Ruhi wasn't sure if she had won or lost tonight. The dance with Abhi had been intense-filled with unsaid words, hidden meanings, and a silent battle neither of them wanted to acknowledge. But as the night ended and she watched him walk away without another glance, a strange unease settled in her chest.
The next day at college, things felt different. Abhi wasn't his usual, teasing self. He wasn't ignoring her either, but there was a restraint in his demeanor, like he was holding something back. Ruhi didn't like it.
She found him by the basketball court, casually tossing a ball into the hoop while a few admirers watched from a distance. Taking a deep breath, she walked up to him.
"You've been acting weird," she said, skipping the pleasantries.
Abhi caught the ball mid-air, turning to her with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Weird? That's a new one. Care to elaborate?"
Ruhi crossed her arms. "You're being... quiet."
Abhi dribbled the ball lazily. "Maybe I just don't have anything to say."
That was a lie. Abhi always had something to say.
Ruhi narrowed her eyes. "Did something happen?"
He hesitated, just for a second, before shooting the ball. It went through the hoop flawlessly. When he turned back to her, there was something different in his expression. "My parents called me last night."
Ruhi's stomach twisted. She knew where this was going before he even said it.
"They want me to meet someone," he continued, his voice oddly neutral. "A girl. Apparently, she's 'perfect' for me."
A sudden chill ran through her, but she masked it with a scoff. "Let me guess. Rich, powerful, all-rounder?"
Abhi gave a humorless chuckle. "Bingo."
Ruhi forced a smirk. "Sounds like a dream match. You must be thrilled."
He finally looked at her, his gaze unreadable. "You know me better than that."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. There was something heavy in the air between them, something Ruhi didn't want to name.
"Are you going to meet her?" she asked, trying to sound indifferent.
Abhi exhaled slowly. "I don't have a choice."
And just like that, the uneasy feeling in her chest turned into something darker-something she didn't want to acknowledge.
Because for the first time, Ruhi felt like she was losing him.
...to be continued...
Author's Note:
And there it is—the first real crack in Ruhi's carefully curated world. Abhi's not just her golden boy anymore; he's someone else's "perfect match." But perfection is boring, right? Ruhi knows it, he knows it, and now? She's finally facing a game she might not be able to rig. That chill down her spine? That wasn't just the wind, darling. That was the price of playing with fire.
Stay tuned—because losing the upper hand was never part of her plan.
—Your author, watching the drama unfold with popcorn in hand.