Chapter 247: The Venue

*** Kamani Auditorium, Central Delhi , 10:15 AM ***

The black BMW came to a slow halt before the entrance of the sprawling commercial complex.

A long queue of luxury cars stretched toward the main gate, each vehicle stopping for security checks before being allowed inside. Uniformed guards stood beside metal barricades while plainclothes personnel examined invitations and verified the identities of arriving guests.

From the driver’s seat, Kuldeep glanced at the rearview mirror.

"Young master, we’ve arrived."

Rohit looked through the windshield, his brows drawing together as he studied the enormous banner hanging above the entrance.

[ASHA FOUNDATION

An Annual Cultural Gala for a Better Tomorrow.]

The poster featured a lineup of celebrated performers, prominent industrialists, and familiar faces from the entertainment industry. According to the promotional material, the event was a cultural festival organized to raise funds for charitable initiatives.

A respectable cause. A respectable venue.

And, judging by the number of luxury cars waiting outside, an excellent excuse for Delhi’s elite to gather under one roof.

Rohit leaned back against the seat, studying the arrangements.

The security was unusually thorough for a charity event. Every vehicle was being screened, every guest’s invitation verified. The media presence was restricted to a designated area, while the private entrances were guarded by another layer of security.

He had attended enough business gatherings in both his past and present lives to recognize the pattern.

The public would see a cultural festival and a room full of generous donors. The people inside would see something else entirely.

An opportunity to exchange favors, discuss investments, settle disputes, and perhaps finalize a few deals away from prying eyes.

Not that the charity itself was necessarily a sham. In circles like these, genuine philanthropy and private interests often occupied the same room.

The BMW inched forward.

Rohit glanced to his side.

Aisha was still asleep, holding his hand. Considering how exhausted she was after their intimate morning together, it wasn’t particularly surprising.

He couldn’t blame her. The previous few hours had left her thoroughly exhausted, and she had barely managed to keep her eyes open during the drive.

Rohit brushed a stray lock of hair away from her cheek and tapped her forehead twice.

"Wake up . We’re here."

Aisha stirred, then tightened her grip on his hand.

"Mmm... five more minutes."

"We’re at the entrance."

"Then tell them to wait."

Rohit stared at her, then casually squeezed her right breast over her clothes with a soft, almost absent-minded press, making sure the movement stayed hidden from Kuldeep’s view.

She opened one eye, gave him an annoyed look, and promptly closed it again.

"Don’t do that. I’m tired," she muttered in a low voice.

"You’ve been sleeping for half the journey," Rohit replied.

"Exactly. And apparently, it wasn’t enough. You were too rough."

He shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"Should I carry you inside?"

That finally got her attention.

Aisha opened both eyes and looked at him suspiciously.

"You dare?"

"Of course. I’d be happy to explain to everyone why I’m carrying a grown woman into a charity gala."

She pinched his arm.

"You’re such a shameless bastard. The reason I’m like this is because of you."

Rohit chuckled, knowing full well that he had arranged things so that she would have to lean on him whenever they rode together, allowing him to feel her closeness without making it obvious. However, that was in the past. Now, she was more interested in exploiting the arrangement, using him as a pillow while she rested without a care in the world. The real shameless one was her.

"Keep sleeping. I’ll be back." He reached for the door handle.

Aisha immediately tightened her grip on his hand.

"Wait!"

Rohit paused, turning to her with a thoroughly satisfied smile.

"Changed your mind?"

She glared at him before reluctantly sitting upright and smoothing her clothes.

"You’re enjoying this way too much."

She gave him one last irritated look before taking out her pocket mirror.

Aisha was dressed in a beautiful frock paired with black stockings, her purse resting beside her. She checked her hair, straightened her outfit, and carefully examined her face.

Artwork.

Rohit watched her for a moment.

"Are you planning to attend the event or inspect the mirror?"

"Some of us care about how we look in public."

"You’re welcome to inspect yourself for another hour. I’ll go ahead."

"Rohit!"

He laughed and finally stepped out of the car.

Unlike Aisha, Rohit had made little effort to dress formally. He wore a branded shirt and jeans, deliberately avoiding the suit he had worn at their previous gathering.

He wanted to keep a low profile

Unfortunately, judging by the vehicles and the guests entering the venue, there was little chance of blending into the crowd. If anything, he was more likely to feel out of place and attract even more attention. It had been a complete misjudgment on his part, but since he was already here, he might as well make the best of it.

