Author's Pov

“Who are you?”

His voice wasn’t rude.
Just cold.
Very very cold.

Saanvi’s words crashed into each other in her throat.

“I—I’m Saanvi… uh… Saanvi Reddy,” she said quickly. “I came with Tanya. Not alone! With Riya. And Tanya. And… I got lost.”

His expression didn’t change even a little.

He looked at her the way people look at a puzzle piece that doesn’t fit anywhere.

“Lost?” he repeated.

“Yes!” she squeaked. “This house is too big. It’s like… like a museum. Or a palace. Or a maze. Actually, it’s all three.”

His eyebrow lifted — just slightly.

“Most people know how to use their eyes,” he said calmly. “You just had to follow the same path back.”

Saanvi’s mouth fell open.

“That is what I tried to do! But every wall looks the same! Even the paintings look like twins!”

The corner of his mouth twitched.

Almost like he wanted to smile.
Almost.

But he killed the smile before it appeared.

“And why are you here?” he asked again, as if double-checking she wasn’t a thief.

“I told you! I’m Tanya’s friend! We came for lunch!” she said, waving her hands. “Do I look like a thief to you?”

He looked her up and down.

Then said bluntly:

“Yes.”

Saanvi gasped loudly. “W-What?! Why??”

“You’re sneaking around my house,” he replied coolly. “In a corridor where guests usually don’t enter.”

“I wasn’t sneaking!” she cried. “I was just walking! And then walking became… mis-walking.”

He stared. “Mis-walking?”

“Yes!” she insisted. “When you walk and then realize you walked to the wrong place. So that’s mis-walking.”

He blinked slowly.

She was sure he was judging her vocabulary.

And her life choices.

And her existence.

Saanvi swallowed hard and tried again.

“Can you please just tell me the way to the living room?” she asked softly. “I already feel stupid. Please don’t make it worse.”

He looked at her for a long moment.

Then finally said:

“Straight. Left. Then another left. You’ll find the stairs.”

“That is the most confusing direction ever,” she whispered.

“It’s three steps,” he said sharply. “Not rocket science.”

“But I’ll still get lost!”

“Then don’t,” he answered.

“That is not helpful!” she groaned.

He exhaled harshly — not angry, more like he had never met someone this dramatic about directions.

“You’re… loud,” he commented.

“I’m nervous!” she shot back.

“Why?” he asked, genuinely confused.

“Because you’re scary!”

Vikrant’s eyes widened a fraction. No one in his entire life had said that to his face.

He recovered quickly.

“I am not scary,” he said flatly.

“You literally look like the villain in a Netflix series,” she whispered honestly.

A tiny, tiny genuine smirk almost escaped him. Almost.

“Do you talk this much to everyone?” he asked.

“No!” she said. “Only when I’m panicking!”

“Don’t panic.”

“You’re the reason I’m panicking!”

Silence.
Then he asked calmly:

“Are you always this… expressive?”

“I’m sorry!” she said immediately. “This is my first time getting lost in a billionaire’s mansion.”

He stared at her with a strange expression now — half annoyed, half amused, half confused.
(Yes. Three halves. That’s exactly how confused he was.)

Finally, he stepped a little closer.

“What did you say your name was?” he asked quietly.

“Saanvi,” she said. “Saanvi Reddy.”

His eyes narrowed slightly — like the name stirred something in his memory.
But he didn’t comment.

He only nodded once.

Then pointed again.

“Living room is that way. Try not to enter another wrong hallway.” His tone was sarcastic.

Saanvi placed her hands on her waist.
“Oh wow. Thank you SO much for the encouragement.”

He simply stared.

“And thank you for being so warm and friendly,” she added sarcastically.

He raised a brow. “You want friendly?”

“Yes!” she said.

“Then ask someone else,” he replied coldly.

She blinked.
Hard.

“Wow. You really are… something.”

“Hopefully not a thief this time,” he said.

Saanvi rolled her eyes.
“You know what? Fine.”

She took two steps backward.

He watched her.

Then she stopped, pointed at him, and said with a tiny smile:

“Thanks for the directions, Mr. Google Maps.”

This time he paused.
Actually paused.

His eyes softened for half a second — warmth flickering like a spark before he killed it.

His jaw clenched slightly… not out of anger… but because he wasn’t used to people talking to him like this.

Especially not little, lost girls who smelled like jasmine shampoo and sunshine.

After a moment, he said very quietly:

“You’re welcome… Miss Mis-walking.”

Her heart stopped.

Then sped up.

She froze, staring at him.
He stared back.

