Rohit watched in quiet amusement as Akansha's bombastic figure swayed through the crowd, her wide hips swinging left and right before she disappeared upstairs.
Beside him, Ragini broke the silence."Sometimes it feels like you're not the Rohit I know."
He turned to her, one eyebrow arched."Is that a bad thing?"
Ragini shifted her gaze to the glowing city lights. "I don't know… but if you were still the same as before, we probably wouldn't even be sitting here."
Rohit tapped his spoon against the plate with a grin. "Then I declare it a good thing. Now.. let's dig in. I'm starving."
He scooped some fried rice, mixed it with chilly chicken, and took a bite. The flavor burst across his tongue, richer than the one he had tasted back at school. The spicy boneless chicken balls along with staple rice turned out to be the best combo. Out of all the dishes it was peak. A moan slipped from his lips as he chewed in pleasure.
Ragini couldn't help but smile at his unfiltered reaction."I think… you're right."She picked up her fork and joined him.
Just then, Rohit's phone buzzed again. He tried to ignore it, but Ragini glanced at the screen and checked the time.
"Go on. See who's bothering you now."
Reluctantly, he unlocked his phone.
A system notification flashed across the screen.
[₹50,00,000 credited to your account XXX...]
His eyes widened. His jaw nearly dropped mid-chew, and he hurriedly dabbed his mouth with a tissue, forcing himself to swallow.'What the hell… am I dreaming?'
He looked up at Ragini, stunned.
She met his gaze with a composed, almost proud smile."Take it. It's a small gift I arranged for you beforehand."
Rohit felt a ridiculous rush of delight.'Fifty-five thousand dollars… for a dinner date? Should I have put in more effort?'
Outwardly, he tried to play it down."This… isn't this too much? I don't need all this if you're already by my side."
"No need to be modest," Ragini said lightly. "You earned it."Then she added, casually dropping another bomb, "Do you know how much profit you brought to the family today?"
Rohit blinked, confused."Profit? No one told me any numbers."
She leaned back, lips curving with quiet satisfaction."Because of your win, we secured contracts tied to over three hundred million dollars in investment. Compared to that, what I sent you is barely pocket change."
The words hit harder than the money.
As she explained further, Rohit realized the sheer scale of the deal. Japanese firms were set to bring in around twelve to fifteen billion dollars in capital. Nearly five billion of that was allocated to infrastructure projects, including bullet metro rail lines, logistics hubs, and transit corridors, along with expanded joint defense cooperation.
Since the Chambani family stood at the center of the partnership, about 'five hundred million dollars' had been set aside as side projects for other companies to compete over.
A strange heaviness settled in Rohit's chest.
The thrill of abundance faded, replaced by a quiet sense of unease. It was obvious—the lion's share had already been claimed. What remained was tossed to the others to fight over like scraps.
'So this is how they get away with it so easily,' he realized.'None of the other families have their reach, their leverage, their experience. I am so behind..'
His thoughts sharpened.Staying away from them was foolish. They're dangerous… but they're also an opportunity. I need to rethink my approach.
Unaware of the storm behind his calm expression, Ragini continued,"I know this is a lot for you to handle alone. But tonight, you've proven you're capable. You can invest however you like—stocks, projects, startups. I won't interfere. Just don't let it go to waste, alright?"
Rohit almost laughed.
'Cute. As expected of my sugar mommy.'
The thought was half a joke, half a shield. In the past, every rupee he spent had been scrutinized. Now she was handing him money freely, and part of him couldn't help but wonder if this warmth came only because he had grown closer to her.
That realization left a faint bitterness on his tongue.
Still… he wasn't blind. Ragini wasn't careless with her wealth. She had tested him, weighed his value, and only then opened her hand. This wasn't charity. It was trust earned on merit, not just emotion.
And somehow, that meant more to him than the money ever could.
He reached out, brushing his fingers against her resting palm, giving it a light, teasing rub."Don't worry, love. I'll put it to good use."
Ragini stiffened, flustered by the sudden intimacy. She quickly pulled her hand away and cleared her throat."L-Let's eat. The food is getting cold."
The tension eased after that. They ate more slowly, their talk drifting away from heavy matters. Instead, they shared light remarks about the evening.
Rohit recounted the day's events, even mentioning Seo_yeon; though he skipped over the awkward and intimate washroom episodes.
To his surprise, Ragini listened without the faintest trace of jealousy. She even praised his choices, encouraging his friendships rather than doubting them.
'Anything's good,' Rohit thought, 'as long as she doesn't slip into a new drama.'
In turn, Ragini spoke about her own side of things as how her family was throwing their weight behind the project, how busy the preparations had kept her. it was all without much use of real digit and so the things this time were quite vague. Thanks to the leverage Rohit provided, she now had a chance to build an alliance with her maternal Ahuja family.
Rohit nodded, carefully filing every detail away. Information was currency, especially with his own future plans looming on the horizon.
The talk drifted from family matters to lighter notes like small flattery, likes and dislikes, little opinions exchanged with laughter, until a sudden announcement drew their attention to the stage.
Mr. Chambani himself stood there with microphone in hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "I feel the night is getting dull. How about we add a little entertainment?"
The crowd cheered and clapped with enthusiasm, and even Rohit leaned forward in curiosity.
"Everyone to the floor!" Chambani urged. "If you're too lazy, dance where you stand! And if you won't even do that.. at least be on your feet to clap and cheer. Anyone caught sitting will have to pay a penalty!"