Kuldeep stepped out and moved around the car, opening the rear door for them.

Aisha emerged, adjusted her purse, and looked up at the building.

"So this is where Naina is performing?"

"Apparently."

"You really haven’t told me much about her."

"There’s not much to tell. She’s a friend."

Aisha narrowed her eyes.

"Just a friend?"

Rohit glanced at her.

"Would you prefer that I introduce her as my future wife?"

"Don’t be ridiculous. You and wife? What a joke."

"Then stop interrogating me."

She huffed and followed him toward the entrance.

The first checkpoint was crowded with guests waiting to have their invitations verified. Rohit opened the digital pass Naina had sent him and presented it to the security personnel.

The guard scanned the invitation.

His expression changed.

He checked the screen again before looking up at Rohit.

"Mr. Singhania?"

Rohit nodded.

The guard immediately straightened.

"Please wait a moment, sir."

He spoke briefly into his earpiece, then stepped aside and gestured toward a separate corridor.

"Please follow me. We have a special arrangement."

Rohit exchanged a glance with Aisha before following the guard.

Aisha followed a short distance behind, with Kuldeep accompanying them.

She felt a little nervous. She knew very little about the event and had no idea who Naina was beyond the fact that Rohit was there to meet her. Curiosity had been the main reason she had insisted on coming along.

As they passed through the corridors, staff members hurried back and forth, preparing for the performances.

Eventually, the security guard stopped before a room that appeared to be a backstage dressing area.

They finally stopped before a door marked with a backstage access sign.

The guard knocked and spoke briefly to someone inside before opening it.

Beyond the door was a spacious dressing room filled with the familiar chaos of a live performance.

Makeup artists moved between mirrors. Assistants checked costumes and equipment. A stylist adjusted the hem of a long gown while another staff member reviewed a schedule on a tablet.

And in the middle of it all sat Naina Chambani.

She was almost ready for her performance, dressed in an elegant floor-length gown decorated with delicate floral patterns. The soft colors complemented her complexion, while her hair had been arranged in a graceful style that framed her face.

She was listening to a makeup artist when the guard approached her.

"Young miss, Mr. Singhania has arrived."

Naina turned.

Artwork.

"Rohit!"

She rose from her chair, then caught herself when the stylist hurriedly reminded her about the gown.

"Careful, ma’am."

Naina laughed and waved the staff away.

"Everyone, give us a moment, please."

The makeup artists exchanged glances before gathering their equipment. Within seconds, the room began to empty.

Rohit, meanwhile, had gone unusually quiet.

He had expected Naina to look attractive. He hadn’t expected her to look quite so stunning.

For a brief moment, he simply stared.

Naina noticed.

Her smile grew more uncertain as a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

"What?" she asked.

Rohit blinked.

Aisha, understanding what was happening, broke Rohit’s stupor.

"Hi. I’m his cousin."

She extended her hand toward Naina.

The gesture surprised Naina. Given her status, people their age usually treated her with a certain degree of formality, if not avoided her altogether. Aisha’s casual friendliness felt refreshingly genuine, and Naina’s impression of her immediately improved.

She smiled.

"Nice to meet you," Naina replied, accepting her hand. "I’m Naina."

"I know. I’ve heard about you."

Naina glanced at Rohit still looking at her, little flustered.

"Have you?"

"Not nearly enough," Aisha replied, earning a quiet groan from Rohit.

Naina laughed.

Rohit coughed lightly, feeling a little embarrassed by his earlier reaction.

He eventually extended his hand toward Naina as well, breaking the ice.

"Hi. You’re looking quite stunning for the event. How come you didn’t think of inviting me earlier?"

Naina smiled at his remark.

The awkwardness quickly dissolved, and the three began chatting in a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere.

Naina even took out her iPhone and showed Rohit the playlist she had prepared for her performance.

Their interaction continued peacefully, with the conversation flowing naturally.

However, outside the room, a pair of eyes watched Rohit with murderous intent.

Standing diagonally across the corridor, at the intersection of two passageways, were three young people.

They had initially been waiting for Naina Chambani to finish preparing so they could approach her and present their proposal.

But now, this young man had casually entered her dressing room and begun interacting with the very person they had come to meet.