The terrace of the Mehra Palace felt like a world away from the chaos below. The sounds of the wedding—laughter, music, clinking glasses—drifted upwards, but here, in the cool, open air, everything seemed distant, muted.
Meera leaned against the stone railing, the cigarette dangling loosely between her fingers, the smoke curling into the night air. Below, the city of Jaipur sprawled, alive with lights, but up here, time seemed to stand still. She was alone, even though Sameer stood beside her, his presence a constant shadow, never quite reaching her.
Her thoughts, heavy and tangled, always circled back to him. His name—too painful to say, too raw to remember. Years had passed since he vanished from her life, yet the memories clung to her, sharp and unrelenting, like an old wound that refused to heal.
Sameer watched her with quiet concern, his voice soft, almost hesitant. "Meera," he said, his words hanging in the cool air. "You don't have to keep it in, you know."
She didn't answer at first. How could she? How could she explain the weight of a past that refused to stay buried? The pain of losing him—the one person who had truly understood her—still haunted her, like an echo that never faded.
Sameer shifted closer, his hand hovering near her shoulder as if unsure whether to reach out. "I know it's hard," he continued gently. "But I'm here for you. I always will be."
Meera turned her gaze back to the crowd below, where laughter erupted in sporadic bursts, like fireworks in the distance. Sameer was here—he cared—but his presence couldn't fill the empty space left by someone who had once meant everything to her. Not to her heart.
The cold wind swept across the terrace again, ruffling her hair. She took another drag from her cigarette, watching the ash fall like fleeting moments of clarity. "I can't keep pretending it doesn't hurt," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's been years, but I still feel him."
Sameer's gaze softened further, and he took a breath. "You don't have to pretend with me." He paused, searching for words. "I know you loved him."
At his words, a painful knot tightened in her chest—a mix of gratitude and guilt. She wanted to lean on him, but feared it would betray the memory of the one she couldn't name. "It's not just love," she said quietly. "It's… everything we shared."
Sameer nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful, as if weighing her words carefully. "You can talk about him if you want to," he offered gently.
But how could she explain it? How could she put into words the gaping hole his absence left in her? She took another drag from her cigarette, letting the silence between them stretch. The weight of her grief was an anchor, pulling her deeper into memories that she couldn't escape.
The music from downstairs seemed to grow louder now, snapping her out of her trance, but even as she turned back toward the palace, something inside her shifted. The unresolved feelings pressing on her chest tightened, but it wasn't just her grief. Something felt off.
The noise of the party washed over them as they moved inside, but Meera couldn't shake the unease. It wasn't just the loud music or the endless chatter—it was something darker, lurking beneath the surface.
As she scanned the crowd again, her eyes landed on two figures dressed head to toe in black, their faces hidden behind masks. At first glance, they appeared part of the security detail. But something about their movements felt too fluid, too deliberate, as though they were walking with a purpose far beyond guarding the event.
Sameer noticed her stiffen and followed her gaze. "What's wrong?" he asked, concern furrowing his brow.
"I… I don't know," she admitted, her voice tight with unease. "I think they're not what they seem."
Below them, Arjun and Karan also spotted the masked figures. Their confusion mirrored Meera's growing anxiety.
"Who are they?" Arjun asked sharply.
"They're dressed like security," Karan said slowly, squinting at them as though trying to decipher a puzzle. "But why masks? I've never seen security like this before."
Ishaan's eyes narrowed as realization dawned on him. "Wait. Didn't two people dressed exactly like them come to collect our dead friend's body back in college?"
The words hit like a blow. The air thickened with the weight of that past, a past that none of them could escape.
Arjun frowned, the unease growing. "You think…?"
Before he could finish, Karan's father approached with his usual air of authority. "Those two are security for an important guest," he said nonchalantly, his tone carefully controlled.
"But who?" Karan pressed urgently.
"It doesn't matter," Arjun's father replied firmly. "We're here for the wedding. Don't worry about details."
Doubt had already taken root in their minds. Uneasy glances were exchanged between Arjun and Karan, their shared concern unspoken but clear.
Meanwhile, Kavya slipped away from the crowd, unnoticed, moving like a shadow through the wedding. Her mission was clear: eliminate the threat and secure their objective.
Priya's room lay tucked away in a quieter section of the palace, a sanctuary from the chaos of the party. Kavya had studied the layout ahead of time—she knew exactly where she was headed. As she approached Priya's door, she paused briefly to gather herself. Priya was inside, completely unaware of the danger that loomed over her.
Without knocking, Kavya opened the door and slipped inside, moving with the silent grace of a predator. Priya sat on her bed, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her dress. Anxiety radiated from her pale face as she looked up in shock at Kavya's sudden entrance.
Their eyes locked for a fleeting second—fear reflected in Priya's gaze. It struck Kavya harder than she expected, making her hesitate at this critical juncture. She couldn't help but see the fear, the uncertainty. Priya wasn't a pawn in their game—she was just a girl caught in the crossfire.
But just before Kavya could take a step toward her or say anything to calm her fears, the door behind her creaked open.
Envy slipped into the room with startling precision, his movements so fluid they seemed almost unnatural. He assessed both women in an instant, then turned his focus on Priya, locking eyes with her as if he already knew exactly what he was about to do.
Kavya froze at the sight of him. Uncertainty gripped her heart, her pulse quickening. His presence shifted everything within their mission. What should have been a straightforward operation now felt fraught with complications, emotions they hadn't anticipated.
And then it happened quickly: Envy incapacitated Priya with a tranquilizer dart before either woman could react. His efficiency left Kavya momentarily paralyzed by shock. The dart sank into Priya's neck, and she slumped unconscious almost immediately.
Envy lifted her effortlessly, carrying her out of the room through another exit, into the darkness beyond. Kavya's heart weighed heavy as she watched him go. The choices they made were final, irreversible, and yet, she couldn't silence the gnawing feeling that something—someone—was slipping from her grasp.
On the terrace above, the party continued unabated. The laughter, the music—it all seemed so distant now. But as Meera scanned the crowd once more, something caught her eye. One of the masked agents had vanished completely from sight.
The unease in her chest grew, tightening like a noose.