Page 10 of When Love Trespassed

Shaurya’s Villa

The moment Shaurya Ahuja stepped into his villa, he turned around to face his so-called best friend, arms crossed and his gaze laser-sharp.

“What was that?” he demanded.

Varun, who had been leisurely strolling in like he owned the place, blinked innocently. “What was what?”

Shaurya’s patience, already thin after his disastrous encounter with Nandini in the garden, was dangerously close to snapping.

“You told her I like her?” he asked, his voice edgy and defensive, as though he couldn’t believe what his friend had blurted.

Varun tilted his head as if considering the question. Then he shrugged. “Oh, that.” He tapped his chin. “Well… don’t you?”

Shaurya exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Stop spreading nonsense, Varun.”

Varun grinned, clearly enjoying the rare sight of Shaurya being caught off-guard. “Well, it’s not nonsense if it’s already gossip.”

Shaurya’s gaze snapped to his friend, suspicion flickering across his face. “Gossip?”

“Oh yeah,” Varun said, sauntering toward the bar and reaching for a bottle of whiskey. “Apparently, Serene Meadows has been buzzing with talk about you and some mystery woman who was spotted entering your home at midnight on Christmas.”

Shaurya stiffened. His fingers curled into a fist at his side as the memory of that woman zipped through his mind. “People need to mind their own damn business.”

Varun chuckled, pouring himself a drink.

“Oh, please. Serene Meadows has always been like this. You know, small-town romance book vibes? Nothing stays secret here. If two people so much as look at each other for longer than five seconds, the entire community already has them married with three kids by sunrise.” He lifted the glass toward Shaurya. “So, tell me, who’s the mystery woman?”

Before Varun could take a sip, Shaurya swiftly snatched the bottle from his hand, capped it, and set it aside.

“Meera,” he called out, turning towards the hallway.

His housekeeper appeared promptly. “Yes, sir?”

“Two strong coffees, please. For me and Varun.”

Varun let out a dramatic sigh as Meera nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.

“Coffee?” he groaned. “I can drink coffee, sure, but I am allowed one little peg, right?”

“Not in the afternoon,” Shaurya replied promptly. “And what I offer guests in my home is my choice, not theirs.”

Varun gave him an unimpressed look.

“You are so boring.” He flopped onto the couch, stretching his arms lazily. “Anyway, let’s get back to the juicy part. Who was the woman? Can I guess?”

Shaurya’s eyes narrowed. He knew that look on Varun’s face—mischievous, all-knowing, and dangerously accurate.

Then, before Shaurya could stop him, Varun’s grin widened.

“It was her , wasn’t it?” he said smugly. “Grandpa’s granddaughter.”

Shaurya’s expression faltered for a split second, but Varun caught it and burst out laughing.

“Oh my God, it was her! I knew it!”

“No. She was not. And why are you even here?” Shaurya scowled.

Varun dramatically wiped a fake tear from his eye. “Wow. The only person in this town who actually likes you comes to visit, and you ask me why I’m here? This is how you treat a bestie?”

Shaurya rolled his eyes, but Varun continued.

“I am literally the only person in Serene Meadows who is not afraid to befriend you, you know that? Everyone else sees ‘The Shaurya Ahuja’ and runs for their lives. But I, however, don’t have that liberty because I’m your childhood friend too.

” He placed a hand over his heart, giving him a mock-sentimental look.

“I can’t believe I’ve endured your brooding, your cold shoulder, and your ‘get lost, Varun’ death glares for all these years. ”

Shaurya sat down across from him. “And yet, you still come back for more.”

“Because,” Varun smirked, “I am a selfless soul, determined to fix you.”

Shaurya huffed. “Fix me? Or annoy me with baseless gossip?”

Varun waggled his eyebrows. “Both.”

Shaurya shook his head, already knowing there was no winning against him. “What do you want?”

Varun’s grin widened. “I want to know your New Year’s Eve plans.”

“I don’t think I have any video conferences lined up that night,” Shaurya replied.

Varun groaned. “God, you’re hopeless. Not work plans, you boring man. I mean actual plans.”

Shaurya lifted a brow. “You want to come over and celebrate?”

Varun looked comically horrified. “With you? No way. The thought itself sounds terrible. I’ve better plans for myself than spending a wonderful new year’s night with a boring friend.”

Shaurya’s expression darkened. “Then?”

Varun leaned forward, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “But I have a sexy plan for you.”

Shaurya had a bad feeling about this. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“You never like my plans,” Varun sighed. “But this time, you’ll have to like it.”

Shaurya folded his arms and sighed. “Spit it out.”

