Sanjay leaned against the desk, watching Charu's conflicted expression with something between amusement and irritation. "If you're too weak to take this case, Charu, then don't worry. I'll handle it myself," he said smoothly. "And I'll make sure we win."
Her fingers curled around the edges of the file as she looked up at him, her jaw tightening. "That's not what I said."
Sanjay chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, but that's exactly what I heard. You're hesitating, aren't you?." He scoffed. "If this were any other celebrity, would you still be having this moral dilemma?"
Charu hated how easily he could read between the lines. "That's not the point-"
"Then what is the point?" Sanjay cut her off. "You need to stop getting emotional in things that don't concern you. That Rudra or Abhir whatever his name is -he is just another spoiled brat, overhyped star who thinks the world revolves around him. And now, thanks to his unprofessional behavior, my friend's reputation and business have taken a hit."
Charu frowned. "Your friend?"
Sanjay smirked. "The organizer who filed this case? He's an old friend of mine. Do you know how much he lost that night because of that pricey rockstar?" His voice dripped with contempt.
"The man showed up hours late to the concert. The audience got restless, people left, ticket refunds had to be issued, and sponsors started questioning my friend's credibility."
Charu swallowed.
She knew Abhir had a reputation for being unpredictable, but was he really reckless enough to damage an entire event like that?
Sanjay continued, enjoying the advantage he had over her. "This isn't just about money-it's about someone's reputation. "
"My friend built his business from scratch, and in one night, Rudra's arrogance ruined years of hard work."
"Tell me, Charu, should we let that go just because he's family?"
Charu's mind was in chaos. She wasn't blind to Abhir's flaws-his temper, his impulsiveness-but was he truly capable of something like this?
"You're hesitating because you know I'm right" Sanjay taunted. "If you're scared to take the case, step aside. I'll do it myself, and I will make sure he pays for it."
That struck a nerve. Charu had worked too hard to let her father undermine her capabilities.
Her grip on the file tightened.
She took a deep breath, her grip tightening around the file as she met her father's gaze. "Fine. I'll take the case."
Sanjay's smirk widened in satisfaction. "Good," he said, crossing his arms. "I was beginning to think you'd lose your edge."
Charu ignored the jab. "But I'll handle it my way."
His amusement flickered into mild annoyance. "And what exactly does that mean?"
"It means I'll do my own research like any case" she stated firmly.
"I won't blindly take your friend's word for it. If I'm going to fight this case, I want to see every contract, every clause, and every piece of evidence they have against Abhir."
Sanjay narrowed his eyes, studying her. "You think he's innocent?"
Charu's lips pressed together. "I just won't jump to conclusions without proof."
Her father scoffed. "You're wasting your time. That rockstar has been handed everything on a silver platter. Do you really think he cares about the consequences of his actions?"
Charu didn't answer.
Instead, she tucked the file under her arm. "I'll prepare my arguments and let you know when I'm ready to proceed."
Sanjay exhaled sharply. "Do whatever you want. Just don't let your emotions cloud your judgment."
Charu didn't reply as she walked out of the room.
But as soon as she was alone, she let out a shaky breath.
She had just agreed to go against Rudra. Against Abhir.
She wasn't sure if she was proving something to herself, or to her father.
But one thing was certain-this was going to change everything.
-------
Abhir had just stepped out of the recording studio when his manager, Akash, rushed toward him, holding a thick envelope. His face was tense, his usually calm demeanor replaced with unease.
"Abhir, you need to see this," Akash said, handing him the envelope.
Abhir frowned, taking it from him. He ripped it open, his eyes scanning the contents. The more he read, the harder his jaw clenched. His blood boiled as he realized what was happening.
"For breach of contract and financial losses due to untimely arrival leading to ticket cancellations."
Abhir let out a humorless chuckle, his fingers tightening around the paper. "You've got to be f***ing kidding me," he muttered.
A lawsuit? Seriously?
