Kabir turned over while keeping his eyes closed. He didn't know what happened to him today, he was feeling so lazy to get up as if he was under some kind of intoxication. His mood was also very cheerful today. Lying on the bed with his eyes closed, he thought, I have never had this feeling before today.

Finally Kabir slowly opened his eyes. In front of him, Kavya was sleeping peacefully like a child. Half of her face was covered with her silky hair. Seeing her sleeping like this, a smile automatically came on Kabir's face. Kabir was almost about to kiss her forehead while removing the hair scattered on her face with his fingers, when suddenly he got a big shock.

"Who is this?" Kabir got off the bed in a flash and looked at the unknown girl sleeping on the bed in surprise and tried to remember how she came here. Not only this, Kabir was also surprised and troubled by the fact that he was not in his room but in some unknown place. He looked at his hands and his shirtless body carefully. It seemed as if he was trying to find something on his body.

Kabir was feeling very heavy head and as soon as he looked at the fancy wall clock hanging on the wall, he remembered that he had a very important business meeting today. The meeting was at 9 in the morning and now the clock was showing 10:30. Kabir's face colour slowly started changing.

Meanwhile, oblivious to all this, Shreya was still sleeping comfortably under a velvet sheet. Looking at her face, it was clear that she was seeing a beautiful dream and then suddenly, trying to control her breathing, Shreya sat up. For a moment, she could not understand what had just happened. When Shreya regained consciousness, an unknown person was staring at her angrily with an empty bucket in his hand. Shreya was completely wet and now Shreya understood that the same person had thrown water on her. But why?

Kabir said, "Get dressed, you better have a good explanation for this!" and angrily went inside the bathroom. Shreya was watching the stranger leave in shock and suddenly she noticed that he had no clothes on. Shreya was almost about to scream. But thank god, she had at least covered herself with a blanket. Kabir came inside the bathroom because he was very angry. He was afraid that he might do something wrong to that girl.

He stood in the shower for a long time, trying to calm his mind. Outside, Shreya was sitting on the bed, fully dressed, looking at the messy room in confusion. She saw that there were some purple-green color marks on his wrists. She doesn't know who this person is and what he wants. Before she gets into some big trouble, it would be better if Shreya leaves from here before he comes out of the bathroom. Shreya was about to open the door, when Kabir caught her hand from behind and pulled her towards himself. Shreya, groaning in pain, said angrily, "Leave my hand and let me go!

Kabir pulled her closer to him with his strength. It was as if he was unable to control his anger. Shreya shivered for a moment, but despite Kabir's rudeness, she got distracted for a few moments. Kabir's eyes were to blame. Although his slightly scattered hair and full bearded look were enough to hurt any girl. But his eyes were so deep that once someone drowned in them, he could not get out of there.

"Who sent you?", Kabir asked gritting his teeth and then Shreya came to her senses.

"The eyes may be innocent but the man is no less than an executioner. So much pride, so much arrogance, why? Can't this man talk calmly?", Shreya thought to herself.

"Tell me, which of my rival companies has sent you?" Kabir asked angrily.

"What, what are you saying? I don't even know you.", Shreya was getting worried.

You are lying. How dare you give me drugs?" "Drugs!", Shreya's eyes were now more surprised than before. "You can fool anyone else with this innocent face of yours, but not Kabir Kapoor. So it would be better if you tell me the whole truth, because without telling the truth you cannot even move from here."

Shreya was in even more pain now—Kabir’s grip on her arm had tightened unbearably. Yet in truth, she could not even remember how she had reached this room.

Shreya was a struggling actor. Just two days ago, she had lost a very big opportunity. For that role she had worked tirelessly, but on the crucial day, fate played its cruel game—she couldn’t reach the audition on time. The audition had been for none other than the upcoming film of the famous actor-turned-producer, Devesh Kapoor.

Last night, desperate and disheartened, Shreya had gone to meet Devesh Kapoor at a pub. Without sparing her a single glance, Devesh had handed her his card, his voice sweet and polished as he invited her for an audition the next day.

But in his drunken state, Devesh had actually given her his credit card by mistake. When Shreya realized this, she hurried back to return it. That was when she overheard him scoffing to someone—

"I don’t know from where these people come, calling themselves actors. No looks, no personality. Just make me an actor, they say. If you don’t have looks, at least use your brain. Wear decent clothes. At least be worthy of being noticed by people."

The words cut through her like shards of glass. Shreya froze. Tears welled up in her eyes against her will. Forcing them back with all her strength and summoning a fragile smile, she stepped toward Devesh.

