"MOM! Your friend's daughter is Riya?! She's the one I'm on a blind date with?!" Dev shouted, eyes wide, half in disbelief, half in panic.
Padma tilted her head, confused.
"Yes? Why—what's the problem?"
Across the table, Pooja leaned in to Sneha and whispered:
"Okay… Plan 'Blind Date Fail' is impossible now. But hey, let's just enjoy the show."
Sneha smirked.
"Front row seats to emotional damage. I'm in."
Meanwhile, Riya crossed her arms, glaring at Dev.
"Of all the people in the world… I had to walk into a blind date with this pervert?!"
Dev rolled his eyes.
"Awesome. And I ended up with a walking taperecorder that never shuts up."
Padma's smile froze.
"Wait—so you two know each other?"
She turned to Riya, her tone stern.
"And don't call my son a pervert!"
Then to Dev—"How many times have I told you to respect women? Especially my friend's daughter!"
Dev and Riya flinched in sync.
"Moooom—"
"Auntieee—"
"Enough!" Padma clapped her hands.
"Dev. Riya. Sit. No more nonsense. We are in public."
She motioned to the side.
"Waiter, come here and take our orders before these two throw forks at each other."
Everyone shuffled into their seats with lingering side-eyes and grumbles.
Then the room shifted.
Ayaan stood at the entrance, a subtle blush on his face.
Across the table, Anaya caught his eyes—and smiled.
That same soft, knowing smile that said more than words ever could.
For a moment, time felt like it slowed. No arguing, no drama—just them, locked in unspoken thought.
Pooja blinked, then leaned toward Sneha again.
"Is this Riya's blind date..."
Sneha finished the sentence with a grin:
"...or Ayaan and Anaya's date?"
------
Everyone finally settled at the table.
Padma leaned toward her son, whispering behind a tight smile.
"I told you not to bring your friend today. Yet here we are…"
Dev shrugged, pretending not to hear her.
Then, loudly and without shame, he called out:
"Yo, Mr. Perfect Aim—no one's gonna eat your Anaya. Just sit down already."
Ayaan, caught in a blink-stare with Anaya, snapped back to reality.
He cleared his throat, quietly finding his way to the seat.
Anaya chuckled.
"I never thought I'd hear this: Riya's blind date… with Dev."
"You—" Riya started to shout, but she caught sight of Padma's calm, watching eyes.
Riya exhaled, straightened her posture, and said sincerely:
"Padma auntie, I respect you as my mother's friend. But to be honest—I didn't want this blind date. And now that I know it's with Dev... I'd rather leave.
To me, both Dev and Ayaan are the least trustworthy people I know. Especially the idea of marrying Dev—just thinking about it irritates me."
Dev scoffed and crossed his arms.
"Same here, Mom. If Riya weren't Anaya's friend, I wouldn't even be sitting here."
He stood.
"Let's go, Mom."
But Padma didn't move. Instead, she grabbed Dev by the ear.
"Sit."
Then she turned toward Riya with a strained smile.
"Riya, I apologize. I thought it was just a small misunderstanding between the two of you."
Then, her voice hardened, shifting the room's air.
She turned toward Ayaan.
"But tell me, Dev—how is all of this suddenly linked to your so-called friend, Ayaan?"
Ayaan flinched slightly.
Padma stared coldly.
"Ayaan. I know my son. I told you years ago to cut ties with him. But you both ignored me.
Since childhood, you have always benefited from Dev… but what has he gained from you?"
The table fell silent.
"And now, this girl—Anaya, is it? I don't know your relationship with her. But from Riya's reaction, it's clear that your friendship is creating a rift between my son and his blind date."
Ayaan lowered his gaze for a moment.
Her words… stung. Because they sounded true.
Dev's expression shifted—his mood changing.
Riya, Sneha, and Pooja all looked furious.
Anaya, however, simply lifted her teacup and took a calm sip. Then, without breaking eye contact, she gently held Riya's hand to keep her calm.
A smile flickered across her lips.
Padma continued, undeterred.
"I don't know what's in your mind, Ayaan. But I do know your type. And like your mother, you're good at listening to others—but never standing for yourself. So why are you still clinging to my son?"
Then, Ayana finally spoke.
Her voice soft but clear.
"Sorry to interrupt, but… I feel this is becoming a bit too personal."
She turned, eyes sharp.
"I'm actually glad your understanding of Ayaan will listen to others. But—just to clarify—this is a blind date between Riya and Dev, right?"
Her tone was calm.
But her gaze cut clean through the room.
---
Padma slowly turned toward Anaya, her tone soft but pointed.
"So you're Anaya, hmm?"
Anaya met her gaze calmly.
"From the way you speak… I can tell you and Ayaan are in a relationship."
She sighed and straightened her posture.
