Morning sunlight fell on Riya like a sarcastic reminder:
Another day, another suffering.
She sat beside her dad's hospital bed, anxiety chewing her brain.
School was hell these days.
Not because of studies.
Not because of teachers.
Not only because of dad's health
Because of Arav Singhania and his stupid stunt at the gate.
Everyone saw him pick her up.
Everyone saw his car.
His attitude.
His stare.
And that was enough to ruin her life.
At school
"Gold digger."
Someone whispered behind her.
"Poor Vihaan… she dumped him for money."
Another girl pity-wrapped her voice.
"She's not even pretty. Why would Arav choose her? Something's fishy."
Someone snickered.
Riya pretended she didn't hear.
But she heard everything.
Each word stabbed like tiny needles.
She opened her locker.
A paper fell out.
"Enjoy the money."
Drawn with a heart.
Wow.
Such talent.
Such creativity.
She shut the locker before it could get worse.
Riya turned toward class,she don't want to face vihan
But no...he is in front of me
Why did this only happen with me
I don't know what to do dammn.
I looked at him and he is coming closer and closer but wait he passes by and met another girl whom i didn't really recognise
Who is she?
His soft eyes met hers.
He flinched.
Then looked down.
Her heart twisted.
He took a small step toward her…
My leg twisted and i fall watching this
Arav moved back ,he wanted to come
but immediately someone called him.
A girl.
Tall.
Beautiful in a fragile, shy way.
Hair in a messy braid.
Holding two books close to her chest.
Vihaan turned toward that girl…
not toward Riya.
He walked away with her.
Who was she?
I could have recognised her but the only thing i saw was her back
Why was she walking with him? Didn't he really care
Why did her chest feel so heavy suddenly?
Riya inhaled deeply.
She made a decision.
"I'll talk to him today… after school."
Whether he hates her or not—
he at least deserved an explanation.
When she came out after school was over and reached the same road she used to walk with Vihaan…
There he was.
With the same girl again.
Laughing.
Laughing.
Her throat felt tight.
She stepped back unconsciously—
right when a familiar shiny car turned into the lane.
Arav's car.
Of course.
Because God clearly hated her.
He lowered the window, expression annoyed-as-always.
"What are you doing in the middle of the road? Want to die?"
"Actually… right now? Yes," she muttered.
He frowned.
"Get in. We're late."
"For what?"
"For a friends-meet."
Her heartbeat stopped.
"FRIENDS MEET? I'M MEETING YOUR FRIENDS? TODAY?"
"Yes."
"NO."
"Yes."
"NO!"
"They're already waiting."
Riya grabbed her hair like she was losing brain cells.
"ARE YOU INSANE? I CAN'T MEET THEM. I'M IN SCHOOL UNIFORM!"
Arav shrugged.
"They don't care."
"I CARE!"
"Why?"
"BECAUSE—BECAUSE—BECAUSE NORMAL HUMANS CARE!"
Arav blinked like this was a shocking revelation.
She stepped back.
Then suddenly—
in the world's most dramatic self-destruction move—
she ran and jumped straight into a muddy patch on the road.
When she came out and reached the same road she used to walk with Vihaan…
There he was.
With the same girl again.
Laughing.
Laughing.
Her throat felt tight.
She stepped back unconsciously—
right when a familiar shiny car turned into the lane.
Arav's car.
Of course.
Because God clearly hated her.
He lowered the window, expression annoyed-as-always.
"What are you doing in the middle of the road? Want to die?"
"Actually… right now? Yes," she muttered.
He frowned.
"Get in. We're late."
"For what?"
"For a friends-meet."
Her heartbeat stopped.
"FRIENDS MEET? I'M MEETING YOUR FRIENDS? TODAY?"
"Yes."
"NO."
"Yes."
"NO!"
"They're already waiting."
Riya grabbed her hair like she was losing brain cells.
"ARE YOU INSANE? I CAN'T MEET THEM. I'M IN SCHOOL UNIFORM!"
Arav shrugged.
"They don't care."
"I CARE!"
"Why?"
"BECAUSE—BECAUSE—BECAUSE NORMAL HUMANS CARE!"
