AIRA RAJPUT
Indian girl on a full scholarship
Loves stargazing, old books, and solo midnight walks
Comes from a tough past — father abandoned the family, mom works two jobs
Doesn't believe in fairytales, but she knows how to survive
Stands up for herself even when it costs her friendships
VEDANT NAGAR
Rich, arrogant, and knows he's good-looking
Heartbroken, humiliated, and hiding his pain under sarcasm and parties
Starts out cold and vengeful
Slowly realizes he was projecting his pain
Torn between the plan and what his heart starts to want.
Side Characters (With Drama!)
Mahima – Aira's bubbly roommate who hides more than she shows
Kai – Vedant's best friend who has his own motives
Rina – Aira's "friend" who always manages to be at the wrong place at the right time
Dev – Aira's cousin and the boy Ezra's ex dumped him for
Sasha – Vedant ex-girlfriend, sugar-sweet on the outside, poison underneath
CHAPTER1: VELVET ROSES
(—The first rule of war? Never let them see you bleed.—)
The auditorium of St. Xavier's College was packed, buzzing with the energy of the annual Inter-College Debate Competition. The air smelled of expensive perfume, cheap coffee, and the sharp tang of ambition.
At the center of it all, lounging like a king on his throne, was Vedant Nagar.
Golden boy. Heartbreaker. Untouchable.
His crisp white shirt was rolled up to his elbows, revealing toned forearms and a silver Rolex that cost more than some people's tuition. His dark eyes scanned the crowd lazily, a smirk playing on his lips as girls whispered and guys clenched their fists in envy.
"Kya dekh rahi ho? Aukaat se bahar hai," he muttered under his breath, noticing a first-year girl staring. His best friend, Kai, snorted beside him.
"Bro, chill. Not everyone's out to get you."
"Everyone's out to get me," Vedant corrected, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Especially after what happened."
The memory of Preeti—his ex—dumping him for some nerd from the literature department still burned. And worse? That nerd was related to her.
His gaze snapped to the stage as the next speaker was announced.
"Next up, representing the scholarship cohort—Aira Rajput!"
The crowd clapped politely, but Vedant didn't move. His fingers tightened around his pen.
This was her.
The girl who—by blood—was connected to his humiliation.
ENTER: THE STORM
Aira Rajput walked onto the stage like she owned it.
No fancy dress, no designer heels. Just black jeans, a loose white shirt, and a pair of beat-up Converse that had seen more of the world than most people in this room. Her dark hair was tied in a messy bun, a few rebellious strands framing her sharp face.
She adjusted the mic, her voice calm but edged with steel.
"The topic is 'Privilege is Invisible to Those Who Have It.' And let me tell you—it's not just invisible. It's a weapon."
Silence.
Vedant's smirk faded.
"You sit in your ivory towers," Aira continued, her eyes scanning the crowd before landing—directly on him. "And you think the world owes you something. But reality? Reality doesn't care about your last name."
A few gasps. Someone whispered, "Bold move."
Vedant's jaw clenched. "Cheap shot," he muttered.
Kai raised a brow. "She's not wrong though."
"Shut up."
Aira's speech was sharp, brutal, and unapologetic. By the end, even the professors were nodding. When she finished, the applause was louder than for anyone else.
Vedant didn't clap.
He had a new mission.
FIRST CLASH: "ACCIDENTAL" WAR
After the event, Aira was packing up her notes when a shadow fell over her.
"Nice speech. Too bad it was all bullshit."
She didn't even look up. "Thanks. Too bad your ego takes up all the oxygen in the room."
Vedant's eyes flashed. "Tumhari himmat kaise hui mujse aise baat karne ki?"
Finally, she glanced up, unimpressed. "Himmat nahi, common sense hai. Agar aapke paas hota, toh aap samajh jaate."
A few nearby students stifled laughs.
Vedant leaned in, his voice low. "You think you're clever?"
"I know I am."
"Careful, scholarship girl. This college eats people like you alive."
Aira smirked, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Good thing I've got sharp teeth then."
And with that, she walked away, leaving Vedant seething.
THE REVENGE PLAN BEGINS
That night, Vedant sat in his penthouse apartment, scrolling through Aira's social media.
No fancy vacations. No designer labels. Just sketches of graffiti, quotes from books, and a few blurry photos of the night sky.
Pathetic.
Kai tossed him a beer. "Dude, just let it go."
"No." Vedant's voice was ice. "She doesn't get to humiliate me and walk away."
"How did she humiliate you? By existing?"
Vedant ignored him, typing out a message to Mahima—Aira's roommate.
"I need info. Everything about her."
Mahima replied instantly. "Why? Planning to ruin her?"
Vedant smirked. "Something like that."
SECRETS & MIDNIGHT TRUTHS
Meanwhile, Aira sat on the rooftop of her dorm, sketching under the moonlight.
Her phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number:
"You don't know who you're messing with."
She rolled her eyes and typed back:
"If you're gonna threaten me, at least have the guts to show your face. -A"
Silence. Then—
"This isn't a threat. It's a promise."
Aira laughed, tossing her phone aside. "Bring it on, rich boy."
Because if there was one thing she knew?
Wars weren't won with money.
They were won with fire.
(TO BE CONTINUED…)