𝟺. 𝑶𝒍𝒅 𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒔 , 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒔

The next morning in Udaipur felt

strangely quiet, almost suspiciously calm-considering the fact that the entire Shekhawat household was a mix of royalty, chaos, and people who fought over the last paratha like it was a matter of national security.

Aarini barged into the living room with her usual hurricane energy, her hair bun already leaning sideways like it was tired of her nonsense.

"GOOD MORNING, MY GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL, SENSIBLE, SMART SISTERS!" she declared dramatically.

Rudri looked up from her laptop, unimpressed. "What do you want?"

"I want nothing," Aarini said innocently.

Devika snorted. "She wants something."

Mahek raised an eyebrow. "She wants something dangerous."

Aarini gasped. "How dare you?! I only want information."

Rudri leaned back. "Go on, Sherlock..."

Aarini sat between them like a Bollywood heroine interrogating side characters. "SO... tell me," she clasped her hands together.

"Have you three found someone yet?"

Devika blinked. "Someone? Like what? A tutor? A therapist?"

Aarini flung a cushion at her. "You idiot. I meant a LIFE PARTNER. A soulmate. A forever person. A......"

Rudri groaned. "Aarini stop watching those romantic reels before sleeping."

"I WILL NOT!" she declared proudly. "Now answer me. Who is in love? Who is flirting? Who is secretly planning a wedding without calling me?"

Rudri shrugged. "No one."

Devika shook her head. "No one."

Aarini turned to Mahek.

Mehek was silent.

But a tiny, almost unnoticeable smirk slipped onto her face before she controlled herself.

Aarini's eyes widened. "AHA! YOU! YOU HAVE SOMETHING!"

Devika and Rudri turned sharply toward Mahek.

Mehek panicked. "I- No- I don't- Will you guys shut up?!"

Aarini dramatically placed her hand over her chest. "I KNEW IT. My romantic intuition never fails."

Mehek glared at her. "Stop imagining things."

Aarini narrowed her eyes. "Then why did you smile like someone opened your secret memory box?"

That did it.

Mehek stiffened.

The smile vanished.

And something flickered in her eyes-something heavy, something she didn't allow anyone to see.

Rudri nudged Aarini. "Okay now stop. She looks like she'll stab you with a pencil."

Aarini pouted but didn't push further. For once.

Just then, Arav entered with his suitcase.

"Leaving already?" Aarini asked.

He nodded. "Work. Flights. Meetings. Being an adult is torture."

Mehek hugged him. "Travel safe."

He smiled and flicked her forehead.And said "Try not to murder someone while I'm gone."

Devika stretched. "Too late, she's already planning something."

Arav turned to Aarini. "And YOU behave."

Aarini saluted. "I am the definition of behavior."

Everyone: "NO YOU'RE NOT."

Before leaving, Arav said, "Oh and since I'll be out of Rajasthan for a week, Mehek-you'll help Aarini in the office."

Mehek's expression dropped. "WHAT?"

Aarini clapped excitedly. "YESSS! My emotional support human is coming with me!"

Mehek groaned. "I am regretting being born."

But fate had already signed her up for pain-she just didn't know how much.

She was about to refuse, until all her members said

Yes,

Mehek is perfect

Mehek knows about this line

Mehek will make things more simpler

Meanwhile, Mehek, Hey bhagwan ab mein kya he karu jb khudki he family dushman banne.

( Hey, God what can I do when my own family members are acting like my enemies)

THE RATHORE ARRIVAL AT SHEKHAWAT GROUP

Because today...

it was Veeransh Singh Rathore's turn to come to Shekhawat Group.

But,But

with his cousin.

Aryavardhan Singh Rathore.

The building felt heavier, sharper.

Like the air itself was preparing for a World War.

Aarini wore a crisp pastel co-ord, hair tied neatly, expression ready to kill or impress-depending on who spoke first.

Mehek walked beside her, arms crossed, calm but annoyed.

Aarini whispered, "Listen, if Veeransh tries insulting me again, remind me not to stab him with my pen."

Mehek sighed. "I'm the one who needs reminders to not stab people."

As they reached the main hallway, the doors opened-and the Rathores entered.

Veeransh walked first.

Cold.

Sharp jaw.

Eyes that looked like they had personally rejected world peace.

And right behind him-

Aryavardhan.

Tall, confident, wearing a black shirt and a smirk that could start a riot.

The moment Mehek saw him...

Her breath stopped.

Literally stopped.

Her heart clenched so painfully she had to grip the railing beside her.

She in her mind - No, No No

It wasn't a soft ache.

It was a memory-one that stabbed instead of soothed.

Aryavardhan's eyes found her instantly.

And for a second...

Everything froze.

His steps halted.

The smirk faded.

His jaw tightened.

