Ashriti's POV
My phone buzzed again.
I stared at it for a full minute before opening it.
Shivrit:
Why did you disappear, Bunny?
I waited.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Fifteen.
Let him wait.
Then I typed—
Mummy aa gayi thi.
Seen.
Three dots appeared instantly.
So?
That one word made my stomach flip.
So? I repeated in my head.
So I had to cut the call.
His reply came immediately.
Don't you dare disappear on me again.
I should have been offended.
I should have felt controlled.
I should have been angry.
But instead—
I felt chosen.
His dominance didn't scare me.
It thrilled me.
What is wrong with me?
Trying to act bold, I typed—
What if I do disappear?
The typing dots appeared slowly this time.
Then—
Transfer your will to my name before disappearing.
There it was.
Money.
Ownership.
Transaction.
Of course.
Why am I even surprised?
People don't see me.
They see my surname.
My bank balance.
My father's business.
An ATM with emotions.
And he was no different.
Still—
Why was I smiling?
Why was my heart racing?
Why was I waiting for his next message?
I felt irritation rise.
Enough.
I won't reply.
I won't feed this.
I'm not stupid.
I locked my phone and tossed it aside.
Two minutes later—
It buzzed again.
I shouldn't look.
I did.
Wanna meet?
My heart skipped.
After college. Cafeteria.
Meet?
With him?
Alone?
Meeting a boy at a café is already crossing a line.
Meeting Shivrit Poptani?
That's demolishing it.
I should ignore it.
I should block him.
I should pretend this never happened.
But instead—
My fingers moved before my brain could stop them.
Sure.
Sure?
Are you out of your mind, Ashriti?
You don't even meet Adray alone like this.
You don't lie to your family.
You don't take risks.
So why am I sinking deeper into this mess willingly?
His reply came instantly.
See you, little Bunny.
My chest tightened.
And for the first time—
I realized something terrifying.
This wasn't a mistake anymore.
This was a choice.