A strange, soft tension hung between them — the kind that neither wanted nor expected.

Finally, she turned and walked away.

He watched her.

He doesn’t move. Doesn’t blink. He just watches her ramble like she’s a strange species the world hasn’t documented yet.

Then he says, calm but sharp,
“You’re lost again, aren’t you?”

Saanvi freezes. “No.”
Pause.
“…Maybe.”
Pause.
“…Okay, yes.”

A muscle in his jaw ticks — irritation, amusement, or something in between. Even he doesn't seem to know.

She fumbles with her dupatta nervously. “I swear this house has more turns than a maze. I feel like one wrong step and I’ll end up in Narnia.”

“Or fall off the terrace,” he replies dryly.

Her eyes widen. “THERE’S A TERRACE?? Oh god. I’m not going there.”

His phone buzzes again. He checks the screen, replies to a message with lightning speed, then glances back up at her.

“Why are you here?” he asks.

Saanvi blinks. “Uh… I came with Tanya? She invited me.”

“I can see that. Why are you here—alone—in this part of the house?”

“I took a left instead of a right.”

“You were supposed to take the stairs.”

“Well, no one told me the stairs were THAT way! And the hallway looks like a copy-paste repeated pattern, okay? Everything looks the same!”

He stares at her again. A long, assessing stare.

Saanvi shifts on her feet. “Are you… judging me?”

“Yes.”

She gasps dramatically. “At least be subtle about it!”

“Why would I waste effort on subtlety?”

Her mouth opens. Closes.
She throws her hands up. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re loud.”

“I’m not loud! This is my normal volume!”

“You talk too much.”

“You’re too cold!”

His brows lift for the first time. “Cold?”

“Yes!” she huffs. “Your face hasn’t moved in the last ten minutes. Do you always look like you’re plotting someone's murder?”

He crosses his arms. “Do you always speak without thinking?”

“Yes!” she blurts instantly, then covers her mouth. “I mean—no! I mean—sometimes! Actually, most of the time. But today it’s because I'm nervous.”

“Why are you nervous?”

“Because!” she waves her hands vaguely at him, “you’re… you!”

He stares another second.
“Explain.”

She squints. “You know… tall, intimidating, expensive-looking, aura like ‘don’t talk to me.’ That type.”

Vikrant’s jaw flexes again.
Saanvi can’t tell if she offended him or confused him.

Probably both.

Before he can respond, she murmurs under her breath,
“…and also stupidly handsome.”

His head snaps up. “What?”

She slaps both hands over her mouth. “NOTHING!”

For the first time, something shifts in his expression. Not a smile. Not amusement. But a flicker of surprise. Like someone just threw a pebble into a perfectly still lake.

She looks anywhere except at him—ceiling, walls, floor, probably the afterlife. Her heart drums so loudly she feels dizzy.

He lets her squirm for several seconds before speaking again.

He pockets his phone. “Follow me. I’ll take you back.”

She brightens immediately. “Really? You're not gonna leave me to wander and die in one of your storage rooms?”

“…No.”

“Wow,” she smiles, “you DO have a heart.”

“I’m reconsidering.”

Saanvi laughs, soft and bell-like, and something about the sound forces his eyes away from her. Like he doesn’t want her to notice the effect it has on him.

She walks beside him, trying to match his long steps but eventually giving up and taking tiny half-jogs to keep up.

He notices after a few moments.

“Slow down,” he says simply.

“Oh. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome, Miss Reddy.”

She grins. “See? Not cold.”

He looks down at her briefly.
“You talk too much.”

“You said that already.”

“And it remains true.”

“Maybe I talk too much because you talk too little.”

He stops walking. Turns to her.
“That’s how silence works.”

Her jaw drops. “Did you just—did you just sass me??”

“I did no such thing.”

“You did! That was sarcasm!”

“Incorrect.”

“Oh my god,” she laughs again, clutching her stomach. “Mr. Google Maps is funny?”

“I’m not—”

She holds up a finger. “Too late. I heard it. Can’t unhear.”

He exhale sharply from his nose, the closest thing to an annoyed sigh.

“Do you annoy everyone like this?” he asks.

“Only people I find interesting.”

He doesn’t react outwardly.
But something flickers in his gaze.
A quiet, invisible shift.

They resume walking.

Saanvi glances around the corridor. “I swear this wasn’t the hallway I came from.”

“It was.”

“No, this vase wasn’t here.”

“There are eleven identical vases,” he replies flatly.

“Oh.”

They turn another corner.
A few people’s laughter echoes faintly from the living room area—meaning they're finally close.

