The temple stood in quiet magnificence, carved entirely from pristine white marble. Under the morning light, it shimmered softly—less like a structure, more like something sacred given form. Its vast expanse rose like a palace, grand yet soothing to the eyes. A gentle fragrance drifted through the air, calming all who entered. Here, there were no divisions—the rich, the poor, even beggars walked through its gates alike, equal beneath its silent grace.
Nitya visited the temple regularly. With no family to lean on, she had slowly begun turning to places like this—seeking a sense of peace she couldn't find elsewhere. Today, however, she wasn't alone.
Lavanya walked beside her.
"What are you staring at? Come on," Lavanya huffed, clearly annoyed. "Are you even listening to me, Nitya?"
She had been venting nonstop, pouring out the frustrations that had been building inside her.
"I heard you," Nitya replied calmly as they climbed the wide marble steps. "And I do understand."
A brief pause.
"But there isn't really anything I can do about it."
Lavanya was drowning—work, relationships, money—everything seemed to be slipping at once. There was little Nitya could realistically offer. Her own life had never taken that shape. The stability her parents had built before they passed still held strong, shielding her from the kind of chaos Lavanya now faced.
"Oh, please, Nitya… you have to help me. I'm counting on you," Lavanya pleaded, her voice trembling. "I'm completely helpless."
Her eyes glossed over, on the verge of tears. The real request lingered beneath her words—she wanted an introduction, a chance to meet someone decent. Despite having already graduated from the same university Nitya now attended, Lavanya remained single. Their friendship had formed by coincidence—neighbors first, then familiarity, then comfort.
Nitya glanced at her briefly. "We'll talk after the pooja."
At the top of the stairs, they stepped into the main hall.
A vast crowd had gathered, all facing the deity. The pandit's voice carried through the space, deep and rhythmic, holding everyone in quiet submission. The mantras rose and fell like a tide, drawing the crowd into its flow. Soon, clapping joined in—measured, unified—filling the hall with a resonant pulse.
Nitya and Lavanya joined as well.
For a while, nothing else existed.
Only sound. Only devotion.
In a world driven by science and logic, the temple still stood—unchanged, unwavering, alive with faith.
The ceremony stretched on, time slipping unnoticed, until the final bell rang—loud and absolute.
One by one, heads bowed.
And slowly, the crowd began to disperse, carrying with them a quiet sense of peace.
They stepped out of the temple hall, a quiet calm settling over them.
"Ah… that was refreshing," Lavanya sighed, stretching lightly. "Maybe I should start coming with you more often. Not every day, but… sometimes."
She trailed off mid-thought.
A child's loud cries cut through the courtyard. Nearby, a young mother tried to soothe him, offering hurried apologies to those around her. Yet there was no real embarrassment in her expression—only a quiet warmth, a simple happiness in holding her child close.
Lavanya watched, her lips curving into a soft smile. For a moment, her worries faded, replaced by something gentle.
Beside her, Nitya went still.
The scene didn't soothe her.
It hurt.
A sharp, familiar ache rose in her chest, dragging buried memories to the surface—memories she had long forced down. Her gaze dulled, turning distant, hollow.
Without a word, she turned away.
And walked faster.
"I'd appreciate it if you came with me," Nitya called back. "But if it's too much for you, forget it."
Lavanya blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. Nitya had already moved ahead, a noticeable gap forming between them. Shaking off the lingering warmth from the scene she had just witnessed, Lavanya was pulled back into her own worries. She hurried forward.
"Nitya—wait!"
Nitya didn't turn, though her pace slowed slightly.
"Huff… huff…" Lavanya exaggerated her breathing as she caught up, placing a hand on her chest.
Nitya stopped immediately and turned to face her, her expression tightening into a deep frown. "What's wrong with you? Why are you breathing like that? And your face… it's turning red."
The concern in her voice was real.
Just moments ago, Lavanya had been perfectly fine.
The sudden shift made something twist uneasily in Nitya's chest—an instinctive fear of how quickly things could go wrong.
"Hah… I'm so sorry, Nitya," Lavanya gasped, forcing out a few exaggerated, shaky sobs. "I didn't tell you… my illness is getting worse by the day."
She nearly broke into laughter at her own performance.
