Anaya sat on her bed with the soft yellow light of her study lamp glowing beside her. Gently, she opened the wrapped box Aarav had given her. As the lid came off, her eyes widened — Inside the box lay a stunning midnight blue off-shoulder gown, shimmering slightly with intricate sequin detailing along the waist — modern and elegant.
She couldn't help the smile that curved her lips. Holding the dress against her chest, she twirled once in the mirror, imagining the evening already. A soft blush crept up her cheeks — she hadn't felt this kind of joy in a long time.
On the other side of town, Aarav sat with his phone in one hand and his laptop open. The restaurant was booked — Pearl Garden, known for its romantic ambiance with fairy lights, rooftop seating, and live soft music. Everything had to be perfect.
Because this wasn't just a dinner.
It was the moment he'd tell her. Everything. That he wanted more than just her friendship. He wanted her — by his side, for real.
Meanwhile, Nitya's delusions were growing.
Two days remained, and she still hadn't received a single sign from Aarav. No special message. No invitation. No gift. Only confusion.
Finally, unable to bear the anxiety, she whispered to her closest friend during class, "Just ask him casually. He must be planning to surprise me."
Later that day, her friend caught up with Aarav near the lab and grinned.
"Hey Aarav! Heard you're planning to propose someone? Big move, man! Who's the lucky girl? Anyone from our class or college?"
Aarav chuckled softly, adjusting his bag.
"Nope, not from here. You don't know her. But don't worry… you'll meet her soon," he said, before walking off with a calm confidence.
The moment Nitya heard that, her world paused. Her heart dropped, a cold wave crawling up her spine.
Not from here? You don't know her?
He wasn't talking about her.
Her stomach twisted in anger and disbelief. How could he not choose her? After all these months of being close, all her plans, her efforts…
No. She wasn't going to let this go.
As rage swirled behind her forced smile, Nitya clenched her jaw.
She needed to know who this girl was — and fast. She would not lose.
And now, Nitya had a new plan:
To find out the girl before Sunday.
And ruin everything before the confession even happens.
Later that evening, Aarav and his project team gathered in the college common room for a group discussion. Laptops were open, papers scattered, and light chatter filled the space as they worked through presentation slides and coding bugs.
Aarav's phone buzzed on the table beside him — a notification from Anaya. He smiled faintly but didn't open it in front of everyone.
After a while, Aarav excused himself to the washroom, leaving his phone unattended.
Nitya, who had conveniently joined the group under the excuse of helping with some data analysis, noticed the phone lying there.
Her eyes locked on it.
She hesitated for a moment — then quickly picked it up. Her fingers moved fast.
She knew his password.
The screen unlocked.
She opened his chat app, scrolling rapidly until she saw it — Anaya.
Anaya with a heart beside her name.
Nitya's heart pounded. She opened the chat.
There it was —
> Aarav: Good morning. Hope you slept well.
Aarav: Don't forget, Sunday 7 pm. I'll be waiting.
Anaya: I still can't believe you planned all this. Let's see…
Dozens of sweet messages. Check-ins. Little jokes. Compliments. It was unmistakably clear — Aarav wasn't just being nice. He was falling.
Then Nitya tapped on Anaya's profile. The display picture loaded slowly.
It was a candid — Anaya smiling under soft sunlight, hair swaying, the pearl necklace around her neck.
Nitya stared at the screen, her fingers tightening around the phone.
"Her?" she whispered bitterly. "Her?"
She zoomed in on the photo — eyes flaring with envy and disbelief.
How could Aarav choose Anaya over her? After everything?
Before Aarav returned, she quickly locked the phone and placed it back exactly as it was.
But something had shifted. The fire in her eyes had turned cold.
And now, Nitya had more than heartbreak — she had a target.
What will she do next? Will Nitya stay silent… or sabotage everything before Sunday night?