The suit felt suffocating.
Aarav stood in front of the mirror, fingers stiff as he adjusted the collar for the third time. Everything about his reflection looked… wrong.
Too polished.
Too fake.
Too far from who he really was.
“Five minutes.”
Ruhan’s voice came from behind.
Aarav turned slightly. “I’m ready.”
Ruhan didn’t respond right away. His eyes moved over Aarav again—slow, critical, searching for flaws.
“There are many people tonight,” he said finally. “Important ones.”
Aarav nodded.
“You will not speak unless spoken to.”
“…Okay.”
Ruhan’s gaze sharpened.
Aarav corrected himself quickly. “Yes, Mr. Mehta.”
“Stay beside me. Smile when required. Say nothing unnecessary.”
Each instruction felt like a chain tightening.
“And remember,” Ruhan added, stepping closer, “you represent me.”
Aarav swallowed. “…I won’t make a mistake.”
Ruhan didn’t reassure him.
Didn’t even react.
“See that you don’t.”
---
The venue was overwhelming.
Lights, music, voices—everything blended into a blur of wealth and power. People dressed perfectly, speaking confidently, laughing like nothing in the world could touch them.
Aarav felt out of place the moment he stepped in.
Like he didn’t belong in the same air.
---
Eyes turned.
Whispers followed.
“Is that him?”
“He actually brought him?”
“Looks… young.”
Aarav’s chest tightened.
He kept walking beside Ruhan, just like he was told.
Silent.
Invisible.
---
“Mr. Mehta.”
A group approached.
Well-dressed. Confident. Smiling—but not kindly.
Ruhan nodded slightly. “Gentlemen.”
Their attention shifted almost immediately.
To Aarav.
“And this must be your… spouse?”
The pause before the last word wasn’t accidental.
Aarav felt it.
Ruhan didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Simple.
Flat.
No pride.
No warmth.
---
One of them chuckled softly. “Unexpected choice.”
Another added, “He looks like he’d get lost in a place like this.”
Laughter.
Quiet.
Sharp.
Aarav’s hands tightened slightly at his sides.
But he remembered the rules.
Stay silent.
---
“Well?” one of them said suddenly, looking directly at Aarav. “Don’t you greet people?”
Aarav froze for a second.
Then quickly, “Good evening.”
His voice came out softer than he intended.
“…Good evening,” he repeated, trying to sound steadier.
The man raised an eyebrow.
“That’s it?”
More laughter.
Aarav felt heat rise to his face.
He glanced at Ruhan—
Just for a second.
Looking for something.
Anything.
---
There was nothing.
Ruhan didn’t step in.
Didn’t stop them.
Didn’t even look bothered.
He simply watched.
---
“Speak clearly,” one of them said. “Or is he always like this?”
Aarav’s throat tightened.
“I—I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” another smirked. “For what? Existing?”
More laughter.
This time louder.
---
Aarav’s ears rang slightly.
The room felt heavier.
Too many eyes.
Too many voices.
Too much pressure.
---
“Stand properly,” Ruhan said suddenly.
Not loud.
But enough.
Aarav immediately straightened.
“Shoulders back.”
He obeyed.
“Look up.”
Slowly… he did.
His eyes met the crowd again.
This time, he didn’t look down.
Even though he wanted to.
---
“Better,” Ruhan said.
That was it.
No defense.
No support.
Just… correction.
In front of everyone.
---
The conversation moved on.
Like nothing had happened.
Like Aarav wasn’t still standing there, feeling every word sink deeper into him.
---
Hours passed like that.
Smiling when told.
Standing where placed.
Speaking only when forced.
Every small mistake corrected—
Quietly.
Coldly.
Publicly.
---
At one point, Aarav reached for a glass—
And accidentally brushed against someone.
The drink spilled.
Not much.
But enough.
---
The silence that followed was immediate.
“Oh,” the man said, stepping back, annoyed. “Careful.”
“I’m so sorry,” Aarav said quickly.
Too quickly.
Too desperately.
---
Ruhan’s gaze snapped to him.
Displeased.
“Watch what you’re doing.”
The words weren’t shouted.
But they cut deeper than if they were.
---
“I—yes, Mr. Mehta.”
Aarav stepped back immediately.
Hands shaking again.
Just slightly.
But enough.
---
“You haven’t fixed that yet?” Ruhan added quietly.
Aarav froze.
“…I will.”
“See that you do.”
---
And just like that—
It was over.
Again.
Like his embarrassment was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
---
By the time they left, Aarav’s head hurt.
His chest felt tight.
And something inside him felt smaller than before.
---
Back in the car, silence filled the space.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
---
“You embarrassed me.”
Ruhan’s voice broke it.
Aarav’s breath caught.
“I’m sorry.”
“You hesitated. You spoke weakly. You lacked control.”
Each flaw listed like a report.
“I said I’ll improve,” Aarav whispered.
“That’s not enough.”
---
The car stopped.
But neither of them moved.
---
“If you continue like this,” Ruhan said, his voice colder than ever, “you will become a liability.”
The word hit harder than anything tonight.
Aarav looked down.
“…I understand.”
---
Because he did.
In Ruhan’s world—
He wasn’t a person.
He was a role.
And if he failed that role—
He would be discarded.
---
That night, Aarav stood in front of the mirror again.
Same reflection.
Same empty eyes.
But something had changed.
---
He didn’t look hurt.
He didn’t look angry.
---
He just looked…
tired.
---
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments