The Veiled Hearts

🌹Shadows of Protection 🔪

Ishaan watched as the bartender nodded and walked away after taking his order for Vanya. Vanya, clearly frustrated, raised her voice, calling out, "Don't add alcohol!" The bartender glanced back and replied, "Yes, ma'am, sir told me the same."

Vanya huffed, her eyes trailing over the expensive alcohol and wine bottles on the counter. Ishaan, noticing her irritated stance, leaned towards Yash and murmured, "Seriously? Her? Out of all the billion women on this planet?"

Vanya, catching the barely audible muttering, turned around, her irritation growing. "Did you say something to me?" she snapped, eyes narrowing.

Ishaan flashed her a wide, teasing smile. "What a package-sharp tongue and even sharper ears."

Vanya was about to fire back at Ishaan's snarky remark when she caught a glimpse of the senior bodyguard behind him, asking about Vansh to the other trainees. Her heart raced, and she quickly turned her head, facing the bar counter, fearing the guard might recognize her.

Ishaan, noticing the shift in her demeanor and hearing the senior bodyguard's voice, smiled knowingly. He smoothly walked over and took a seat on the long bar stool beside her. The bartender slid Vanya's orange juice in front of her, but she barely acknowledged it, immediately downing the drink and standing up, eager to escape the guard's line of sight.

Just as she was about to walk away, Ishaan's serious voice cut through her escape attempt. "Sit down... or I know many other ways," he said, his tone laced with warning.

Vanya froze, his words echoing in her ears. Slowly, she sat back down, feeling the tension tighten around her.

Vanya's fingers nervously scratched the bar table, her tension palpable. Ishaan observed her carefully, his eyes sliding towards Yash, who stood across the party, hands busy accepting congratulations but his gaze fixed intently on the two of them at the bar. Ishaan smirked devilishly at Yash, who, in return, shot him an icy glare, knowing his friend's playful mischief all too well.

Ignoring Yash's warning look, Ishaan leaned in and grabbed Vanya's hand, smirking as he whispered, "Miss Vanya Sharma, stop scratching the table. It'll cost you a fortune, and you'd be paying that bill your whole life."

Vanya kept a strained, fake smile on her face as she shot back in a low voice, "Move your hand before I stab it with a juice straw."

Ishaan chuckled and squeezed her hand slightly. "You really think we, Yash's four friends, don't know how to harm you? We're holding back for one reason. If we as much as pluck a single strand of your hair, that guy glaring at me from across the room will take all four of us down in ten minutes flat-but he'd still be the one to rush us to the hospital first."

He let go of her hand, turning his gaze to the wine glasses lined up at the bar. "Yash is the kindest of us all, Vanya. We're doing nothing only because of him."

Vanya listened to Ishaan's words, her face betraying no emotion, though inside, she felt a storm brewing. She hummed softly, unsure of how to respond, but eventually, a few words slipped out, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "So, just one person is stopping the tsunami..."

Ishaan shook his head while sipping his wine. "Correction: he's singlehandedly stopping the four tsunamis that could erase your existence from this planet. Forget about your body."

Vanya sighed heavily, her gaze distant. "Well, he won't be able to anymore. He's engaged now... he has his own world, a world I'll never be a part of."

Ishaan tapped the table and signaled for a refill. As the bartender approached, he turned back to Vanya. "You think you're not part of his world, huh? Look at yourself.

You're wearing a custom-made saree and jewelry that belong to Yash's world.

You're sitting in a party that belongs to Yash's world.

You're breathing, sleeping peacefully at night, protected by Yash's world.

And, most importantly, you're sitting here in a Singhania party, surrounded by high security, yet no one dares to hurt you. Why? Because there's always an eye on you... from Yash's world."

Vanya's heart clenched at Ishaan's last statement, and her gaze instinctively shifted towards Yash. Even from a distance, she could see him watching her from the corner of his eye, though he was busy greeting guests. Next to him, Tanya stood, her hand wrapped around his arm, receiving congratulations. Vanya quickly averted her eyes, turning her focus back to the bar, her silence louder than words.

Ishaan, noticing her quietness, broke it with a question. "You asked me something that night when I was dragging you out of Singhania Mansion. You asked, 'What would you do if your brother went missing?'"

Vanya didn't respond, just hummed in acknowledgment.

The bartender returned with Ishaan's wine, and he nodded in thanks, taking a sip before answering his own question. "I'd do exactly what you're doing... maybe worse."

He casually pulled a tissue from the bar and handed it to Vanya. "Wipe your tears. My emotionally idiot friend will think I made you cry, and by tomorrow morning, he'll tank my company stocks as revenge."

For the first time that evening, Vanya cracked a small smile, the corners of her lips curving up despite the storm inside her. She took the tissue and dabbed at her tears, thinking about Yash's quiet protection, his fierce loyalty, and the strange bond between him and his friends that she was just beginning to understand.

Yash and Tanya after getting engaged:

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

♥️
Hello Quill Whisperers,

Thank you so much for reading !

I'd love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment below. If you enjoyed it, don't forget to vote and share!

Follow me on Wattpad for updates and new stories. Connect with me on Instagram -Siren_quill for more behind-the-scenes content.

Your support means the world to me!

Best Wishes,
Siren_quill🪶
♥️