3. Emerald Jhumke?

TRIPTI SINGH

"Tum yaha? Aur kya hai ye 'emerald jhumke, emerald jhumke laga rakha hai?'" I interrogated.

I mentally slapped myself for running into this guy again.

His eyebrows twitched. "Kya matlab? Emerald jhumke hi toh pehne hai tumne."

I huffed. "Pehne hai toh kya hua? Naam thodi rakh doge."

Ignoring him, I glanced toward the crowd that had gathered nearby. My eyes widened as I saw Veda and-oh, no-Aadvik. I needed to get Veda out of there immediately. Without wasting a second, I dialed Swastika's number.

After three rings, she picked up. "Oye, I was going to call you. Ye kya bakwas dikha rahe hai ye news wale?"

I froze. No, this couldn't be happening.

I glanced at the guy standing beside me, who was busy calling someone.

"Hey! Bina shirt wale aadmi?" I called out, moving closer to him.

He turned around, and for the first time, I noticed his features. Brown eyes, black hair, and chiseled cheekbones-he looked like Michelangelo himself had sculpted him.

"Ghoorna band karo aur bolo kya hua, Emerald Jhumke?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

Jerk. "Tum usse jaante ho kya?" I gestured toward Aadvik in the crowd.

"Bhai hai woh mera-I mean, we're best friends," he replied, looking at me like I'd just grown another head.

"Oh... achha," I muttered, shaking my head. I was about to redial Swastika when his words hit me. "What do you mean you're Aadvik's friend?!" I exclaimed.

Instead of giving a normal answer, he smirked. "Vihaan Singh. Naam toh suna hi hoga."

I tried to recall the name.

Shit. Shit.

"Y-You mean Vihaan Singh, that criminal lawyer?" I asked, struggling to believe it.

Vihaan Singh Rajput-the lawyer who had recently solved the infamous case of the serial killer who murdered ten people before hanging himself.

"Aur kuch kaam tha, madam?" he asked, grinning.

"Mar jao," I snapped, rolling my eyes.

"Sure," he replied sarcastically.

"Bhaii?! Mar gayi?!" Swastika yelled from the phone, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I brought the phone back to my ear. "Kya hua? Kya dikha rahe hai vo?"

Swastika let out a frustrated sigh. "Check it yourself. I'm coming to the Mehendi venue."

Hurriedly, I opened social media, and the headlines nearly made me faint.

"Aadvik Malhotra, CEO of Malhotra Group, spotted on his knees before an unknown woman at a hotel!"

"Who is the mysterious woman who had the CEO on his knees?"

"Aadvik Malhotra's secret girlfriend?"

I stared at the screen, wondering what could have gone so wrong. Veda was in deep trouble now.

Looking up, I noticed the crowd had dispersed. I caught a glimpse of someone with black hair and silver bangles walking away.

"Swastika! Wait for me!" I called out, lifting my garara slightly to walk faster in my heels. But before I could move, some kids ran past me, nearly knocking me over.

"Arre! Sambhal ke jao warna jhapad dungi sabko, dusht praniyo!" I shouted, my long-standing dislike for mischievous kids rearing its head.

Suddenly, I felt a tug on my dupatta. One of the kids, grinning mischievously, stood there.

"Bolo," I said, crossing my arms.

Instead of speaking, he signaled me to lean down. The moment I did, he playfully slapped my cheek and ran off, yelling, "Maine nahi kiya, Didi! Chachu ne karwaya!" before disappearing.

SWASTIKA CHAUDHARY

---

Meanwhile, in the cafeteria, I ended a call with my boss. "Yes, sir. Sure, sir. I'll make sure Mr. Agnihotri attends the meeting."

"Kya hua, be?" Palak asked, taking a bite of her cake.

Shaking my head in disbelief, I replied, "Boss ne sab professors ko meeting pe bulaya hai, aur especially Agnihotri Sir ko. Woh toh kabhi meetings join nahi karte."

She snorted. "Kaamchor sala."

I laughed and took a piece of her cake. "Bhai, I still can't believe Veda and Aadvik met again."

"Hmm," she replied distractedly.

"I gotta go now. Mujhe laptop lena hai luggage se. Aur haan, mere bag mein green wale Lays rakhe hain. Saare mat kha lena, hapsi!"

"Chal, nikal," she said, scrunching her nose.

Walking toward the elevator, I put on my AirPods and blasted Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Glued to my phone, I didn't notice someone tapping my shoulder until I turned to see a tall, brown-haired man smiling at me.

Taking out one AirPod, I asked, "Yes?"

"I said, I also love O Re Piya," he grinned.

"Oh... same here. Swastika Chaudhary," I replied, shaking his extended hand.

"Darsh Agnihotri," he said.

As soon as I shook his hand, the elevator opened. "Well, nice meeting you, Darsh," I said, stepping inside.

"Wait-Miss-uh, Swastika!" he called, panting as he caught up with me.

I froze as he handed me my ID card. "You dropped this in the elevator."

It was my professor ID from Banaras Hindu University.

Smiling, I said, "Thank you. Well, I have to go now."

As I walked away, he yelled, "See you in today's meeting!"

Eyes wide, I muttered, "What?"

He winked. "I also teach at BHU, darling."

Shit.