Well that's all the Plan

✨ Chapter Update - @uthor's POV ✨3867

The three friends had just arrived at the restaurant, trying to relax after a hectic day. But Janvi quickly noticed Ria seemed off. "Ria, yaar, what's wrong?" she asked, concerned. Ria brushed it off as "college stuff" and tried to move on.

Anaya, ever the fixer, suggested some retail therapy and food to cheer Ria up. "I know exactly what you need!" she grinned. Ria's mood lifted at the thought of it.

As they were about to order, Anaya spotted Rudra across the room. Panic set in as she ducked behind a pillar to avoid being seen. Janvi followed her lead, whispering, "Why are you hiding?"

Ria, unaware of the drama, returned from the restroom, only to spot Ravi, who she quickly tried to avoid. Tension was building everywhere.

The three friends planned to slip out unnoticed, but just as they thought they were in the clear, Ria showed up, and they had to quickly adjust. "We need to go, fast," Anaya whispered.

They left, but the unresolved tension between them and Rudra/Ravi hung thick in the air.

💭 What's next for Ria, Anaya, and the crew? Stay tuned!

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with love your author 

~PENOLA.S

✧(^///^)

Ravi's jaw clenched as the weight of the silence thickened between them in the car. The air was suffocating with tension, simmering just below the surface, waiting for one spark to ignite. Ria, seated in the passenger seat with her arms crossed tightly against her chest, stared furiously out the window. Her jaw was set, lips pressed into a thin line, but it was clear she was seconds away from letting her frustration spill over.

Ravi gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white. His usually composed demeanor was frayed at the edges. The silence between them was oppressive until Ria finally broke it.

"Why did you do that?" she snapped, turning toward him sharply. "You had no right!"

Ravi didn't flinch at her outburst. His voice was calm but edged with steel. "They deserved it."

Ria's eyes blazed with anger. "Deserved it? Ravi, I was handling it! It's just a few more exams, and I'm done with that college. Why couldn't you just stay out of it?"

"Stay out of it?" Ravi's voice rose, disbelief cutting through his tone. "You shouldn't have to handle that crap alone, Ria. Those boys were harassing you—mocking you every chance they got. Don't act like it's okay."

She threw her hands up. "It's not okay! But violence isn't the answer, Ravi. What you did—beating them up—that's just going to make everything worse. They'll twist the story, paint me as the girl who needed her knight in shining armor to save her. And guess what? My dad already gets enough flak for being the college's trustee. Now they'll just add this to the list."

Ravi's expression darkened. "You think I care what they say?"

"Maybe you should! Maybe I don't want you playing hero every time something goes wrong!"

He slammed his hand against the steering wheel, startling her. "Damn it, Ria! I didn't come to your college today for fun. I heard those jerks talking about you this morning—planning to corner you after your exam." His voice dropped, laced with frustration. "I couldn't just sit in the office knowing that."

Ria blinked, her anger momentarily faltering. She swallowed hard, processing his words, but her pride wouldn't let her back down completely.

"So what?" she said stubbornly. "You think that gives you the right to just show up and punch people? Ravi, this isn't some action movie."

He exhaled heavily, shaking his head. "No, it's not. But I wasn't about to let them hurt you."

Silence filled the car again, thick and suffocating. Ria stared out the window, biting her lip to keep the tremble in her voice at bay. Something inside her churned—an unfamiliar mix of gratitude and irritation. She hated how protected she felt with Ravi around, how his presence both infuriated and comforted her.

They pulled up to her house. As soon as the car stopped, Ria yanked the door handle and slammed it shut behind her, storming toward the front entrance.

"Ria, wait," Ravi called after her, but she ignored him, her heels clicking furiously against the driveway.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice Anaya standing near the doorway until she practically collided with her.

"Whoa!" Anaya exclaimed, steadying Ria by the shoulders. "Hey, what's going on?"

