(The car moves smoothly along the highway. The silence inside is heavy. Arna keeps staring out of the window while Sahas steals worried glances at her every few seconds.)
SAHAS (softly)
Are you still angry with me?
(No response.)
SAHAS (sighing)
Arna... please don't ignore me.
(She continues looking outside.)
SAHAS (genuinely)
You know I'd do anything for you. I'd buy you whatever you want, take you wherever you want to go... but please don't ask me for a phone.
(Arna slowly turns toward him.)
SAHAS
I'm asking you for just this one thing.
(He pauses, his voice becoming quieter.)
SAHAS
Your anger... I can't bear it. Seeing you upset with me doesn't feel right. Please don't stay mad at me.
(Arna studies his face for a few moments before letting out a small sigh.)
ARNA (softly)
Fine... I won't ask for a phone again.
(A relieved smile appears on Sahas's face.)
SAHAS
Thank you.
(The atmosphere inside the car immediately becomes lighter.)
---
(A few minutes later, the car pulls up in front of the city's most luxurious shopping mall. Sahas steps out first, walks around the car, opens Arna's door, and offers her his hand.)
SAHAS (smiling)
Come.
(Arna places her hand in his. This time, she doesn't hesitate. Together, they walk through the grand entrance of the mall.)
---
(Their first stop is an exclusive designer boutique. Elegant gowns, luxury handbags, premium heels, and designer accessories fill the beautifully lit showroom.)
SAHAS
Today... don't even look at the price tags.
(Arna laughs softly.)
ARNA
You say that as if I ever do.
(Sahas chuckles.)
SAHAS
Fair enough.
(Arna happily walks through the boutique, selecting dresses, heels, handbags, and accessories while Sahas quietly tells the staff to pack everything she likes. Soon, several luxury shopping bags are being carried behind them.)
---
(After finishing their clothing shopping, they enter one of the city's most prestigious jewelry boutiques.)
SALES EXECUTIVE
Welcome, sir. Welcome, ma'am.
(Arna excitedly begins looking through the collections.)
ARNA
Can I see this necklace?
(The executive places it around her neck.)
ARNA (looking in the mirror)
Hmm... it's pretty, but not this one.
(She tries another... then another... until her eyes stop on an elegant diamond set with matching earrings and a delicate bracelet.)
ARNA (smiling brightly)
I like this one.
SAHAS (without hesitation)
Pack it.
(The executive nods and carefully packs the jewelry Arna selected.)
(As Arna walks toward another display, Sahas quietly signals the executive.)
SAHAS (in a low voice)
Excuse me...
(He points toward a breathtaking diamond set displayed separately in the boutique's exclusive collection.)
SAHAS
I'd like that one as well.
SALES EXECUTIVE
Certainly, sir.
(A few moments later, the executive brings the velvet box to Sahas.)
(Sahas walks over to Arna.)
SAHAS
Close your eyes.
ARNA (raising an eyebrow)
Why?
SAHAS (smiling)
Just for a moment.
(Curious, Arna closes her eyes. Sahas carefully takes out the necklace and gently fastens it around her neck.)
SAHAS
Now open them.
(Arna slowly opens her eyes and looks into the mirror. The dazzling diamonds shimmer beautifully around her neck. She is left speechless.)
ARNA (softly)
Sahas...
SAHAS (smiling warmly)
This one isn't part of your shopping.
(He gently places the matching bracelet in her hand.)
SAHAS
It's my gift... and my apology.
(Arna looks at him before smiling warmly. She doesn't refuse. Expensive gifts had never been unusual for her, but receiving one with such sincerity feels different.)
ARNA (quietly)
Thank you.
(Seeing her smile again, Sahas finally smiles too.)
---
(Just then, Sahas's phone begins to ring.)
(He glances at the caller ID, and his expression changes instantly.)
SAHAS
Excuse me.
(He walks a short distance away before answering the call.)
SAHAS
Hello?
VOICE (urgently)
Sir... Mr. Kapoor has suffered a heart attack. He's been admitted to the hospital. Please come immediately.
(Sahas goes completely still.)
SAHAS (shocked)
...What?
VOICE
The doctors are treating him right now. Please hurry.
(The call ends. Sahas closes his eyes for a brief second, composing himself before returning to Arna.)
ARNA (concerned)
What happened?
SAHAS (forcing a calm smile)
Something important has come up. We have to leave.
(He turns to the executive.)
SAHAS
Please pack everything.
(Within minutes, they leave the boutique. Arna feels disappointed. Lunch, makeup shopping, and the movie would have to wait, but seeing the seriousness on Sahas's face, she chooses not to complain.)
---
(The car stops outside the mansion. Sahas walks Arna to the entrance.)
SAHAS (gently)
I'm sorry. We'll complete the rest another day.
(Arna nods quietly.)
ARNA
Okay.
(Sahas gets back into the car and drives away toward the hospital, his mind filled with only one thought.)
"Please be okay, Mr. Kapoor."
Hours passed...
But Sahas didn't return.
Night had almost fallen, yet there wasn't a single call or message from him.
Arna's POV
"He's still not back? Seriously?"
She sighed in frustration.
