YUVIKA

I gaze at his message, a sly smirk dancing on my lips. "Who is it?" Yukti inquires, peering at me with curiosity. "Huh?... Oh, just a reel," I mumble, as the professor wraps up the class and takes his leave.

Rising from my seat, I walk over to the window, where the view of the main gate beckons. My eyes instantly lock onto him; there he is, lounging against the hood of his car, absorbed in his phone.

"Who is he?" Yukti's gaze is glued to him, her excitement palpable. "I..." I hesitate. Should I share? I could divulge just the surface details, right? No need to go in depth. "I met him at an art exhibition yesterday," I whispered, trying to keep it casual.

"You what?? And you didn’t tell me? Rude! I mean, we're not best friends yet, but still... and by the way, he’s so hot!" She stares openly at him, and an unexpected pang of jealousy flares in my heart. What the hell? Am I jealous? No way.

"What’s his name?" she asks, as I can’t help but ogle him too. "Anirudh Singhania," I declare just as another message pings on my screen.

Unknown: Sirf dekhti hi rahogi ya pass bhi aana hai? 

(You're just gonna ogle or come closer as well??)

I look up again, finding his gaze fixed on me. He removes his glasses and raises a brow, a playful challenge in his expression. I type back my reply,

YUVIKA: What if I don’t come out?

I meet Yukti’s gaze, and she’s grinning widely. "What?" I shrug, feigning innocence. "Nothing, lage raho," she chuckles, shaking her head and giving me a light pat on the back before heading out. “I think you should head out now; I’ll take notes for you.” She grabs her bag. "Okay," I reply with a smile, heart racing as Anirudh sends another message.

Unknown: You’ll have to leave the campus at some point, I’ll wait here till then.

My eyebrows shoot up at his boldness. Really? Let’s put that theory to the test.

YUVIKA: Okay then. Keep waiting

I tuck my phone away and grab my bag. "Wait, Yukti!" I call, rushing after her. She turns, confusion etched on her face. "What happened?" I reach her side and pull her along.

"Nothing, I’ll meet him after class," I assure her as we walk toward our final class of the day. "Playing hard to get, huh? I like it!" she nudges me playfully, and I can’t help but grin back.

"But don't you think he looks a little old? I mean, he's hot, don’t get me wrong, but-" I cut her off before she can ramble further. "He's 32." She halts in shock, forcing me to stop too.

"What?" Her eyes widen, incredulous. I shrug nonchalantly, "Isn’t he kind of a ped0phile then?" She looks like she’d like to punch him.

"I mean... I'm twenty-one, almost twenty-two, and I’m fine with it. Plus, we haven’t even talked much yet. Let’s see what happens," I pull her along, as she absorbs all the information.

An hour later, we finish class and step outside. I check for new messages from him but find nothing. So that was it? He vanished this easily? Great—typical men, all bark and no bite.

"Krish is here, I’ll head out, okay?" Yukti says as her boyfriend approaches. They’ve been together for two years, and he’s now setting up his own business, according to her.

"Okay," I nod as Krish wraps her in a warm hug. "Update me about that hottie, okay?" I laugh as they walk away, bickering about her calling someone else 'hottie.'

With a sigh, I head toward the main gate, pulling out my phone to book a cab. My steps falter when I look up to find him still there. He’s dressed sharply in a beige Henley, black trousers and gloves, leaning against the car with crossed arms. He is definitely a clean freak, the way he wears those gloves all the time.

I take a deep breath, pocket my phone, and approach him. He stands up as I near, a small smile playing on his lips. "You’re a little too persistent, aren’t you?" I voice, crossing my arms defiantly.

"I’m a man of my words," he replies with a nod as I narrow my eyes. "How did you know I was here?" I ask, as any sane woman would.

"I have connections. When someone intrigues me, I like to do a little research," he admits honestly, his gaze sweeping from my head to toe, as if committing me to memory.

"So what do you want?" I ask, trying to feign disinterest. "A date with you," he states, sliding his hands into his pockets and standing tall.

"A date? Do you even know my name?" I laugh at his boldness, shaking my head, pretending to be the character I'm asked to play.

"I know where you study, yet you think your name would be a problem for me. Go ahead, tell me your name," he says, his ego swelling, making it hard not to roll my eyes.

Okay, Mr. Mafia, "ask nicely," I glare at him like I'm mad at him for insulting me. He sighs coming closer and lifts my chin with his gloved index. "Naam kya hai aapka?" His voice is smooth just like yesterday and I feel my heartbeat quicken as I lose myself in his gaze. Wtf Yuvi? He's just your mission remember?

"Yuvika... Yuvika Sharma," I whisper, his smile widens as he brushes his thumb lightly over my chin before withdrawing his hand. "I’m Anirudh Singhania," he reintroduces himself, as if we’re meeting for the first time.

"Will you go on a date with me?" he asks again, his hands clasped behind him. "What are the chances you’re not a serial killer and I’m your next victim?" I narrow my eyes, half-serious, as he chuckles at my playful banter.

