Janvhi's POV:
Sunday mornings were supposed to be lazy. Mine definitely was—hair tied in a messy bun, sprawled across the bed with my playlist running in the background, half-heartedly scrolling through reels.
That's when my phone buzzed.
A simple message.
From him.
Daksh: Can we meet?
I sat up so fast my blanket slipped to the floor. For a moment, I just stared at the screen, like maybe I'd imagined it. Daksh didn't text. Not casually. Not like this.
And yet, here it was.
I chewed my lip, heartbeat drumming in my ears. Because the truth was—I'd noticed.
The way his gaze lingered on me in college, sharp and unblinking, like I'd done something to unsettle him. The way I'd catch him looking when he thought no one would notice. Even that day, inside the car—he hadn't said a word, but I could feel it, like a heat pressed against my skin.
And now this message.
My first instinct? Panic. Because what exactly did he want to "meet" about? Did he want to confront me about… that night? Or was it something else? Something I wasn't ready to hear?
I typed, deleted, typed again.
Finally, I settled on something that sounded casual enough to cover the storm brewing inside me.
Me: Tomorrow after college, Café Mirage?
I stared at the sent message, my thumb hovering like I wanted to unsend it. Too late now.
I flopped back on the bed, groaning into my pillow.
"God, what have I just agreed to?"
Because no matter how I tried to play it off, one thing was clear—whatever was between me and Daksh, it wasn't staying buried anymore.
Next day
By the time college wrapped up, my nerves were frayed thin. Everytime we pass through him in college, I could feel Daksh's eyes flicker my way, steady and unnerving, like he was waiting for something. And every time, I had to pretend not to notice.
So when Sameera walked beside me at the gate, slinging her bag over her shoulder, I knew I had to act fast.
"Hey," I started, forcing a casual tone, "I've got… some work to finish up. Won't be coming home right away."
Sameera raised a brow instantly. "Work? Like now?"
"Yes, work," I said, exaggerating the word just enough to make her roll her eyes. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not bunking off somewhere shady."
She smirked, clearly unconvinced, but before she could press further, Saharsh strolled over. His timing was almost too perfect.
"Sameera, let's go?" he asked, his voice easy, but his gaze… softer than he probably realized.
I didn't miss the way Sameera's expression shifted either—her eyes darting away for half a second, as if she was trying to hide the flush on her face. Oh, please. Subtlety was not their strong suit.
I grinned, swinging my bag higher on my shoulder. "See? You've already got someone eagerly waiting to escort you. Don't worry about me."
Her lips parted in protest, but I cut her off with a knowing look. "You two can drop the act, you know. It's so obvious already."
That earned me the exact reaction I was hoping for—Sameera's cheeks turned crimson, and Saharsh coughed into his hand, suddenly very interested in the strap of his backpack.
I laughed, waving them off. "Bye, lovebirds. Enjoy your not-a-date."
As I turned the corner, phone buzzing with Daksh's earlier message in my pocket, my smile faded a little. Because while teasing Sameera was easy, the truth was—my own "not-a-date" felt way more complicated.
I was ten minutes early. Big mistake.
Sitting alone at the café table with nothing but a cold glass of iced coffee sweating in front of me, I had way too much time to think. And overthink.
Why had Daksh asked me to meet?
What could he possibly want to talk about?
Was it about… that night?
I crossed and uncrossed my legs under the table, chewing the inside of my cheek. No, no. He'd been very clear that night—it was a mistake, something we were both supposed to forget. So, obviously, it wasn't about that.
Unless… he'd changed his mind?
Or maybe… maybe he was suddenly interested in me?
I groaned softly, dropping my forehead against my palm. God, what was I even thinking? I was just spewing nonsense in my own head at this point.
The bell above the café door jingled, and my heart leapt into my throat.
Daksh.
He walked in, casual as ever—black polo shirt, well-fitted jeans, sneakers. Simple. But somehow, on him, the simplicity worked. His hair was neatly pushed back, his face calm, unreadable, and yet… there was this unshakable intensity in the way he carried himself, like the entire room tilted a little when he entered.
And suddenly, all the half-formed thoughts in my head collided into one loud buzz.
He spotted me instantly, those sharp eyes locking onto mine before he strode over.
I shot up a little too fast, fumbling with my words the moment he sat across from me. "So, uh—why exactly did you want to meet? I mean, if it's about… that night, then you said we should forget it, right? So obviously it's not that. Unless, of course, you suddenly decided to, I don't know, change the rules? Or maybe you've secretly been interested in me all this time and—"
"Janhvi."
Just my name. Quiet. Firm.
And instantly, my nonsense screeched to a halt. My mouth snapped shut, heat crawling up my neck.
Daksh leaned forward slightly, his gaze never wavering, like he was finally about to say something important.
But before he could—
"Hey, Janhvi!"
I stiffened. That voice.
Turning, my stomach dropped as Kabir walked in, flashing his stupid, charming grin. He didn't hesitate—just came right over, pulled me into a hug, and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek.
