JHANVI'S POV:

I slammed the door behind me and leaned against it, trying to catch my breath. My heart wouldn't stop racing. 

Not because of those idiots  — that part I could handle — but because of... him.

Mr. Singhania.

I pressed a hand to my forehead and let out a shaky sigh. Why did he have to be there? Why did he have to swoop in like some kind of action hero and... 

pick me up like I weighed nothing?

I don't like him. Not even a little.

I never liked that cold, serious face of his, the way he looks at people like he's analyzing them, like he owns the place... 

or maybe like he owns everyone in it.

And today, wow. Just wow. 

The way he grabbed me, put me in the car, and leaned in that close... 

Ugh. I don't even want to think about it.

He saved me, yeah. 

But it doesn't change the fact that my skin still prickles when I remember how close he was, how he controlled everything in that car. 

I mean, who does that?

I ran my hands down my arms and tried to shake it off. 

Stop overthinking. You're being ridiculous, Jhanvi.

But I can't. Not really.

And then my thoughts jumped to Aryan.

The message. The panic attack. The way that little girl called me "Mumma" — again. 

And just like that, my stomach clenched.

He's married. He's had a child. And somehow, I care.

Why do I care? I shouldn't. We're not even... anything. 

He's not even mine to worry about. But seeing him like that — pale, fragile, like he needed someone — it hit me harder than I expected.

I hugged my knees to my chest and just sat there, trying to breathe.

 Calm down, Jhanvi. Calm down.

I told myself I was just overthinking. Again.

But my chest still felt tight, my mind still scrambled, and my heart? Well... my heart didn't seem interested in listening at all.

I don't know what's coming next. I don't know why I feel like this.

Next Morning (Still jhanvi's POV)

I woke up with a groan the next morning, my head still heavy from yesterday's chaos.

 Before I could even stretch properly, my phone started ringing.

Aahan.

I immediately picked up fearing if aryan was okay

I picked up.

"Hello?"

"Jhanvi sorry to disturb you this early but-" he sounded hesitated. "We're going on a short trip to Mussoorie today.and aryan is asking for you,so if you dont mind can you come with us?"

I rubbed my face. "Umm... I'll tell you in some time."

"okay?"

He hung up, and I dragged myself out of bed.

When I walked downstairs, Mumma and Papa were already having tea.

"Mumma... Papa..." I started softly.

 "My friends are going to Mussoorie today. Can I go with them?"

Mumma's brows pulled together.

"Friends? Which friends?"

I sighed. "Mumma, the tourist group... the one I've been talking to since they came here."Her reaction was instant.

"No. You will not go."

I blinked at her.

 "Why? Why don't you ever let me go anywhere? I'll take Reeva with me too. I don't understand this overprotectiveness! I'm not a child."

Mumma looked angry, worried, everything at once. I looked at Papa for help.

Papa gave me a calm nod. "I'll talk to her. You go get ready."

I didn't argue more. "Fine."

I grabbed my bag and left for the café, still frustrated.

Meanwhile;

Mrs. Bisht sat heavily on the sofa, rubbing her forehead.

"Why doesn't she understand... people are not good nowadays," she whispered. "If something happens to her—"

"I know what you're thinking," Mr. Bisht interrupted gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. 

"But she will be safe. Hmm?"

Mrs. Bisht sighed and nodded softly, even though her heart was uneasy.

AUTHOR'S POV:

Jhanvi reached the café a little later and stopped in confusion.

A big truck stood outside, filled with packages. Workers were carrying boxes inside.

Jhanvi frowned.

Walking in, she found Reeva directing the workers like a boss.

"Put that one near the counter—careful—yes, that's fragile!"

Jhanvi marched toward her.

"Reeva... don't tell me you ordered aesthetic stuff again? Seriously bro, we don't have that much money. Le Mont Grand accepted us but that doesn't mean—"

Reeva shoved a paper in her hand before she could finish.

Jhanvi blinked at the letter.

"These items are complimentary gifts for our collaborator, Whiskers Café.— Le Mont Grand"

Jhanvi stared at Reeva.

Reeva smirked and shrugged. "They're very generous."

Then she walked off, leaving Jhanvi standing there completely confused.

"No hotel does this..." Jhanvi muttered, looking at the piles of expensive décor, equipment, appliances.

Something wasn't adding up.

Absolutely nothing.

