SOBIYA~

I tried to open my eyes, but they burned with every attempt. Everything around me was a blur.

Where… where am I?

With great effort, I managed to blink through the haze. I was lying on a bed white sheets, the scent of antiseptic in the air. I am in hospital.

Suddenly, the door opened. A familiar figure stepped in.

Zavian?

What was he doing here?

He walked closer, his brows furrowed with concern.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked gently.

"I... I don't know. I remember being at the party. Everything was fine and then suddenly everything went black." My voice cracked, confused and weak.

"You were drugged," he said, jaw tightening.

"What? Me? Why?" My head spun faster than before.

He sat on the edge of the bed. "The bartender who served your cocktail he wasn’t real. He was sent by someone who holds a grudge against me. Not everyone’s happy with my success."

"So... was everyone else at the party admitted too?"

"No," he shook his head. "Only you and Inaaya. You two were the only ones who drank the spiked cocktails. You collapsed first I got you here just in time. Then Vansh called and told me Inaaya fainted too. She’s in the hospital as well."

Tears filled my eyes before I could stop them. My chest felt heavy.

"O god" I whispered before breaking into sobs. "I want to go home… I want to see my brother. I miss him."

Zavian’s voice softened. He reached out, brushing away a tear with his thumb.

"Don’t cry. I’m here now."

"Is Inaaya okay?" I managed to ask through my tears.

He nodded slowly. "She’s stable. She’ll be okay. And so will you. But first you need to stop crying."

“Sorry…” I murmured.

“Sorry? For what?” Zavian asked, his voice calm but concerned.

“Because of me, your party got ruined…” My voice trembled, and fresh tears welled up in my eyes. “I’m sorry…”

He gently cupped my face. “Sunshine, please… stop crying. Nothing happened because of you.”

Sunshine?

Did.. did he just give me a nickname?

Zavian Veer Malhotra gave me a nickname~

Stop thinking bullshit sobiya, you heard wrong. My mind mocked me.

“Sobiya?” he called

“Hein? Sorry” I whispered, wiping my tears.

He gave me a look, half concerned, half stern. “Enough sorry now. Let’s go home.”

“Home?” I blinked, confused.

“Yes. My house.”

“No, I… I can’t. Please drop me at my hostel. But before that, I want to see Inaaya please…”

“You’re not going back to that hostel,” he said, firmly. “And you’re not staying in Inaaya’s apartment either.”

“Why??”

“You’re coming with me.”

“No, I really can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I just can’t,” I whispered, my throat tightening.

“Inaaya’s also unwell just like you. Vansh is taking her to his home. And I’m taking you to mine. Simple.”

“But I dont want to go? What will people think? This happened because of the party, and now I’m burdening you—”

“You’re not a burden,” he interrupted sharply. “I’m doing this because I want to.

“I am here for college, my brother will call me he’ll worry if he hears I'm in the hospital or staying with a guy…” I said.

“He’ll think otherwise.” I added.

“I’ll hire a caretaker for you. If your brother calls, tell him you’re staying at a friend’s place. Problem solved.”

“I can’t lie to him.”

Zavian’s eyes darkened with slight frustration, but he exhaled slowly. “Shut up, Sunshine.”

I heard right he is calling me sunshine

But why?

“My name is Sobiya,” I protested softly.

“I know, Sunshine,” he smirked.

Again sunshine ?? I thought in my mind.

Before I could say anything else, he suddenly leaned forward and lifted me into his arms with ease.

“Oh God! Please Zavian! What are you doing?! Put me down! Someone will see us and take it the wrong way!”

“I don’t care,” he said, walking out of the room, holding me like I weighed nothing.

We reached the parking lot. Zavian opened the car door with one hand, gently helping me inside. Once I was seated, he walked around and slid into the driver’s seat.

I turned to him. “Why are you doing all this?”

“Because I want to,” he replied without hesitation.

“But… why?”

He sighed, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. “Stop asking ‘why’ all the time, Sunshine.”

I huffed. “Okay.”

“If you want, you can sleep. It’ll take us about an hour to reach.”

“No, I don’t want to.”

“As you wish, Sunshine.”

I turned my face away, choosing to ignore him. Ugh, he’s so irritating.

But then it hit me I’m going to stay at his house.

Zavian Veer Malhotra. A freaking billionaire.

Oh God! But why… why am I excited?

You’re here for college, that’s all. My subconscious scoffed, unimpressed.

An hour passed faster than I realized. The car came to a smooth stop. Zavian stepped out, walked to my side, rolled down the window, and opened the door. Before I could process anything, he had already picked me up in his arms again.

“Zavian! Put me down!”

He didn’t respond. Just kept walking.

“I said put me down!” I protested again, squirming slightly.

“No.”

“I can walk. I’m not paralyzed!”

“But you were drugged. You’re weak. What if you faint again?” His tone was calm but firm.

I gave up. I can’t win with him. It’s official.

We entered his mansion or rather, palace. It looked even more breathtaking in daylight.

God, this place is stunning.

He carried me up the grand staircase like I weighed nothing. I couldn’t help but stare at him.

He’s so perfect.

If I tell Bhabhi I’m in Zavian Veer Malhotra’s arms, she’ll probably faint right there.

Sobiya, stop it, my subconscious warned again.

He entered a large room decorated in deep shades of black and navy blue. Moody, masculine, yet oddly comforting.

“Wow… beautiful,” I whispered, taking it all in.

“I know,” he replied but he was looking at me when he said it.

He gently placed me on the bed, then pulled out his phone and made a call. Moments later, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” he said.

A girl walked in young, soft-featured, dressed neatly.

“She’ll help you with everything from now on,” he said simply before turning to leave.

“Hi, madam,” the girl greeted politely. “My name is Lily.”

“Hi, I’m Sobiya. Just call me Sobiya,” I smiled weakly.

“No, ma’am. Sir will be upset if I don’t address you properly.”

“I said just Sobiya.”

She hesitated, then nodded. “Okay… Sobiya.”

“Come, I’ll show you your clothes,” she said kindly, motioning to the walk-in closet.

An hour later, I had showered and changed into a soft beige cord set Lily had left out for me. The warmth of the water had washed away the heaviness from my limbs, and I finally felt human again.

Lily had quietly stepped out, probably heading to the kitchen to prepare lunch for me. The room was quiet now, except for the distant hum of the city beyond the windows.

I sat on the edge of the bed, legs tucked beneath me.

It’s strange just yesterday, I was so nervous, standing at that grand party, trying to blend into a world that didn’t feel like mine. And him the moment my eyes landed on Zavian Veer Malhotra, my heart skipped in a way I couldn’t explain.

And now, I’m in his house. In his room. Wrapped in comfort I never expected.

It almost feels like a dream. Right???

A strange, unexpected dream.

But somewhere in the corner of that dream there’s a little sadness too.

I came to Mumbai for my dream, to chase something on my own. And now, in just a day, everything has turned upside down.

I sighed, glancing around the spacious room with its black and navy blue interiors. Ughh, i am feeling little in this big room.

But

Mumbai wasn’t supposed to be like this.

But maybe life has its own way of surprising us.

A/N

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