Urvashi adjusted her tablet and looked at him professionally.

“Mr. Kapoor… apne baare mein kuch batayiye. Matlab… apni education ke baare mein?”

she asked, her tone calm but attentive.
Siddharth picked up his glass of water, taking a small sip before answering.

“WELL… I COMPLETED MY SCHOOLING IN MUMBAI,”

he began casually.
“THEN I WENT TO THE UK FOR MY HIGHER STUDIES. I DID MY DEGREE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND HOSPITALITY.”

Urvashi nodded, typing notes.

“UK?

That explains the international touch in your hotel,” she remarked.
Siddharth smiled faintly.

“EDUCATION WAHAN SE LI… LEKIN BASICS YAHIN SE SEEKHE. MERE FATHER bhi BUSINESS BACKGROUND SE THE. DISCIPLINE AND RISK-TAKING… GHAR SE HI MILA.”

Urvashi looked up from her tablet.
“So you always knew you wanted to enter hospitality?”

Siddharth shook his head slightly.

“NOT REALLY. INITIALLY I WANTED TO PROVE MYSELF… BAS. INDUSTRY KA CHOICE BAAD MEIN CLEAR HUA. I REALIZED HOSPITALITY IS NOT JUST ABOUT LUXURy… IT’S ABOUT EXPERIENCE. LOG YAHAN SIRF REHNE NAHI AATE… YAAD BANANE AATE HAIN.”

Urvashi’s lips curved slightly.

“That’s a very marketable line, Mr. Kapoor.”

He smirked.

“IT’S NOT A LINE. IT’S THE TRUTH.”

She held his gaze for a second, sensing the confidence in his tone.

“And after coming back from the UK?”

“I STARTED FROM SCRATCH,”

he replied calmly.

“NO SHORTCUTS. SMALL PROPERTY FIRST… THEN PARTNERSHIPS… THEN EXPANSION. FAILURES BHI HUE… BUT I NEVER ALLOWED THEM TO BECOME HEADLINES.”

Urvashi seemed genuinely impressed now.

“Interesting,” she said softly, making another note.

The interview was slowly turning deeper than she had expected.

Urvashi looked up from her tablet and asked calmly,

“Maine suna hai… bahut chhoti umr mein aapke pita ka saya aapke upar se uth gaya tha?”

Siddharth’s expression turned serious for a moment.

“YES… THAT’S TRUE,”

he replied quietly.
There was a brief silence before she continued.

“Aur… aapne bahut se chhote-chhote kaam bhi kiye hain? Matlab jahan tak maine suna hai… ye Imperial Hotel aapne apne dum par khada kiya… apne ghar se kuch nahi liya?”

Siddharth leaned back in his chair, giving a faint smile.

“PEOPLE DO EXAGGERATE STORIES SOMETIMES… BUT YES, THAT PART IS TRUE. I DIDN’T TAKE MONEY FROM MY FAMILY.”

Urvashi listened attentively as he continued.

“THE BEGINNING WASN’T EASY. DURING COLLEGE I WORKED PART-TIME… EVENT MANAGEMENT, BAR HANDLING, EVEN KITCHEN ASSISTANCE. THAT’S WHEN I UNDERSTOOD THAT A HOTEL ISN’T JUST A BUILDING… IT’S A COMPLETE SYSTEM.”

She nodded, clearly interested.
“Aapko kab laga ki… you’ve finally made it?”

Siddharth gave a small laugh.
“HONESTLY… I STILL DON’T FEEL THAT WAY.”

She looked surprised.
“Abhi bhi nahi?”

“NO,” he said calmly.

“THE DAY YOU FEEL YOU’VE ACHIEVED EVERYTHING… THAT’S THE DAY GROWTh STOPS.”

Urvashi studied him for a moment, realizing there was more depth to him than just charm and confidence.
Then she asked softly,

“Aapko drive kya karta hai, Mr. Kapoor?”

Siddharth looked out the window for a second before answering.
“FEAR.”

She raised her eyebrows slightly.

