Chapter 18
Reyansh
“Don’t you ever get tired of partying?” I ask, grimacing as I pinch the back of my neck, my thoughts drifting to my woman. Damn, I’d much rather be with her than hang out with this asshole. The only reason I agreed to accompany him to this newly opened club is that he literally barged into my house, droning on about bro codes and all that nonsense of hanging out together. Adding to that, when I called Kavya, she told me that she wanted to spend some quiet time with Sunita Aunty and her sister at home. I couldn’t bring myself to be selfish and demand her attention when she wanted to be with her family .
“Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? You’re the one who’s always enjoyed partying, so you should be thanking me for getting us VIP passes. Yet here you are, whining like a kid in a toy store ,” Aditya retorts as we step out of his car and stride towards the entrance of the hotel.
I shake my head. “Not anymore,” I say truthfully as we step inside the empty elevator. I press the button for the floor where the club is located.
There was a time when the thrill of loud music, drinks, and women captivated my attention, but that era has passed. My angel has ruined me, leaving me with a singular desire for nothing but her.
He turns towards me and wiggles his eyebrows. “What brought about this change, or rather, who is the one who tamed the tiger ?”
I throw my head back and burst out laughing. This man, no matter how annoying he can be, never fails to make me laugh. Perhaps that’s one of the many reasons our friendship has remained intact for so long .
“How can you be so sure it’s a woman?” I tease, not wanting to agree with him just yet.
“Don’t play me for a fool ,” I say, rolling my eyes. “If this is just to get a rise out of me, you should know well by now that I can see right through you, even th ough you’re too stubborn to admit it. I don’t need any magical powers to know something is going on with you. We’ve been friends for far too long for you to think you can hide anything from me. Give me some credit, bro. ”
“Well, as irritating as you are, I can’t keep any secrets from you. You’ve got that uncanny knack for seeing right through me!” I huff, knowing there’s no point in beating around the bush. Besides, I owe it to him to share my happiness.
“It’s Kavya,” I say as we step out of the lift.
“The same woman you took to the hospital at my parents’ wedding anniversary?” he asks, as we walk towards the hostess’s stand by the entrance .
“Indeed, she’s the one,” I confirm, and before he can ask anything else, we reach the hostess.
Aditya pulls out the VIP passes from his jeans pocket and shows it to the young woman standing behind the tall wooden booth. He flashes her a flirty wink, making me roll my eyes.
The woman taps her tablet and then looks back at us. “Welcome, Mr. Kundra and Mr. Thakur. Would you like me to show you to your table?” She gives us a seductive smile, which only adds to my regret of being here. How much longer will this night drag on before I can get the hell out of here?
“I would love that,” Aditya grins.
“No, thanks,” I answer simultaneously.
Aditya turns to me with a look that says, ‘What the fuck is your problem?’ while the woman gives me a confused look that screams, ‘ You are crazy to let go of a free chance .’ But they’re both fools to think I’d be interested in fake beauty when I have a real gem in my life. Ignoring both of them, I raise my eyebrows at Aditya to make it clear that I am not here for any hanky-panky or a roll in the sheets.
He throws me one last dirty look before turning his attention back to the woman.
“Sorry, but we’ve got this. And I hope you don’t mind my friend here; he’s just PMSing,” he adds the last bit, eliciting a giggle from the woman.
“Not a problem. You can go right inside,” she replies with a smile.
“Thanks, beautiful. And if this old guy here bores me, then I’ll know where to find you,” Aditya says, prompting me to hold him by the arms and usher him towards the entrance before he manages to piss me any further than he already has.
The moment we step inside, the pulsating beat of the loud music hits us, and the mingling scents of smoke and alcohol fill our senses. The atmosphere is charged, with the party already in full swing. A couple of girls are dancing on the dance floor, clad in barely-there clothes. However, what catches my eye is a group of boys in the corner, smoking and indulging in the white powder. Fuck, I despise that stuff.
As we make our way to the bar in the corner, the girls keep throwing inviting looks our way. This is nothing new; we’ve always received that kind of attention, and in the past, I might have entertained it too. But not anymore. I keep my expression cold , making it clear that I am not interested. Luckily, it helps in keeping them at bay.
“You’re seriously being a cockblocker,” Aditya mutters in an annoying tone.
He can get irritated all he wants, but there’s no chance in hell that I am walking out of this place with a woman or even entertaining the thought of any women hanging around us like bees on honey. The last thing I want is to spend the entire night here partying. I am here for a couple of drinks with him, and then I am walking out of this place alone. If he wants to stay back, that’s his choice. I won’t stop him, but I am not sticking around for it .
