The room was in total chaos.

Steamers hissed, heels clicked, fabrics rustled, and voices overlapped in a frenzy of last-minute coordination. The energy was electric, buzzing with adrenaline and nerves, it was the night of the grand Bridal Fest.

Everywhere one looked, there was motion. Students zipped past, arms full of safety pins, sequins, and hair sprays. The designs were ready, months of sketching, stitching, and sleepless nights had led to this moment. Now, each masterpiece was being brought to life, worn by handpicked models who'd become temporary muses of couture dreams.

Aria stood near the edge of the stage, frowning in concentration as she checked the final run of the soundtrack. Her fingers hovered over the control tablet, syncing music beats to the models' pace. Just behind the curtains, Ruhi moved like a director on a mission, pointing at the models, adjusting drapes, and giving quick instructions:

"Highlight the dupatta fall when you turn. Hold the poise. And smile, please, it's a bridal fest, not a funeral."

In a quiet corner, Prisha was putting the finishing touches on the makeup of the last model, a girl in a pastel peach lehenga. With her brush tucked behind her ear and kajal in hand, she had her own kind of artistry, painting confidence onto nervous faces.

Aria finally walked over, satisfied. "Alright, sound check's done. Everything's in place. Ruhi, your turn now. You're the Indian bride, remember?"

Ruhi glanced up, her hands still fixing a model's dupatta. "Yes, yes, I'm coming. Just a few more-"

"No. Now." Aria grinned, grabbing her arm.

"That's right," Prisha chimed in, walking over with her makeup kit still in hand. "And first, drink something at least, please! You've not eaten a bite since morning."

Ruhi shook her head with a soft smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I told you guys, it's Maha Shivratri today. I'm fasting."

Prisha rolled her eyes. "God can handle your fast even with a juice break, Ruhi."

But Aria was already dragging her to the chair, laughing, "Let's just get our bride ready before she disappears into more chaos."

The guests had started arriving. Known faces from Milan's design houses, recruiters from prestigious fashion brands, and industry veterans were filing into the venue, their eyes curious and sharp, looking for the next big name in fashion.

And Ruhi, Ruhi was about to walk out as a vision.

They dressed her in the maroon bridal lehenga she had designed herself, rich with golden embroidery, traditional yet modern in its structure. The fabric shimmered under the lights even before she took the stage. With every pleat in place, the dupatta framed around her shoulders like royalty's cape, and her hair adorned with subtle gold pins, Ruhi looked like the reigning queen of the evening.

There was a moment of silence in the room when she finally stood ready.

Even the noise bowed down to her.

The air was thick with grease, rust, and secrets.

Mirage stood silent in the shadowed corner of the abandoned garage, an old Trussardi-owned warehouse on the outskirts of Milan, long dismissed as unused. But inside, behind locked steel doors and under fading paint, the place pulsed with something darker.

Metal containers lined the space in rigid rows, some marked innocently with textile codes, others unmarked, ominous. Crates stacked high reached the cracked roof, and the faint hum of a cooling unit murmured in the background. These were no ordinary shipments, Mirage knew it. This was one of the veins feeding poison into the world.

He adjusted the mic-chip inside his collar, voice steady and low.

"Vortex, everything's clear."

A pause.

Then, the faint static buzzed to life in his ear.

"Not yet." Vortex's voice replied, clipped, calculated. Mirage didn't move.

He stayed tucked in the shadows, eyes scanning, heart beating with calm intensity. Every breath he took was deliberate. Every sound every creak of metal, every drip of a leaking pipe was analyzed. This was the moment before the storm. The silence before distraction became destruction.

It was their time to shine.

The lights dimmed slightly, a single spotlight illuminated the edge of the ramp, and the opening music rose soft, romantic, modern. The Western Bridal Walk had begun.

Eva was the first to step onto the ramp, poised and graceful in a sleek ivory gown, her veil flowing like a whisper behind her. The thematic music throbbed through the air as she walked confidently, leading a line of models in contemporary bridal couture flowing satins, pearl-studded bodices, high-slit gowns with sculpted veils. Each design whispered elegance and edge.

Aria stood backstage, her eyes sharp, fingers clutching the show script as she kept track of the cues. Her lips moved silently, counting beats, eyes flicking from lights to fabric to faces.

Down below, in the audience pit, Prisha had no such restraint. She was whistling, clapping, cheering like a proud mother at a school play. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, heart swelling for her friends, for this moment they had worked so hard to reach.

Then the music shifted and the air changed.

The transition was smooth but powerful, tabla beats layered under cinematic strings. The spotlight shifted to the side wings as the Indian Bridal Segment began.

