Advik :-
I woke up to the dull throb behind my eyes- the kind that didn't just come from alcohol, but from a night I was trying too hard to forget.
The curtains were drawn, but sunlight still leaked in through the edges, stabbing straight into my skull. Afternoon. Definitely afternoon. My body felt heavy, muscles sore, head spinning slightly as memories came back in fragments- music pounding in my ears, glasses clinking, Rudra shouting over the noise, bodies moving too close, too fast.
And then her face.
Reyna.
Angry. Drunk. Burning holes through me with her words.
I groaned and dragged myself out of bed. My throat was dry, my shirt smelled like smoke and regret. I stripped it off and headed straight to the shower, letting cold water crash over me, hoping it would wash away the images that refused to leave.
It didn't.
No matter how long I stood there, all I could see was her- standing too close, accusing, breaking, daring me to feel things I had no right to feel.
I finally shut the water off, dressed in a clean shirt, and forced myself downstairs.
The hall was alive.
Too alive.
Kabir Chachu was laughing about something, his deep voice filling the space. Dada ji sat on his armchair with a satisfied smile, his walking stick resting beside him. My father stood near the window, hands clasped behind his back, while my mother... my mother looked radiant.
Happy.
That alone made my steps slow.
I stopped at the bottom of the stairs, confusion tightening in my chest. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice rough.
They all turned toward me.
Maa was the first to speak. "Advik, you're awake," she said warmly, as if this was any normal afternoon. "I went to the Rathore mansion this morning."
Something in her tone made my stomach drop.
"We finalized the wedding date," she continued, smiling wider. "It's on the 31st of December."
The words hit me like a punch.
31st December.
I did the math automatically.
Fifteen days.
Shit.
The word echoed in my head, loud and sharp. Fifteen days to a marriage I wasn't ready for. Fifteen days to tie myself to a life that felt like it was already slipping out of my control.
But my face stayed blank.
Years of training had taught me how to hide chaos behind calm. I nodded once, as if she had just told me the weather forecast.
"That's good," I said. My own voice sounded distant to my ears.
Maa clasped her hands together, excitement bubbling out of her. "We're leaving for Delhi in the evening. There's so much to prepare- clothes, arrangements, relatives...."
Her words blurred together.
Delhi. Preparations. Wedding.
Reyna's face flashed in my mind again, followed by the memory of gunas, kundalis, fate playing its twisted games.
I couldn't breathe properly.
"I have some important work," I cut in suddenly.
Everyone looked at me.
Kabir frowned slightly. "Now?"
"Yes," I replied, already turning away. "I need to leave."
I didn't wait for permission. Didn't wait for questions. I didn't acknowledge the date again, didn't comment on the wedding, didn't say anything that might crack the mask I was wearing.
I grabbed my keys and walked out of the farmhouse, the air outside sharp against my skin.
Fifteen days.
The number followed me like a shadow as I got into my car.
I started the engine, jaw clenched, mind racing.
I didn't know what scared me more- the wedding that was coming too fast...
or the fact that every road I tried to take away from it somehow kept leading back to her.
Reyna :-
"Reyna Rathore, Are you mad or what?"
Maya's voice echoed across the parking lot the moment I stepped out of the car. She was already pacing near the entrance, bag slung over one shoulder, face twisted in pure irritation. "Do you know what time it is? Half the lecture must be over by now."
"I know, I know," I muttered, adjusting my bag and breaking into a hurried walk. "Pandit ji drama, kundali's apocalypse, marriage lecture- trust me, I tried to escape."
Maya snorted. "Of course you did. And of course, fate said, not today, sweetheart."
We rushed toward the academic block, heels clicking loudly against the marble floor. My heart was racing- not just from being late, but from everything piled inside my head. Advik. The marriage. The gunas. The damn morning.
As soon as we reached the classroom, I could hear Professor Sharma's voice droning on inside. Mid-lecture. Perfect.
Maya shot me a look. "Ready to get humiliated?"
"Been my whole day," I said flatly.
She pushed the door open.
Every head turned.
Professor Sharma paused mid sentence and looked at us over his glasses, lips slowly curling into a smile that made my skin crawl. "Ah," he said loudly, "please, come in. Why not?"
