Chapter 13
Just as I was finishing the last glorious bite of my aloo paratha, phone in hand, I got a text that made me nearly choke.
Diya: "Guess who's landing in 2 hours? Surprise, idiot."
I stared at the screen, eyes wide, mouth still half-full.
Diya's coming?! TODAY?!
I shot up from my chair like I'd been electrocuted. "MAA!"
She jumped, nearly dropping the jug of water.
"Kya hua? Earthquake aa gaya?"
"DIYA'S COMING!" I yelled, doing a half-spin, half-happy-dance right there in the dining room.
Raj raised a brow. "Oh great, double trouble. The other half of the chaos duo."
I ignored him. Diya-my best friend, my partner-in-crime, the peanut butter to my jelly-was coming home after months of being away for her internship.
Uni? Canceled. Assignments? Irrelevant.
Rudra? Non-existent.
Today was all about Diya.
I quickly texted her back:
"I'm coming to get you. Be ready for the best welcome ever."
Turning to Raj, I pointed a finger. "Change of plans. You're not dropping me to uni. You're taking me to the airport."
Raj groaned. "Can I ever eat in peace?"
"No." I grinned. "Now move it, chauffeur."
An hour later, I was at the airport, practically bouncing on my feet. As soon as I spotted Riya walking out, suitcase in tow, I sprinted like a Bollywood heroine in a dramatic climax.
"DIYAAAAA!"
"MAYAAAA!"
We collided in the middle of the crowd, hugging like maniacs while people stared. I didn't care.
Best friend reunion unlocked.
"I have SO much to tell you," she said.
I smirked. "Same. It involves a certain Khadoos and a very embarrassing fall."
Diya's eyes lit up. "Oh we're unpacking that immediately."
I just grinned. Today was going to be legendary.
After I finished spilling the entire dramatic saga-from tripping into his arms to the math assignment betrayal-I waited for Riya's reaction.
And what did she do?
She didn't gasp.
She didn't show sympathy.
She smirked.
SMIRKED.
"Wohh Maya, tune toh sugar daddy dhoond liya!" she said, grinning like the devil in a crop top.
I nearly choked on my own breath. "What the hell, Riya?! Sugar Daddy? Seriously?"
She shrugged, unbothered, popping a fry into her mouth. "Rich, hot, gives you stuff, picks you up, solves your assignments... If the designer shoe fits, babe."
I groaned, dragging a hand down my face.
"Sugar Daddy nahi, zeher daddy hai woh."
(Poison Daddy, for real.)
"Matlab?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
I sighed, flopping back onto the bed. "Matlab, he's toxic. Annoying. Always bossing me around. And yet... whenever he's around, I-"
I paused, frowning at the ceiling.
"You...?" Riya prompted, practically vibrating with curiosity.
I turned my head to her, scowling. "I malfunction, okay? My brain stops working. My heart acts like it's on Red Bull. I hate it."
"You're whipped."
"I'm not whipped."
"Maya, you literally call him Mr. Khadoos and still talk about him like he's the main character in your Wattpad fantasies."
"...Shut up."
Riya cackled, falling back beside me.
"Face it babe, you've got the hots for your Zeher Daddy."
I groaned again, this time into a pillow. "Please stop saying that before I lose all will to live."
But deep down... Somewhere in the chaos of my brain and the fluttering in my chest... I wondered if Riya was right.
And that thought? Was more dangerous than any math problem he'd ever given me.
After the emotional damage caused by Riya's "Sugar Daddy" remark and my pillow-screaming session, we decided to do what best friends do when life gets too dramatic:
Retail therapy.
We hit the mall like queens on a mission-bags in hand, sunglasses on, ready to destroy our wallets and dignity in one go.
"Maya, try this one!" Riya called out, holding up a neon green dress that looked like it belonged at a traffic light.
I squinted. "Are you trying to get me arrested for public disturbance?"
She laughed, tossing it back on the rack. "Fine, fine. What about this?"
She handed me a sleek, black dress-the kind of dress that screamed danger and regret.
"Where am I even wearing this? Courtroom of heartbreak?"
"To seduce your Zeher Daddy," she smirked.
I didn't even have the energy to react anymore. My soul left the chat.
