✦ CHAPTER 4 ✦

THE UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

~ Evening | Around 6 PM ~

The entire mansion was glowing with warm lights.

Music was playing softly in the background, the hall was beautifully decorated, and guests had already started arriving for Manya's birthday celebration.

Tvisha slowly came downstairs.

But the moment her eyes landed on the huge gathering...

She froze.

So. Many. People.

People she didn't even know.

And now she had to interact with them while pretending to be Aryaveer.

Tvisha: (mind mein)

"Itne saare log... jinhe main jaanti tak nahi hoon. In sabke saath main Mr. Aryaveer bankar kaise interact karungi?" 😭

Before she could overthink any further, a familiar voice came from behind.

Sawati:

"Aaru... sab guests aa gaye hain. Ja, jaakar Manu ko bula la."

Tvisha immediately turned towards her.

Tvisha:

"Ji, Maa."

She quickly went upstairs to her room.

There, she picked up the gift she had bought for Manya and walked towards Manya's room.

Knock! Knock!

Manya:

"AA jaiye!"

Hearing her voice, Tvisha opened the door and stepped inside.

Manya was standing in front of the mirror, giving herself one last final fit check before going downstairs.

Tvisha looked at her for a moment.

Her face instantly lit up.

Tvisha:

"Wow! 😍"

Hearing her voice, Manya turned around.

Manya:

"Bhai..."

Tvisha smiled warmly.

Tvisha:

"Bahot pyaari lag rahi ho... bilkul kisi fairytale ki princess jaisi. 🤌🏻"

Manya's face immediately brightened.

Without thinking twice, she ran towards him and hugged him.

Manya:

"Thank you, bhai! 😊"

Tvisha smiled and gently patted her back.

A few seconds later, Manya broke the hug.

Tvisha:

"Waise... main tumhare liye kuch lai—"

She stopped herself.

"Laya hoon!"

Manya:

"Kya laye ho? 😃"

Tvisha took out a small teddy along with a chocolate basket and handed them to her.

Tvisha:

"Yeh... I know thoda chhota hai, par—"

Before she could finish, Manya looked at the gift with sparkling eyes.

Manya:

"Yeh chhota hai?!"

She hugged the teddy tightly.

Manya:

"Aap nahi jaante, bhai, yeh mere liye kitna special hai! 🥹"

She looked up at him with a huge smile.

Manya:

"Kyunki yeh aapne mujhe diya hai..."

Her eyes became slightly teary.

Manya:

"You are the best bhai in the world! 🥹❤️"

For a moment, Tvisha didn't know what to say.

A strange warmth filled her heart.

She smiled.

Tvisha:

"And you are the best too, princess. 😊"

Then she pointed towards the door.

Tvisha:

"Achha, ab neeche chalo. Sab guests aa gaye hain... aur party ki aaj ki star hi gayab hai!"

He smiled.

Tvisha:

"Let's go."

---

~ Downstairs ~

The two of them finally entered the hall.

The birthday celebration was already in full swing.

Manya immediately spotted her friends and went towards them.

Tvisha, meanwhile, stood a little away from everyone.

Alone.

And honestly...

She preferred it that way.

Tvisha: (mind mein)

"Bas koi mere paas mat aana... please..." 😭

Unfortunately...

Her wish lasted approximately thirty seconds.

A middle-aged man walked towards her.

Mr. Verma:

"Hey, Mr. Singhania!"

He extended his hand.

Tvisha hesitantly shook it.

Tvisha:

"H-hey..."

Mr. Verma:

"Bahot lambe samay baad mil rahe hain, Mr. Singhania. Aap toh kaafi zyada busy ho gaye hain!"

Tvisha nervously smiled.

Tvisha:

"N-nahi... aisa nahi hai..."

Mr. Verma suddenly looked around.

Mr. Verma:

"Waise... where is your partner, Mr. Singhania?"

Tvisha blinked.

Tvisha:

"Huh?!"

Before she could process the question, a girl suddenly walked towards them and grabbed Tvisha's arm.

Lavanya:

"Yahin hain Aryaveer ke partner, Mr. Verma."

Mr. Verma looked at her.

Mr. Verma:

"Oh..."

But before he could say anything else, someone called him from across the hall.

Mr. Verma:

"Excuse me."

