SOBIYA~

"Bhabhi, okay, don’t worry. I’ll take care of myself," I said softly before hanging up the call. She was reminding me to take my medicines on time. I appreciated her concern, but honestly, I’ve been running a fever since last night and had to skip college today.

It’s incredibly tough to take care of yourself when you're sick and all alone. Back home, my brother would always be there bringing medicines, feeding me warm soup, sitting beside me through the worst of it. But now it’s just me alone.

I tried getting out of bed. I couldn’t just sleep the entire day. Besides, my stomach was growling with hunger. But the thought of going downstairs to get breakfast felt like a mission impossible my whole body ached. With a frustrated sigh, I let myself fall back onto the bed.

Feeling helpless, I couldn’t hold back the tears. How was I supposed to manage all this on my own? I couldn’t even call my brother or bhabhi again they’d just worry, maybe even come rushing here. And with college being so far from our village, I really didn’t want that.

Lost in my thoughts, my phone suddenly rang. I picked it up and saw Inaaya’s name flashing on the screen.

"You bitch! Why didn’t you come to college today?" she yelled the moment I answered.

"Inaaya, first of all, don’t shout. And secondly, I’m sick. How was I supposed to come to college like this?" I replied, already exhausted.

Her tone instantly shifted. "Wait, what? You’re ill? What happened?" she asked, concern replacing her earlier sass.

"I’ve had a fever since last night," I told her honestly.

"Ohhh, so madam caught a fever after seeing the hot billionaire, Zavian!" she teased.

"Are you insane, Inaaya?" I groaned. "You didn’t even tell me it would be just the two of us. And then suddenly you bring him along? I was shocked, okay?"

"Come on! You wanted to meet him, so I made it happen," she laughed. "Anyway, listen I went to college today, but when I found out you weren’t there, I told them I am feeling dizzy and left early. So now I’m heading to your hostel. See you in a bit, bye!"

"Wait, Inaaya—" I tried to stop her, but she had already hung up.

This girl, she's completely mad.

About half an hour later, Inaaya arrived looking genuinely worried. To my surprise, she came with a whole stall of chocolates and some fruits too. Honestly, a friend like her is all anyone needs during tough times.

Now, she was sitting beside me on the bed, talking animatedly about her boyfriend Vansh and how they fell in love. Her eyes lit up as she spoke about him it was as if she had zoned out into her own little romantic world.

"Inaaya, what happened?" I asked gently, noticing her sudden pause.

She blinked and looked at me, a bit emotional.

"Nothing, Sobi..you can’t stay here alone like this. Come live with me, please. How will you take care of yourself in this condition?"

"No, Inaaya... how can I live with you?" I hesitated.

"Why not? I live alone anyway and I’ll finally have some company. Plus, you don’t even need to tell your brother. I know he won’t allow it if he finds out," she said quickly.

"Inaaya, I really can’t. I don’t want to disturb your personal space," I said, unsure.

She frowned and looked at me with serious eyes.

"Are you mad? In the past two or three days, I haven’t just found a friend in you I found a sister. Our vibes match so perfectly, and now, I can't see you like this. Please, Sobi come with me?"

I sighed, a little overwhelmed by her warmth.

"Alright, fine... but only for two or three days, okay?"

"Nope! Till the end of your degree," she grinned mischievously.

"That long? No way!" I exclaimed.

"Why not, Sobi? You can trust me. I’m a girl too, it’s not like I’ll do anything to you!" she smirked.

"Aww, besharam!" I teased, and we both burst into laughter.

Without wasting another moment, she got up, grabbed my hand, and started packing my clothes and essentials. Before heading to her apartment, she even took me to a nearby doctor to get me properly checked.

That’s Inaaya chaotic, caring, and the kind of person who walks into your life like a storm but stays like sunshine.

When we finally reached Inaaya’s apartment, I was pleasantly surprised. Her place was beautiful modern yet cozy, with soft lighting, pastel tones, and a warm, welcoming vibe. It felt like the kind of place that instantly made you want to curl up with a blanket and a book.

Inaaya showed me to the guest room, which was surprisingly spacious and comfortable. The bed felt like a cloud, and I didn’t realize how exhausted I truly was until I laid down. I spent the rest of the day resting.

Later that evening, I slowly made my way out to the living room, finally feeling a bit better.

And that’s when I froze.

Zavian Veer Malhotra.

My steps faltered.

He was seated casually, one arm resting on the back of the sofa, deep in conversation with Inaaya. His presence was impossible to ignore sharp suit, calm demeanor, and that signature intensity in his eyes.

Inaaya noticed me immediately and stood up.

"Hey, Sobi! You’re awake!" she smiled, walking toward me. "How are you feeling now?"

"Better," I replied quietly, still surprised to see him here.

"Oh, by the way," she added, almost as an afterthought, "Zavian's here to invite me to a business party he’s hosting tomorrow."

I nodded slightly, trying to hide the discomfort bubbling up inside me under a calm expression.

Zavian's eyes shifted toward me, his voice smooth and confident.

"You can bring her too," he said, gesturing slightly in my direction, his gaze lingering for a second too long. "If she’s feeling well enough."

Inaaya looked at me excitedly. "You’re coming, right? It’ll be fun. And you need some fresh air anyway."

I didn’t respond immediately my mind was still catching up to the fact that Zavian was here, in the same room, and casually inviting me to his party.

Zavian stood up, adjusting the cuffs of his coat. “I should get going,” he said smoothly, his voice cutting through the room like a quiet breeze. He turned to Inaaya, nodding slightly. “See you tomorrow night, Ina.”

Then his eyes briefly shifted toward me.

“Take care of yourself,” he said, his tone unreadable.

I gave a small, polite nod, but remained silent. My throat felt dry, my thoughts tangled.

Inaaya walked him to the door while I stood still, suddenly feeling oddly quiet. I couldn’t explain why, but something about his presence unsettled me. Or maybe it was the way he looked at me as if he noticed more than I wanted him to.

As the door closed behind him, Inaaya turned back to me, still buzzing with excitement.

“You are coming,” she said again with finality, collapsing dramatically on the couch.

But I just stood there, saying nothing.

I sat down on the edge of the couch, fidgeting with the end of my sleeve, the weight of the conversation pressing on me.

“Inaaya, how can I come?” I said softly. “I’m not into all this. It’s a billionaire’s party I’m just a student. I don’t belong there. How will I even fit in?”

Inaaya didn’t miss a beat. She turned to me with that determined look in her eyes.

“So what if you’re a student?” she said firmly. “That doesn’t mean you can’t attend a business party. You’ll be surrounded by people in fashion, luxury, and design you could get inspired. You’ll see what people wear, how they carry themselves. It might even help you with your own ideas.”

I shook my head. “Inaaya no, I just… I really don’t think I can.”

She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “Yes, you can. And you will. I’m not letting you stay locked up in this room and overthink everything.”

Before I could argue more, she grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the kitchen.

“Now come on. Let’s eat dinner. No more sulking.”

Despite myself, I smiled a little. I didn’t know what tomorrow held, but one thing was certain.

Tomorrow night was going to be something entirely unexpected.

A/N

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