Episode1: Triple-A Certified A**hole

  The invitation hadn’t surprised me. Harpreet throws these gatherings every now and then, and she made it clear this one wasn’t optional. So I showed up.

  The house was buzzing—warm lights, soft music, and conversations that blurred together. Karan was near the kitchen with his wife and son. Harpreet greeted me with a loud “Yash!” and that usual upbeat energy of hers. I nodded, gave a half-smile, and started working the room.

  Most of the faces were familiar. Aanya stood across the room in a black dress that made the air feel warmer, with Kunal by her side. Rishi and his girlfriend Isha were chatting near the balcony. Aarav and Diya sat with Kabir, and both Veers—one average, one tall—stood by the snack table. Simran was there too with her husband Arjun, wrangling their two hyper kids.

  There were new faces as well. Meher, soft-spoken, visiting from Gujarat. Varun, quiet and observant. And Nikhil… clinging a little too close to Meera like a moth to a flame.

  I barely had time to catch up with Aarav when Harpreet’s voice cut across the room:

  “Yash, you’re friends with Rehan, right?”

  The room didn’t fall silent, but it leaned in.

  I raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. Why?”

  “Then maybe you can get your friend to stop harassing Meera.”

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  Eyes shifted. Meera stiffened. Nikhil puffed up beside her like a guard dog.

  I looked at Harpreet. “You’re really doing this here?”

  She crossed her arms. “You’re here. She’s here. You’ve got nothing to hide, right?”

  I glanced at Meera. Her face was unreadable, but her silence spoke volumes.

  I sighed. “Rehan doesn’t take orders, not even from the people he trusts. He’s not someone you ‘talk sense into.’ He does what he wants.”

  “Well, he’s scaring her,” Harpreet snapped. “Showing up at her place. Making threats. Someone has to stop him.”

  “Then call the cops. Or don’t. It won’t matter. He owns half of them.”

  Karan stepped in, trying to soften it. “Come on, man. She’s asking for help.”

  I laughed once, bitterly. “No. She’s asking me to betray the devil and live to talk about it.”

  Meera finally spoke, voice low and clear. “I wouldn’t be asking if I wasn’t desperate.”

  I looked her dead in the eyes. “You sure you want my help?”

  She nodded once.

  “Fine,” I said. “But nothing comes for free.”

  Nikhil stepped toward me. “You’re sick.”

  I turned to him slowly. “Relax. I haven’t asked for anything… yet.”

  Harpreet’s voice was sharp now. “Yash, is this really who you are?”

  I took a long breath and set my drink down on the counter. “Be careful who you ask for help,” I said. “You might not like the cost.”

  I looked at Meera again. Her expression didn’t change. She knew I meant every word.

  “Come see me tomorrow,” I said quietly. “8 p.m. sharp.”

  Nikhil clenched his fists. “What kind of person are you?”

  I smiled with no warmth. “Triple-A certified asshole.”

  Then I turned and walked out. No goodbyes. Just a long hallway and a door that shut behind me like a final warning.

  As soon as it clicked shut, Meera’s phone buzzed.

  It was Rehan.

  He said he wouldn’t be bothering her again.

  But Meera didn’t smile. She didn’t relax.

  Because just before I walked out, I looked her in the eye and said:

  “And Meera… if you don’t show up tomorrow, even Rehan won’t be able to save you from me.”