Chapter 6
Reyansh
“Happy Anniversary, Uncle and Aunty,” I wish Aditya’s parents, pressing kisses to their cheeks before stepping back to allow my parents to congratulate them with hugs.
“Congratulations to both of you on cracking the deal,” Aditya’s dad, Ram Thakur, says, his eyes twinkling with pride. Dressed sharply in a well-tailored suit, he radiates an aura of authority and sophistication . His weathered face and bald head only add to his distinguished appearance , a true reflection of his wealth and experience.
“Thank you,” Aditya and I reply simultaneously.
“Now that you boys have settled well in your business, when will you two slow down and decide to get married?” Aditya’s mom, Seema Thakur, pitches in, her gentle gaze fixed on Aditya and me. Her flowing black hair, streaked with silver, cascades loosely over her shoulders , perfectly complementing her elegant saree, adding to her grace and sophistication.
“Mom, not this again,” Aditya groans , but my heart skips a beat, and an image of a beautiful face flashes across my mind at the mere mention of the word marriage.
“Aditya, it’s about time you considered settling down,” Aditya’s mom says in a stern voice, then looks at me. “What do you say, Reyansh? Don’t you think your friend here needs to find himself a nice woman? Or do you both intend to stay single for the rest of your life?”
I open my mouth to reply, but a sudden tingling sensation at the back of my neck halts me. I sense a familiar presence and instinctively glance toward the entrance. My breath hitches. There she is—the woman who seems to have stepped right out of my thoughts. Damn fate.
“Reyansh, Seema Aunty is waiting for your reply,” my mom’s voice nudges me back to reality , pulling my attention away from the woman who has been dominating my thoughts since the moment I first laid eyes on her.
“Sorry, Aunty, can we table this conversation for another day? I need to go meet someone,” I say, shoving my hands into the pockets of my black trousers.
“Finding an escape, huh?” Dad jokes, but I just grin at him and make my way toward the woman who has been messing with my head and heart.
My heart races wildly with each step I take toward her. She continues to stand by the entrance, engrossed in her mobile, completely unaware that my entire focus is on her . I don’t know what it is about her, but I feel a strong magnetic pull toward her, an intensity that defies reason , yet feels impossible to resist . Ever since our chance encounter at the coffee shop, she’s had this unshakable hold on me . Every emotion feels raw — from the flutter in my chest when our eyes first met, to the rush of adrenaline when she looked at me with those nervous eyes after dropping her coffee on me, to the smile that crept onto my face when she seemed so offended by my suggestion that she could repay me in some other way . But most of all , it’s that innocent smile and her sweet voice when we sat down for a conversation that made my heart soar.
I hated it when she had to leave early. I didn’t want our time together to end and even wanted to ask for her number. But s he seemed too pure, too good for someone like me. A part of me was terrified that if I got too close, I might break her, and that, in turn, would destroy me. So, I held myself back and let her go. But now, seeing her again, I can’t restrain myself. The intensity and immediacy are unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. I am torn between my overwhelming desire to be with her and the fear of hurting her. Yet, deep down, my heart urges me to take the risk and get to know her, ignoring all logical thoughts of keeping my distance.
“We meet again,” I say, stopping right in front of her , her sweet fragrance filling my senses. Startled, she looks up from her mobile, and it slips from her hand, landing near my feet. Her brown eyes widen in surprise, and she freezes. When she doesn’t move to pick it up, I crouch down and retrieve her phone for her. As I stand back up , I can’t help but admire how her navy-blue dress accentuates her captivating figure. Her long brown hair falls in soft curls around her shoulders, and her naturally pink lips and light touch of eyeliner enhance her already radiant complexion . She is simply breathtaking.
Once I am back on my feet , I hold out her phone. She takes a few deep breaths to regain her composure before taking it from my hand. Her cheeks flush a delicate pink, and a smile tugs at my lips .
“Hi,” she says softly, her hands fidgeting nervously with the mobile.
“Are you here looking for someone?” I can’t resist asking, my curiosity piqued. I’ve attended all of Aditya’s parties, but I’ve never seen her before. There’s no way I could have forgotten a beautiful face like hers if she happened to be in our social circle.
“I am here with—” she begins to say, but her sentence is cut short when a good-looking guy wraps his hands around her waist and states, “She’s with me.”
That single statement feels like a punch to my gut. She has a boyfriend. Despite knowing I should turn and walk away, my mind refuses to cooperate. I remain rooted to the spot, my heart pounding in my chest as I watch her smile at him. I try to rally myself—she’s not yours. She’s already committed to someone else. Repeating this over and over in my mind, I do my best to regain control of my emotions. But I just can’t. All I can think about is what I can do to win her over, to leave that jerk of her boyfriend and give me a chance. Fuck, I can’t believe I am behaving like an irrational asshole. A complete selfish bastard.
“You kept me waiting for twenty minutes,” she pouts adorably at him, and I clench my fists at my side.
“Sorry, it was one of my important clients. I couldn’t end the call,” he explains, kissing her forehead.