Saanvi exclaims dramatically, “I see light! Civilization! I’m saved!”

“You weren’t in danger.”

“My confidence was.”

“That’s not my concern.”

“It should be!” she retorts.

He gives her that same unreadable stare. “Why?”

“Because you made me nervous.”

He pauses mid-step.
Saanvi freezes too, realizing what she just confessed.

“I—I mean not nervous nervous,” she stammers. “Just like… intimidated. Because you’re… uh… socially allergic.”

“I’m not allergic.”

“You act like it.”

“People don’t interest me.”

She raises a brow. “Not even a little?”

“No.”

“Not even me?”

For a fraction of a second—just one—his eyes drop to her lips.
Then he turns away, walking again.

“Come,” he says, voice clipped.

But she saw it.
She felt it.

Something warm rolls through her chest.

They reach the archway near the living room. Voices fill the space now—Tanya laughing, guests chatting, music humming softly.

Saanvi steps out from the corridor, sunlight falling on her again. She lets out a relieved sigh.

“Well,” she beams, “thank you. Again.”

He nods. “Don’t get lost again.”

“No promises.”

She giggles. He almost—almost—looks amused.

She takes a step away, but then pauses, turning over her shoulder.

“Oh, and—”

He looks at her, waiting.

“You’re not as cold as you pretend.”

He opens his mouth, maybe to disagree, maybe to deny, maybe to say something cutting—

But she doesn't wait.

She slips into the crowd with a playful smile, her long hair bouncing behind her.

Vikrant stands there for several seconds, expression unreadable again… but no longer empty.

Not cold.

Not unaffected.

Just… curious.

Dangerously, unwillingly curious.

He mutters to himself,
“Annoying girl.”

But the corner of his mouth twitches—so subtle that even he doesn’t notice.

And for the first time in a long time…

A thought crossed his mind:

Interesting girl.
Too interesting.
Dangerously interesting.

His eyes moved once more to the direction she went.

He hated that he was still thinking about her.

He hated even more that he didn’t want to stop.

_______________

Saanvi stepped back into the living room, still feeling her heartbeat racing from the strange and confusing encounter with Tanya’s brother — Mr. Google Maps with a murder-aura.

Tanya immediately spotted her.

“Saanviiii! Where did you disappear?” Tanya hurried over, linking her arm through hers. “I left you for two minutes and you got lost in my own house?”

Saanvi laughed awkwardly. “I… kind of mis-walked.”

“Mis-walked??” Tanya raised a brow. “What does that even mean?”

“It means I took one wrong turn and suddenly ended up in the wrong corridor and then—”

“And then what?” Tanya asked, narrowing her eyes.

Saanvi bit her lip, debating whether she should confess or not.

“I… bumped into someone.”

Tanya blinked. “Who?”

“Your… uh… brother.”

Tanya froze.
Eyes growing bigger.
Jaw dropping slightly.

“WHICH brother?” she demanded.

“The one who looks like he was carved from ice,” Saanvi said without thinking.

Tanya’s jaw dropped more. “VIKRANT? You met Vikrant?”

Saanvi whispered softly, “So… that was his name.”

“You didn’t KNOW??” Tanya almost laughed.

“No! He didn’t introduce himself! He just— existed very coldly.”

Tanya stared at her, shock mixing with something else. Concern. Curiosity. A feeling she couldn’t name.

“Wait,” Tanya said slowly. “Vikrant brought you here? He walked you back to the living room?”

“Yes,” Saanvi nodded. “He showed me the way.”

“WHAT?!” Tanya almost choked. “My brother? Showing someone the way? Talking? Breathing near someone?? Are you sure it was him and not our house statue?”

Saanvi giggled, cheeks warm. “He was… surprisingly helpful.”

Tanya kept staring like she’d just heard the most unbelievable thing in the world.

“No no no,” Tanya said suddenly. “Something is weird. He NEVER talks to anyone unless it’s important.”

Saanvi shrugged softly. “Maybe I looked too lost?”

Before Tanya could poke more, Kabir entered the scene with a loud cheerful voice.

“HELLO LADIES!” he announced dramatically. “Who missed me?”

“No one,” Tanya deadpanned.

Kabir clutched his heart. “Wow. Hurtful.”

He then noticed Saanvi and grinned. “Ah! The new friend!” He walked closer. “Welcome to our crazy family. I’m the good-looking sibling here.”

Saanvi laughed, relaxing at his playful energy. “Nice to meet you.”

Kabir leaned in and whispered loudly to Tanya, “Did our Ice King bother her?”

