Malar let out a long, dramatic sigh and stepped aside.

Malar: “Fine. Come in. But if this is some weird breakup drama, I swear I’ll throw you out.”

Renuka rushed in like she owned the place, plopping onto the couch like she had never ghosted Malar for Vihaan.

Renuka: “Listen, I know this sounds crazy, but I died and somehow woke up in my own past. I remember everything—how Vihaan never loved me, how Keerthi had me killed, how I—”

Malar raised a hand.

Malar: “Hold up. Let’s back up a little. You… died?”

Renuka nodded furiously, her eyes wide.

Malar stared at her for a long moment. Then, very slowly, she reached out and poked Renuka’s arm.

Malar: “Hmm. You don’t feel dead.”

Renuka: “Because I REBORN, you idiot!”

Malar blinked. Then she burst out laughing.

Malar: “Oh my god. You seriously expect me to believe that?”

Renuka groaned and dramatically flopped onto the couch.

Renuka: “Ugh, why are best friends like this? I come back from the grave, and you’re laughing at me!”

Malar wiped a tear from her eye.

Malar: *“I’m sorry, I just—snort —it’s a lot to take in, okay? What do you want me to do? Call an exorcist or something?”

Renuka sat up and grabbed Malar’s hands.

Renuka: “No. I need you to help me. I have a second chance, and I am NOT going to waste it. I need to stop my engagement, expose Keerthi, and—”

Malar’s eyes lit up mischievously.

Malar: “Ooooh. You wanna go full revenge mode?”

Renuka smirked.

Renuka: “Hell yes.”

Malar crossed her arms.

Malar: “I don’t know, Renu. Last time I gave you advice, you threw our whole friendship in the trash.”

Renuka pouted.

Renuka: “I know, I know. But I was an idiot! And now that I have literally died, I have gained infinite wisdom.”

Malar raised an eyebrow.

Malar: “You’ve gained ‘infinite wisdom’ and the first thing you did was run to my house and steal my couch?”

Renuka nodded proudly.

Renuka: “Exactly.”

Malar sighed again.

Malar: “Alright. Fine. I’ll help. But under one condition.”

Renuka’s eyes sparkled.

Renuka: “Anything!”

Malar leaned in.

Malar: “We do it MY way.”

Renuka grinned.

Renuka: “Malar, my dear, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

And just like that, Operation Wreck Vihaan & Keerthi had officially begun.

-------

On the Other Side…

Vihaan leaned back in his chair, adjusting his cufflinks as he scrolled through emails on his phone. His office was quiet, except for the soft clicking of Rohan’s keyboard.

Vihaan: “Rohan, what’s on today’s call list?”

Rohan, Vihaan’s best friend and PA, glanced at his tablet, listing off messages and calls from clients, business associates, and, of course, Keerthi.

Rohan: “Mr. Malhotra called about the merger, Keerthi sent a few messages, your tailor confirmed the suit fitting, and your mom wants to remind you about about engagement.”

Vihaan nodded absentmindedly.

Vihaan: “And Renuka?”

Rohan blinked.

Rohan: “Renuka?”

Vihaan frowned.

Vihaan: “Yeah. Did she call or text?”

Rohan checked again, then shook his head.

Rohan: “Nope. Nothing from her today.”

Vihaan stilled. A strange feeling crept over him.

Renuka never missed a morning. Every day, without fail, she’d send him a cute, sweet, and sometimes annoyingly long message—wishing him a good day, reminding him to eat, and telling him how excited she was for their future.

But today? Silence.

He tapped his phone, debating whether to call her.

Vihaan (to himself): “Maybe she’s busy… but still… something feels off.”

Rohan noticed the look on Vihaan’s face and smirked.

Rohan: “What’s the matter, bro? Missing her already? Wow, didn’t think you actually liked your fiancée.”

Vihaan scoffed, rolling his eyes.

Vihaan: “It’s not that. It’s just… weird. She never skips a day.”

Rohan shrugged.

Rohan: “Maybe she finally realized she’s too good for you.”

Vihaan shot him a glare.

Vihaan: “Shut up.”

But deep down, an unsettling feeling remained.

Tomorrow was their engagement. Renuka should have been over the moon with excitement.

So why did it feel like she was slipping away?

Vihaan tapped his fingers against his desk, staring at his phone. No message. No missed call. The silence was… unsettling.

Vihaan (to himself): “She always texts. Maybe she’s just busy. Yeah… that must be it.”

But something in his gut felt wrong.

Rohan noticed the way Vihaan kept checking his phone and smirked.

Rohan: “Dude, if you miss her that much, just call her.”

Vihaan scoffed.

Vihaan: “I don’t ‘miss’ her. I’m just wondering why she’s acting different.”

Rohan chuckled.

Rohan: “Wow. The great Vihaan actually noticing his fiancée? What’s next? Actual feelings?”

Vihaan threw a pen at him.

Vihaan: “Shut up, Rohan.”

Still, he picked up his phone and hesitated. Should he call? No. That would look desperate. Instead, he casually texted her:

Vihaan: “Busy today?”

He stared at the screen. No typing. No reply.

His jaw clenched.

Vihaan (to himself): “What’s going on, Renuka…?”

Meanwhile…

Renuka, sitting cross-legged on Malar’s couch, casually sipped her chai while Malar sat across from her, looking both amused and curious.

Malar: “Okay, so tell me. What’s the first step of this ‘revenge plan’?”

Renuka grinned and tossed her phone onto the table.

Renuka: “Step one: Completely ignore Vihaan.”

Malar blinked.

Malar: “Wait… that’s it?”

Renuka smirked.

Renuka: “Oh, Malar. You underestimate the male ego. He’s used to me obsessing over him. The moment I stop? He’ll go crazy wondering what changed.”

Malar nodded slowly, impressed.

Malar: “Huh. Smart.”

Just then, Renuka’s phone lit up.

1 New Message – Vihaan: “Busy today?”

Malar peeked at the screen and smirked.

Malar: “Ooooh. Look who’s already panicking.”

Renuka laughed, leaned back, and took another sip of chai.

Renuka: “Let him suffer.”

And just like that, the game had begun.

At Malar’s House…

Renuka stretched her legs on the couch, casually scrolling through her phone while completely ignoring Vihaan’s message.

Malar watched her with a raised eyebrow.

Malar: “Okay, I get the whole ‘let him suffer’ plan, but how long are you planning to ignore him?”

Renuka smirked, tossing her phone onto the table.

Renuka: “Until he starts losing his mind.”

Malar grinned.

Malar: “Ohhh, I like this. Petty revenge? Sign me up.”

Renuka laughed, taking another sip of chai.

But deep down, she wasn’t just doing this for fun. No—this was payback.

She had loved Vihaan blindly, but now she saw the truth. This time, she wasn’t going to be the foolish girl waiting for his love.

This time, she was in control.

Meanwhile, At Vihaan’s Office…

Vihaan tapped his phone screen for the hundredth time. Still no reply.

He scowled.

Vihaan (to himself): “What the hell is she doing? She always replies instantly.”

Rohan, watching his best friend lose his patience, smirked.

Rohan: “Wow. One unread message, and you’re acting like a clingy boyfriend.”

Vihaan shot him a glare.

Vihaan: “I’m just… wondering why she’s ignoring me.”

Rohan leaned back, arms crossed.

Rohan: “Maybe she finally realized she deserves better.”

Vihaan picked up a second pen and threw it at Rohan’s head.

Vihaan: “Shut. Up.”

But deep down, that unsettling feeling grew stronger.

Renuka had never ignored him before.

Something was different.

And for the first time ever… he didn’t like it.