And that’s all it takes for jealousy to flare up inside me . Before I can stop myself, I clear my throat and cut in, unable to hold back any longer.
“Hi, I am Reyansh,” I extend my hand to the jerk.
“Of course, Mr. Kundra, who doesn’t know you. I am Akash,” he replies, shaking my hand while Kavya looks at us, confused . I smile at the cute frown on her face.
“I didn’t realise you knew Kavya,” he says.
“We just met today,” I reply, letting go of his hand.
Akash then turns to Kavya. “You didn’t tell me, sweetheart, that you met Mr. Kundra, the business tycoon,” he says, and Kavya’s eyes widen in surprise.
She bites her lips nervously. “I didn’t know who he was,” she admits, and I can sense the sincerity in her words. When I met her, it was evident that she had no idea about my wealth or status. Perhaps that was another reason that cemented my attraction to her. She genuinely connected with me without any ulterior motives.
Her gaze flickers in my direction. “I am sorry, I didn’t know,” she says softly.
“Yes, Mr. Kundra, Kavya can really be bad at googling and keeping up with the latest socialite news,” the jerk adds.
“I understand,” I reply with a forced smile, though a hint of envy lingers beneath the surface as I observe his closeness to Kavya. “You’re fortunate to have someone so genuinely humble and grounded by your side. It’s a rare quality in today’s world,” I add, my voice tinged with admiration and bitterness.
“Indeed, I am,” he replies, glancing down and winking at Kavya, who appears nervous, before returning his gaze to me. “I am sorry, Mr. Kundra, but if you could excuse us, we need to meet the host.”
“Of course,” I say, stepping aside as they give me one final smile and head towards Aditya’s parents.
Rooted to my spot, I watch her walk away from me. My heart taunts me for letting her slip through my fingers. I know I should act like a gentleman and back off, but since when have I ever accepted defeat so easily ? I inwardly smirk. When I set my sights on something , there’s no turning back, regardless of the cost. I’ll go to any lengths to get what I want, consequences be damned.
???
It’s been an hour, yet I can’t seem to peel my eyes away from Kavya. I’ve tried everything imaginable to distract myself, from mingling with the crowd to downing five shots of whiskey, but nothing has succeeded in diverting my gaze from her. She’s all I can see. Every single thing she did tugged at my heartstrings —whether it was seeing her dance with that jerk, witnessing her radiant smile as he introduced her to others, or just catching her nervously sipping her mocktail while scanning the room . Even in the crowd, she stood out like a beacon, drawing me in with a possessiveness I couldn’t deny.
Even now, as I stand by the bar sipping my whiskey, I can’t tear my gaze away from Kavya. She’s up on the mezzanine, chatting with a few women, captivating me with every movement. My mom is nearby, laughing with her friends by the stairs, clearly enjoying the evening. Yet, my focus remains solely on Kavya .
My brows furrow when I see Kavya stiffen and her eyes widen in alarm. Instinctively, I follow her gaze. My heart leaps into my throat as I watch the railing beside my mom suddenly give way, snapping without warning, causing her to lose her balance.
“Shit,” I mutter, hastily dropping my drink on the bar table as I race toward them. But just as I am about to reach them, I halt midway, letting out a breath of relief when I see Kavya swiftly reaching out and grabbing my mom’s arm to prevent her from falling. However, my relief is short-lived and my heart plummets when I see Kavya’s own balance falter and she tumbles down the stairs.
“Kavya!” I shout, rushing to her as fast as I can .
My heart pounds in my chest as I drop to my knees, catching her in my arms as she reaches the bottom of the stairs.
“Kavya, are you okay?” I ask, my voice trembling, but she doesn’t reply. Her eyes are closed, and a heavy, dreadful weight sinks into the pit of my stomach, filling me with despair as I see her unconscious, limp body dangling in my arms.
It doesn’t take long for the crowd to gather —my parents, Aditya, his family, and the jerk she’s with—all rush over.
“Kavya,” Akash says, dropping to his knees beside me. He reaches out, trying to take her from my arms, but I give him a death glare and hold her protectively against me, unwilling to let go. I don’t care if he is her boyfriend. Right now, I want her close to me so I can feel her breathing and reassure myself she’s still here with me—that she’s alive and I haven’t lost her.
“Don’t,” I hiss out, my voice strained.
He gives me a questioning look but doesn’t argue. Instead, he says urgently, “We need to take her to the doctor. She’s bleeding.”
My breath quickens, and fear grips my chest as I look down at her and notice the blood staining my hand where I am cradling her head.
“Get the car,” I command, looking at him as I gently lift her into my arms. He nods and quickly rushes towards the exit.
“We’ll come with you,” Aditya says, along with his and my parents, who come to stand next to me, but I shake my head.
“You guys s tay here and manage the guests . I’ve got this,” I reply, not waiting for their response as I head quickly to the exit.
