Chapter 2

Inside the dimly lit nightclub, Shanaya's eyes scanned the crowd as the pulsating music filled the air. She had come alone even though the thought of inviting Kabir and Noor along had crossed her mind. But they were parents now, with a child that needed most of their attention. They didn’t like the idea of having a nanny, at least not until Shaurya was a little older and she agreed with their decision.

Shanaya was hoping to temporarily escape the weight of her own thoughts, the blasting music almost loud enough to hurt her eardrums. As she made her way through the crowd, she spotted a familiar face amidst the sea of strangers.

Her artist friend, with his colorful attire and expressive demeanor, was waiting for her at a corner booth just like she had expected. They had crossed paths a few times at this very nightclub and twice at local art exhibitions, but they never shared names. To her he was the ‘Artist’, and he always referred to her as the ‘Businesswoman’. Yet, something about h