One by one, the models stepped out in lehengas and sarees each a bold statement of colour, texture, and tradition. Jewel-toned blues, regal greens, fiery oranges, and soft golds, every entry brought a new wave of applause.

The crowd had seen white, now they were witnessing royalty. Rich zardosi, delicate gota work, mirror embellishments, each design told a story of heritage reimagined.

And then-

The music slowed, the stage dimmed and only the central aisle was lit as a slow instrumental version of a traditional Indian bridal tune began to play, each beat like a sacred drum echoing in the soul.

Ruhi stepped out.

The Show Stopper.

Wearing the maroon lehenga she had poured her dreams into, embroidered in gold, layered with meaning she walked like a queen returned to her throne. Every movement was synchronized with the rhythm, her posture regal and her gaze steady.

The crowd went still. No claps, no cheers, not yet. Just awe.

People couldn't blink, couldn't breathe. Their hands froze midway in applause as they watched her float down the runway, not as a student, not even as a model, but as something ethereal, larger than life.

And when she reached the end of the ramp and turned chin lifted, eyes fierce, her silhouette framed like a living portrait of bridal grace, the silence shattered.

The hall erupted in applause, hooting, cheers, whistles, wave after wave crashing into the air. Cameras flashed, guests stood. Some even wiped their eyes, it was that mesmerizing, that unreal.

It wasn't just a walk. It was a moment.

And Ruhi owned it.

"All clear," Vortex's voice came through the comms, cool and unhurried.

Mirage pressed a finger to his earpiece, crouched low behind rusted barrels near the back entrance.

"Echo, ready?" he asked.

"Always," came the soft voice of Echo calm, analytical, watching it all unfold from a remote surveillance hub.

Mirage didn't wait.

"I'm going in."

He slipped through the side, soundless in movement but sharpened like a blade. Inside, the warehouse's inner sanctum throbbed with muted conversation. Dim lights flickered over crates and old machines repurposed for new, illicit trades.

And at the center of it, Yug stood, speaking with his men, his posture relaxed but his eyes alert, surrounded by eight armed men. They were discussing routes, shipments, and clean identities like businessmen planning a luxury merger. "But make no mistake one wrong foot, and this place would be a warzone."

Mirage inched forward, finding a narrow window slit between rusted beams.

And then, Crunch. A single dry leaf cracked under his foot outside the window. It was small, barely audible. But not here, not with those men in the room.

Yug's voice cut through the air like a blade. "There's someone listening to us."

A second's silence, then chaos. Mirage didn't wait for the bullet.

He bolted fluid, silent, fast. But just enough shadow caught in the warehouse's flickering light, just enough movement to leave a ghost behind.

Yug stepped forward sharply, eyes narrowing.

"Catch him. Marco, Morris you two flank the sides!" he barked, pointing with swift precision. "Everyone split. Surround and capture. I want him alive."

The men dispersed like a pack of trained wolves.

And Mirage?

He was already moving through the maze of containers fast, but not reckless. This was the plan. Create the noise. Draw the eyes. Feed the storm.

Because this was Operation Distraction. And the real fire was still hidden in the smoke.

The event had ended in thunderous applause. Group by group, students were called out and praised for their work. For Ruhi and her team, it was more than praise, it was opportunity knocking loud and clear. Recruiters from top fashion houses handed them business cards with promising smiles, offering internships and placements once their final year wrapped. They accepted each card with polite gratitude, still high on the adrenaline of the show.

As the crowd thinned out and everyone headed toward the grand dinner spread, laughter echoing in the corridor, Ruhi suddenly realized something.

"Where's Prisha?" she mumbled, eyes scanning the area.

She looked around, hoping to spot her friend's loud personality in the crowd, but nothing. Her calls went unanswered. Her messages undelivered.

Still in her bridal lehenga, Ruhi walked quickly through the venue. Her jewelry clinked softly with each hurried step. The concern in her chest was growing heavier by the second.

A little distance from the main event hall, she saw Ethan chatting with his friends near the courtyard fountain.

"Ethan!" she called, breath catching up.

He turned. "Hey, Ruhi. Amazing walk tonight."

"Thanks... Have you seen Prisha? I've been trying to reach her, her phone's switched off."

"Yeah," he said, thinking. "I saw her heading toward the old greenhouse lane, outside the east campus wall. Seemed in a hurry."

Ruhi frowned. The old greenhouse? At this hour?

"That was... over an hour ago," Ethan added casually, "She should've been back by now, right?"

Ruhi didn't wait. Her instincts kicked in, and none of the thoughts rushing through her mind were good. Without telling anyone else, she hurried out through the east side gates, her lehenga dragging behind her, glittering under faint street lights.

