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The hospital was abuzz with excitement, the grand event drawing in doctors, investors, and high-profile businessmen alike. Naina adjusted the pleats of her elegant pastel-blue saree, feeling slightly out of place amidst the glittering crowd. She had been invited as a part of the hospital's medical board, but she had never been fond of such social gatherings. The spotlight wasn't something she sought—it was something she avoided.

Her best friend Priya, however, thrived in these events. "You look stunning, Dr. Sharma," she teased, giving Naina an approving glance. "Maybe someone special will notice."

"Priya, stop," Naina laughed, nudging her friend.

Little did she know, someone had already noticed.

Across the grand hall, Veer Malhotra stood in a tailored black suit, his piercing gaze locked onto her. He hadn't expected to see her here, not in this setting. The last time he had seen her, she was exhausted, buried under files in her office. But tonight, she was a vision—graceful, poised, and completely unaware of the effect she had on him.

Veer's Thoughts

'The pastel-blue saree draped around her delicate frame like it was woven from moonlight itself. It clung to her just enough to hint at the curves she often hid behind her usual kurtis and jeans, yet it held a softness that matched her very essence. The sheer fabric of the pallu rested against her shoulder, teasing the skin underneath, and the gentle sway of her walk made it look as if she were gliding across the floor.

Her long hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, framing her face in a way that made my fingers itch to brush a strand away. And then there were her eyes—bright, unguarded, filled with a warmth that made my chest tighten. She wasn't trying to stand out, wasn't seeking attention, and yet every damn person in the room had noticed her. I had noticed her.'

And that was a problem.

Because the moment I saw her, something shifted inside me. A pull. A slow, dangerous unraveling of the control I had spent years perfecting.

She was breathtaking, but she was also off-limits.

I clenched my jaw, forcing my gaze away.

' Why Little Dr. Sunshine why ?, why are you affecting me this much? Do you have the slightest idea how my nights are passing ? since the day you collided with me.'

'Wait.. Did I just gave you a nickname Dr. Sharma?---'

Author's POV

Veer was lost in his thoughts and didn't notice that he was staring at Naina.

BUT

Aditya noticed this and followed his line of sight and smirked. "Tell me you're not staring at Dr. Sharma."

Veer turned away, his expression unreadable. "She's just an employee of the hospital. Why would I care?"

"Right," Aditya chuckled. "That's why you've been watching her for the last five minutes."

Veer ignored him, sipping his whiskey, but his eyes betrayed him, flickering back to her every now and then. He had spent his entire life mastering control—over his emotions, over his empire, over his enemies. But with her, he felt something shift. Something unfamiliar

Aditya also takes a sip from his own glass, he chuckles softly thinking 'Haan beta haan... dikhale apni ye jhuthi akad.. Sab janta hu mein... ye dhong kab tak dikhata hai tu mein bhi dehta hun..'

And the event continues

The evening was a swirl of muted conversations, clinking glasses, and carefully practiced smiles. Naina had been engrossed in a discussion with a senior doctor when the air around her suddenly shifted.

A cold, crawling sensation ran down her spine as she heard a voice she wished she hadn't.

"Dr. Sharma," Vikram Sethi drawled, stepping into her space with the arrogance of a man who believed the world was his playground. His sharp suit did little to mask the filth beneath his polished exterior. "You look... exquisite tonight."

There was something unsettling about the way he said it, the way his gaze lingered where it shouldn't.

Naina stiffened.

She had heard stories about Vikram—stories of how he used power as both a shield and a weapon, how he had no regard for boundaries. And now, with that smirk curling his lips, she could see those rumors weren't exaggerated.

Priya shifted beside her, sensing the discomfort, but before she could say anything, Vikram took another step closer.

"I must say, I never expected a doctor to clean up so beautifully," he mused, his tone laced with something that made her skin crawl. "You're quite the sight tonight."

His words dripped with entitlement. With the kind of confidence that came from never being put in his place.

Until now.

"Step. Back."

The words were spoken with an authority that sent a shudder through the air. The crowd, once lively with chatter, hushed instantly.

Veer Malhotra stood just a few steps away, his dark gaze locked onto Vikram with a sharpness that could cut through steel.

His presence was a force—one that demanded attention, one that promised destruction.

Vikram chuckled, but it was forced, his bravado flickering under the weight of Veer's stare. "Relax, Malhotra. I was just giving the good doctor a compliment."