“I already made it clear I am not here for this,” I state firmly, leaving no room for him to convince me otherwise.
“Right, you’ve bid farewell to your bachelor life,” he remarks sarcastically, but then a smile creeps onto his face. “But strangely enough, I am genuinely happy for you, bro. You’ve managed to find someone worth spending your life with. Not everyone is as lucky as you,” he states, a distant look in his eyes, hinting that there might be a deeper story behind his words.
“What’s with that look?” I can’t help but ask, knowing that he’s the type of guy who never gets attached to a woman or lets them affect him. Then why does something seem off with him? Damn it, now I feel like a terrible friend because I haven’t been keeping in touch with him lately.
“It’s nothing,” he shakes his head, putting on a fake smile as we reach the bar. He signals the bartender and orders us two beers. I lean against the bar, gazing at the bustling crowd, and he does the same.
“That look sure didn’t mean nothing,” I comment as the bartender places our beers on the table.
“Right now, we’re not talking about me. It’s about you,” he says, grabbing his beer and then holding it out to me. Putting the topic aside for the moment, we clink our glasses together and take a swig, leaning against the bar.
“You know, my mom always used to tell me fairy tales where the prince rescues the princess, and they live happily ever after. But I didn’t know my friend would be a Prince Charming someday, saving his very own princess,” Aditya teases me.
“I am no prince,” I laugh, shaking my head. “But I sure did capture the heart of an angel,” I grin, taking another sip from my bottle .
Aditya raises an eyebrow with a smirk. “And how did you manage that?”
I shrug. “I guess I just got lucky.”
“Or maybe you’re just a smooth talker,” he teases, taking another sip of his beer.
“Maybe a little bit of that,” I chuckle, then turn serious. “ But honestly, I think it’s just luck that I found someone like Kavya .”
“Damn! I never thought I’d see the day when my friend would get all sentimental on me . So, tell me more about her. What’s she like?”
“Kavya is like a breath of fresh air in my life,” I begin, a smile creeping onto my face. “She’s kind, compassionate, and has this infectious energy that just lifts everyone’s spirits. She’s also incredibly intelligent and caring, always putting everyone else first. And most importantly, she couldn’t care less about the money in my bank account. She is real and genuine. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner.”
“That sounds amazing,” Aditya responds, a smile lighting up his face. “It’s clear that she means a lot to you.”
“She does,” I agree, taking another swig of my beer. just then a sudden tingling at the back of my neck puts me on high alert. I immediately turn towards the main entrance of the club, feeling shocked to the core. What the fuck! Kavya? I grip the glass in my hand tightly. ‘ What the hell is she doing here?’ I mutter under my breath, utterly puzzled by Kavya’s unexpected presence. She didn’t mention she would be here; in fact, she’d made it ample clear that she wouldn’t be stepping out of the house. Then why did she lie? What the hell is going on? She’d better have a very good explanation for being here, or else I’ll lose whatever little calm I am holding on to.
Her being here is not the only thing that has me fuming with anger. What truly has me in knots is the way she looks. My eyes take her in, noticing her attire—tight jeans paired with a red off-shoulder top, her hair left loose, cascading in waves, and looking incredibly sexy. I’ve never seen her dressed like this before, and it’s rubbing me the wrong way, knowing she’s dressed like this in a place where other men will ogle her.
“Fuck! Is that your angel? You might hate me for saying this, but she is damn hot and sexy,” Aditya’s voice cuts through my thoughts.
I whip around to glare at him. “ Say one more word about her, and you’ll find yourself in the hospital ,” I growl. He smirks, flashing his teeth and raising his hands in surrender. Not wanting to get into a tiff with him, especially when there are other pressing matters that require my attention, I smash the beer glass on the bar and head in Kavya’s direction, determined to have my answers.
With each step toward her, my anger intensifies. I knew it — those pervert men are checking her out, and it only adds fuel to the fire. I know exactly what those lustful eyes see and imagine. My woman is hotter than anyone in this crowd, and they all want a piece of her. Over my dead body will I allow anyone to even think about having her. Fuck, I want to whisk her away from here and shield her from all the prying eyes.
As I get closer, I realize she still hasn’t noticed me. Her hands fidget anxiously, and h er eyes are nervously scanning the crowd, betraying her discomfort. It’s clear she’s not here by choice—something’s forced her into coming here . And I am damn well going to find out the reason.
My gaze stays fixed on Kavya, and eventually, her stunning brown eyes meet mine. The instant she sees me, her expression shifts, and shock flashes across her face. The look on her face makes it clear she knows she’s in deep trouble. I smirk at her, silently confirming that she’s absolutely right—she is indeed in trouble, and I’m determined to find out the reason she’s here .