“I’m arranging a blind date for you on New Year’s Eve.”

Shaurya’s entire body tensed. His fingers curled into fists on the armrest. “No,” he said flatly.

“Come on, Shaurya!” Varun whined. “How long are you going to be like this? It’s been a year since your divorce.”

That did it.

Shaurya abruptly stood up and strode towards the bar.

Just as he was about to reach for a bottle of whiskey, Meera arrived with their coffees, her timing impeccable.

“I don’t need coffee anymore,” he muttered.

Meera frowned, confused by his sudden mood shift.

But before Shaurya could pour himself a drink, Varun snatched the bottle this time.

“Oh no, my friend,” Varun smirked. “Now, I want you to have coffee. Because, as you reminded me earlier, it’s just afternoon.”

Shaurya’s teeth gritted in irritation. “What do you want, Varun?”

“I want my friend to start living again.” Varun’s expression softened slightly.

“I am living.”

“No,” Varun countered. “If working 24/7, avoiding people, and drowning yourself in work is what you call living, then it’s not.” He sighed, his voice turning gentle. “You can’t waste yourself like this, Shaurya. You need to move on.”

Shaurya’s shoulders stiffened. “I have moved on. Besides, I don’t want to go through all that again.”

Varun’s expression turned serious. “Why?”

“You know why.”

Varun hesitated for a moment. Then, softly, he said, “Not everyone is going to be Rhea, Shaurya.”

“I don’t want to hear her name. Ever. Got it?” Shaurya snapped.

“Fine,” Varun sighed. “But that doesn’t mean I’m giving up on you.”

He stood up and clapped Shaurya’s shoulder. “Blind date. New Year’s Eve. Be ready. She’s coming over at midnight sharp.”

Shaurya turned away. “I’m not letting that happen, Varun. You are wasting your time.”

But Varun didn’t argue.

He just grinned and walked out.

And somehow, that worried Shaurya even more. He knew his friend. He wasn’t going to back off that easily.

****************

The Super Market, Serene Meadows

(Two days Before New Year’s Eve)

Serene Meadows had its very own Super Market just around the corner, and with the New Year approaching, it was buzzing with excitement that evening.

Fairy lights blinked from every shelf, plastic champagne flutes were stacked like mini towers, and the air was filled with the scent of cinnamon and pine floating from the bakery section.

Nandini pushed the shopping cart, her phone in one hand and a scribbled list in another.

She and Grandpa were here to shop for some items for the New Year’s event at Serene Meadows, along with the celebratory gifts Grandpa always gave to the kids in the community.

He made it special for them every year with his unique gifts.

“Daadu, please stick to the list,” Nandini muttered, watching her grandfather wander dangerously close to the shelf labelled ‘Disco Headbands & Glow Sticks.’

“Nandu,” he waved her off, lifting a particularly flashy-looking golden crown headband. “How about this? What do you think? No New Year’s party is complete without a statement accessory. The kids just love it.”

She sighed. “Kids love snacks and cakes, Daadu. Not... glitter poking them in the eye. And haven’t you already decided on giving them those DIY art-and-plant kits?

The ones with the little pots, seeds, and paints?

That was such a good idea. They get to paint the pots, plant something of their own, and it teaches them responsibility too. ”

He paused mid-reach, the crown still dangling from his fingers. “Well… yes, those are good. Educational. Wholesome.”

“And not blinding,” she added dryly.

“Fine. I’ll get the other gifts packed until then,” he huffed dramatically, seemingly offended. “Can you go check if they still have that brass cake stand which we saw by the window? The one with the engraved base. That’s the kind of elegance our table deserves.”

Nandini nodded and strolled off, glancing at her cart, which was already full of confetti, party horns, and a suspicious number of glittery balloons Daadu had accidentally slipped in.

Her gaze drifted to the section with the boxed DIY art-and-plant kits—the thoughtful gifts her grandfather was now getting packed for the children of Serene Meadows this year.

Small terracotta pots, seed packets, and colourful paints, all bundled together, giving the kids a chance to plant something of their own.

She smiled faintly. Honestly, Daadu had outdone himself with that idea.

Maybe she should sneak in an extra kit.

For their grumpy neighbour.

Yes, Mr. Grump himself could definitely benefit from learning the value of nurturing something other than his ego. But then again… the farther Daadu and Mr. Grump stayed from each other, the less likely the town would spontaneously combust.

She sighed, brushed her curls off her shoulder, and continued towards the decorative section. But as fate would have it, chaos arrived sooner than expected.

At the front of the store, beside the festive display of decorative tableware, stood a man Nandini recognised instantly, even from the back.

Shaurya Ahuja.

Of course.