Mumbai—a city where dreams come alive. For Sriya, this was her reality. Born and raised in the bustling streets of Mumbai, she had always aspired to become an actress in her own right, without relying on the fame of her family name.

Her dream came true when she landed a small role in a TV serial after passing a grueling audition. But the path to success was far from easy. Battling the industry's harsh realities, Sriya emerged as one of the most sought-after actresses in Bollywood. In an industry where connections often hold more weight than talent or money, Sriya had worked tirelessly to forge her own alliances.

Her life was a whirlwind—days spent in the vanity room, nights lost in the same mirror. But recently, she had taken a step back from her demanding career, opting for some much-needed time to herself.

Tonight, she was sprawled on her couch, lost in a Netflix crime thriller. She had always been a fan of crime dramas, and in a rare moment of leisure, she couldn't help but fantasize about one day starring in a gripping thriller herself.

Ding dong.

The doorbell rang, breaking her concentration. With a sigh, she reluctantly rose from the couch and made her way to the door.

Alisha, her manager, was standing on the other side, her finger lifting to ring the bell again. When the door opened, she stormed inside, muttering curses under her breath.

Sriya raised an eyebrow, confused. "What happened? Why are you so..." She trailed off, struggling to find the right word. "...annoyed?"

Alisha shot her an exasperated look. "What would you even understand? The netizens are going crazy, assuming something's wrong with you because you've been so quiet lately!"

Sriya chuckled. "Oh, they’re concerned? That’s sweet," she teased.

"Concerned?" Alisha retorted, her voice thick with sarcasm. "They’re saying all sorts of nasty things. Look at this."

She handed Sriya her iPad, which displayed a flood of comments speculating about her absence.

"She's probably not getting any offers since she's getting old," one comment read. Sriya laughed. "Cliché."

"Or maybe she’s gotten married?" another one suggested. "Oh, how I wish," Sriya muttered under her breath.

"And maybe she’s pregnant? Taking a break so no one sees her belly?"

"What the—" Sriya stared at the screen, utterly shocked.

"She isn’t married, though. Whose baby could it be?" another comment followed. The rumors were endless.

"I’m pregnant? I didn’t know." Sriya lifted her shirt and glanced at her stomach in the mirror. "It’s still flat. When will the belly start showing?"

Just as she said this, a pillow flew at her face.

Sriya burst into laughter, which only made Alisha more frustrated. "This isn't funny, Sriya!" she groaned, getting up from the sofa. "The company has decided you’ll attend the premiere of Ishaan's movie tomorrow to put an end to these rumors."

"Do I have a choice?" Sriya asked, throwing herself back onto the couch.

"No!" Alisha snapped, exasperated. "The company has already chosen your outfit. Just show up on time."

"You're acting like I’m the one driving myself!" Sriya shot back sarcastically.

Alisha facepalmed. "Just don’t be late. You’ll need time to get your makeup done."

As the moon rose, Sriya lay in bed, her mind swirling with thoughts of the premiere event. Ishaan was her boyfriend—something not many knew, especially the public. They had kept their relationship a secret because Ishaan, still a relatively unknown actor, didn’t want anyone to think he was using her for connections.

But Sriya had always tried to help him behind the scenes, using her network to get him roles, though he had no idea. She believed it was better that way, never revealing the extent of her efforts.

With a sigh, Sriya reached for her phone and dialed Ishaan’s number. After a few rings, he picked up, sounding out of breath.

"Hey!" he greeted.

"Why do you sound so tired?" she asked, concerned.

"I—uh, I was working out. You know, running tires me out easily," he replied, attempting to sound casual.

Sriya frowned. "You should take it easy, you know. Have a few rest days."

Ishaan scoffed. "I can’t, Sri. You know that. Anyway, why did you call?"

"Why? Were you busy?" she asked, a slight edge in her voice.

"Kind of," he responded. "I’m reading through my speech for tomorrow. I’ll see you at the premiere, okay?" He quickly ended the call.

