The night air in Kashmir was cool and crisp, carrying with it the scent of pine trees and fresh earth. Noor stepped out of her car, her heels clicking on the pavement as she made her way toward the college auditorium. It was an annual tradition—this event where students and faculty gathered for an evening of performances, awards, and recognition. But for Noor, it was just another night in her meticulously planned life.
She had always been the model daughter. Graceful. Reserved. Perfectly composed. The eldest child in the prestigious Farid family, Noor was expected to follow a path that led to the success her parents had envisioned. And yet, despite all her achievements—her high marks, her position as a top student—Noor felt a quiet emptiness creeping inside her. She wasn't sure if it was the constant pressure of meeting her family's expectations or if it was the loneliness she often felt in the crowded halls of her college, but something inside her yearned for more.
As she entered the auditorium, the sounds of laughter and music filled the air, blending with the energy of her peers. But she didn't feel the excitement. Noor was used to watching from the sidelines. This was the world she lived in—one where appearances were everything, and true emotions were carefully guarded. She made her way to her seat in the middle of the room, keeping to herself, as usual.
---
On the other side of the auditorium, Zayd Sultan, the youngest son of the powerful Sultan family, leaned against the back wall, his dark eyes scanning the room with detached interest. He wasn't supposed to be here, not officially anyway. The Sultans were known for their influence in the business world, their power stretching across every sector imaginable. Zayd, however, had always preferred to stay out of the limelight. He wasn't interested in the family business—not yet, at least.
Tonight, he had been invited to the event as a guest of the college dean, who was an old acquaintance of his father. Zayd had no interest in the speeches or performances, but he knew it was expected of him to show his face. His father's demands weighed heavily on him, pushing him further into the world he resented. The world of politics, wealth, and power. He had always wanted a different life, one that didn't involve constant scrutiny and the pressure to conform to expectations.
But as he surveyed the crowd, his gaze fell on her. Noor.
At first, it was nothing more than a fleeting glance, a stranger among many. But there was something about her—something that made Zayd's pulse quicken in a way he hadn't experienced before. She was beautiful, yes, but it wasn't just her looks that captivated him. It was the aura around her, the way she seemed to exist outside the noise of the crowd, almost as if she were untouched by the world around her. There was an air of melancholy about her, a quiet sadness that mirrored his own.
He wasn't the type to approach strangers. But there was something about Noor that pulled him toward her. Something that made him want to know more, despite the voice in his head warning him to stay away. He had never believed in destiny, but right now, as their eyes met across the room, he couldn't help but think that perhaps fate had a hand in this meeting.
---
Noor, unaware of the silent scrutiny she was under, turned her attention back to the stage, though her thoughts were miles away. The speeches, the performances—it was all so predictable, so carefully orchestrated. A world of appearances and false smiles. She wondered what it would be like to escape, even for just a moment, from this constant performance.
The night dragged on, and she began to lose herself in her thoughts when she felt a sudden presence next to her. She looked up, startled, to find a man standing there—a stranger, yet somehow familiar in the way he held himself. Tall, with dark hair and a piercing gaze, he was dressed in a sharp suit, his posture radiating an air of confidence that seemed out of place in this college auditorium.
"I didn't expect to see someone like you here," he said, his voice smooth and confident, but laced with curiosity.
Noor blinked, unsure of how to respond. She had no idea who this man was or what he meant by "someone like you." "I'm sorry, do we know each other?" she asked, her voice more distant than she intended.
The man smirked, his dark eyes scanning her face with an almost calculating intensity. "Not yet. But I'm sure we will."
There was something in his gaze that unsettled her—something too probing, too intense. She had seen men like him before—charming, self-assured, always in control. But there was something different about him. Something that made her feel both intrigued and wary at the same time.
"I'm Zayd," he said, offering her a small nod. "Zayd Sultan."
The name was familiar to her. She had heard it in passing, mostly in the context of business dealings and the Sultan family's power. Zayd Sultan, the youngest son of the influential family that owned half of the businesses in the region. She had heard whispers about him—how he avoided the spotlight, how he had no interest in his family's empire. But now, seeing him in person, standing so close, she couldn't help but feel a strange pull toward him.
"Noor Farid," she replied, her tone guarded but polite.
For a moment, they stood in silence, the noise of the event fading into the background as the air between them thickened. Zayd's gaze lingered on her a little too long, and Noor felt a flicker of unease. She wasn't used to this—being the center of attention, especially not from someone like him.
"So, what does a woman like you do when she's not attending predictable college events?" Zayd asked, his smile never leaving his lips. His tone was light, almost playful, but there was an edge to it—something that suggested he wasn't just making small talk.
Noor raised an eyebrow, her defenses instantly going up. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean."
Zayd chuckled softly, sensing the walls she was putting up. "No need to be coy. You're different from the others here. I can see it in the way you carry yourself."
Noor wasn't sure if she should be flattered or offended. She didn't like people assuming they knew anything about her. She wasn't some mysterious figure to be analyzed.
"I don't have time for games," Noor said firmly, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Zayd's smile faltered for just a second before returning stronger than before. "I never said anything about games, Noor. But you'll find that sometimes, life has a way of throwing you into situations you never planned for."