The illegitimate daughter of a powerful businessman, she was sent to live with her six half-brothers after her father's sudden death.
The boys were born from privilege, pride, and perfectly manicured bloodlines. No one welcomed her. No one cared.
De...
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The host's voice rang clear and lively across the hall.
"And now, for our Couple Dance segment! Each of you has received a satin pouch with a coloured ball inside. The partner who holds the same colour is your match for the dance. Let's see who fate pairs tonight!"
Laughter and scattered excitement rippled through the crowd as pouches were opened, colors revealed.
Maheer untied the delicate drawstring of her pouch, fingers brushing the silk.
A soft pink ball rested inside.
She paused, eyes narrowing just slightly.
Not five feet away, a familiar sound caught her attention—the quiet thud of a ball being tossed and caught. Rhythmically. Deliberately.
Her eyes lifted.
Veeransh Rai Singh stood across the room.
One hand in his pocket. The other casually tossing a pink ball in the air, as if it were nothing more than a stress toy.
His expression? Effortless. Composed. And yet, infuriatingly smug.
He didn't even look at her.
He didn't need to.
Maheer's jaw tightened. "Of course."
Across the room, the Rajput brothers noticed.
It didn't take long.
Shaurya's expression soured first.
Ranveer turned toward Aditya with narrowed eyes.
Kabeer muttered something that rhymed suspiciously with "I'm going to snap his neck."
Aarav's face twisted like he'd just seen someone wear shoes inside a mandir.
"You've got to be kidding me," Ranveer said flatly.
Aditya folded his arms. "Did he... plan this?"
Kabeer's tone was lethal. "Of course he did. There's no way in hell fate handed him that ball."
Kabeer turned toward Veeransh, who still hadn't broken his lazy toss-catch rhythm with the pink ball.
It was deliberate. And irritatingly calm.
"I swear to God," Kabeer said tightly, "if he smirks one more time, I'll punch the dimples off his face."
Across the room, Maheer still held the pink ball in her hand, unmoving.
And Veeransh?
He finally looked up—eyes locking with hers.
He didn't wink.
Didn't smile.
Just dipped his head slightly in acknowledgement.
The attention, however, was already shifting elsewhere.
