Shanaya recalled how the night had ended: with a kiss that was light and quick and yet so fulfilling. She wanted to seal that moment and keep it forever in her mind. “You’re tempting.”“I’m happy you’re not denying that,” Dhruv expressed, beaming. “Can you also agree that this is very comforting?” He drew her close until their breaths mingled. She nodded, her nose brushing against his. “But this isn’t what I should be doing right now,” she reasoned. “Who decides that?” Dhruv raised a brow, and continued in a low voice, “I think you’ll spend the rest of the day thinking about the offer.”“Let me prove you wrong,” she told him, making an impulsive decision. She called Shaheer as Dhruv watched her, mouth agape wondering what she was about to do. “I’m not coming today, Shaheer. I’ll see you directly on Monday,” she conveyed, her free hand caressing Dhruv’s back. As soon as the call ended, his lips collided with hers in a rough kiss. Shanaya could not help but smile and recovered soon

Driving in her new car, Shanaya recalled how she had been tormented the last few days. Now she did not need to pester those around her to lend her their cars. When she looked back, she blamed the presence of a certain someone for the delay in dealing with this matter. On her way back to the Arora mansion, she had stopped by the garage and given the mechanics a mouthful for being incapable of fixing her old car—although one could argue it was a little too old. Regardless, she had as much as told them to set it on fire for all she cared. But as soon as the words left her mouth, regret swooped in. Her father’s voice echoed in her mind: ‘No matter how rich you become, every penny will have the same worth. So spend judiciously, because you never know when the gods may turn on you for disrespecting the wealth they have blessed you with.’ He had hated it when people discarded things carelessly—things they had once craved and begged to own. Shanaya believed Dhiren Arora would have liked

By the time Monday morning rolled in, Shanaya was tired beyond measure. This was very rare. If she could be very honest with herself she would admit that this was happening for the first time—the urge to stay back rather than attend work was strong. She had always been a workaholic and there was a good reason behind it. She knew how her mind conjured up the darkest of thoughts when it was unoccupied. Despite every nerve in her body pleading with her not to, she convinced herself to get out of bed that morning, even though it took more than a cup of coffee for that to happen. The bright daylight outside mocked her gloomy mood. To make things worse, she found the tire of her car flattened. She was sure she would lose a tooth or two from how she suppressed groaning at her state. Could it get any worse? she questioned herself rhetorically, silently fearing it could indeed happen. The aches in Shanaya’s body made themselves known as soon as she stepped out of the cab. Any sleep ha

The phone screen lit up yet again, flashing Neil’s name.Shanaya watched silently as the buzzing ringtone echoed in her room. He had not stopped calling her. Her cousin was not someone who gave up too quickly—he was persistent and sometimes to the extent that was plain anger-inducing. When the call ended, she checked the time. It was ten minutes past eight. Some more time and he would give up, she assured herself but not very convincingly. Rising from her vanity stool, she unclasped the ruby rose bracelet from around her wrist. It did not go along with what she was wearing— a blue saree with a silver sequined border. But her other option was a diamond-studded bangle which seemed too flashy. Sighing, she mumbled, “It doesn’t matter, babe. You aren’t going to that party.”The full-length mirror at a little distance from her held the reflection of a gorgeous woman.The heart-shaped shimmer blouse was a perfect fit; Shanaya had almost squealed in delight when she had first tried it. Th

Nazir Malik had once been Dhiren's most trusted advisor and friend. Post her father's death, Nazir had become a support system for Shanaya and her family. He had helped her make some of the most crucial business decisions going ahead, and in a way, aided in saving them from their impending doom. To Shanaya he was a mentor, one she valued a lot. She had listened to him and trusted him, as her father once had. The man recognised Shanaya as soon as his eyes fell on her. The smile that reached his face was surprising and welcoming. "Shanaya, my child. I didn't know you'd be here," he remarked in his gentle voice. He always walked with stiff shoulders and his greyed hair shone like silver under the light. "I can say the same about you, uncle Nazir," she mumbled, drawing a polite smile on her face despite the jitters she had felt moments ago. "How have you been?" "As good as always. Maybe a little busier. Or I'd have stopped by your office to check up on Shaheer. I hope my son is impro