He had informed the organizers well in advance that he was running late due to unforeseen circumstances. It wasn't like he had deliberately blown off the show.
Yet, here they were, not only canceling the event but also slapping a case on him for 'breach of contract' and 'financial damages.'
His grip on the papers tightened as he flipped to the end, scanning the signatures. His breath hitched when he saw the law firm handling the case-Poddar & Associates.
And right beneath the official seal, bold and clear-Charu Bansal, representing the plaintiff.
Abhir stilled.
The words seemed to blur as his anger reached a new level.
Charu.
Freaking Charu Bansal.
His hands curled into fists as disbelief flooded through him.
Was this a joke?
Of all the lawyers in Udaipur, she was the one taking this case against him?
A bitter laugh escaped his lips. "You've got to be kidding me."
Of course, it had to be her.
The woman who had done nothing but look down on him from the moment they met.
He had tolerated her cold attitude, her dismissiveness, her little taunts-hell, he had even tried to bridge the gap between them despite her arrogance.
But this?
Abhir scoffed, tossing the papers onto the table. " These organizers have lost their damn minds. And Charu Bansal-" He let out a harsh chuckle. "Of all the lawyers in this city, it had to be her."
Akash sighed. "I figured you'd react like this. But listen, let's think this through-"
Abhir shot him a sharp glare. "Think? There's nothing to think about. They're accusing me of being unprofessional when they were the ones who pulled the plug without even waiting? And now Charu is fighting their case?"
He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "I'm not letting this slide."
Akash hesitated. "Look, I know you're mad, but if this goes to court, it's going to be messy. You don't need that kind of bad press right now."
"I don't give a damn about the press," Abhir bit out.
"What I care about is the fact that someone I-" He cut himself off, unwilling to finish that thought.
Akash raised an eyebrow. "Someone you what?"
Abhir exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Forget it. Get my lawyer on the phone. We're shutting this down before it even starts."
Akash nodded and left to make the call.
Abhir, however, wasn't done.
No.
He wanted answers.
And if Charu Bansal thought she could stand against him in court tarnish his hard earned reputation, she had another thing coming.
Because if she wanted a war, he would damn well give her one.
-------
Abhir paced across his living room, his phone clenched tightly in his hand.
His lawyer Rishi Mehta was out of the country so he redirected the case to his inexperienced son Anil Mehta.
Anil had just finished explaining the details of the case, but none of it made sense to him.
"They claim you showed up three hours late, causing mass ticket cancellations and a huge financial setback" Anil said over the call.
Abhir scoffed. "That's bulls**t. I was only an hour late, and I had informed them well in advance. They chose to cancel the show, not me."
"Then we can fight it" Anil assured. "But the real problem is who's representing them. Poddar Law Firm has a solid track record. And Charu Bansal? She's sharp, aggressive, and doesn't back down."
Abhir gritted his teeth at the mention of her name. "She's the damn problem here."
Anil sighed. " Is there some personal history I should know about?"
Abhir exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "She's... my sister's acquaintance. And We don't get along."
"That complicates things," Anil muttered.
"Not for me" Abhir shot back. "If Charu wants to fight this, I'll make sure she regrets it."
Akash, who had been listening in, shifted uncomfortably. "Maybe you should talk to her before escalating this. See if there's room to settle?"
Abhir let out a dark chuckle. "You think Charu Bansal is the type to settle? If she's taken this case, it means she wants to take me down. And I won't give her that satisfaction."
A muscle in his jaw twitched as he grabbed his jacket. "Where are you going?" Akash asked.
"To the Poddar firm" Abhir said, storming toward the door.
Akash groaned. "You're just going to barge into her office? That's a terrible idea."
Abhir smirked. "Good thing I don't care."
------------
Fun fact: I randomly found FLAMES on Blinkit (because, well, it's Valentineâs week ð), and I couldnât resist trying it for Abhir & Charu⦠guess what?
It landed on Enemies ð
Here I am, trying to make them fall for each other, and these two are just stretching their enmity way too long. ð