Love isn't supposed to be this complicated-at least, that's what Manya thought before Sarth reentered her life.
She's fiercely independent, and he's the infuriatingly charming guy who knows exactly how to push her buttons.
Their connection? Intens...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
After that one unexpected night, something shifted between Sarth and me. It was subtle, like a crack in the wall we'd built around each other, letting a sliver of light through. Nights felt different—quieter, softer. We'd find ourselves on the balcony, staring at the stars, talking without trying so hard. It wasn't normal, though. That small sense of unity disappeared with the first rays of dawn.
During the day, we were back at each other's throats. But beneath the bickering, something had changed. We weren't enemies anymore—not entirely. I couldn't put it into words, but the war between us felt different now.
I turned to the mirror, fiddling with my hair. Stray strands refused to stay in place, and I fussed over them, more nervous than usual. Tonight was the big charity gala, and Sarth was storming around the room like a man on a mission, muttering under his breath.
"Where did I put that damn tie?" he grumbled.
"Maybe it's with the cufflinks you misplaced earlier," I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
He shot me a wry smile. "Comedian tonight, huh?" But there was something in his tone, something softer than usual. It made my heart do that fluttery thing it hadn't done in years.
I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, wearing the emerald-green dress that hugged my body in all the right places. But the confidence I felt wasn't just from the dress. It was from the way Sarth's eyes lingered a moment too long on me. For a second, the usual tension between us melted away, replaced by warmth.
He stepped closer, his gaze meeting mine. "You look exquisite."
"Thank you," I mumbled, heat rising to my cheeks.
But his intense gaze stirred up memories I wasn't ready for. I hadn't thought about them in a long time, but tonight... the past seemed too close.
I tugged at the hem of my dress, my fingers fidgeting with the fabric as we made our way through the entrance of the ballroom. The buzzing conversations, the glint of expensive jewelry, the sharp scent of champagne in the air—it all felt a little too much, like I was stepping into someone else's world. A world where I didn't exactly fit.
Sarth, of course, was in his element. Confident, relaxed, like he'd been born to glide through these fancy events. His hand brushed against mine briefly, a gesture so casual, but it still sent a jolt of something through me. My heart did a little somersault, but I tried to ignore it. Why was I even reacting like this? He probably didn't even notice.
"You alright?" he asked, leaning in close enough that his breath tickled the side of my neck.
I plastered on a smile, hoping it looked convincing. "Yeah, just... not used to this." I waved a hand towards the crowd, feeling like a little fish in an ocean full of sharks. Being here tonight made my skin crawl, but I couldn't exactly explain why.
