Authors pov:

The living room buzzed with soft laughter as Aleesha, Arekha, and Vanisha chatted animatedly with Arvi, who sat cross legged on the floor, chin resting on her palm.

"I love when the sky turns that deep orange before sunset," Aleesha said dreamily, twirling a strand of her hair.

"Same!" Arekha nodded. "But I absolutely hate mornings. Especially Monday ones."

Vanisha chimed in, "And I can't stand people who chew loudly. Instant ick."

Arvi chuckled, "You girls have very specific dislikes."

Before Vanisha could reply, Sulekha Aunty's phone rang from the coridor. She picked it up, smiling slightly at the number flashing on the screen.

"Hello?" she said, and then, her face lit up like someone had turned on fairy lights inside her.

"Ray," Her voice shot up in joy. "You're coming home?"

The girls immediately went still, their eyes wide. Then almost on cue Aleesha, Arekha, and Vanisha jumped to their feet.

"Our brother's coming back?" Aleesha grinned.

"Finally!" Vanisha added, her hands clasped.

Arekha was already texting someone: Guess who's back?

Arvi stood up too, but more slowly, her curiosity piqued. She turned toward the hallway, where two of the house staff were passing by with fresh towels.

"Rayaan Oberoi is coming?" one whispered. "Ugh, he's so rude. Always giving orders."

"He doesn't even greet properly," the other agreed. "Just cold eyes and commands."

Arvi's eyebrows knit together.

Rayaan Oberio hearing this name she felt something but why?

A name she have heard before... but clearly, it held more weight in this house more she thinks

And now he was returning.

The storm in the silence.

Arvi's pov:

Ever since Sulekha Aunty hung up the phone, excitement buzzed in the air like static. Aleesha, Arekha, and Vanisha were practically glowing with energy as they hurried to fluff cushions, adjust curtains, and straighten their already-immaculate outfits.

Arvi sat on the edge of the couch, watching them with a confused frown.

"Okay... can someone tell me what's going on?" she asked, finally.

Arekha paused, turning with a raised brow. "You heard the call, didn't you?"

"Yes, but... who exactly is Rayaan?" Arvi asked, folding her arms. "You all just turned into human tornadoes the moment you heard his name."

The girls exchanged glances half amusement, half hesitation.

"He's our older brother," Vanisha said.

"Rayaan Oberoi," Aleesha added, as if the name should explain itself.

Arvi blinked. "Okay... and?"

Aleesha chuckled. "And he's basically the Oberoi household's king."

"Dictator," Arekha muttered under her breath, earning a smirk from Vanisha.

"He's very-" Vanisha paused, searching for the right word. "Commanding."

"Rude," Arekha offered. "Most of the staff tiptoe around him."

"He hates small talk," Aleesha said. "And he hates being questioned. Always so... serious."

Arvi's eyes widened a little. "You're making him sound terrifying."

"He kind of is, honestly," Vanisha admitted. "But only because he doesn't waste time. He's... intense. You'll see."

Arvi's brows knit together. "And he's coming here?"

"Any moment now," Aleesha said with a little bounce. "It's been almost 6 months but he came but then headed back again "

"I don't think I'm ready for someone like that," Arvi said with a nervous laugh. "What if he thinks I'm intruding or something?"

Arekha walked over and placed a comforting hand on Arvi's shoulder.

"Hey," she said gently. "He might be hard to read, but he's not heartless."

Vanisha added, "And once he knows you're staying here with us, he'll be surprised, yes but not angry."

Aleesha leaned in with a wink. "Honestly? He might just be happy to see someone new... someone not afraid of him."

Arvi gave a hesitant smile, but inside her chest, her heart thudded a little louder.

Rayaan Oberoi.

Still a name.

Still a mystery.

But not for long.

Rayaan's pov:

The road stretched ahead, familiar as muscle memory. Trees lined the sides, their shadows flickering across the car windows as the sun dipped low in the sky.

I leaned against the backseat, watching them blur by. The silence in the car was welcome not awkward, just... calm. Like the air before a soft rain.

The Oberoi mansion.

My home.

Not perfect. Not quiet. But mine.

