Chapter 1 – His Rules, Her Heart -

[Present – Law Firm, Mumbai]

The click of heels echoed against the marble floor. Anaya Sharma adjusted her blazer, trying to calm her racing heart.

Anaya: (whispering to herself) It’s just another senior advocate… just another case… right?

A deep, clipped voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

Vihaan: “You’re late.”

She looked up, straight into those familiar dark eyes — eyes that hadn’t changed in five years.

Anaya: “Two minutes past nine. That’s hardly late.”

Vihaan: (cold) “In court, two minutes can cost you the case. Or your client.”

Her lips twitched into a smile, even though his tone was pure steel.

Anaya: “Still quoting the rulebook, Senior?”

Vihaan: (raising an eyebrow) “Always. That’s why I win.”

---

[Flashback – 5 years ago, College Law Library]

Anaya sat at the far end of the library, buried in constitutional law notes. A shadow fell over her desk.

Vihaan: “That’s the wrong section.”

Anaya: (startled) “Excuse me?”

Vihaan: “Article 21 is about the right to life, not equality. You’re mixing them.”

Anaya: (narrowing her eyes) “I wasn’t mixing them. I was… cross-referencing.”

Vihaan: (smirking) “Sure. Just don’t quote the wrong thing during moot court. Judges love tearing apart mistakes.”

He started to walk away. She hesitated, then called after him.

Anaya: “Senior Rajput?”

Vihaan: (turning slightly) “Yes?”

Anaya: “Thank you. I guess.”

He didn’t reply, just gave her the smallest nod and walked out. She didn’t know why her chest felt lighter after that.

---

[Back to Present – Conference Room]

Vihaan: “Sit. We’re discussing the Mehra case. You’re assisting me.”

Anaya: “Direct orders. No ‘please’ or ‘good morning’? You’ve gotten ruder.”

Vihaan: “You’ve gotten slower.”

She bit back a retort. He was still the same — precise, intimidating, unreadable.

Anaya: “What’s the case about?”

Vihaan: “Corporate fraud. High stakes. High pressure. You’ll shadow me, prepare the briefs, and speak only when necessary.”

Anaya: (smiling faintly) “Your rules.”

Vihaan: “Exactly.”

---

[Anaya’s POV]

She watched him explain the case, his voice calm, controlled. She remembered sitting in the last row of his courtroom skills workshop in college, stealing glances at the way he spoke — confident, unshakable.

He hadn’t changed, except… maybe there was something heavier in his gaze now. Like life had given him more battles than victories.

---

[Flashback – College Moot Court Competition]

Judge: “Defence, you have two minutes left.”

Anaya was fumbling with her notes when Vihaan, her team’s senior, leaned over.

Vihaan: (low voice) “Breathe. Look at them, not your paper. You’ll lose them otherwise.”

Anaya: “I can’t—”

Vihaan: “Yes, you can. Start with the evidence on page five.”

She did. And when the round ended, they’d won.

Anaya: “Thanks… for not letting me embarrass myself.”

Vihaan: “You were never going to embarrass yourself. You just didn’t know it yet.”

She had never forgotten that line.

---

[Present – Vihaan’s POV]

He watched her jot down notes. She still had that sharp focus, that fire in her eyes. He remembered the girl who stayed back after lectures, who worked twice as hard because she didn’t want anyone’s pity for being ‘too soft’ in law school.

Vihaan: (thinking) She’s still the same. Sunshine wrapped in discipline.

Vihaan: “Stop scribbling. Listen. In court, the most important skill is not writing, but watching.”

Anaya: “Yes, Senior.”

Vihaan: “And don’t call me Senior. We’re not in college.”

Anaya: “Then what should I call you? Sir? Mr. Rajput?”

Vihaan: (dryly) “Just Vihaan will do.”

Anaya: “Hmm. That feels… wrong.”

Vihaan: “Get used to it.”

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