"Well well....nice to finally see you here, Tapish Ahuja! I was starting to believe who you forgot your actual boss is." Mahir sniggers as Tapish enters in the panel house early morning.

"I'm on leave for three days." Tapish mutters displeasantly while sitting beside Vikrant, then greets Veer, "Morning boss."

Veer nods. Vikrant inquires, "You don't seem much happy about your leave. Why? Underworld job wearing you off?"

Tapish quirks irritatedly, "I would happily do my underworld job as long as I get paid enough. But when you give me one task and then impede it yourself, I'm very much oppose to that." He side glares at Veer.

"Well....?" Vikrant raises his eyebrows.

"Bani went to New York. To see some concert." Tapish replies.

Mahir sits straight, "Uhh....is it that blind date she was talking about the other day? So basically she went to meet that guy, her potential mate? Wow....dude really got her to the concert, did he now?"

Then he tweaks his eyes at Veer and says, "What are you still doing here, boss? Your bird is about to fly to someone else's jungle. Are you just gonna sit and watch? Your chances are already low I'm saying."

"Who are you kidding?" Tapish scoffs, "He's the one who got her the tickets." He extends his fingers at Veer.

All three pairs of eyes stares at Veer while he keeps his head down, eyes focused on mapping the edge of his revolver very meticulously.

"Are you telling me that the high and mighty Veeranshu Singhania got the girl whatever she wished for, like a pathetic teenager in crush??" Mahir snorts and Veer almost points his gun at him.

His jaw hardens as he turns to Tapish and says icily, "She's going out. Where are you not with her? Isn't that your job?"

"My job has been to look after her professional stuffs. Her private life is not my business. What changed that now? Her potential mating?" Tapish spits back.

Veer's grip on the gun tightens and he mutters, "What if she gets in danger?"

Tapish chews out grimly, "In that case, I will personally serve my head on the platter in front of you, boss. She doesn't prefer my presence in her personal trips."

"If you are worried about her safety, then why don't you go there yourself? You got her the tickets, you can't definitely go and see her there too, can't you?" Vikrant suggests smirking.

There's slight pink on Veer's cheeks. He mutters training his eyes on the revolver again, "there's No need for that."

"Of course, Princess wants privacy, princess gets it. Just like how princess wanted to go to concert with her prince charming and Mr villain just couldn't handle his jealous ass!" Mahir snickers.

Veer bangs his hand on the chair angrily and growls at Mahir, "I'll chop off your dick into pieces if you utter another single word!!"

Mahir mocks staring at him mirthfully, "Didn't know you were into dicks, are you now Romeo?"

"Okay okay....no need of blood shedding! Peace out, both of you!" Vikrant holds up his hands looking at them warily.

Tapish shrugs off getting to the computer, "Well, Romeo sounds better than villain, though. He's not really the villain of Bani's life, is he? More like her anti hero lover."

Veer doesn't react to that. He turns his attention towards the revolver again, playing with the ratchet impassively. Mahir watches him silently.

...................................................................
"you've got to be kidding me!!" Bella throws her hands in the air glaring at Bani exasperatedly.

Bani cowers a bit but only come back with more exaction, "Come on! You can't do this much for me?"

Bella rolls her eyes, "Bani....you are asking me to meet your date in your place, not some freaking kindergarten homework!! You think he won't recognise that it's not you?"

Bani still argues, "He won't. Just do some horrendous makeup. Please...!!"

Bella scoffs resting her hands on her hips, "Bro....this is not some kdrama you know!! That no one will recognise you if you put some makeup and pretend to be your best friend!! You're a goddamn supermodel, Bani  Singhania. Everyone knows you! This is not gonna work!" she shakes her head Bani opens her mouth dejectedly.

"Fuck everything!" Bani huffs pouting, "I came here to have fun. Watch my favourite band performing live! Sing and dance like a fan girl. Yet here I am pacing in my bedroom freaking out about how to dodge a blind date that was so not supposed to happen!!"

Bella giggles, "Well, my mom seems to be a step ahead of us! I didn't know she would manage to send that guy here for your date."

Bani sighs, "We shouldn't have told her that we were going for vacation."

"Well, how bad can it go? Just man up and meet him. It's not like you'll have to commit right away!" Bella shrugs hopping on the bed beside Bani.

Bani rubs her temple, "I like meeting people willingly not by force like this."

"Well, you said yourself that you would keep an open mind about this. So...?" Bella reminds her.

Bani whines into her pillow, "I know. It's just that I don't want to get into another scandal. Meeting someone at concert, no one would film us, right?"

Bella turns around, "Well, there will few other celebrity friends of ours too. So I guess it won't make much difference. Also....if everything goes well, you might get a good fuck tomorrow night!" Bella wiggles her eyebrows smugly and Bani throws a pillow at her.
...............................................................

