She mistook silence for comfort, his absence for space,

Ignored the warnings, lost in love's cruel embrace.

AUTHORS POV(SAISHA):

Saisha didn't believe in love at first sight, but something about Arsal pulled her in. He wasn't the most charming guy in the room, nor the warmest, yet his presence demanded attention. Tall, sharp-featured, with a mind that worked on logic rather than emotions—he was different. After she confessed him .Arsal accepted her proposal and they started dating its been six months now.

They started spending time together, mostly on his terms. He didn't do grand gestures, didn't text first, and never really asked about her day. Yet, when they were together, he had this way of making her feel seen—like she mattered, if only for those fleeting moments. Because people who are not served love they learn to lick it from the knives.

"Don't expect too much from me, Saisha," Arsal had said once, his voice steady, almost detached. "I don't do love the way people expect."

She had brushed it off. Maybe he just needed time. Maybe she could be the one to change him.

One evening, as they sat at a café, sipping coffee, his cousin Rivan showed up. He was same age as both of them, he had this easygoing vibe, the kind that made people trust him instantly. He glanced between them before turning to Saisha.

"You sure about this?" he asked casually, stirring his iced latte.

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

Rivan leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Arsal's not the guy you think he is. He's practical, yeah. A good person? Sure. But he doesn't love the way you do, Saisha. And I don't want you to get hurt."

She felt something twist inside her, but she forced a smile. "I can handle myself, Rivan."

He sighed, shaking his head. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."

That night, as she lay in bed, Rivan's words echoed in her mind. But then, a notification popped up. A simple Goodnight from Arsal. And just like that, she chose to ignore the warning signs.

After all, wasn't love about compromise?

Saisha sat on the balcony, hugging her knees to her chest as the city lights flickered below. The day had drained her—like most days did. Her mother had scolded her for forgetting to remind her father about a meeting, her sister have dumped all her work on her as usual in the name of help , and her father... well, he barely acknowledged her unless it was to point out something she did wrong.

She sighed and dialed Arsal. He picked up after a few rings.

"Hey." His voice was steady, emotionless, like always.

"Hey," she whispered, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "I had a really rough day."

"Hmm?"

"Mom was on my case again. Dad didn't even look at me. I just... I feel like I don't exist in this house except when they need something. It's like I'm just a—"

"Saisha," Arsal interrupted, "you're overthinking again."

Her chest tightened. "I'm not overthinking. I just—"

"It's normal," he cut in, a little sharper this time. "Every eldest kid deals with this. Parents are strict, they have expectations. It's just how it is. You shouldn't let it bother you so much."

Saisha swallowed. "But it does bother me."

"Then stop letting it."

Silence.

She stared at the tiny cracks in the concrete floor beneath her. This was how their conversations always went. She'd open up, and he'd shut it down, dismissing her feelings like they were nothing more than a glitch in her logic. Like she was making a big deal out of nothing.

"You don't get it, Arsal," she said softly. "I'm tired."

"Then sleep early."

A humorless laugh escaped her lips. "That's not what I meant."

He sighed. "Look, Saisha, you think too much. Just focus on what you have to do and stop expecting people to change."

Right. Because in Arsal's world, emotions were just distractions. Love was practical. Pain was ignored. And feelings... feelings didn't matter unless they were useful.

"Forget it," she muttered. "Goodnight, Aryan."

"Goodnight."

The call ended.

Saisha stared at her phone screen, her fingers gripping the edges a little too tightly. She had spent so much time believing that Arsal was the only person who listened to her. But maybe... maybe she had been talking to a wall this entire time.

AUTHORS POV (VIHAN) :

The rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall blended with the faint hum of the city outside as Vihan reviewed the documents in front of him. His brows furrowed in concentration. The numbers were almost right, but almost wasn't good enough. Not for him.

A sharp knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Come in."

Shekhar walked in, a file in one hand, the other gripping his phone tightly as his fingers moved over the screen. Without looking up, he placed the file on Vihan's desk. shekhar is not only his personal secretary but also his friend for more than 13 years. 

Vihan leaned back in his chair, observing his friend. Shekhar was usually attentive, but today, he was glued to his phone, grinning like an idiot.

Vihan scoffed. "I wasn't aware I was paying you to text your secret admirer."

Shekhar finally looked up, an amused smirk playing on his lips. "Not a secret admirer, boss. Something even better."

Vihan raised a brow. "And what exactly is so important that it has you ignoring your actual job?"

Shekhar leaned against the desk, holding up his phone. "This. It's an anonymous chatting site. You can talk to random strangers without revealing your identity. It's fun, man. No strings, no expectations—just conversations."

Vihan gave him a deadpan look. "You seriously have time for this nonsense?"

Shekhar chuckled. "Come on, Vihan. You work like a machine. A little distraction won't kill you."

"Distractions don't interest me," Vihan muttered, flipping open the file.

"Of course, they don't." Shekhar sighed dramatically. "Because Mr. Vihan khurana doesn't believe in wasting time. Everything has to be productive, efficient, useful."

Vihan shot him a sharp look. "Glad you understand. Now get back to work."

Shekhar grinned, shaking his head. "You're hopeless, man."

As Shekhar walked out, Vihan exhaled, rubbing his temple. Anonymous chatting? What a pointless way to pass time.

Little did he know, that so-called distraction would soon become the only thing that felt real...

In his world of logic, cold and bright,

She might become the shadow that will feel like light.

WHAT WILL BE THE CAUSE OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THESE TWO ? HOW WILL THE GRUMPY VIHAN AND SWEET SUNSHINE SAISHA COLLIDE ? 

IN THE FEW CHAPTERS IN BEGINNING  THERS WILL BE MORE OF SAISHAS POV AS HER SIDE OF STORY NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINED WELL TO UNDERSTAND THE LATER ONE . SO PLEASE BE PATIENT AND ENJOY. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU LIKED ABOUT THIS PART.

LOVE ALL GOD BLESS.