✨ Author's Note ✨
Sometimes, silence speaks louder than words. And sometimes, a single action is enough to shake everything.
This chapter marks a shift—one that was bound to happen. Ravi isn't just a name in Ria's life anymore. He's a presence, a force, a storm that refuses to be ignored. His words weren't just a question; they were a promise. A warning. A claim.
But what happens when unspoken emotions start to surface? When protection feels like possession, and restraint feels like control?
Are they ready for what's coming? Are you? 👀🔥
Stay with me as we unravel the layers of MINE YES!—because things are only getting deeper from here.
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With love and anticipation,
Penola.S ✨💫
The club pulsed with energy, neon lights flickering in rhythm with the bass-heavy music. A haze of perfume, sweat, and alcohol filled the air as the dance floor swayed under dim lighting. The entire place was packed with college students celebrating their final days together—some dancing recklessly, some huddled in groups, lost in deep conversations over their drinks.
Amidst the crowd, Ria stood out.
Dressed in an elegant black dress that clung to her curves just right, she looked effortlessly sophisticated. Unlike the others, who had chosen extravagant, flashy outfits, she and Karan seemed different—more refined, more put together. Karan, in his sleek navy blazer over a white shirt, exuded confidence. His dark jeans fit him perfectly, and his carefully tousled hair gave him that effortless charm.
Ria glanced around, watching as servers walked through the crowd with trays filled with shots, beer bottles, and fancy cocktails.
"Farewell parties shouldn't be this wild," she muttered under her breath, feeling slightly out of place.
Karan, standing beside her, smirked as he signaled a waiter.
"Come on, Ria, it's a celebration," he said smoothly, grabbing a glass from the tray.
She frowned, watching the golden liquid swirl in the glass. "Why drinks though? We're still in college."
Karan chuckled, his gaze playful as he handed her the glass. "It's just one sip. Don't be so uptight."
Ria hesitated. She had never touched alcohol before, and something about the whole atmosphere didn't sit right with her.
"I said no," she replied firmly, stepping back.
For a moment, Karan's expression flickered, something unreadable passing through his eyes. But then, he grinned again, raising his own glass and taking a sip before setting it aside.
"Fine, fine. No drinks for Miss Ria," he teased. "But at least, dance with me?"
Before she could refuse, he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the dance floor.
The music changed—deeper, sultrier. The low beat thumped in her chest as the colorful lights washed over them.
Ria wasn't the best dancer, nor was she comfortable with so many people around. But Karan held her wrist firmly, guiding her to the center.
"Relax, enjoy," he said close to her ear, his voice smooth over the music. "Do you like the party?"
She nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, a bit. But… don't you think it would've been better if we invited some of our old classmates too?"
She was thinking of Anaya, their mutual friend.
Karan scoffed. "That would've been boring. This is a night for us, not for reminiscing about schooldays."
Something about his words felt off, but Ria let it slide.
As they moved to the music, she found herself easing into the rhythm, letting the energy of the crowd drown her doubts. The flashing lights blurred the lines between reality and illusion.
Then, Karan leaned in.
"I have something to tell you," he murmured.
Ria tilted her head, looking up at him. "What is it?"
"You'll know when it's ready."
She narrowed her eyes. "Ready? What does that mean? Just say it."
Karan chuckled but didn't answer. Instead, he changed the topic.
"By the way, do you know your mother was at my house today?" he said casually.
Ria's brows furrowed. "What? No, she's out of town."
"Well," Karan shrugged, "she was shopping with my mom today."
That made no sense. Her mother never mentioned anything about coming back early.
Ria's stomach twisted. Something about this night wasn't adding up.
Before she could ask further, the music turned louder, making it harder to focus on anything but the rhythm.
Karan pulled her in closer.
"Let's take a break," he said. "Come with me."
He didn't wait for her answer before leading her towards the private lounge area.
Her instincts screamed at her, telling her something was off.
Still, she followed.
The lounge bar was quieter, dimly lit, with plush seating. A few people were lounging around, lost in hushed conversations.
Karan guided her to a booth, making sure she was seated close.
"Now," he said, leaning in, "let's enjoy the night properly."
Ria, still uneasy, forced a smile, but deep down, she knew—this night was heading somewhere she wasn't ready for.
✒️.______..______..______..______..______..______..______..______..______.✒️
The club, once roaring with music and laughter, now stood in stunned silence. The vibrant lights flickered over the crowd, highlighting the tension thick in the air.
Karan, his breath heavy with the stench of alcohol, staggered forward, a crooked grin spreading across his face. His once charming demeanor had melted into something darker, something venomous. The cheers and claps from their college friends had died down as all eyes turned toward the unfolding scene.
