ARVI

*Ring *Ring *Ring

Arvi’s eyes flew open at the shrill sound of her phone. Groggy and confused, she blinked against the harsh morning light pouring through the window. Rubbing her eyes, she reached blindly for her phone, finally answering the call with a croaky voice.

"Arvi! You're late! It's your first day of college, for God's sake!"

A familiar voice sharp and panicked  burst through the speaker.

Her heart sank.

"Oh no!" she gasped, bolting upright. Panic rushed through her veins like cold water. She scrambled to her wardrobe, pulling on a black kurti and a pair of worn blue jeans. There was no time for makeup or elaborate accessories just a simple watch and tiny earrings. She slung her bag over her shoulder, locked her tiny room, and dashed out onto the bustling street.

She hailed an auto-rickshaw with frantic waves, her heart hammering against her ribs.

The journey to college blurred past. The city's noise honking cars, shouting vendors, barking dogs all melted into the background as her mind raced ahead of her.

As she stepped out of the rickshaw and was about to rush through the college gates, a voice called out.

"Arviii!"

She turned immediately.

There she was  Nia. Her sunshine. Her anchor.

Without thinking, Arvi sprinted towards her, wrapping her best friend in a tight hug.

"I missed you so much, Nia," she whispered, blinking back sudden tears.

"If that was true, you'd have visited me, haina?" Nia teased, mock pouting.

"You know my situation, Nia... you can't be mad at me," Arvi said, nudging her shoulder playfully.

"Mad? Never. You're my baby girl," Nia smiled, squeezing her tighter.

They giggled like old times, linking arms as they walked inside, the weight of loneliness lifting from Arvi’s chest for the first time in a long time.

The day passed in a whirl of introductions, lectures, and hurried note-taking.

When college ended, Arvi sat alone on a bench, staring blankly at the falling leaves, her mind wandering into dark corners she wished she could avoid  life, survival, loneliness.

The auto driver’s rough voice snapped her back.

"Madam, paise?"

Blushing in embarrassment, she quickly paid the fare and stumbled into her little room.

The four walls that were supposed to be her shelter sometimes felt like a prison, closing in when the memories grew too heavy.

She freshened up with a quick, cold shower and changed into her restaurant uniform a plain black shirt and trousers.

This was her second life: working evenings to pay for her tiny existence.

Arvi’s story wasn't ordinary.

She was an orphan.

Her parents  once wealthy and well loved  had perished in a tragic car crash when she was only two. She had survived, yes but merely breathing wasn’t the same as living.

No warm bedtime stories. No packed lunches. No comforting hugs after a bad dream.

Her world had been an endless string of "what-ifs" and "why-me’s."

At eighteen, she had refused the arranged marriage the orphanage had planned for her. She had packed her bags, her courage, and her dreams, and walked into a world that barely noticed her.

Homeless nights. Hunger pangs. Cold floors. Still, she fought.

Nia sweet, stubborn Nia had found her, given her a place to sleep, and a hand to hold.

It was Nia who helped her land a job at Lily Restaurant.

It was Nia who reminded her that she was not born to be invisible.

But still...

At night, when the world slept, Arvi lay awake, staring at the ceiling, aching for a family that only lived in her memories.

Her birthdays were the cruelest reminders.

The day she was supposed to be celebrated... was the day she became an orphan.

She hated that day.

Hated it with the fierce, wild rage only grief could sharpen.

Once, when the girls at the orphanage had tried to throw her a small surprise, she had screamed at them, shattered plates, slammed doors.

Because how do you celebrate the day everything you loved was taken away?

Snapping back to the present, Arvi fixed her hair, put on a brave face, and left for work.

The restaurant buzzed with energy. Afreen her lively colleague waved at her.

"Hello, cutie pie! Why so late today?" she teased, elbowing Arvi.

"I started college today," Arvi smiled shyly.

Afreen beamed. "That's amazing, Arvi! But... are you sure you can manage both college and this job? It’s a lot."