Ria forced a smile, though her emotions were still swirling chaotically. "Nothing. Just—you know—a bad day."

Anaya's eyes flicked to the car where Ravi stood, watching them with a conflicted expression. She arched an eyebrow. "Looks like more than a bad day."

Ria sighed heavily. "It's... complicated."

"Isn't it always?" Anaya said knowingly, patting Ria's shoulder. "Talk later?"

Ria nodded, grateful for the exit Anaya provided. She brushed past her and headed inside without looking back.

Ravi lingered by the car for a moment, his jaw set. He wanted to follow her, to say something that would make it all right, but he knew Ria wasn't ready to hear it. Not yet.

As he turned to leave, Anaya walked up to him, a curious glint in her eyes. "You really care about her, don't you?"

Ravi didn't answer immediately. He just looked toward the house where Ria had disappeared and sighed. "Yeah," he admitted quietly. "More than she realizes."

Anaya smiled softly. "Give her time. She's stubborn, but she'll come around."

Ravi nodded, though uncertainty lingered in his heart. As he drove away, one thought echoed in his mind—he wasn't sure if Ria would ever truly let him in, but for her, he was willing to wait.

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As the door clicked shut behind Ria, the weight of the conversation still hung heavily in the air. Ravi's mind raced as he drove back, replaying the argument in his head, trying to find the right words, the right way to fix things. He couldn't help but think of Ria, her sharp words, the way she'd stormed off, her face flushed with anger and frustration. He knew she was hurt, but part of him also couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more—something deeper that she wasn't saying.

Meanwhile, Ria sat in her room, pacing back and forth. Her mind was in turmoil. She wanted to be angry at Ravi, to keep him at arm's length, but deep down, she knew his actions had been driven by a genuine concern for her. She just couldn't shake the feeling that every time he stepped in, he was taking away her ability to stand up for herself.

She stopped pacing and sat down on the edge of her bed, staring at the wall as her fingers drummed against her phone. She debated texting him, but the words never seemed right. What was there to say? She couldn't admit to him—let alone herself—that part of her felt comforted by his actions, that his presence gave her a sense of security she didn't want to acknowledge. It was confusing. It was maddening.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her from her thoughts. It was a message from Anaya: "Let's talk later? I'm here if you need to vent."

Ria stared at the message for a moment, then sighed and typed back: "Yeah, sure. It's been a hell of a day."

Just as she hit send, she heard a knock on the door. She glanced up, a little startled. "Come in."

Her mother's head poked in. "You okay, Ria? I heard the car door slam, and I saw Ravi leave… He didn't upset you, did he?"

Ria felt a knot form in her throat at the mention of Ravi's name. She managed a weak smile, trying to reassure her mother. "No, Mom. Just… a disagreement. I'm fine."

Her mother didn't look convinced, but she didn't press further. "Okay. Just remember, you can always talk to me if you need to."

Ria nodded, appreciating the gesture, but her thoughts were still tangled in what had happened with Ravi.

Meanwhile, Ravi sat in his car, parked a few blocks away from Ria's house. He wanted to leave, to just drive away and put the whole mess behind him. But something held him there, something in his gut told him he needed to make things right.

He took out his phone and stared at the screen, hovering over Ria's name. He couldn't bring himself to call. Instead, he sent her a simple text: "I'm sorry for what happened today. I just wanted to protect you, but I see now I've made things worse. I'll give you space, but if you want to talk, I'm here."

He stared at the message for a moment before pressing send, his thumb hovering over the screen as he hoped for a response. But as the minutes passed and no reply came, the silence grew heavier.

Back in her room, Ria's phone buzzed again. She hesitated before opening the message. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw it was from Ravi. She read the message, her fingers pausing over the screen as she processed his words. Part of her wanted to reply, to tell him he was right and that she appreciated his concern. But another part of her—one that was still hurt and angry—wanted to leave him hanging, to let him stew in his own uncertainty.

