Page 13 of When Love Trespassed

She turned again, her hair flying with the motion, her eyes blazing.

“And one day, Mr. Ahuja,” she called out, her voice ringing clear through the quiet garden, “when you’re older and lonelier than you already are… maybe you’ll remember that a 25-year-old woman once tried to get you to see the world differently. And you chose to ignore her instead.”

He said nothing. And neither did she wait for a reply.

She stormed back into her villa, slamming shut the French doors that separated the garden from the living room.

Shaurya remained rooted in his place long after she was gone. The faint fragrance of her vanilla shampoo and jasmine perfume still clung to his shirt. He rubbed his jaw, irritated at the way her words had stung more than they should have.

Fresh starts.

He didn’t believe in them.

But God, she made them sound tempting.

Community Hall (10:00 p.m.)

The community hall and its adjoining garden were ablaze with festive lights for the New Year’s Eve celebration.

The pool, typically reserved for the community gym, shimmered under the twinkling lights, its surface reflecting the myriad colours that painted the surroundings.

This was the same pool Shaurya often frequented, especially when his own villa’s pool became cluttered with fallen mango leaves and overripe fruits.

Children dashed about, their laughter echoing as they played with the gifts handed out by the event organisers of Serene Meadows.

Adults gathered in animated groups, indulging in gossip while savouring a lavish spread of delectable appetisers.

The aroma of sizzling kebabs wafted through the air, mingling with the rich scents of other gourmet dishes.

Glasses clinked as wines and cocktails flowed freely, adding to the cheerfulness of the evening.

Once Nandini had checked in on her grandfather, who was happily surrounded by his gang of silver-haired besties, sipping wine and laughing over some old memory, she scanned the crowd for her own tribe.

It didn’t take her long to spot Priya, Kavya, Jyoti and the rest of the girls near the drinks counter, all dressed to the theme—red, black, and white that sparkled under the fairy lights.

The wine was flowing, the kebabs were being devoured, and someone in the background had just started playing an old Kishore Kumar number on the speakers. Classic Serene Meadows vibes.

“Nandini!” Priya waved her over excitedly, nearly spilling her drink in the process. “Did you check if Shaurya’s left for the party or not?”

Nandini raised an eyebrow. “Why would I check on him? He’s not a toddler.”

“We’ve been waiting for him,” Kavya added, glancing toward the door as if she expected him to walk in any second. “I even wore red because I know he looks amazing in black.”

“You wore red… for him?” Nandini gaped at her.

Kavya gave her a dramatic sigh. “The man looks like he walked straight out of a luxury watch commercial. Of course, I dressed up for him.”

“That’s it,” Nandini muttered to herself, rubbing her temple. “Shaurya Ahuja was right. Serene Meadows does revolve around him.”

“How could you not check if he has left or not? You are his neighbour, Nandini,” Priya argued. “If we can’t get his updates from you, then whom can we rely on?”

Nandini rolled her eyes. “Oh please, I’m not giving you any updates… that too of Shaurya Ahuja. The only thing I know is that he won’t be coming here tonight.”

“What?” they all screamed in unison.

Mrs. Bhalla, who had just stopped beside them, chimed in with her trademark no-nonsense tone, “And how are you so sure he won’t be coming, beta?”

Nandini turned toward her. “Because he told me. And also, the man would rather host a silent dinner with his spreadsheets than attend a community party.”

Mrs. Bhalla folded her arms. “Hmm. That’s not what he told Mrs. Mehra, though. He said he’d be here. Said it himself the other day when she asked him about the headcount. Sure, he didn’t lift a finger to help organise this party, but he did promise he’d show up.”

Priya looked smug now. “Exactly. We know. He’ll be here.”

“I’m not betting against that face,” Kavya added, sipping her wine with a wink. “He’s way too pretty to second-guess.”

Nandini groaned. “Oh my God, all of you need help. This is supposed to be a neighbourhood celebration, not the red carpet at Cannes.”

“But you’re dressed like it’s both,” Priya teased, eyeing Nandini’s red dress with a grin. “Are you sure it’s not for him?”

“Shut up,” Nandini muttered, heat crawling up her neck.

Kavya leaned in, smirking. “So, what if he does show up now? Will your Raichand ego survive hosting a pizza party for us?”

“Please,” Nandini said with a flip of her hair. “I host better than I bet.”

“Wanna test that?” Priya said, holding out her hand. “If Shaurya shows up tonight, pizza party at your villa next weekend.”

Nandini didn’t hesitate. “Done. I’m that confident.”

They shook on it, and just as Nandini was about to reach for her wine, a shriek from behind them pierced through the chatter around them.

“LOOK! Look! He’s here!”

