The sleek, modern car rolled to a stop in the underground parking of the towering high-rise. The door swung open, and Pari stepped out from behind the wheel, swinging her handbag off the passenger seat. Without hesitation, she made her way to the private elevator, catching her reflection in the polished metal doors—her long hair pulled up into a high, messy bun, a few loose strands falling to frame her cheeks.
The elevator ascended in perfect silence, finally opening to the top floor. Her heels clicked sharply against the pristine marble as she strode forward. At the entrance, she keyed in the PIN on the digital lock, the door unlocking with a soft beep.
The penthouse lay in shadow, illuminated only by the faint, warm glow of a ceiling night lamp. She tossed her handbag carelessly onto the couch and climbed the stairs to the first floor. Reaching the massive door, she gripped the handle and pushed it open.
The room was cloaked in stillness, the dim light casting long shadows. Yet she knew he was here. The soft hum of music in the background… the half-finished glass of whisky on the low table… they were all the signs she needed.
Then came the quiet click of the door closing behind her. Her throat went dry. Her fingers fidgeted nervously with the fabric of her gown. The sound of slow, deliberate footsteps drew closer, the sharp, steady taps of his shoes echoing against the marble floor, each one sending a shiver down her spine.
And then she felt him, standing right behind her. His warm breath brushed against her collarbone, his fingers grazing the thin strap of her gown. She swallowed hard as his hand slid, unhurried and sure, around her waist. In an instant, her back was pressed firmly against the solid wall of his chest. She squeezed her eyes shut as his lips brushed her earlobe.
“Beautiful.”
Just that one word. Low. Certain. Dangerous.
Before she could breathe, he turned her to face him, his mouth claiming hers in a fierce, unrelenting kiss. His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her impossibly close, their bodies locked together. Her knees weakened, turning to liquid, but before she could collapse, he caught her effortlessly, one arm holding her aloft as though she weighed nothing, the other sliding to grasp her thigh, his kiss deepening with unrestrained hunger.
“Kiss me, Pari,” he murmured against her lips, his voice rough, hoarse, demanding. He grunted in satisfaction when she kissed him back, his hand stroking slowly up and down the back of her thigh.
“Ishaan…” she moaned softly, her eyes closed when his lips moved lower, finding the rapid thrum of her pulse, sucking hard enough to leave a mark.
He pinned her against the wall, his fingers toying with the delicate strap of her gown. She gasped when, with a single push, the straps slipped off her shoulders. Instinctively, she crossed her arms over her chest, eyes wide open with shock.
But he was gone.
Her breath caught as she spun around, scanning the room. Empty. Silent.
And then the truth hit her. She was in her own bedroom. In her bed. It had all been a dream. A dream about the man she had been avoiding for years. A man she had tried to erase from her life, bury in her past but who somehow still invaded her nights.
Why? Why did he still haunt her? Why did he still have this power over her?
She had hated him for everything they had shared. And yet, here he was in her dreams, in her mind, in the most intimate corners of her being.
“I haven’t seen him in years… I’ve despised him for so long. So why does he keep finding me? Why won’t he let me live?” she whispered to herself.
Frustration flared inside her. She threw the blanket aside and climbed out of bed only to freeze, eyes squeezing shut in shame as she felt the dampness between her thighs.
“For fuck’s sake, Pari… stop dreaming about him,” she muttered under her breath. “You said yes to Varun’s proposal. Even a damn dream feels like cheating on him.”
Cursing under her breath, she kicked the rug out of her way and stormed into the washroom. She splashed the water and looked at herself in the mirror.
” Ishaan “
The name escaped as a whisper and a drop of tear rolled down her cheeks.
Somewhere across the city, in the quiet luxury of a sprawling penthouse, Ishaan stirred from his sleep. His gaze fell instantly on the photo frame resting on the nightstand. Turning onto his stomach, he reached for it, his fingers gently tracing the smiling face of Pari.
“Love you, baby,” he murmured with a slow, dangerous smile. “You looked sinfully beautiful in that gown yesterday. Did you think of me… even for a second… when you said yes to that dumbass’s proposal? Just wait until I propose to you. Then you’ll know what real happiness feels like.”
His eyes darkened, his voice dropping into a low, possessive promise. “I’ll let you enjoy this little façade you believe is best for you. But I’ve stayed away long enough watching you from the shadows, holding myself back. Not anymore. It’s time I came back… and turned your world upside down.”
He set the frame back and reached for another one. This time, a different smile curved his lips. In it was his family—his anchor, his pride, his weakness, and his strength all in one frame.
His father, Reyansh Badrinath—the ruthless, untouchable titan of the business world to outsiders, but a loving and fiercely protective husband to Vaishnavi, and a doting father to his children. His mother—poised and powerful—served as the Minister of Women and Child Welfare for the country. Beside them, his twin sister Ishika, his younger brother Ayaan, and the youngest of them all, the free-spirited Adhvika.
Like his father, Ishaan was a formidable businessman—calculated, feared, and unyielding. At twenty-eight, he feared nothing… except the quiet authority of his father’s gaze. Reyansh could stop him with a single look, and Ishaan had always respected him enough to obey without question. That respect was the reason he had stayed away from Pari all these years, keeping his distance and avoiding any direct conflict within the family. He had lived apart, returning to the Reys’ manor only when he knew his Mithun mamu’s family wasn’t visiting.
