𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆'𝒔 𝑻𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒂𝒕𝒉..|18+

8th chapter

Later That Night...

Everyone had returned home from the background, tired but cheerful. After dinner, they all went to their respective rooms.

As Simran was passing through the hallway, her eyes fell on Rudransh’s phone, left carelessly on the table. She picked it up and walked toward his room to return it.

Rudransh’s Room

Rudransh had just come out of the shower, still basking in the joy of his racing victory. With nothing but a towel around his waist, he danced around the room, humming “Le Le Mazaa Le”, completely lost in his celebration.

Suddenly, the door creaked open.

Simran stepped in, startled to see him like that.

Rudransh turned — and just as their eyes met, his towel slipped to the floor.

Time seemed to freeze.

Simran’s eyes widened in shock. Rudransh’s face turned a deep shade of red. His hands scrambled to grab the towel, his mind blank with embarrassment.

Simran quickly spun around, cheeks burning, heart racing.
“I... I came to give your phone,” she said, placing it on the dressing table without looking back.

Without waiting for a reply, she hurried out of the room.

Simran’s Room

She threw herself on her bed, burying her face into the pillow.
Her thoughts were racing.

“I didn’t see anything… not really… But oh my God, how hot is he?!”

She smiled to herself, cheeks still flushed, and slowly drifted off to sleep—still thinking about him.

Rudransh’s Room

Rudransh stared at the door long after Simran had left.

“Doesn’t she know how to knock? Who enters a guy’s room like that?”
Still embarrassed, he eventually laid down, replaying the moment again and again before sleep took over.

Next Morning – Dining Table

Simran and Rudransh sat across from each other.
Simran’s face was pink with shyness, sneaking glances at him from behind her hair.

But Rudransh? Stone-faced. No reaction. He knew she was looking but acted as if nothing had happened.

Just then, Dadi said,
“Children, if you all want, we can go out shopping today.”

“Sure, Dadi! I really want to see the local market,” Ishika replied.

Everyone agreed and went to their rooms to get ready.

Meanwhile – Mr. Khurana’s Balcony

Aryan Khurana stood alone, staring at the distant horizon. His expression was unreadable.

A soft, familiar voice echoed behind him.
“Aryan...”

He turned.

His wife stood there, hand outstretched toward him with a warm smile. He moved to take her hand—but just as he touched her... she vanished.

He blinked and stared at his empty palm, the memory fading.

He whispered softly:

Kitna aasaan tha tere hijr mein marna, jaanaa...
Phir bhi ek umr lagi, jaan se jaate jaate...

How easy it seemed to die in your absence…
Yet it took a lifetime to truly let go.

Next Day – Deep Inside a Forest

A large table sat in a dark, isolated chamber. Dozens of chairs surrounded it. Two prominent leather ones bore carvings a fox on one, and a panther on the other.

One by one, armored vehicles arrived.

Men in differently colored uniforms stepped out each bearing an animal insignia and small star rankings stitched to their sleeves.

First came a man in a blue uniform, masked, followed by his guards.
Then another, in red, also masked. They were known by their code names

Scorpion and Lion best friends, ranked 4th and 5th in the underworld.

Shortly after, a Jaguar arrived—ranked 3rd, and then a Fox and Panther, the top two. Their identities? Unknown. Feared. Respected.

They took their seats. Behind them stood their closest allies and guards.

Behind Fox stood a girl wearing a cat mask.
Behind Panther, a boy in a tiger mask.

As everyone settled, the tiger’s eyes locked with the girl in the cat mask. Something unspoken passed between them before the meeting officially began.

The room fell silent as a voice announced:

“Let the council begin.”

Discussions unfolded. Deals were finalized. Strategies were debated.

Then one man leaned forward, staring at the cat mask girl.

“Mr. Fox… is your partner a girl?”

Fox, cool as ice, replied,
“Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”

“No, sir… just asking,” the man muttered.

Another man laughed and said,
“You must have sharp eyes to notice that. She looks raw… inexperienced. I’ve played with so many women, I can tell. So, why not lend her to me for a night?”

The room went still.

Author’s Note

Hey everyone! The spoiler for tomorrow’s chapter is up on Instagram!
Go check it out—the link is in my bio.
Hehe and sorry for the late update!
Love you all! Stay tuned.