Forcibly Yours

"No targets, because you never delivered. 

So, just sit back and enjoy the ride!"

AUTHOR'S POV

"I'm gone. I'm finished," Dheer muttered, pacing slowly in circles like his brain had hit shutdown mode. The tension in the room was thick. Ishaan wasn't any better—he had already flung his blazer aside and was pacing like a caged tiger.

Kiaan, on the other hand, was stretched out comfortably on the couch, watching the chaos unfold like it was his evening entertainment.

"Why did you tell her I punched you?" Ishaan snapped, running a hand through his already disheveled hair.

Dheer stopped, his face tight with irritation. "Because you did punch me. And I'd clearly said—not the face. But no, you were overflowing with testosterone."

"You could've lied, yaar!" Ishaan said through clenched teeth. Despite the cold air outside, sweat had started forming on his forehead.

"I... I couldn't," Dheer replied quietly. "Didn't feel right."

Ishaan turned sharply toward Kiaan and jabbed a finger in the air. "This is all his fault. He said, 'Come, we'll get a makeup artist. They'll handle everything.'"

Kiaan sat up straight, palms raised. "Arre! I didn't ask you to move your jaw like a news anchor. The bruise was covered fine. You're the one who kept smiling like you were on a toothpaste ad."

"Smiling?" Ishaan narrowed his eyes. " You think that was a smile? I was warning you. That guy was staring at me from head to toe. Like I was some limited-edition offer and he had the last coupon."

"Why would any guy hit on you unless—" Kiaan started but trailed off, his eyes suddenly widening as he turned to face Ishaan. "Don't tell me..."

Ishaan gave him a long, exhausted look and nodded slowly.

Kiaan clutched his stomach, trying not to laugh out loud. "Bhai, you were one candle away from a therapy session."

Before Ishaan could answer, Dheer let out a heavy sigh and slumped into a chair. "Enough. Just shut up, both of you. She's going to ask again. And I'm not lying the next time. You didn't see the look in her eyes... It was terrifying."

There was a pause. The kind where everyone knew things were about to go downhill, but no one had a backup plan.