Light cascaded onto Dua, bathing her in a soft, radiant glow as the crowd erupted into cheers. Draped in a regal Mastani outfit, she exuded elegance and grace, every inch resembling Deepika Padukone's iconic portrayal in 'Bajirao Mastani'. The intricate embroidery of her deep maroon lehenga shimmered in the spotlight, her movements slow, deliberate. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as all eyes were fixed on her. She was more than just a performer—she was the embodiment of passion, defiance, and heartbreak.

The applause grew louder, yet Dua remained still, rooted in place. Her heart pounded beneath the rich fabric, her gaze unwavering as it locked onto Sameer. This was her moment, and she knew she had to seize it. With each step she took down the stairs, her poise never faltered, every move laden with purpose.

As the music began to play, Dua’s lips parted, and her voice filled the hall:

"Nazar jo teri laagi, main deewani ho gayi... 
Deewani haan deewani, deewani ho gayi..."

With a graceful twirl, she started dancing, her eyes never leaving Sameer's. Her movements were fluid yet charged with emotion, every step telling the story of a woman consumed by love, caught in the storm of her own feelings. As she moved, one by one, the background dancers joined her, creating a mesmerizing rhythm. The audience was spellbound, captivated by her energy, her emotion.

"Mashoor mere ishq ki kahani ho gayi... 
Jo jag ne na maani, toh maine bhi thaani... 
Kahan thi main dekho kahan chali aayi..."

With every beat, Dua inched closer to Sameer, her gaze still locked onto his. Sameer, lounging in his chair, one leg casually crossed over the other, grinned at her, a subtle challenge in his eyes. The tension between them was palpable, thick like the air before a storm.

"Kehte hain ye deewani mastani ho gayi... 
Deewani haan deewani, deewani ho gayi..."

She dropped gracefully to her knees before him, her movements fluid, the rich fabric of her outfit fanning out around her. Her dance, once full of energy, slowed, her body swaying gently as she knelt before him. Tears she had fought so hard to keep hidden began to flow freely now, her eyes betraying the depth of her pain as they drifted to Afreen, sitting beside Sameer, a smug smile playing on her lips.

Afreen, ever so confident, caught Dua’s gaze and, without missing a beat, entwined her fingers with Sameer’s. The subtle glint of an engagement ring caught the light, mocking Dua’s every hope. Sameer turned to Afreen, his expression softening as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Dua’s breath hitched, her chest tightening as if the air had been sucked out of the room. Her entire world seemed to crumble before her, yet she remained where she was, frozen in place, her heart shattering into pieces no one could see.

"ANDWAE!!!!" (NO!!!!!!!!) Dua shrieked, the sound ripping through the air, almost tearing the ears of everyone around her.

"NO!!!!" Mehjabeen echoed immediately, copying Dua's tone without hesitation.

Beside her, Shafaq elbowed her sharply in the ribs. Mehjabeen groaned in pain, clutching her side.

"Why are you yelling?" Shafaq asked with an exasperated look.

"Just giving a translation to Yumna," Mehjabeen pouted innocently, "Didn't want her to feel left out."

The room's focus shifted back to Dua, who had taken a seat beside them, looking as though she had just seen a ghost. Sweat dotted her forehead, her eyes wide with shock, as if she'd barely escaped from something terrifying.

Arzoo, sitting closest to her, shook her gently, snapping her back to reality. "Aesa kya dekh liya, Dua?" (What did you see, Dua?) She asked with concern, her voice soft yet probing.

"I just had a nightmare," Dua muttered, her voice trembling with disbelief. "In it, Sameer and Afreen were celebrating their engagement... and I was there, singing and dancing in a Mastani outfit to 'Deewani Mastani' like it was some grand Bollywood scene."

For a full two minutes, the room fell into a stunned silence. Everyone was trying to process what Dua had just said. But then, as the absurdity of her words began to sink in, giggles turned into full-blown laughter. The whole group erupted, their voices filling the room as they clutched their stomachs and wiped tears from their eyes.

Dua, glaring at them all, grabbed a pillow and hurled it at the nearest person. "You're all heartless!" she huffed, but this only made them laugh even harder.

"You’re being dramatic, Dua," Yumna said between fits of laughter, dabbing at the tears that had spilled from her eyes.

"Correction," Mehjabeen chimed in with a grin, "you’re being overly dramatic, Dua!"

"Guys!" Dua exclaimed, her voice rising in exasperation. "Sameer and Afreen are actually dating. This isn’t just some random nightmare! They could get engaged, then married, and then... have kids!" Her voice trailed off, her imagination spiraling as she stared at the group, hoping for a flicker of support.

Shafaq, still smiling, reached over and gently patted Dua on the shoulder. "Calm down, Dua," she said soothingly. "You're getting way ahead of yourself. Just because they're dating doesn’t mean you have to plan their entire future together. Besides, you know better than to jump to conclusions. Focus on what you can control."

Dua let out a deep sigh, sinking back into the couch. She knew Shafaq was right, but it didn’t make the thought of Sameer with Afreen any easier to swallow. The room was quiet again, but this time, the laughter had faded into a more thoughtful silence.