She let out a frustrated breath and typed a response: "I don't know, Ravi. I just… I need time to figure this out."

As soon as she sent it, she regretted it. It was vague, and it didn't give him much to work with. But the truth was, she didn't know what she wanted or what to say.

Ravi, on the other end, read the message, and a heavy sigh escaped his lips. He wasn't surprised by her words. He knew she needed time. She'd always been the type to keep people at arm's length, especially when it came to emotions. But that didn't stop him from wishing things were different, from wanting to be the person she leaned on.

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As Ravi was pulling out of the driveway, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and saw it was Rudra calling. Sighing heavily, he answered the call, trying to mask his frustration.

"Where are you?" Rudra's voice was sharp, businesslike, but there was an edge to it, like he knew something was off.

Ravi ran a hand through his hair, momentarily frustrated with the situation. He had just left Ria's house after the heated conversation, and now Rudra was calling him. "Umm, I'm coming. Just—give me 10 minutes. I'll be at the office in 10."

Rudra's tone remained unchanged, but Ravi could feel the tension on the other side. "Make it quick. I've got things to handle here." The line clicked as Rudra hung up, and Ravi couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease.

As Ravi turned his car around and drove away from Ria's house, his phone buzzed again. The number on the screen was unmistakable—it was Rudra.

He hesitated for a moment, knowing that no matter how much he wanted to shake off the weight of the day, Rudra's call demanded attention. Sighing deeply, Ravi picked up the phone.

"Where are you?" Rudra's voice came through the line, crisp and commanding as usual.

Ravi ran a hand through his hair, momentarily frustrated with the situation. He had just left Ria's house after the heated conversation, and now Rudra was calling him. "Umm, I'm coming. Just—give me 10 minutes. I'll be at the office in 10."

Rudra's tone remained unchanged, but Ravi could feel the tension on the other side. "Make it quick. I've got things to handle here." The line clicked as Rudra hung up, and Ravi couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease.

With a groan, Ravi tossed his phone into the passenger seat and turned his focus back to the road. The argument with Ria still echoed in his mind. He wasn't sure how to fix things between them. He knew he'd overstepped, but part of him believed he had done the right thing. He cared too much about her to let those boys walk all over her. But that wasn't the way Ria saw it.

As he drove toward the office, the streets blurred around him, his thoughts a jumble of confusion and frustration. What was he supposed to do? He didn't want to make things worse, but he couldn't just stand by and do nothing when it came to Ria. Still, she was stubborn—he knew that. And if there was one thing she hated, it was feeling like she was being protected or controlled.

Anaya had just finished a quick work meeting when she checked her phone and saw the message from Janvi. It was a quick note confirming that Janvi was in the office today, working on a new project. Anaya had planned to head out for a break, but seeing that Janvi was tied up at the office, she decided to adjust her plan a little.

She glanced at the clock, knowing that she could still squeeze in some time to check in on Ria. Ria had been a bit quiet since the conversation with Ravi, and Anaya could tell that her friend was still processing the emotions from earlier. She thought a distraction would help—something to get Ria out of her head and into a better mood. So, Anaya made her way to Ria's room, knocking gently on the door.

"Hey, Ria," Anaya greeted, poking her head inside. "You up for a change of scenery?"

Ria, who had been sitting by her window staring at her phone, looked up with a raised eyebrow. "Change of scenery? What's that supposed to mean?"

Anaya grinned, sensing Ria's curiosity. "I was thinking we could go out and meet Janvi. She's at the office, but why don't we take a little break and do some shopping? A little food, a little shopping—it'll help take your mind off things."

Ria's face immediately lit up. "Shopping?" she said with a playful grin. "You know the way to my heart, don't you?"

Anaya laughed, knowing Ria couldn't resist a good shopping spree. "Exactly! I thought you could use a little treat to make your mind happy."

