Off the Record

Aviranya's POV

As they stepped out of the café, the cool night air wrapped around them, crisp and clean. The streets weren't too busy, the distant sound of waves crashing adding a lazy rhythm to the night. Shubman glanced at Avi as she pulled her jacket tighter around herself.

"Main drop kar deta hoon," he said casually, like it wasn't up for debate.

Avi snorted. "Main cab le lungi, Gill. Chill."

"Tujhe main itna helpless lagta hoon jo main ek ride bhi offer nahi kar sakta?" He gave her an unimpressed look. "Main chauffeur nahi bol raha hoon, bas drop karne ki baat kar raha hoon."

Avi narrowed her eyes. "Main independent aur capable hoon. Mujhe kisi ki zaroorat nahi."

Shubman smirked. "Haan, woh toh dikh hi raha hai."

She rolled her eyes. "You make it sound like I'm a damsel in distress."

"Bilkul nahi," he said smoothly. "But refusing a free ride just to prove a point? Ab yeh toh thoda zyada dramatic ho gaya."

Avi opened her mouth to argue but realized she was just being stubborn for no reason. And it was late. And maybe, just maybe, she didn't mind the company.

"Fine," she huffed. "Par sirf isliye kyunki mujhe argument jeetne se zyada jaldi ghar pahunchna zaroori lag raha hai."

Shubman grinned. "Jo bhi teri ego ko soothe kare."

She sighed dramatically and led the way to where his car was parked—a sleek black SUV, polished to perfection. Typical. She had a feeling he was one of those guys who took their car washes a little too seriously.

Sliding into the passenger seat, she clicked in her seatbelt as he started the engine. "Alright, bata kaha jaana hai?"

"I'm not staying at a hotel," she said.

Shubman gave her a look. "Toh? Bata na."

Shubman's POV 

Instead of an address, she gave him directions. He followed them without question, the drive smooth, the city lights flickering past as they drove toward the coast. The more turns they took, the fewer the buildings became. The busy streets gave way to quieter roads, and soon, the view opened up to reveal the ocean stretching endlessly, moonlight shimmering over the water.

Shubman glanced at her. "Ye kis taraf le ja rahi hai tu?"

"Patience, Gill," she said, a small smirk playing on her lips.

A few more minutes, and they pulled up to a gated driveway that led to one of the most stunning beach houses Shubman had ever seen.

He slowed the car, taking it all in—the soft glow of warm lights against glass walls, the way the structure seamlessly blended into the coastline, modern but not overwhelming. It looked straight out of a magazine, the kind of place people paid absurd amounts to vacation in.

"Yeh... damn," he muttered, still staring. "This is a pretty beautiful place." He turned to her. "Airbnb ya kuch?"

Avi unbuckled her seatbelt, stretching lazily. "Technically, haan," she said casually. "Lekin yeh meri property hai."

Shubman blinked.

For a second, he didn't even process what she had just said. "Tera matlab hai ki—yeh tera hai?"

She nodded, amused at his reaction. "Mera."

Shubman let out a short laugh, still a little stunned. "Matlab tu yahan stay kar rahi hai because it's yours?"