"Well then. Since you've chosen to defend him, let me tell you this—I pity you."
The table stiffened.
"Ayaan has trust. He has morals. I won't deny that. But beyond that—he has nothing. He can't offer a life of luxury, stability, or legacy."
Her eyes sharpened.
"So let me ask you, since you questioned why I blame him—
What do you really see in him?"
"Besides trust and morals, what does Ayaan actually have?"
Ayaan opened his mouth, ready to speak.
But a loud, smug voice cut through the café.
"Great question. I've been asking myself the same."
All heads turned.
Standing at the café entrance in a tailored suit, designer shoes, and a gold-trimmed watch—
Ajay Choudhary.
Smirking. Confident. Poisonous.
He walked in slowly, hands in pockets.
"Tell me, Anaya—what did you see in him that you didn't see in me?"
He pointed casually at Ayaan.
"That brandless bastard?"
The air turned electric.
Riya stood abruptly, voice firm:
"Ajay. This is our matter. You have no business here."
Ajay didn't even look at her. His eyes stayed fixed on Anaya and Ayaan.
Before anyone could respond, Padma raised her hand, stood slowly, and stepped forward.
"Riya, calm down." Her voice was surprisingly even.
"Let me handle this."
She faced Ajay now.
Measured.
Neutral.
Dangerous.
"And you—who exactly do you think you are?"
Ajay smiled, brushing invisible dust from his shoulder.
Padma tilted her head slightly.
"Judging by your fashion sense, you look like a spoiled rich kid playing dress-up in a political family's shadow."
Her next words dropped cold as glass.
"I may dislike Ayaan. That's personal. Based on history."
"But who gave you the right to insult him?"
The café went silent.
Even Dev blinked.
Riya, Pooja, and Sneha exchanged glances, caught off guard by the sudden shift.
Ajay's smirk twitched for a second. Just a second.
Anaya… still hadn't spoken.
But her fingers tightened slightly on her teacup.
Ayaan lowered his gaze—still quiet. Still absorbing every word.
----
Ajay smirked sharply, his voice soaked in arrogance.
"Well then, looks like we're on the same side, Auntie. Still, I'm surprised even you are defending that brandless bastard."
Padma turned toward Ayaan, her tone cool.
"Brandless bastard… Hmm. Nice nickname, actually."
She turned her gaze slowly back to Dev.
"Dev, don't mind—I'll be borrowing that insult. It suits your friend."
Then, back to Ajay:
"But you… Ajay, is it? Judging by your tone, I'm guessing you've never actually faced off against Ayaan or Dev."
Her smile sharpened.
"Keep that same tone. One day—maybe soon—you'll learn why they're not easy to provoke."
She glanced at the boys.
Dev sat frozen, his leg shaking.
Ayaan, fists clenched, barely breathing.
"If Dev didn't care about my presence…"
She paused.
"…or if Ayaan chose to ignore his morals, you'd already be dead."
Anaya smiled.
Pooja and Sneha blinked in shock.
Riya, stuck in the moment, silently questioned herself:
"Can I really trust them… Dev and Ayaan?"
Ajay's jaw tightened.
He forced a grin, but it cracked.
"Let's see, then."
And with that, he turned and stormed out.
---
Meanwhile…
Inside a dark car, Ajay answered a phone call, voice now low and venomous.
"I thought I gave them one last chance."
His tone darkened.
"Father. I'm in. I'll join the plan for the bombing on the final day of the competition."
"This time… I'll kill them myself."
---
Back at the café…
Padma checked her watch.
"Tch. I have a meeting."
She stood and turned to the table.
"Thanks to this Ayaan, today's blind date is officially cancelled. But don't worry—I'll arrange another. Riya and Dev only. No outsiders."
She glanced mockingly at Ayaan.
"Oh—Brandless Bastard… what a cute nickname, right? Come with me. I need a word."
Dev stood up instinctively.
Padma waved him off.
"Not you. I wasn't talking to my son."
Ayaan unclenched his fists and stood.
"I'll come."
He followed Padma outside the café.
---
Outside, the wind was light, but the air between them carried weight.
Padma didn't look at him when she spoke.
"I don't care what your relationship with Anaya is. Or what drama happened inside. But that Ajay kid…"
Her voice shifted, serious.
"…he's dangerous. I've seen people like him before. Be careful."
She pulled a sealed file from her bag. On the cover—a silver sword symbol.
"This is from Captain Rathore."
She handed it to Ayaan.
"Location. Mission. Everything you need."
Ayaan held it in silence.
Padma continued:
"Yes—you guessed it. This upcoming mission on the final day of the competition… it's tied to Project-M."
"Your objective is to protect an unknown survivor of the Numn University incident. But their identity is still hidden."
She looked at him finally.
"Rathore said you'd understand what this meant. And based on your silence… I guess you already do."