CHAPTER 6 #2
It made him restless, more than it should have. The flirtation, the banter, the rhythm… all of it was dangerous. He needed to cut it off before he lost grip entirely.
“Be at the disco by 10:00 p.m. I have work to do.”
That message stung Aanya a little. Did he mean she didn’t have work?
Probably. And he wasn’t wrong. All she did was party, drink, gamble, and sleep.
She had nothing remotely meaningful going on.
No ambition, no career, no identity beyond her last name.
And that’s exactly why people didn’t take her seriously.
She recalled Kyle’s words about self-respect and hated how right they sounded now. If she didn’t start valuing herself, taking charge of her life, she’d forever be a pendulum—swinging between a father who controlled her finances and a husband who controlled her pride.
Her head throbbed. She needed that money…her rightful share, left behind in her mother’s will. Once she had that, she’d finally break free.
Later That Evening – Singh Residence
Navya watched Aanya apply her lipstick and smirked.
“Nervous?” she asked, leaning against the doorframe.
“I’m fine,” Aanya lied smoothly, adjusting her knee-length dress. It had taken her over an hour to pick something that struck the right balance between ‘respectable’ and ‘irresistible.’
“You took forever to dress. It’s like you’re going on a date,” Navya teased. “It is sort of a date though, right? Just remember your mission. Don’t let him take the upper hand.”
Aanya shook her head with determination.
“He can take the upper hand until he signs the damn joint venture deal with Dad. After that, I’ll show him how I negotiate.”
“And the legal contract he’s going to make you sign? What about that?”
“He can’t trap me on paper.”
She checked herself one last time in the mirror.
“Is this gloss too shiny? I don’t want him to think I’m asking for a kiss.”
Aanya dabbed the tissue over her lips, gently blotting the gloss until it looked just right—neither too glossy nor too bare. When she was satisfied with the effect, she turned to Navya again and offered a small, confident smile.
“I’ll be late,” she said, grabbing her clutch. “You go ahead and sleep.”
“I wish I could,” Navya replied, eyes gleaming with mischief. “I’m dying to know what goes down tonight.”
Aanya’s cheeks flushed at her words.
“Cut it, Navya,” she warned playfully. “It’s an official meeting… just happening in the most unofficial way. Weird, right? And I still have to convince him to let me have at least one damn drink.”
Navya laughed. “Since when did Aanya Malhotra start convincing ? I thought she only issued royal commands.”
Aanya rolled her eyes and laughed despite herself. “Whatever! Just give me a hug and wish me luck.”
The girls embraced tightly. There was more unspoken in that hug than either of them let on. When they pulled apart, Navya walked her out to the car, her arm slung protectively around Aanya’s shoulder. She stood at the curb, waving until the vehicle disappeared down the lane and out of sight.
As the red tail lights faded, Navya’s smile dimmed.
Whatever Aanya was walking into might seem thrilling now, maybe even empowering, but Navya had witnessed her best friend at her lowest. She’d seen her when she had no home, no support, no one to hold her or tell her that life could still turn around.
And if this new chapter turned out to be another dead end. .. Navya wouldn’t forgive it.
And if Reyansh Chopra dared to hurt Aanya again?
She would break his arrogant nose without a second thought.
Disco
Aanya waved energetically as Reyansh stepped out of the car and handed his keys to the valet.
Though waving back wasn’t in his nature, Reyansh returned the gesture, albeit stiffly.
He wasn’t the type to exchange casual smiles and waves.
His world thrived on firm handshakes, business suits, and boardroom formalities. This carefree vibe wasn’t his domain.
As soon as he reached her, his gaze swept over her, head to toe. Aanya caught it instantly, glancing down at her outfit.
“Don’t tell me you expected something more conservative than this,” she challenged, raising her voice above the thumping bass of the club.
Reyansh shook his head. “I’m just glad you didn’t go shorter,” he muttered, his tone gruff but honest.
She exhaled dramatically, then giggled. “Afraid the metal heart might melt?” she teased, giving a light punch to his chest.
That single gesture left him speechless. Was she like this with every man she met or was he an exception?
“Shall we go in?” he asked, shaking off the thoughts clouding his head.
“Yup.”
Without wasting another second, she led the way inside.
The music pounded through the floorboards, loud enough to rupture eardrums. Aanya, immediately catching the rhythm, began swaying to the beat and made her way toward the bar.
Just as she was about to order a drink, Reyansh caught her wrist and shook his head in warning.
