It was past midnight and here I was on the balcony, the city’s hush pressing in from all sides, a glass of whiskey my only companion. People say alcohol changes things. Does it? Maybe not—maybe it only makes the edges softer so the truth doesn’t cut as sharp.

My thoughts were interrupted by a small voice calling, “Ajju.” I looked down. My little princess, Adhya, blinked up at me with sleep-rubbed eyes. I set the glass aside and lifted her into my lap.

“Couldn’t sleep,” she whispered, nestling her head against my shoulder and looping her tiny arms around my neck. “You promised you’ll tell me a story.”

I smiled at her earnestness and shook my head in mock sternness. “I will, princess. But you have to sleep first.”

“No—no, Ajju. I want to listen.” She pouted in that way she knew would win me over. I couldn’t say no.

“All right then. Which one?” I asked.

She brightened as if she’d been waiting for this exact question. “Until my last breath!” she announced, eyes wide with mischief and the kind of certainty only children have.

Her words snagged on me for a heartbeat. I returned the phrase softly, with more weight than she could possibly understand. “Until my last breath,” I whispered back.

“So, you want to hear about Viaan and Anvi?” I asked, raising a brow.

Ara nodded eagerly, her little face lighting up. I still don’t know how she first found out about that book—maybe it’s popular, maybe someone mentioned it at school. Or maybe she just stumbled upon it, the way children somehow always do.

I sighed, though a smile tugged at my lips. If she was happy, then so was I.

“Fine, princess,” I said, tucking the blanket around her small shoulders. “I’ll tell you the best part of Until My Last Breath.”

Her eyes sparkled, and for a moment, I could almost forget the weight behind the title.

I cleared my throat, let my thoughts wander back to the days that still haunted me, and began—

“It all started with the B.Tech…” I began, my voice soft, letting the story unfold.

“Ajju, is Viaan more lucky… or Anvi more lucky?” my little princess asked suddenly.

Her question made me pause, a knot forming in my chest. I had never expected her to ask that. The words lingered, making me rethink my whole decision about the book

“Ajju,” she continued, her small fingers clutching my hand, “I heard from your latest interview that the book has a sad ending. Why .... do people meet if they’re destined to break apart?”

I looked at her, my heart tightening. My little princess—the one I cherish most in this world—was asking questions that left me speechless.

Even if they were destined to break apart, they had lived the best life together. Every laugh, every moment, every stolen second had been worth it. And that… that is what I wanted her to understand.

"Lets start the story princess may be you will get answers to ur questions" i whispered

Viaan’s POV

It was the first day of college after orientation, and the whole campus buzzed with talk about the upcoming fresher’s day. After endless arguments and fights with my dad, I’d finally made it here—to Mumbai. My first time back since Mom’s death.

I sat under a tree on the rock bench, an iced coffee in hand, pretending to be a rebel while chatting lazily with a few guys around me. My head leaned back, eyes tracing the sky, when the whispers began.

“Beautiful girl…” someone muttered.

I tilted my head and followed their gaze.

And then I saw her.

Black baggy jeans, a red kurti, open hair spilling across her shoulders. Kajal-lined eyes that could freeze time, black metal jhumkas swaying as she walked. For a second, the world blurred. My coffee, the chatter, the chaos—everything disappeared. All I saw were her eyes.

A smirk tugged at my lips. “Hey, you. Red kurti. Come here. What’s your name?”

She froze, her hands tightening on her kurti. Nervous—no, more like scared. Which only made me smirk more. “So, you don’t know how to respect seniors?” I pushed, standing up, playing it cool for the guys who were stifling their laughs at my little prank.

And then—disaster.

“Oi, you in the white shirt! Playing smart, huh?” The real seniors had arrived.

Shit.

I cursed under my breath and, without thinking, walked straight to her side. My act flipped in a second—I was no longer the senior teasing a fresher, but an obedient fresher myself, lined up for punishment.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught her shock, though I didn’t dare meet her gaze again.

My punishment? Writing assignments for the seniors. On day one. My so-called reputation gone before it even started.

