Author's P.O.V...

The flashes still lingered in his eyes.

Abhimanyu had just wrapped up his opening speech- controlled, composed, the perfect kalra CEO. The media swarmed. Socialites offered air-kisses. Gallery staff whispered logistics.But non of it pierced through his glass wall. He nodded, smiled , posed. All protocol. All surface.

Just then a hand clapped Abhimanyu's back. He turned, only to be pulled into a warm, half hug the kind reserved not for the cameras, but for home.

Aarav Malhotra,late unapologetic. Effortlessly in a midnight blue bandhgala, sleeves rolled just enough to break the formality. No tie , no fuss.

Abhimanyu's face softened, only slightly. The kind of shift only a real friend could cause. " Late kyun hai?" Abhimanyu asked.

" Kya karein , traffic bhi mujhse impress ho gaya tha. Red lights refused to let me go." Aarav grinning. .

Abhimanyu shook his head , just then media caught sight of them together.

Paparazzi " Mr.Kalra , Mr.Malhotra - just one shot together, please!"

Abhimanyu turned to face the cameras. Both straightened. Aarav threw in real smile. Abhimanyu offered the Pr-perfect half - smile.

Flash. Flash. Flash.

As the photographers backed off, Rhea approached.

" Sir," she leaned in, her voice low but Crips, " Soulstrock's team is here. Their centerpiece has already been installed in the easy wing."

Before Abhimanyu could respond, Aarav cut in with that all - too - familer glint in his eyes.

Aarav " Well , hello there , Rhea. Looking absolutely stunning as usual.

Rhea didn't miss a beat. barely lifting her lashes as she offered a polite smile. " Hello , Aarav Sir. Thanku you ."

She turned back to Abhimanyu, her tone right back to business. " Would you like to take a look now.?"

Abhimanyu simply nodded once, the hint of knowing glances shared between him and Aarav. Only he knew how long Aarav had been crushing on Rhea. And Only Rhea knew how masterfully she ignored it every single time.

He nodded, the smile still faint and practiced. " Hmm. I'll see it."

She offered a small smile- she'd worked with him long enough to know when his interest was real. And it was. Because Soulstrock wasn't just any art collective . It spoke through silence, something Abhimanyu ofter his behind .

" Yeh ladki toh har baar queen move khelti hai." Aarav teasing half to himself.

Abhimanyu." She just did again.

" SoulStrock, huh? Naam toh suna hai. Chal, main bhi dekhta hoon - kya khass baat h inki paintings mein."

Abhimanyu didn't answer. He simple gave a small nod to Rhea, who was already ready to lead. And with that, Abhimanyu and Aarav began walking through the sleek, luminous corridors of Art Gallery- towards something neither of them quite expected. The noise behind them dimmed. Art lines the walls - raw , brave, almost painfully beautiful. .

One canvas caught their eye. A splash of chaos in Indigo and rust , a quiet scream trapped beneath brushstrokes.

" Beautiful , Sach mein emotions feel ho rhe h." Aarav murmured.

Abhimanyu stepped closer . " This one ... it isn't painted. It's felt," he murmured.

Rhea glanced at him,a flicker of curiosity,crossing her features . He rarely gave anything away.

And yet , his face still carried that same composed expression. Eyes sharp. Smile soft, distant . Unreadable.

The painting stirred everyone. It moved people. But Abhimanyu?

Still untouched. Untouched by emotion. Untouched by expression. Like a man who had locked his real self in some far-off room years ago.

Then a sound , Not loud. Not startling.But clear.... Trringg.....

A Jhumka singular. Not just a metallic chime- a sur delicate, melodic . And yet , it sliced through the silence like a whisper from the universe.

His head turned sharply. Right sight. Just past the painting. There - she stood. Back facing him , Still. Unaware of the storm behind her.

Drapped in a soft sky-blue anarkali, fabric flowing like the calm of dawn. A dupatta hugged her slender frame, anchored by the sway of her jhumkas. And her hair...