Arav blinked like this was a shocking revelation.
She stepped back.
Then suddenly—
in the world's most dramatic self-destruction move—
she ran and jumped straight into a muddy patch on the road.
SPLASH.
Arav's jaw dropped.
People stopped walking.
Birds paused mid-air.
Even God facepalmed.
Riya stood there, covered in mud like a chocolate fountain.
"There," she said proudly.
"Now we can't go."
Arav opened the car door.
"Get in."
"I LOOK LIKE A BUFFALO."
"Fine," he sighed. "I'll take you to a showroom."
"Arav, I'm muddy."
"We'll clean it. I'm used to dealing with dirt."
She squinted.
"Are you calling me dirt?"
"No," Arav deadpanned.
"I'm calling you a disaster."Ten minutes later, the car stopped in front of a luxury showroom with glass walls shiny enough to blind her soul.
Riya's jaw dropped.
"No. No, no, no Arav, I can't go in there. They'll kick me out! I look like a burnt samosa!"
He didn't even respond. He just got out, walked to her door, opened it, and said—
"Come."
The saleswomen almost fainted when they saw Riya's muddied uniform, but Arav said one line—
First they show many varieties of clothes which i rarely get chance to buy as their cost worth to kidney
Arav !!! Riya cried
"I don't have much money"
"Oh shut up,and for god sake dont create drama in this shop".
Sales girl looking at them strangely
Arav noticed it and petted her hand on riyas head
"My girlfriend is so funny and innocent ,she makes excuses as i forget to gift her on her birthday "with sarcastic smile he again said
"Go darling plz".
Riya don't want someone to pay for her and thinks if he is insisting to buy beautiful clothes for his employ then i should respect my boss .
She came after 15 min
"I thought you ran away "he looked at her after checking time on his rolex watch
He paused ,his jaw dropped
she wears black floral puff sleeved dress in which her long wavy hair suited like heaven
Her brown eyes even shinning more in the day as compared to night he saw her at the cafe
The dress value increased more when she wore that dress
Then arav looked away like it doesn't matter
"I thought atleast you would say nice to me not for me but for the dress atleast"riya said
Then
The salesgirl brought heels.
Deadly ones.
Riya shook her head.
"I can't wear these."
"You'll be fine," Arav said.
"No. I'll die."
"Try."
She stood.
She wobbled.
She stumbled.
She fell—
Straight into Arav's chest.
He grabbed her arms, steadying her.
People stared.
Riya's face went tomato-red.
"You did that on purpose," Arav murmured.
"NO! My legs—my legs don't listen!"
"Great," he sighed.
"A girlfriend with mutinous legs."
He finally gave up.
And then…
He did the unthinkable.
He slid one arm around her waist.,and slowly lifted her up close to him until they reached to the car.
"I am sorry your fake excuse can't stop us "
His royal scent can't match to anyones
"I can't believe this," Riya whispered folding her hands all over arav's shoulders.
"I can't believe THIS is my life," Arav whispered backFAKE GIRLFRIEND PRACTICE — IN THE CAR
"Okay," he said while driving, "we need to practice."
"Practice what?"
"Acting like a couple."
She blinked.
"Like… texting? Smiling? Being normal?"
"No."
He leaned in slightly.
"We need to practice chemistry."
Riya's brain exploded.
"CHE—CHE—CHE—WHAT?!"
"Relax."
He looked completely unaffected.
"Just look happy to be with me."
"That's impossible."
"It's part of the job."
The car stopped at a red light.
He looked straight at her.
"Whenever someone asks, you'll say you like being with me."
She gulped.
"Remember the rules," he said.
"Don't make that terrified face."
"Don't hold your bag like you're running away."
"Don't jump into mud puddles."
"I don't usually do that!" she defended.
"Sure."
They shared a rare moment of accidental agreement.
Then the light turned green.
And they drove toward the biggest disaster of the evening—
A party full of Arav's rich, judgmental, sharp-tongued friends.
With one emotionally unstable girl
and one emotionally unavailable boy
pretending to be in love.
What could possibly go wrong?