But honestly? That didn’t bother me. What bothered me was that I lost my cool—in front of her.

Assignment. Shit. The damn seniors dumped their work on me and walked away like kings. Around me, the guys were biting their lips, trying not to burst out laughing.

And her—the red kurti girl.

I glanced at her, only to find her eyes already on me—half curious, half shocked. Something about that look pulled me in, made me want to explain that it was just a stupid prank. To tell her I wasn’t really that guy. But the words never came. Maybe I was too lost in the moment… or maybe in her eyes.

She walked away, and I couldn’t stop staring until she disappeared from sight.

“First day, dude, and you already found your girl,” the guys teased, their laughter echoing as we headed to class.

By the end of the day, my reputation was officially screwed—and now it was time for punishment. Like hell, I had to sit and finish those damn assignments. I cursed under my breath, dragging myself to the library.

An hour later, I stretched, rolling my stiff shoulders, nearly done with the writing. That’s when I saw her again.

The red kurti girl.

I hated the way my eyes lit up when I saw her. Hated how my heart picked up, as if it knew something I didn’t. And most of all—I hated that I still didn’t know her name.

And yet… above all this, the moment that truly wrecked me was when her eyes landed on mine. Just for a few seconds, our gazes locked, and everything else blurred out. My throat tightened—I wanted to tell her, it was just a prank, nothing more, but I couldn’t move.

She immediately lowered her gaze and rushed away, as if escaping me.

I facepalmed myself. “Damn it, Viaan. Way to be a jerk.”

I finally dragged myself home. First thing I did—took a long, warm bath, washed the day off my shoulders. Then I made myself something light to eat, grabbed the bowl, and walked into the study.

The moment I stepped inside, my eyes landed on the portrait of my mom. Her face—so calm, so peaceful—still had the power to ground me. I smiled faintly and sat down on the floor with my food.

“I met a girl today, Ma,” I murmured, eyes fixed on her picture. “She’s… different. The peace I get when I see you, I felt the same when I saw her.”

A laugh slipped from me, dry and broken. “You would’ve jumped with joy if you’d been here. The first girl I actually wanted to talk to, and she’s the first one avoiding me. What can I do? Your handsome, hot, charming son messed up. I pulled a prank, and now she’s scared of me.”

I sighed, staring at the plate half-finished. “I miss you, Ma.”

The silence pressed in. I stood, carried the food to the kitchen, and set the rest down for Ace. His tail wagged like I’d just given him the world.

I smiled, ruffled his head, and then went back to my phone. Games were easier. They didn’t ask questions I couldn’t answer.

As I was about to continue, I noticed Ara’s soft, steady breaths—rhythmic, like a lullaby. She had fallen asleep somewhere in between my words.

Carefully, I carried her to the bed and tucked her in. I brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead and pressed a gentle kiss there.

I turned to leave for my room, but her small fingers wrapped around my hand, stopping me in my tracks.

I couldn’t help but smile. Quietly, I sat down beside her, leaning my head against the headboard. Her grip didn’t loosen.

Closing my eyes, I let the heaviness of the day sink into me. As I leaned my head back, the story continued in my heart.

Viaan’s POV

It was late. I glanced at the clock, dragged my body lazily to the bed, and let sleep take over.

The next morning, my alarm blared me awake. I groaned, pushed myself up, and headed straight to the gym room. After a quick workout, I showered, got dressed, and grabbed a slice of bread between my teeth. Helmet on, keys in hand, I mounted my bike and sped off to college.

The moment I stepped through the gates, I walked in like I owned the place—a pure form of rebel, or at least that’s how I wanted to look. My gaze roamed everywhere, scanning faces, hunting for just one.

The red kurti girl.

Shit, Viaan. Today you better introduce yourself, I muttered inside my head.

And then—I found her.

She wasn’t in red today. A simple black anarkali suit hugged her frame, the matching black jhumkas swaying with her every move. Her kajal-lined eyes… damn. They were made to steal my breath away.

But my admiration ended fast. Because I saw them—those same seniors from yesterday, crowding her, ragging her like cowards.

I sighed, jaw tightening, and walked straight toward them.