Chapter 1 — Dreams Aren't Meant for Girls Like Me....
"Stop dancing!"
The sharp voice shattered the music playing in Sanchi's room.
She froze instantly.
A second ago, her body was moving freely with the rhythm, her eyes glowing with happiness. Dancing was the only thing that made her feel alive.
But now…
Fear replaced everything.
Her mother stood at the door, breathing heavily with anger.
"How many times have I told you to stay away from this madness?" she snapped. "If your father finds out you're dancing again, do you even know what will happen?"
At the mention of her father, the color drained from Sanchi's face.
Her fingers slowly tightened around the edge of her dupatta.
"I was just practicing…" she whispered weakly.
"Practicing?" her mother laughed bitterly. "Dance won't feed this family, Sanchi. Dreams are a luxury people like us cannot afford."
Those words stabbed straight into her heart.
Because deep down…
Sanchi knew they were right.
She belonged to a middle-class family drowning in responsibilities. Her father wanted stability. Her mother wanted peace. And her elder brother, Om, worked day and night just to support the house.
In a family struggling to survive…
A girl dreaming of opening her own dance academy sounded ridiculous.
Her mother left the room after giving her one last warning.
"Forget this dream before it destroys your life."
The silence that followed felt suffocating.
Sanchi looked at her reflection in the mirror.
Tears burned her eyes.
"Why does loving dance feel like a crime?" she whispered to herself.
Unable to stay inside anymore, she quietly walked out of the house.
The cool evening wind brushed against her face as she reached the small garden near her colony.
And just like always…
Mahi was waiting for her there.
The moment Mahi saw her swollen eyes, her expression softened.
"Again?"
Sanchi sat beside her silently before finally breaking down.
"I'm tired, Mahi," she choked out. "No matter how hard I try, no one understands me."
Mahi held her hand gently.
"You should talk to your parents again."
Sanchi let out a weak laugh.
"I've tried a thousand times." Her voice cracked. "But every single time, they remind me that girls like me don't get to chase dreams."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then suddenly, Mahi smiled.
"Fine. Forget all that for now. I actually have good news."
Sanchi frowned slightly. "What news?"
"You remember the company I told you about?" Mahi asked excitedly. "The one owned by Kabir Raichand?"
Sanchi nodded slowly.
"Well…" Mahi grinned proudly. "There was a vacancy there, and I recommended your name."
Sanchi's eyes widened.
"And guess what?" Mahi almost squealed. "You got selected!"
For a second, Sanchi stopped breathing.
"What?"
"You start tomorrow."
The words echoed in her mind again and again.
Tomorrow.
A new beginning.
A new world.
Maybe… the first step toward her dream.
Tears filled her eyes, but this time they carried happiness instead of pain.
"You have no idea how much this means to me," she whispered.
Mahi smiled warmly. "This is only the beginning, Sanchi."
But neither of them noticed the black luxury car parked across the road.
Inside the car, a man sat silently in the shadows.
Cold eyes.
Sharp jawline.
Dangerously calm.
His gaze remained fixed on Sanchi the entire time.
"Sir," the driver spoke carefully, "should we leave?"
The man didn't answer immediately.
Instead, his lips slowly curved into a faint smile.
"Find out who she is."
The driver looked surprised. "That girl?"
"Yes."
His dark eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Sanchi laugh through her tears.
For the first time in years…
Kabir Raichand felt interested in someone.
And obsession always begins with interest.
— End Of Chapter 1 —
Stay tuned...