It felt as though the ground had been ripped from beneath my feet, and I was seized by the terrifying urge to disappear into the depths of the earth.My father stood at a distance, his eyes blazing with unmistakable fury. His gaze was fixed directly on us. Hriday Sir and I,standing far too close for what should have merely been a professional bond between a student and her teacher.

He was gritting his teeth in barely contained fury,infuriated and felt like too small a word to capture the intensity radiating from him. In his hand, he clutched a crumpled form,most likely the college semester admission form I had mentioned today during breakfast, then completely forgotten about. I hadn’t expected him to show up at the college. He was already furious over the dinner at Agnivanshi Palace, and now, seeing me standing this close to the heir of the Agnivanshi family.This wasn’t just unfortunate. It was a disaster waiting to unfold.