Ria smiled, standing up and stretching. "Okay, okay. You're the best, Anaya! Let me just change and we'll go. It's been a crazy day."

Anaya winked and gave her a thumbs up. "Take your time, babe. I'll text Janvi and let her know we're coming."

Ria quickly dashed off to get dressed, and Anaya, always the planner, grabbed her phone and started a conversation with Janvi, who was still at the office working hard.

Anaya: "Hey! I'm coming by to meet you, but there's a little change in the plan—Ria's coming too. We thought we could do something fun together. You up for a girls' day out after work? Shopping and dinner?"

Janvi: "Sounds great! I'm all in. What's the plan?"

Anaya: "Well, I figured we could start with some shopping. There's this new place I've been meaning to check out. Then, after that, I found a cozy spot for dinner. You in?"

Janvi: "Perfect! Let me wrap things up here and meet you guys."

Anaya smiled, feeling like the plan was finally coming together. She tucked her phone into her bag and leaned back in her chair as she waited for Ria to finish getting ready.

A few minutes later, Ria emerged from her room, dressed in a chic yet comfortable outfit. "Ready!" she exclaimed with a grin. Anaya raised an eyebrow, impressed with how quickly Ria had transformed.

"Looking good!" Anaya said, giving her a thumbs up.

"Well, I had to look cute for our shopping trip, right?" Ria winked, grabbing her purse.

"Let's go then!" Anaya said, excited for the change of pace. "Janvi's waiting, and we've got a whole day of fun ahead."

The two of them headed out, chatting and laughing as they made their way to the car. The drive was filled with talk about everything and nothing—just the usual bestie banter. Anaya could tell Ria was already starting to feel better, her earlier tension easing with each passing minute.

They arrived at the restaurant first, the place they had chosen for dinner after their shopping spree. Anaya had already made a reservation to ensure they had a good spot. As she stepped out of the car, she saw Janvi walking up to meet them. Janvi waved as she approached.

"Hey, besties!" Janvi greeted with a big smile, and the three of them shared a quick hug.

Anaya grinned and gestured to the restaurant. "I thought this place would be perfect for a little girls' night. The vibe is amazing, and the food is even better."

Janvi's eyes lit up. "I'm so ready for this! I've been stuck in meetings all day, so this is the perfect way to unwind."

Ria, now fully relaxed, smiled at her friends. "I'm glad you guys talked me into this. I definitely needed a distraction."

The three of them headed inside, laughing and chatting about everything from work to personal life. The energy between them was lively, and for a moment, the weight of the world seemed to lift. They ordered appetizers and drinks, and as they dug into their meal, the conversation flowed effortlessly.

Ria, who had been so tense earlier, was now completely at ease. She laughed at Janvi's jokes, teased Anaya about her latest project, and shared a few stories of her own. It felt like old times again—the three of them together, just enjoying the moment.

As they finished their meal, Anaya leaned back in her chair, satisfied. "This was exactly what I needed. We should do this more often."

Janvi nodded in agreement. "Agreed! We always get so caught up in work and life. It's nice to just have a break, you know?"

Ria raised her glass. "Here's to more girls' days out. To us!"

The three friends clinked their glasses, a symbol of their bond and the way they always managed to lift each other up, no matter the situation.

As the evening wore on, they continued to chat, shop, and just enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Ria was no longer thinking about her conversation with Ravi, and Anaya and Janvi could see how much better she felt.

The girls had no idea what the future held for each of them, but in that moment, it didn't matter. They had each other, and that was all they needed.

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The three friends had finally arrived at the restaurant, the tension of the day slowly melting away as they entered the lively, buzzing space. The soft glow of the hanging lights and the rich aromas from the kitchen helped calm their nerves. After settling into their table, Janvi, ever the observant one, quickly noticed the subtle change in Ria's expression. 

"Ria, yaar," Janvi said softly, her brow furrowing in concern. "What happened? You look like someone stole your favourite thing." 

