Awaitslove
On the crowded footpath near Bandra Railway Station stood nineteen-year-old Aathira Sharma, clutching a small backpack against her chest.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
Her hands trembled.
And behind her, her own parents drove away without looking back.
The car disappeared into the traffic.
Just like that.
Aathira stood frozen in the middle of the rain as the truth slowly crushed her heart.
At nineteen, she was abandoned by the very people who were supposed to protect her.
The streets grew darker, louder, colder.
People pushed past her without care while thunder echoed across the city skyline. Hunger burned inside her stomach, but the pain in her chest hurt more.
She had nothing.
No money.
No family.
Nothing.
For the first time in her life, Aathira Sharma felt completely alone.
Until a black luxury car stopped in front of her.
A young man in his early twenties looked at her from inside - sharp jawline, intense dark eyes, dressed in an expensive black suit that screamed power and wealth. But his gaze softened the moment he saw her tears.
"You've been standing here for almost an hour," he said quietly. "Are you okay?"
Aathira immediately stepped back. "I don't need help."
"I'm Ayank Singhania."The name alone was enough to shock anyone in Mumbai.
The Singhanias were business royalty.
Powerful.Untouchable.Dangerous.
And standing before her was the future CEO of the Singhania empire.
Aathira wiped her tears angrily. "Rich people should stop pretending to care."
Instead of getting offended, Ayank studied her silently.
Broken.
But still fighting.
He had seen many people in his life.
But never someone whose pain looked this beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
"Fine," he said calmly. "Then don't trust me. But at least get inside the car before you collapse."
"I'd rather sleep on the streets."
Ayank took off his coat and placed it over her shoulders before she could refuse.
"Then I'll sit here with you."
That was the beginning.
Not just of a love story.