Ishaan said," You should have stayed away from her, sir."
Vikram looks at him," I didn't touch her."
"You are touching her life!" Ishaan shouted.
"You know how media works, how bad this is for"
He glanced at Devika, eyes softened but fist clenched.
Her reputation.
Her career.
Her future.
Vikram walks toward Ishaan, each step measured. "If you are done yelling" he said," sit down."
Ishaan didn't
Rishi intervened, pushing a hand between them."that's enough. Both of you."
Devika stared at floor.
Her mind was filled with multiple thoughts.
Images of phones
Flashes
Hands reaching for her.
Vikram's arms around her.
Her mother voice echoed in her head.
"In today's world, one picture can destroy a girl. One rumor can kill her future."
The cafe wasn't silent anymore. It buzzed, viberated.
One phone lit up.
Then another.
Then all of them.
Ping.
Ping.
Ping.
Ping.
Screens were flashing.
Instagram, X , whatsapp, notifications flooding like a storm.
Karan eyebrows raise up " wh-what the hell?"
He unlocked his phone. Eyes moving on fast on screen to keep up.
He scrolled once.
Then twice.
Then,
He froze.
"Guys,..its everywhere." Karan said, low voice
Arshi picked her phone from the table, she stared at her screen." Ohh, my god. Oh my god this is bad."
Beside her, Ishaan checked his phone. His thumb was shaking slightly as he clicked open link after link.
Devika didn't move.
She didn't reach for her phone
She didn't have the courage.
She could hear their gasps, their curses, and panic in everyone eyes.
Her own heart felt like a frightened bird, beating too fast to breathe.
Rishi was the only one calm but only on outside. But he didn't even able to hide the tension.
"Send me links" Rishi said, he was already typeing on his own screen.
Nobody answered him. They didn't need to.
The articles, reels, edited pictures, tweets were spreading like a wildfire.
vikram Oberoi catches mysterious girl in his arms.
Who is she? Secret girlfriend?
Vikram Oberoi's heir in romantic scandal.
Is this the woman who finally tamed him?
Ishaan threw his phone onto the couch, hands trembling. "This is disaster."
Karan pace around in room," they are posting videos too, look at this--"
He shows screen towards them, and even Rishi curse in low voice.
A clip less than ten seconds. Devika falling, vikram catching her, her body pressed against him. His arm around her waist.
No context. No explanation.
Just one moment that looked like everything.
Arshi placed hand on her mouth."they are calling her gold digger." Low voice."they are calling her so many disgusting things."
Devika finally picked up her phone. Her hand was trembling. Her notifications were coming on screen like she couldn't stop.
TAGS: #VikramOberoi#BussinessHeir#MysteryGirl#SingapureCafe.
Comments: shameless, opportunist, rich boy toy, kept woman, sugar baby.
Devika choked on air.
Her vision blurred.
This wasn't joke
This wasn't gossips.
This was her name.
Her face.
Her reputation.
Her family.
Everything built with endless sleepless nights and projects.
All reduced to rumor. Her chest tightened until her breathing became painful.
Devika covered her mouth," No..This isn't happening."
Ishaan looked at her, helpless and protectivly. He moves towards Devika instantly." Devika, don't read it just give me your phone--"
She didn't hear him.
Rishi stepped forward, takes her phone gently.
"No more" Rishi said, calm but still stern." I will handle it."
Devika looked at him.
Rishi handed the device to Vikram.
Not a request
Not a suggestion.
A clearation.
Vikram took it.
His expression unreadable.
He didn't say anything. He didn't need to.
The storm around him wasn't new. His entire life was headlines, journalists, stock market rumors.
But this was different. Vikram stared at Devika's name trending on his screen.
Rishi fingers were moving too fast on his phone. Sending commands, messages and legal warnings to half of city.
"Take it down."
"Now."
"Timestamps."
"Names."
"IP logs."