“Sir, you’ve mistakenly—”

But before she could finish, Devesh snapped, his voice sharp and demeaning.

“You strugglers have no patience, do you? When I’ve said the audition is tomorrow morning, then it will be tomorrow morning!”

The pub went silent. Every eye turned toward Shreya. She stood there, head bowed, cheeks burning with shame. But Devesh Kapoor was relentless. Not waiting for another word, Shreya left quietly—still clutching his card, her heart heavy with humiliation and tears.

She had been crying in the back corner of the pub, cursing her fate, when suddenly a hand reached out with a tissue box. Shreya accepted it without even looking up; her shame was so raw she could not meet anyone’s gaze.

“Can I buy you a drink?” a deep voice asked.

Shreya finally looked—and that face…

The memory jolted her back to the present. With sudden force, she wrenched her hand free from Kabir’s grip, grabbed him by the collar, and demanded, “What did you mix in my drink? It was you, wasn’t it? You’re the one who offered me a drink!”

Kabir’s eyes widened as recognition struck. Yes… this is the same girl. His brother, Devesh Kapoor, had reduced this girl to tears the night before. The way Devesh had insulted her—it had stung Kabir too. That was why he had offered her a drink, out of sympathy and anger at his brother’s cruelty. He remembered drinking with her… but after that, his memory blurred. Perhaps in his frustration, he had lost control of his senses.

And then—knock, knock.

Someone was at the door. Kabir and Shreya both turned sharply. Before Kabir could react, Shreya rushed to open it, desperation pouring from her lips.

“Please help me! This man has kidnapped me, he’s crazy! Please, please, help me!”

Kabir’s anger flared at her words, but when he stepped forward, even he froze.

Standing at the door was a stylish, sophisticated woman.

“Mom…” The word slipped from Kabir’s mouth instinctively.

Shreya, too, went rigid. She didn’t know what to do anymore. Kavita Kapoor stepped into the room, her sharp eyes immediately taking in the disheveled bed and the wrecked state of the room. One glance was enough for anyone to imagine what might have happened the previous night.

Kabir’s throat tightened with shame. His mother’s pride in him had always been unshakable—until now. He couldn’t bear to meet her eyes.

“Mom, I can explain everything,” he muttered, voice low and urgent. “It’s not what you’re thinking. Please… just go home. I’ll come in a little while and explain everything.”

But Kavita Kapoor’s face was unreadable—neither rage nor sorrow, as though both emotions had numbed her completely. In a cold, restrained tone, she called out to Kabir’s manager waiting outside.

“Rajat, drop this girl home.”

“Mom, please don’t get involved in this,” Kabir pleaded. “I’ll handle it. I’ll explain—”

But Kavita cut him off. “Didn’t you hear what I said, Rajat?”

“It’s alright,” Shreya said quickly, voice trembling. “No need for that. I’ll go myself.”

“No.” Kavita’s reply was firm, unyielding. “From this moment on, you are my responsibility. Give me some time, and I promise—I won’t let anything wrong happen to you.”

Shreya opened her mouth to protest, but Kavita didn’t allow her the chance. Rajat stepped forward and led Shreya away.

As soon as the door closed, Kabir exploded. “Mom, you don’t know what this cheap girl has done to me! Please, stay out of this. You don’t understand anything!”

Kavita’s eyes, calm and cold, locked onto his. Her voice carried the weight of finality.

“Marry this girl, Kabir.”

He had expected it. Somewhere deep down, he had known his mother would say this. Still, the words made his jaw tighten.

“Mom, you know very well nothing like that is ever going to happen. And what surprises me most is that instead of supporting your son, you’re standing with a stranger. A girl whose name, whose background—you don’t even know.”

"Her name is Shreya, she is 21 years old. She is the illegitimate daughter of Mr. Uday Singhania, the CEO of Singhania Group. She has two elder sisters and a younger brother. Her mother died when she was a child and her father does not care much whether she is there or not. She lives in Singhania House, but lives in a worse condition than the servants there."

Mrs. Kavita took a deep breath and then asked Kabir, "Do you want to know anything else about Shreya?" "Mom, you know, I am not going to marry that girl, and you know why I won't." "Yes, I know it for sure. Because of Kavya, as always. I am telling you today also. That girl is not right for you son. And you also know that nothing can happen between you and Kavya. You both have been together for so many years, but you are not able to even touch her." "Mom that's enough..." Kabir said interrupting her.

But at this time there was a different gleam in Mrs. Kavita's eyes. She said angrily, "No Kabir, that's not enough! Can't you see anything? This girl is the cure for your illness." "Mom for god's sake, that girl mixed drugs in my drink and it was not any ordinary drug, it was something very strong. My head is still very heavy", Kabir said.

