Running around the party hall, an angry Noor held her gown above her ankles, desperately trying to find Shubman. As she entered the hall, every head turned, and breaths were held in awe. "What a beauty," whispered the men in the room, their eyes following her trail, while even the women couldn't help but admire her.

Her magenta gown shimmered under the dim lights, casting a mesmerizing glow that captivated everyone in the room. Noor, unaware of the eyes on her, focused on one thing only—finding Shubman. Her eyes turned red with frustration as she spotted her best friend casually sipping a drink at the counter. Determined, she moved forward, letting the gown flow behind her like a royal train, the fabric catching the light and reflecting a kaleidoscope of colours. Her presence was magnetic, and her beauty was undeniable, yet all she could see was Shubman.

She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him to a secluded corner, leaving a trail of disappointed sighs from the single men in the room. "Lucky man, lucky man," they murmured, raising their glasses and jutting out their lower lips in envy.

Noor pushed Shubman into the wall, her arm pressing against his chest in anger. Her eyes blazed with intensity, demanding answers. Meanwhile, Shubman, unfazed, casually took a sip of his drink, a hint of satisfaction in his expression. His plan had worked, and he couldn't hide the smirk that played on his lips, knowing he had successfully gotten her attention.

Noor, wearing heels that elevated her to eye level with Shubman, leaned in closer, her voice a low, angry whisper. "What's your problem? Can't keep your stupidity to yourself?" She seethed through her teeth, her frustration was evident as she glared at him, demanding an explanation for his actions.

Noor crumpled his perfectly ironed collar, her voice low and seething. "How dare you threaten Lucky, saying you'd give him the same treatment you give a cricket ball?"

Shubman just chuckled, unfazed by her anger. "I was just giving him a friendly warning. Wouldn't want him to forget his place, right?" He met her eyes with a smug grin, clearly relishing her reaction.

Noor warned, "Shubman, I swear if you do that again, I'm going to make sure—"

"Noori, make sure what?" Shubman taunted, leaning in closer, his breath hot against her lips. His smug grin made Noor fumble for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "Make sure you regret it," she said, her voice steady and firm.

"Make me regret it for threatening a school bully?" Shubman said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "

Noor sighed, her face scrunching in annoyance. "He has changed, Shubman. And right now, you're turning into what Lucky used to be."

Shubman's expression shifted, the humour fading as he heard the frustration in her voice. He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms, but the smugness in his eyes remained. "That's a bit harsh, don't you think?" he replied.

"It's true, though," Noor insisted, her voice firm. "You can't just threaten people because you don't like them. That's not who you are—or at least not who you used to be."

“Why do you want to be friends with him? I don’t get it,” Shubman said, flailing his hands as he took another sip, trying to calm his rising agitation.

Noor licked her lips, knowing the next words she was about to say weren't entirely true. Even Lucky was aware of how much she loved Shubman, and though there was no real romantic interest on Lucky's part, he had suggested the idea, curious to see if it would provoke a reaction.

"Because I want to see if it turns into something more or not," Noor said, her voice steady despite the lie. She glanced at Shubman, hoping her words would stir something in him.

And it did. Shubman's eyes burned with a fierce intensity, but his voice remained low and controlled as he responded. "Is that what you want, Noor? To see if there's something more?"

Noor nodded confidently, though internally she was anxious about how he would react. Her heart raced as she faced the anger simmering in Shubman's eyes, knowing that an angry yet calm Shubman was a force to be reckoned with.

Shubman pulled Noor closer by her waist, his voice a low, urgent murmur. "You're not going to date him. Don't forget, he's Pammi Aunty's son. That woman is toxic, and you know it."

Noor met his gaze, her eyes steady. "You're dating Ghazal, despite everything that's been said. I'll do the same, no matter what's been said."

Shubman's breath grew heavy as he muttered, "Not that again, Noor. Not again. I've said it before and I'll say it again—it will be denied. It's destiny."

Noor grabbed his collar and jerked him forward, her voice trembling with tiredness. "Why are you always in denial? Is loving me so hard? Those images weren't just random—they were your memories. Please, stop denying it. I'm begging you."

Shubman's voice was low and shaky as he muttered, "Noor, I don't feel anything for you. Please, understand."

Noor, feeling exhausted, rested her forehead against his chest, taking deep breaths to steady herself. After a moment, she lifted her face to look directly at him. "I don't care what Ghazal thinks," she said firmly. "But after this kiss, if you still don't feel anything, then neither you will enter my life again, nor will I be a part of yours."

Noor stood there, leaning forward with her lips trembling slightly. Shubman just stared at her, breathing heavily, his tongue poking at his cheek in nervous anticipation. Noor touched his forehead with a gentle kiss, then brushed her lips against his softly a few times. Finally, she captured his lips in a full kiss.

Shubman stood frozen for a few seconds, overwhelmed by the sudden intimacy. Slowly, he began to respond, his lips moving against hers, as he felt the intensity of the moment.

As Shubman kissed Noor, his mind was bombarded with a whirlwind of blurred images, each one fleeting and filled with the same warmth Noor radiated. The rapid succession of these images overwhelmed him, creating a sense of intense anxiety.

Unable to process the flood of emotions and memories, he pulled Noor closer, deepening the kiss. His hands found their way to her lower back, caressing her gently as if to ground himself in the tangible reality of her presence amidst the chaos in his mind.

Noor, breathless and with her eyes closed, gradually pulled away from the kiss. She opened her eyes slowly, taking in the air and steadying herself. As she looked at Shubman, she saw him already gazing back at her.

Waiting for his response, Noor felt a mix of hope and fear. Shubman, his voice trembling, finally spoke, "My girlfriend must be waiting. I... I should go." His words came out haltingly, a mix of cowardice and confusion.

As Shubman hurried away, he left Noor alone in the empty hallway. He wiped his sweat, trying to steady his breath as he spotted his girlfriend talking with a few guests at the party. He approached her, wrapping his arm around her waist and planting a kiss on her cheek. She smiled and turned to him, seemingly unfazed by his extended absence.

His thoughts were interrupted by the announcement over the speakers: only a few minutes remained until the New Year, and the winner of the evening's awards would soon be revealed. Excitement buzzed through the room, and everyone stood with hopeful anticipation, eager to hear the results.

The room buzzed with anticipation as the announcer took the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's been a tough decision for our judges tonight. We had two exceptional contestants, each bringing something unique to the table. But, as always, there can be only one winner."

The crowd leaned in, the tension palpable. "And now, as the clock strikes midnight, we are thrilled to announce the winner of this year's competition. The winner is..." The announcer paused for dramatic effect. "Ghazal Raichandani!"

Ghazal's eyes lit up with joy as she turned to Shubman. Without hesitation, she pulled him into a passionate kiss. Shubman caught off guard, and awkwardly kissed back, his mind racing. As they separated, Ghazal hugged him tightly, her excitement evident.

"You're my lucky charm!" she exclaimed, her voice full of happiness.

As Ghazal hugged Shubman and saw Noor standing behind the crowd, her expression remained unmoved. She smirked, taking in the scene with a sense of satisfaction. She had seen Shubman and Noor's intimate moment in the hallway earlier and felt no qualms about it. To her, the situation was a win as long as Shubman was in her arms.

"I always win," Ghazal mouthed.

Noor turned away from the crowd, a single tear tracing her cheek as she realized that, in this fairy tale, there would be no prince to chase after her, only the echo of her solitude in the midnight hour.