Hotel Emerald,
7pm,
The second most famous seven star hotel after Blue Moon was fully decorated and ready to welcome the guests who were invited from all over the country.
The hotel was fully booked by the Maheshwari family for the engagement party.
All the five prime elite families of the country were invited, and other than them, there were so many big celebrities from the entertainment industry, also other famous personalities were in the guest list.
Volunteers and bodyguards were scattered around the hotel, nobody was welcomed inside without the invitation card.
Reporters were present from every news channel to cover the event, and to click candid pictures of the famous guests.
One after another luxurious cars started to stop at the entrance before one by one guests stepped out and walk over the red carpet which was laid out for the guests.
"You see, so many famous personalities are invited tonight. I'm not gonna waste even a moment and going to capture everyone in my camera."
"Yeah, other than the three supreme elite families, every famous person of our country is invited here."
"They don't attend these types of events, don't forget that they are not just someone but the dictators of this country."
"But the five prime elite families are going to be together here for the night. I heard that Maheshwari family actually wanted to book the Blue Moon, but after failing in that they decided to book Emerald."
"Emerald had also rejected them first, but then after a lot of dramas they accepted it."
"Ms. Shanaya Singhania is the heiress of the Singhania family, while Suhas Maheshwari is the rising sun in the business world—"
"You're wrong, Ms. Shanaya is not the heiress of Singhania family, the actual heiress is Sitara Singhania, daughter of Sirish Singhania."
"Huuuh, you're right. What a comedy, Ms. Shanaya should have been the heiress of the Singhania's, after all she deserves it. What a great personality, bold, beautiful, humble, sweet, caring.
Coming to Sitara Singhania, the black sheep of the family. What she exactly have, not beauty, nor talent, just a good for nothing. I don't understand why exactly Siddhant Singhania had transferred all his property to her?!"
"Huuh, it's because she's the daughter of his first & eldest son, Sirish Singhania. If today everyone knows them, then the first credit goes to Sirish Singhania."
"You are right, basically she's the best definition of an ugly & good for nothing princess. She doesn't even have the qualification to get the job of a clerk, but will sit on the throne."
"Hey!! Stop, stop!! Look another car approaching, its a Rolls Royce."
Cameras flashed again, the reporters stared at the car door with excitement. A midle aged couple in stepped down from the car, Kapoor family, the fifth in the list of elites.
They stepped inside after clicking some pictures. And the gossip of the reporters started again.
"Kapoor family was on the headlines for their famous daughter, Sneha Kapoor."
"Yeah, she won the 'Arjun' award for her excellent talent in archery. I was also present in that function."
"She's currently out of the country for an international competition, that's why her parents arrived alone."
"That young lady is also a beauty. One cannot move their eyes from her easily!!"
Guests continued to arrive and the reporters continued to gossip about them and their families with much pleasure.
In between all this another Rolls Royce approached. "Hey, that's Kartick Roy with family!!" One of the reporter announced from the front row excitedly.
Mr. & Mrs. Roy stepped down from the car first, before stepped down the dashing handsome Kartick Roy donning in a white & blue three piece suit.
He entered inside with his family without caring much about the reporters who were screaming from each side for one perfect picture of the man.
"Aah, another rising sun in the business world, but with a very poor taste." Someone among the reporters taunted after Kartick left.
Another one agreed him, "Exactly, what he even found in that ugly heiress of Singhania family only he knows."
"Some times before we clicked him at airport with his 'ugly' girlfriend. Watching them together I remembered the famous line, 'Love is blind.'" Another one made fun of the two resulting others to laugh out loudly.
"Haaahaa hhaaaaah!!"
"I heard that he had also rejected Ms. Sneha Kapoor for that ugly princess."
"Such a bad luck, she deserves better than him."
While the media was busy criticising the girl harshly and badmouthing her outside, inside the hall the two middle aged couple was busy interacting with each other.
Mr. Roy & Mr. Maheshwari busied themselves in business discussion while their wives busied themselves with each other.
"When will they arrive?" Mrs. Roy inquired about her best friend.
Nita glanced over her watch before replying to her friend, "Shanaya and Suhas are on the way, they'll arrive anytime. And Naina will arrive in half an hour."
