His eyes widened in shock and anger when he saw the waiter drop the glass in front of Anokhi who had it unaware of the danger.

Shourya cursed in his mind and went to the man who mixed the drug.

“Kya milaya uss drink mai?”

(What did you mix in that drink?)

“Ex-excuse me?”

Shourya clutched the man’s collar and hovered dangerously over him.

“Kya milaya uss drink mai?”

(What did you mix in that drink?)

“Maine kuch nhi-”

(I did not-)

“Sach bole saale! Kya milaya usme?”

(Tell me the truth, you bastard! What did you mix?)

Shourya looked so dangerous that the man fumbled.

“GHB! GHB!”

His blood ran cold. Shourya was aware that drug was famously known as the Date Rape Drug due to it numbing qualities. 

He didn’t bother about the audience and landed a punch square on the man’s face, making his nose bleed.

He threw him away and rushed in search of Anokhi. His heart sank to his stomach when he found the place she was sitting at earlier empty. 

“Where’s Anokhi? Wo yaha thi aap sab ke saath?”

(She was here with you?)

He asked the female colleagues she was sitting with.

“Wo washroom gyi hai.”

(She went to use the washroom.)

He cursed and raked a hand in hair as he made a run towards the washrooms. He knocked the female washroom’s door and called loudly.

“Anokhi! Bahar aao! It’s me! Shourya! Come out Anokhi!”

(Come outside!)

He kept knocking the door. The female attendant who sat outside frowned at him.

“Kya baat hai sahab?”

(What happened sir?)

“Aap please usse bahar bhej dengi.”

(Can you please send her outside.)

She sensed the urgency in his tone and went inside. She came back two minutes later and said.

“Wo thik nhi lag rhi. Zameen pr baithi hai aur kaanp rahi hai. Kuch sunn nhi rhi hai.”

(She doesn’t seem fine. She is shivering and sitting on the floor. Not listening to anything.)

Shourya didn’t hear anything else and barged inside. Thankfully, the washroom was empty other than Anokhi.

His heart clenched seeing her condition. Her hair were disheveled and she rocked her body back and forth. Her eyes were blurred and held no emotion.

He crouched in front of her and cupped her face, making her look at him in a daze.

For a complete minute, she showed no sign of recognition. But then, a small smile formed on her face as she leaned forward and rested her head against his chest.

“Shourya!”

She whispered his name and his heart skipped a beat. He gathered her in his arms and carried her bridal style out of the party.

Shourya buckled her up and quickly rushed to the driver's side. He called his brother and informed him about everything, asking him to manage the situation at home.

Her bhabhi was in a delicate condition and he didn't want to cause any unpleasant shock to her. Shourya could feel her gaze on him. The car stopped at a signal and he looked at her.

She still seemed in a daze but her eyes held the recognition.

“What’s wrong?”

He asked softly, caressing her face. She smiled and leaned against his touch. The movement felt so intimate that Shourya’s fingers stopped.

“I love you!”

She whispered. He froze. At first, he assumed that she was imagining him as someone else. The thought made his jaw clench.

“I love you, Shourya!”

She whispered with more clarity and he felt his heart skip a beat. He kept staring at her. 

The sound of horns broke his thoughts and he drove. Hands clutching the steering wheel tightly and his mind completely unfocused. He didn’t glance at her after that.

“Bhaiya…we’re here.”

He called his brother.

“Aa jaao andar. Everyone’s in their rooms.”

(Come inside.)

Shourya picked Anokhi up, who had drifted into slumber and carried her inside very silently. Mohit looked at them in worry and moved behind him towards Anokhi’s room.

Shourya saw his mother already waiting there. Worry and concern were clear on her face.

“Aaram se!”

(Carefully!)

She whispered as Shourya laid Anokhi down. His mother covered her with the duvet and caressed her hair.

“Hey Bhagwaan! Kaise kaise log hai iss duniya mai? Kya bigada tha bechari bachi ne kisi ka? Bhagwaan tera lakh lakh shukar hai. Tu nhi hota waha toh aaj pata nhi kya ho jaata.”

(Oh Gog! What kind of people are these? What did the poor child do to them? Thank God she is safe. Had you not been there God knows what could have happened.)

Her mother said in a shaking voice and held Anokhi’s cold hands in hers, rubbing them softly, giving her some warmth.

Shourya couldn’t think of anything. First, the incident shook him. And on top of that, her confession rang in his ears. He knew she wouldn’t remember anything in the morning. The after effects of the drug.

He went to his room and slumped on the bed. Everything that had happened shook him from inside and a few tears escaped his eyes.

He couldn’t even imagine what would have happened had he not seen the man mix those drugs into her drink. He sniffed and wiped his tears.

I love you Shourya!

Her words came rushing back. He didn’t know how to deal with them. He knew she wouldn’t remember the confession. But how was he supposed to forget? Her words. Spoke with such sincerity and warmth.

She loved him? Since when? Was that why she always behaved so shy around him? How had he failed to notice this?

The next day, Anokhi woke up to a pounding headache. She clutched her head and tried to open her eyes. A groan escaped her lips and she shut them again.

She slowly looked around, trying to make sense of everything around her. Her mind was in daze. She had no memories of the previous night after she had that drink and went to the washroom.

What happened later? How did she reach here? Why couldn’t she remember? She just remembered feeling lightheaded and going to the washroom but nothing after that.

She looked at herself and saw the same attire she wore last night. Why hadn’t she changed? Did something happen? Was there….was there something in the drink? 

She ran her hands down her body to check if there was something but she felt fine? She felt confused and vulnerable. Not having any memory of the previous night.

She showered quickly and went out. Harshali was sitting in the living room. She saw Anokhi come out and smiled.

“Uth gyi? Headache kaisa hai ab?”

(You’re awake? How’s your headache?)

“Aapko kaise pata?”

(How did you know?)

“Kaise pata matlab? Madam agar itni drink krke aayengi toh headache toh hoga hi. Dhyan rakha kr Anu! Achha thodi na hota hai itna drink krna ki senses hi kho do.”

(What do you mean how do I know? If you drink so much, you will get a headache. Take care Anu! It’s not good to drink so much that you lose senses.)

Anokhi was confused.