The lane Ethan mentioned led to the abandoned greenhouse compound. Once used for plant research, it had been shut for years. Its rusted gate stood half open. A single yellow bulb flickered at the entrance, casting a sickly light on the overgrown path ahead.

Ruhi's steps slowed. Her heartbeat roared in her ears.

Still, she moved forward.

A few paces in, she saw them, four boys sitting on motorbikes, laughing and talking loudly under the darkness.

She was about to turn back when she recognized one of them.

She froze. "Daniel?"

The boys turned. His smile curled.

"Finally," he drawled. "Took you long enough, Ruhi. You don't really care about your friend, huh? An hour late?"

Her eyes narrowed. "What are you saying? And have you seen Prisha?"

Daniel tilted his head. "Why the hurry? Relax. She's fine. Yes, we know where she is."

"Where?" Ruhi demanded.

He smirked. "Inside the campus."

"What? But Ethan-"

"Oh, Ethan sent you?" he laughed. "Maybe... because we were waiting for you."

Her breath caught and confusion morphed into dread.

"What are you saying?" she asked, backing away, her voice shaky.

Daniel stepped closer, mock innocence dripping from his tone. "You know, Ruhi... denying me in front of everyone? That was pretty bold. But I'm not that cruel. I won't embarrass you in front of the whole college."

He turned, gesturing toward his friends. "Just in front of them."

They all laughed.

"What do you mean?" Ruhi asked, not wanting to believe the thoughts coming into her mind.

"Oh! You still don't understand? How innocent....no worries, we'll have fun ruining your innocence, you know.." Daniel added, stepping forward in her direction. "Oh, how sexy you would look under me....and you guys," he looked towards his friends, "You gonna get a premium show tonight..."

"We want hands-on practical too", one of his friends added, and they all started laughing again.

Ruhi's skin turned cold, her mind screamed, her vision blurred her breath became shallow. She turned to run, but froze.

One of the boys was already at the gate, arms folded, grinning with sick delight.

"Don't be stupid," Daniel said, walking toward her like a predator. "You're not getting out of this. Tonight's gonna be long. After I'm done, I'll let the others enjoy too. After all... being my friend should feel like a treat, right?"

Ruhi's breath shallowed, her entire body shaking. Think Ruhi. THINK!

Just then, she saw it.

A broken piece of wall on her left. Without another second's hesitation, she bolted toward it.

Daniel shouted, the boys surged after her. Her heavy lehenga slowed her, but panic gave her wings. She squeezed through the crumbling gap in the wall, cutting her arm slightly on the jagged edge.

She hit the open road and luck, for once, was on her side.

A truck was starting up a few meters away, its back open, engine coughing to life.

She ran, heart pounding, chest heaving and climbed onto the truck from behind just as it began to move. The boys came screeching out of the alley a few seconds later, shouting.

They saw her and they ran back to get their bikes.

The chase had begun.

But Ruhi wasn't going to stop now. Not tonight.

The truck jolted to a stop, its horn blaring into the evening air. Up ahead, a large crowd was moving in one direction, blocking the road. The driver cursed under his breath, trying to navigate the turn.

Ruhi peeked from behind the crates. A crowd. A way out.

Without a second thought, she leapt off the truck, her heavy bridal lehenga catching the dust, and slipped into the stream of people. She kept her head low, breath shallow, heart racing. She didn't know where this crowd was going, but anything was safer than where she'd come from.

As she walked, her fear began to slowly dissolve into confusion. People were smiling, carrying offerings, dressed in bright traditional clothes. The road was lit with flickering diyas, fairy lights, and fragrant marigold garlands strung across trees and poles.

She looked up and her eyes widened.

A temple. Her Shivji's temple.

On foreign soil, bathed in golden light, stood the familiar silhouette of a shivling beneath an arched marble dome. Devotees were singing bhajans, clapping hands in rhythm. The sight of the temple filled her with unexpected comfort. She felt like a lost child returning home. With tears in her eyes and a smile on her lips, she lifted her lehenga slightly and ran barefoot up the stairs.

The temple courtyard was glowing like a dream. Dozens of mandaps were set up under the open sky, each one beautifully adorned with flowers and colours. People were laughing, crying, celebrating.

She blinked. Is there a wedding? No...

Then she understood.

A samuhik vivaah. A mass wedding, organized for couples who couldn't afford one on their own.

She was still soaking in the surreal beauty when a firm hand suddenly grabbed hers.

Startled, she turned.

"Why are you standing here?" said an elderly woman in a bright orange saree, smiling warmly. "Only one couple is left. Everyone's waiting! Come fast!"