I never said much on calls. I was never one for long texts or heart emojis. But every corner of that house every balcony, every hallway held pieces of who I was. Who we were.

The car slowed as the gates came into view. The driver glanced up, maybe expecting something from me. A comment. A sigh. I gave none. Just watched the iron gates slide open, smooth and slow.

This wasn't pressure.

This wasn't duty.

This was homecoming.

My phone buzzed.

Vanisha:

"Don't be late. Everyone's waiting."

A corner of my mouth lifted barely a smile, but real.

I adjusted the cuffs of my shirt. Fixed my collar. Not for the world just for them. They'd say I looked the same, maybe tease me about my hair or my silence.

They'd talk.

I'd listen.

That was how we worked.

I leaned slightly forward as the mansion came into full view, sunlight dancing off its windows.

Everything was exactly where it had always been.

And yet, something felt different.

A shift.

Like... something, or someone, new.

But I didn't let my thoughts wander too far.

Not yet.

I sat back, exhaled slowly, and murmured to myself....

"I'm home."

Rayaan stepped out, the hem of his coat catching in the wind as he glanced up at the grand Oberoi mansion bathed in soft evening gold, its warmth spilling out through the open doors.

And standing in the doorway... his family.

"Rayu!" Sulekha aunty's voice cracked through the quiet.

She rushed forward, draping her arms around him like she never wanted to let go. He stiffened for a second then relaxed into the hug, pressing a quiet kiss to her head.

"Mom," he said softly. That one word held everything he couldn't say.

Behind her came Mukesh, his father, with a proud but subtle smile. He nodded, clapped a firm hand on Rayaan's shoulder-no dramatic words, just understanding.

Then Shankar uncle and Jaya aunty, welcoming him with soft laughter, and half a dozen voices colliding all at once-

"Finally!"

"You didn't forget us, huh?"

Aleesha, Arekha, Vanisha, and Vivaan all crowded around him, throwing chaos and affection like confetti. Vivaan hugged him like a younger brother starved for that presence; the girls all talked over each other, fighting for his attention.

Rayaan just... stood there. Let it in.

Let himself feel it.

Then suddenly sulekha said "Oh and there's someone you haven't met yet."

She motioned toward a figure just stepping around the corner.

Rayaan turned.

And time stopped.

Her.

The girl

From the restaurant.

Sulekha called her

"Arvi beta, come here."

She stepped out slowly, her dupatta clutched a little tighter than necessary. Her head was bowed for a second then she looked up.

And Rayaan's world. Just. Froze.

That face.

Those eyes.

The trembling lip he remembered.

A spilled drink.

His angry voice-loud, sharp, cold.

Her wide, tearful eyes.

The way she'd whispered, "I'm sorry," again and again, even as her hands trembled and her breath broke.

"This is Arvi," Sulekha smiled, unaware of the storm brewing. "She's staying with us for a while."

Arvi's pov:

Sulekha aunty's voice rang down the corridor, light and warm like always. Arvi wiped her palms on her kurti and walked out, soft footsteps echoing on the marble. She had no idea who will be rayaan oberio

She turned the corner, adjusting her dupatta.

And froze.

Her breath caught. Her throat closed.

Standing in the middle of the doorway, surrounded by people, was him.

Rayaan Oberoi.

Her stomach twisted.

She couldn't breathe.

The world didn't just stop it collapsed under her feet.

That face.

That voice.

Those words that had been burned into her memory, no matter how much she'd tried to forget.

"Are you fucking stupid? You idiot!"

"Look what you've done you fool!"

She hadn't been thinking. She was just nervous. Her hands had slipped, the drink had spilled, and in a blink, everything had shattered.

She'd apologized. Again and again.

But he hadn't stopped.

Not once.

He humiliated her in front of everyone.

Because of him she was in this condition

She remembered how she cried in the middle of the road

How she met with these cheap boys

How her hands wouldn't stop shaking even in bed that night.

And now... this man. This storm who had ruined everything in a single moment

He stood in front of her.

In the Oberoi mansion.

The same house she had begun to feel safe in.

Sulekha aunty turned to her, smiling proudly.

"This is Arvi. She's staying with us now."

Arvi didn't speak for a second.

