chapter 2:
The courtyard buzzed with chatter, but Ishani Kapoor's sharp stride cut through it like a blade. Aarav Sen leaned against the stone pillar, his smirk waiting for her.
"Ishani," he called, voice deliberately light.
She stopped, unwillingly. "What do you want?"
Before Aarav could answer, Sanya Mehta appeared at Ishani's side, her arm looped through her best friend's. Sanya's presence was warm, grounding, a contrast to Ishani's cold glare.
Ignore him," Sanya whispered, loud enough for Aarav to hear. "He thrives on attention."
Aarav's smirk faltered, but only slightly. He hated Ishani's disdain, yet something in him still admired her fire.
"You know," Aarav said, stepping closer, "hate takes effort. If you truly despised me, you wouldn't waste your breath."
Ishani's eyes narrowed. "Don't mistake my hate for weakness. It's the only thing keeping me from tolerating you."
Before the tension could thicken, a deep voice interrupted. Dev Sen, Aarav's elder brother, approached with the calm authority of someone used to commanding rooms. His tailored suit and sharp gaze marked him as more than just family—he was a businessman, already making waves in the gaming industry.
"Aarav," Dev said firmly, "don't you have better things to do than provoke Ishani?"
Aarav's jaw tightened. Dev's words carried weight, and Ishani's smirk at his rebuke only deepened Aarav's irritation.
Sanya squeezed Ishani's hand, whispering, "See? Even his brother knows you're right.
The moment left Aarav conflicted—his brother's shadow looming, Ishani's hatred burning, and his own feelings tangled between love and resentment.
As Ishani walked away with Sanya, Aarav remained rooted, his thoughts a storm. He hated her stubbornness, yet he couldn't deny the pull. And now, with Dev watching, the stakes felt higher than ever.
The velvet promise of their story wasn't tender—it was thorned, tangled, and already bleeding.