Riya and her father, Colonel Akshat Mathur, stepped out of the car.
Riya asked once again, "Papa, whose house are we visiting?"
Akshat calmly replied, "An old friend's place for dinner."
Riya frowned in thought. An old friend? But I've never heard of them before.
By the time they reached the entrance, an elegant and massive mansion stood before them.
'The Dean's house?!'
Riya froze on the spot.
'Wait, wait, wait-are we at the Dean's house?!'
That was the first shock.
Dean Ashima Oberoi was already standing at the entrance, waiting for them.
"Welcome, Colonel Mathur." Her voice was as composed and authoritative as always.
Akshat gave a small smile. "Good to see you again, Major Oberoi."
Riya's mind completely short-circuited.
'Major?!!'
Her brain struggled to process the new information. The Dean was in the Army before?! That explained her disciplined aura!
But even then, the biggest shock was yet to come.
--
Riya was still trying to mentally process what was happening when...
A familiar presence descended the stairs.
With a sharp, cold aura-Vivan Oberoi.
As he walked down, his gaze casually swept across the room... until his eyes landed on Riya.
And for a split second, his expression shifted into slight disbelief.
'What is she doing here?!'
Riya was equally shocked.
'How is my biggest enemy here?!'
A deep silence settled in the room.
Ashima, clearly enjoying the situation, calmly said,
"Vivan, meet her. This is Colonel Mathur's daughter, Riya."
Vivan gave a cold stare. "I know."
Riya, with equal defiance, replied, "And so do I."
Ashima smirked slightly, as if she was already well aware of their ongoing rivalry.
But then came the third shock.
--
As everyone settled at the dinner table, Vivan's father-Vijay Oberoi-finally arrived.
Vijay Oberoi-a chilled, grounded, and wise personality.
The moment he saw Riya's father, his face lit up with a broad smile.
"Akshat, my friend! It's been years!"
Akshat, now visibly more relaxed, responded with a smirk. "Not just years, Vijay. An entire generation has passed!"
Riya's confusion deepened.
'Wait... Papa and Vivan's father are friends?!'
The conversation moved forward, drifting into flashbacks of their army days. And then, a major realization struck.
With a knowing smirk, Ashima remarked, "By the way, Riya, did you know? Your father and I were in the same unit."
Riya froze for a second.
'Wait, what?! That means... Papa and Dean' served together in the army?!'
And suddenly, something clicked in her mind-
'Ashima Oberoi's name is always mentioned with the title 'Major' in front of it. I should have figured it out!'
Throughout dinner, everyone was relaxed... except for two people-Riya and Vivan.
The only person Riya talked to freely was Vijay Oberoi.
His calm, friendly, and wise personality made her feel an instant, positive connection.
Meanwhile, Vivan simply sat there, silently observing everything.
After dinner, Ashima casually said, "Vivan, show Riya around the house."
For a second, Vivan didn't react, but then he simply gave a short nod.
Riya immediately tried to protest. "That's not necessary. I should be heading back-"
Akshat shot her a glance. "Manners, Riya."
And just like that, she had no choice but to go on the tour.
---
The house was nothing short of royal and sophisticated.
Every corner reflected discipline and grace.
But the real cold war was unfolding—not in words, but in expressions.
Vivan was giving straightforward, precise answers.
Meanwhile, Riya was in full cold sarcasm mode.
"Jeez, this house is so serious. Does anyone even laugh here?" she muttered.
Vivan coldly replied, "We do. Just not without reason."
"Oh, so unnecessary anger is allowed?" Riya murmured under her breath.
Vivan shot her a glance. "You still haven't grown out of this childishness, have you?"
Riya crossed her arms. "And you still haven't stopped giving old-man lectures?"
And so, their cold and sarcastic banter continued.
But just as they were heading back-
the biggest twist of the night unfolded.
When Riya and Vivan returned, they overheard their parents deep in a serious conversation.
Akshat:
"Within a month, we'll finalize the engagement."
Riya's brain froze.
'Engagement?!'
She listened further-
Vijay:
"We can't break the promise we made."
Akshat:
"Absolutely not. When the time comes, we'll finalize their marriage."
Riya's mind went blank.
'Marriage?! Promise?! Wait... WHAT?!'
She snapped her head toward Vivan.
And Vivans expression? A perfect reflection of the same shock and horror running through Riya's mind.
'No. Way. In. Hell.'
---