Mihir's face twisted with fury as he turned to the girls in the car. "I'll step out and teach that rude and insolent person who dared to hurt my car," he growled, grabbing a sleek black nose mask from the dashboard and slipping it over his face with casual menace.
He stepped out, the wind catching his coat as he slammed the door behind him. Maira stood waiting, arms folded, unwavering and unapologetic.
Their eyes locked. Fire met storm.
He moved toward her, slow and deliberate, while she took a step forward with equal intensity, her posture relaxed but commanding. A crackle of something unspoken passed between them-fury, ego, challenge.
Mihir's voice boomed. "How dare you break my car's windshield!"
Maira didn't flinch. "No-how dare you! You almost ran me over and then didn't even bother to stop!"
"That gives you the right to damage my car?" he barked, his voice thick with disbelief.
"You should be thankful I only broke your windshield and not your face," she snapped, eyes flashing. "You made one smart choice today-wearing that nose mask."
She spun around on her heel, her hair whipping over her shoulder as she turned to leave.
But Mihir's hand shot out, grasping her wrist firmly.
"You're not going anywhere," he said darkly. "Not until you pay for the damage you've done."
Maira turned slowly, her eyes narrowing. "Let go of my hand."
"Not until you pay," Mihir replied, tightening his grip.
Maira's voice was ice. "I only give people three chances. This is the second time I'm asking-let go."
Mihir smirked, arrogant and defiant. "You're threatening me?"
Her tone dropped to a silken warning. "No. I'm telling you lovingly, for the third and final time-let go of my hand."
"No," Mihir said flatly.
Maira's expression changed.
Smoothly, without warning, she twisted her arm downward, rotating her body in a swift arc that loosened his grip. She completed the motion with a sudden push to his chest, shoving him back.
Mihir stumbled two steps, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Laddoo khatam, khel khatam," she declared, voice crisp and controlled.
Without waiting for a response, she walked to her bike, her stride triumphant, her hair bouncing with each step like a curtain drawn on an unworthy act.
Mihir stood motionless for a beat, his chest heaving. Then, with a wicked grin, he snapped his fingers.
A subtle shimmer passed through the air-barely visible-and faded into the wind.
Maira sat on her bike and turned the key.
Sputter. Choke. Silence.
She frowned. Tried again.
The engine refused to start.
From behind her, Mihir strolled casually to the edge of the road, that smug smile never leaving his face. "Nice moves," he said, voice syrupy with sarcasm. "But messing with me? Wrong choice. Tit for tat."
He gave her a lazy salute before slipping back into the driver's seat of his car. The engine purred to life, and without another word, he drove off, tires crunching on the gravel.
Maira stared after him, scowling. Then she looked down at her bike.
"Strange," she muttered, fiddling with the ignition. "It was working just a minute ago..."
She paused. Her brows furrowed. Her eyes slowly lifted in the direction Mihir had gone.
She didn't have proof-yet. But her instincts screamed it had been him.
---
Meanwhile, at Hansraj College, Teju finally pulled up on a rickshaw, her bridal lehenga billowing around her, eyes set with fierce purpose.
The sprawling iron gates towered before her, as students bustled past in jeans and backpacks.
A security guard at the entrance stared at her, dumbfounded. "Excuse me, miss, where do you think you're going?"
Teju stepped forward, confidence in every inch of her posture. "I'm here for an interview. It's for a scholarship. I've come straight from a wedding, I didn't have time to change."
The guard looked her up and down, unimpressed. "Miss, I don't care if you've come from a wedding or a circus. You're not getting in dressed like that. College has rules."
Teju's hands clenched the edge of her dupatta. Her heart raced, not out of shame-but out of frustration. She hadn't come this far to be stopped by appearances.
She looked the guard dead in the eye.
"Sir, I'm not here to model bridal couture. I'm here because I want to study. All I'm asking is for you to let me speak to the admissions officer. Five minutes. That's it."
The guard hesitated. Her voice held no arrogance-only raw, passionate resolve.
Still, his duty made him stubborn. "No exceptions," he said, folding his arms.
Teju stepped back, breath heavy, as her mind searched for another way in.
Somewhere behind those gates, her future was waiting. And she wasn't about to let rules stop her now.
Teju's eyes welled up with desperation as she clasped her hands together. "Please, sir, you have to understand. This scholarship is my only chance to pursue my education. If I don't attend this interview, I'll lose everything. Please, just let me in," she pleaded, her voice trembling.