After hours of trying on clothes, dancing to random music in stores, and eating enough street-style momos to feed a village, we finally plopped down on a bench, bags surrounding us like trophies.
"Today was legendary," Riya said, sipping on her iced coffee.
I nodded, finally at peace, the chaos of Mr. Khadoos temporarily erased from my mind.
"Let's hit that bookstore before we head home," I suggested.
As we stood up, laughing over how Raj would probably faint seeing my shopping bill, I turned the corner-
And froze.
Because standing near the bookstore entrance, browsing through some books, dressed in a crisp black shirt, sleeves rolled up, hair perfectly in place-
Was Mr. Zeher Daddy himself.
Rudra. Singhania aka Mr Khadoos.
My brain short-circuited.
"RIYA. ABORT MISSION. HE'S HERE."
"What? Where?"
"NINE O'CLOCK. BLACK SHIRT. INTENSE EYES. LOOKING LIKE A WHOLE PROBLEM."
Riya grinned. "Ohhh, this just got interesting."
I groaned, grabbing her hand. "Let's leave. Now."
Too late. His gaze locked with mine.
And that smirk? The same one from my nightmares and daydreams.
I was done for.
Since I didn't have any lectures or meetings today, I decided to stop by the bookstore.
Not just any bookstore.
The one she comes to.
I told myself it was just to pick up something to read-maybe figure out what kind of books my little furball spends hours buried in.
So here I was... in the Fiction section, of all places.
Surrounded by fantasy novels, rom-coms, and dramatic covers with shirtless men holding swords.
Absolutely not my scene.
But hers? Definitely.
As I scanned the shelves-pretending to be interested in a book titled "Does it hurt "-I suddenly heard something.
A voice. Soft. Familiar. Irritatingly sweet.
Her voice.
Like a magnet, I turned, my eyes searching-
And then they landed on her.
There she was.
Standing near the entrance, laughing at something her friend said. Her hair slightly messy from the wind, eyes shining with mischief, wearing that same stubborn attitude like it was her armor.
Beautiful. Effortlessly. Annoyingly. Mine.
A grin tugged at the corner of my lips automatic, uninvited. But I didn't stop it.
She hadn't seen me yet.
Good.
I took a slow step back, leaned against the shelf, arms crossed.
Let's see how long it takes for my little furball to sense me. Because just like I could find her in a crowd- She'd feel me too.
It was only a matter of time.
I was just browsing through the "Dark Romance" section-because life is already a tragedy, thanks to a certain Mr. Khadoos-when I felt it.
Why...why Bhagwan Ajj Bhi Mr.khadoos se hi Milana tha apko?
I turned my head slowly.
And there he was.
Leaning against the shelf like he owned the entire bookstore. Arms crossed.
That stupid, cocky smirk playing on his lips.
Rudra Singhania. Mr. Zeher Daddy. Khadoos of the Century.
My heart skipped a beat-then immediately tried to run a marathon.
"Riya..." I hissed, nudging her.
"Hmm?" She glanced at me, then followed my gaze. Her lips curled into an evil grin. "Oh... hello, Khadoos."
"Let's leave. Now." I whispered, already clutching her arm.
But before we could move- His voice hit me like a bucket of cold water.
"Aaj fiction mein interest hai, furball? What about Maths ?"
("You're into fiction today, furball? What about Maths?")
I froze. Riya choked on air.
He heard me call him that. Again.
I turned slowly, plastering the fakest smile on my face. "How do you even know I'd be here?"
He stepped closer, eyes glinting.
"I didn't. Lucky coincidence... or maybe fate."
Fate my foot. The universe was against me. Confirmed.
"And you?" I snapped, arms crossed. "You into fairytales now?"
"Only the ones where the skeleton in the cover " he replied coolly, his lips smirking,eyes never leaving mine.
RIYA WAS SILENTLY DYING BESIDE ME.
I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. Or at least him. Preferably him.
"You know what? I think I'm done here," I muttered, storming off.
But of course, he followed.
"Careful, furball. Try not to trip again. I might not be there to catch you next time."
I whirled around, flustered. "I didn't trip. The floor was unstable!"
"Sure," he said, smirking, then leaned closer, voice dropping.
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