[BHOPAL, MADHE PRADESH]
ONE MONTH LATER
Dino’s POV:
The file hit the table with a sharp thud. The anger coursing through me was like fire, but it wasn’t enough to burn off the image of her—the woman I couldn’t stop thinking about. I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated, but the truth was, I was more than just irritated. I was fucking consumed. The thought of her wouldn’t leave my head. The wild, reckless way she’d taken control in the moment—so confident, so unbothered by everything around her.
A loud, familiar voice snapped me back to the present.
"Hey, you okay, man?" Aarnav asked, his voice pulling me out of my haze. He must’ve said something earlier, but I couldn’t remember. I shot him a look, my jaw tight, but he didn’t deserve my anger.
I forced a grunt. “Yeah. Just... too much on my mind.”
Too much. That was an understatement. My mind felt like it was fucking drowning in her. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face. Her dark eyes, full of fire, looking straight into mine. I could still feel the heat of her skin, her scent, the way she moved under me. Like she was made for this—made for me.
But she wasn’t supposed to mean anything.A one-night thing. A mistake, even. But here I was, pacing in my head, wishing I could get that fucking night out of me. Out of my system. But no. It wasn’t that easy.
I couldn’t stop imagining what she would do next, what she wanted, or better yet, what I could do to make her mine.
I slapped the file on the desk again. Harder this time. Aarnav flinched, but I didn’t care. “What the hell do you expect me to do, Aarnav? Tell me, what the fuck can I do?” I snapped, leaning back in my chair, my fingers digging into the armrests.
He blinked, taken aback, but I could see the wheels turning in his head. “Bro, you just gotta let it go,” he said slowly, like he was trying to give me some kind of advice I could actually use.
Let it go? Fuck that.
I let out a sharp, bitter laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, right. I let it go, I might as well be dead inside. You didn’t see her, Aarnav. You don’t get it.”
Aarnav shifted uncomfortably, probably realizing that this conversation was slipping into dangerous territory. He hesitated. “I’m just saying, man. You’ve gotta stay focused. You’ve got a meeting. We have work to do.”
“Yeah, yeah, let’s go,” I muttered, though my mind was far away. I couldn’t focus on the damn meeting. Couldn’t think about anything but her. The memory of her, that fucking magnetism she’d had—how she had looked at me like I was the only thing in the room. I wanted that again. I wanted more.
We left the office, Aarnav’s chatter around me was just background noise. My mind was still on her—the way her body felt pressed against mine, how she made me lose all sense of control. I could still hear the soft gasps she let out when I touched her, the way she moved, like she was always just out of reach, never fully letting me have her.
It wasn’t just the sex. I wanted to know her. I wanted more than the fleeting moments we shared. I couldn’t believe I was fucking saying this, but I wanted her in my life. And that terrified the hell out of me.
We arrived at the conference room, and the meeting started, but the words around me felt distant, like they were coming from some other world. I forced myself to listen, forced myself to look at the presentation in front of me, but all I could hear was the pounding in my chest—the same pulse I’d felt when we were together.
I caught myself staring at the door a few times, wondering if she’d walk through it, if maybe it was fate, if the universe was throwing me a goddamn sign. Would I even be able to focus if she did?
Minutes dragged on. I tried to keep my attention on the discussion. But every glance at Aarnav, every shift in the room, made me wonder if she was out there, somewhere—waiting, watching.
When the meeting finally ended, I stepped out into the hallway, my mind a whirlwind. The tension in my body had only gotten worse. I needed release. Her. I needed to know more about her. I needed to see if she could make me forget everything else.
And damn it, I was going to find out.
---
[Mumbai, Maharashtra]
Vrisha’s Pov
A month had passed since I saw Arjun again, and it was the happiest I’d been in a long time. Despite the guilt gnawing at my insides, I kept it buried. I didn’t have the courage to tell him what had happened, nor did I want to.