"Serial killer nikala toh case kardena mujhpe, chalen ab?" He gestures to his car, and I follow hesitantly. Sure, Mr. Mafia, like there would be any repercussions if you killed me.

(If I turn out to be a serial killer, you can file a case against me. Shall we?)

If I were a normal citizen, getting into his car would make me seem like I have zero survival skills. And now that I think about it, does he see me as naïve since he doesn’t really know who I am?

15 minutes later, we arrive at a restaurant which seems quite cozy considering who he is.

I take my seat as the waiter approaches us with the menu. I start checking out the menu but the nerves get a grip on my throat. Calm down Yuvi or else he'll get suspicious. I keep trying and failing.

"You can order for me as well, since you choose the restaurant I'm sure you have been here before, right?" I close the menu and join my palms together on my lap. He just stares at me in complete silence for a moment then sighs, "okay."

He orders the food and then we fall into an awkward silence. Do something Yuvi, "So, what do you do? I mean your work?" Even though I know all his 'legal AND illegal' businesses, I ask it.

"I... Own a construction firm" he's curt with his reply and seamlessly cuts out the other part. "Oh...okay. I thought you might be a hacker or something because of the way you found out information about me" I fain innocence.

He chuckles at my words, "I don't have to, as I said I have connections" he crosses his arms leaning back in his seat. Is he gonna eat with gloves on? I hope not.

"So what else do you know about me?" I raise a brow at him pretending I wasn't the one planting the seeds. Again he stares at me with that same flaring gaze making my throat dry.

"Nothing much, I just ran a simple background check which I usually do before meeting anyone. Just your family and your childhood, you know the usual" okay so he hasn't found anything, I was nervous for no reason. I exhaled a breath I was holding back.

Our food arrives and we eat in silence. Thank God he removed those gloves, I wanted to ask about them but stopped myself because it would be too early to be intrusive. I can't have him run away yet.

"So what have you planned after your masters?" He questions as I take a bite, I pretend like I'm thinking. "Nothing much, find a job and settle down" I reply.

"Settle down? You mean marriage? Aren't you a little young for that?" I raise the question. If I say no then how will my plan work Mr. Mafia?

"I'm almost twenty-two so it's legal and by the time I finish my degree I'll be twenty four, I don't see the problem?" I frown like he has insulted me.

"So, I'll have to wait for two years?" He questions as the desert arrives, didn't think it would be this easy to get this man.

"For someone who just met, aren't you a little too confident?" I shake my head like I'm shocked at his words. "Why not? Look at me" he smirks taking a bite of the gulab jamun and I shake my head as a genuine smile slips out of my lips.

We finish our desserts and head back towards the car. "So this is it then?" I ask as we near his car. Please say no.

"We're meeting tomorrow right?" He asks before opening the door for me. I stare at him, "what if I don't want another date?" I cross my hands refusing to sit.

"Then I'll keep following you till you want another date" he rests his hand on the door. "Don't you have a company to run? Aren't you supposed to be busy?"

"I'm the owner not an employee, now get inside" he stares at me just like he did in that restaurant and I obey without another question. "Don't do too much, or he'll catch on." The words echo in my head as I wear the seatbelt.

I don't ask anything else the entire ride till we get to my apartment. I don't bother asking how he knows my address since he has already been honest about running a background check on me.

I'm about to get off when he grabs my hand, my heart accelerates at his touch even though there is a layer of fabric. "I'll see you tomorrow?" He questions like he didn't already threaten me before.

"I'll call you after I'm done with my classes" I reply and slip out of the car before he can say anything. I stand there staring as he drives off and sigh with relief. That was easier than I thought.

Thirty minutes later, I take out the burner phone and dial the number I have memorized. Two rings later he picks up, "yes?" His voice comes gruff like always.

"I'm okay" I answered before he voices the question, he sighs a little before asking, "what's the update?" I sly smile crepes up my face as I reply, "it is easier than we thought" It truly is. I didn't think I'd grab his attention this quickly but hey, I'm not complaining.

"Really?" He asks with indecision layering his voice, "yes, he found out everything about me and we went on a date Today" I walk towards the balcony.

"You sure he doesn't suspect anything?" He is always like this, questioning anything and everything, doubting everything that exists in this world.

I sigh, "no he doesn't, I checked and he asked me for a second date tomorrow" I open the balcony door as humid air slaps my face. The only reason I hate Mumbai is this humidity.

"Tomorrow? It's his haldi tomorrow" I stop walking. Haldi? What? Already? I knew he's about to marry Zoya for the alliance. Pretty much everyone in the underworld knows this but I didn't think it would be this soon. Since I have cut off myself from the underworld for a month now I don't have regular updates.

"Yet here he is, planning a date with me" I feel bad for Zoya but this is how most men in our world are but since I have no intention of marrying him, I have zero remorse for him.

"I have to go, keep me updated as much as possible." His voice is tense today, is there something going on there? He cuts the call before I can ask him anything, he always does this to annoy me.

I sigh, throwing the phone away and stare at the sunset. I hope I can get this over with soon and run away from this life forever.