The proposal

Suddenly, the sharp, loud sound of the front doorbell shattered the quiet of the house.

They both jumped, breaking apart. It was nearly eleven at night. Nobody visited a private, gated society this late without calling first.

Priya frowned, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Who on earth?"

She climbed off the bed, smoothing down her wrinkled trousers. Arjun stayed sitting, clutching the pallu of his saree tightly around his padded chest. He felt incredibly exposed and vulnerable.

"Stay here," Priya said, walking out of the bedroom and down the long hallway toward the front door.

Arjun strained his ears. He heard the heavy click of the lock, the creak of the front door opening.

"Vikram?" Priya's voice echoed up the stairs. She didn't sound just shocked. She sounded deeply disgusted and instantly defensive.

Arjun's blood ran cold. The name hit him like a physical blow to the stomach.

Vikram.

Vikram was Arjun's old roommate from their business school days, and Priya's batchmate. He was now a venture capitalist, extremely wealthy, and incredibly arrogant. He was also a very large, strong man, and completely, openly gay.

Both Arjun and Priya hated him with a burning passion. Back in college, long before Priya knew anything, Vikram had returned to their dorm room early one afternoon. He had caught Arjun secretly trying on a woman's lace top. But instead of mocking him or telling the whole college, Vikram had reacted with a terrifying, hungry obsession. He had relentlessly stalked Arjun for the rest of the year. He would corner him in hallways, demanding that Arjun date him, demanding that Arjun be his "girl." It had terrified Arjun so deeply that he shoved his feminine feelings into a dark box, forcing himself to act like a tough, aggressive, traditional man just to get Vikram to back off. Priya knew the whole dark history. She despised the man for how much fear he had caused Arjun.

"Priya. Forgive the late visit," Vikram's deep, smooth voice rumbled from the entryway. "I was in the neighborhood visiting a major client. I saw your lights were still on."

"It's late, Vikram. We told you to stay out of our lives ten years ago," Priya snapped, her voice hard as steel, trying to block the doorway.

"I know. But my investment firm planned the buyout of your parent company today, Priya. I saw the restructuring plans. I saw your name on the layoff list. I wanted to come check on you personally."

There was a pause. Arjun could hear the soft sound of expensive leather shoes stepping onto the marble floor. Vikram had simply pushed his way past her.

"This is a beautiful home, Priya," Vikram noted, his voice carrying up the stairs, completely ignoring her anger. "Must carry a massive home loan. Where is Arjun?"

"He is asleep," Priya lied quickly, panic creeping into her voice. "Get out of my house."

"Don't lie to me, Priya. I have something to discuss with both of you. It is highly urgent."

"Vikram, leave. Now."

"I am here to offer you a lifeline," Vikram said. His tone changed, dropping into a serious, commanding voice that filled the whole house. "You just lost your job. And as for Arjun's day-trading... well, panicking retail traders leave a very obvious paper trail with the brokers. I know exactly who to ask in this city. I know you are facing total bankruptcy by the end of the month. Call him down. Now."

Arjun squeezed his eyes shut. Vikram knew everything. He had completely cornered them.