The concert is going on full fledge. Bani has been drinking whiskey, dancing with light bomb in her hand and singing her heart out with her friends in the VIP corner. The date didn't go that bad. She has met the guy and found him as a decent guy. Turns out he's one of the main coordinator of the concert and promised to meet Bani to the band artist after the show ends. Bani has been ecstatic and of course the alcohol in her state made her like him immediately.

The show is about to end and Bani is completely wasted. She has been dancing the whole evening and was feeling exhausted. She looks out for Bella so that they can head back but finds her making out with some random dude in a dark corner. Bani sighs sagging her shoulders. It's gonna be difficult getting back to the hotel alone. Thankfully their hotel is right beside the stadium so she won't have to call for any ride. Getting out of the venue Bani starts walking towards the exit.

"Hey there!! Ms Bani! Where are you going?" Bani feels a tug on her elbow.

She turns around to see it's Rohit. "I'm going.......home!" She slurs.

"Home?" Rohit questions tilting his head.

Bani tries to focus on his face before shaking her head innocently, "Uh-uh. Hotel. Yes...hotel. Not home. My home is Nepal."

"Nepal?" Rohit asks.

Bani halts trying to gather her focus before nodding and says, "Yes, Maldives."

Rohit looks at her amusedly, "You mean India?"

Bani wides her eyes at him before giggling, "Yes. Yes. India. India is my home. India is my home." She keeps chanting in rhythm.

"How about I drop you off to your hotel, Bani?" Rohit suggests looking at her patiently, "At this rate I'm afraid you'll make every block of New York avenue your home. You're too drunk."

"No I'm not!" Bani protests pouting her lips, "I'm as sober as lemon. I can walk myself." She turns in circle and her head spins.

Rohit catches her right away and laughs, "Yeah. I can see that. Let's walk to your hotel together. Hold on to me."

"No!" Bani shakes her head again freeing herself, "I can go by myself. You don't have to bother."

"Hey aren't you going to stay till we go up to the Artists?" Rohit remembers suddenly.

Bani turns to him and says sadly, "Uh...no! It would be great but I'm tired. Please tell them hi from me."

"Oh...I enjoyed the date. Just so you know." He says sheepishly.

Bani sways a bit and smiles, "I did too. Please tell Min Yoongi that I love him! And the others too!"

Rohit chuckles, "okay okay...! How about I get you their autographs tomorrow!"

"You will?" Bani looks up at him with grateful teary eyes, "You're an angel."

Rohit laughs heartily, "Well, thank you I guess. And why wouldn't I? You came all way from India to here for me. I can do this much for you of course. And much more if you allow...!" He adds in deep voice.

Bani stares at him trying to get what he means. She came here because of someone else. Not for him. Her mind shifts to the certain someone else's memory. Rohit reaches out for her hand. But before she can react another deep voice comes from behind, "I guess that won't be necessary anymore, Mr Zain."

Both Bani and Rohit turns towards the voice and sees the tall built man standing a few feet away from them with hands in his pockets. Bani squints her eyes to look at his face properly.

"Sorry?" Rohit frowns, "You are....?"

"Veeranshu Singhania." Veer marches to them and pulls Bani lightly from Rohit's space and mutters gruffly, "You can leave her to me and go on your way. I can take care of her from here on."

Rohit's jaw hardens a bit and he looks at Veer suspiciously. He pulls Bani towards him before saying, "I'm sorry Mr.... Singhania, I'm not following you. Are we supposed to know you?"

Veer doesn't let go of his grip on Bani. He offers him a malicious grin before saying, "Well it's better if you don't. But here we are. I know her. She will contact you tomorrow if she wants to. Now leave."

"Excuse me!" Rohit scowls at this sudden intrusion. He glares at Veer, "I don't know if you are alright in your brain but what makes you think that I'd leave her to you at this late hour of night when you're practically a stranger to her." He pulls Bani again.

"Stranger?" Veer chuckles darkly then focuses his pupils on Rohit with gleam, "Well Mr Zain, actually you're more of the strange than I am to her. So, back off."

"She's my date!" Rohit clenches his grip on Bani.

"Ouch!!" Bani winces and the two males suddenly remembers their subject of argument is present there too.

Veer immediately yanks Rohit's hand off her and pulls her arm in the front to check before asking softly with concern, "Bani! Are you okay?" He glares at Rohit murderously.

"Do you know this guy, Bani?" Rohit asks her.

Bani, who has been trying to focus on the exchange of words in the middle for so long now finally glances at Rohit before turning her gaze on Veer. Then points his face with her finger and mumbles, "Well, he looks like my husband, kinda! But he can't be here."

