Chapter 3: Unfinished Encounters

Aria took a deep breath, locking her gaze with Anshika's. There was a challenge hidden behind those familiar eyes, the same quiet arrogance she had always carried.

"Let's go," Aria said, her voice steady, giving a simple answer to the complicated question Anshika had thrown at her.

She turned on her heel, her long coat swaying slightly as she walked back toward the club entrance. As she did, she heard a soft click—Anshika clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth.

"Tsk, still the same," Anshika muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible over the club's distant thumping bass.

Aria didn't respond. She just kept walking, her boots clicking lightly against the pavement.

Behind her, Anshika's lips curled into a small, knowing smile before she followed.

Inside the Club – Unspoken Discomfort

As they reached the entrance, Anshika suddenly reached for Aria's hand, clutching it like they were best friends again.

Aria's body stiffened at the touch. The warmth of Anshika's palm against hers felt oddly suffocating, like shackles disguised as familiarity.

A strange discomfort settled in her chest.

Why the fork am I even tolerating this? she thought, her nails digging into her palm. Why did I even turn back?

She could already hear Sneha's voice in her head: "You could've just walked away, but nooo, you just had to see where this leads."

Aria fake-cried inside her mind but kept moving forward, her expression unreadable.

First Glance – Meeting Shaan's Eyes

The moment she stepped inside, a wave of warm air and dim neon lights enveloped her. The air was thick with the scent of expensive colognes, spilled drinks, and a faint trace of smoke.

And then—she saw him.

Shaan Kapoor.

Aria's breath hitched for a second, though she masked it well. He sat on the lounge seat with the same easy confidence he carried back in school, yet there was something different about him now.

His features had sharpened over time, but he still carried that delicate mix of sharp masculinity and soft elegance. He was the kind of man who looked adorably hot without trying, a balance between refined charm and effortless good looks.

The dim lighting cast shadows over his well-defined cheekbones, and his jawline—strong but not overpowering—was clean-shaven, highlighting the slight pout of his lips. His hair, a soft brown with natural waves, was neatly styled, a few strands falling effortlessly over his forehead.

But it was his eyes that held her still—dark, searching, calculating.

He wasn't looking at her with immediate recognition, but he was trying to place her, like a memory just out of reach.

His gaze flickered over her face, scanning her features with quiet intensity.

Aria felt an odd, unsettling sensation in her chest. She had changed a lot since school, but the way he looked at her now—like he was almost there, almost remembering—made something twist inside her.

Before she could process it, a voice cut through the moment.

Nishant's Entrance – A Familiar Tease

"Who is this beauty?"

Aria turned her head slightly to find Nishant strolling toward them, his usual confidence radiating from every step. His grin was playful, his eyes flicking between Anshika and Aria.

Anshika rolled her eyes with a playful scoff. "Oh, come on, don't flirt with me. Shaan is right here."

Nishant's smirk widened. "I was talking about her."

Anshika blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then, understanding dawned.

Of course, he hadn't recognized Aria.

Aria smirked, tilting her head slightly.

"Me? A beautiful disaster that's about to enter your life."

Nishant raised an eyebrow, amused. "No need to be rude."

A small chuckle escaped Aria's lips—one of those unintentional, nostalgic laughs that she hadn't meant to let out.

Because suddenly, she was back in school again.

Flashback – School Days

"Aria, go and tick the names of every student's choice of game and submit it to me at recess."

"Me, ma'am?"

"Yes, you."

The bell rang, and the teacher walked out, leaving Aria standing there, clutching the register. The moment she stepped into the center of the classroom, she felt it—the weight of every pair of eyes turning toward her.

The classroom was alive with murmurs and scattered laughter.

She swallowed hard and started asking students about their game choices, but her voice wasn't loud enough to command attention. Some students whispered, chuckled behind their palms, but she forced herself to continue.

Then, Nishant.

He reached for the register, plucking it from her hands with an easy grin. "I'll mark for the boys, or you'll take the whole year."

Laughter erupted, louder this time.

Aria's face burned with humiliation. Humiliation. Humiliation. More humiliation.

She forced a small smile and brushed it off—like she always did.

Then another day.

"Nishant, go and hear the question-answer recitation," the teacher instructed.

He did. Until he reached Aria.

She started answering, her words clear—but he held up a hand, stopping her mid-sentence.

"Your voice isn't reaching my ears."

Laughter. Again.

Aria's mind screamed. Someone give me a knife. Either I kill him, or I kill myself.

Without hesitation, Nishant turned to Anshika. "Can you do it for me?"

Anshika smirked. "Yeah, fine. You can go ahead."

Aria had no choice but to sit back down, swallowing another wave of frustration.

Back to the Present – The Truth Lands

Aria let the smirk linger on her lips as she locked eyes with Nishant.

"Wanna know who this beauty is?" she echoed.

She let the moment stretch, watching the flicker of curiosity in his expression. Then, she delivered the truth with quiet satisfaction.

"Dr. Aria."

The impact was immediate.

Nishant's jaw dropped slightly, his casual grin faltering. Aryan, who had been lounging beside Shaan, stiffened, his drink pausing mid-air.

But Shaan…

Shaan didn't react the way they did. He didn't look surprised. He didn't laugh.

He just stared at her. Intensely.

Not like he had been trying to place her anymore. Like he already had.

Like he had just figured out the missing piece.

Aria felt a small wave of amusement at their expressions, but Shaan's stare was different. His gaze was unreadable—too focused, too serious.

She forced herself to break the moment, offering a small, awkward wave. "Hi."

Anshika, oblivious to the shift in atmosphere, tugged Aria forward. "Come on, let's introduce you properly."

But before she could say another word, Shaan cut her off.

"Let's cut the cake."

His voice was sharp, final, shutting the conversation down completely.

Aria blinked.

Just like that, the moment was gone.