Veer tilted his head, his expression unreadable, his silence more dangerous than words. And then, he stepped forward—slow, deliberate, each step echoing a silent promise of consequence.

"You think that was a compliment?" His voice was low, smooth, yet it carried the kind of lethal edge that sent an unmistakable warning. "Because to me, it sounded like a man too foolish to know when he's inviting his own ruin."

The tension thickened.

Vikram swallowed but tried to keep his smirk intact. "No need to be so aggressive, Veer. I was simply admiring—"

Veer cut him off. "Admiration and disrespect are separated by a thin line, Sethi. And you're standing on the wrong side of it."

Vikram's smirk faltered.

Veer took another step, his towering frame exuding nothing but raw power. He leaned in just enough for Vikram to hear him, yet his voice was loud enough for the room to catch every word.

"If you ever look at her like that again," Veer murmured, his tone deadly calm, "I'll make sure you regret having eyes."

A sharp gasp came from somewhere in the crowd. Naina herself felt frozen, her heart hammering.

Vikram forced a chuckle, trying to save face, but his fingers twitched at his sides. "There's no need to be so dramatic, Malhotra."

Veer didn't blink. "Walk away, Sethi. While you still can."

Vikram hesitated for half a second before giving a stiff nod and retreating into the crowd.

The moment he was gone, the tension remained, thick and suffocating.

Veer didn't look at Naina. Didn't acknowledge what had just transpired. He simply picked up a glass of whiskey from a passing waiter, took a sip, and turned away.

As if nothing had happened.

As if he hadn't just claimed her in front of an entire room.

Priya leaned toward Naina, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did Veer Malhotra just—"

"I... I don't know," Naina murmured, still staring at the man who had just rewritten the rules of her world.

Because she had always known Veer was powerful.

But she hadn't known his power extended to making her heartbeat feel like a ticking bomb.

The event had started to die down. The laughter had softened, the clinking glasses had grown less frequent, and the elite guests were beginning to make their elegant exits. But even amidst the fading grandeur, the weight of what had happened earlier still hung heavy in the air.

Veer Malhotra stood on the balcony, a glass of whiskey in his grip, his gaze fixed on the glittering city skyline. The cold night air did little to cool the fire that still burned beneath his skin.

Veer's Thoughts

'How dare he ? How dare he cross that line ? How dare he make her uncomfortable ? and how dare I spared you alive today.. Ohh I can't take it anymore.. What's happening to me ? she is just a doctor , just an employee.. Why is this affecting me so much, why can't I control myself in front of her?-'

The sound of approaching footsteps snapped him back out of thoughts. He didn't turn as he already knew who it was.

Aditya Khanna came to stand beside him, his usual playful smirk nowhere in sight. He leaned against the railing, folding his arms as he stared at Veer.

"You crossed a line today," Aditya finally said, his voice firm but calm.

Veer took a sip of his drink, unbothered. "Did I?"

Aditya scoffed, shaking his head. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. The whole room saw it. Hell, I saw it. You were ready to rip Vikram Sethi apart."

Veer remained silent.

Aditya turned slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied his best friend. "I've seen you shut down men before, Veer. I've seen you put people in their place with just a look. But tonight? That was different."

Veer's grip tightened around the glass. "He disrespected her."

Aditya let out a humorless chuckle. "And since when do you care about that?"

Veer's jaw clenched. His mind replayed the moment—Vikram's leering eyes, the way his words had slithered over Naina like something unclean. The discomfort in her eyes, the way she had stiffened.

He had seen it. And he hadn't thought. He had reacted.

That was the problem.

Veer Malhotra never reacted. He calculated. He controlled.

But tonight, he had done neither.

Aditya exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "You don't do things without a reason, Veer. And for the first time, I think you don't even know why you did it."

Veer's eyes darkened, but he said nothing.

Aditya tilted his head, watching him closely. "Tell me something. If it had been any other woman—some random girl at this event—would you have done the same thing?"

Silence.

Aditya huffed out a breath. "That's what I thought."

Veer's jaw worked, but his voice was dangerously quiet when he finally spoke. "I don't like men like Sethi. He thinks he's untouchable. That he can say and do whatever he wants without consequences." He turned, finally meeting Aditya's gaze. "I simply reminded him that he's wrong."

Aditya smirked, but there was no amusement in it. "No, Veer. You warned him. And not just about power or consequences." He took a step closer, his voice dropping slightly. "You warned him to stay away from her."