"What?" Rohit frowns at her in confusion.

Veer lifts his eyebrows at this off address. He asks hiding his mirth, "Do I now, sweetheart?"

"Oh my god!" Bani covers her mouth as if in shock and slurs again, "He even talks like my husband! I must be really too drunk to see things."

"You have a husband?" Rohit whispers horrified.

Bani nods and mumbles sadly, "I used to. Had to pay my years of freedom and emotions to get that "husband"."

"Ex husband." Veer stares at Bani unreadably before pulling her to his side and eyes Rohit, "Well, now you know who I am to her. You can leave now, right?"

Bani nuzzles the side of Veer's neck and sniffs. Her realization hits in the familiar scent and she looks up at Veer's face, "Oh it's really you! You are here? Why?" She asks with her eyes wide and big.

Rohit is too shocked to act. To think that the model has a husband or ex husband who came to get her is running over his head. But he decides to talk to Bani when she's sober.

"Fine...! Bani, you will be okay with this guy?" He asks sceptically.

Bani glances from Veer to Rohit to Veer to Rohit again and then bobs her head up and down, "Hmm..hm. It's fine. He's Veer. Home. Remember we were talking?" she mumbles leaning her head to Veer's chest.

"Uh...fine then." Rohit fidgets his hands before stepping back, "I hope I'm leaving you to good hands?" He says to confirm once again. After all it's an ex husband.

Bani snorts moving her face and replies, "Good hands? You're leaving me to the biggest red flag ever!"

Rohit is beyond confused now, "Um....?"

Veer has had enough. He picks Bani up in bridal style and mutters while turning back, "Okay. Enough of the entertainment. Now we'll get going."

"Whoa.... Veer!" Bani squeals throwing her hands and legs, "You can't manhandle me like this!" She tries to sound angry but can't because of drowsiness.

"And why not?" Veer grits out trying to keep her still while walking, "I remember you specifically liked it me manhandling you."

Bani stops wriggling and whispers, "That's was in the past."

"Is it now?" Veer quirks.

Bani blushes red and put her face into the crook of his neck, "Hmm."

Veer chuckles staring down at her, "You're really drunk aren't you?"

Bani shakes her head and mumbles, "Uh-hu! I'm just sleepy."

Veer asks, "Where is your friend?"

"Making out with someone." Bani replies nonchalantly.

Veer sighs, "I'll send Mahir to look out for her then."

"And then they will hook up again." Bani grumbles.

Veer snorts, "Well, not our business if they find it good fuck out of their rage."

And then Bani asks suddenly with very straight face, "Are we going to hook up too?"

Veer halts. He didn't expect that from her. He clears his throat before continuing walking and mutters, "No, we are not."

"Why?" Bani pouts lifting her head, "Am I not a good fuck?"

Veer gulps down his self restraint and dares to look at her innocent big eyes. Bani is still pouting, waiting for her answer. Veer looks away and keeps walking without replying her.

Bani again goes back to nuzzle Veer and whispers, "You haven't asked me where I'm staying."

"'cause I already know?" Says Veer.

Bani pinches his earlobe murmuring, "Creep."

The sensation goes directly to Veer's groins and he grinds his weight on the ground more uttering, "Stay still! Damn if I knew you were going to get this wasted, I would've sent couple of my men here with you."

Bani frowns at him, "You can't do that anymore either."

Finally they reach the hotel lobby and Veer makes her stand in front of the reception. "Show your ID and  say room number to them."

The receptionist glances at a very drunk Bani and Veer beside her. It's a celebrity hotel so everyone entering and exiting is monitored strictly. She checks Bani's ID and her room details before giving the pass.

Then she turns to Veer, "Umm...sorry sir, you'll have to excuse us from here on. We'll send our female stuff to get Ms Singhania to her room safely. Your name is not in mam's visitor list so I can't really permit you a pass before booking one."

Veer is about to agree to her when Bani speaks up in drowsy voice again, "It's ok. Let him in. He's my husband."

"Huh?" The receptionist gawks at her.

Veer takes a sharp breath before rolling his eyes in exasperation but he doesn't bother to correct the term this time. He knows rumors will fly with wind, so he just takes out his ID and shows it to the receptionist. Confirming with both their surnames the receptionist finally gives a pass to Veer.

Then he mutters in a deep authoritive tone to the receptionist, "Make sure the information doesn't spread."

The receptionist nods nervously and pulls Bani with him to get to her room.

Updated.
Happy reading 💜💜
I'm super sick, hope you'll forgive the mistakes 😔 (Not that I don't do mistakes even when I'm fit😭)
Take care.
Don't get sick🤍
I'll reply to the comments later...