“THE FEAR OF GOING BACK TO A LIFE WHERE I HAD NO CONTROL.”
A quiet silence filled the room—this time, not awkward, but thoughtful.

Ye to ho gayi saari professional baatein…”

she said casually, leaning back in her chair. Then she leaned slightly forward, a hint of mischief in her eyes.

“Hamare viewers aapke personal life ke baare mein bhi kuch jaana chahenge…”

Siddharth raised an eyebrow, already guessing where this was going.
Urvashi smirked.

“You are the most eligible bachelor of the town…”

she said, watching his reaction.
Siddharth let out a soft laugh.

“THAT’S WHAT MAGAZINES SAY,”

he replied calmly.

“REALITY IS USUALLY MUCH SIMPLER… AND SOMETIMES BORING.”

Urvashi chuckled lightly.

“I don’t think so. People are very curious about you… especially about your relationships.”

Siddharth tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

“CURIOSITY IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS… NOT ALWAYS FOR PERSONAL LIFE,”

he said smoothly.
Urvashi looked straight at him and asked,

“Koi special hai aapki life mein?”

“NO,” he answered simply.

“Nothing serious.”
Urvashi observed him carefully. The answer was simple
She asked again, softly,

“So… you don’t believe in love?”

Siddharth gave a faint smirk.

“LOVE… IS A COMPLICATED WORD.” 🔥i DON'T BELIEVE IN ALL THIS SHIT...🔥

Urvashi nodded slowly.

“Interesting answer, Mr. Kapoor… our readers are definitely going to like this interview.”
.

.
Urvashi closed her tablet and smiled lightly.

“Aap boring to bilkul nahi lagte, Mr. Kapoor… wo alag hai ki aap batana nahi chahte apne personal life ke baare mein.”
She replied, ending the interview.

Siddharth leaned back in his chair, a slow sexy smirk forming on his lips. His eyes stayed on her a second longer than necessary… clearly interested.

Urvashi noticed that look… and didn’t look away.
“Can I call you Siddharth?”

she asked softly.

“OF COURSE, URVASHI,” he replied, his voice relaxed, almost warm.

“I want to take some pictures of you and your place.”

“OF COURSE… WHY NOT,” Siddharth said, standing up and gesturing around.

“Make yourself comfortable.”
Photography session

They moved toward the lounge where golden lights created a soft, intimate ambience.
Urvashi lifted her camera.

“Just relax… don’t pose too much,” she said.
Siddharth slipped one hand into his pocket and leaned casually against the counter, watching her instead of the camera.
“I’M RELAXED,” he said slowly, his gaze lingering on her face.

“ARE YOU?”🔥

Urvashi smiled faintly but didn’t answer. She clicked a few pictures.

After a moment, she stepped closer. A strand of Siddharth’s hair had fallen over his forehead. She reached up and gently brushed it back.

“Like this… better,”
she murmured.

For a brief moment, their faces were very close. Siddharth didn’t move… didn’t step back either. His eyes dropped to her lips for a fraction of a second before meeting her gaze again.

Urvashi felt the intensity but kept her composure and clicked another picture.

“Turn slightly…”

she said softly.
Siddharth turned as she adjusted his collar. Her fingers brushed lightly against his neck. This time, Siddharth’s hand instinctively came up, lightly holding her wrist for a second—not stopping her, just… feeling the moment.
Their eyes met again. Silence stretched between them, not awkward… just charged.
Urvashi gently pulled her hand back and lowered the camera.

“I must say… you are very photogenic,”

she said, looking at him directly.
Siddharth’s smile deepened.

“AND YOU ARE VERY OBSERVANT,” he replied quietly.
Urvashi tilted her head slightly, a playful expression on her face.

“MR. RIGHT…” 🔥🔥she said teasingly.
Siddharth stepped a little closer, closing the distance between them.

“EXCUSE ME?”

he asked, his voice low, amused.
Urvashi held his gaze confidently.

“YES… MR. RIGHT.”

Siddharth chuckled softly, clearly entertained—and clearly interested.
Urvashi picked up her purse but didn’t leave immediately. She looked at him once more and asked,

“Can we meet soon?”

