It's 7 in the morning when I got ready for the day, it's not like I woke up early it's just I couldn't sleep properly last night because of excitement, nervousness, anxiety and of course those blue eyes, mahadev, I wanna see them again & again.

Arghhh just forget about him ruhi otherwise jo bacha kucha dimag h vo bhi kharab ho jayega.

(Whatever little brain have left will get ruined too)

Let's get ready for the day, I have to reach the apartment around 9 am and I can't get late, of course first impression matters, wait am I trying to impress those girls.

"Yes you're," my inner voice answered

You really need to calm Ruhi and get ready

I got ready and head outside with my stuff after checking out.

I went to the nearby restaurant and ordered Masala French toast.

Around 9:15am, I reached the apartment and the broker was already waiting for me at the door, I guess I'm late.

"Good morning ma'am," he greet me as soon he saw me.

"Good morning, sorry I got a little late."

"It's completely fine, I think we should head inside," he said to me with a smile on his face.

Of course he would smile after looting huge amount of money from me.

Then he rang the doorbell and a girl opened the door for us

She had frizzy curls piled on top of her head and wore a T-shirt that said "Nope. Not Today". Her eyes scanned me first, the suitcase I carried, and then settled on the man beside me - the broker who'd been kind enough to walk me up.

"You must be the new one," She said, leaning her weight on the doorframe like we were old acquaintances.

I nodded,

"Hi.... I'm Ruhi."

"Siya," She replied, pushing the door open wider.

"Come in. Don't trip over anyone's dreams."

I didn't get the joke, but I smiled anyway and stepped inside.

The apartment was.... chaotic, but not in a bad way. Lived-in. A sofa with mismatched cushions. Fairy lights. A kitchen counter cluttered with coffee mugs. And in the corner, two girls sat cross-legged on the floor, painting their nails and watching something on a laptop.

"This is Mihika and Advika," Siya said.

They both greeted me with polite smile.

They all seemed comfortable; with each other, with the mess, with the silence between them. I wasn't sure if I could ever feel that way.

"You'll be in the shared room with me," Siya said already walking back towards the hallway.

"It's a bit of a mess. But so is everyone, so you'll fit right it," Advika commented.

I let out a small laugh. For the first time in days, it wasn't forced.

Maybe it wouldn't be easy.

Maybe I didn't know these girls.

But something about the uneven cushions, the unfiltered honesty, and the simple welcome made me feel like....

Maybe I'd landed in the right kind of chaos.

And for now, that was enough.

After all the formal introduction, they showed me around the apartment; then they left for their respective colleges, as they were waiting for me to come.

(Siya malhotra's a medical student, while other two girls, Advika verma and Mihika sharma were studying law.)

Aww how cute, again my inner voice

After I was done with the luggage, I roam around the apartment, it was a cozy apartment decorated with cute stuff.

Overall I liked the house or better say my new home and also the company is also quite good, I think we can definitely form a girl gang .

Now the next part was to search for some part time job, because of course, Ambani mera chacha nhi lgta.

So next few hours I spend on searching for any part time job but obviously my life was not that easy now was it, yeah I didn't find any suitable job in nearby areas .

Here our Ruhi got busy in her new life while our hero, well he was lost in someone's hazel eyes.

Morning time in Rathore mansion

Rudransh was sleeping with a small smile on his face (such a rare sight), yup he was thinking about our Ruhi, when his alarm decided to be the pyaar ka dushman.

He turned off the alarm and got off the bed , he did his morning business and then head off to his in house gym, where his brothers were waiting for him, after spending almost an hour in the Gym; the boys decided to leave to their respective rooms to start their day, Rudransh entered his room, took a shower and got ready in his business suit for the day.

The whole Rathore family did morning puja and then had their breakfast together with sweet bickering between youngsters, business talks between mens of the house and of course womens were gossiping about anything and everything.

Like this everyone had their breakfast and then everyone left to their respective work.