She frowned, remembering his strict text earlier: No drinks tonight.
“Just one,” she pleaded, widening her eyes for dramatic effect.
“No,” he snapped, dragging her toward a private VIP couch set apart from the dance floor.
“You are such a bore,” she yelled over the music as she followed him.
“And you’re painfully addicted,” he shot back. “Can’t you skip alcohol for just one damn night?”
Aanya clenched her jaw in irritation. “Fine. You win; I lose. At least let me get a lemonade. I’m parched.”
“I’ll get it,” he offered, rising.
“No, thanks. You won’t know how I like it. I’ll manage. You want anything?”
“I’m good,” he replied.
“Cool.”
She trotted to the bar and placed her order. With a sly glance over her shoulder, she noticed he was watching her—of course he was. No sneaking in a shot tonight. Maybe after this whole charade, she’d sneak one anyway. She paid, took a long sip of the lemonade, and made her way back.
“This is my favourite song,” she announced as the DJ switched tracks. “Come on, let’s dance.”
She grabbed his wrist, but Reyansh pulled her back, making her plop onto the couch, next to him, again.
“We’re not here to dance,” he said sternly. “I don’t waste time. Every minute I spend goes into building something—money, legacy, success.”
Aanya pouted dramatically. “Typical businessman. I thought I was here to meet my husband, not pitch a startup.”
His jaw ticked. She leaned back and rifled through her purse.
“What are you doing?” he asked, narrowing his gaze.
“Looking for my card,” she muttered.
“Card? Why?”
“To pay you for your prestigious time, obviously. You just said your time is precious and you wouldn’t waste it on people like me. I might as well compensate you for wasting it.”
He instantly regretted his earlier remark.
“I… didn’t mean it like that,” he offered, his tone softening.
“Thank God,” she sighed, zipping her purse shut. “Because I’m broke. Completely bankrupt. And in case you haven’t guessed, that’s why I’m here to claim my share of Mom’s will and get the hell out of this country.”
He’d suspected she was broke, but now he had confirmation. Whatever excuse Anand Malhotra had fed her to lure her back clearly tied to finances. Reyansh felt an ounce of sympathy, but it didn’t erase the truth that she was broke because of her own reckless choices.
“Anyway,” she said, clearing her throat, “let’s get to the point. You want me to follow your orders like some personal assistant, and only then you’ll agree to the new venture with Dad. Right?”
He nodded. “It’s not as simple as it sounds.”
She laughed, sharp and sarcastic. “Obviously. If you made the condition, it was never meant to be simple.”
“You don’t know me yet.”
“I’m sure I don’t. Never had the time, did I?” she snapped. “I was… busy.”
“Busy drinking, partying with your useless friends, wasting yourself in places like this?” he snapped back.
Her eyes flashed with rage. “Exactly. And you know why? Because I was doing what you asked me to—stop bothering you.”
The silence that followed cut through the thundering music.
In that moment, despite the chaos around them, they both heard the painful resonance of the truth with each other’s heartbeats.
Aanya had meant every word. Reyansh remembered vividly the last time they’d spoken before she vanished, he had told her just that. Stop bothering me.
And she had. She’d vanished, without a trace, without a goodbye.
It took him a week to track her down. And when he did, his fury had burned white-hot…
only to fizzle under the weight of ego, work, time, and distraction.
He’d never reached out, never attempted to fix what they’d shattered.
And now, here she was, still broken… but still fighting.
He knew, deep down, some of this wreckage was his fault too. He had built walls. She had chosen escape.
“Sorry,” Aanya muttered, pausing as guilt brushed her voice. “See… this is exactly what happens when I don’t drink. I start hurting people. I’m here to convince you to do business with my father, not push you away with pointless rambling. I’m really sorry.”
Reyansh didn’t appreciate the needless apology, especially when it came from her lips. But before he could counter it, she changed the subject.
“So, what are your terms?” she asked bluntly. “I’m all ears.”
“I’ve had them drafted,” he replied coolly. “You’ll get the official copy tomorrow at my office. But there are a few specific ones I wanted to discuss in person.”
“I’m listening,” she said, taking another slow sip of her lemonade, her gaze fixed on him.
“I have a sister…Radhika Negi,” he began, the faintest hint of pride lacing his voice.
“Really?” she scoffed lightly. “I assumed you were an only child. Where is she?”
“In California. With her husband.”
“Oh, California. I visited last year. Incredible pubs there,” she said flippantly.
Reyansh frowned, and the shift in his expression immediately sobered her up.