Mehjabeen leaned forward, her playful demeanor softening. "Listen, Dua, you can’t keep torturing yourself over what might happen. If you still have feelings for Sameer, you need to figure out what you want to do about them—whether that’s moving on or having a real conversation with him. You can’t keep living in this limbo of what-ifs."

Yumna nodded in agreement. "And if he does end up with Afreen, you’re going to have to accept that, as hard as it may be. But don’t let your imagination run wild before anything has even happened."

Dua looked around at her friends, their faces filled with concern and understanding. She knew they were right, but that didn’t make her fears any less real. Still, maybe it was time to stop letting her nightmares dictate her reality.

Taking a deep breath, she gave a small nod. "Okay, okay. I’ll try to stop overthinking... for now," she added with a small smile, earning a few chuckles from the group.

"Good," Arzoo said, smiling warmly. "And remember, we’re here for you. No matter what happens."

Dua smiled back, feeling a little lighter. Maybe it was time to face her feelings head-on, instead of letting them haunt her like a bad dream.

“Mere love story shuru hone se pehle hi khatam ho gayi,” Dua said sadly, her voice barely above a whisper. (My love story ended before it even began.) The weight of her words hung heavily in the room, her sorrow palpable.

The silence stretched until Shafaq suddenly straightened, a glint of determination in her eyes. “I think I have a plan,” she declared, her tone confident. Immediately, all eyes were on her, curiosity sparking in the air.

“What plan?” Dua asked, tilting her head, her curiosity piqued despite her melancholy.

“What if… you try to sabotage?” Shafaq suggested, leaning forward as if she was about to reveal the key to solving all of Dua’s problems.

The room fell into a hush of confusion. Frowns creased foreheads, and questioning glances were exchanged.

“What do you mean by sabotage?” Mehjabeen asked, raising an eyebrow.

Shafaq sighed, realizing she needed to elaborate. “What if you try to sabotage their relationship?” she said, her voice steady. "You know, create situations where Sameer and Afreen’s relationship gets strained. Show him what he’s missing out on—or even better, show Afreen’s flaws. Make her seem less perfect.”

Dua stared at her, wide-eyed. "You mean... break them up?"

Shafaq nodded, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "Exactly. Sometimes, you have to fight for what you want, Dua. Why should you sit back and watch them ride off into the sunset together when you know you still have feelings for him?"

Yumna raised a hand as if in class. “Uh, isn’t that... kind of risky? What if it backfires? Or worse, what if Sameer ends up resenting Dua for it?”

Shafaq shrugged, undeterred. "It’s risky, sure, but love is a risk, right? Dua, you can’t just give up without a fight. If you truly believe there’s something between you and Sameer, then maybe it’s worth taking that risk."

Dua sat there, torn. The idea of sabotaging Sameer and Afreen’s relationship seemed so drastic, so underhanded. But then again, wasn’t it also a way to take control of her own destiny? To fight for what she wanted?

"But... what would I even do?" she asked hesitantly, glancing around at her friends.

Shafaq grinned, her excitement building. "Leave that part to us. We’ll come up with something subtle, nothing too obvious. We’ll plant doubts, create misunderstandings. All you have to do is be ready when the opportunity strikes."

Dua bit her lip, her heart racing at the thought. Could she really do something like this? Could she risk everything for the slim chance that Sameer might come back to her?

Arzoo, ever the voice of reason, leaned forward, her expression serious. “Just remember, Dua, whatever you decide to do, make sure it’s something you can live with. Sabotage can be dangerous—both for you and for them. Think carefully before you act.”

Dua nodded slowly, her mind spinning with possibilities. She knew Arzoo was right. She had to think this through. But one thing was clear: she couldn’t just sit back and let her love story fade away without at least trying to rewrite the ending.

“Okay,” she whispered finally, her voice firming with resolve. “I’ll think about it. But if we do this, we need to be smart about it. No one can know.”

The group exchanged glances, a new sense of purpose settling over them. Whether it was the right choice or not, they were in this together, ready to see where this path would lead.

"But I have a question," Yumna said, her curiosity piqued. "What happened between Dua and Sameer that started their animosity?"

A grin spread across Dua’s face. "Well, it was quite an interesting incident."

"I’d say so," Mehjabeen agreed, chuckling at the memory.

"He still holds a grudge about it," Arzoo added, her tone hinting at the lingering tension.

"A classic enemies-to-lovers trope," Shafaq said with a dreamy sigh, adjusting her glasses.

"Come on, are you going to tell us or not?" Yumna urged, her impatience evident as she practically jumped with curiosity.

The other girls exchanged amused glances and bursts of laughter.

"Hua yun ki..." Dua began with a playful smile, her voice taking on a nostalgic tone. (It happened like this...)

She leaned in, ready to share the story that had set the stage for their complicated relationships.

***

So, how was the first chapter???

How many of you are excited to read Dua and Sameer first dramatic hilarious encounter??

DO VOTE & COMMENT!!

Follow my Instagram account for spoilers and more updates (⁠•⁠‿⁠•⁠)