"In the city's shadows, I'll watch you near,

Unseen, yet bound—your fate is clear."

" Like the moon follows the night so true,

In Mumbai's shadows, I'll wait for you."

VIHAN'S POV:

Another day in my life. Nothing special—just a mountain of work, endless meetings, and the usual chaos. But today, I had to meet someone important. Someone who could provide the missing pieces to a puzzle that had haunted me for a decade.

I parked my car outside an abandoned warehouse, its rusted gates groaning as I pushed them open. Inside, the dim light barely cut through the dust-filled air, and in the center of the room stood a familiar figure—Khushal Sehgal, a mafia leader and an old friend.

"To what do I owe the honor, Vihan Khurana?" Khushal smirked, though the frustration on his face was evident.

"No time for jokes, Khushal," I said, my voice firm. "I need information about what happened ten years ago. I've been fed bits and pieces, but it's not enough."

Khushal's smirk faded as he nodded, a knowing look passing through his eyes. "I figured you'd come for that sooner or later." He took a deep breath. "There's one more thing. The person who send you the message—he's a professional. My men tried tracking him, but all they found were digital footprints scattered across Chhattisgarh."

I gave the work to find about him to Ritvik but he was not able to find him too.

I clenched my jaw, running a frustrated hand through my hair. "And?"

"Mostly near Raipur," he added.

That one word sent a jolt through me. Raipur.

Of course. Chandrapur is close to Raipur. That's where the accident happened.

My mind raced, piecing together fragmented memories and the mystery surrounding that incident. Without another word, I turned to leave.

"Be careful, Vihan," Khushal called after me.

I didn't respond. I had no time for warnings.

Later That Night

I sat in my study, the glow of my phone screen the only source of light. The weight of the day's revelations clung to me, but there was one person who always managed to distract me from my own mind—Gummy Bear.

Without hesitation, I sent the text.

Me: Hi, Gummy Bear. Still busy?

A few seconds later, my phone buzzed.

Gummy Bear: No, I'm here. Just making a list to pack... if I get to go to Mumbai.

I frowned.

Me: What do you mean 'if' ?

Gummy Bear: Papa hasn't answered yet, and the deadline is tomorrow... so it's complicated.

I felt a sharp pang of anger rise within me. How could a father be this ruthless to his own daughter? The thought alone made my hands tighten into fists.

Me: It's okay. Maybe he'll give his answer tomorrow.

Comforting people wasn't exactly my forte, but I tried.

Her next text came after a pause.

Gummy Bear: Hey... now that I think about it, you know so much about me. But all I know about you is your age and that you're a man. I know I'm naive, but that doesn't seem fair.

I smirked at my screen. Not naive—just cute.

Me: Nothing to hide, Gummy Bear. I'm 29 and the CEO of my company.

That wasn't everything. Not even close. But something held me back. An unshakable instinct that revealing too much would change things between us.

Me: I'm from Mumbai too.

Her response was almost instant.

Gummy Bear: OMG! You're from Mumbai?! Why didn't you tell me when I said I had an interview there?

I hesitated for a moment before replying.

Me: I wanted to, but I thought it might make you uncomfortable.

A brief silence, then—

Gummy Bear: You're right. We're comfortable because we're strangers. We can talk about anything without judgment. But if we knew each other in real life, it might change things, don't you think?

I hummed in response, staring at her words longer than necessary.

Uncomfortable?

Somewhere deep inside, that thought stung.

Would she really feel different if she knew who I was? If she knew the secrets I carried?

Maybe I should distance myself. Maybe this was a bad idea.

But I didn't want to.

I wanted her. My Gummy Bear.

To be mine.

I exhaled, my thumb hovering over the keyboard.

Should I just tell her everything?

SAISHA's POV:

The soft hum of conversations and the rich aroma of coffee filled the air as I sat at our usual spot in Café Bliss with Rivan and Vaishnavi. It was our safe space—the place where we shared our highs, lows, and everything in between.

Vaishnavi stirred her cappuccino, then looked up at me with a curious expression.

"So, what did your father say?" she asked.

I let out a deep sigh, tracing the rim of my coffee cup with my fingers. "No response," I muttered.

Rivan's jaw tightened, and his hands curled into fists on the table. "Has he always been like this?" he asked, his voice laced with frustration.

I gave him a small, tired nod. "Pretty much."

A tense silence settled between us until Vaishnavi suddenly grinned, breaking the heavy mood. "Saisha, maybe I'll just adopt you!" she declared dramatically, flipping her hair.

For a moment, we all just stared at her—then burst into laughter.

"Sounds like a solid plan," I chuckled, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye.

"Absolutely," Rivan smirked. "At least then, you'll finally get the love you deserve."

The laughter softened into something warm and reassuring. Moments like these made everything feel bearable.

Once the mood lightened, Rivan leaned back in his chair, a small smirk playing on his lips. "By the way, I have some news," he said casually.

I arched a brow. "Oh?"

"I got selected for the Mumbai interviews too."

My eyes widened. "No way!"

He nodded, grinning.

I clapped my hands together, excitement bubbling inside me. "This is amazing! That means we'll be going together!"

"Yup," he said. "Looks like you're stuck with me for a little longer sister."

"Hey, I'm not complaining," I teased.

Vaishnavi sighed dramatically, resting her chin on her palm. "And I, my dear friends, will be abandoned because my interviews are in Bangalore."

