8
Chapter 8
An Invitation She Couldn't Refuse
The next morning, Anaya was determined to avoid Aarav.
It was a solid plan.
A necessary plan.
And like most plans involving Aarav Rathore, it failed within two hours.
She had barely settled into her office when her boss appeared.
"Good news."
Anaya immediately became suspicious.
"What kind of good news?"
"The Rathore family has approved the gala theme."
"That's great."
"And they've invited us to their annual family dinner this weekend."
Anaya blinked.
"What?"
Her boss smiled proudly.
"It's a huge opportunity. Important investors, business partners, influential people..."
"I don't think I need to attend."
"You absolutely do."
The smile disappeared from her face.
"No."
"Yes."
Anaya groaned.
This was karma.
It had to be.
---
Across the city, Aarav was sitting in his office when his grandmother walked in without knocking.
Again.
At this point, everyone in the family had accepted that she ignored doors.
"Aarav."
He didn't look up.
"Dadi."
"You look tired."
"I'm working."
"You need a wife."
Aarav closed his laptop.
"What is this obsession?"
His grandmother sat across from him.
"Because you're thirty-two and emotionally unavailable."
"Dadi."
"I'm serious."
Aarav rubbed his temples.
Unfortunately, she wasn't finished.
"I met that event planner."
His head snapped up.
"What?"
The smile on her face widened.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"She seems lovely."
Aarav immediately regretted every life choice that had led to this moment.
"Please stay out of it."
"Out of what?"
"Dadi."
The warning in his voice only amused her more.
Before leaving, she patted his shoulder.
"Invite her."
Aarav stared.
"No."
"Yes."
Apparently stubbornness was a family trait.
---
Saturday arrived far too quickly.
Anaya stood in front of her wardrobe, regretting everything.
"Mumma."
"Yes?"
Kabir looked up from the floor.
"Why are you staring at clothes?"
"Because none of them are cooperating."
He considered that.
"Maybe they're shy."
Anaya laughed despite her nerves.
Five minutes later, her phone rang.
Riya.
"Are you ready?"
"No."
"Perfect. That means you look good."
"That's not how it works."
"It absolutely is."
---
That evening, the Rathore mansion looked more like a palace than a home.
Lights illuminated the massive property.
Luxury cars lined the driveway.
Guests moved through the entrance in elegant outfits.
Anaya immediately felt underdressed.
Even though she wasn't.
Her dark blue saree was simple but elegant.
Still, standing among billionaires was never comfortable.
She took a deep breath and walked inside.
The interior was even more intimidating.
Crystal chandeliers.
Marble floors.
Expensive artwork.
Everything screamed old money.
Before she could fully absorb her surroundings, a familiar voice spoke behind her.
"You came."
Anaya turned.
Aarav stood a few feet away.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then his gaze moved over her.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The look lasted barely a second.
Yet somehow it made her heart race.
"You sound surprised."
"I am."
"Why?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Because you usually avoid me."
Anaya couldn't even deny it.
The annoying thing was that he sounded pleased about it.
---
Dinner turned out to be far less formal than expected.
The Rathore family was loud.
Very loud.
Everyone talked over each other.
Arguments started and ended within minutes.
Someone was always laughing.
Someone was always teasing someone else.
It was chaotic.
And strangely warm.
Anaya hadn't expected that.
She especially hadn't expected Aarav's grandmother to immediately adopt her.
"Come sit beside me."
Anaya blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
Five minutes later, she found herself sitting between the older woman and a curious cousin.
The interrogation began instantly.
"How old are you?"
"Where do you live?"
"Are you married?"
That last question made her freeze.
The table suddenly became very interested.
Aarav nearly choked on his water.
His grandmother looked delighted.
"No," Anaya replied carefully.
"Good."
The entire table turned toward the elderly woman.
"What?" she asked innocently.
Nobody believed the innocence.
Least of all Aarav.
---
For the first time in years, Aarav found himself enjoying a family dinner.
Mostly because Anaya looked increasingly horrified by his relatives.
His cousin Armaan leaned closer.
"She's pretty."
Aarav didn't respond.
"Definitely your type."
Still nothing.
"You're glaring at me."
Aarav slowly turned.
"I wonder why."
Armaan immediately raised both hands.
"Message received."
Good.
Because patience was limited.
Especially tonight.
---
After dinner, guests began moving toward the garden.
Soft music played in the background.
The atmosphere became more relaxed.
Anaya finally escaped the family.
Or so she thought.
She was standing alone near a fountain when Aarav appeared beside her.
"You survived."
"Barely."
He laughed quietly.
"They liked you."
"That terrifies me."
For a moment, they simply stood there.
The night air was cool.
Comfortable.
Dangerously comfortable.
Then Aarav's phone rang.
His expression changed the second he saw the caller.
The warmth vanished.
Completely.
Anaya noticed immediately.
"Everything okay?"
Aarav looked away.
"No."
The answer was honest.
Unexpectedly honest.
Before she could ask anything else, he walked a few steps away and answered the call.
His voice became low.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Anaya couldn't hear the conversation.
But she saw his reaction.
The tension.
The anger.
The warning look he gave whoever was speaking.
When the call ended, he looked furious.
"What's wrong?" she asked quietly.
Aarav hesitated.
Then surprised her.
"Someone from my past."
The answer felt loaded.
Complicated.
And somehow, it made her uneasy.
Because for the first time since reconnecting with him, she was reminded that Aarav's world wasn't normal.
There were things about his life she still didn't know.
Secrets.
Enemies.
Dangers.
The same dangers that had once made her run.
As if sensing her thoughts, Aarav looked at her.
And for a brief moment, something passed between them.
A memory.
A fear.
An unfinished conversation from five years ago.
Then a servant approached.
"Sir."
Aarav turned.
"What is it?"
The man's expression was tense.
"There's a problem at the front gate."
Aarav's face hardened instantly.
The businessman disappeared.
The dangerous man returned.
And Anaya suddenly had a feeling that this night was about to change everything.
To be continued...