The drive home was quiet, a rare reprieve after the chaos of the gala. Poornima sank into the plush seat of her car, letting out a long, tired sigh. The evening had been… exhausting, thrilling, and maddening all at once. And now, she finally had the comfort of her own space.

Stepping into her house, she barely noticed the grandeur surrounding her. She moved straight to her room, shutting the door behind her. The faint smell of jasmine from the diffuser did little to ease the hollow ache she felt inside.

She glanced at the calendar on her bedside table—and then at the small cake she had bought for herself earlier in the day. Today was her birthday.

Her lips curved into a bitter, fleeting smile. Another year… another reminder that nobody in my family even remembers.

She didn’t feel the sting she once would have. Somehow, she had stopped expecting anything from anyone. Birthdays, celebrations, attention—were they gifts or just the cruel irony of being alive? She let the thought settle: Maybe it’s a curse, being born into this world.

The silence was suddenly broken by the shrill ring of her phone. The screen flashed an unknown number.

Poornima frowned but answered, curiosity overriding caution. “Hello?”

A voice, deep and commanding, sliced through the line. “Poornima… come to the hotel. Now. Fifteen minutes. I need you there.”

Her breath caught. “Veeresh—”

But before she could finish, the line went dead.

Her fingers hovered over the phone, heart thumping. That unmistakable command. That edge in his voice. He didn’t ask. He didn’t explain. He just demanded. And for some inexplicable reason, part of her didn’t want to refuse.

For a moment, she stared at the ceiling, debating logic versus instinct. Fifteen minutes. That was all she had. And whatever game he was playing… she had a feeling it wasn’t going to be ordinary.

With a steadying breath, she grabbed her clutch, slipped into her heels, and whispered under her breath, “Fine, Veeresh. Let’s see what this is about.”

The night, it seemed, was far from over—and neither was the storm between them.