"Aww, we'll miss you, Vaish," I pouted.

"Ugh, don't make me emotional," she groaned. "I'll just force you both to video call me every night."

"Done," Rivan and I said in unison, making her laugh.

We spent the rest of the evening talking about our plans, dreams, and everything in between. For the first time in a while, I felt hopeful.

It was a normal day apart from that .Later at the night,

Dinner was done. The house was quiet. I took a deep breath, mustering the courage to face Papa.

I walked into his study, my heart pounding against my ribs. "Papa, about the interview..."

Before I could even finish, he cut me off.

"You can go."

I blinked. Wait... what?

For a moment, I just stood there, unable to process his words.

Did he just... approve?

He had never supported me like this before. Never made arrangements for me. Never made me feel like my dreams mattered.

I wanted to hug him. To thank him. To finally bridge the distance between us.

But we weren't that kind of father and daughter. We never had been.

So instead, I swallowed my emotions, nodded, and quietly walked back to my room.

The moment I shut my door, I let out a silent scream of joy. My heart raced with excitement as I grabbed my pillow and started happy dancing around my room.

This was really happening.

I was going to Mumbai.

I was going to chase my dreams.

I collapsed onto my bed, staring at the ceiling with a wide smile.

"Saisha, this is it. It's finally your time to shine."

I quickly grabbed my phone, my fingers flying over the screen as excitement bubbled inside me.

Me: Mission Mumbai is on, Masked Man... finally, it's happening!

A few seconds passed, and then—

Masked Man: Oh? So, Papa finally decided to be a decent human being?

I rolled my eyes, but a laugh escaped me. Only he could say something like that so bluntly.

Me: Let's just say I was as shocked as you are.

Masked Man: So when are you leaving?

Me: Day after tomorrow! Can you believe it?

Masked Man: I can. You were meant for this, Gummy Bear.

Something about those words made warmth spread through my chest.

Me: Thanks, Masked Man. For everything.

There was a pause before he replied.

Masked Man: Don't thank me yet. Mumbai holds surprises... some you might not be ready for. MUMBAI Awaits for you GUMMY BEAR.

A shiver ran down my spine.

What did he mean by that?

VIHAN's POV:

The moment my phone buzzed, I knew it was her.

Gummy Bear.

I unlocked the screen, and there it was—her excited message lighting up my world.

"Mission Mumbai is on, Masked Man... finally, it's happening!"

I leaned back in my chair, a slow smirk creeping onto my lips.

She was coming. To my city.

It wouldn't take much for me to find her once she landed. A name. A location. A glimpse. That's all I needed.

But I wouldn't reveal myself. Not yet.

No, I would stay in the shadows—but not just any shadows. Hers.

Watching. Protecting. Waiting.

She had no idea that Mumbai wouldn't just be another city for her.

It would be the place where our fates would  finally collide.  What power this lil girl holds over me making me loose my sanity. I was never this man going crazy over girls , but for her a thousand times over i was willing to do.

I typed a reply, my fingers lingering over the keyboard before I sent it.

Me: Mumbai awaits you,  Gummy Bear. 🐻

SAISHA's POV:

The day had finally arrived.

Standing outside the airport, I felt an odd mix of excitement and nervousness swirling inside me. This was it—the beginning of a new chapter.

Papa stood beside me, his usual unreadable expression in place. His men lingered nearby, ensuring everything was set for my departure.

"You have everything?" Papa asked, his tone firm but distant.

"Yes," I replied, adjusting the strap of my bag.

A part of me wanted to thank him—for allowing me to go, for finally acknowledging my dreams. But words failed me, and in the end, I simply nodded, offering a polite, formal goodbye before turning away.

As I walked toward the airport entrance, I felt the weight of his gaze on my back, but I didn't turn around.

This was my moment.

Inside, the air buzzed with anticipation and hurried footsteps. I had  texted Rivan my seat number earlier so he could book a seat beside me. Traveling alone would've been boring, and besides, I wanted him there.

Boarding the flight, I searched for my seat, my eyes scanning the rows when—

A hand landed on my shoulder.

I turned, already knowing who it was.

"Your seat is here, ma'am," Rivan said, smirking.

I rolled my eyes, laughing. "Oops, my bad!"

Shaking his head, he stepped aside, letting me settle into my seat. "I swear, sometimes I feel like I should tie a GPS tracker to you," he muttered.

I grinned. "Admit it—you'd miss me if you didn't have to look after me."

He scoffed but didn't deny it.

As the plane took off, I leaned my head back, letting the hum of the engines lull me into thought. Rivan wasn't just a friend anymore—he was the brother I never had. Someone who protected me like I was his own blood.

The flight itself was long and uneventful, but having  him beside me made it bearable. He kept nudging me whenever I zoned out, made sarcastic remarks about airplane food, and even let me steal his window view when I got bored.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the captain's voice crackled through the speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have landed in Mumbai. Welcome to the city of dreams."

A rush of excitement surged through me.

Mumbai. The place where my dreams would take flight.

As I stepped off the plane, the air smelled different—like opportunity, like change, like destiny waiting to unfold.

HEY CUTIES . THANKYOU FOR READING AND LET ME KNOW HOW IS THE PLOT . PLEASE VOTE AND LEAVE COMMENTS..

. HAPPY READING LOVIES.

LOVE ALL,GOD BLESS.