THE ENGAGEMENT
Arav's car stopped in front of a mansion glowing like a palace.
Lights. Music. Laughter.
Media cameras already standing near the gate.
When Riya stepped out…
Arav's jaw literally dropped.
"Riya… you… you look—"
"Don't say fairy-tale," she warned him.
"Fine. You look dangerous," he said with a half smile and his ears turning red.
Her blush betrayed her.
Inside, the hall glittered with chandeliers, silk drapes, and designer outfits everywhere.
Ananya saw her and smirked, "Oh, she came. Cute."
Riya didn't even blink.
"Yup. Still cuter than your attitude. Tough competition, babe."
Ananya's smile disappeared.
Arav choked on his drink laughing.
During the ceremony, they ended up standing side by side—too close, too comfortable.
When Riya's hand brushed his arm, Arav froze.
She pretended she didn't feel it.
He pretended it didn't make his heart stutter.
They laughed together.
Clicked photos together.
For a moment, the world felt… simple.
And Riya liked that more than she shouldAfter the ceremony, Arav drove her home in silence.
Both wanting to speak.
Both acting brave.
"Thanks… for coming," he said.
"Thanks… for inviting," she replied.
It was awkward. Painfully.
He wanted to tell her he liked being around her.
She wanted to tell him she didn't want the deal to end.
But pride won.
He dropped her.
Smiled.
Left.
No calls. No texts. No messages.
Riya stared at her phone for days, wondering if it was real for him…
or if she imagined everything.
At school, bullies joked again—
"New toys expire fast."
"No rich guy wants a charity case forever."
She ignored them.
But it hurt.
She checked her phone again.
Still no call.
Meanwhile—
Arav was pacing in his room, phone in hand.
"I should call her," he whispered.
"But it'll mess up her life. She's innocent. I can't drag her into all this…"
Ananya added extra guilt,
"You're being unfair to her. You're lying to her. This whole deal is wrong."
And he believed it.
So he didn't call.
Both waiting.
Both hurting.
Both assuming the worst.
The music thumped through the mansion walls, loud enough that the ground seemed to vibrate. Riya stood at the gate, hands trembling.
She shouldn't be here.
She wasn't invited.
But she couldn't take it anymore.
It had been days since Arav cut off contact.
Days since the deal ended.
Days since she convinced herself she didn't miss him.
But she did. Badly.
Inside, the celebration for Vihan and Ananya was in full swing—rich kids, expensive tastes, arrogant laughter. Riya walked through the crowd silently, eyes scanning for one face.
Arav.
And there he was.
Laughing.
Glass in hand.
Looking absolutely fine without her.
Something twisted painfully inside her chest.
She took a step toward him—
But before she could reach, his group of friends noticed her.
"Arey, Arav ki charity case!"
"Ohh she came without invitation? Cute."
"Come dance, sweetheart."
They surrounded her in seconds.
Riya's heart raced.
"Please… I just need to talk to him—"
But someone shoved a glass in her hand.
"Drink first. Party ka rule."
"I…I don't drink—"
"Drink, na."
They tilted the glass. The alcohol brushed her lips; she inhaled the sharp smell and choked, coughing hard. Everyone laughed.
She tried to step back but one boy grabbed her wrist.
Then—
a hand slid around her waist.
Very tight.
He leaned close to her ear, breath warm and sickening.
"Arav paid you, right?" he whispered. "I'll pay you double. Be my girlfriend tonight."
The words hit her like a slap.
Her heart shattered.
Arav… told his friends?
Arav revealed the deal?
Why?
WHY?
Tears burned her eyes instantly.
But the truth was cruel:
It wasn't Arav. It was Ananya.
The one who enjoyed watching Riya crumble.
Before she could even breathe, two girls sneered—
"Gold digger spotted."
"Let's cool her down."
And in one cruel moment—
they pushed her.
SPLASH.
Her body hit the pool.
Cold. Dark. Suffocating.
Riya couldn't swim.
Her limbs froze.
Her vision blurred.
She sank.
People screamed.
Some laughed thinking it was a joke.
Until someone threw his drink and RAN.
Arav.
The glass fell from his hand as he saw her sinking.
He didn't think twice.
He dived.
The water splashed violently as he pulled her up, arms locking around her waist, dragging her upward.
"Riya! RIYA!" he shouted, voice breaking.
Her eyes closed.
He carried her out, dripping wet, breath shaking, panic written all over his face.
He placed her in the front seat, hands trembling, clothes soaked, hair plastered to his forehead.
"Riya… open your eyes. Please."
She didn't move.
He slapped her cheek lightly.
"Riya! Don't do this—"
Suddenly she coughed—
hard—
trying to vomit.
Arav immediately stopped the car, rushed to open her door.
"Come out—slowly—hold my hand."
She stumbled out, hugged her stomach, and vomited onto the wet pavement. Her entire body shook.
Arav stood behind her, one hand gently, firmly patting her back, the other holding her hair away.
He had no coat—
he had thrown it earlier before jumping into the pool—
but now he took that same wet coat from the backseat and wrapped it around her shoulders.
She was freezing.
He helped her sit again, half the door open, giving her water.
His voice came out low, angry, terrified:
"Why the hell did you come?"
Her eyes filled instantly.
"Why did you tell your friends about our deal,i never know you were like others ..?" she whispered.
"I DIDN'T!" he shouted back, hurt flooding his face.
She shook her head.
"Stop lying, Arav. They all knew. They knew everything. What I was to you. What you paid. Everything ,you didn't care about me ,after our deal finish you didn't even cared to search for me whether i died or not ."answeing standing out of the car.
He wanted to explain everyting ,he wanted to tell that hiring her was not only for fame but also for sis,but this can ruin their relationship.he didn't collect courage to tell her.he afraid to lose her and dont wanted to face her with that lie.
"I swear I didn't," he whispered. "Riya, I would never humiliate you like that."
She laughed—a broken, heartbreaking sound.
"I thought… I thought there was something between us…"
Her voice cracked.
"I was stupid."
Arav's face broke—utterly broke.
"Riya, don't say that—"
"Why not?" she shouted, tears falling freely. "You didn't call. You didn't check on me. You ended the deal and ended everything! You think I'm that easy to forget?"
The rain started suddenly—
loud
cold
merciless.
Riya removed the wet coat he had wrapped around her.
She threw it on him.
And stepped back, tears mixing with the rain.
"I don't need your help. Or your pity."
"Riya, wait—get in the car—"
"No."
She started walking in the rain.
Alone.
Shaking.
Heart bleeding.
Arav stood by the car, coat in hand, watching her walk away…
And for the first time in years—
he looked genuinely scared of losing someone.