The moment my eyes met hers again at the party, my mind spun. The same girl from this morning—the one who had risked her life for that kid and somehow managed to captivate me—was standing right there. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raut. Kiaraa Raut. Her beauty was breathtaking in the white dress, hugging her curves in a way that shouldn’t be this distracting. Her brown orbs sparkled with innocence, and her rosy lips looked... Ruhaan, get a grip, I scolded myself.
Our parents noticed our reactions. “Do you two know each other?” my father inquired, raising a curious eyebrow.
I was about to speak when Kiaraa beat me to it. “No, not really,” she lied effortlessly, flashing a polite smile. “I just thought I’ve seen him somewhere before, that’s all.”
I laughed inwardly. A smooth liar, huh? Impressive. We greeted each other formally, and I soon excused myself to mingle with business associates. Yet, even while talking business, I found myself sneaking glances at her. This was getting ridiculous.
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Kiaraa's POV
When our parents asked if we knew each other, I lied, claiming I had just seen him somewhere before. Thankfully, Ruhaan didn’t call me out on it. God, if he had, I would’ve been in serious trouble. As he walked away to greet other associates, I found myself chatting with his parents. His mother, Suha, was incredibly sweet and warm, which only made me feel guiltier about my little lie.
But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about Ruhaan. Those piercing blue eyes and that sculpted physique... Kiaraa, what are you doing? I mentally scolded myself. Something about tonight felt off, as if there was a hidden agenda in the air. Maybe they were planning... no, it couldn’t be. Could it?
After a while, I excused myself, needing some air. As I navigated through the crowd, I accidentally bumped into someone. My heel twisted, and I was about to crash to the ground when a strong arm caught me by the waist. My eyes squeezed shut, bracing for impact that never came. Instead, I felt a steady, warm grip holding me up.
Opening my eyes, I found myself staring into those same blue eyes that haunted my thoughts. My heart raced. Blue eyes teri hypnotize kardi hai mainu, I couldn’t help but think, mentally singing the lyrics.
“Careful,” Ruhaan's voice was deeper, huskier, and it snapped me back to reality. He helped me stand straight, and I whispered an embarrassed, “I’m so sorry.”
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Ruhaan's POV
I had been engaged in a serious conversation with an associate when someone collided into me. Instinctively, I caught her by the waist. Her eyes were shut tight, and I could feel her heartbeat racing against my hand. My own pulse quickened, as if we were connected somehow. When she opened her eyes, the way she looked at me made time stand still.
Our faces were inches apart, and I could feel the warmth of her breath. It was a surreal, magnetic moment until we both snapped out of it. I helped her stand properly, the heat from where I had touched her still lingering on my hands. “Be careful,” I managed to say, my voice more gruff than usual.
She apologized again, but as she turned to leave, I noticed something: her bracelet had gotten caught on my cuff link.
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Author’s POV
Kiaraa’s bracelet glinted under the soft lights, tangled with Ruhaan’s cuff link. They both paused, realizing the situation. As Ruhaan tried to untangle it, his fingers accidentally brushed over her hand, sending shivers down her spine. She blushed, unable to control the warmth spreading across her cheeks.
Ruhaan’s eyebrows knitted together with concentration. “Hold still,” he commanded, his voice suddenly huskier, lower, more intimate.
Kiaraa’s heart pounded. She swallowed, her voice coming out in a nervous whisper. “I am holding still.”
Their eyes locked, and the world around them seemed to vanish for a moment. Time seemed to stretch out endlessly. His fingers brushed over her skin again, and she had to fight back a nervous giggle. The proximity, the warmth of his touch—it was dizzying.
“Almost got it,” Ruhaan murmured, his gaze flickering from the bracelet to her face. His jaw clenched as he worked to untangle the delicate chain, and she could feel the tension radiating from him. When he finally managed to free the bracelet, they both exhaled, a subtle tension breaking between them.
Kiaraa took a step back, clutching her hand where he had touched her. Why am I blushing so much? she thought, scolding herself. Maybe all those romance novels have made me delusional.
Ruhaan watched her walk away, an amused smirk forming on his lips. There was something endearing about the way she flustered so easily.
---
Author’s POV
The party eventually wound down, and everyone started heading home. Ruhaan and his family returned to their mansion, but the unease he felt earlier hadn’t dissipated. After getting refreshed, he was summoned to the living room, where his father, Abhimaan, waited with a serious expression.
Ruhaan’s family had gathered, even his sister Ruhi and cousin Dhruv, who exchanged mischievous smiles. Something was definitely up. Those little devils, he thought, already feeling dread creeping up his spine.
“Sit down,” Abhimaan commanded, gesturing toward the couch. “We have something important to discuss.”
Ruhaan sat, wary. “Not another marriage talk,” he muttered.
Abhimaan ignored his complaint. “We’ve found a suitable match for you,” he announced. Ruhaan’s mother chimed in, “Unless, of course, you’re in love with someone we don’t know about.”
Ruhaan groaned. “I’ve told you a thousand times, I’m not interested in marriage.”
But before he could argue further, his mother placed a picture in front of him. The moment he saw it, he froze.
It was...
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To be continued...
I hope you all liked the chapter! Sorry for any English and grammar mistakes—English is not my first language.
What do you all think is going to happen next? Who do you think the “suitable match” for Ruhaan is? Did you enjoy the interactions between Kiaraa and Ruhaan? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section, and please don't forget to vote if you enjoyed the chapter! Your feedback and support mean so much to me.
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