"This man has completely ruined my mood... but it's fine, Arna. You'll have to endure this. Stay focused on your goal."
"You have to destroy this man's life... even if that means pretending to fall in love with him."
"First, I need to earn Sahas's trust. Only then will I get my phone back... and only then can I talk to Karan again."
Completely lost in her plans, Arna had no idea what was happening on the other side of the city.
---
At the hospital...
Sahas stood silently in front of Mr. Kapoor.
What he heard next was enough to leave him completely stunned.
Mr. Kapoor folded his hands with pleading eyes.
"I'm begging you... please don't let Arna find out the truth. I don't care how much she hates me now... but as long as she stays away from me, she's safe."
Sahas remained silent for a moment before replying,
"Don't worry, Mr. Kapoor. I'll take care of Arna. She's my wife now... and I'll give her everything she's ever wished for. I'll make sure she always stays happy."
Tears welled up in Mr. Kapoor's eyes.
"Thank you... thank you so much for loving my daughter this much."
Sahas gave him a reassuring nod.
"Please get some rest. If you need anything... just give me a call."
With that, he quietly walked out of the hospital room.
Outside, his manager—and best friend—Daksh was already waiting.
"So? What happened? What did Mr. Kapoor say?" Daksh asked immediately.
Sahas looked at him with a serious expression.
"I need every single detail about Arna's life—from her childhood until she turned seventeen. You have exactly twenty-four hours."
He paused before adding,
"Let's see how much truth there is in everything Mr. Kapoor told me."
Daksh nodded.
"Alright. You go home. I'll handle the rest."
But Sahas shook his head.
"No. I'm not going home tonight."
His eyes hardened.
"I'm going straight to the office. There's a lot I need to uncover. This story is far more complicated than it looks."
He stepped toward his car before saying one last thing,
"Your twenty-four hours start now. Don't come to me until you have every piece of information. I'll be waiting... at the office."
Without another word, Sahas drove away—
Unaware that the truth he was about to uncover... would change everything.
After reaching the office, Sahas pulled out his phone and dialed a familiar number.
As soon as the call connected, he spoke,
"Done enjoying your little vacation? Or are you finally planning to come back to India?"
A chuckle came from the other side.
"And who told you I came here for a vacation? I'm here to learn the family business from Mom and Dad."
Sahas leaned back in his chair.
"I need you here, Devansh. Urgently."
"No thanks, Bhaiya. You make me work like crazy. Even your PA is tired of you." Devansh laughed.
A teasing smile appeared on Sahas's face.
"Come back for her sake then. If you're here, she'll finally get some help. Don't tell me you don't miss my PA?"
"You don't have to worry about that. I'm not coming."
Sahas's expression turned serious.
"Take it as a warning or an order—I don't care. I want you in India within two days. That's final."
Without waiting for another reply, Sahas ended the call.
Devansh was Sahas's younger brother, who had been living in United Kingdom for the past few months with their parents, learning the family business.
Taking a deep breath, Sahas buried himself in work.
And just like that...
The entire night passed.
---
The next morning...
Arna slowly opened her eyes and instinctively looked around the room.
Sahas still hadn't returned.
After freshening up, she walked downstairs to the dining area, where Dadi Maa had already prepared breakfast.
"Dadi Maa... Sahas still hasn't come home?" Arna asked.
Dadi Maa smiled gently.
"When work piles up, he sometimes doesn't come home for two whole days."
"Oh..."
Arna quietly started eating.
After a moment, she looked up again.
"By the way... how long have you known Sahas? I've noticed he cares about you a lot."
Dadi Maa's eyes softened.
"Ever since his parents moved to the United Kingdom to manage the overseas business, I've been the one looking after him."
She smiled warmly before continuing,
"I first came here as a maid... but today, he treats me like his own mother. He respects me, cares for me, and never lets me feel like an outsider. Sahas has a very kind heart."
Arna simply nodded and continued eating.
But suddenly...
An idea crossed her mind.
Arna's POV
"This is the perfect opportunity."
"Now I have to make Sahas believe that I genuinely care about him."
She looked at Dadi Maa.
"Dadi Maa... I want to call Sahas. Can you please tell me his number?"
"Of course."
Dadi Maa recited his number, and Arna dialed it using the landline telephone.
The call connected almost instantly.
"Arna?"
Sahas sounded surprised.
"What happened, baby? Calling this early in the morning?"
Arna lowered her voice.
"You still haven't come home... I got really worried."
There was a brief silence.
Then Sahas smiled.
"Really?"
"Yes... When will you come home?" she asked softly.
"I'll be home tonight. Don't worry, my baby girl."
"Okay... I'll be waiting."
The call ended.
The moment she placed the receiver down, a satisfied smile spread across Arna's face.
"Perfect..."
"Everything is going exactly according to my plan."
"At this rate, making Sahas fall completely for me won't be difficult at all."
But on the other side...
Sahas couldn't stop smiling.
He genuinely believed that Arna had started caring about him.
He had fallen so deeply in love with her that he completely failed to notice the sudden change in her behavior.
Not even for a second...
********************************
Thankyou for reading ❤️😚
Follow me on Instagram for spoilers and updates -savi.verseeee22
Write a comment ...