Long.Silken , Cascading down like a waterfall of midnight. Slightly wavy near the ends. Black, the kind of hair that held secrets and stories- the kind of you wanted to lose yourself in. His steps halted like someone had pressed pause on his heartbeat.

Abhimanyu stilled. His voice low, barely audible " who is she?" eyes fixed on her.

Rhea followed his gaze, then replied softly, " That's Miss Ananya Raheja. Owner of SoulStrock."

He didn't respond , didn't blink. He just ... began walking slow, measured. Like some invisible thread was tugging at him . Like his heart finally remembered it has a purpose.

With every step, his calm exterior cracked just a little. His heartbeat quickened. Breaths shallow. Something unknown coiled in his chest.

Slow silent. Drawn to her like gravity had changed direction. And then - he stood - four steps behind her. Still watching.

Even her back was art. The soft arch of her neck. The fall of her hair. The stillness in her stance, like a goddess unaware of her divinity.

And then , she stilled too. As if she felt it. That unmistakable shift in air. The awareness. The energy of being seen - truly seen. Her heart stuttered. Her skin pricked. She turned slowly, her breath caught . There he was.

Abhimanyu kalra. Their eyes met.

Time -stopped . No sounds . No gallery. No people. Just - her jhumkas. And the roaring silence between two strangers who felt like they'd known each other in every lifetime they hadn't lived.

Her eyes-hazel. Golden flecks like autumn light trapped in honey. Wide curious, unknowingly captivating. Lips soft, curved naturally in a link that spoke innocence and depth in the same breath. Skin - glowing. The kind that looked kissed by morning light , untouched by vanity.... And her expression - half surprise , half - something deeper .. as if she saw him too

Abhimanyu froze... He had seen beauty before. He had known perfection. But this.. This was poetry . In motion. In stillness. In her very being.

He looked at her like she wasn't real. Like she was art the universe had painted just for him.

And in that moment, for the first in years , his face betrayed him. The man who never let anyone in... had just forgotten to close his gates. He had mastered control , but in that moment - he forget how to breathe.

And Ananya? She stood, stunned, watching this untouchable man look at her like was the first light after endless winters.

She couldn't look away either. His eyes-dark, deep , unreadable. Soft But intense. Like they'd always known her.

They stood . Locked in silence . In recognition. Like a star and sea had found each other and realized - they had always belonged together.

And then Ananya blinked. Not because she wanted to . But because reality has to restart. She took a soft breath. Her voice was gentle , just above a whisper.

Ananya " Aap?"

Abhimanyu's lips curved into the faintest smile. Controlled but there. His voice, smooth , deep-carried both confidence and something much quieter underneath. " Abhimanyu kalra."

She nodded slowly, trying to find her footing." I'm Ananya. Ananya Raheja the owner of SoulStrock."

He already knew. But hearing it from her lips felt like hearing a raag played for the first time.

" Is this your work?" he asked , nodding subtly toward the painting, though his gaze barely left her.

" One of my students, " she replied, eyes softening. " Her name's ritika. She doesn't speak much, but her art ... it says everything she can't."

He looked at the painting then- truly looked. His features remained composed. Their eyes met again. And this time , there was a shift .

Not awkward. Not dramatic. Just a shared silence that said more than words.

Ananya tilted her head slightly, observing the man in front of her now. Not the businessman. Not the media-darling . But the man-up close. He looked like the kind of man people listened to, followed, maybe even feared. But his eyes .. they carried a loneliness no one ever asked about. .

He couldn't stop watching her. She looked like a painting he could never own. Only admire.

Abhimanyu " You brought something rare here tonight."

From a distance, Aarav watched with an eyebrow raised, a slow grin creeping up. " Wah bhai," he muttered to himself." Iss baar toh seedha direct hit lag raha hai " he strolled over casually and stood beside Abhimanyu, sliding into the moment like he belonged there.

" And I'm Aarav Malhotra, " he said with an easy smile. " Naam toh suna hi hoga."

Ananya chuckled softly." Of course. Hard to miss, I'm Ananya Raheja."

