1. “The Girl Who Forgot Herself"
Raat unusual thi.
Hawa mein thandi si khamoshi thi… lekin Ishika Rathore ke andar tufaan chal raha tha.
Party loud thi — music, lights, fake smiles.
Par uski aankhon mein sirf irritation tha.
“Uff… yeh log aur inki stupid parties,” Ishika ne dheere se bola, glass table par rakhte hue.
Black dress mein, open hair… confident, bold — she knew people were watching her.
Aur use farq bhi nahi padta tha.
“Relax Ishika, thoda enjoy kar le,” uski friend ne tease kiya.
“Main yahan sirf tumhare liye aayi hoon. Don’t expect miracles.”
Jaise hi Ishika ne turn liya… woh kisi se takra gayi.
Glass girne hi wala tha, par ek strong grip ne uska haath pakad liya.
Tightly.
Bahut tightly.
“Careful.”
Deep… cold voice.
Ishika ne dheere se upar dekha —
aur ek second ke liye sab kuch ruk gaya.
Dark eyes. Sharp jawline. Black suit.
Aur ek aisa aura… jo seedha warning de raha tha.
Danger.
Usne turant apna haath chhudane ki koshish ki.
“Leave my hand.”
Par uski grip aur tight ho gayi.
“Log dekh ke nahi chal sakte?” usne thande lehze mein kaha.
Ishika ki aankhon mein gussa chamka.
“Tum dekh ke khade nahi reh sakte?”
Ek pal ke liye silence chha gaya.
Phir uske lips pe halka sa smirk aaya.
“Attitude…”
Ishika ne seedha uski aankhon mein dekha.
“Problem?”
“Bahut badi.”
Aur usne finally uska haath chhod diya.
Ishika ne apna wrist rub kiya — thoda red ho gaya tha.
“Psycho…” usne dheere se kaha.
“Daksh Malhotra.”
Woh naam hawa mein thandi talwar ki tarah ghoom gaya.
Ishika ek second ke liye freeze ho gayi.
Daksh… Malhotra?
Yeh wahi naam tha jisse log darte the.
Jiske baare mein sirf rumors nahi… warnings milti thi.
Usne dheere se uski taraf dekha.
“Tum… wahi ho?”
Daksh ne bas usse dekha.
Seedha. Tez. Bina blink kiye.
“Abhi bhi doubt hai?”
Ishika ne apni spine seedhi ki.
Fear?
No.
“Impressive naam hai… par mujhe farq nahi padta.”
Daksh dheere se uske paas aaya.
Itna paas ki uski saanse Ishika ke cheek ko touch kar rahi thi.
“Farq padega.”
Uski awaaz halki thi… par khatarnak.
“Jald hi.”
Ishika ka heartbeat fast ho gaya — par usne control nahi chhoda.
“Threat kar rahe ho?”
Daksh ne uske baal ka ek strand ungli se side kiya.
“Warning.”
Aur bina kuch aur bole… woh mud gaya.
Jaise kuch hua hi nahi.
Ishika wahin khadi reh gayi.
Annoyed.
Confused.
Aur thoda sa… uneasy.
“Kaun tha woh?” uski friend ne pucha.
Ishika ne aankhon ko narrow kiya.
“Problem.”
✨ Kabhi kabhi nafrat hi sabse dangerous shuruaat hoti hai…