Mrs. Kavita looked at him and said, "What do you think son, I did not try any drugs on you, but no drug ever worked on you. Every time I was disappointed." "But there is a lot of difference between you giving me drugs and her giving me drugs Mom. You want me to get rid of this disease as soon as possible. But because of that cunning girl I lost my deal worth crores." "She did not give you drugs Kabir.", Kavita said confidently. "How can you say this with so much surety?"

"Because I gave those drugs to both of you."

And while saying this, there was no regret or remorse on the face of Mrs. Kavita.Kabir was surprised at what his mom was saying.

The fact was that the pub and hotel belonged to the Kapoor family. And that evening when Kavita came there for inspection, she saw something that was enough to awaken Kabir's hope. Kabir and Shreya were laughing a lot at something in the backyard. She could not remember when was the last time she saw Kabir laughing so openly. "Mom, did you?", Kabir still could not believe it. Kabir asked in a trembling voice. "Yes, I did!", Kavita replied, coming out of her thoughts. "I know I did a lot of wrong, especially with that girl. But to tell you the truth, I don't regret it now.", Kavita Kapoor's eyes were moist. But her eyes were shining with the dreams of happiness coming in her son's life. "Kabir will also be able to live a normal life now, he will also have a family, children, finally now he will get all the happiness that is his right, his share."

Kabir clenched his palms in anger. He was not able to understand how to react at this moment, how to tell his mother how wrong she had done. Not only with that girl but also with her own son.

Following Shreya's advice, Rajat stopped the car where Shreya asked him to stop. Shreya got out of the car lost in her thoughts without saying anything. Rajat looked at her from behind and started thinking what his boss saw in this girl. Neither her way of walking nor her way of dressing. Kabir always liked prim, proper and sophisticated girls. While walking on the road, Shreya was worried about only one thing that what would happen if this news reaches her so-called family. Looking at the marks on her hands, she was angrily cursing the person who might have mixed drugs in her drink. She was drinking beer with Kabir sitting on the backyard stairs, she remembers even this much. Then what happened after that, she could not remember anything. Yes, but she remembered how Devesh Kapoor had insulted her in front of everyone. She remembered one more thing very well, why she had gone to meet Devesh Kapoor yesterday. His stepmother's words started echoing in his ears again.

"Shreya, look at yourself! You still want to become an actress. The best thing would be that you get this ghost of acting out of your mind and get married. I have some relationships in mind. I know, I am your step mom, but I never considered you a step daughter, you know, kid." While walking, Shriya stopped remembering her step mother's words. There was a sarcastic smile on her face. "I am saying this thinking about your future. Your eldest sister is now a top star of the TV industry. The second sister is a famous singer now. She has so many millions of followers on social media platforms. You know that. But kid, what are you doing? Still struggling!" Shreya could not say anything at such times. She would just keep listening silently and Divya would say bitter things to her with a sweet tongue.

"You know, mothers never lie, so I am telling you the truth with a heavy heart. You don't have any future darling!"

While remembering all this, Shreya did not even realize when she reached Navi's office. Anyway, she could not go home in this condition.

For the audition of Devesh Kapoor's film, her casting director Navi had worked very hard. Navi was sure that Shreya would get this role. But her stepmother played such games that she could not reach for the audition. This was not a new thing, it was the usual story. No matter how much she tried to get rid of her games, her plannings and plottings, fate always brought her back to the same place. Good things always came to a halt for her and mishaps happened just before they could happen. Is it so difficult to live a peaceful life?

Shreya quickly entered the office. On seeing her, Navi angrily rebuked her, "Oh, so finally Madam found time to come here." "Sorry Navi di. I know I don't even have the right to apologize.", Shreya said innocently while holding her ears. Navi was looking at her carefully from head to toe. Her dirty clothes, scattered half wet hair, spread kajal on her eyes. And what's more, Navi had also seen the love bite on her neck in just one glance. Pulling Shreya's dress towards herself, Navi said strictly, "I don't care what is going on in your personal life. A producer is coming in a while, for the audition of a South Indian film. And if you are really serious about your career, then go to the bathroom right now and come back after fixing your appearance." Navi was strict, spoke harshly, but also loved her like a younger sister. She gave her other clothes to change.

Shreya took the clothes and went inside the bathroom. Shreya looked at herself in the mirror and was shocked to see the marks on her neck. After seeing all this, anyone's doubts would be cleared about what really happened last night. Shreya turned red with shame and anger.