Before Ruhi could explain or resist, the woman took her bridal dupatta and draped it over her head like a veil. "Beautiful bride," she murmured, adjusting the edge.

Ruhi's mouth opened to protest, but froze mid-breath. Across the temple steps, she saw Daniel.

He was scanning the crowd, jaw clenched, eyes sharp. His friends weren't far behind. Her heart dropped into her stomach. He's here. Fear returned like a punch to the chest.

She swallowed hard, and without a word, let the woman pull her deeper into the wedding crowd.

They reached one of the smaller mandaps set in a quiet corner. The woman made Ruhi sit gently on the mat. "Where's your groom?" she asked.

Ruhi blinked, unable to speak. She shook her head faintly, eyes darting in panic.

Before the woman could press further, another volunteer called out cheerfully, "He's here!"

She turned and saw a tall man being brought forward.

He wore an ivory sherwani, a red and gold dupatta across his chest, and his face was half-covered by a traditional sehra, a groom's veil of flowers.

Without waiting, they seated him beside her. Ruhi looked at him, stunned, frozen in time.

The crowd around them clapped. The priest began chanting the mantras, and Ruhi sat there, trembling, her heart pounding louder than the damru in the background.

She didn't know who he was.

But right now...

He was the only thing between her and a nightmare.

"Prisha, where were you?" Aria asked, clearly tired and frustrated from searching for her friends for so long. "And where's Ruhi? I'm so exhausted looking for you both. Your phone was switched off, and Ruhi isn't picking hers."

"Don't even ask, Aruu. I got locked inside the washroom," Prisha replied, rubbing her forehead.

"What? Why would you go without telling us, you pagal!" Aria scolded, her irritation slipping out.

Prisha laughed, hearing "pagal" from Aria, who had learned that word from her, made her chuckle. Now it was being used on her.

"Arey, I didn't go alone. I went with one of Ethan's friends. She needed to use the washroom and didn't want to go alone, so I tagged along. But while I was inside, she got some urgent call and left after informing me. Before I could step out, some foolish aurat locked the entire washroom!"

Aria found it a little odd, but didn't press the issue. Right now, her concern was Ruhi.

"So Ruhi's not with you?" she asked.

"Nope. Why?" Prisha frowned.

"I've been looking for her everywhere even checked our hostel twice, called everyone who might be with her. Nothing."

Prisha's expression changed immediately.

"Okay, okay, don't panic. Her phone's ringing, right?"

"Yeah, the call goes through," Aria nodded.

"Good. I have her location shared with me," Prisha said, her fingers already twitching to get the phone.

"Waah, thank God! Open it fast," Aria urged.

"Let me get my phone from Ethan. He borrowed it for a while, he'd lost his own," Prisha said, heading off with Aria close behind.

They spotted Ethan a little ahead, on the phone, looking tense. His voice carried over the noise around them.

"What do you mean she ran off?!"

"Ethan?" Prisha called out.

He froze. Slowly, he turned to see her, sweat beading on his forehead.

"P-Prisha? You're here?" he stammered, quickly ending the call.

Prisha raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Everything okay?"

"Yes, yes, baby. I'm fine," he said, trying too hard to sound casual.

"You found your phone?" she asked, noticing it in his hand.

"Ah, yeah. Turns out I left it in the car," he said, pulling her phone from his pocket and handing it back. "Thanks," he added hastily.

Prisha took it and tried to power it on. "Why is it off? Is it dead? But I charged it in the evening..." she murmured, confused.

"I don't know, it just got switched off by itself," Ethan said with a shrug.

But as soon as Prisha powered it on, the screen lit up, fully charged. Her brows furrowed.

"Strange..."

"Pri, let's go. We need to find her," Aria interrupted, urgency in her tone.

Before Prisha could respond, Ethan butted in.

"Find who?" He knew, but he had to confirm.

"Ruhi, we can't find her. I'm checking her location, she shares it with me," Prisha explained.

Ethan stiffened, panic flickered in his eyes.

"Oh... so wh-where is she?" he asked, dabbing sweat from his forehead. Aria noticed, but said nothing.

"Got it," Prisha said, looking up from her screen. "She's at some... temple?... not far, let's go."

She turned, then paused. "Ethan, can you help us with your car?"

Ethan hesitated. "Actually... one of my friends just took it. Just now. Right before you came. Ugh, I can't even help you guys, sorry, man!" he said dramatically, shaking his head.

"No worries, we'll manage," Prisha replied curtly, turning away with Aria.

Out on the road, they flagged down a taxi.

[Meanwhile, a message buzzes in a secret chat]

DUFFERS SHE AT THE TEMPLE FIND HER ASAP, HER FRIENDS R HEADING THERE TOO.
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