Third person’s pov!

Two weeks had passed, yet here she was again.

Shivangi strode toward the group of men gathered beneath the ancient banyan tree, her resolve as firm as ever. She had lost count of how many times she had approached Nanda, determined to make Adithan pay for what he had done. But every single time, Nanda had refused to acknowledge her existence. The moment he caught sight of her, he would swing his leg over his motorcycle and speed off, as though her "quotation" meant absolutely nothing to him.

Well, she couldn't entirely blame him. The first time, she had offered an embarrassingly small amount. But this time, she was prepared. She had brought more money—Hansika’s piggy bank had been cracked open, and Hansika had even managed to squeeze some extra pocket money from her father with a bit of dramatic pleading.

Nanda had to take the job this time.

She stopped in front of the group, adjusting the strap of her bag before speaking. “Bhaiyya, I want to talk to Nanda.”

“It’s been two weeks since your fight started, hasn’t it?” The man she addressed let out a long-suffering sigh. 

Shivangi blinked. Fight? What fight?

Before she could ask, she noticed a young boy next to the man stiffen. Kiran, that was his name if her memory is right. He looked as though he had just been caught red-handed stealing sweets from a temple offering.

Unbeknownst to her, Kiran had spun an elaborate tale two weeks ago to boost his own status among the gang—claiming that Nandu bhai had confided in him about his new "girlfriend." Not only that, but he had further exaggerated the story, telling everyone that the two were currently in the middle of a heated lovers' quarrel.

To keep up the act, Kiran had firmly advised the others not to interfere in ‘Nandu bhai’s personal matters.’ And they had believed him. Until now.

“You wait here. I’ll go bring him. Every relationship has its ups and downs, but it’s not good to drag a fight on for this long.” Manav, closest friend of Nanda here, rubbed his chin thoughtfully before nodding. 

Shivangi's brows furrowed in confusion. Relationship?

Were they talking about the goon-client relationship? Did goons have a particular way of handling quotations? Did they have some unspoken rules about how to settle negotiations after a disagreement?

Shaking her head, she let out a determined huff. Whatever it was, she was this close to getting what she wanted.

Nanda wasn’t getting away this time.

Manav found Nanda leaning against his bike, casually flipping a coin between his fingers. The younger men of the group lingered nearby, chatting idly, but Manav had no time for small talk. He strode forward with purpose.

“Nandu, Shiva is here to see you. Stop being stubborn and talk to her,” Manav ordered, his tone firm.

Nandu—because nobody here knows that he is Yug Nand Khoda, the scion of Khoda family—frowned, the coin stilling in his palm. 

“Shiva who?” He asked, genuinely perplexed.

“Enough of this hide-and-seek game. We know everything. Kiran already told us.” Manav sighed in exasperation. 

“What the hell are you talking about?” Yug’s frown deepened. 

“We’ll discuss all this later. Right now, go and talk to Shiva. Whatever issues you two are having, sort them out. It’s never good to let fights drag on in a relationship. Keep your ego aside and prioritize your love.” Manav folded his arms, unimpressed. 

“What?” Yug stared at him as if he had just spoken in an alien language. 

Meanwhile, Kiran, who had trailed behind Manav, felt his blood run cold. Shit. He knew Nandu bhai’s temper. The moment Nandu bhai realized the truth, his survival would be at serious risk. Deciding that a strategic retreat was the best option, he carefully took a few steps back before breaking into a stealthy sprint, disappearing into the shadows.

“Manav, I think there has been a misunderstanding.” Yug, still trying to make sense of the situation, ran a hand down his face. 

“Kiran told us about your secret relationship with Shiva. You shouldn’t have hidden it from me, Nandu. We have been close for the past year, haven’t we? But fine, I am letting it go. Now go and talk to her.” Manav said seriously. 

Yug exhaled sharply, the vein in his forehead twitching. That idiot. He kept Kiran around always, because he reminded him of his brothers Aarav and Rudra.

“Where the f*ck is Kiran?” He growled, scanning the area.

“He was just here a second ago… Where did he go?” Manav blinked and turned around. 

“He is dead the moment I get my hands on him.” Yug clenched his jaw. 

With that, he pushed off his bike and stalked toward Shivangi, who was standing a short distance away, arms crossed, foot tapping impatiently. Whatever this mess was, he needed to deal with it now.

Shivangi barely had time to react before Yug stormed toward her, his jaw tight with frustration.

"Didn't I make it clear that I have no intention of doing anything you want?" He snapped, his voice sharp enough to cut through the humid evening air.

Instead of backing down, Shiva beamed, pulling out a neatly folded bundle of cash. 

“I have brought more money,” she announced, holding it up like an offering, her eyes gleaming with hope.

Yug let out a harsh breath, rubbing a hand down his face. 

“Are you kidding me?” He muttered a curse under his breath before leveling her with a glare. “I told you once, and I am telling you again—I am not a f*cking goon! I don’t go around beating people up for money, and I sure as hell don’t take up stupid quotations from girls who clearly have a few screws loose.”

Shiva’s smile vanished as she scowled at him. 

“I don’t know any other goons. You’re the only one I know,” she grumbled, sounding almost betrayed.

“God, give me strength…” Yug exhaled sharply and looked up at the sky, as if praying for divine intervention. 

Regaining his composure, he turned back to her, his tone colder this time. 

“You showing up here—again and again—is causing rumors.” His dark eyes locked onto hers, a silent warning flashing through them. “It’s not good for your reputation. So, do yourself a favor and stay away from me.”

He punctuated his words with a sharp point of his index finger, leaving no room for argument.

But it was too late.

Rumors, like wildfire, had already spread through the small town, twisting and turning with each retelling. And at that very moment, someone was gleefully pouring every scandalous detail into the ears of Jayanthi Khullar—the formidable matriarch who ruled her household with an iron will.

Her sharp eyes narrowed as she listened, her fingers tightening around the arms of the chair in which she was sitting.

Shivangi… in a relationship?

And with who? A local goon?

Jayanthi’s lips pressed into a thin line. If there was one thing she despised, it was reckless behavior that tarnished the family name. And if these rumors were true…

Shivangi had a storm coming her way.

A/N

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