His mamu Mithun and aunty Kajal loved him as much as they loved their daughter, Pari. Partners in both business and calculated mischief, crime with Reyansh, the two men were untouchable in their world. Ishaan had grown up in their shadow, absorbing their lessons, matching their ruthlessness. Today, he stood as one of the country’s top businessmen in his own right.
His younger brother Ayaan now headed Rey’s Diamond Empire along with the rest of their father’s ventures. Ishika ran their charitable trusts and orphanages across the nation, pouring her heart into both social work and her passion for painting. Adhvika—wild, carefree, and untamed—lived life entirely on her own terms, balancing moments of helping their mother with adventures of her own in dance.
Ishaan leaned back against the headboard, staring at the family photo a moment longer. “I’ve missed us,” he whispered. “Our late-night coffee runs… the way we’d laugh until sunrise. But that’s about to change. We’ll have fun again soon.”
Reaching for his phone, he scrolled until he found the number he wanted. When the call connected, a familiar voice greeted him warmly.
“Ishu “
A faint smile touched his lips. “Mamu… I need your help.”
The two men spoke for a while, their conversation laced with both warmth and purpose. When Ishaan ended the call, there was a different glint in his eyes. His plans were already in motion. He had been away from his family and from Pari for far too long.
It was time to fix everything. To bring back what was his. To put the family exactly where it belonged. And above all… to see that approving smile on his father’s face.
Meanwhile, Pari was ready for the day. As she entered the dining room, she found her parents sitting opposite each other, gazing into each other’s eyes as though they were falling in love for the very first time. She rolled her eyes playfully and cleared her throat, breaking the moment.
Still, she adored them. She craved a love like theirs, deep, unwavering, and unconditional. If she was honest, she wanted a partner like her father… or even more like her Rey uncle. Both men had set the bar impossibly high when it came to her expectations of a life partner.
She knew Varun could never reach that standard. But he was safe—predictable. They had been friends since college, and she believed in the saying: A known devil is better than an unknown angel.
Mithun and Kajal greeted her warmly, kissing her cheeks before settling down for breakfast.
“Pari,” Mithun began gently, “I think it’s time you truly settled in your life. I know you’ve said yes to Varun’s proposal… but are you certain he’s the one for you? I’ll support whatever decision you make, your Rey uncle will too but I need to know… are you sure this is the man you want to share the rest of your life with?”
Kajal’s brow furrowed in surprise. It wasn’t like Mithun to have such a conversation without discussing it with her first. Still, she stayed quiet, curious to see where this was going.
“Papa, are you doubting my choice because Varun and his family aren’t on our… level? They run their own business. ” Pari replied slowly
Kajal’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Pari, is that what you think of us? That we’d only approve of someone with money? Even if Varun had nothing, we would still support you. You’re our only daughter… the sole heir to all our businesses, your grandfather’s inheritance too. We just want to be sure you’ve chosen someone who will give you the kind of love you’ve always admired between me and your father… and between your Rey uncle and Vaishu aunty. Do you truly believe Varun can give you that?”
For a brief second, Pari’s face fell. She didn’t answer her mother but instead turned her eyes to her father.
Mithun reached over, pulling her into a gentle hug, his hand stroking her hair.
“You’re everything to us, princess. Don’t settle for anything less than what you deserve. I know Varun has been your friend for years, and you feel safe with him. But some choices… they’re not meant to be made with just the mind. Listen to your heart too. If you’re sure about him, we’ll fix the engagement as soon as possible. Date him for a while before we set a wedding date, get to know him as a partner, not just a friend. What do you say?”
Pari swallowed hard at the mention of engagement. Was she truly ready to commit to Varun? He felt like the safest escape from Ishaan… but was safety enough? Could Varun love her the way her father adored her mother? Could he protect her like Rey uncle protected his family?
She thought of the time when Rey had sent his own son away from the family home just so she wouldn’t be uncomfortable in Ishaan’s presence. She knew how much Ishaan meant to him. It had been years since Ishaan had stayed away, meeting his family only when she wasn’t around.
If she got married, Ishaan could finally return home without that unspoken barrier between them. She wanted to be free from this nagging pull in her heart, to give Varun a real chance… and to silence every lingering thought of Ishaan once and for all.
“I’m ready for the engagement, Papa.”
Mithun smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Kajal forced a smile, but inside, her heart ached for Ishaan, the boy who had has been in love with Pari for as long as she could remember. She hid her disappointment, kissed her daughter’s forehead, and let her go.
Pari gave them a weak smile and excused herself, retreating to her room. The moment the door shut behind her, she leaned against it, her mind a storm of conflicting thoughts. She told herself she was doing the right thing. That this would be better for everyone.
Back in the dining room, Kajal’s smile disappeared. She glared at Mithun, who was busy serving her breakfast.
“Why would you do that, Mithun ? You could have talked her into giving Ishaan a chance. My baby has loved her since he was a child. Don’t you think you and your stupid friend have punished him enough by keeping him away from her?” she snapped, pushing her plate aside in frustration.
Mithun only chuckled softly, pinching her nose before pouring her a glass of juice.
“My Ishu doesn’t need a love that’s handed to him out of pity or persuasion. He’s Rey’s son. He grew up watching both me and Rey. He won’t settle for anything less than a love that’s worth turning the world upside down for. We men… don’t let go of what’s ours so easily. Ishaan knows what he’s doing. He’ll know when to show up… and how to sweep her off her feet. Tell me, Kajal—who could ever resist our Ishaan’s charm?”
A reluctant smile tugged at Kajal’s lips. “So… what now?”
Mithun grinned. “Now? We celebrate. Let’s fix the engagement.”
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A/N:
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