Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Welcome to the Family Group Chat

Anaya Verma prided herself on three things:

A sharp tongue.

A steady collection of indoor plants she constantly forgot to water.

And an exceptional borderline Olympic-level talent for avoiding drama.

Especially family drama.

At twenty-six, Anaya had mastered the art of dodging awkward wedding setups, ignoring nosy aunties at family functions, and giving exactly zero attention to ex-boyfriends who didn’t deserve it.

Well… except for the fact that one of those ex-boyfriends had been Ishaan Malhotra. The Ishaan Malhotra. Charming, cocky, and the worst decision she’d ever made in the name of love.

They hadn’t spoken in two years.

Not a text, not a call, not even an accidental Instagram like. Complete radio silence.

Which is exactly why the universe decided to play a cruel joke on her that night.

Ping.

“Verma-Khanna Wedding Family 💍✨”

You’ve been added by Simran Verma.

Anaya frowned.

Khanna? Oh. no.

She clicked the notification with rising dread, already bracing for the impact.

Inside the chat:

Simran: “Family! Meet Karan’s side of the family!

Say hi everyone!!! 👋👋👋”

Right. Karan Khanna.

Simran’s sweet new fiancé with dimples, puppy eyes, and—tragically—a cousin who should’ve stayed permanently blocked from her life.

Ishaan Malhotra has joined the chat.

Her heart sank like bad Wi-Fi at a wedding hall.

Ishaan: “Hi.”

Hi? Hi?? That was it? That was all he had to say after ghosting her life, breaking her heart, and walking away without so much as an “it’s not you, it’s me” breakup speech? like a scene from one of those dramatic TV serials her mom watched religiously?

Before Anaya could recover, the family WhatsApp circus began.

Mom: “Anaya dear, say hello nicely! Don’t be rude.”

Simran: “Omg 😂 This is about to get wild.”

No kidding, Simran.

Wild was being locked in a digital cage with your ex while your entire family hovered like vultures waiting for a Bollywood reunion scene.

Anaya took a deep breath, cracked her knuckles, and typed exactly one word.

Anaya: “Hello.”

Polite. Cold. Emotionally Dead inside. Just how she liked it.

But Ishaan?

Oh no. He wasn’t going to stop at polite. That wasn’t his style.

Ishaan: “Small world, huh?”

Of course.

Of course he had to smirk through the text. She could practically hear his voice, dripping with amusement, irritatingly attractive.

And then came the real horror.

Mom: “Now that we’re all family, we should meet soon! Anaya, dear, send a nice selfie to the group!”

Kill. Her. Now.

As she sat there debating whether to throw her phone into the washing machine or just run away to the mountains, a private notification popped up.

Ishaan (Private Chat):

“Don’t worry. I’ll behave. Unless you start first.” 😏

Her jaw locked. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.

Oh, it was on.

One sarcastic reply,

and this polite family chat was going to turn into World War WhatsApp.

And frankly?

She was ready for it.

Let the games begin.

_____________________________________

Bye bye lovelies. 👋 See you in the next Chapter to know what happens in Anaya’s life.

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