IT'S NOT OVER

Chapter 8

"Back off," Reyansh growled, anger boiling in his gut. "You have no idea who you're messing with."

Ken raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Who is this hot chick?" he drawled, his gaze flicking between Saarayu and Reyansh.

"I said back off," Reyansh repeated, his voice a low growl. "Don't tempt me."

Ken scoffed. "What are you gonna do? You're such a loser."

A fierce determination surged through Reyansh. "Consider this a challenge, Ken," he declared. "You won't be the only rockstar around here for much longer. I'll show the world my talent. Your little rockstar facade, your inflated ego – I'll snatch it all from you. Just wait and see."

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Ken's eyes, a hint that maybe, just maybe, Reyansh's words held more weight than he cared to admit.

With a final glare, Ken stormed off, leaving them amidst the curious stares of the remaining festival-goers.

"Saarayu, what was that?" Reyansh blurted, still reeling from the slap. "You slapped him!"

Her expression hardened. "Do you know what he did? Forget it, I don't want to talk about it." She started to turn away, her voice tight with emotion.

Something wasn't right. "Hold on," Reyansh said, reaching out to touch her arm. "Are you... are you Reyfangirl?"

Saarayu froze, her body tensing. Slowly, she turned back to face him, eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and something else unreadable.

"I... I'm not the one who sent the bouquet, the food, the cards," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

Reyansh held up a hand, interrupting her. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy there. I never said anything about the bouquet, food, or cards." He gestured towards the notes in her hand. "This handwriting... it looks familiar."

A blush crept across Saarayu's cheeks as she looked down, squeezing her eyes shut. The secret admirer practically confirmed by her reaction. With a small smile, Reyansh released her arm, letting her know he understood. 

Thank you," Reyansh said sincerely, his voice warm. Gratitude washed over him, a silent acknowledgment of her fiery defense.

Her smile returned, hesitant at first, then blossoming into something genuine. "I, uh, I should probably head home," she stammered, a touch of nervousness creeping into her voice.

"Absolutely," Reyansh agreed. Then, taking a bolder step, he offered, "Would you like me to drop you off? It's not safe for you to be alone this late, especially after..." he trailed off, gesturing vaguely towards Ken's direction.

She offered a quick nod, a silent agreement. As Reyansh led the way out, Saarayu followed quietly behind. Reaching the car, he popped the door open for her with a gentlemanly flourish. She paused for a beat, their eyes meeting for a fleeting moment before she slipped into the passenger seat.

The drive was filled with a comfortable silence. Reyansh couldn't help but steal glances at her, captivated by the moonlight's soft glow on her face. When she finally caught him staring, her eyebrows arched playfully. 

"Thank you," Reyansh said sincerely, his voice warm. A wave of gratitude washed over him, a silent connection forming between them.

Her smile returned, hesitant at first, then blossoming into something genuine. "I, uh, I should probably head home," she stammered, a touch of nervousness creeping into her voice.

"Absolutely," Reyansh agreed. He took a bolder step. "Would you like me to drop you off? It's not safe for you to be alone this late, especially after..." he trailed off, gesturing towards where Ken had disappeared.

Saarayu offered a quick nod, a silent agreement. As Reyansh led the way out, she followed quietly behind. Reaching his car, he popped the door open for her with a gentlemanly flourish. She paused for a beat, their eyes meeting for a fleeting moment before she slipped into the passenger seat.

The drive was filled with a comfortable silence. Reyansh stole glances at her every now and then, captivated by the moonlight filtering through the car windows and casting a soft glow on her face. When she finally caught him staring, her eyebrows arched playfully, breaking the comfortable tension.

"Well, madam," he teased, a grin tugging at his lips, "haven't you forgotten something? An address perhaps?"

A soft laugh escaped her lips. "Oh! Right, sorry, sorry!" She quickly rattled off directions, her voice flustered but endearing. And wouldn't you know it, the address she gave was the same neighborhood Reyansh had just moved into the night before.

Pulling to a stop, she pointed towards a house beside his. "Thanks, that's my place."

"Next door, huh?" Reyansh said, a surprised chuckle escaping him. "Looks like we'll be seeing a lot of each other then – neighbors after all."

Her eyes widened in shock. "Really?"

"Yup," Reyansh confirmed with a nod.

That surprise quickly melted away, replaced by a bright smile. "Well then," she announced, her voice brimming with newfound excitement, "how about you come over for dinner tonight? As a neighborly welcome, of course."

An unexpected invitation, but a welcome one nonetheless. Reyansh couldn't help but smile back. "Okay," he agreed. The prospect of spending more time with Saarayu was too enticing to pass up.  

The welcoming smile of the nanny greeted Reyansh as he entered the house. Avi, engrossed in her playtime, stopped short at the sound of the door. But a moment later, her face lit up with a joyous grin as she launched herself into his arms.

"Hey there, my little firecracker!" Reyansh exclaimed, scooping her up in a hug and twirling her playfully. "Who do we have here? Dad's back!"

Avi's response was a delighted giggle that filled the room. She squeezed her arms tight around his neck, a warmth spreading through Reyansh as he leaned down and planted a kiss on her soft cheek. "What was my baby doing?" he asked, his voice brimming with affection.

"Pway!" she squealed, her words punctuated by excited giggles. "Pway!"

Playing, huh?" Reyansh chuckled, bouncing her gently. "That's my little champion! You're getting so good at playing, aren't you?"