Veil of Lost Love - 𝓣𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝔂 [18+]

prologue- kaveri Aggarwal

K A V E R I

"Mumma, it’s not fitting!" I grumbled, tugging at the pale blue frock that seemed too tight. I was already running late, and this wasn’t helping.

"Piku, do it fast" Mumma called out while selecting ties for Karan and shivaay bhai.

"Let me help" Karan offered, stepping in as always.

"Karan, these are all her usual dramas"  bhai said, adjusting my frock, a teasing smile playing on his lips. Shivaay bhai always treated me like a kid as he is 9 years elder than me

"You’re grown up now, Piku, but they still treat you like a kid" Mumma added, not even looking up.

"It’s okay, Ma" Karan said in my defense. He wasn’t my own brother, but he meant the world to me. I’d met him in second grade, and ever since then, he’s always stood by me. I never called him *bhai* since he wasn’t much older than me, but in my heart, he was family.

"Shivaay, come home early" Mumma reminded him.

"Mumma, that’s why I keep saying, let me go with bhai to the party, and you all can go to your business meet-up" I said confidently, trying my best to dodge the dreaded business event.

"Nice idea!" all three of them said at once, making me flinch.

"Piku, you have to attend these meetings. You’ve just started your company. Expanding the scale is important" bhai said, his business mode on.

"Are you guys irritating my princess?" Papa’s voice echoed from the doorway, instantly taking me side.

🦋⃤

As soon as we arrived at the party, I adjusted myself in the corner, sinking into the couch. I pulled out my phone, losing myself in my favorite novel. The party was a bore, and this was the only way I could pass time.

After a while, I got restless and called shivaay bhai, trying to irritate him, but Papa interrupted.

"Kaveri, come here" I stood by his side. "Kaveri, this is Tara Ranawat" he said, introducing me to a woman whose dress seemed more intent on exposing than covering.

"So, what do you do?" she asked, the moment Papa left us alone. "Yaa, you must be doing timepass" she added  pointing towards my phone before I could say anything. I offered her a tight smile. "Too bad" she said, sipping her whisky, clearly underestimating me.

"Attention, ladies and gentlemen!" Mr. Mittal’s voice cut through the crowd, dragging everyone’s attention to the stage "I’m proud to announce my new project, in collaboration with the Rawal Groups of Rawal family and Nexplore of Kaveri Aggarwal" he said, gesturing toward me.

I walked up to the stage, trying to shake off Tara’s words. "This is Aryaan Rawal" Mr. Mittal introduced, and I smiled politely, but my mind was elsewhere.

When I came back down, Tara was still standing there, her eyes wide with shock.

"Yes, this is who I am. Remember, don’t judge a book by its cover" I said confidently before walking away.

"That’s my girl!" Papa said, pulling me into a proud hug. I saw a spark of pride in his eyes. "Rocking!" Karan added.

"I miss shivaay bhai" I said with a pout.

"You missed him, and here he is" Karan said, turning his phone towards me.

"How could I miss such a great moment in your life?" He teased from the other side of the video call."Your chachu would be so proud of you" Papa added.

Chachu was my partner in crime, the one who’d always gotten into trouble with me. But a year ago, he was paralyzed after receiving devastating news about AG Groups, affected by a strange person who, in my eyes, ruined everything. That person was the reason for my chachu’s condition, and I would never forgive him for it.

🤍ྀི

Karan left me alone to talk with someone whose face I couldn’t see. I settled back into the couch, a notification popping up on my phone. It was an Instagram request. Without thinking much, I accepted it, just as Karan returned.

"Kaveri, take this" Karan said, handing me the medicine I’d been taking for almost a year.

"Not now" I protested, trying to hide my face behind the couch cushions.

"Kaveri, now" he insisted. With no other option, I swallowed it.

My heart started racing when the lights went off, and darkness surrounded the room. "Kaveri, it’s okay. I’m here" Karan reassured, taking my hand. He knew I couldn’t handle the dark. The fear stemmed from something in my past that still haunted me. Something I couldn’t shake.

"Are you alright?" Mumma asked as the dim lights flickered on, inviting everyone to dance.

We all joined in the square dance, and slowly, the music lifted my mood. Karan kept glancing at me, making sure I was okay.

🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