And he walked away.

Tvisha stared at the girl holding her arm.

"What is happening?! 😭"

Lavanya smiled at her.

Lavanya:

"Don't worry, Aryaveer... I'm here only for you. 😊"

Tvisha's eyes widened.

Tvisha: (mind mein)

"WHO IS THIS?! 😭"

But before Lavanya could move any closer—

A boy suddenly appeared.

He stepped between them, gently pulled Lavanya away from Tvisha and positioned himself in front of Tvisha.

Aadarsh:

"Vo kya hai na... mere dost ko tum jaisi ladkiyon se allergy hai, Lavanya."

Lavanya's expression immediately changed.

Lavanya:

"What do you mean by tum jaisi?! 😤"

Aadarsh crossed his arms.

Aadarsh:

"Tum jaisi chipku, gold digger, nakchadhi—"

Lavanya:

"Ooo! Shut up, Aadarsh!"

She tried to move past him.

Lavanya:

"Hato mere aage se!"

But Aadarsh blocked her again.

Aadarsh:

"Stay away from my dost, Lavanya!"

Lavanya rolled her eyes and angrily walked away.

Aadarsh watched her leave before finally turning towards Tvisha.

He stared at her for a few seconds.

Then—

Aadarsh:

"Muh mein dahi jamai hui hai kya, butter?"

Tvisha blinked.

Aadarsh:

"Jab tujhe pasand nahi hai vo chipkali tere aas-paas, toh usse khud kyun nahi kehta ki tujhse door rahe?!"

Tvisha stared at him.

Tvisha: (mind mein)

"Ab yeh kaun hai?! 😩"

She nervously opened her mouth.

Tvisha:

"M-main—"

Aadarsh immediately interrupted.

Aadarsh:

"Yeh sab chhod!"

He looked genuinely offended.

Aadarsh:

"Tune mujhe kyun nahi bataya ki tu India aaya hai?!"

Tvisha froze.

Tvisha:

"M-main bas batane hi wala—"

She corrected herself.

Tvisha:

"...tha."

Aadarsh dramatically sighed.

Aadarsh:

"Bhai, tu rehne de!"

He placed a hand on his chest.

Aadarsh:

"Ab toh mujhe lagta hai yeh friendship bhi one-sided hai. 😑"

Tvisha internally groaned.

"Oho... toh is khadus Mr. Singhania ke friends bhi hain!"

She forced a smile.

Tvisha:

"Aisa nahi hai, yaar... main bas kaam mein thoda busy tha."

Aadarsh raised an eyebrow.

Aadarsh:

"Thoda?!"

He shook his head.

Aadarsh:

"Khair, chhod."

Then suddenly his face brightened.

Aadarsh:

"Ab tu free hai na?"

Before Tvisha could answer, Aadarsh grabbed her hand.

Aadarsh:

"Chal, drink karte hain!"

He started pulling her towards the bar area.

Tvisha's eyes widened.

Tvisha: (mind mein)

"Yeh khadus Mr. Singhania drink bhi karte hain?! Chii! Yeh toh meri soch se bhi zyada bure nikle!" 😭

Aadarsh picked up a wine glass and handed it to her.

Tvisha stared at it.

She didn't take it.

Aadarsh:

"Kya hua?"

Tvisha:

"Aadarsh... mujhe drink nahi karni."

Aadarsh froze.

He slowly turned towards her.

His eyes widened in complete disbelief.

Aadarsh:

"Tune... drink karne se mana kiya?! 🤯"

Tvisha awkwardly nodded.

Aadarsh immediately placed his hand on her forehead.

Aadarsh:

"Tujhe fever toh nahi hai na?"

Tvisha quickly removed his hand.

Tvisha:

"V-vo isliye kyunki..."

She desperately searched for an excuse.

Tvisha:

"...kyunki meri behen ka birthday hai!"

Aadarsh stared at her.

Tvisha:

"Aur yeh sab karke main uska special day spoil nahi karna chahta. Use yeh sab pasand nahi hai!"

Aadarsh's expression became suspicious.

Aadarsh:

"Tu kabse apni behen ki itni parwah karne laga?"

Tvisha's brain stopped working.

Tvisha:

"Aaj se!"

Aadarsh blinked.

