Chapter 3: The Rules

Aadhya barely slept that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the contract.

The signature.

Zayan Khanna.

By morning, she had convinced herself that the entire thing felt unreal.

Like a strange dream she would eventually wake up from.

Unfortunately, reality was waiting for her.

At exactly ten o'clock, a black luxury car stopped outside her apartment building.

Aadhya looked at it from her window and groaned.

"Yeh sach mein ho raha hai..."

After taking one last look at her reflection, she grabbed her bag and headed downstairs.

The driver opened the door.

"Good morning, ma'am."

Aadhya nodded awkwardly.

"Good morning."

The drive was quiet.

Too quiet.

The closer they got to Khanna Enterprises, the more nervous she became.

"Aakhir yeh training hai kis cheez ki?" she wondered.

Twenty minutes later, she got her answer.

The moment she entered the office, a stylish woman in her early thirties approached her.

"Miss Aadhya?"

"Ji."

"Main Naina hoon. Mr. Khanna ki executive assistant."

Naina smiled warmly.

Aadhya instantly liked her.

Which was surprising considering she hadn't liked anyone associated with Zayan so far.

"Aaiye, mere saath."

Naina led her into a large conference room.

The moment Aadhya stepped inside, she froze.

Clothes.

Shoes.

Jewelry.

Handbags.

The room looked like a luxury showroom.

"Yeh sab kya hai?"

"Aapka naya wardrobe."

Aadhya blinked.

"Mera kya?"

"Wardrobe."

"Mujhe wardrobe ki spelling bhi mushkil se aati hai aur aap mujhe poora wardrobe de rahi ho."

Naina laughed.

Aadhya tried not to smile.

Tried and failed.

"Mr. Khanna ne instructions diye hain."

Of course he had.

"Aur agar mujhe yeh sab nahi chahiye?"

"Phir bhi yeh sab aapka hai."

Aadhya sighed.

"Mujhe unse baat karni hai."

"Mujhse?"

The deep voice came from the doorway.

Aadhya turned.

And immediately wished she hadn't.

Zayan stood there in a perfectly tailored black suit.

Looking annoyingly perfect.

"Aap hamesha aise achanak aa jaate ho?"

"Aaj tak kisi ne meri entry ki complaint nahi ki."

"Main pehli hoon."

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

Naina looked suspiciously entertained.

"Main bahar wait karti hoon," she announced before disappearing.

Coward.

Aadhya mentally added that to the list.

The door closed behind them.

Silence.

Again.

She was starting to think silence was Zayan's favorite hobby.

"Mujhe yeh sab nahi chahiye." She pointed at the clothes.

"Mujhe pata hai."

"Toh phir?"

"Phir bhi tumhe yeh sab milega."

Aadhya stared.

"Aap har baat mein itne ziddi ho?"

"Sirf important baaton mein."

"Aur yeh important hai?"

"Haan."

The answer came instantly.

Without hesitation.

Without explanation.

Typical.

Aadhya folded her arms.

"Aapko har sawaal ka proper jawab dene mein allergy hai kya?"

For a second, Zayan looked genuinely caught off guard.

Then he laughed.

Actually laughed.

The sound surprised both of them.

Aadhya blinked.

"Aap hans bhi sakte ho?"

"Kabhi kabhi."

"Achievement unlocked."

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Zayan raised an eyebrow.

"Achievement unlocked?"

"Kuch nahi."

"Nahi, mujhe batao."

"Bilkul nahi."

For the first time, the conversation almost felt normal.

Almost.

Then Zayan's expression became serious again.

"Aaj shaam ek event hai."

Aadhya's stomach dropped.

"Event?"

"Business gala."

"Aur mujhe wahan kyun jaana hai?"

"Kyuki aaj raat sabko pata chalega ki tum meri girlfriend ho."

The room suddenly felt smaller.

"Kya?"

"Contract yaad hai?"

"Unfortunately."

Zayan ignored the comment.

"Media hogi. Investors honge. Bahut log honge."

Aadhya groaned.

"Mujhe public speaking se darr lagta hai."

"Accha hai."

"Accha hai?"

"Kyunki tumhe speech nahi deni."

She threw him a look.

"Bahut funny ho aap."

"Mujhe pata hai."

"Nahi ho."

Another almost-smile appeared.

And disappeared.

Just like always.

Zayan glanced at his watch.

"Teen ghante mein tumhari fitting hai."

"Meri kya?"

"Fitting."

"Main bhaag sakti hoon?"

"Nahi."

"Confirm?"

"Bilkul."

Aadhya sighed dramatically.

"Meri zindagi barbaad ho gayi."

"Drama queen."

She gasped.

"Aapne mujhe drama queen bola?"

"Haan."

"Main complaint file karungi."

"Kis ke paas?"

Aadhya opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

Unfortunately, he had a point.

Zayan looked at her for a moment.

Longer than necessary.

Then he said quietly,

"Aaj raat mushkil hogi."

The teasing tone was gone.

Completely.

"Lekin main tumhare saath rahunga."

For some reason, those words hit differently.

Before she could figure out why, he turned and walked toward the door.

"Tayyar rehna, Aadhya."

"Kis liye?"

Zayan glanced back.

His expression unreadable.

"Aaj raat ke baad tumhari zindagi pehle jaisi nahi rahegi."

And then he left.

Leaving Aadhya standing alone in a room full of designer clothes and unanswered questions.

With one terrifying realization.

Tonight, she wasn't just attending a gala.

Tonight, she was stepping into Zayan Khanna's world.

And something told her there would be no easy way out.......

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