We spent every moment we could together. Whether it was quiet dinners, long walks by the beach, or just lying on the couch watching movies at his house—everything felt perfect. Arjun was so loving and attentive, his warm smile enough to melt my worries away. He even told me that his work commitments were getting easier, and he was planning a few days off soon. But deep inside, I knew my past mistake was lurking, like a shadow, ready to tear everything apart.
I couldn’t shake off the thoughts of that night with that fucking stranger. It was a mistake, something I wished I could erase, but I couldn't forget. Each time Arjun held me, kissed me, or looked at me with such trust in his eyes, I felt like a fraud.
But no matter how much I wanted to tell him, I just couldn’t. I wasn’t ready for the consequences. I was scared he’d never look at me the same way again. What if he never forgave me? I couldn’t live with that fear.
---
A Few Days Later…
I was sitting in the living room when my phone buzzed. I smiled when I saw the notification—an email from an HR manager at a marketing firm I had applied to a week ago.
“Dear Vrisha, we are pleased to inform you that we would like to offer you a position as a Junior Marketing Strategist with our company. Please contact us at your earliest convenience to finalize your details.”
My heart skipped a beat. I had gotten the job! The opportunity to finally focus on something else—something that was just mine. I hadn’t realized how much I needed this until now. A job would give me a sense of purpose again, a way to distance myself from the turmoil that had plagued my thoughts for weeks.
I immediately called the number provided and confirmed my acceptance. They told me to report in two days. I hung up and felt a wave of relief. Finally, a new chapter. I could pour my energy into my career and, for once, focus on something other than my guilt.
---
Later That Night
I met Arjun at a cafe. We sat across from each other, sipping our coffees, and chatting about trivial things. Everything felt easy and natural. Yet, despite the comforting normalcy, my heart was a storm of confusion.
“Arjun,” I began, nervously fiddling with my coffee cup. He looked up, a gentle smile on his face.
“What’s on your mind, babe?” he asked, leaning slightly forward, sensing my hesitation.
I hesitated, my fingers curling around the cup as I debated whether I should finally tell him about the job offer or bring up my lingering feelings of guilt.
“I… got a job,” I blurted out. It felt like a weight lifted, but also felt like I was avoiding the one thing I truly needed to say.
“Really?” Arjun’s face lit up with genuine happiness. “That’s amazing, baby! I knew you’d get something soon. You’re brilliant.”
“Thanks,” I said, forcing a smile. “I start in two days.”
His hand reached across the table, giving mine a reassuring squeeze. “You’ll do great. I’m so proud of you.”
I wanted to say more, to tell him everything that was on my heart. But instead, I smiled weakly and pushed the nagging guilt further down.
---
A Week Later
The first week at my new job was exhilarating. I threw myself into work, keeping my mind occupied with meetings, brainstorming sessions, and new projects. My colleagues were friendly, and my boss seemed impressed with my work ethic. I was getting a sense of who I was again—not defined by my past mistakes but by my potential.
But, as I grew more comfortable in my role, I began to feel the distance between Arjun and me. It wasn’t intentional, but the small cracks in our relationship started to appear. Arjun’s business trips were becoming more frequent, and I was spending more time at work. The guilt from my one-night mistake continued to eat away at me, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
I missed the closeness we once had. I was becoming more distant, caught between two worlds—the one with Arjun, whom I loved but had wronged, and the one I had to leave behind, the one where that strange was a haunting memory.
One night, Arjun and I went for a quiet dinner at his favorite restaurant. As we sat across from each other, I noticed the unease in his eyes.
“Vrisha, are you okay? You’ve been different lately,” he asked, his voice laced with concern.
I felt the familiar panic rise in my chest. I couldn’t lie to him anymore. Not after everything we had been through together. Yet, I didn’t have the courage to tell him the truth. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.
“I’m fine,” I said softly, forcing myself to smile. “Just a little stressed with work, that’s all.”
He didn’t seem entirely convinced, but he didn’t press the matter further. “Well, let me know if you need anything. I’m here for you.”
