Obsession 💌

𝟖 | 𝐔𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬

Rhea's POV

As I was touching up in the bathroom, adjusting my lipstick and checking my hair, I overheard two girls talking, their voices carrying across the marble tiles.

"Well, Rhea looked amazing tonight, but she might need to work on that attitude. My boyfriend knew her from college, and I can't be more jealous." The first voice dripped with a mix of envy and judgment.

The second girl snorted. "Your boyfriend is lying. She doesn't even talk to people. She was a ghost in college."

I froze, half-amused, half-annoyed. I mean, they weren't completely wrong—my social life back then was non-existent. I was always more focused on my career than people. Maybe that's why I feel so disconnected from these crowds now, even when I'm surrounded by them.

Shaking it off, I stepped out of the bathroom, deciding it was time to leave. The party was winding down anyway, and I was exhausted. As I moved back into the main room, I took in the scattered groups of friends, each lost in their little moments.

Virat and Anushka were at a quiet table, smiling at their phones. They were video calling baby Vamika, cooing into the screen, both wearing that soft look parents get when they're away from their child.

KL and Athiya, on the other hand, were having a playful argument. I heard Athiya say, "KL, this post doesn't match my aesthetic at all! You can't just upload anything." KL laughed, defending his choice, scrolling through his phone like it was no big deal. "Babe, it's just one photo. The world won't end if it's a little off."

In another corner, I spotted Ishan and Hardik deep in conversation, gossiping like old friends. I caught snippets of their talk about a recent Bollywood buzz. "Did you hear the latest about Alia Bhatt? She's supposedly in talks for that huge Hollywood project," Ishan was saying, his voice low but excited.

Across the room, Rohit and Ritika stood by the large windows overlooking the city. Ritika was gazing outside at the lights and the gorgeous decorations. Her face looked calm, serene, lost in the view. But Rohit? He wasn't looking at the skyline. His eyes were fixed on Ritika, and the way he looked at her—with so much love and admiration—it was like she was his entire world.

I smiled to myself, a pang of longing hitting me harder than expected. Seeing love like that up close—it always made me think of what I didn't have, especially with him.

And then, I realized *he* was missing. Where had Shubman disappeared to after our dance? I scanned the room and finally spotted him stepping out of the bathroom, fixing the sleeves of his shirt with a frown etched on his face. His eyes met mine for a second, but there was something off in his expression—anger, or maybe something deeper.

Shubman approached me, glancing at his watch before saying, "Let's head to the hotel. It's late," his tone clipped. He threw me a look—sharp and irritated—as if I'd done something wrong. I blinked, confused. *What did I do?* I thought, trying to figure out what had shifted between us.

As we were getting ready to leave, KL jogged over, a mischievous grin on his face. "We're all staying at the hotel tonight, but I'll bring everyone over to your place tomorrow morning," he teased, clearly excited about extending the party.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help laughing. "You bet. Just don't destroy my place."

We said our goodbyes to everyone. I hugged Athiya first, her perfume sweet and comforting as she wrapped me in a warm embrace, KL playfully ruffling my hair as he hugged me next. I gave Virat a quick hug, and he patted me on the back like an older brother, while Anushka squeezed my hand softly, smiling in that quiet, understanding way she always did.