Aaradhana Verma

I stood in front of the mirror, checking myself one last time. 

My turquoise off-shoulder gown with delicate white lace shimmered under the soft light. My hair was styled in a messy bun, with a few loose strands framing my face and a pair of delicate diamond earrings dangled from my ears. I clutched my matching white purse and turned around, confident yet nervous. Tonight was the night.

As I walked down the stairs, I saw my parents waiting in the living room. My father’s stern expression clashed with my mother’s worried one.

“Aaradhana,” Papa said sharply, his tone heavy with disapproval. “You are not going anywhere. We have talked about this already.”

“And I have told you, Papa. I am going,” I replied firmly, clutching my purse tighter.

“You are embarrassing yourself, Aaru” he said, his voice rising slightly. “Harshad Oberoi is not for you. He is not someone who would ever consider…”

“Consider what? Me?” I interrupted, my voice shaking. “I am Aaradhana Verma. I am no less than him. Why wouldn’t he consider me?”

“First of all, he doesn’t know that you are a Verma. And even if he does, I don’t think it's going to make any change for him. It’s not about your worth, baby.” Ganga, my mother, interjected softly, stepping closer. “It’s about the kind of man he is. Harshad isn’t… he isn’t the right match for you. He’s cold, aloof, and...”

“And what?” I snapped, cutting her off. “You think I don’t know what I am doing? That I am some naive girl chasing a dream?”

“That’s exactly what you are doing,” Papa said bluntly. “You are chasing someone who doesn’t care about you. Don’t put yourself through this humiliation.”

“This isn’t humiliation, Papa. It’s hope,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. “And I am not asking for your approval. I am going.”

“Aaru…” Mama reached out, but I stepped back, shaking my head.

“Mama please,” I said firmly, turning toward the door. “I’ll be back later.”

I walked out to my car, my heels clicking against the stone driveway. My heart was racing, but I refused to let their words affect me. I had made up my mind.

******

The drive to the Oberoi mansion was filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. I couldn’t stop imagining how Harshad would react to seeing me. The mansion loomed ahead, it’s luxurious enough to make anyone feel small. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, my heels sinking slightly into the gravel.

Inside, the party was already in full swing. The hall was filled with laughter, chatter, and the soft clinking of glasses. The chandelier above cast a warm glow over the elegant crowd.

“Aaradhana!” Preeti’s voice called out. She walked toward me, her face lighting up with a smile. “You look stunning!”

“Thank you,” I said, returning her smile. “And thank you for inviting me.”

“Of course. Come, let me introduce you to everyone,” she said, leading me into the crowd.

We approached a small group of women, all dressed to perfection. Preeti gestured to them.

“This is Kiara bhabhi, Parag bhai’s wife, and you already met Jeevika bhabhi, Mihir bhai’s wife,” Preeti said. “And you already know me.”

“It’s lovely to meet you all,” I said politely, smiling at them.

“The pleasure is ours,” Kiara said warmly. “Preeti told us about you.”

“All good things, I hope,” I said with a laugh..

“Absolutely,” Jeevika said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You are quite brave to come here tonight.”

“Brave?” I asked, confused.

“Harshad bhai doesn’t exactly make it easy for people to approach him,” Kiara explained. “But don’t worry. We have got your back.”

“The men are in on it too,” Preeti added with a grin. “Except for Harshad bhai, of course. He has no idea you are here.”

“Doesn’t he?” My heart skipped a beat at her words.

“Nope,” Jeevika said, popping the “p.” “But it’ll be fun to see his reaction.”

We all laughed softly, but I couldn’t shake off the nervous energy building inside me. Preeti pointed me toward the table where the men were gathered. Harshad sat at the center, exuding an aura of authority and detachment. His sharp features and piercing gaze were enough to make anyone hesitate.

But not me!

“Alright, Aaradhana. Time to work your magic,” I whispered to myself.

“Are you planning to talk to him, or will you just stare all night?” Preeti teased, nudging me.

“I will talk,” I said, with a confident smile. “Just waiting for the right moment.”

“Good luck,” she said with a wink.

The first step was subtlety. I positioned myself near his line of sight, laughing at a joke someone cracked, ensuring my voice carried just enough to catch his attention. His eyes flicked toward me briefly before returning to the man he was speaking to.

Strike one, Failed!

Next, I made my way to the buffet table, where he was coincidentally standing, examining a tray of appetizers. Picking up a small plate, I glanced at him.

“Any recommendations?” I asked lightly.

He looked at me, his eyes piercing. 

“Depends on your taste,” he said curtly, then turned back to the tray.

“Guess I will have to try everything,” I quipped, refusing to let his indifference deter me.

He didn’t reply, his focus already elsewhere.

Strike two, Failed!

As the night wore on, I realized subtlety wasn’t going to cut it. If I wanted to crack through that icy exterior, I would have to be bold. Spotting a tray of champagne, I grabbed a flute and made my way to him, dragging Preeti on my way,

As we approached, Mihir noticed us first and whispered something to Harshad. His gaze shifted toward me, and for a moment, his eyes widened slightly before narrowing into their usual coldness.

“Harshad bhai,” Preeti said cheerfully, “didn’t you see Aaradhana? She came specifically to meet you.”

He didn’t say a word, his expression unreadable. I offered him a sweet smile, determined not to let his icy demeanor affect me.

“We met actually, but couldn’t interact properly.,” I said, extending my hand.

He glanced at my hand briefly before looking away. 

The tension was palpable, but I wasn’t going to back down. Not tonight.

“I hear you are the man to know if one wants to make waves in this city,” I said, tilting my head with a playful smile.

“Is that so?” His gaze was unreadable, but I caught the faintest twitch of his lips.

“That’s the word on the street,” I said, taking a sip of my champagne. “But I would rather hear it from the source.”

“You seem well-informed,” he said, his tone laced with sarcasm.

“I make it a point to be,” I shot back, meeting his gaze head-on.

For a moment, we stared at each other, the air between us charged. But just as I thought I was making progress, he stepped aside.

“Enjoy the party,” he said coolly before walking away.

Strike three, Failed!

I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling to the surface. 

Harshad Oberoi wasn’t just aloof—he was an impenetrable fortress. 

But if he thought I would give up that easily, he didn’t know me at all.

A/N

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