Shrawrites

Vidya Nadar, who once harbored a secret crush on Kathir Rathore during their college days, had moved on after discovering he was in a committed relationship. For personal reasons, she left Delhi and started a new chapter in Singapore. The years away allowed her to heal, to forget the boy who had captured her heart without even knowing.

But when she unexpectedly returns to Delhi, fate has other plans. She crosses paths with Kathir Rathore once again. However, he is nothing like the person she remembered. The familiar face she once admired now feels like a stranger - someone entirely different, beyond anything she had ever imagined or expected.

CRUSH ON YOU (COY)

I pulled into the parking lot of the club, the deep purr of my black car cutting through the quiet night. Killing the engine, I exhaled heavily and ran a hand through my hair before stepping out. The familiar neon glow of the club sign flickered above me, casting faint shadows on the pavement.

I wasn't here for the music or the crowd. I never was. I just needed a drink. Something to drown out the thoughts clawing at my head.

As I stepped inside, the bass from the speakers vibrated through my chest, the air thick with the scent of alcohol and cigarette smoke. My eyes swept the room until they landed on Raj. He spotted me at the same time, raising a hand in greeting. I gave him a nod and made my way past the crowd, heading straight for the rooftop.

The rooftop was quieter, exactly what I needed. A space reserved for Raj and me, away from the suffocating noise below. I sank into one of the chairs, leaning back as I shut my eyes for a moment, trying to push away the frustration tightening my chest.

A few minutes later, Raj joined me, carrying two bottles of beer and a couple of glasses. He placed them on the table before sitting across from me.

"What's up dude?" Raj asked, his voice casual.

I opened my eyes and looked at him. "How was your day"

It was a lie. But I didn't feel like explaining the storm raging inside me. Instead, I reached into my pocket, pulling out a cigarette and my lighter. The flame flickered for a second before I brought it to the tip of the cigarette, inhaling deeply. The first drag burned down my throat, but the sensation was familiar. Numbing.

Raj opened a beer bottle, the faint hiss breaking the silence. "Did you go to meet your parents?"

I froze for half a second before shaking my head. "No."

My grip tightened around the cigarette as I exhaled the smoke, my gaze fixed on the city lights in the distance.

Raj sighed. "So, do you have any plans to meet them?"

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "I have no idea." The words came out sharper than I intended.

Raj poured the beer into a glass and slid it toward me. I grabbed it, my fingers wrapping around the cold glass.

"Okay, I won't ask about it again," Raj said, raising his glass. "Cheers?"

I clinked my glass against his and took a sip. The bitterness spread across my tongue, but I welcomed it. Raj had been my best friend since college. He knew when to push and when to back off.

As the night dragged on, the beer flowed, and the tension in my body eased slightly. The alcohol dulled the edges of my thoughts, making everything seem less heavy.

"I'm going to close the club," Raj announced, getting up.

Finishing my drink, I stubbed out the cigarette under my boot. The rooftop was quieter now, the wind brushing against my skin. I leaned my elbow on the table, resting my head against my hand. My eyelids felt heavier with each passing second.

Just a moment. Just until Raj came back.

The city lights blurred, the alcohol humming in my veins, and before I knew it, sleep pulled me under.

CHAPTER 7