Tvisha:

"Abhi se!"

Aadarsh continued staring.

Tvisha:

"Isi waqt se!"

Aadarsh frowned.

Aadarsh:

"But you are the only one who spoiled her last two birthdays!"

Tvisha's patience finally snapped.

Tvisha:

"Tu kuch zyada hi sawaal nahi karne laga?!"

Aadarsh fell silent.

Tvisha:

"Maine keh diya na, mujhe drink nahi karni toh nahi karni!"

She turned around.

Tvisha:

"Baat khatam!"

And she walked away.

Aadarsh watched her disappear into the crowd.

Aadarsh:

"Aryaveer ko kya ho gaya hai...?"

He scratched his head.

Aadarsh:

"Yeh itna weird behave kyun kar raha hai?"

---

Meanwhile...

Tvisha finally found a relatively quiet corner.

She took a deep breath.

Tvisha: (mind mein)

"Thank God bach gayi..." 😩

She looked around cautiously.

Tvisha: (mind mein)

"Pata nahi yeh sab kab tak jhelna padega..."

She decided to stay away from everyone for the rest of the evening.

And thankfully...

The party eventually came to an end.

The moment it did, Tvisha immediately escaped upstairs and went straight towards Aryaveer's room.

---

~ OTHER SIDE ~

~ Around 9 PM ~

On the other side of the house...

Aryaveer—who was currently trapped inside Tvisha's body—had just returned to her room after helping her Maasi with all the household work.

He was exhausted.

Completely exhausted.

The moment he entered the room, he threw himself onto the bed.

Aryaveer:

"Ufff!!!"

He rubbed his back.

Aryaveer:

"Yeh Tvisha ki Maasi use kitna kaam karwati hain!"

He groaned.

Aryaveer:

"Meri toh kamar hi toot gayi! 😩"

He shifted uncomfortably.

Aryaveer:

"Upar se yeh hard bed..."

He looked at the mattress with disbelief.

Aryaveer:

"Bina soft mattress ke... ispar kaise sounga main?!"

He sighed.

Aryaveer:

"It's okay, Aryaveer..."

He closed his eyes.

Aryaveer:

"Sirf aaj raat ki baat hai."

He tried to sleep.

...

Thirty seconds later—

His eyes snapped open.

He immediately sat up.

Aryaveer:

"Nahi! Nahi! Mujhse na ho payega!"

He looked around the tiny room.

Aryaveer:

"Yeh room bahot chhota hai..."

He took a deep breath.

Aryaveer:

"Mujhe yahan ghutan ho rahi hai."

He got off the bed.

Aryaveer:

"Thodi der bahar chala jaata hoon."

He walked towards the door and reached for the lock.

But just as his fingers touched it—

He remembered Tvisha's warning.

«"9 baje se pehle pehle room mein jaakar door lock kar lena."»

Aryaveer paused.

He stared at the lock.

Aryaveer:

"Usne 9 baje ke baad room se nikalne se mana kiya tha..."

A small smirk appeared on his face.

Aryaveer:

"Lekin mujhe kya?"

He shrugged.

Aryaveer:

"Main kyun bhala uski baat maanu?"

And with that—

CLICK.

He unlocked the door.

The moment he opened it...

His expression changed.

Someone was standing right outside.

A boy.

Just standing there.

Looking directly at Aryaveer.

And there was something unsettling about his smile.

A strange...

wired smile.

Aryaveer froze.

The boy slowly began walking towards him.

One step.

Then another.

His smile never disappeared.

Finally, he stopped just a little distance away.

That Boy:

"Aaj bahot dino baad haath lagi hai tu mere..." 😏

Aryaveer's eyes widened.

He had absolutely no idea...

Who this boy was.

Or what he wanted from Tvisha.

But one thing was certain—

Opening that door...

was a mistake.

TO BE CONTINUED...

---

✦ NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW ✦

Kaun hai woh ladka?

Kya karne wala hai woh Tvisha ke saath?

Kaun hai Lavanya... aur uska Aryaveer ke saath kya connection hai?

Kya Aryaveer aur Tvisha apni bodies wapas paa payenge?

Ya...

Destiny ke plans kuch aur hain?

Sometimes, the biggest mistakes are the doors we choose to open.

— THE SOUL HEIST: Until We Return