Veer's expression was unreadable, but Aditya saw the flicker of something dangerous in his eyes.

Possession.

Aditya shook his head with a low chuckle. "You're not the type to fall for someone, Veer. But tell me... what exactly do you think this is?"

Veer didn't answer.

Because he didn't know.

And that unsettled him more than anything else.

Naina and Priya on the way to their places

The car ride home was quiet—at least for the first few minutes. Naina kept staring out the window, the city lights blurring past as her mind replayed the night's events.

The way Veer had stepped in. The way his voice had turned sharp, cutting through the air like steel. The way his presence had silenced the entire room.

And yet... the way he had refused to meet her eyes afterward.

Beside her, Priya drummed her fingers against the steering wheel, stealing glances at her friend. She had seen that look on Naina's face before—confusion, frustration, something else simmering beneath the surface.

"So," Priya finally said, breaking the silence. "Are you going to talk about it, or should I start pretending I don't know what's running through your mind?"

Naina blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "What? There's nothing to talk about."

Priya let out a dramatic sigh. "Of course. Because a man like Veer Malhotra publicly shutting down a business rival just because of you is a totally normal thing, right?"

Naina bit her lip. "He didn't do it for me. He just... doesn't tolerate men like that. You know how he is."

Priya shot her a knowing look. "Oh, please. He didn't just put Vikram in his place, Naina. He made it crystal clear that no one talks about you like that. And let's not forget how he looked ready to murder the guy with just his eyes."

Naina inhaled deeply, pressing her fingers to her temple. "That's exactly the problem, Priya. Why? Why would he do that?"

Priya smirked. "I don't know, babe. Maybe because he cares?"

Naina shook her head instantly. "No. He's Veer Malhotra. He doesn't do things because he cares."

Priya turned to her with an exaggerated gasp. "Oh my god. Do you hear yourself? You sound like a woman desperately trying to convince herself of a lie."

Naina shot her a glare. "I do not!"

"You do. And honestly, it's adorable." Priya grinned before switching to a more serious tone. "Listen, Naina. He doesn't just care—he's protective over you. And whether you want to admit it or not, tonight proved it."

Naina looked down at her lap, her fingers twisting in her saree. A thousand questions whirled in her mind, but one stood out the most.

"What do I do now?" she asked softly.

Priya tilted her head. "What do you want to do?"

"I don't know!" Naina groaned, throwing her hands up. "Do I... thank him? Confront him? Pretend like it never happened? I mean, he didn't even look at me after it happened."

Priya hummed in thought. "Okay. You could thank him. That would be the polite thing to do. But let's be real, Naina. You don't just want to thank him. You want answers."

Naina hesitated. "And if I confront him?"

Priya smirked. "Then be prepared for his usual I don't care act. But we both know it's bullshit."

Naina exhaled, leaning her head back against the seat. "Why is he like this?"

Priya smiled softly. "Because he's Veer Malhotra. And maybe, just maybe... you're the one person who makes him not want to be that way."

Naina stayed silent.

Because the thought scared her more than anything.

A long pause stretched between them.

Naina's Thoughts

' Why did you do that Bossy Malhotra ? You are confusing me. My life is a rollercoaster from the day you've entered my life. My mind and my heart are in constant battle.,, and the reason being.. you Mr. Bossy Malhotra.. BUT No.. now I have to take control over this.. I will not let my thoughts about you have control over my life..'

Car came to a halt making Naina jolted awake from her thoughts..

Naina finally spoke again, her voice steadier this time.

"You know what, Priya? I think I should just let it go," she said, almost convincing herself. "I won't thank him, and I won't confront him either. It doesn't matter why he did it. I need to stop getting affected by him and focus on my work instead. That's all that matters."

Priya arched her brow but didn't argue. Instead, she gave a small smile. "If that's what you really think... then sure."

But the glint in her eyes said otherwise.

Priya steps out of the car as her destination has arrived and Naina shifts to the driver seat. They both beads goodbye to each other and Naina starts to drive to her home.

Priya's Thoughts

I watched her disappear standing in front of the door of my home.. My mind replying to her decision.

' Oh my darling babe... I can understand this is too much for you to handle .. I can understand the fears of your heart.. Don't worry.. I will be helping you with this.. Par meri jaan maan le meri baat.. Haule haule ho jayega pyaar ...'

Priya shakes her head and smiles... 

~~^~^~~

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