CHECKMATE : Game Of Shadows

5. unexpected encounters

Yuvika's forehead creased with tension as she navigated the dark, starry night, her mind replaying the chaos from earlier at the office. Her head throbbed with stress, but she pushed through, knowing Yuvan was at home all by himself, unaware that her brother had planned about investigating the same case as her with his team secretly.

Suddenly, she slammed on the brakes as a girl jumped in front of her car. With a jolt, Yuvika's heart raced. She stepped out, her frustration boiling over. “Have you lost it?! What’s the point of jumping in front of a moving car? Marna hai kya?!” Her voice was sharp, echoing in the stillness of the night.

The girl remained seated on the road, her long hair cascading around her face like a curtain. Yuvika hesitated, her anger fading as concern crept in. "Are you hurt? Here, take my hand," she said, kneeling beside her.

When the girl finally turned to face her, Yuvika was taken aback. The girl’s big doe eyes sparkled with confusion, illuminated by the car’s headlights, giving her an ethereal quality. Her honey brown skin looked golden at that moment making Yuvika freeze. For a moment, Yuvika forgot her frustrations, lost in the girl’s beauty, but she quickly shook her head, snapping back to reality.

As Yuvika helped her up, she noticed the girl was nearly as tall as her, clad in a professional lavender outfit that accentuated her poise. A fleeting admiration crossed Yuvika’s mind before she caught herself, focusing on the pressing situation.

"I'm really sorry," the girl said softly. Yuvika opened her mouth to respond, but a chorus of shouts cut her off. She turned, her stomach dropping at the sight of nearly ten men charging toward them.

Yuvika, ever the responsible officer, instinctively stepped in front of the girl, a protective instinct surging within her. The girl remained surprisingly calm, a stark contrast to the growing tension in the air.

"What’s going on?" Yuvika asked, glancing at the girl, who merely sighed, seemingly unfazed.

"Ye log firse aa gaye," the girl muttered, cracking her knuckles with a surprising calmness while Yuvika stared at her in surprise.

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Meanwhile at Yuvan's house, the atmosphere settled into a tense dynamic without any chaos. Yuvan was standing near a wall while Vanshika stood in front of Arjun and Yukta who were seated on a couch together but they weren't facing each other.

"So you're telling me your mothers are best friends?" Vanshika asked, glancing between Arjun and Yukta, who were pointedly avoiding each other’s gaze. Both nodded reluctantly, their expressions revealing a mix of annoyance and something deeper.

"Yeah," they said in unison, prompting a smirk from Yuvan before he masked it with a neutral expression.

"And you two don’t like each other?" Vanshika pressed, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, definitely," Arjun replied, crossing his arms with a defiant glare.

"Absolutely," Yukta echoed, shooting him a look that could melt ice. The air crackled with their silent animosity.

"Matlab maa dost aur bacchon ke beech me chhattis ka aankda! Wahh!" Yuvan quipped, only to receive identical glares from the two, prompting him to step back. "Apne hi ghar me nahi chal rahi hai meri," he muttered.

Vanshika’s confusion mirrored Yuvan’s as she tried to make sense of the situation. "But why? Your mothers are good friends, and you..."

"Kya batau didi! Ye ladki ek number ki chipkali hai! Isse meri khushi kabhi dekhi hi nahi gayi!" Arjun erupted, frustration evident on his face.