When I step outside, I see the jerk’s car as he runs around to open the back door. Hurriedly, I lean in and carefully lay her on the back seat before getting in myself. Then, I gently lift her head to make it rest on my lap. He closes the door, rushes to the driver’s seat, and starts the engine.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” I whisper as I run my hands over her forehead. I am doing my best to calm my heart, but it’s a struggle as I see how pale she looks. Akash keeps throwing worried glances at us through the rearview mirror, but I don’t give a damn what he makes of all this. I couldn’t care less if I end up looking like a wreck; my sole focus is to protect the woman who has come to mean so much to me, no matter what it takes.
Ten minutes later, he brings the car to a sudden stop outside the emergency entrance of the hospital. I quickly open the door, gently lifting her head from my lap as I slide out of the car. Then, I bend down to scoop her into my arms. Akash comes to my side, and together we rush inside.
“Get a doctor now!” I command as I step inside and spot a nurse with two of her colleagues standing in the empty hallway of the emergency room.
“Make her lie down here,” the nurse says, bringing over a stretcher bed. With trembling hands, I carefully lower Kavya onto the bed. My heart races as her colleagues swiftly wheel Kavya away towards the emergency room . I take a step to follow them, but the nurse steps in front of me, blocking my path and halting me in my tracks.
“You need to wait here, sir, while the doctors check her. Also, can you tell me what happened?”
I open my mouth to answer, but Akash beats me to it. “She fell down the stairs.”
The nurse nods. “We will have the doctor examine her and update you on her condition.”
Unable to speak, I simply nod as the nurse turns and slips into the room. Standing there, a wave of nausea washes over me as I gaze at my hands, still stained with blood. A lump forms in my throat, suffocating me with dread. All I can think about is her safety, and the fear of what might happen engulfs me entirely. Fuck. Never before have I felt so utterly powerless, consumed by a torrent of emotions I can’t control.
Suddenly, Akash’s phone interrupts my thoughts, and he answers the call.
“Sweetheart, I am at the hospital. Kavya had an accident and we’ve just brought her here,” he says, pausing briefly before continuing, “I will let you know. Love you.”
Rage consumes me as I overhear his conversation. The bloody nerve of this guy. His girlfriend is in the hospital, yet he’s talking to another woman, professing his love. I turn to glare at him, the urge to grab him by the collar almost overwhelming. But the knowledge that we’re in a hospital, coupled with worry for Kavya, restrains me from acting violently.
“Your girlfriend is in the hospital, and you’re flirting with another woman?” I snap, my voice tight with anger . How could this fool not see the angel he’s been blessed with, and instead he’s flirting with another woman? It’s fucking infuriating.
His brows furrow in confusion, and then he shakes his head, “Kavya is not my girlfriend. She works for me, and over time, we’ve become good friends . She came to the party as my date because I requested her to .”
My heart thuds heavily in my chest, and I blink at him.
“She’s not your girlfriend?” I ask again, unable to contain the rush of relief and joy that floods through me .
He shakes his head, but then his gaze sharpens.
“She’s not, but why do you care?” he asks, raising his eyebrows.
I rub my hands over my face, trying to mask the raw feelings I have for Kavya, but despite my best efforts, I find myself answering. “I... I don’t know how to explain it,” I begin, my voice firm and strong. “There’s something about her that pulls me in. It might sound a little crazy, but she’s become incredibly important to me, even though we’ve only known each other for a day. My feelings for her are undeniably strong, something entirely beyond my control.”
He studies me for a few seconds before replying, “Look, I don’t want to sound harsh, but your reputation with women has me questioning if you’re the right man for Kavya. Trust me, she has been through a lot in life, and the last thing she needs is another heartbreak . So, if this is just a fleeting attraction or a way to satisfy your own desires, I suggest you walk away and spare her the trouble. She deserves better than that .”
His words cause me to fly off the handle. “Don’t you dare belittle my feelings for Kavya,” I snap, “I couldn’t care less about your opinion of my reputation, but don’t you dare question my intentions with her. I am not here to toy with her emotions,” I retort fiercely.
He holds my gaze for a few moments before letting out a heavy sigh . “It’s not my story to tell, but something in my gut tells me you need to know. Kavya lost her parents a few months ago. Her sister is in a coma, and her fiancé cheated on her. Since then, she’s been unable to find peace and truly live her life. But despite everything , she puts on a brave face every day, clinging to the hope that one day, her sister will wake up from the coma.”
A heavy ache grips my heart , and a sharp pang of hurt shoots through me as I resonate with the weight of her pain. Before I can say anything, we hear the door to the emergency room open and the doctor steps out.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Kumar. I am the one taking care of the patient you brought in,” he introduces himself.
I gulp nervously. “Is she okay, doctor?”
“She did hit her head pretty hard, and we’ve bandaged the injury. Fortunately, there’s no sign of a concussion. She’s currently unconscious, but we expect her to regain consciousness soon. Once she wakes up, we’ll conduct a final check before discharging her. She’s been moved to a room, and you can see her now,” the doctor explains before walking away.
I release the breath I didn’t realise I was holding , finally feeling the tension easing from my body. “ She’s okay. She’s okay, ” I murmur to myself, each repetition bringing a deeper sense of calm after the chaos I experienced.