My eyes went wide.
But it wasn't my own reaction that had me frozen. It was Daksh's.
He hadn't moved an inch, but his entire body went rigid—shoulders squared, jaw tight, eyes darkening with something I'd never seen on him before.
Possessiveness.
And for the first time, I wondered if I'd just stumbled into something far bigger than I was prepared for.
Daksh's POV:
I'd been holding it together. Barely.
When Kabir walked in, hugged Janhvi like he owned her, and brushed his lips across her cheek—something in me cracked.
I told myself to breathe, to stay calm, to not give him the satisfaction of seeing me react. But then his hand stayed on her arm a little too long, his body a little too close, his voice dripping with fake charm as he asked, "Missed me?"
That was it.
Before I even knew what I was doing, I was on my feet. My hand fisted into Kabir's collar, yanking him forward so hard his smirk vanished. My fist connected with his jaw, a sharp crack that made half the café turn in shock.
"How dare you touch her like that?" My voice was low, but it carried enough venom to cut through the silence. "You don't get to put your hands on her. Not her."
For a moment, the only sound was Kabir's staggered breath as he wiped the blood off his lip.
"Daksh!" Janhvi's voice snapped me back, sharper than I'd ever heard it. She shoved at my chest, fury blazing in her eyes. "What the hell are you doing?"
I looked at her, confused, still breathing hard. "I'm stopping him from disrespecting you. How could you even let him—"
"You don't get to decide that!" she cut me off, her voice trembling with anger. "Who are you to intervene like this? You have no right to beat him up!"
My jaw locked. "No right?" I hissed. "After everything—you think I can just stand by while he—"
Her eyes flashed, and before I could finish, she threw the words like daggers. "That night was a mistake. And you're proving it again."
The words hit harder than any punch. My chest tightened, but she didn't stop.
"You don't own me, Daksh. You don't get to dictate who I see or who touches me. You're not—" Her voice wavered, but she forced it, each word cutting me open
And then—before I could say a word—she turned, grabbed Kabir's collar, and kissed him.
Right there. In front of me.
It wasn't long, wasn't deep. But it was enough. Enough to make my vision blur, my fists clench, my entire body turn to ice.
Then she pulled back, her chest heaving, and without a second glance, she stormed out of the café.
Leaving me standing there.
Staring.
Bleeding on the inside.
Janvhi's POV:
I stormed into the building, heels clicking against the marble floor, anger burning hotter with every step. I heard his footsteps right behind me, but I refused to look back.
"Janhvi, wait—" Daksh's voice chased me, rough, urgent.
I didn't stop. Not until he grabbed my hand, yanking me back. I spun, fury exploding in my chest.
"Let me go!" I hissed, yanking at my wrist.
"Not until you hear me out," he shot back, pulling me closer, his grip firm.
I glared up at him, breathing hard. "Fine. What the hell is wrong with you, Daksh? Why are you behaving like this?"
He looked tortured, his eyes wild in a way I'd never seen before. "I don't know, okay? I don't know what's gotten into me. Everything was fine—until I started seeing you with other guys, hearing about your dates. It drives me insane, Janhvi. I try to forget that night, but I can't. It's impossible."
My lips parted, but no words came.
His jaw flexed, his voice dropping low. "You're selfish, you know that?"
Something in me softened at the pain in his eyes… but the second he said that, I snapped. "I am not selfish—"
Before I could finish, his hand slid to my waist, and suddenly my back slammed against the wall. His lips crashed onto mine—hard, hungry, unstoppable.
A shock ran through me. For half a second, I wanted to push him away… but my body betrayed me. Heat flared low in my stomach, and my fingers clawed at his shirt, pulling him closer instead of pushing.
His mouth moved against mine like he was starving, like he'd been caging himself for too long and finally snapped. He angled his head, deepening the kiss, swallowing the tiny gasp that escaped me.
When I tried to breathe, he broke away just enough to look at me. My bottom lip was caught between my teeth. His eyes darkened, his voice low and rough.
"Don't bite your own lips," he rasped. "You're so selfish… let me do it for you."
And then he crashed back, kissing me deeper, harder. His tongue slid against mine, pulling me into a dizzying rhythm I couldn't resist. One hand cupped my jaw, holding me in place, while the other gripped my thigh, lifting it slightly against him. My breath hitched as his body pressed me firmly into the wall, leaving no space between us.
His lips trailed down for a second—my jaw, my throat—setting every nerve on fire before he found my mouth again, fiercer than before. I whimpered into the kiss, my hands tangling in his hair, tugging him closer, desperate for more.
His fingers pressed into my waist, possessive, sliding just enough over the curve of my hip to make me shiver. Every touch, every movement felt like he was branding me, claiming me.
By the time he finally pulled back, both of us were gasping, lips swollen, foreheads pressed together. His thumb brushed the corner of my mouth like he couldn't believe what just happened.
And I knew—my heart knew—there was no going back after this.