Avin's POV:
After a long, exhausting day, I finally went home.
"Sir, Srivansh sir is waiting for you inside" the guard informed me the moment I stepped in.
"Waiting? For me?" I asked, unease creeping up my spine. "What happened?"
"I'm not sure, sir. But he looked… upset."
That was all I needed to hear. I rushed inside.
"So.." he said sharply the moment he saw me, "you finally decided to show up? At twelve in the night?"
"Pa, it's not like-"
"No, Avin" he cut me off, his voice rising. "You're the CEO of AK Company. Do you have any idea what punctuality even means?"
"I was busy today" I replied quietly, my gaze dropping to the floor.
"Busy?" he scoffed. "You were at a bar two hours ago. Again."
My head snapped up.
How did he know?
Did he really put people on me again?
"Did you put spies on me?" I asked, irritation seeping into my voice. "Again?"
"No" he said coldly. "That's what the paparazzi say."
He shoved a tablet toward me. Headlines. Photos. Me walking into a club.
"This-" I muttered, clenching my jaw.
"If I ever catch you drinking again" he snapped, "I'll take Kashyap out of your name."
"Enough, Vansh!" my mother stepped in, furious. "You can't say that to your own child!"
"Ghazal, please" he replied bitterly. "This is because of your blind love. Have you forgotten what happened last time?"
He looked at me pointedly.
"Pa" I said, trying to steady myself, "it wasn't like that. I was just… stressed today."
Then, before he could dig deeper, I spoke again.
"By the way… I have news."
Both of them looked at me.
"What is it?" my mother asked.
"Ma, that novel you were reading" I said carefully. "Roses Bloom in Rain?"
She nodded. "Yes?"
"I met the author today. She agreed to turn it into a film."
The excitement in my voice was real, but the intention wasn't entirely pure. I needed to redirect them. Fast.
"But her identity is supposed to be a secret-" my mother began.
"Secret, yes" I interrupted. "But she left traces. I followed them and found her. This Saturday, she'll sign the contract. We'll start the project next Monday."
"And the producer?" my father asked.
"Oh, don't worry about that" my mother said smoothly. "I'll handle it."
"Okay, Mom" I replied.
My father exhaled sharply. "Now go to sleep."
I nodded and went to my room.
Lying on my bed, I stared at the ceiling.
I'd be lying if I said nothing happened today. It was a complete emotional rollercoaster. The day had started well. My assistant talking about June, her writing, her vision. But by evening…
My phone buzzed earlier with an unknown number.
Flashback
"Avin… I need to talk to you. Come to the Welub club-bar."
I recognized the voice instantly.
Gia.
My girlfriend.
She lived in London. We met during an office trip. Two weeks later, we were dating. It sounded childish even to me, but it happened. We exchanged numbers, promises, and time.
After I returned to India, we barely spoke. Long distance. Once-a-year meetings during Christmas. Still, she remained… my girlfriend.
But now she was in India?
Impossible.
I drove to the club, already sensing something was wrong. The paparazzi were there.
"Look, it's Avin! Drinking again?" they shouted.
I ignored them and walked in.
The lights were blinding. Music throbbed through my skull. Then I saw her, standing near the counter.
"Gia" I said, moving toward her. "What are you doing here?"
I leaned in for a hug.
She didn't return it.
"What happened?" I asked. "Are you upset?"
She took a breath. "Avin… I've been thinking about this for a long time. We've been dating for four years."
I knew where this was heading.
"Yeah…" I said, my heart starting to race.
"It's not working for me anymore" she said quietly. "And… I think I love someone else."
For a second, my heart forgot how to beat.
"What?" I whispered.
"I wanted to tell you in person" she continued. "That's why I flew all the way to India."
I sat down on the bar stool as she kept talking.
"We rushed into this. Two weeks and we were together. It doesn't add up anymore."
Her voice faded, or maybe my ears stopped listening.
Time passed. I didn't notice how long I sat there until the bartender spoke.
"Sir, you've been here for almost two hours. You haven't ordered anything. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine" I muttered, standing up. "I need to go."
Flashback ends
I picked up my phone and started scrolling aimlessly.
A DM popped up.
Eisha:
Avin, what happened? I saw the news. You were at a bar?
I typed back slowly.
It's nothing. I'll tell you in person sometime.
Okay, she replied.
I put the phone aside and closed my eyes.
Tomorrow would be quieter.
It had to be.
Whether I was ready for it or not.
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