The girls spun around in sync, eager to get a glimpse of Mr. Grumpy, while Nandini turned slowly, as if unwilling to believe what she had just heard—only to see him.

Shaurya Ahuja.

He was dressed in a black bespoke tuxedo, so well-fitted, it could’ve been stitched onto his frame.

His hair was sexily styled, and a bit of night stubble graced his jaw.

The moment he stepped into the community hall, it seemed as if the world had slowed down.

Time stood still for a beat at least for the women.

He hadn’t even opened his mouth yet, and all eyes in the room were on him.

Priya clutched Nandini’s arm in excitement. “See. I won the bet.”

Kavya squealed. “He looks like someone who owns half of Delhi and flew in on his private jet just to see us.”

Mrs. Bhalla chuckled. “And here comes the drama.”

Just then, Mrs. Mehra rushed over to greet him with a beaming smile. “Shaurya! You made it! I thought for sure that work might keep you busy.”

He offered her a polite smile. “I said I’d come. I don’t go back on my word.”

As he conversed briefly with Mrs. Mehra, his gaze subtly searched the crowd until it settled on Nandini. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment before she turned away, feigning disinterest, though her heart betrayed her with its galloping pace.

Priya noticed the smirk that played on his lips when their eyes met.

“Don’t even say it,” she told Priya through gritted teeth, realising her friend saw the eye lock between her and Shaurya.

“What? I was just saying he’s looking absolutely dashing tonight,” Priya teased.

“You underestimated Mr. Sexy Tux,” Kavya whispered with a wink.

Priya leaned in closer to Nandini. “Also, did you notice? He hasn’t taken his eyes off our group.”

The women exchanged knowing glances.

“Looks like you’ve lost the bet,” Kavya said.

Nandini groaned. “Why do I even talk to you people?”

The girls giggled, clearly enjoying her discomfort.

“Whatever. Next weekend. Pizza at my place,” Nandini snapped, lifting her wine glass and taking a slow, measured sip that barely masked her irritation.

The group erupted in cheers, already discussing their favourite toppings, when Shaurya made his way over to them, looking dangerously comfortable in a crowd that had once labelled him the Grump of Serene Meadows.

“Good evening, ladies,” he greeted smoothly, nodding at each one of them.

The girls immediately went into full swoon mode. Priya offered him a glass of wine. Kavya fluttered her lashes at him. Another girl asked him if he’d tried the kebabs.

“I bet he doesn’t eat them,” one aunty whispered from the side. “With a physique like yours, you must be more into salads and protein shakes.”

Nandini just shook her head, trying not to react to the laughter around her. But it was impossible. She could feel his presence near her, his gaze—lingering.

That man was going to be trouble for her blood pressure tonight. Because Shaurya Ahuja had just entered the party, and somehow, the whole energy of Serene Meadows shifted with him.

Mrs. Mehra clapped her hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “Alright, everyone. It’s time to light the wish lanterns! Girls, go grab them from the counter near the cake table.”

The girls squealed in excitement and rushed towards the table. In all the chaos, Nandini suddenly realised that she was left alone with him.

She turned to him, crossing her arms. “You said you weren’t coming tonight.”

Shaurya, looking all too pleased with himself, gave her a lazy smirk. “I like being unpredictable.”

She huffed, a strand of hair falling over her face. “Because of you, I lost a bet.”

“Oh?” he said, clearly amused. “And what exactly did you bet on?”

“That you wouldn’t show up,” she grumbled. “Now, thanks to your sudden need for unpredictability, I’ll have to host a pizza party for all those girls next weekend.”

He raised an eyebrow. “A pizza party? That’s your idea of punishment?”

“Not the party,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. “Losing to them. I hate losing, especially because of someone like you.”

Shaurya took a step closer to her, the crowd fading into background noise as his eyes held hers. “Let this be a lesson to you then. Never ever underestimate me.”

Her lips parted in disbelief. “I didn’t underestimate you. I just overestimated your ability to stick to being the neighbourhood grump.”

“Grump?” he repeated, the word sharp on his tongue like it left a bitter aftertaste. “Is that what they call me?”

“Among other things,” she said sweetly, shrugging as if it was common knowledge. “But yes, that one’s a favourite.”

He didn’t say anything at first. He just stared at her, his eyes darkening, not exactly with anger but with disbelief. As if no one had ever dared to say that to his face before.

No one but Nandini.

Before she could read deeper into that look, a few men from the community, around Shaurya’s age, approached him with polite smiles. He immediately straightened, slipping back into his more reserved persona and began chatting with them.

Nandini took the opportunity to step back, politely excusing herself and walked off towards her friends, her stomach still doing that annoying flutter it always did when he was around.