The hall roared with laughter, the music shifting to match the festive vibe.
Rohit wiped his hands with a tissue, loosened his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and turned to Ragini with a grin. "Let's hit the floor. Standing still is boring."
Ragini stiffened. "What? No way. Dancing.. at my age? What would people say?"
Rohit leaned closer. "Look, even aunties older than you are shaking waists without shame. Why are you getting cold feet?"
She resisted for a while, but when she saw couples far older than herself laughing and joining the dance floor, she finally gave in with a quiet sigh."Fine. But I'm only standing there."
She wiped her hands with a napkin and slipped off her jacket, draping it over the back of the chair. Then she reached up to undo her bun, fingers already working at the pins—
"Oh, please don't," Rohit cut in with a soft laugh. "It's time you let your hair breathe."
She paused, glanced at him, then merely shrugged. Instead of fixing her hair, she set the clips on the table and let a few loose strands frame her face.
Rohit chuckled to himself.
At first, they moved lightly in place with small sways and subtle gestures, but as the crowd thinned, the awkwardness grew sharper.
Rolling his eyes, Rohit caught her hand. "Come on. This feels weird. Let's join the crowd."
"Rohit—" she tried to pull back, but his grip was firm.
"The vibe's different when everyone's together. Trust me, sweetheart."
Her hesitation cracked into a smile. She let him lead her through the crowd and into the center of the floor.
There, Rohit loosened up. His shoulders and arms rotated like a torque, body rocking like a pendulum, legs tapping sharply with each twist and turnaround. He held out his hand to invite Ragini's move.
Her eyes sparkled as she accepted the challenge. Tucking her saree's pallu into her waist, she threw her arms outward and flowed like a serpent, her hips rolling, her body coiling and uncoiling to the beat like a snake circling its prey. With one hand on her waist, she gave a final sharp shake in defiance.
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Rohit laughed and countered with robotic steps, his body stiff, neck jutting forward, arms and legs clicking in mechanical rhythm as he marched ahead, each move syncing perfectly with the music.
Not to be outdone, Ragini shifted her style. She became grace itself, like an angel descending from the heavens. Every turn was fluid, every pose effortlessly elegant. Her hands moved like a gentle breeze, while her eyes held both beauty and a glint of mischief.
Her performance was so mesmerizing that nearby dancers stopped to watch, clapping in rhythm. Most of them were young ones in twenties and it really became a bit awkward.
Reality struck her suddenly. Heat rushed to her cheeks and she hid her face, embarrassed by the attention.
Rohit only chuckled and gestured to the crowd. "Alright, the show's over, folks. Don't you have your own partners to dance with?"
A ripple of soft laughter moved through the crowd. Some guests exchanged knowing smiles, others raised their brows in mild amusement before turning back to their own dance. Within moments, the attention shifted away, making it normal.
Then he leaned closer to her ear. "Coast's clear, captain. Let's continue."
But Ragini shook her head. "No, I'm done."
Before she could slip away, Rohit caught her hand and pulled her back.
She gasped, stumbling into his chest. His arms slid around her waist to steady her, holding her firmly in place.
She looked up, eyes locked on his. He only tightened his hold, coaxing her to follow his rhythm.
The song shifted, softening into a slow romantic melody.
It turned out to be a perfect timing.
Rohit guided her with one hand at her waist, offering the other.
Ragini placed her hand in his, and he guided her into gentle, salsa-like steps, keeping the rhythm simple for her ease. With a playful spin, he drew her back against him, their bodies moving in perfect sync as his hands settled firmly around her waist.
She giggled breathlessly, "You're getting good at taking advantage."
Rohit whispered against her ear, "Don't you like it?"
Then he spun her around, not giving any time to respond and pulled her close from behind and whispered in her ears."What's there to fear… when I'm here?"
'What is this feeling?' she wondered. 'I feel so much younger all of a sudden. Is this because of him?'
Ragini lowered her gaze with blushed cheeks ,and then leaned her head on his shoulder. Together, they swayed as if the world had fallen away, leaving only the two of them.
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And then a commotion occured.
Shouts erupted upstairs. The spell broke. Rohit's eyes snapped toward the noise.
Akansha Mittal stood frozen, still reeling from the slap across her face. Shock rippled through the crowd while her husband and stepson looked on, faint smug smiles playing at their lips.
Mr. Mittal scrambled into damage control mode, bowing and apologizing, while Jayesh Mittal helped his mother retreat in sobs.
The hall slowly settled back to normal, but Rohit's gaze lingered on the exit.
Beside him, Ragini whispered unbothered, "How are you dancing so well? When did you learn this?"
Rohit brushed a stray strand of hair from her cheek. "Who knows? Maybe I just wanted to impress a certain someone."
Her laugh came out soft and girlish. "Thank you, Rohit, for making my night so memorable. It's been a long time."
"Only 'thank you'?" he teased. "What about my reward—"
Before he could finish, she turned back to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight hug."I'll allow it," she murmured in a faint whisper in his ears. "Just this once… do what you like."
Color bloomed across her cheeks as she whispered the words. Rohit felt the plush heat of her body molded against his chest, the full, yielding softness of her breasts pressing firmly into him. His pulse kicked harder, a low throb stirring low in his gut as her thighs brushed his with the slightest shift.
Yet his eyes drifted past her shoulder, toward the doorway where Akansha had disappeared alone, tears streaking down her face.
His embrace stayed gentle.. but the look in his eyes was anything but.