Ria, standing firm in the middle of it all, felt her pulse quicken.
"Ria," Karan slurred, holding up a glass as if it were a grand prize. "You and I, we make a perfect match. Everyone knows it. Come on, let's make it official."
Gasps rippled through the crowd as he dropped to one knee, extending a ring towards her—not an engagement ring, but a cheap party gimmick, a mockery of something serious.
Ria took a step back. Her chest tightened with unease.
"Karan, you're not in your senses," she said firmly, shaking her head. "This is not happening. You're drunk."
His drunken grin faltered for a second before twisting into something desperate. He pushed himself up and reached for her wrist.
"Why are you acting like this, huh? Just say yes, Ria," he insisted, his fingers tightening around her. "We've known each other for years! You know I like you, right?"
Ria yanked her hand back with a sharp jerk.
"You like me?" she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief. "You're forcing me. That's not how this works, Karan."
Karan's expression darkened. The fake charm slipped away, replaced by something bitter, something cruel.
His chuckle was low, mocking. "You really think you're something, huh?" he sneered. "Ria Ahuja—the rich dad's rich daughter. That's what they call you, you know?"
The words hit like a slap, but Ria stood tall, her eyes burning with fury.
"You think you can talk to me like that?" she shot back. "You think insulting me will change my answer?"
Karan took a step closer, his smirk widening. "Oh, come on, don't act so innocent. You walk around with that fancy attitude of yours, just like your brother—"
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the club.
A collective gasp rang out as Ria's palm connected hard with his cheek, leaving a sharp red imprint.
Karan stumbled back, his eyes widening in shock. For a second, he seemed too stunned to react. But then his face twisted with rage.
"You bitch!" he spat, stepping forward aggressively. His voice turned into a growl. "No man will ever handle you. No one will ever love you. You think you're untouchable? You think you're above everyone?"
Ria clenched her fists, her heart pounding, but she didn't back down.
"Stop this, Karan," she said, her voice shaking not with fear, but with anger. "I know there's no one who will love me, and that's fine. I don't need you to tell me that!"
But as the words left her lips, something in her chest ached.
For a split second, her voice wavered.
And Karan saw it.
He laughed, cruel and mocking. "See? Even you know it!"
And just as the words left his mouth—
"But her man will."
A heavy voice sliced through the silence.
The music had stopped.
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
Ravi.
He stood tall, his broad frame casting a shadow over the scene. His dark eyes burned with an intensity that sent a chill through the air.
Before Karan could react, Ravi shrugged off his blazer and draped it over Ria's shoulders, covering her trembling frame in silent protection.
And then—
CRACK!
Ravi's fist connected with Karan's jaw, sending him stumbling back onto the ground.
A stunned silence followed.
Karan groaned, clutching his face in pain as he looked up in shock.
Ravi's voice was low, dangerous. "You don't get to talk about her like that."
The weight of those words settled over the crowd.
Ria, still trying to process everything, felt something stir in her chest as she looked at Ravi—the way he stood in front of her, shielding her, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
Karan, still on the floor, wiped the blood from his lip and chuckled darkly. "Oh, I see now," he muttered. "This was never about me, was it?"
Ravi's jaw clenched, his muscles taut with restrained anger.
"You should leave," Ravi said, his voice steady but cold.
Karan sneered. But one look at Ravi's stance—the sheer dominance in his posture, the unspoken warning in his eyes—made him hesitate.
With a muttered curse, he pushed himself up, shot Ria one last glare, and stumbled away into the crowd.
The club remained silent.
Everyone watched, waiting for what would happen next.
Ria swallowed hard, her fingers clutching Ravi's blazer around her shoulders. She turned to face him, her breath uneven.
Ravi looked down at her, his expression unreadable.
And then, in a voice just low enough for her to hear—
"You deserve better, Ria."
Her heart skipped a beat.
But before she could say anything, Ravi turned away.
And just like that, he walked out of the club, leaving her standing in the middle of the crowd, with a storm of emotions crashing inside her.
💕.______..______..______..______.💮.______..______..______..______.💕
The club was still buzzing with whispers, but Ravi ignored them. His grip on Ria's wrist was firm—possessive, protective, yet not forceful. His voice had been steady, yet commanding when he had spoken.
"Are you ready to go home, or should I take you myself?"
Ria lifted her gaze to meet his eyes—dark, unreadable, yet holding something unspoken. There was no anger in them, just firm resolve. She swallowed hard, her emotions caught between the humiliation of what had just happened and the relief that Ravi had stepped in before things went worse.