Tanya glared. “Kabir, shut up.”

Kabir smirked. “If he didn’t talk, he definitely stared. That’s his style.”

Saanvi blushed so hard she nearly combusted.

Before Kabir could torture her more, Meera’s warm, sweet voice floated from the dining hall.

“Children! Lunch is ready! Everyone come!”

Tanya grabbed Saanvi’s wrist. “Come on, let’s go. You’re about to eat the best meal ever.”

As they walked to the dining room, the entire Chauhan family slowly gathered — Meera with her bright smile, Kabir humming happily, Tanya dragging Riya too, and then…

He walked in.

Vikrant.

Tall. Calm. Expression unreadable.
But his eyes flickered — just for a moment — when they landed on Saanvi.

Saanvi forgot how to breathe for two full seconds.
He looked away instantly, as if the moment never existed.

But she felt it.

That tiny spark.
That tiny pull.
That tiny something.

She took her seat between Riya and Tanya. Vikrant sat opposite her, diagonally. Not close enough to talk but close enough to… notice.

Rajveer entered last, his smile filling the room with warmth.

“Welcome, girls!” he greeted happily. “It’s so nice to see Tanya bring friends home.”

“Uncle, your house is beautiful,” Saanvi said politely.

“Thank you, beta,” Rajveer smiled. “Feel at home.”

Lunch began.
And with lunch… the glances.

Every time Saanvi’s eyes lifted accidentally, Vikrant’s gaze met hers.
Every single time.

She would look away instantly, cheeks burning.
He would look away too — but slower, calmer, like he wasn’t supposed to, but couldn’t help it.

Rajveer noticed.

Oh, he noticed everything.

He hid a small smile behind his glass of water.

“Girls,” Rajveer said casually, “where are you from?”

“I’m from Delhi, uncle,” Riya replied with a bright smile. “Born and brought up!”

“Good, good,” Rajveer nodded.

“And you, beta?” he asked Saanvi gently.

Saanvi swallowed and answered politely, “Hyderabad, uncle.”

Rajveer’s eyes lit up with recognition.
“Oh? Hyderabad? Which area?”

“Jubilee Hills,” she said.

A pause.
A knowing spark flashed in Rajveer’s eyes.

“And your father?”

“Madhav Reddy,” she answered softly. “He owns Reddy Industries.”

Rajveer inhaled sharply — memories, friendship, old ties, old conversations flooding back all at once.

“Madhav’s daughter…?” he whispered to himself.

He glanced at Vikrant…
Then at Saanvi…

And a slow idea bloomed in his mind.

Not a plan.
Not a decision.
Just an idea.

A seed.

One that he would keep to himself.

For now.

Lunch went on with warm conversations — Meera asking about their studies, Kabir joking, Tanya poking fun at both her brothers. The atmosphere was bright, lively, full of homely love.

But the glances didn’t stop.

Every few minutes, Vikrant’s gaze would drift to Saanvi as if pulled by an invisible string.
He would catch himself… frown… look away.
Almost annoyed at himself.

And every time she caught him looking, Saanvi’s heart skipped, then stumbled, then tripped over its own feet.

What was happening?
Why was he looking?
Why did it affect her?

She didn’t know.
He didn’t either.

But Rajveer did.

The old man watched the silent, accidental, forbidden eye-contact like he was watching destiny write its first line.

After lunch, Tanya and Riya gathered their things.
Meera packed some sweet boxes for them, scolding, “You girls should visit more often!”

Kabir waved dramatically. “Come again and bring food next time.”

Tanya rolled her eyes. “Shut up, Kabir.”

Saanvi hugged Meera warmly. “Thank you, aunty. You made us feel like home.”

“Oh sweetheart,” Meera kissed her forehead lovingly. “You are always welcome.”

Rajveer shook their hands.
“You girls should come again soon,” he said.

“We will, uncle,” Saanvi smiled.

Everyone said goodbye at the door…
Everyone except Vikrant.

He wasn’t there.

Or so Saanvi thought.

But as they walked down the steps…

She felt something.

A strong gaze.

She turned subtly — and saw him.

Standing far away on the upper balcony, leaning on the railing, watching her.

Not expressionless.

Not cold.

Just quiet.
Still.
Focused.
As if he didn’t mean to look but couldn’t stop.

Saanvi looked away quickly, heart pounding like she had run a marathon.

Rajveer followed Vikrant’s gaze and saw it clearly.

That look.

That hidden pull.

That strange gravity.

Rajveer smirked to himself.

Something was beginning.
Something he would not stop.
Something he might even help.
But not today.

To be continued......

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