Jhanvi stared at all the boxes stacked around the café.

Decor pieces, coffee machines, premium syrups, designer table lamps... all branded... all expensive.

Too expensive.

She quickly grabbed her phone and searched the items online.

Her eyes widened.

"WHAT THE— this costs more than my kidney—"

She scrolled more.

"THIS ONE TOO? WHY THE HELL ARE THEY GIFTING US SUCH COSTLY THINGS?!"

Her heart dropped.

"Oh god... are they trying to take over our café? No no no— I will NOT let that happen. Whiskers is ours—"

Reeva immediately grabbed her shoulders.

"STOP. Overthinking, bhai," she said firmly.

Jhanvi blinked. "But—"

"No buts. You and your detective mind," Reeva sighed.

"Look, today is our first delivery for Le Mont Grand. Instead of panicking, shall we work on that?"

Jhanvi let out a long breath and nodded.

Reeva saluted dramatically.

"So, boss, give me orders."

Jhanvi chuckled and smacked her head lightly.

"Idiot. Come on."

Both of them got busy.

The café slowly filled up, staff running around, customers chatting, orders ringing.

But Jhanvi... she was somewhere else entirely.

Reeva noticed her spaced-out look and nudged her arm.

"Okay, spill. What happened? You're lost since morning."

Jhanvi shook her head. "Nahi nahi yaar... I mean— I—"

She took a deep breath and told her everything from last night.

Dev saving her.Dev dropping her home.Aryan's panic attack.Aryan calling her.Advika calling her "mumma."Finding out Aryan was married... and a father.

Reeva stood there with her mouth wide open.

"So you're telling me— Dev Singhania dropped you last night?"

Jhanvi nodded.

"And you're telling me— you felt something... weird... when you heard Aryan was married and had a kid?"

Another small nod.

"And NOW they want you to come with them to Mussoorie?"

Nod.

Reeva slapped her own forehead.

"Firstly, THIS much happened and you didn't even TELL me?! Secondly— what do you feel about Aryan?"

Jhanvi blinked.

"What?"

"What do you THINK about him..do you like him?" Reeva repeated.

Jhanvi looked away, fidgeting.

"WHAT-NO-noo,I-i just... don't know. I mean... he's like someone trying so hard to breathe but the world keeps suffocating him."

Reeva listened quietly.

"And yesterday," Jhanvi continued, "when I saw him like that... something inside me just..."Her hand curled into her apron.

"I don't know, Reeva. Maybe I just... feel too much. Maybe it's pity. Maybe I'm worried for him because he's... broken. And I'm too kind-hearted for my own good."

She let out a tired sigh.

"I mean—how can someone fall in love with a person they barely even know? And a person who is married... who has a kid... and who is mentally suffering?"

She shook her head firmly.

" That's not love. It CAN'T be. This is sympathy."

Reeva stared at her like she was looking at a baby deer trying to understand algebra.

"Are you done?" she asked blankly.

Jhanvi frowned. "What?"

Reeva pointed a finger at her.

"You don't feel 'sympathy' for a man by remembering the way he speaks, smiles, breathes, EXIST."

Jhanvi's eyes widened.

"What— no I— I didn't—"

"You literally described him like he's poetry," Reeva deadpanned.

"Normal people don't do that unless they're falling."

Jhanvi's cheeks heated.

"I—I don't know—maybe it's nothing— he just seems like someone who needs help— I just—"

Reeva looked at her friend tiredly.

"Oh god... this girl is doomed."

But she sighed.

"Fine. We'll see if this is sympathy, pity, or love."

She went back to work.

Jhanvi stood there frozen.

Her words kept poking her chest.

Love?

No. IMPOSSIBLE.

You don't fall for someone you just met.

This is just... kindness.

Has to be.

Reeva glanced at her again.

"And what do you feel about Dev Singhania? I mean— he picked you up... dropped you... carried you like some action hero."

Jhanvi looked horrified.

"I can't even TOLERATE him! He gives me such weird, creepy vibes. When he picked me up— I swear a shiver ran down my spine. My instinct screams stay away when he's near. I don't know why... I just... feel unsafe around him."

Reeva nodded, understanding instantly.

"If you are that uncomfortable, I will go alone for the delivery," she offered softly.

Jhanvi sighed.

"No, yaar. Maybe I'm just overthinking..."

But deep inside?

She wasn't sure.

Not at all.