Nita looked at the young man who was not talking with anyone, nor smiling as usual, "What happened to your son, why's he looking so upset?"
She turned towards Kartick who was sitting alone at the bar counter, "What else can upset him other than that girl, we fought again. Only I know how I brought him here with us." Mrs. Roy clenched her fist while remembering about all the emotional blackmailing which she did to only stop her son from arriving at the party with that wretched girl.
Mrs. Maheshwari just sighed softly, "Don't freat, after tonight everything will be alright. If Naina has promise—"
Her words died in her mouth as she heard the announcement of the arrival of Singhania family. Naina Singhania entered inside with her husband and niece in her full glory.
She was wearing a powder pink coloured designer silk saree, with a diamond necklace around her neck and a pair of matching diamond earrings on her ears. With her hair tied in a perfect bun, she was looking like the perfect lady-in-command of the Singhania family.
Her smile, style of walking everything was so perfect. One thing was undeniably true, she was the perfect definition of class.
"Good evening beautiful." The three ladies hugged each other while their husbands shook hands with each other.
After exchanging greetings with each other finally they noticed the girl who was standing behind Naina with a very nervous expression on her face.
The girl was wearing a aqua blue colour designer lehenga with a V-neck sleeveless blouse. Her hair was curled down beautifully with minimal hair accessories on her hair.
She was not wearing any neck piece, there was just a pair of earrings on her ears and bangles around her wrist and specks over her eyes.
Nita & Shrija sneered in their heart while walking towards the girl. "Good evening, Sitara. It's been so long, how are you?"
Nita asked warmly stroking her face, the girl slowly looked up with eyes full of nervousness and nod her head, "I'm fine —"
Before she could finish her words someone hurriedly walked over & pulled her towards him. Everyone looked up to see the person was none other than Kartick, he pulled her in his embrace protectively.
"What are you doing, Kartick?" Mrs. Roy asked gritting her teeth & controlling her anger.
But he just ignored his mother and looked at Naina, "Aunty, will you mind if I take her with me? She has never attended parties like this, you can see how nervous she is. So—"
Naina smiled, she smirked inwardly watching the genuine care of the boy, "Kartick, you don't have to ask for permission. After all you two are also going to get engaged very soon. I can understand your concern for her, take her with you. I will be relieved if she stays with you."
She glanced towards her friend meaningfully to stop her from reacting stupidly. Kartick just nod and held her in his arms before guiding her the way towards a table.
....
He pulled out a chair for her to sit before sitting beside her. "Thank you for helping me out, this is the reason why I don't like attend this type of parties."
Sitara talked with her voice laced with gratitude towards the man, she smiled slightly to show her fake happiness.
But inside continued to boil in rage with the thought of him touching her freely.
The scenes from her nightmare continued to appear in her mind as a reminder.
Kartick just shook his head not noticing the disgust in her eyes, "No, what I did was my duty. And I should say sorry for upsetting you earlier. I'm very sorry, baby!"
Sitara felt confused, "Why? I don't understand, what are you talking about?"
Kartick felt himself smiling while listening her innocent question, he felt a pang of guilt in his heart, "You don't have to be so polite, what I did was wrong I know. I myself invited you to be my date for the night, and then cancell—"
Sitara looked at the man with too shock, this was not the usual Kartick Roy. She was confused about his behaviour, so caring, loving. Each of her expressions were too genuine for anyone to feel doubt.
What exactly happened to him, why's he looking so changed today? Is he really in love with me?
Did anything happened in my absence? I have to ask them.
She asked herself the question with bewilderment. It seems like he really has a change of heart, but why? What's the reason?
While Sitara was busy thinking about all this, Kartick busied himself in checking her expressions. He felt much more nervous noticing her silence.
"I'm sorry, baby! Please don't stay upset." Kartick plead clasping her hand.
Sitara broke out of her daze and looked at the guilt ridden expression of the man, "Kartick, please don't talk like that. Who said I'm upset with you, you're my best boyfriend. I didn't mind, don't —"
Sitara stopped talking suddenly as she heard the announcement of the arrival of a very special guest, Ms. Neela Sharma, the famous supermodel.