Chapter 9: The Cracks in the Porcelain
[System Notification: New Sub-Quest Triggered — 'The Golden Girl's Shadow']
I fumbled through the darkness, my palms sliding against the cold marble walls of the corridor. "Ananya? I'm coming!"
I burst into the small side-room. In the flickering light of my phone's torch, I didn't find the poised, London-returned CEO. I found a girl curled into a ball on the floor, her face buried in her knees.
She wasn't just scared of the dark. She was shaking. Violent, silent sobs racked her frame, the kind that come from a heart that has been holding too much for too long.
"Ananya?" I dropped to my knees beside her, my irritation from the 'interruption' vanishing instantly. "Hey, it's okay. The power will be back in a minute. Ishaan is finding the—"
"I can't go back, Meera," she choked out, her voice raw. She looked up, and in the harsh white light of the torch, she looked haunted. "If I go back to that life, I'm going to break. Everyone thinks I'm the 'Gold Medalist,' but I'm just... I'm just empty."
The Secret Buried in London
I sat on the floor, ignoring the dust on my silk dress. "What happened in London, Ananya? Truly."
She hugged her shins tighter. "I lost the promotion. Not because I wasn't good, but because I had a panic attack during the final board presentation. I couldn't breathe, Meera. I stared at the screen and the numbers turned into static. I walked out and never went back. I've been living on my savings for months, pretending to go to work, just so I wouldn't have to tell my mother I failed."
My heart sank. All those years I had spent envying her, hating her perfection, while she was suffocating under the weight of it.
"You're not a failure," I said softly, reaching out to rub her shoulder. "You're just human. Even gold medals get scratched."
Ananya wiped her eyes, looking at me with a strange expression. "You're being nice to me. Why? I've been such a brat to you since I got back."
"Because," I sighed, "I know what it's like to feel like you're not enough. But hey, at least your clothes are better than mine."
Ananya let out a watery laugh. "True. That 'vintage' shirt from yesterday was a crime against humanity."
The Shadow at the Door
"Glad to see the patient is recovering," a voice boomed from the doorway.
Ishaan was standing there, holding two heavy-duty camping lanterns that bathed the room in a warm, amber glow. He looked between us—Meera on the floor, Ananya disheveled—and his gaze lingered on me for a second too long.
There was a question in his eyes. Are you okay? Did we... did that moment on the bed just happen?
"Ananya had a bit of a scare," I said, standing up and dusting off my skirt. I gave her a pointed look. Your secret is safe with me.
"The generator is kicked in, but the AC is out for the night," Ishaan said, stepping into the room. He handed a water bottle to Ananya. "You should sleep. Meera and I will... be next door if you need anything."
Ananya looked at Ishaan, then at me. A flicker of her old, sharp self returned to her eyes. She noticed the way Ishaan's hand was practically twitching to reach for mine.
"Actually," Ananya said, her voice regaining its "Golden Girl" silkiness. "I don't think I can stay here alone. The 'servant's quarters' vibe is giving me the creeps. Meera, can you stay with me?"
Ishaan froze.
I froze.
[System Notification: Relationship Status Update — Ishaan's Frustration: MAX Level]
"I... uh..." I looked at Ishaan. He looked like he wanted to scream.
"Great! It's a girls' night!" Ananya chirped, pulling me toward the bed. "Goodnight, Ishaan. Don't let the 'load-bearing walls' keep you up."
Ishaan stood in the doorway, the lantern in his hand casting long, lonely shadows. He looked at me, one last desperate plea in his eyes, before he gave a slow, defeated nod.
"Goodnight, Meera," he said, his voice dropping into that raspy tone again. "See you in your dreams. Since that's the only place I can get a word in lately."
[Author's Corner]
SHE COCKBLOCKED HIM! 😱 Did Ananya do it because she's scared, or is she playing a deeper game to keep them apart? And can we talk about Ishaan's "See you in your dreams" line?! 🫦