" Well, pleasure's mine," Aarav continued smoothly. " Pretty name for a woman creating such powerful art around her." His eyes moved briefly to the painting. " Truly beautiful. You can feel every emotion in it."

" Thank you," Ananya said, her smile turning a touch more confident, more personal. There was pride there & not just for herself, but for Ritika too.

Beside them , Abhimanyu still hadn't looked away for long.

There was a softness to him now, something unspoken something not many had seen. Ananya wasn't fully aware of his gaze, but she felt it in the warmth the crept up her neck, the strange flutter in her stomach.

" Ana!" Prisha came rushing in, excitement buzzing around her. " Ek journalist pooch rha hai Soulstrock ke vision ke baare mein . Chal, na ?

" Coming." Ananya said.

Prisha's eyes landed on the two men near her best friend. First the quiet one. Then the smiling one.

" Hi," she greeted simply.

" Hi , I'm Aarav Malhotra," Aarav said smoothly. " Aur tum ... Definitely not part of the background art."

Prisha raised an eyebrow, amused. " Prisha Sharma, Ananya's best friend."

Abhimanyu finally shifted his attention from Ananya, blinking slightly as if breaking from a spell . " Abhimanyu kalra , Nice to meet you." He said, offering a brief nod.

Aarav added with a playful tilt of his head, " Well, Prisha... The name's as lovely as the face. But I've got to say - what your friend and her team are doing with Soulstrock?" He glanced at the painting." It's rare. Honest art like this? Feels like it grabs you by the heart."

Prisha gave a small , genuine smile. " Thank you. They've worked really hard."

The girls excused themselves and walked away, a ripple of anticipation wating for them on the other side - buyers , critics, curious onlookers. ..

As they disappeared, Aarav leaned slightly towards Rhea. " Rhea, mujhe lagta hai... SoulStrock mein kisi ki soul permanently stuck ho gayi hai."

Rhea unaware of the situation blinked." Kya?"

Before Aarav could reply, Abhimanyu gave him a cool glare " shut up "

Aarav grinned, hands in his pockets , clearly enjoying himself.

Rhea just shook her head, muttering undef her breath, " every event with you two feels like a full time sitcom."

_______

As twilight draped itself across the glass walls of the Vardaana Art Gallery, the grand Kalra Gala Art Event inched toward its conclusion - it's echoes lingering in conversation, in canvases ,and in glances that Stayed just a beat too long.

The lights dimmed slightly as the event host stepped onto the stage , his voice resonating through the ambient hum.

" And now , for the most awaited honour of the night - The kalra emerging visionary collective Award. A recognition bestowed upon a team whose work didn't just demand attention, but earned emotion. A voice . A presence.

Murmurs rose, eyes glanced about the room.

" And it goes to.... SoulStrock."

Applause broke out like a soft wave. Back near the east wing, Ritika gasped, her eyes wide . Ananya stood still, her hands briefly on Ritika's shoulders -until the host's next words floated through the claps.

" Presenting the award tonight is none other than Mr.Abhimanyu kalra, CEO of Kalra Empire and our chief patron."

Abhimanyu walked towards the stage- he is calm. But his eyes...they weren't still.

Because she was already walking up to steps . He held the award in his hands: a brushed gold plaque encased in crystal, engraved with Soulstrock's name. His fingers extended it toward her, but his gaze..that Stayed on her.

" Congratulations," he said softly. His voice steady , yet not cold like it was speaking only to her.

For a brief moment, he smiled just little but real. Ananya accepted the award.she looked up. " Thank you ," she replied, a gentle pride in her voice. A smile , small and genuine, curved her lips.

The moment held. Not long, just enough to feel like it has lasted a lifetime.

And then she turned to her students, the applause rising again as Soulstrock took their place on stage.

Just then, her phone buzzed quietly. She saw a text from prisha , who had left early because of urgent work.

Prisha " Congratulations.Ana! I had to rush because of work. But you ? You were magic . So proud of you."