Siddharth didn’t answer instantly. He studied her for a second, then smiled in that calm, confident way of his.

“I THINK WE SHOULD,” he said.
.

.

.

.

.
HOSPITAL ROOM

Soft white light filled the room. The faint smell of antiseptic lingered in the air.
Shehnaaz slowly opened her eyes, her head still feeling heavy. For a few seconds everything looked blurred… then the ceiling, the IV stand, and finally two familiar faces leaning over her came into focus.

“Shehnaaz… tu theek hai?”

Megha asked softly.

“Pagal ladki… dara diya tune,” Shefali said, folding her arms but her eyes clearly worried.

Shehnaaz blinked slowly.
“Main… hospital mein?”

“Haan madam,” Shefali replied.

“Aur pata hai kaise? Road pe chal rahi thi bina dekhe… aur car se takra gayi.”

Shehnaaz frowned slightly, trying to remember.
Fragments of the previous night flashed in her mind… the bar… drinks… Siddharth… waking up in a strange room… leaving hurriedly… walking aimlessly…
She closed her eyes for a moment.

“Kal raat…” she murmured, embarrassed.
“I drank too much…”

Shefali raised an eyebrow.
“Too much? Tu toh normally juice bhi sip sip karke peeti hai… kya ho gaya tha?”

Shehnaaz looked away, her voice softer.
“Bas… sab yaad aa raha tha… Rohit… job… ghar… sab.”

For a moment, silence filled the room.
Megha gently squeezed her hand.

“Jo ho gaya, ho gaya. Tu safe hai, bas wahi important hai.”

Shehnaaz gave a faint nod.
“Mujhe hospital kaun laya?” she asked.

“Dr. Bakshi,” Megha replied.

“Unki car se takraayi thi tu. Woh khud tujhe yahan laaye.”

“Oh…” Shehnaaz said quietly.
.

.

.
A few minutes later
There was a soft knock on the door.
A tall man in a white coat walked in, calm and confident, stethoscope around his neck.

“GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE WE FEELING NOW?”
he asked in a gentle voice.
Megha stood up.

“Good morning, Doctor.”
Shehnaaz looked at him… and for a moment forgot to blink.
Dr. Ritik Bakshi.

His composed expression, warm eyes, and the quiet authority in his voice made him instantly striking. He wasn’t just good-looking… there was a calm kindness about him that drew attention naturally.

“ANY DIZZINESS?” he asked, checking her pulse.

Shehnaaz realized he was speaking to her.
“N-no…”

she replied softly, still looking at him.
Ritik noticed her staring and gave a polite, reassuring smile.

“YOU FAINTED DUE TO SHOCK AND WEAKNESS. NOTHING SERIOUS… BUT YOU NEED REST.”

“Okay…” she said, almost absent-mindedly.
Megha,

standing nearby, quietly observed everything—the way Shehnaaz was looking at him, the way her voice had softened, the way she suddenly looked shy.
A slow smile appeared on Megha’s face.
Idea.
She thought to herself—
Why not?
Dr. Bakshi is the most eligible bachelor doctor in the city… famous, good-looking, decent… and most importantly, a genuinely good human being.
And this girl… she glanced at Shehnaaz, whenever she chooses someone for herself, she ends up in trouble.
Maybe this time… someone sensible should choose for her.
Megha folded her arms, already planning quietly.
Ritik finished writing a few notes.

“SHE CAN BE DISCHARGED BY EVENING IF SHE FEELS BETTER,” he said to Megha.
“Thank you, Doctor,” Megha replied politely.

Ritik gave one last reassuring look toward Shehnaaz.
“TAKE CARE.”
As he turned and left, Shehnaaz’s eyes unconsciously followed him until the door closed.

Shefali noticed it immediately and smirked.
“Kya baat hai…” she whispered teasingly.

“Doctor sahab pasand aa gaye kya?”

Shehnaaz blinked, startled.
“SHUT UP, SHEFALI!”

But the faint blush on her face gave her away… and Megha, watching quietly, was now more certain than ever that she needed to play cupid.