Kashish Chandravanshi was a man who thrived in control. His life was built on precision, power, and calculated moves. Nothing happened without his say.

But today?

Today, he was being dragged to a wedding he had no interest in attending.

As he entered his home, the familiar scent of sandalwood and jasmine filled the air. His mother and sister sat in the spacious living room, surrounded by open jewelry boxes and silk sarees, debating which pieces to wear for each function.

Kiara, his younger sister, held up two necklaces. "Maa, the emerald one or the diamond choker?"

His mother, Meera Chandravansh, examined both with a critical eye before sighing dramatically. "Both are stunning, but the diamond choker matches your outfit better. We must maintain our status, after all."

Kashish rolled his eyes. "It's just a wedding."

Meera turned her sharp gaze toward him. "Not just any wedding. It's my best friend's daughter's marriage, and you are coming with us."

He exhaled slowly. "I have work."

His mother raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You always have work, but tonight, you're coming with us. We are also meeting Aagstya there."

At that, Kashish tensed slightly. Aagstya was one of his closest allies and his best friend since childhood. But if it is his wedding then it must be more than a wedding.

His mother smirked, seeing the flicker of interest in his eyes. "No more excuses. Get ready."

Thirty minutes later, he found himself dressed in a sleek black sherwani, sitting in the car with his family as they arrived at the lavish venue.

At the wedding

The venue was draped in golden lights, and the air was thick with the scent of fresh roses and sandalwood incense. The chatter of guests filled the night, laughter and soft music blending into an extravagant atmosphere.

Kashish hated these gatherings. Too many people. Too many meaningless conversations. Too much attention on him.

As they walked inside, his mother immediately engaged in conversation with the bride's family, while Kiara wandered off to find her friends.

Kashish stood there, uninterested, scanning the room like he always did. Assessing. Calculating.

Then, his night took an unexpected turn.

A girl rushed past him, brushing against his shoulder as she moved toward the hall.

His instincts kicked in immediately. Who dared push past him without a second glance?

His body tensed, irritation bubbling under his calm exterior. He turned, ready to snap at the person who had the audacity to ignore him.

But then—

His eyes landed on her.

And his world stopped.

For the first time in years, Kashish Chandravanshi lost control.

His breath hitched, and the room around him blurred. Everything—the chatter, the music, the people—faded into the background.

Only she remained.

A name, a memory, a whisper of the past echoed in his mind.

"Jaan."

The word left his lips before he could stop it.

The girl—Anshika Nahyan—paused mid-step, turning to look at him with narrowed eyes.

"What did you just say?"

Kashish's heart pounded. Did I say that out loud?

It wasn't possible. He never lost control like this. He was always calculated, always in command of his emotions.

But this girl—this woman—had just shattered every rule he lived by.

She stood before him, dressed in a midnight blue lehenga, her dark eyes piercing through him like a blade. There was no fear in her gaze, no hesitation—only challenge.

For the first time in his life, Kashish felt unsure.

His family was watching. The guests had turned to see what had happened. And yet, in this moment, nothing mattered except the fact that she was here.

To his own shock, he did something completely out of character.

"I... apologize," he muttered.

The entire room fell silent.

Kashish Chandravansh—the ruthless, feared mafia king who never bent for anyone—just apologized.

Kiara almost choked on her drink. His mother's eyes widened. Even Aagstya, who had just arrived, raised an eyebrow.

But Anshika?

She simply blinked, nodded, and said, "It's okay."

Then, without another glance, she walked away.

Straight toward Aagstya.

Kashish's fists clenched as he watched her approach his best friend. Aagstya smirked as if he knew something Kashish didn't. The two exchanged a few words before Anshika took a seat beside him, completely unbothered by what had just happened.

Kashish's jaw tightened.

He didn't know what was more frustrating—the fact that she acted like he was nothing, or the fact that for the first time in his life, he wanted to know everything about her.

His mother nudged him, her expression still one of shock. "Did you just apologize?" she whispered.

"Forget that," Kiara muttered. "Who was that girl? And why did you call her Jaan?"

Kashish had no answer.

Because he didn't know.

All he knew was that tonight, something had shifted.

And Kashish Chandravanshi never let go of something that shook his world.

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