Inayat's POV
"Only soft drinks, please," I told the bartender with a sigh.
Uff... I don't even know why I bother coming to these parties.
And Tara... God, I don't know how she manages to convince me every single time.
Where the hell did she even vanish?
I turned around, scanning the crowd — and that's when it happened.
Two boys appeared out of nowhere, smirking like they owned the world. One of them leaned slightly forward, eyes crawling over me without shame.
"I just saw on the news yesterday… global warming is rising fast."
He paused for effect, lips curling.
"And it's all because of you."
Seriously? That line still exists?
He chuckled with his friend, stepping closer.
"You're way too hot, sweetheart."
And before I could even react, his filthy hand reached out toward my waist.
Wrong move.
SLAP.
It echoed across the music-drenched air like thunder.
The crowd turned. Conversations froze. Gasps flew like sparks.
And I tilted my head, looked him straight in the eye, and said—
"And you're seriously the sperm that won?
Disgusting."
The guy clutched his cheek, stunned, while whispers began swirling through the crowd like wildfire.
Right then, Tara rushed toward me, alarm written all over her face.
"Are you okay?"
I raised one brow at her, calm and unbothered.
"I'm absolutely fine. But maybe... they're not."
We walked to a nearby couch and sat down.
"I still don't understand why I came here," I muttered, rubbing my temple.
Tara grinned. "Because we're finally entering college! Our seniors threw such a great party — it'd be a crime not to enjoy it."
"It's just a complete waste of my precious time," I replied flatly.
She rolled her eyes. "By the way, did you talk to Rhea? She's still coming tomorrow, right?"
"Definitely."
We started talking about classes, books, and adjusting to a new life — unaware of the venom being brewed just a few feet away.
---
💀 Meanwhile — Across the Room
The two boys stood together, rage bubbling under their skin.
Neil : "I want her in my bed. Tonight. I want to break that attitude — make her realize what she really is."
Shaurya : "I've got something for her."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small packet. Drugs.
Signaling a nearby waiter, he slipped him some cash and whispered darkly:
"Mix this into her drink. The one with the soft drink. Do whatever it takes — just make sure she drinks it."
Neil smirked.
"One for me. One for you."
---
🍷 Back to Inayat & Tara
The waiter returned, offering drinks with a well-practiced smile.
Inayat: "I don't drink anymore."
Tara: "Oh come on! You didn't have a single drink with me."
Inayat sighs : "Fine. But after this, you're letting me leave."
Tara: "Okay baba, okay. Deal."
As Tara reached for a glass of wine, Inayat picked up the doctored soft drink — the very one meant to destroy her night.
Inayat: "Another wine? You've had enough. Just drink this instead."
Tara: "Nope. Wine's my love story. Let it be."
And just like that, fate played its hand.
Only Inayat drank the glass laced with betrayal.
A few minutes passed.
Inayat stood up slowly, pressing her fingers to her forehead.
Inayat: "Okay… I should go."
Tara: "Are you sure? I can call one of my friends if you need—"
Inayat (with a forced smile): "Let it go. My mood's already ruined. I'm not wasting another second of my golden hour on some desperate lowlifes."
Tara: "Fine. But text me the moment you reach. Promise?"
Inayat: "Promise."
Tara left.
And within minutes, dizziness began to crawl through Inayat's veins.
Her vision blurred. The music felt distant, like a distant heartbeat underwater.
I need to freshen up, she thought. Maybe just splash some water on my face.
She walked slowly toward the washroom — unaware of two shadows watching her every move.
---
She walked out of the main hall, clutching her head as the dizziness sharpened.
Her body felt heavier, her feet unsure, but she managed to find a waitress nearby.
"Where's the washroom?" Inayat asked, her voice weak but steady.
The waitress, after slipping a wad of cash into her pocket — courtesy of two predators watching from above — gave her a rehearsed smile.
"VIP section, ma'am. Upstairs, to the left."
Inayat nodded.
Left. Okay. Left.
But as always, her childhood curse struck again.
Inayat had never been able to tell her left from right when it mattered.
And so, without realizing, she turned right.
---
🕶️ Arhaan's POV – "Welcome to the Trap"
Arhaan Rajvansh doesn't need to raise his voice. His silence is loud enough to make empire falls. He rules every room he enters.
Raised by revenge and riches, he carved his name on the world with blood and brilliance. The world fears him. The underworld respects him. The business world obeys him.
"I do not tolerate incompetence, Mr. Singhania."
Arhaan's voice sliced through the tension like a dagger as he placed his loaded gun — casually, dangerously — on the table in front of him.
"If Mrs. Mathur doesn't meet me today… you better be prepared to meet your wife — in your next life."
Mr. Singhania's face went pale.
"S-Sir... I-I don't know why she hasn't arrived yet! She said she'd be here by 10 PM sharp… I even told my PA to redirect any woman asking for the washroom directly to this room."
Across the room, Arhaan's personal assistant — Aryan Mehta — stepped forward, voice cold and precise:
"Do you even understand what happens when someone wastes Mr. Rajvansh's time? If this wasn't urgent intel, you and your 'Mrs. Mathur' would both be history."
Just then, Mr. Singhania's phone buzzed.
Before he could answer, Aryan snatched it and answered with calm aggression.
"Yes?"
On the other end, Singhania's PA said:
"Sir… there's a girl here. She's asking for the female washroom, but—"
Aryan didn't even let him finish.
"Send her up. Now. We don't have time to babysit your hesitation."
He ended the call, then turned to Arhaan.
"Sir, she's here. She'll be brought in any moment."
Arhaan didn't look up.
He simply said—
"When she comes, send her to the inner room.
I want to talk to her… alone.
No one else should be around. No one."
And with that, he walked into the private chamber — the air around him sharp with intent.
He ran both hands over his face, drawing a long breath, then tilted his head toward the ceiling.
And for the first time in a long time… he smiled.
Not the kind that brings comfort.
The kind that signals the start of a war.
"Just a few more minutes..." he whispered to himself.
"…and the moment I get what I need — your countdown begins… Miss Awasthi."
His voice dropped, and rage mixed with twisted satisfaction settled over his face like a second skin.
A devil's smile. A storm waiting.
And she's walking right into it.
---
By - Saaj 🪻🎀