Right in front of her, Nitya's expression had already fallen into pure concern.
Nitya froze. For a moment, she couldn't even respond. Sympathy filled her eyes as she reached out, gently taking Lavanya's hand.
But then—
the pulse was steady.
And those eyes… were hiding a smile.
Realization hit immediately.
"You're teasing me!" Nitya snapped, throwing her hand away with a sharp glare.
"Hahaha!" Lavanya burst out laughing, unable to hold it in any longer. She clutched her stomach, completely entertained by how easily she had fooled her.
Annoyed, Nitya turned and started down the stairs without another word.
Lavanya followed quickly, still chuckling as people passed around them in the busy courtyard.
Then—
someone stepped into their path.
"Good morning, Nitya."
The young man gave a slight, almost theatrical bow, a playful grin spreading across his face as his eyes locked onto hers.
Lavanya stumbled slightly at the sudden greeting, but the young man's warm expression quickly eased her.
"Good morning, Abhi," Nitya replied. "How did you find me?"
Abhi straightened, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. He didn't fully understand the question, but he hid it well. Nitya had a habit of asking things that didn't quite follow logic.
"I came for my usual visit and happened to notice you," he said easily. "Thought it'd be nice to walk back together."
Nitya's expression tightened, irritation flickering across her face.
"Did I interrupt something?" Abhi asked, caught off guard by her coldness.
Nitya clicked her tongue. "You always 'happen' to notice things." She shot him a flat look. "Move."
Her irritation hadn't faded since Lavanya's stunt, and Abhi's casual charm only added to it. In her mind, both of them felt the same—too light, too careless.
Around them, a few people slowed down, curiosity flickering in their eyes.
"What?" Abhi shrugged, completely unfazed, as if her tone didn't bother him at all.
Glancing between the two in utter confusion, Lavanya turned toward Nitya, lips parting to speak—but Abhi cut in.
"I wanted to ask you some—"
"Shut up! Who do you think you are?" Lavanya snapped, her voice slicing through the air. Fury flared in her eyes, sharp and immediate. "How dare you flirt with my girl? We've been dating for years!"
The lie came out smooth. Effortless. Completely shameless.
Nitya froze.
Heat rushed to her face as the crowd stirred, their attention snapping toward the sudden outburst. Gasps rippled through the onlookers, quickly turning into excited murmurs.
"Oh man, I'm cheering for the guy. Fight for your love, bro!"
"Are you blind? Look at them! That's real love right there. Go, girl!"
The whispers spread like wildfire, feeding the scene.
Lavanya raised a trembling finger at Abhi, her glare blazing with theatrical intensity. With the crowd behind her, her confidence surged to its peak.
"Lavya, calm down," Nitya muttered under her breath, grabbing her arm and tugging lightly.
Abhi staggered back a step, his face drained of color. He looked completely unprepared—like he'd just walked into a storm he didn't understand.
"Nitya, you don't know guys like him," Lavanya said softly, her tone shifting in an instant. She reached out, gently cupping Nitya's cheek. "I'll protect you."
The touch was warm.
Too real.
Nitya's breath caught. Her heart skipped—just once, but hard enough to throw her off balance. A strange flutter spread through her chest, unfamiliar and unsettling.
For a fleeting moment, it felt… real.
Nitya shook her head violently, as if physically trying to rattle the strange feeling loose. She jerked back...
What the hell was that?!
Blinking rapidly, she forced herself back to reality—only to find Lavanya's back in front of her, still yelling at a completely shaken, speechless Abhi.
"Lavya, he's just a classmate," Nitya said hesitantly, gently prying herself free from Lavanya's grip.
Lavanya nodded, her face arranged into perfect, calm understanding.
Inside, she was absolutely buzzing.
Hooked. Dominated. Controlled.
"Is that so? I thought he was bothering you," Lavanya replied evenly.
She didn't step back.
Instead, she stepped forward—dragging Nitya along with her.
Abhi stiffened.
"So," Lavanya continued, stopping right in front of him, her gaze sharp and heavy, "you're a classmate, huh?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"What's your name? How old are you?"
Each question came down like pressure.
Abhi shrank under it.
"I—I'm Abhi. I'm twenty… Nitya's classmate… and her friend," he stammered, lowering his head like a scolded child.