The class went silent.
"How can I stop the daughters of the owners of this college?" he continued, voice dripping with mock sweetness. "After all, you both own this place. You can come and go whenever you want. I don't want to risk my job, you see."
And then he laughed.
A few students laughed with him. Some awkwardly. Some a little too happily.
Heat rushed to my face.
Maya's jaw clenched beside me. I could practically hear the curse words forming in her head.
"May we come in, sir?" she asked tightly.
"Yes, yes," he waved a hand dramatically. "Please. Don't let me stop you."
We walked in, every step feeling heavier than the last. I could hear whispers behind my back- low murmurs, not even trying to be discreet.
"Rich kids..."
"Always late..."
"Attitude dekho..."
I didn't turn around. Didn't react. I had learned long ago that silence hurt them more than anger.
We took our places, set up the laptop, and began our presentation. My voice stayed steady. Slides changed smoothly. I focused only on the screen, on Maya's cues, on getting this over with.
When we finished, Professor Sharma gave a stiff nod. "You may go."
No appreciation. No feedback.
Just dismissal.
We packed up and walked out of the class, the door closing behind us like a final escape.
The moment we were out of earshot, Maya exploded.
"If he wasn't our professor," she hissed, "I swear to God, I would have shot him by now. Direct headshot."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Please," I said dryly. "You'd aim for the leg first. Make him beg."
She burst out laughing. "True. Very true. Slow torture."
"I mean, 'don't want to risk my job,'" I mimicked in a fake old-man voice. "As if he doesn't enjoy saying that crap every chance he gets."
Maya rolled her eyes. "One day, Reyna, one day- I'm going to walk into this college as the official owner and ask him, Sir, job chahiye ya retirement?"
That made me smile for the first time all day.
"Deal," I said. "I'll bring popcorn."
We walked down the corridor, laughter echoing softly, pretending—for just a few minutes—that the world wasn't conspiring to burn everything down.
For now, it was just us.
And honestly?
That was enough. Maya went to canteen to take coffee and..
I was stuffing my notes back into my bag when I felt someone hover behind me- too close, too deliberate.
"BOO--"
"Not this time, you idiot," I snapped, spinning around instantly.
Rohan froze mid-move, hands still in the air, eyes wide in fake betrayal. His hair was slightly messy like always, dark strands falling into his forehead no matter how many times he tried to fix them. His face was open and expressive- warm brown eyes, a straight nose, a smile that came too easily and reached his eyes every single time.
"Wow," he said dramatically. "No scream? No panic? I've officially lost my talent."
I rolled my eyes, but my lips curved despite myself. "You've officially picked the wrong day."
He leaned against the desk casually, studying me the way he always did- like he actually saw me, not the Rathore name, not the guns or guards, just... me.
"Even then," he said with a grin, eyes lingering on my face, "you look unfairly beautiful. Like you woke up and decided to attack humanity."
Heat crept up my neck. I hated that he could do that to me so easily. "Rohan," I warned, embarrassed.
"What?" he shrugged. "Compliments are free."
Rohan was different. No sharp edges. No darkness lurking behind his eyes. Just sincerity. He came from a normal family- his father ran a small garment business, his mother worried about his food and his future, and their home was always loud in the good way. Warm. Safe.
Sometimes... I envied that.
His smile softened as he took a step closer. "But jokes aside," he said gently, "you look tired. Like you haven't slept. What happened?"
"Nothing," I said quickly. "Just family stuff."
He hummed, clearly not buying it.
Then his fingers wrapped around my wrist- light, respectful, grounding. His touch wasn't demanding. It never was. "Don't lie to me," he said quietly, searching my face. "Your eyes give you away."
Something inside me loosened.
"My sister's getting married," I said softly.
His brows drew together instantly. "That fast?"
I nodded. "No one asked her. Or me. It's just... decided."
Rohan squeezed my hand, thumb brushing over my skin in a way that made my chest feel oddly tight. "Hey," he said, voice steady, "I know your family's complicated. But maybe there's a reason. Talk to them, Reyna. Don't carry this alone."
I looked at him then- really looked.
The concern etched between his brows. The honesty in his eyes. The way he stood so close but never crossed a line.