Ria flashed a tight smile, trying to brush it off. "Bas yaar, just some college stuff. You know how it is. And today's been a bit much, that's all." Her voice had an edge of exhaustion to it, but she didn't want to dwell on it. 

Anaya, sensing her friend's mood, decided to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Ria, you know what you need? A little retail therapy and some good food. I know just the thing. What do you say?" she said with a mischievous smile, knowing full well Ria's love for shopping and food would get her in a better mood.

Ria's eyes lit up, and her frown instantly turned upside down. "Anaya, baby, you know me too well!" she replied, grinning. "Let me just freshen up and we can go."

Anaya gave Ria a quick thumbs-up as she pulled out her phone to text Janvi, letting her know their plan had shifted. "Change of venue, Janvi! You cool with that?"

Janvi rolled her eyes but smiled. "You two are something else," she replied, before sending a quick message to confirm the change of plans. 

Soon enough, the girls found themselves at a vibrant, cozy restaurant. They were led to their table by the staff, and as they settled down, Janvi was the first to speak up, her gaze softening as she looked at Ria. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked quietly. "You know you can talk to me, right?"

Ria nodded, offering a small but genuine smile. "Really, Janvi, it's nothing. Just the usual college drama. Don't worry."

Just as they were about to order, Anaya froze, her attention caught by a familiar voice. She knew that voice anywhere. It was Rudra. The weight of his presence hit her even before she saw him, and her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes quickly scanned the restaurant, landing on him seated with two others. 

Anaya's breath hitched, and before she knew it, she was standing up, making her way toward a pillar to hide behind. She couldn't be seen by him, not like this.

Janvi noticed Anaya's sudden movement and followed her gaze. "What's wrong? Why are you hiding?"

Anaya quickly shushed her friend. "Shh… please! It's Rudra. And he's with two other guys. I don't want him to see me."

Janvi's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, God. Why is he here?"

Anaya bit her lip, her thoughts racing. "I didn't expect to see him tonight. Not like this. I can't face him right now. Not after everything." 

Janvi looked at Anaya for a moment before glancing toward the restroom, where Ria had just gone. "Okay, but we need to get out of here before they notice us," she whispered. "We can't let them see us."

Meanwhile, Ria had just entered the restroom, unaware of what was unfolding outside. She didn't know that Rudra and his friends were so close. As she finished and stepped out, she froze for a moment when she spotted Ravi walking out of the men's washroom. His appearance was unexpected, and she sighed in frustration.

"Ravi," she muttered under her breath, clearly not in the mood for another confrontation. She quickly averted her gaze, trying to avoid him at all costs.

Ravi, on the other hand, stopped when he saw her. His expression shifted from annoyance to concern. "Ria, wait, I—" he started, but she cut him off.

"No, Ravi," she said, her voice sharp. "Not tonight. Please just let me be."

Ravi hesitated for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. "Okay, Ria. But we need to talk. Later, alright?"

Ria didn't answer. She just moved past him, her heart pounding as she rejoined Anaya and Janvi, both of whom were anxiously glancing toward the door, ready to make their escape.

Anaya, still hiding behind the pillar, watched the scene unfold from afar. Her heart was racing. She could see that Ria was upset, but there was no time to address it right now. She motioned to Janvi, and the two of them started making their way toward the exit, hoping to slip out unnoticed.

But just as they thought they might escape without a hitch, Ria appeared, and the three of them quickly adjusted to the situation. There was no turning back now.

"We need to get out of here, fast," Anaya whispered urgently.

Janvi nodded. "Agreed. Let's go before they spot us."

As the trio slipped out of the restaurant, they couldn't help but glance back. They knew the night was far from over, but they also knew that sometimes, it was better to walk away and breathe before the storm hit.

They may have left the restaurant, but the unresolved tension between them and the people they were trying to avoid lingered in the air like a thick fog.