The guard's expression remained stern, his eyes narrowing as he looked her up and down. "You should have thought of that before getting dressed like a bride," he said gruffly. His tone turned suspicious, and he leaned forward slightly. "Tell me, miss, did you flee from your own wedding?"
Teju's eyes dropped, a flush rising to her cheeks as memories of fleeing from her home and wedding ceremony flooded her mind. She felt a mix of emotions: guilt, anxiety, and determination. The guard's words struck a little too close to home, and she struggled to maintain her composure. She took a deep breath and tried to focus on the task at hand - convincing the guard to let her attend the interview.
Sahir walked towards the commotion, his eyes scanning the scene before landing on Teju's pleading face. "What's going on here?" he asked the guard, his voice firm but polite.
The guard explained the situation, and Teju chimed in, her voice laced with desperation. "Sir, the guard is refusing to let me in, and I might miss my scholarship interview."
Sahir's eyes locked onto Teju's, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. He recalled the bus accident, the girl he had carried in his arms, and the determination in her eyes. Without betraying his thoughts, he turned to the guard. "Let her in," he said, his voice authoritative. "Education is a girl's right, too. You shouldn't be an obstruction to her journey."
The guard looked taken aback by Sahir's tone, and Teju's eyes widened in gratitude as Sahir scolded the guard. "You should be ashamed of yourself, questioning a girl's attire instead of supporting her aspirations. Let her pass."
The guard hesitated before stepping aside, allowing Teju to enter. As she walked past Sahir, she caught his eye, a silent thank you conveyed through her gaze. Sahir nodded slightly, his expression calm and encouraging.
Maira stepped out of the auto, her eyes fixed on the vibrant signboard that read "DDS Music Industries" in bold letters. She paid the auto driver and walked towards the entrance, her heels clicking on the pavement. As she pushed open the door, she was greeted by the sound of music and the hum of activity. Maira took a deep breath, her confidence and determination evident in her stride as she walked into the DDS studio.
Maira walked into the DDS Music Industries reception area, her confidence and poise evident in her stride. She approached the receptionist and smiled professionally. "Hi, I'm Maira. I'm here for an interview," she said, pulling out her appointment letter and handing it over.
The receptionist glanced at the letter, nodded, and smiled. "Welcome, Maira. Let me inform the team. Please take a seat, they'll be with you shortly." Maira nodded and took a seat, flipping through her portfolio while she waited.
As Maira sat waiting for her turn, she watched as other candidates emerged from the conference room, their faces etched with disappointment. Some looked dejected, while others seemed frustrated, all sharing a common thread - they hadn't made it through the interview process.
Maira's eyes narrowed slightly, her competitive streak kicking in. She took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the challenge ahead. Her gaze drifted towards the conference room door, wondering what lay ahead for her.
Maira's thoughts took a determined turn as she sat waiting. Getting this job wasn't just about a career opportunity for her; it was about being close to Mihir Kashyap, the person she had sworn to protect. She believed that by being near him, she could keep him and his brothers safe from the evil forces that seemed to be lurking, waiting to strike.
Her eyes sparkled with resolve as she thought about the challenges ahead. She was ready to face whatever it took to secure this job and fulfill her mission to protect Mihir and his family.
Pushkar, a young manager in his mid-twenties with a friendly smile, walked out of the conference room and approached Maira. "Ms. Maira, it's your turn now. The panel is ready to meet you," he said, his voice warm and welcoming.
Maira stood up, smoothing out her attire and taking a deep breath to compose herself. She nodded at Pushkar, a hint of a smile on her face, and followed him into the conference room where Mihir and possibly other panel members were waiting.
As Maira entered the conference room, Mihir's eyes widened in surprise. He couldn't believe the coincidence - the girl he had confronted earlier, who had stood up to him with such confidence and spirit, was now standing in front of him, applying for a job.
Mihir's gaze lingered on Maira, recalling their earlier encounter. However, Maira seemed oblivious to their previous meeting, her focus solely on the interview ahead. She didn't recognize Mihir, likely due to the nose mask he had worn earlier and the change in his attire. Mihir's expression remained neutral, but his curiosity was piqued.
Mihir's sudden statement sent a ripple of surprise through the room. "I want her," he said, his voice firm and decisive, catching everyone off guard, including Maira and the other panel members.
The room fell silent, with Pushkar and the other panel members exchanging bewildered glances. Maira's eyes locked onto Mihir, a mix of confusion and curiosity on her face. She seemed to be wondering what he meant by his abrupt statement.