Sriya stared at her phone, frustration bubbling inside her. Ever since Ishaan landed his first lead role, he had been caught up in work, and their communication had reducedd to mere fragments. She prided herself on being a communicator, but Ishaan was a man of few words, and now, even simple conversations felt like a stretch.

Shrugging it off, she placed the phone on her nightstand, hoping tomorrow would be better, though she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was off.

The premiere of Junoon was one of the most anticipated events in the Bollywood industry. Produced by a renowned producer, it was a night that would undoubtedly make headlines. The venue was the Leela Palace, an extravagant hotel known for its luxury and exclusivity.

The red carpet was rolled out, and cameras were poised to capture every glamorous moment.

The first to arrive were the director, the producer, and his daughter, Heer—a celebrated music artist in her own right. One by one, the cast members followed, stepping onto the red carpet with grace and poise.

The press conference was scheduled for later, so the reporters focused their questions on the guests. When Sriya walked the carpet, the reporters wasted no time.

"Why haven’t we seen you at public events lately? Are the rumors true? " one asked.

Sriya remained calm and composed. "There’s no truth to the rumors. I’m not pregnant, nor have I stopped getting offers. I’ve just decided to take a short break. Thank you."

She walked past them, eager to escape the overwhelming attention. But her beauty—magnificent in a red dress—drew eyes like a magnet. As she entered the venue, the spotlight shifted entirely onto her.

Ishaan, despite his own charm and good looks, couldn't help but wonder how such a successful woman like Sriya had fallen for him. He quickly averted his gaze, aware of the many cameras watching them.

The screening began, and soon, the photo session followed. Ishaan posed for pictures with the cast, his mind elsewhere, still trying to process what had just happened.

When the press conference began, the cast was met with a barrage of questions. But one question aimed directly at Heer stunned everyone.

"Ms. Sharma, there have been rumors about you and Ishaan dating. Can you confirm this?"

Heer smiled, glancing toward Ishaan, and with a giggle, she announced, "Yes, the rumors are true. We’ve been dating for six months."

Sriya’s heart dropped. She had known nothing of this. The words hit her like a ton of bricks. She felt blindsided, betrayed. For a moment, everything around her felt like a dream—a nightmare she couldn’t escape.

Ishaan, noticing her stunned silence, averted his eyes, guilt washing over him. The reality of the situation was clear, and he could feel the weight of Sriya’s gaze, even without looking at her.

Despite the betrayal, Sriya masked her emotions. She clapped politely, her smile tight and unconvincing, as the cameras flashed.

In the shadows, a man in a well-tailored suit watched the events unfold. He had no personal interest in the premiere but had invested in the film. However, his attention was fixated on the beauty in red—Sriya. His eyes, without even a notice had followed her around. He had also not failed to notice her clenched fists when the relationship announcement was made.

"This is going to be fun," he mused, a smirk playing on his lips.

After the event ended, Sriya chose not to stay for the after-party. She made up an excuse and left, her driver, Suresh, picking her up.

"Take me to my apartment, Kaka," she instructed.

"Of course, Madam," he replied, his voice filled with concern.

Raghav, her loyal bodyguard, sat in the front seat, his worry evident. "Boss, if you want me to, I can break his legs. Heer won’t want to date a cripple, right? Then you can have him."

Sriya’s eyes narrowed. "Raghav, don’t be ridiculous. I can’t lose a good bodyguard to jail."

Suresh, overhearing the conversation, chuckled softly. "Madam, don’t let Ishaan bother you. Just think of him as a nobody."

Sriya smiled faintly. "I’ll keep that in mind, Kaka," she said, before stepping out of the car.

Raghav followed her, offering one last piece of advice. "If you need anything, Madam, just say the word. I'll take care of it."

But Sriya was resolute. "Goodnight, Raghav. Rest well."

As the car drove off, Raghav asked, "why would he even cheat on a successful woman like madam ?"

Suresh spoke thoughtfully. "There’s no one in this world who doesn’t want better things, Raghav. The mistake lies in how you go about getting them."

Raghav sighed. "He failed as a man."

Suresh nodded in agreement. "He surely did."