Inside the club—
Nothing had changed.
The music was still loud.
Lights flashing.
People dancing like the world was simple.
Only—
It wasn't.
Shrisha was at the table, mid-sentence, still in her "birthday week supremacy" mode—
When she noticed.
Aakrati wasn't back.
Krish wasn't either.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Where did they go?"
Before she could overthink it—
Someone slid into the seat across from her.
Siddharth.
Casual. Relaxed. Like he belonged anywhere he sat.
"Looks like your friends ditched you," he said, picking up a drink from the table like it was his.
Shrisha blinked.
Then frowned.
"Excuse me?"
He smirked slightly. "Relax. I'm just saying—timing seems… interesting."
Shrisha crossed her arms instantly.
"They didn't ditch me."
"Oh?" he leaned back. "Then where are they?"
"That's none of your business."
"Fair," he nodded. "But considering my friend just followed them out—"
Shrisha's expression changed.
Sharp.
Protective.
"Your friend should mind his own business."
Siddharth raised an eyebrow.
"And your friend?"
"She can handle herself."
There was no hesitation in her voice.
No doubt.
Siddharth studied her for a second.
Then chuckled lightly.
"You're intense."
Shrisha gave him a flat look.
"You're annoying."
"Nice," he smiled. "We're off to a great start."
A pause.
But Shrisha wasn't done.
"Also," she added, leaning slightly forward, "if your friend thinks he can just walk in and question her like that—he's wrong."
Siddharth's smile faded a little.
Not completely.
But enough.
"You don't even know what happened."
"I don't need to," she shot back. "I know her."
"And I know him."
They held eye contact for a moment.
A silent standoff.
Then—
Siddharth exhaled.
"Look, I'm not here to fight."
"Good," Shrisha replied immediately. "Because you'd lose."
That caught him off guard.
"What—" he let out a small laugh. "What is wrong with you?"
"Nothing," she said confidently. "What's wrong with you?"
"I just sat down."
"And started talking nonsense."
"I made one comment!"
"It was a stupid one."
Siddharth stared at her for a second.
Then shook his head, half amused, half confused.
"You always like this?"
Shrisha tilted her chin up slightly.
"Yes."
A pause.
Then she added—
"And don't try to be friendly. It's not working."
"I wasn't trying to be friendly," he said.
"Good. Because I wouldn't accept it."
Another silence.
Short.
But this time—
Different.
Less sharp.
More… curious.
Siddharth leaned back again.
"You're something else."
Shrisha smirked slightly.
"I know."
He shook his head again, a small smile forming despite himself.
"Seriously," he muttered under his breath, "what is wrong with this girl…"
Shrisha heard it.
Of course she did.
"I heard that."
"I meant you to."
"Good," she said. "At least you're honest about being confused."
And just like that—
Their argument continued.
Pointless.
Petty.
Completely unnecessary.
But strangely—
Neither of them walked away.
The door pushed open—
And Arsh walked back in.
Same composed face.
Same steady steps.
But Siddharth knew better.
Something had shifted.
He walked up to him immediately.
"What happened?"
Arsh picked up a drink from the table, taking a slow sip before answering.
His eyes flickered once—
Toward Aakrati.
She was back.
Sitting with Shrisha.
Krish beside her.
Laughing at something like nothing had just happened.
Like he hadn't just been there.
A small, sharp smile appeared on Arsh's face.
"Interesting," he muttered.
Siddharth frowned slightly. "What?"
Arsh exhaled quietly, shaking his head once.
"She really likes playing, doesn't she?"
There was no humor in his tone.
Only something colder.
More deliberate.
Siddharth's expression changed.
"Arsh…"
But Arsh wasn't looking at him anymore.
His gaze stayed fixed—
On them.
On Krish.
On the way he leaned in slightly.
On the way Aakrati didn't move away.
"I'm not letting this go," Arsh said calmly.
That calmness—
Was dangerous.
"Especially him."
A slight tilt of his head toward Krish.
"Come," he added. "We need to do something."
Siddharth blinked.
Confused.
Concerned.
"Do something… like what?"
Arsh didn't answer immediately.
His mind was already moving.
Fast.
Precise.
Calculated.
"Arsh," Siddharth said again, more serious this time. "Last time—you didn't do anything."
That got his attention.
"For Sakshi," Siddharth continued. "You just… let it go. You walked away."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"What's different now?"
Arsh's grip tightened slightly around his glass.
For a second—
His expression almost shifted.
Almost.
"That was different," he said.
Simple.
Final.
Siddharth didn't look convinced.
"How?"
Arsh's eyes went back to Aakrati.
And this time—
There was no confusion in them.
No hesitation.
"This is different."
A pause.
Then, lower—
"She's different."
Siddharth watched him carefully now.
Because this—
Was new.
Arsh never said things like that.
Never felt things like that.
At least—
Not out loud.
"And you're sure this isn't just your ego?" Siddharth asked.
Arsh didn't react immediately.
Didn't deny it either.
Instead—
A faint, dangerous smirk appeared.
"Maybe it is."
A pause.
"Doesn't change anything."
Siddharth exhaled slowly.
"This won't end well."
Arsh tilted his head slightly.
Watching Aakrati again.
Krish saying something.
Aakrati smiling.
"No," he said quietly.
"It won't."
But the way he said it—
Didn't sound like a warning.
It sounded like a decision.
And somewhere across the room—
Aakrati laughed again.
Completely unaware—
That this time,
Arsh wasn't walking away.