The First Lie
Ashriti's POV
I woke up at 10 A.M.
Not because I was well-rested.
Because I barely slept.
Why?
Because I was meeting him today.
Him.
The boy who could be the biggest mistake of my life.
So why was my heart racing like it was the best decision I've ever made?
I lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
Every time I closed my eyes, I heard his voice.
Don't you dare disappear on me again.
Why did that sentence feel like a promise instead of a warning?
I got up and opened my wardrobe.
Gold.
Labels.
Luxury.
One hundred branded outfits.
Fifty watches.
More sandals than I could count.
And yet—
I felt like I had nothing to wear.
Nothing that said:
I'm not trying too hard.
But I still want you to look at me.
Half an hour later, my room looked like a boutique exploded.
Finally, I chose the safest option.
Simple t-shirt.
Blue jeans.
Not too rich.
Not too desperate.
Just… effortless.
Or at least, I hoped so.
When I stepped out of my room, I saw Mumma arranging flowers for the mandir.
"Mumma," I said casually, "I'll have lunch at Adray's house today."
She didn't even look surprised.
"Thik hai beta," she replied softly.
Of course.
It was Adray.
The only boy my family doesn't see as a threat.
The only boy I'm "allowed" to be around.
If only she knew.
If only she knew I was lying for someone else.
And just like that—
I told my first lie for Shivrit.
The day passed in a blur.
Lectures happened.
Friends talked.
Teachers explained things I didn't hear.
All I could think about was him.
What would he wear?
Would he smile?
Would he look at me the way he described me?
Would he notice my effort?
The bell rang.
College was over.
And suddenly—
It was real.
I was about to meet my obsession.
My desire.
My Raven.
I walked outside and scanned for my driver.
He was waiting near the gate.
I turned away immediately.
I couldn't take the car.
The driver reports everything to Papa.
Everything.
If Papa finds out I went somewhere else—
I won't survive it.
So I walked past the gate and stopped an auto.
An auto.
The first time I chose something ordinary over comfort.
"Appetite chaloge, bhaiya?" I asked.
He nodded.
Appetite.
A newly opened restaurant.
Famous.
Expensive.
Mostly for couples.
Why would he choose that place?
Does he want people to see us?
Does he want to show me off?
Or—
Does he want to see if I'm brave enough to sit across from him in a place meant for lovers?
The auto moved.
The city blurred past me.
My heart was beating too fast.
I kept checking my phone.
No new message.
No cancellation.
No "I changed my mind."
Good.
Or maybe not.
Because the closer we got—
The more I realized something.
This wasn't just a meeting.
This was a line.
And once I crossed it—
There was no going back.