His fingers curled slightly-like he had to control himself from reaching out.

Aarini whispered, "Um... why does he look like he wants to kill someone or hug someone? I can't tell."

Mehek whispered, voice trembling, "Shut. Up."

But Aarini's eyes widened as she looked between them. "OHHH. You two know aaah-"

Mehek elbowed her hard.

Aryavardhan tore his eyes away first, turning cold instantly.

Veeransh didn't miss the shift-his brow rose slightly-but he said nothing.

"Good morning," Veeransh said formally.

Aarini crossed her arms. "Depends on who's talking."

His jaw ticked. "Don't start."

"You started breathing in my direction. That's enough."

Mehek face-palmed. "Aarini, STOP."

Aryavardhan spoke coldly, his eyes flickering to Mehek for only half a second:

"We're here for work. Not drama."

Aarini smirked. "That's ironic considering your face causes drama."

Veeransh exhaled like he was questioning his existence. "Can we just begin the meeting?"

INSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM

Aarini led the presentation with confidence, sarcastic comments, and a sprinkle of harmless arrogance that somehow made her look even more in control.

Mehek sat behind her, typing notes, trying not to look at Aryavardhan-who was doing a lousy job at not looking at her.

Veeransh interrupted mid-presentation.

"Aarini, this data comparison is wrong."

She stared at him. "No, it's not. Your eyesight is wrong."

A few employees coughed to hide their laughs.

Veeransh's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Are you questioning my knowledge?"

"Always," Aarini replied sweetly.

Aryavardhan choked back a laugh-and Mehek shot him a glare that could melt steel.

Veeransh continued, irritated.

"This percentage doesn't align with last quarter's reports."

Aarini clicked the slide.

"It does. Because unlike SOME PEOPLE, I checked the backup files before coming."

But,When Aarini noticed carefully it was actually wrong. And said wait wait,

Every head turned to look at them

And then Veeransh said humesha tum he sahi nahi ho skti

And for the first time...

She didn't have a comeback.

Aryavardhan leaned back in his chair with a tiny smirk, whispering just loud enough for Mehek to hear:

"To fir Mehek Shekhawat kaisi ho ."

Mehek heat aches After listening her name from Aryavardhan

Mehek looked away sharply.

And then Mehek said tumhare Jane se pehle jese thi as compared to that mein usse 10x zyada acchi hoon

Aryavardhan smirked.

Aarini continued confidently.

"If you're done doubting my competence, we can move to the next graph."

Veeransh clenched his jaw but said nothing.

AFTER THE MEETING - THE FIRST INTERRUPTION

Everyone stood and gathered their files. The tension in the room was enough to slice bread.

Aarini whispered to Mehek, "What is going on between you two? Tell me or I'll shake it out of you."

Mehek muttered, " kuch bhi nahi chl rha."

Aarini: "NO."

Before Mehek could escape, Aryavardhan walked toward them.

Every step of his felt intentional.

Almost... restless.

He stopped right in front of Mehek.

"You still avoid eye contact," he said quietly.

Mehek froze

Aarini's mouth fell open.

Veeransh looked up sharply.

Mehek's voice was ice. "I avoid things that wasted my time."

A flicker of hurt flashed across Aryavardhan's eyes-but he masked it instantly.

"A lot has changed, Mehek."

"And a lot hasn't," she replied.

The air became suffocating.

Veeransh stepped forward, confused.

"You two know each other?"

Mehek said No,

Aryavardhan said perfectly.

Aarini whispered, "OH this is better than Netflix."

Veeransh glared at her. "Shut up, Aarini."

Aarini: "You shut up."

Mehek walked out to the balcony to breathe.

Aryavardhan followed.

"Don't," she warned without turning. "Stay away."

He leaned against the railing beside her. "I tried staying away for years."

Mehek flinched.

"That part of my life is dead," she said.

Aryavardhan's voice softened-barely. "But you're still hurt."

She looked at him finally. "Yes. Because you chose your family over me."

Aryavardhan said and So do you.

He swallowed.

"And now?" she asked bitterly. "Are you here to break something again?"

"No," he said quietly.

"I'm here because fate clearly wants to torture both of us."

Aarini walked downstairs laughing at the childhood photos for almost getting murdered by Mehek for stealing her chocolate.

Veeransh watched her from the corridor-expression unreadable.

Mehek stood alone inside, breathing heavily, trying to stitch old wounds that Aryavardhan had ripped open just by existing.

Aryavardhan leaned against the wall, staring at the floor, realizing that the past he buried was still alive... and still burning.

What none of them knew...

That someone had already placed the first clue.

Somewhere.

A clue that would expose everything.

But for now,

Love, revenge, rivalry, and secrets

were all beginning to collide.

And the storm had only just begun.

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- Author

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