"I don’t have a choice," Arvi said simply, her voice soft but steady.

"Come, come. Before boss sees us chatting," Afreen said, tugging her inside.

Just as they fell into their usual rhythm  cleaning tables, taking orders  a sharp voice rang out across the restaurant.

"Everyone, gather around!"

The staff huddled quickly, sensing urgency.

The boss stood stiffly, his arms crossed.

"We have a very special guest arriving. He has booked the entire restaurant for the next hour. I want perfection. Hospitality, service, everything. No mistakes, or you’re done. Understood?"

Nods all around.

After an hour her boss came and said,

"Arvi, you  serve drinks to Table 2. Two guests," the boss barked.

"M-me, sir?" she stammered.

"Yes, you. And remember: NO mistakes."

Nerves wrapped themselves around Arvi like chains. She picked up a tray, placed two glasses of juice carefully, and began walking.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

The clinking of glasses seemed louder than her heartbeat.

She could feel dozens of eyes watching her, willing her to fail.

And then

Their eyes met.

Piercing. Icy blue.

Commanding. Sharp.

For a moment, Arvi forgot how to breathe.

Something about him  the way he carried power like a second skin  shook her to the core.

But hidden somewhere deep in those harsh eyes was a strange kind of sadness, too.

Her grip faltered.

The tray slipped.

The glass tipped.

Juice splashed.

Straight onto the man's tailored suit.

Time stopped.

"WHAT THE FUCK. ARE YOU FUCKING BLIND?? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, YOU FOOL?"

His roar ripped through the restaurant.

Arvi’s heart plummeted. Her body froze, her face pale with horror.

The boss came running, bowing and scraping, mortified. Staff rushed to clean the mess.

"You IDIOT!" the boss yelled at her. "One guest! You had ONE job! Half your salary gone this month. GET OUT!"

Arvi stood there, mute, paralyzed by shame, tears burning her eyes. The humiliation soaked deeper than the spilled juice ever could.

Afreen quickly hugged her.

"Please don’t cry, Arvi... It was just an accident..."

But the words couldn't reach her.

"I am useless. I shouldn’t have been born," Arvi choked out, her voice breaking.

And before anyone could stop her, she tore away from Afreen’s arms and ran  past the tables, past the stares, out into the dark, gasping for air.

RAYAAN

"Listen to me, Rayaan! This isn't how you talk to people," said the man rushing behind him. Rayaan, storming away, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Oh? And now you'll teach me how to behave, Riaan?" Rayaan turned, voice calm but cutting.

"But that girl was innocent, buddy. It was just a mistake spilled juice. We've all made worse."

"Maybe that works for you, Riaan. But not for Rayaan Oberoi," he snapped. "Mistakes have consequences. People only learn when they're made to."

"Rayaan, this isn't fair. You shouldn't have asked her manager to fire her. Not everyone is rich like you maybe that job was all she had."

"Stop caring too much about people, and start focusing on yourself," Rayaan said, coldly brushing past him and heading toward his BMW, leaving Riaan standing speechless.

In the car, fury bubbled inside him. He could've ended that girl's career in a blink, but he hadn't only because Riaan stepped in. "She ruined my mood," he muttered to himself. "If I ever see her again..." His jaw clenched as he remembered the incident.

Oberio Mansion

"Quick, prepare everything! My son is coming today!" Sulekha Oberoi's joy was infectious as she bustled around the grand mansion, her eyes twinkling.

"Bhabhi, calm down. If Rayaan finds out you were sick, he won't spare anyone," Jaya said, smiling.

"Let him scold me. My Ray is coming after six long months!" Sulekha beamed.

Just then, the doors swung open. Tall, striking, and sharp eyed Rayaan Oberoi stepped in.

"Mom," he said, walking straight into her arms.

"My child... my Ray... I can't believe you're here," Sulekha whispered as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Don't cry, you know I hate tears in your eyes," Rayaan said, wiping them gently.

"If the mother-son drama is done, come hug the rest of us," Jaya teased. He chuckled and hugged her, then greeted his father and uncle.

