THREADS GETTING CONNECTED

GOA VENUE, 11:00 PM

Mriga and Zayn were sitting beside each other at a shared table. On stage, the hosts were announcing the plan for the night, prompting everyone to cheer and hoot together.

Sabana walked onto the stage alongside Raghav. The crowd clapped enthusiastically, eager to see a performance from the stars of the night. Just like that, the evening was going beautifully. Everyone forgot their grievances, swaying their hips to the rhythm of the music.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, grab a partner for yourself!" the female host announced over the microphone.

"Beat out that loneliness of yours," the male host added satirically.

Just then, Zayn’s phone rang. Excusing himself, he stepped out of the hall to take the call.

As the music began to swell, people eagerly took their partners' hands, ready to step into a romantic dance. Mriga remained in her chair, waiting for Zayn to return. She watched the couples dancing gracefully to the rhythm; the whole atmosphere looked incredibly engaging.

"Hello, Miss Doctor!"

The sudden voice jolted her out of her thoughts. She looked up at its owner.

"Why are you sitting here looking so bleak? Since you helped me earlier, I'm offering to have a dance with you," Mayank said, grinning playfully. In the dim venue lighting, she looked absolutely ethereal. Her black velvet dress blended perfectly with the shadows, while her white stone earrings caught the light and shone brightly.

Mriga offered him a formal smile.

"Thanks for the offer, but I don't need a payback for my good deed," she politely refused.

Mayank's playful smile dropped, replaced instantly by a stoic face. He questioned her, "May I know the reason for declining my offer?"

"I don't dance with strangers," she replied instantly. "Excuse me."

Withdrawing herself from the conversation, she walked away to search for Zayn, suddenly feeling very awkward.

When she couldn't find him, she stood near the entrance of the hall, huffing softly as she watched the couples dancing merrily in front of her.

"Hey, Doc. Yahan kyun khadi ho?" Zayn asked, suddenly appearing beside her. *(Why are you standing here?)*

"Oh, you're back! I was looking for you," she answered, relieved.

Zayn looked at her for a moment before extending his hand for her to take.

"May I have the honor of holding these fragile hands of yours, ma'am?" he asked playfully, bending one knee slightly.

She laughed at his theatrics. "Why not, sir?" she replied, dipping into a quick mock-curtsy before returning to her previous position.

"Let's dance, let's dance!" Zayn sang out merrily, mimicking the viral Emma Stone meme.

"Let's dance, let's dance!" she repeated after him.

The two of them walked out onto the floor to find a spot among the crowd. Mriga placed one hand on his shoulder and held his other hand, while Zayn rested his hand on her back, maintaining a completely respectful distance.

They didn't treat it like a romantic song at all; instead, they danced like it was a high-energy anthem. They laughed with every twirl, singing along to the music at the top of their lungs in a perfectly unharmonic tone. The speakers were deafeningly loud.

*Aise na mujhe tum dekho,*

*Seene se laga loonga.*

*Tumko main chura loonga tumse,*

*Dil mein chhupa loonga.*

Mriga twirled and momentarily lost her balance, but Zayn caught her securely. He looked down at her face; she looked so serene.

Every single day spent with her only made him more intrigued by her. He was deeply fascinated by her personality and carried an immense amount of respect for her in his heart. Having known her for almost six years now, he had frequently mirrored her way of handling tough situations, and magically, it always worked out smoothly. He was constantly flattered by her calmness and her sharp observational skills.

She had taught him so many precious things, always acting as a mentor to him. He genuinely enjoyed her company. The way he described her in his head made her sound like one of those rude, bleak, or boring old people—but she wasn't like that at all. If you were familiar with her, she was incredibly fun to be around.

In fact, he could happily live with her for the rest of his life if he ever needed to.

*'Yeh kya soch raha hai? Agar ise pata chal jayega toh maar dalengi,'* he thought, shrugging his thoughts away in a sudden panic. *(What are you thinking? If she finds out, she'll kill you!)* Fearing that she might somehow read his mind, which would surely mean his demise, he forced his focus back to the present.

*Tumse pehle koi humne nahi dekha,*

*Teri ore badhe in kadmon ko humne nahi roka...*

The romantic background music faded into white noise against the deafening sound of shattering pride.

Mayank stood by the bar, glaring at the woman who was currently dancing with another man—the very same woman who had refused to dance with him just minutes ago.

"Arrogant woman," he muttered.

A hot rage burned deep within him at a rejection he simply could not endure. A woman working a regular job in a hospital, possessing what he considered average looks, had actually rejected him. His immense pride felt completely shattered.

Glowering, he picked up another glass of whiskey and drank it down in one gulp.