There was something soft there. Something familiar. Comforting.
Not love.
But... something that could have been, in a different life.
"I don't know," I whispered.
He smiled again, trying to pull me back from the edge. "Well, until the world sorts itself out, you've got me. Worst case? I'll kidnap you and open a café somewhere boring and peaceful."
I laughed, finally. "You can't even make tea properly."
"Rude," he gasped. "I'll learn. For you."
And for the first time that day, my chest felt a little lighter—because with Rohan, things didn't feel like a war I had to survive.
They felt... human.
Maya appeared out of nowhere like she always did coffee in hand, irritation written all over her face.
"Oh good," she said dryly, looking between me and Rohan. "The emotional support puppy is already here. Saves me the effort."
Rohan gasped, offended. "Excuse you, Mehta. I prefer emotionally available best friend with excellent humor."
Maya snorted. "Yeah, emotionally available until someone asks you to submit an assignment on time."
I laughed, leaning back against the desk. "Don't bully him. He submits things on time."
"Because I remind him," Maya added smugly.
Rohan pointed at her. "Exactly. Team effort."
Maya took a sip of her coffee and sighed. "Honestly, between your mafia family and my so-called 'respectable business empire,' I'm shocked we're not already in jail."
Rohan grinned. "Meanwhile, my biggest problem is my mom yelling at me for not eating enough dal."
"Lucky bastard," Maya muttered.
I nudged Rohan playfully. "Adopt us. Please."
"Done," he said instantly. "House rules: no guns, no bodyguards, and dinner at 8 sharp."
Maya made a face. "Absolutely not. I don't do rules."
"That's because you are the problem," Rohan shot back.
"Excuse me?" Maya snapped. "I am a delight."
"Sure," he nodded. "A delightful disaster."
I laughed so hard my stomach hurt-actual laughter, not the forced kind. For a moment, the weight in my chest eased.
Maya slung an arm around my shoulders. "See? This is why we hang out with normal people. They ground us."
Rohan pretended to bow. "My service to society."
I looked at them-Maya with her dramatic expressions, Rohan with his effortless warmth and realized how rare this felt.
No power games.
No expectations.
No destiny breathing down my neck.
Just three idiots in a college hallway, laughing like the world hadn't already planned to break us.
And I held onto that moment.
Because I knew it wouldn't last forever.
Advik :-
The music hit me before the gate even opened- bass heavy, reckless, loud enough to drown thoughts. Exactly what I needed. Or so I told myself.
Rudra's friend's villa was lit like a damn carnival. Pool lights glowing blue, bottles lined like trophies, smoke curling into the night air. Girls laughed too loudly, boys pretended they weren't watching them, and for a second- just a second- it felt like my old life. The one where responsibility didn't sit on my chest like a loaded gun.
The moment I stepped in, eyes turned.
And then the mocking started.
"Oh look," Rudra drawled, grinning like an asshole. "The most eligible bachelor of the country. Soon-to-be husband. Should we touch your feet or what?"
Someone whistled. Someone clapped.
I rolled my eyes. "Wow. Original. Did you rehearse that in the mirror?"
Another friend laughed. "Bro's getting married and still looks like he wants to kill someone."
I didn't respond. My gaze drifted- unwillingly- toward the pool.
She stood there.
Leaning against the railing, red dress clinging like it was stitched to her skin. Long straight hair, perfectly styled. Diamond studs. Expensive perfume. A face men lost their minds over.
Kiara Oberoi.
Beautiful. Rich. Calculated.
We'd been... close. Too close sometimes. Nights blurred with alcohol, skin, desire. She knew what she was doing, and so did I. But I'd never once imagined her as my wife.
Because Kiara loved the idea of me.
The name.
The power.
The lifestyle.
Not the man.
She looked upset- genuinely this time and Rudra noticed my stare.
"What?" he said, sipping his drink. "You surprised? Dude, news travels fast. You're getting married. What did you expect....your almost-girlfriend to throw a party?"
"She's not my girlfriend," I snapped.
Rudra raised a brow. Another guy laughed. "Yeah, just a friend you fuck regularly. Same thing."
"Watch your mouth," I warned.
