She walked with her mind still not believing her audacity. She found her sister, sitting and eating comfortably. She dropped herself besides her sister and turned to her.

“You won’t believe what just happened, di.”

She whispered. Her sister looked at her, ready for some tea. Swaraa narrated the entire incident to her in a very dramatised way. She enjoyed her sister’s curious and shocked expressions as she reached the climax of her story.

“What? Tune Shaurya Rajvansh ko apna fake boyfriend banne ko bola? He called you love? He actually played along? Wow! I cannot believe this.”

(You asked Shaurya Rajvansh to be your fake boyfriend?)

“I know right. But di! He’s so hot in real life. Maine pehli baar dekha unhe.”

(I saw him for the first time.)

Swaraa bit her lip remembering the way he towered over Kartik. The way he held her close and the way he looked into her eyes with his piercing ones.

“Swaraa! Come out of your dreamland. Public mai hai hum.”

(We are in public.)

Swaraa shook her head and nodded. Her new crush had just been updated. Shourya Rajvansh.

The party was a forgotten event after almost a month. But Swaraa couldn’t forget him. It was a Sunday and she was getting bored at home.

She was thinking of paying a visit to her boutique but even there was no footfall today as informed by her staff.

Her father was home and watching the business news. Her di was out in a meeting and she bored alone.

She texted her sister, asking when she would return. Maybe she could go out somewhere with her.

About half an hour later, her sister returned and straightaway went to her father.

She told her father something which made him smile wide and hug her.

“Shabash bache! I’m so proud of you!”

(Well done my child!)

He said and patted her back. Swaraa frowned and went to the two. Even her mother come out on her name being called by her father.

“Batao!”

(Tell them!)

Her father clapped her shoulder and Anisha smiled wide.

“Hum bhut time se Rajvansh Group ke saath collaborate krne ki koshish kr rhe the. And today….they’ve finally agreed!!!!”

(We had been trying to collaborate with Rajvansh Group since a long time.)

Swaraa gasped. Even her mother was shocked. 

“That’s amazing! I’m so proud of you beta. Mujhe hamesha se pata tha meri bachiyan sabse best hai.”

(I always knew my daughters are the best.)

She said and kissed Anisha’s head. She asked Swaraa to join in and hugged both her daughters.

They had to attend a formal business dinner with the Rajvansh family in two days. To finally seal the deal they cracked.

Both the sisters were in their room.

“Waise jaise tune bataya tha na…waisa bilkul bhi nhi tha. He was so rude and strict in the boardroom. For a moment, I thought I lost the deal. Par kehna padega banda hai bhut sharp minded.”

(The way you told…he was nothing like that….But I have to admit he is very sharp minded.)

Swaraa listened to her sister carefully. 

“Usse milne ke baad samajh aata hai ki kaise usne itni asaani se takeover kr lia tha when his father had that accident. I mean aise time pr there are huge chances ki company losses mai chali jaaye but this man managed it all so well. He’s really smart and talented.”

(You understand after meeting him that how he tookover so easily after his father’s accident. I mean companies usually go into huge losses at times like these but this man managed it all so well.)

Swaraa smiled. She had no idea why it felt nice to hear people compliment him. She didn’t even know him for God’s sake.

Swaraa was getting ready for dinner with the Rajvansh family. She wore a beige blouse tucked into high-waisted brown trousers, the belt cinched neatly at her waist. 

She let her wavy hair loose, parting them in the middle and keeping a section of it in the front. She opted for subtle makeup, not overdoing anything and keeping it neutral.

Her sister looked at her and smirked.

“Ohhoo! Itna ready sheady ho rhi hai…kahi koi baat toh nhi?”

(You are getting so dolled up…is there something going on?)

She teased, nudging her shoulder against Swaraa’s. She blushed and lowered her lashes.

“Di!”

Anisha laughed and kissed her sister’s cheek, making her push her back with a scowl.

They reached the restaurant and Swaraa felt her heartbeat race. She could see Shaurya Rajvansh from a distance. He smiled seeing them and shook hands with her father and sister. He joined his hands in a namaste before her mother and then looked at her.

Why did he not look surprised to see her? Did he not recognise her? Or did he already know she would be here tonight?

“Hello Ms. Swaraa.”

He said in his deep, husky voice. Swaraa blinked in surprise. How did he know her name? She never shared it with him. 

“How did you…know my name?”

He smirked and leaned in with a mischievous smile before saying.

“You think I wouldn’t know the name of my girlfriend?”

Oh! The way she felt butterflies in her stomach. Girlfriend?

“Girlfriend for that evening.”

She clarified and he shrugged. Not commenting any further. 

Shaurya looked at her as she took her seat. He had been restless since the night she had dragged him away and asked him to be her boyfriend for the evening. 

At first, he was shocked. But then, he saw the fear in her eyes when that bastard had approached and something primal, fiercely protective erupted in his chest.

He had held her for a bare moment, but he remembered the jolt that ran through his body at that bare touch. 

He might sound like a pervert but he wanted to hold her again. And never let her go. But he didn’t want to scare her with such intense feelings.

She didn’t know anything about him. Although there wasn’t much to hide, she would need time to know him better.

Swaraa could feel his gaze on her. But somehow, whenever she looked at him, he was talking to either her father or her sister.

Swaraa, on the other hand, felt a little bored. It was only Shaurya and his father who had joined the dinner. She was expecting his mother who could have been a great company.

He had apologised saying that his mother and sister couldn’t join due to some other unavoidable situation.

“And Ms. Swaraa?”

She looked at him a little startled when he called her. 

“What do you do? Are you also into this business?”

“Umm…no. I’m a fashion designer. I have my own boutique.”

He raised his eyebrow in surprise. Well, mock surprise, as if didn’t already know this.

“That’s impressive. You know what…I think you’re perfect for me.”