Suddenly, loud screams echoed.

"BHAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! WE MISSED YOU!"

Vivaan, Vanisha, Arekha, and Aleesha ran towards him and tackled him in a group hug.

"Get off me, you idiots," Rayaan grumbled.

"Nope! Not until you give us gifts!" Vanisha grinned.

"Oh? So that's your love language now?" Rayaan smirked.

"Bhai, please stay this time," Arekha pleaded, the others nodding.

"Bhai, do you have a girlfriend? If not, we'll start searching tomorrow," Vivaan teased.

Rayaan glared.

"Vivaan's right, Rayaan. You should think about settling down," Sulekha added hopefully.

"Yes! We want a fourth member in our girls' gang," Aleesha chimed in.

"STOP. All of you. I don't want to get married. Don't bring this up again," Rayaan said, his voice hard.

"But Ra-" Sulekha started.

"Not now, Mom," he warned and walked away.

Sulekha sighed, "God knows when he'll agree to get married. He acts like he's vowed to stay single forever."

"Then get me married, Mom. I can't handle the loneliness," Vivaan joked, only to earn a death glare.

"Chachi, you can find me a girl," he added cheekily to Jaya, who laughed until his uncle growled, "Mein karawu shaadi?"

"No no, Chachu! I was just joking!" Vivaan ran, everyone laughing behind him.

---

Meanwhile...

Arvi wandered the streets, tears silently streaming down her cheeks. Her boss's harsh words replayed like a broken record in her head. By the time she reached her small rented room, she felt hollow. She dropped her bag and collapsed onto her bed, sobbing into her pillow.

It was 9 PM when she finally stirred, her head pounding and eyes swollen. She dragged herself to the washroom, washed her face, and cooked instant noodles. She took a painkiller and stared out of her window.

"Mom... Dad... your little girl is growing up," she whispered to the stars. "I'm trying. I'm getting stronger. But today... I felt weak. So, so weak."

She wiped her tears. "I won't let this break me." She closed the window, lay down again, and tried to sleep.

It was past 2 AM. Her mind wouldn't stop. Every time she closed her eyes, his face came back. She sighed and checked her phone 18 missed calls from Afreen.

She chose not to call back and instead texted, I am okay afreen, sorry for disturbing you." With that, she turned off her phone and finally drifted off into uneasy sleep.

The Next Morning-Oberio Mansion

Soft morning light filtered through the curtains of Rayaan's room, touching his face gently. He stirred, then sat up, rubbing his eyes.

He got ready quickly and came downstairs. "Good morning," he said in his deep, husky voice.

"Good morning!" everyone chimed back. He took his seat at the head of the table.

"Bhai, you promised to give me your favorite car," Vivaan began.

"I also said you'd get it when you become worthy of it," Rayaan said, his voice like steel.

"I am worthy! I managed so much in your absence!" Vivaan protested.

"He's right," Mukesh chimed in. "Vivaan did well."

Rayaan glanced at his father. "Let him prove himself further." His voice shut down the conversation.

Everyone left one by one.

.

.

.

A knock came at his door.

"Come in."

Advik, his trusted secretary, entered with a stack of files. "These are for the upcoming meetings, sir."

Rayaan nodded, flipping through them. They managed the company well while I was gone, he thought. That's why I'm not yelling... yet.

Advik had done more than even Vivaan his own brother. Rayaan trusted him deeply. He was aware Vivaan worked, but he still had a lot to learn. The world wasn't kind, and Rayaan had learned it the hard way. He had clawed his way up with blood, sweat, and sacrifice.

He opened his laptop briefly and saw a tab open with his name. "Asia's Number One Billionaire Rayaan Oberoi," the headline read. Property worth over ₹100 crore. Another article claimed he was dating actress Lyala.

He chuckled. Dating? Me? Fools. If I wanted, I'd ruin the life of the one who wrote that but nah, let them buzz.

He leaned back, lips curling into a smirk.

Let the world talk. I don't care as long as I win.