Rhea’s POV

I couldn’t sleep that night.

No matter how many times I turned on my bed, my mind kept replaying the same moment again and again.

Those cold eyes.

That deep voice.

“Look up.”

I buried my face in the pillow.

“Why am I even thinking about him?” I muttered to myself.

He was just a stranger.

A very dangerous stranger.

And honestly, the kind of person I should stay far away from.

People like him belonged to a completely different world.

A world of power.

Money.

Fear.

While I was just…

Rhea Shekhar.

An ordinary girl.

My alarm suddenly rang loudly.

7:00 AM

I groaned.

“Great…”

Another long college day.

---

Shekhar House – Morning

The smell of freshly made parathas filled the small house.

I walked into the kitchen rubbing my sleepy eyes.

“Maa…” I mumbled.

My mother, Mia Shekhar, turned around immediately.

“Rhea! You’re late again!”

“I woke up…”

“You woke up late.”

I sighed and sat at the dining table.

My father, Manoj Shekhar, was already reading the newspaper.

His strict eyes lifted slightly when he saw me.

“College students should wake up early,” he said firmly.

“I will tomorrow,” I replied softly.

He raised an eyebrow.

“You said the same thing yesterday.”

I stayed quiet.

Arguing with my father never ended well.

Just then my brother Arjun walked in holding his laptop.

“Good morning, sleepy princess,” he teased.

I glared at him.

“Good morning, annoying brother.”

He laughed.

“Fair enough.”

My mother placed a plate in front of me.

“Eat fast.”

I started eating quietly.

But my father suddenly folded the newspaper and looked at me seriously.

“Rhea.”

“Yes, Papa?”

“Focus on your studies. No unnecessary distractions.”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

He continued.

“You know how the world is.”

“I know.”

My father always worried about me.

Maybe because I was the youngest.

Maybe because I was too… soft.

Arjun suddenly spoke.

“Relax, Papa. Rhea is the most innocent person in this city.”

My father sighed.

“That’s exactly what worries me.”

I lowered my eyes.

Maybe he was right.

---

Malhotra Mansion – Same Morning

The Malhotra mansion stood like a palace.

Huge.

Luxurious.

Powerful.

Inside the massive dining hall, the Malhotra family was having breakfast.

But the atmosphere was tense.

Because the head of the table was occupied by only one man.

Karthik Malhotra.

His presence alone commanded silence.

His grandfather, Praveen Malhotra, observed him carefully.

“You returned late last night.”

Karthik calmly took a sip of coffee.

“Work.”

His father Sumeet Malhotra looked at him.

“Always work.”

Karthik didn’t respond.

His younger brother Vivaan smirked slightly.

“Or maybe something more interesting happened.”

Karthik shot him a cold glance.

Vivaan immediately looked away.

Just then a sweet voice entered the room.

“Karthik!”

Everyone turned.

Harshita Singh walked inside confidently.

She was beautiful.

Elegant.

And extremely charming.

She walked straight toward Karthik and placed a kiss on his cheek.

“Good morning.”

For the first time that morning…

Karthik’s expression softened slightly.

“Morning.”

Harshita sat beside him.

“I missed you yesterday.”

“I was busy.”

She pouted playfully.

“You’re always busy.”

Vivaan leaned back in his chair.

“Bhabhi, only you can talk to him like that.”

Harshita laughed softly.

Karthik looked at her quietly.

In his eyes…

There was something rare.

Something most people never saw.

Affection.

He truly loved her.

Or at least…

He believed he did.

---

College – Afternoon

“Rhea!”

Neha ran toward me dramatically.

“Do you realize what you did yesterday?”

I sighed.

“Can we please not talk about that again?”

“No!”

She grabbed my arm.

“You literally bumped into the most dangerous man in Mumbai!”

Rohit joined us.

“And survived.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Nothing happened.”

Neha crossed her arms.

“That’s exactly what’s shocking.”

Rohit laughed.

“I swear the way he looked at you…”

“What?” I asked nervously.

“Like he was trying to figure out if you’re crazy.”

I gasped.

“I’m not crazy!”

Neha giggled.

“You told him he’s tall.”

“Well… he is tall!”

Rohit laughed harder.

“Rhea, people are scared to even breathe near him.”

I frowned slightly.

“I still don’t understand why everyone fears him so much.”

Neha leaned closer.

“Because Karthik Malhotra isn’t just a businessman.”

“Then what?”

She whispered dramatically.

“Power.”

A strangeuneasiness filled my chest.

Just then my phone buzzed.

A message from my mother.

“Come home early today.”

I frowned.

“That’s strange.”

“What?” Neha asked.

“Maa asked me to come home early.”

“Maybe guests are coming.”

I shrugged.

“Maybe.”

But for some reason…

A strange feeling settled in my heart.

Like something unexpected was about to happen.

---

Malhotra Office – Evening

The entire top floor belonged to Karthik Malhotra.

The office looked more like a command center.

Glass walls.

City view.

Absolute power.

Karthik stood near the window looking at the Mumbai skyline.

Suresh Mehta walked in casually.

“Well well… the king of Mumbai looks thoughtful today.”

Karthik didn’t respond.

Suresh smirked.

“Still thinking about that girl?”

Karthik’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“I’m not.”

Suresh laughed.

“Come on. I’ve known you for years.”

Silence.

Then Karthik spoke calmly.

“She bumped into me.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

Suresh crossed his arms.

“But you remember her.”

Karthik looked back at the city.

For some reason…

The image of that innocent face flashed in his mind.

Her nervous voice.

“Because you’re very tall.”

He frowned slightly.

Annoying girl.

Why was he even thinking about her?

Just then his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

Harshita.

He immediately answered.

“Yes.”

Her sweet voice came through the phone.

“Karthik… can we meet tonight?”

His expression softened.

“Of course.”

And just like that…

His thoughts about Rhea disappeared.

Because the only woman he cared about…

Was Harshita.

Or so he believed.

---

Rhea’s POV – Night

When I reached home, the house looked unusually quiet.

“Maa?” I called softly.

No response.

I walked into the living room.

And froze.

Because sitting on the sofa…

Were strangers.

Powerful looking strangers.

Men in expensive suits.

And in the center…

Sat the man I had hoped never to meet again.

Karthik Malhotra.

My heart stopped.

My father stood beside them looking extremely nervous.

“Rhea…” he said slowly.

“Yes… Papa?”

He cleared his throat.

“They want to talk to you.”

My fingers tightened around my bag.

Why would someone like Karthik Malhotra…

Come to my house?

And why…

Was he looking at me like that?

Something told me…

My life was about to change forever.

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