The night was already shaping up to be a bit of a mess, but honestly, I didn't care.
"Arjun, are you sure about that outfit? You look like you're here to give a keynote speech, not hit the club," Vikram laughed, tugging at the collar of my shirt. "Come on, man, this is supposed to be fun, not a business meeting."
"I'm fashion-forward, you guys just don't get it," I shot back, adjusting my blazer like I was walking down a runway. "It's a vibe."
Ravi, always the drama king, added, "Fashion-forward? You look like a lost CEO trying to find the bathroom at a rave." They all burst out laughing, but I didn't mind. I was here for a good time, even if it meant enduring their endless teasing.
We entered the club, the usual chaos of flashing lights, loud music, and people swarming the dance floor. Honestly, I wasn't the biggest fan of the club scene, but hey, it's what the guys wanted, so I rolled with it.
"I'll grab the drinks, you weirdos go show the world your best moves," I said, heading to the bar. Vikram was already trying to talk the DJ into playing something "avant-garde," while Ravi was attempting to explain to some guy why he couldn't dance unless it was a "soulful experience." Classic Ravi.
But then, as I reached for a drink, something in the air changed. A subtle shift, almost like the world itself paused for a moment. I turned around, and there she was.
The whole room was filled with people dressed in black, some looking sharp, others trying a bit too hard. But then she walked in. She stood out.
She was wearing a deep, blood-red gown. The kind of red that made her glow under the club lights, while everyone else seemed to fade into the background. It wasn't just the color, it was how she carried herself—like she was on a different plane of existence altogether. The slit in her dress was daring but graceful, revealing just enough of her leg, making it impossible not to notice her. She moved with effortless confidence, like she was the only one who truly knew how to be in this place.
I couldn't tell you why, but there was something about her. She wasn't the most beautiful woman in the room, but there was an allure about her that made her impossible to ignore.
And then I caught her eyes. Dark green. So deep and rich, like an ancient forest you could get lost in. The second our gazes met, it was like everything else blurred out of focus. It wasn't just the typical kind of attraction. It was something… different. Almost as if I was looking at someone I was meant to know.
"Arjun, you alive over there?" Ravi's voice broke through, but I didn't want to tear my eyes away from her. She wasn't just another pretty face. There was something almost… familiar about her.
"Yeah, just thinking," I mumbled, shaking myself out of the trance. "Maybe I've been wasting my time on the wrong things."
"You're staring like you're about to solve a mystery, dude. Go talk to her!" Ravi nudged me, his eyes darting between me and the girl.
I didn't know her name, didn't know anything about her, but something inside me was telling me that this wasn't just another fleeting encounter. This was different.
"I'll figure it out," I muttered more to myself than to anyone else.
And as I turned back to face her once more, I knew—there was no turning back.