And when she did, it wasn't her voice it was his,

"I'm Rayaan. Rayaan Oberoi." "Nice to meet you" he extended his hand for hand shake

Her heart pounded.

She didn't want to touch him.

Every cell in her body screamed no.

But the room was full. Everyone was watching. Smiling.

She couldn't say no. So she raised her hand.

And the moment their palms met, she felt it.

His grip. Firm at first. Then tighter. Too tighter.

Her fingers instinctively twitched, trying to pull away.

But he didn't let go immediately.

His eyes met hers, unwavering.

She knew that look.

It wasn't kindness.

It wasn't anger either.

It was control.

Like he wanted her to feel the discomfort without a word. A silent reminder of who he was. Of what she'd done.

She looked down quickly, her breath shaky.

But she didn't snatch her hand away.

She didn't react.

Because she wouldn't give him that satisfaction.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally let go.

"I.. I'm Arvi", she said.

"Good to see you" he said taking a pause then whispers " again".

Authors pov:

Rayaan stormed into the living room of the Oberoi Mansion, his footsteps echoing through the silence. His face was flushed with fury, his eyes sharp and demanding answers. "Mom, what the hell is going on?" he barked, barely holding back his rage. "Who is that girl living upstairs?"

Sulekha looked up from her seat calmly and replied, "Her name is Arvi. She's living here. She needs time." But her calmness only fueled Rayaan's anger further. "Resting? In my house? In Oberoi Mansion?" he snapped. "And no one thought it was important to tell me that a complete stranger is living under my roof?"

He paced across the room, clearly agitated, running a hand through his hair. "What if she's dangerous? What if she's hiding something? You didn't even think this through!" he shouted. His voice echoed off the marble floors, but Sulekha remained firm. "I thought enough," she said steadily, "To not leave a terrified, unconscious girl alone on the road while three boys on bikes were circling her like vultures."

Rayaan snaped back "What...?"

"She was on the side of the road," Sulekha continued, her voice soft but resolute. "Curled up near the pavement, barely conscious. Those boys were circling her, laughing, watching. I saw them with my own eyes. And I knew what could have happened if I had arrived even a minute later. So yes, I brought her here."

Rayaan's jaw clenched as he absorbed the weight of the situation. But still, his pride surged. "You brought her into Oberoi Mansion like she's one of us?" he asked bitterly.

Sulekha met his gaze without flinching. "No," she said firmly. "I brought her in like a mother would. Like any human being should." Her voice cut through his anger like ice. "She had no one. No phone. No bag. No help. Just fear written all over her face."

Rayaan was silent for a moment, the fire in his chest still burning. "It's not your responsibility, Mom," he muttered, his voice lower now, but still laced with frustration.

"Maybe not," she replied gently. "But your silence in this house doesn't mean I need permission to do what's right."

Rayaan rushed to his room furiously.

Rayaan's pov:

I slam the door shut behind me, my jaw locked, hands fisted. What the hell is happening in this house? One minute I'm gone, and the next, a complete stranger is living under my roof. No warning. No explanation. And Mom? Acting like it's the most normal thing in the world.

Arvi. That's what she called her. Arvi. As if that name should mean something to me. As if it justifies any of this.

I pace my room, heart pounding with frustration. I know her type. I've seen enough girls like her wide eyes, trembling lips, playing the victim like it's second nature. Gold diggers. Manipulators. They know exactly how to twist sympathy around their fingers.

Maybe she followed me. Maybe she found out who I am, what my name carries. That's how these girls work. They sniff out power and latch into it. And now, she's here... in my house, in my space, with my mother defending her like she's one of us.

God, I hate this feeling. The invasion. The discomfort. The audacity.

She probably thinks this is her big chance. That I'll walk in, feel sorry for her bruises, and fall into her trap. Well, she's wrong. I don't fall for sob stories, and I definitely don't get manipulated by strangers.

They all want attention. A little drama, a little pity, a rich name to stand beside and suddenly, they feel important. I've dealt with it before, and I'm not doing it again.

Arvi's pov:

I sat curled up in the farthest corner of the room, hugging my knees so tightly it felt like the only thing holding me together. My chest ached with every breath I took, tears slipping down my cheeks silently, endlessly. I had no idea how I ended up here why here, of all places. The irony stung like salt in a wound. This house... this mansion... it belonged to him. To Rayaan. The very person responsible for everything that had gone wrong in my life.

