The night air outside the mansion was thick with music and the subtle tension of power as Veeresh prepared for one of his infamous underworld gatherings. Dark suits, polished shoes, murmurs of deals, alliances whispered in shadowed corners — this was his world. And tonight, Ruby would walk beside him.

Poornima had chosen a simple black saree, elegant yet understated, letting her natural charm shine. Veeresh’s dark eyes followed her as she adjusted the pleats and stepped beside him. For a moment, he thought she looked almost ethereal — a rare softness in his dark, chaotic world.

At the entrance of the party, the crowd paused, whispers spreading like wildfire. Veeresh Deewan’s Ruby — polite, poised, and quietly magnetic — had arrived.

> “This is Ruby,” Veeresh announced to a cluster of sharp-eyed men and influential guests. “She is mine.”

Polite, smiling when greeted, and never intrusive, Poornima nodded, laughing lightly when someone complimented her attire. Veeresh’s presence was commanding, but Ruby’s simple grace softened the room, drawing attention not away from him, but enhancing it.

She leaned close to him as they walked toward the main hall, eyes twinkling with mischief.

> “You look hot tonight, like chocolate,” she teased softly. “I swear, someone might just… eat you.”

Veeresh arched an eyebrow, a slow smirk forming. “Is that a warning or a compliment, Ruby?”

> “Both,” she said with a giggle. Her eyes scanned the room. “See? Many girls are staring, dreaming… and you know it.”

He chuckled softly, the low sound rare and dangerous.

> “The same goes for you, Ruby,” he murmured, leaning slightly toward her.

She laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “But tonight… you’re stealing the show, man.”

He grinned darkly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “I have a few tricks left, don’t worry.”

Poornima followed his gaze, then, sensing a small opening, leaned slightly closer.

> “Go on, I’ll watch,” she whispered, letting her voice tease like velvet.

Veeresh’s smirk grew. “I need the restroom,” he said, not breaking the playful tension.

As he walked away, Poornima’s lips curved into a playful grin. Her eyes scanned the room, catching glimpses of men who dared to glance too long at Veeresh, and she felt a small thrill — a flirtatious spark she hadn’t realized she could ignite in this dangerous world.

Leaning slightly back against the marble railing, she whispered under her breath,

> “Let’s see who survives tonight… and who gets distracted by Ruby.”

The music thumped, the room shimmered with light, and in the center of it all, Veeresh Deewan’s dark aura and Poornima’s innocent audacity created a storm that no one dared touch.