She didn't respond. She couldn't.
Instead, she let him lead her out, her steps matching his as they moved through the stunned crowd.
The night air was sharp against Ria's skin, a stark contrast to the suffocating heat of the club. The rhythmic thump of music still pulsed behind them, muffled by the thick doors of the hotel. The scent of expensive perfume and alcohol clung to her dress, mixing with the cold breeze that brushed against her bare arms.
She didn't speak.
Neither did he.
Ravi's grip on her wrist was firm—not rough, not cruel, but unyielding. He didn't look at her, just kept walking, leading her towards the black car parked near the entrance. His movements were precise, controlled. Too controlled.
Ria could sense the tension in his body, the way his muscles were coiled tight, like a predator restraining itself. He had always been quiet, always the calm shadow behind her brother, never once stepping out of line. But tonight, for the first time, she had seen something else beneath his carefully maintained mask.
A fire.
A fire that had burned through his restraint when Karan had pushed too far.
She stole a glance at him, her heart hammering in her chest. The glow of the streetlights cast shadows over his sharp features—his clenched jaw, the way his Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he exhaled. His knuckles were still tense, his other hand curled into a fist as if he were fighting himself.
She had seen him angry before—but never like this.
Never for her.
When they reached the car, he finally released her wrist. The absence of his touch sent an unexpected chill down her spine, but she ignored it.
Ravi opened the door, waiting for her to step in. His posture was rigid, his breathing steady but heavy, as if he were still controlling the storm within him.
She hesitated, her fingers gripping the edge of her dress. "I—"
"You're getting in the car, Ria," Ravi cut her off, his voice steady but firm. His dark eyes met hers, and for the first time, she realized—he wasn't asking. He was telling her.
The weight of his command sent a shiver down her spine.
A part of her wanted to argue, wanted to snap back, but her throat felt tight, clogged with everything that had happened tonight. Karan's insult still rang in her ears. "No boy will ever love you."
She bit her lip.
Was he right?
Would no one ever handle her? Love her?
Her chest tightened, but she forced herself to straighten her shoulders. She wasn't weak. She wouldn't let Karan's words take root in her mind.
But she also wouldn't let Ravi order her around like she was a child.
She lifted her chin. "I didn't ask for your help," she said, her voice sharper than she intended.
Ravi's expression didn't change, but his grip on the car door tightened slightly. "I know." His voice was quieter now, but no less intense. "But you needed it."
Ria's breath hitched.
She hated that he was right.
She hated that, for the first time, she hadn't been able to control a situation.
She hated that Karan had seen her as weak.
But most of all… she hated the way Ravi had stepped in, like a shield between her and the rest of the world.
Like he had always been meant to.
She swallowed hard and, without another word, slid into the car.
Ravi shut the door behind her, walking around to the driver's side in silence.
The moment he started the car, the low hum of the engine filled the silence between them.
For several long minutes, neither of them spoke.
The city lights blurred past the windows, neon signs flashing against the dark sky, but Ria barely noticed. Her mind was still back at the club, replaying the scene over and over again.
The humiliation. The anger. The way her hand had stung after slapping Karan.
And then—Ravi.
Stepping between her and the world like an unshakable force.
She turned her head slightly, watching him as he drove. One hand on the steering wheel, the other resting on his thigh. His fingers flexed slightly, as if he was still feeling the impact of his punch against Karan's jaw.
Ravi had always been loyal to her brother.
Always distant with her.
But tonight, that distance had cracked.
"Why did you come back?" she asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ravi's fingers tensed slightly, but he didn't look at her. "Because I had a feeling you'd need me."
Her heart did something strange at his words—something she didn't want to acknowledge.
She turned her gaze back to the window, hiding the flicker of emotion in her eyes.
Silence stretched between them again, heavy, loaded with unspoken words.
Finally, after what felt like forever, they pulled up to the Singhaniya mansion.
Ravi turned off the car but didn't move.
Neither did she.
His voice was quiet when he spoke. "Karan was wrong."
Ria frowned, turning to look at him. "About what?"
Ravi's jaw clenched, and for a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer.
Then, finally, he met her eyes.
"No boy will ever love you."
The words she had screamed at Karan replayed in her mind.
But Ravi's next words shattered them completely.
"Your man will."
A shiver ran down her spine.
She didn't know what to say.
Didn't know how to process the weight behind his words.
And before she could even think of a response—Ravi opened the door, stepping out into the cold night air.
The moment was over.
The distance was back.
But Ria knew.
She knew that something had changed tonight.
And for the first time, she wasn't sure if she was ready to face it.