"Sometimes fate ties two strangers together… not with love, but with chaos."

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Rhea’s POV

The warm Mumbai breeze brushed softly against my face as I stepped out of the auto.

The evening sky was painted in shades of orange and purple, and the streets were alive with honking cars, laughing people, and the smell of street food.

I hugged my bag to my chest and looked around nervously.

This place was too crowded.

Too loud.

Too unfamiliar.

“Rhea! Over here!”

I turned quickly and saw Neha waving at me from across the street.

Relief washed over me.

I hurried toward her, almost tripping on the pavement.

Neha immediately grabbed my arm.

“God, Rhea! One day you’re seriously going to fall and break your nose,” she sighed dramatically.

I pouted.

“I didn’t fall.”

“You almost did.”

“I said almost,” I muttered.

Neha rolled her eyes.

“Come on. Rohit is already inside waiting for us.”

My stomach twisted nervously.

“I still think we shouldn’t have come here.”

Neha stared at me like I had said something ridiculous.

“Rhea… it’s just a café.”

“Yes but—”

“No buts.”

She dragged me inside before I could protest again.

The café was beautiful.

Soft music played in the background, warm yellow lights glowed from the ceiling, and the smell of coffee filled the air.

People were laughing and talking.

For a moment, I forgot my nervousness.

“Finally!” Rohit’s voice came from the corner table.

He stood up dramatically as we approached.

“I was about to file a missing person complaint.”

Neha sat down across from him.

“Relax, drama king.”

Rohit looked at me and grinned.

“hi, Miss Late.”

I smiled shyly.

“Sorry.”

“You always say sorry,” he teased.

Before I could reply, Neha suddenly leaned forward.

“Did you guys hear?”

“Hear what?” Rohit asked.

Neha lowered her voice.

“Karthik Malhotra is in Mumbai.”

For a moment, the table went silent.

Even I had heard that name before.

People spoke about him like he was some powerful storm.

Dangerous.

Untouchable.

Rohit raised his eyebrows.

“You mean that Karthik Malhotra?”

Neha nodded dramatically.

“The billionaire.”

“The CEO of Malhotra Empire.”

“The man people are literally scared of.”

Rohit let out a low whistle.

“Damn.”

I frowned slightly.

“Why are people scared of him?”

Neha looked at me like I had asked the most innocent question in the world.

“Because he’s not just a businessman, Rhea.”

Rohit leaned closer.

“They say even powerful people don’t mess with him.”

My curiosity grew.

“But why?”

Neha shrugged.

“No one knows exactly. But one thing is certain.”

“What?”

“Cross him… and your life is finished.”

A strange chill ran down my spine.

Before I could say anything, the café door suddenly opened.

And everything changed.

The entire room fell silent.

Even the music seemed to fade away.

People stopped talking.

Heads turned.

I looked toward the entrance.

And that’s when I saw him.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.

His sharp jawline looked like it had been carved from stone.

But what caught my attention the most

Were his eyes.

Cold.

Dark.

Powerful.

They held a kind of authority that made people look away instantly.

My heart started beating faster.

Neha grabbed my arm tightly.

“Oh my God.”

“What?” I whispered.

“That’s him.”

“Who?”

She leaned closer.

“Karthik Malhotra.”

My eyes widened.

The man everyone feared.

He walked inside calmly, as if he owned the entire world.

A few men followed him.

Probably security.

No one dared to look at him directly.

Even the café manager rushed forward nervously.

“Sir… welcome.”

He didn’t even look at him.

Instead, he walked toward the VIP section.

Something about him was terrifying.

But also…

Strangely captivating.

“Stop staring,” Neha whispered.

“I’m not staring.”

“You are.”

“I’m just looking.”

“Same thing.”

I quickly looked away.

But unfortunately…

The universe had other plans.

A waiter accidentally bumped into our table.

My glass tipped.

And cold juice spilled directly onto the floor.

“Oh no!” I panicked.

“I’m so sorry,” the waiter apologized.

“It’s okay,” I said quickly.

I stood up to help clean the mess.

But while stepping back…

I accidentally bumped into someone.

Hard.

My bag slipped from my shoulder and fell to the floor.

“Oh!”

I quickly bent down to pick it up.

“I’m really sorry—”

My voice stopped.

Because the person standing in front of me…

Was him.

Karthik Malhotra.

My heart stopped.

Up close, he looked even more intimidating.

He was incredibly tall.

I had to tilt my head up to look at his face.

His cold eyes stared down at me.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

The entire café had gone silent again.

Everyone was watching us.

I panicked.

“I’m so sorry,” I said quickly.

“I didn’t see you.”

He didn’t reply.

He simply stared at me.

His expression unreadable.

My hands started shaking.

“I didn’t mean to bump into you,” I added nervously.

Still no response.

Oh God.

Was he angry?

Did I do something wrong?

Why was he looking at me like that?

Finally, his deep voice broke the silence.

“Look up."

My eyes widened.

“W-what?”

His voice was colder this time.

“I said… look up.”

Slowly, nervously…

I lifted my head.

Our eyes met.

A strange tension filled the air.

He studied my face carefully.

Almost like he was trying to understand something

I swallowed nervously.

“Why are you looking down?” he asked.

My brain froze.

“I…”

Everyone in the café seemed to be holding their breath.

I didn’t know what to say.

So I said the most honest thing that came to my mind.

“Because…”

My voice came out softly.

“You’re very tall.”

For a second…

Silence.

Then Neha covered her mouth.

Rohit nearly choked on his drink.

The security guards looked shocked.

No one had ever spoken to Karthik Malhotra like that.

But the most surprising reaction…

Was his.

One of his eyebrows lifted slightly.

Not anger.

Not amusement.

Just…

Surprise.

He stared at me for a long moment.

I immediately panicked again.

“I’m sorry!” I blurted out.

“I didn’t mean it like that!”

He didn’t reply.

Instead, he stepped a little closer.

My heart started pounding loudly.

Up close, he smelled like expensive cologne and danger.

“What’s your name?” he asked suddenly.

I blinked.

“Rhea.”

“Full name.”

“Rhea… Shekhar.”

His gaze lingered on my face for another second.

Then he straightened.

“Watch where you walk next time.”

His voice was calm.

Cold.

Commanding.

I nodded quickly.

“Yes, sir.”

Without another word…

He walked away.

The entire café seemed to breathe again.

Neha immediately rushed to me.

“Rhea!”

“What?”

“You just talked to Karthik Malhotra like he’s a normal human!”

I blinked.

“Isn’t he?”

Rohit burst out laughing.

“You’re unbelievable.”

I looked toward the VIP section again.

Karthik Malhotra was sitting there now.

Powerful.

Untouchable.

Dangerous.

And for some strange reason…

He looked back at me.

Our eyes met again for a brief second.

Then he looked away.

I had no idea…

That this accidental meeting…

Would change my entire life.

Because the man the whole world feared…

Was about to become the biggest storm in my life.

And fate had already started writing a story…

Neither of us were ready for.

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