly.
"The pleasure is mine, ma'am."
His tone was calm. Respectful.
No overconfidence.
No nervous stumbling.
Just… balance.
Suhana watched closely.
She had seen it too—
That slight coldness.
That forced smile.
And for a second…
She didn't know where to stand.
But Veer handled it effortlessly.
And that—
Made her smile genuinely.
Soon after, she was pulled away.
"Come with me for a second," her mother said.
Suhana hesitated.
Then looked at Veer.
"I'll be back."
"I'll survive," he said lightly.
A few minutes later—
"Veer!"
Aryan waved him over.
"Finally," he grinned. "You made it."
The group gathered around.
Relaxed.
Comfortable.
Then someone noticed the gift.
"Oho… what's this?" one of them smirked.
"For the King himself?" another added.
"Don't tell me it's something boring."
"Let us see!"
Veer shook his head slightly. "Not happening."
"Come on!"
"No."
They laughed.
"Alright, mystery man."
The lights dimmed slightly.
The crowd shifted.
Everyone gathered.
And then—
He arrived.
Shah Rukh Khan walked in, holding his young son's hand.
No announcement needed.
The room adjusted around him.
Presence.
That was the word.
He greeted people warmly, effortlessly.
Gave a short speech—
Grateful.
Light.
Charming.
The cake was cut.
Music followed.
Laughter.
Movement.
A living celebration.
Later—
Veer found himself moving through conversations.
He spoke briefly with actors—
Mentioning their roles.
Their potential.
Just enough insight to intrigue—
Not enough to expose himself.
He met Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
They spoke about an upcoming project.
"Black," Veer said carefully, "feels like it will rely more on emotion than spectacle."
Bhansali looked at him, slightly surprised.
"…Interesting."
Veer smiled faintly.
Just enough.
Then—
Sonu Nigam.
"Your voice has range most people don't understand," Veer said.
Sonu chuckled. "That's rare to hear."
"People hear songs," Veer replied, "not the effort behind them."
A pause.
Respect.
"Veer."
He turned.
Suhana stood there again.
"Come."
And then—
He was face to face with him.
Shah Rukh Khan.
For a brief second—
Even Veer felt it.
That aura.
But he didn't flinch.
"Veer," Suhana said.
SRK smiled, extending his hand.
Veer took it.
Firm.
Controlled.
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise," Veer replied.
A few questions.
Simple.
Light.
But observant.
SRK noticed.
Then his eyes shifted to the gift.
"You didn't have to—"
"It's nothing big," Veer said. "But… open it when you have ten minutes to spare."
That made him pause.
"…That specific?"
Veer smiled faintly. "Yes."
Suhana reached for it playfully—
"I'll check—"
Veer stopped her gently.
"It's your father's gift."
Something in his tone—
Made her stop.
"…Fine."
The night moved on.
Crowds thickened.
Attention shifted toward the family.
Veer stepped back.
Quietly.
And eventually—
Left early.
As the lights of Mannat faded behind him—
He looked ahead.
This wasn't the destination.
Just the first step.