The Past – part one.

4 years, 8 months ago!

The car glided smoothly down the quiet streets of The Sengar's upscale neighborhood.

Seated at the back seat was Varun, his expression void of emotion, his striking blue eyes staring blankly out the tinted window.

The world outside blurred past him, but his mind was somewhere else—adrift in the numbing silence he had grown accustomed to.

His fingers tapped lightly against his knee, a mindless habit, until something–or rather, someone–caught his attention.

A girl.

A beautiful girl.

His gaze locked onto her as the car moved past. She was laughing, her entire face lighting up with the kind of happiness he had never known.

Her dupatta fluttered in the wind as she playfully ran away from a guy who was teasing her.

She bumped into something in the process, nearly tripping, before laughing harder, her eyes bright with mischief.

The sound of her joy–though unheard–echoed in Varun’s mind like a melody.

Something inside him shifted. Before he realized it, his lips twitched slightly, curving into a small, almost imperceptible smile.

A chuckle escaped him.

The driver stiffened, his eyes flickering up to the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of the rare sight.

His mouth nearly fell open in shock. Varun Sengar—laughing? It was an anomaly, something unheard of, like a cold, lifeless statue suddenly coming to life.

But just as quickly as the moment arrived, it soured.

The smile on Varun’s face disappeared. His muscles tensed. His entire demeanor darkened like a sudden shift in the weather.

She was still laughing. But not at him.

At him—the guy standing beside her.

His fingers twitched. His jaw clenched. A storm brewed in his chest, violent and uncontrollable.

The sight of another guy bringing her happiness, of her eyes crinkling at someone else's words—it sent a wave of fury crashing into him.

His blood boiled. His fists curled so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

He hated it.

Hated that someone else was making her smile. Hated that she wasn’t looking at him.

Hated that, in this moment, she was completely unaware of his existence.

The car continued forward, oblivious to the turmoil raging inside him.

But then he looked down at his clenched fist.

What is wrong with me? He thought.

Just when he wants the rage in him to subside, the view of Veda flashed before his eyes again, her laughing, the was she ran carefree. when he suddenly thought of the young guy with her, he seethed.

As the car neared his house, the driver slowed down, preparing to stop in front of the towering gates. But the moment the vehicle came to a halt, Varun flung the door open and stepped out before it was even fully parked.

He didn’t walk toward the house.

He ran.

The driver barely had time to react before Varun sprinted back toward the main road, his eyes scanning wildly in search of her.

His chest rose and fell rapidly as he turned the corner, his gaze darting left and right. His pulse thundered in his ears. His throat was dry. He needed to find her.

But she was gone.

Did he take her away? Are they that close? Does she like him??

His breathing grew heavier, his fury bubbling to dangerous levels. His nails dug into his palm as he forced himself to calm down—though it was nearly impossible.

And then—

“Sir! There you are!”

Varun’s gaze snapped to the side as a group of guards rushed toward him, their faces riddled with panic.

“You scared us, Mr. Sengar.” his driver panted, reaching him first. “Why did you suddenly—”

Varun turned on his heel, cutting him off without a word.

His steps were stiff, his fists still clenched, his mind racing with one single thought.

He didn’t know who she was.

He didn’t know why he felt like this.

But he did know one thing.

He was going to find her.

♡♡♡

Two Months Later

Again...

That same unnerving feeling crept over Veda again, sending a shiver down her spine. Her skin prickled, and her heart beat faster, as if her body was sounding an alarm. Someone was watching her—she was sure of it.

For the tenth time that afternoon, she turned her head, her gaze locking on the grand house next door.

From where she sat on the blanket in Daniel’s backyard, she scanned the windows of the neighboring mansion, her eyes darting from one shadowy corner to the next, trying to catch a glimpse of the source of her unease.

Nothing.

“Veda, are you okay? You keep staring at that house.” Daniel’s voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to reality.

He was seated across from her, a book in his lap, looking up at her with mild concern. “You do that almost every time you come here.”

She forced a smile and looked at him, pushing the feeling aside.

“It’s nothing.” she said, shaking her head. But even as she spoke, her gaze flickered back toward the house.

They were sitting on a soft blanket spread out on the lush green grass of Daniel’s backyard.

Veda often came over to study with him; he was one of the smartest students in their class and always willing to help her.

More importantly, he was her friend—kind, reliable, and a familiar presence in a neighborhood that still felt new to her.

But the feeling of being watched had started on her second visit to Daniel’s house.

It had been faint at first, like a tickle in the back of her mind, but over the past two months, it had grown stronger, more intrusive. Now, it was almost unbearable.

Letting out a sigh, she looked back at Daniel. His round glasses magnified his intelligent green eyes, and his slim frame was neatly dressed, as always. He was the kind of boy girls at school swooned over, with a charming smile and an air of quiet confidence.

“Daniel.” Veda said suddenly, “who lives in that big house next door?”

“The Sengars.” he replied without hesitation, not looking up from his book.

“The Sengars?” she repeated, the name unfamiliar on her tongue. “What’s special about them?”

That made Daniel pause. He raised an eyebrow and looked at her, curiosity and hesitation mingling in his expression.

“Why do you want to know?”

She shrugged, trying to play it off. “I don’t know. Just curious. It’s such a big house, and I’ve never seen anyone come out of it.”

“Well, it’s a bad idea to be curious about them,” Daniel said bluntly, a shadow crossing his face.

Her curiosity only deepened. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing,” he said quickly, his voice clipped. “It’s just… rumors. No need to worry about it, okay? Now, are you done with the assignment?” He shifted the conversation so abruptly that it was obvious he didn’t want to talk about the Sengars.

Veda narrowed her eyes at him, sensing he was hiding something. “Rumors about what?”

“Veda, drop it.” he said, giving her a small laugh to lighten the mood. “It’s nothing important.”

Before she could press him further, the sound of shattering glass rang out from the direction of the mansion.

It was loud and sudden, cutting through the stillness of the afternoon like a scream.

Veda and Daniel froze, their eyes snapping to the house.

“What was that?” Veda whispered, her voice barely audible.

Daniel’s throat bobbed as he swallowed nervously. “I… I don’t know.” he stammered. “But we should go inside. Now.”

“Good idea.” Veda agreed, quickly gathering her books. But just as they began to head toward the safety of Daniel’s house, another crash sounded from the mansion—louder, more violent this time.

Veda stopped in her tracks, her heart pounding as she looked at the house. Something about the sound was deeply unsettling, like it wasn’t just a window breaking but a battle raging within those walls.

“Daniel…” she started, her voice trembling.

“No, Veda.” he said firmly, tugging at her arm. “We’re going inside.”

Reluctantly, she followed him, her steps hurried but her head turning back to the mansion one last time. The house stood eerily silent now, its windows like dark eyes watching them retreat.

Inside Daniel’s house, Veda couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever had happened in the mansion, that was weird..