The earlier confidence? Gone. Completely crushed.
"Good."
Lavanya extended her hand, her posture radiating effortless authority.
"I'm Lavanya. Your senior. I finished engineering last year and I'm currently doing my Master's." A faint smile touched her lips—controlled, superior. "I've known Nitya for years."
A pause.
"You can head home alone now. It was nice meeting you."
Abhi hesitated… then slowly reached out and shook her hand.
His fingers trembled.
For a moment, everything held.
Then—
It snapped.
The fear in his eyes vanished.
A wide, shameless grin spread across his face.
"Oh, sorry about that… old lady," he chirped.
And before anyone could react—
he bolted.
Gone.
Vanished into the crowd.
Silence.
A single second.
"YOU BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU!" Lavanya's voice exploded across the street.
Her face twisted in pure, unfiltered outrage.
She had it.
She completely had it.
Total control. Absolute dominance.
And that little punk—
had been acting the whole time.
"Hahaha! I knew it! I knew he was going to frustrate you, Lavya!" Nitya burst out, finally unable to hold back her laughter any longer.
She had seen through everything from the start.
Abhi was an aspiring actor, constantly shooting content for a small platform—with his partner in crime being none other than his sister, Lavanya. The two of them had been secretly filming a scene right here in the temple courtyard.
"You knew, and you didn't warn me?!" Lavanya whined, slipping effortlessly into the role of a betrayed friend. Her glare was perfectly theatrical.
She hadn't dropped the act for even a second.
For Lavanya, acting wasn't just a hobby—it was practically her entire personality.
"Come here, oh lovely Lavya," Nitya teased, seeing right through the performance. She pulled her into a gentle hug and patted her head.
The surrounding crowd, now realizing what had just unfolded, broke into laughter. The tension melted away, replaced by waves of amused chatter echoing through the courtyard.
"I want a date if you feel sorry for me!" Lavanya declared, puffing her cheeks into an exaggerated pout. "I'm already this old, and not a single boy has even gotten close to me. You'll set one up for me, right, Nitya?"
Nitya flinched.
Her trust in both Lavanya and Abhi dropped straight to zero.
They used me for their little stunt… and now they're asking for more?
She had been trying to be nice, yet somehow, she always ended up getting dragged deeper into their chaos.
Are they just playing with me at this point…?
Nitya let out a quiet sigh, already feeling the weight of another one of their schemes settling onto her shoulders.
Still…
Finding someone for Lavanya?
That was a problem on an entirely different level.
Who in the world could even handle her chaotic energy?
Then—
a thought surfaced.
Dinner tonight.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Yug had mentioned he'd be bringing someone.
Wait…
It clicked.
Yug had reserved a table for three. Adding one more seat wouldn't be a problem.
In fact… it might be perfect.
A small smile crept onto Nitya's face.
"Oh dear," she declared, striking a dramatic pose, "you may act like a child, but this lady shall grant your wish."
Lavanya froze.
Then her eyes lit up.
"You have a date tonight," Nitya continued smoothly. "With me… and two other boys. How about it?"
Lavanya gasped, slamming a hand over her heart as she tilted her face toward the sky like a heroine in a drama.
"Really?! A rich, handsome man with his own company? The only son of a powerful family? Someone who owns endless property and loves me so much he'd fight the whole world for me—"
A sharp smack echoed through the air as Nitya's hand landed cleanly on the back of Lavanya's head.
"Shut up. Let's go."
"Ow—ah! That hurts!" Lavanya whined, instantly switching to a cute act as she followed along.
She skipped beside Nitya, swinging her arms in exaggerated rhythm, completely unbothered.
Nitya and Lavanya had no idea that Yug was coming with Kruti.
Nitya had always assumed he would bring a guy. She had never once seen Yug surrounded by girls—never even casually. To her, it was obvious.
His plus-one had to be another boy.
Yug had a strange reputation.
It was said that if you fought him and held your ground, you might earn his acknowledgment… and perhaps even a place by his side.
Many tried.
Very few succeeded.
Over time, the rumor twisted.
Some girls had attempted the same approach—only to be rejected so coldly that no one dared try again.
In the end, not a single girl stood beside him.
Except one.
Nitya.
Because she was the only one who had ever beaten him.