Rudransh went to the office and attended some meetings.

Around 5pm his best friend, Ridhan khurana entered his office.

"Hey boring man wassup," said Ridhan while entering Rudransh's office

"How many time do I have to tell you to knock before coming."

"Try for like some.........."

Ridhan tried to think of an number but then gave up and said,

"Ok jitne tere account m paise h utne baar."

"You really need to see a doctor, I promise I'll sponsor your treatment"

"Was that insult."

"Nahhh, genuine care."

"Ohhh fir thik h, now let's go we have a coffee date," Ridhan said excitedly

"I'm busy unlike you"

"I know boring man, now come on we have got a lead on that trafficking racket, otherwise who would go on a date with you."

Their bond is like this only, they were the most feared men in India and even in foreign countries too, but they behave and bicker like kids.

They left for the said coffee date and of course it's the second meeting of our leads so let's see how Ruhi ended up in the same cafe.

---

Around 4:00 p.m., Ruhi’s roommates returned to the apartment. After freshening up, all four of them gathered in the living room, chatting about random things—they wanted to strengthen their bond. During the conversation, Ruhi opened up about her financial condition and mentioned that she would need to find a part-time job to cover her expenses.

Advika immediately suggested a café located just five minutes away from their apartment, saying it could be the perfect place for Ruhi to work. The girls decided they would visit the café, have coffee, and then talk to the owner about any job openings.

Around 5:30 p.m., they left for the café—Hungry Birds Café.

The place was beautiful, with an open roof that made Ruhi feel instantly connected to nature.

Her curious mind wondered, But how would they manage if it rains?

Well, she thought to herself, if I get the job, I’ll figure it out.

They entered and settled at a corner table. A woman in her mid-forties came to take their order. After placing it, the girls continued chatting—mostly about the café, nearby places, and random college things. Ruhi mostly listened in silence, letting their voices fill the air.

Then, suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. The casual chatter around them died down, replaced by an unspoken stillness.

Everyone seemed to be looking in one direction.

And when Ruhi followed their gaze—she forgot how to breathe.

He walked in as if he owned the ground beneath his feet. The same tall frame, the same quiet intensity. His eyes, sharp and observant, carried the same stillness she remembered from that morning in the temple—where words had been unnecessary.

He hadn’t seen her yet.

Or maybe he had.

He wasn’t alone this time. Another man accompanied him—broader, louder, exuding the kind of energy that spelled trouble. But Ruhi couldn’t look away from him. The man whose silence carried more weight than noise. His eyes swept across the café, scanning every corner as if searching for something more than coffee.

He definitely wasn’t here for a latte.

Ruhi didn’t know how she knew that—she just did. Maybe it was the way he leaned in to speak to his companion, his tone low and deliberate. Or maybe it was how his gaze shifted, always calculating, always controlled.

“Earth to Ruhi?” Siya’s amused voice broke her trance. “You just zoned out mid-sip.”

Ruhi blinked, realizing she had been staring. “Uh, sorry. Nothing,” she murmured, looking away.

But it wasn’t nothing.

It felt like something. Something unfinished. Or maybe something that was never meant to begin at all.

She didn’t know his name. She didn’t know why his presence felt like both a weight and a warning. But she knew he wasn’t there for casual coffee.

And just as he turned to sit at a table, he paused. His eyes swept across the room once more—and stopped.

On her.

It lasted less than a second. Not long enough for a smile. Not enough to mean anything.

But somehow, it meant everything.

Then his friend leaned in and said something to him. The man glanced at him, responding quietly—intentional, controlled, unreadable.

And yet, Ruhi couldn’t shake off the feeling that every time he entered a room, something within her shifted—something she wasn’t ready to name.

♛┈⛧┈┈•༶༶•┈┈⛧┈♛

Expecting the world to treat you as a family

Because you are good person

Is like

Expecting the lion not to attack you

Because you are a vegetarian.