If it wasn't for him, I would still have my job. If he hadn't humiliated me in front of the entire staff, if he hadn't let his rude behaviour spill into my workspace, my boss wouldn't have fired me. One reckless moment, and suddenly I was. Dispensable. Fired. All because of him. And now, I was in his home uninvited, unwanted, and drowning in humiliation.

My hands shook as I wiped my tears, the shame of everything crashing down on me. I didn't ask to be found on that road. I didn't want anyone's pity. Especially not from the very people who unknowingly shattered me.

The door burst open with a force that made me flinch, and before I could even react, I felt a harsh grip on my shoulder. I froze.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Rayaan's voice was sharp, filled with venom. His fingers tightened, yanking me halfway to my feet. "You think this is a joke? You think you can just follow me, cry your way into my mother's sympathy and live here?"

My heart pounded in my chest, breath caught in my throat. I looked up at him, eyes wide, but before I could speak, his next words cut through me like a blade.

"Gold digger. That's what you are, right? Looking for comfort in rich homes now?"

I didn't say a word. I couldn't. I just stared at him, the tears now replaced by something colder hurt. Deep, quiet, burning hurt. Because the person who ruined me now stood in front of me, accusing me of crawling after the very life he helped destroy.

His eyes were wild with anger, disgust even, like I was something filthy that had somehow tainted his perfect world.

"You girls always the same," he hissed. "Looking for shortcuts. You think pretending to be helpless will make people feel sorry for you? You think my mom will hand you a place in this house? In this family? Who sent you here? Are you spying on me? After my money?"

I blinked, tears blurring everything, my voice caught somewhere between my throat and my fear. "I... I don't know you," I finally whispered, breathless. "I don't even know who you are..."

But he wasn't listening. His voice grew colder. "Right. Now you don't know me. But you knew enough to end up at my doorstep. How convenient."

"I didn't come here on purpose," I choked out, shaking my head. "I don't know anything about you. I didn't even know this was your house..."

"DONT LIE TO ME," he snapped, stepping closer. "You're playing a game. Just like every other girl who sees the Oberoi name and wants a piece of it."

I shut my eyes for a second, as if it would somehow stop the flood of words, of pain. I didn't want to be here. Not like this. Not ever.

"I swear," I whispered, barely audible now, "I didn't follow you. I didn't even know you existed..."

But none of it mattered. Not to him. He'd already decided who I was. And there was no space for truth in his version of me.

His stare bore into me like I was something disgusting, something shameful that didn't belong in his world. He let go of my shoulder, but his words those stayed, sharp and bruising.

"You make me sick," he spat, his voice low and bitter. "Whatever act you're putting on, save it for someone who's foolish enough to care. But stay the hell out of my way while you're in this house. You're not welcome here, and you never will be."

I felt something inside me flinch, like my chest caved in on itself. I didn't move. I didn't cry. I just sat there, broken in silence.

Without waiting for another word, he turned and walked out, the door slamming shut behind him like a final verdict.

The moment the door slammed behind him, silence swallowed the room whole. I stared at the space he had just stormed out of, my chest rising and falling in uneven breaths. His words echoed in my mind on repeat you're not welcome here... stay the hell out of my way... gold digger.

I felt hollow. Not just because of the insults, but because somewhere deep down, I realized he meant every single word. There was no misunderstanding. No room for explanation. In his eyes, I was a parasite.

I hugged my knees tighter, but this time, no tears came. Just a quiet, crushing numbness. What was I even doing here? How did I let it come to this staying under the roof of the man who cost me everything, now letting him humiliate me all over again?

I have to leave.

The thought settled in me like a sudden truth I should've known from the beginning. This house wasn't mine. This place, this family, none of it was for me. I didn't belong here. And no matter how kind Sulekha aunty and other family members had been, I couldn't stay especially not after this.

I had no plan. No idea where to go. But I'd rather be alone on the streets again than spend one more night under a roof where I was treated like dirt.

I needed to leave this house. As soon as possible.

Authors note:

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