A soft smile touched her lips. Amid all the noise and flashing cameras, that one message grounded her.

Ananya." Thank you , my forever cheerleader. Will call you tonight - missed your drama already

On stage, Abhimanyu lingered a second too long, his eyes following the wave of blue until it vanished. Something unnamed stirred in his chest.

Just one moment... One gaze...one connection. And the night , with all its lights and legends, would never be the same again.

🍁🍁🍁

The gala had ended hours ago, but its essence still simmered like perfume in the air. The grand Kalra Mansion stood quiet under a sky veiled in velvet stars.

Abhimanyu had changed out of his formal suit into a simple charcoal grey Henley and joggers. His sleeves pushed up, hair messier than usual - this version of him only existed behind closed doors. He walked barefoot into his private library - office, the familiar scent of leather - bound books, oakwood polish.

He sank into his armchair, picking up a few files left unfinished - charts , proposals , signature waiting. A few pages in.. his mind wandered.

He leaned back , head resting on the chair, eyes gently closing. And then - A flicker.A blur. A shadow. The hazy image of a woman... Not clear. Never , Just a feeling.

He tried to see her... Focus . But like always, her face remained veiled, out of reach. His eyes snapped open. Breathing deeper now. .

The same woman again. every night , every time he closes his eyes. Someone he should know.. someone he must have known.

" Kaun ho tum..?" He muttered under his breath tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table.

He gaze fell on a paint - smudge brochure from the gala. SoulStrock. Her... Ananya.

The moment flickered to life again her smile , the softness in her voice , the fire in her eyes. A strange warmth crept in his chest . Something gentle unsettling.

" Why can't I stop thinking about her?" he whispered, barely audible , almost afraid of the question.

A reluctant smile curved his lips - tiny, real, and completely unaware.

" There's something about her..." he thought, " like, I've known her forever..or maybe ... She's the answer to something I've forgotten."

He sat up straighter , tried to focusing on work again. But the words blurred. Her face lingered. Her voice played again, like a stubborn song refusing to leave.

___

Laughter still echoed faintly in the Raheja home. After a warm dinner and mini celebration with her students and family, Ananya had finally slipped into her comfy lavender nightwear, her long hair loosely tied up. ..

She was curled up on her bed, video calling Prisha , the screen glowing in the dim light. .

" What about Mr.kalra? Ek number ke star-baz lag rahe the. I swear woh aakhon se hi award de rahe honge tujhe!" Prisha said.

Ananya blushed slightly, covering her face with a cushion." Shut up, Prisha! Tu kabhi serious baat nhi kar skti?"

" Serious toh tab houngi jab tu admit karegi ki something did happen today."

" Goodnight!" Ananya laughed, ending the call before Prisha could tease more.

She signed, stretching, walking to her window to shut it. But the breeze stopped her.... Cool and soft, it grazed her arms like silk.It carried the scent of mogra and midnight - warm , wrapping around her like ab invisible hug.

She closed her eyes. Breathed it in. And there it was again .

His gaze . The way he looked at her - not just at her, but into her... His voice - measured, yet dipping in something only she had Heard.

Her hand rose to her heart , as if could slow down the butterflies fluttering inside. What was this ? A spark ? A pull? A memory trying to be born?

She pressed her fingers lightly to her lips, where the smile hadn't left since that moment.

" Why am I thinking about him ? Kya ho rha hai mujhe?" Her heart thudded a little louder. Her cheeks flushed even in the moonlight.

There was something special about this night. The stars seemed closer. The silence kinder.

" Ajeeb sa connection lag raha.. jaise unse milkar kuch purana yaad aa gaya ho.. ya kuch naya shuru ho rha ho." She gave herself a light smack on the forehead, giggling.

" Bas kar , Ananya. Tu toh full filmy h

i Rahi hai." She closed the window, but not before giving the stars one last glance.

The night smiled back. And so, under sky full of whispered secrets, two hearts - unaware of how entwined they were becoming - fell a little deeper into the mystery of each other.