He lifted his hands. "Relax, future patidev. Just saying."
I ignored them and walked toward her.
"Kiara," I said quietly.
She didn't look at me.
"What happened?" I asked.
Silence.
She turned her face away, jaw tight, eyes glassy. For the first time since I'd known her, she looked... small.
"You didn't think I wouldn't hear?" she said coldly. "You're getting married, Advik."
"It's not what you think."
She laughed- sharp, bitter. "Oh really? Because to me it looks like you're choosing a wife while keeping me as entertainment."
"We were never..."
"Don't," she cut me off. "Don't insult me by pretending this meant nothing."
I exhaled slowly. "You know exactly what this was. And what it wasn't."
She finally looked at me then, eyes blazing with jealousy, hurt, and something ugly beneath it.
"So that's it?" she asked. "You just... move on?"
I didn't answer.
Because the truth was- I hadn't moved on.
I was trapped.
And somewhere far away, a girl with fire in her eyes and anger in her veins was haunting every damn breath I took.
Kiara turned away from me again, shoulders stiff.
I didn't plan to go after her.
But my feet moved before my pride could stop them.
"Kiara," I called, catching her wrist as she tried to walk away. The music thudded behind us, lights flashing, laughter floating like mockery. "Listen to me."
She turned sharply, yanking her arm, eyes blazing. "What?"
"This marriage..." I said low, controlled, "...it means nothing to me. I'm doing it for my family. That's it."
Her laugh was hollow. Disbelieving. Dangerous.
"Nothing?" she repeated. "Wow. So tell me, Advik Raichand- what does that make me?"
I frowned. "Don't twist this."
"Oh, I will," she snapped. "Am I a toy? A fucking sex toy you use when you're bored and then toss aside to marry some 'suitable' girl?"
"Kiara-"
"No," she cut me off, stepping back like my touch burned. "Don't say my name like you care. You don't."
Her voice cracked, but she didn't let it break.
"You enjoyed me," she continued, eyes wet but furious. "My body. My time. My silence. And now you're telling me it meant nothing because your family snapped their fingers?"
"That's not what I said."
"It's exactly what you said," she shot back. "You men are all the same. Power, money, entitlement. You think feelings are optional."
I clenched my jaw. "You knew what this was."
"I knew you were an asshole," she said coldly. "I didn't know you were this big of a jerk."
People nearby had started watching. I didn't care.
"I'm warning you," she added, stepping closer now, pointing a finger into my chest. "Stay away from me. Whatever this was- whatever lies you told yourself- it's over."
She turned away, then paused.
"And for the record?" she said over her shoulder. "You're playing with every girl's feelings like it's a fucking game. One day, it'll blow up in your face."
She walked off, heels sharp against the stone, leaving something ugly and heavy behind.
I stood there, fists clenched, realizing the truth I didn't want to admit:
I wasn't just ruining one life. I was setting fire to everything I touched.
Rudra appeared beside me like he always did- right when the silence got too loud. He shoved a cold bottle into my hand, the glass sweating against my palm.
"Relax, dude," he said, nodding in the direction Kiara had disappeared. "She's just angry. Give it time. She'll cool off."
I didn't answer.
He clinked his bottle against mine anyway. "Drink. Enjoy. You've got, what- fifteen days left of freedom before you're officially someone's husband."
Freedom.
The word tasted like a lie even before the beer did.
"Come on," Rudra added, lowering his voice. "Don't ruin the night. You can't fix everything. Sometimes you just survive it."
I tipped the bottle back and drank. The burn slid down my throat, sharp and familiar, numbing the edge of the mess in my head. One gulp turned into another. The music grew louder, the lights brighter, the weight in my chest duller.
Rudra grinned. "There he is."
Someone pulled me toward the dance floor. Bodies moved around me—careless, loud, alive. I let myself get dragged in, let the beat take over, let the alcohol blur the sharp lines of guilt and responsibility.
I danced. I drank. I laughed when someone cracked a stupid joke.
For a few minutes, I almost forgot.
But every time I closed my eyes, it wasn't Kiara's face I saw.
It was Reyna's.
Angry. Broken. Burning.
And no amount of noise could drown that out.