Midnight in Lucknow.

The whole Shukla haveli was snoring like a railway station— dadi's snores here, chacha's mumbling in his sleep there.

The whole Shukla haveli was sleeping— except for one criminal.

Not some thief from outside.

Not some gangster.

Dhvani Shukla aka Vani— daughter of the biggest political family background of Uttar Pradesh... She was not sleeping. 

Oh no. She was busy doing what no Shukla has ever done.

Chori.

Yes, madam was stealing her own freedom.

Wearing jeans with a short kurti, wrapped in one big shawl like she was some undercover spy, and those shiny jooties that made her feel like Kareena from Jab We Met. The only problem? The payal around her ankle. Chan chan chan.

"Arey wah, hume is waqt bhi fashion karna hai?" she whispered angrily, holding it still. "Abhi koi pakad lega toh headline banegi— 'MP ki hi beti apni hi haveli se bhaagi, pakdi gayi woh bhi payal ki awaaz se.' Papa's reputation is gonna skyrocket very soon, and all the credit goes to his very own daughter."

("Oh wow, do we have to do fashion even at this hour?"...... If someone catches me now, it'll make the headlines— 'The MP's own daughter ran away from her own haveli, and got caught too, all because of the sound of her anklet')

She tiptoed across the corridor, silently, like some CID officer. But of course, drama loves her, so it followed her. 

In the verandah, her two darlings— one Great Dane the size of a horse, and her cutie patootie husky who thought he was a Bollywood hero—  sat up. Tails wagging. Eyes sparkling. Ready to bark the whole haveli awake.

Vani threw her hands dramatically.

"Ek aawaz nikali toh tum dono ki shaadi karwa dungi gali ke kuttiya se. Samjhe?"

("If you make a sound, I'll get you both married off to the street dogs. Got it?")

The dogs tilted their heads. The husky even sneezed, like he was laughing at her.

"Shhh!" she hissed, pressing a finger to her lips. "Tumhari Vani vacations pe jaari hai– aur khabardar kisi ko bataya toh! Hum jaldi vapas aa jayenge."

("Your Vani is going on vacation— and beware, if you tell anyone! I'll be back soon.")

"Ok? Bye, I'll miss my Tunnu-Munnu" She waved a flying kiss at them and moved ahead while the dogs watched her.

But just as she crossed the corridor, her stomach growled louder than her dadi's snores.

"Wah kya kismat hai, ghar se bhaag rahi hoon aur ye khana maang raha hai?" she scolded her own tummy. "Chalo kitchen... Pehle pait pooja, fir kaam dooja."

("Wow, what luck! I'm running away from home, and this is asking for food?")

She sneaked inside the massive kitchen. It was dark, but she was familiar with every corner... She opened the steel dabba and pulled out a roti. Then scooped some bhindi ki sabzi from the handi. And with expert speed, she rolled it up like a proper wrap.

"Bas, five-star restaurant ko competition mil gaya. Dhvani Shukla ka midnight roll." She took a big bite, nodding proudly. "Ab bhaag, Vaani, warna aaj tum bhindi ke saath pakdi jaogi."

("Well, the five-star restaurant finally got some competition: Dhvani Shukla's midnight roll.".... "Now run, Vaani, or today you'll get caught with the okra.")

Mouth still full, she slipped past the courtyard. And just then— cough cough cough.

Dadi.

Vani froze, eyes wide, roti halfway to her mouth. She stared at the old woman's shadow on the wall, praying she wouldn't wake up.

"Dadi, raat ke 12 baje bhi aapka cough India ke alarm clock se kam nahi hai," she whispered sarcastically. "Ek din toh ISRO wale aapka cough sunke rocket launch kar denge."

("Grandma, even at 12 at night, your cough is no less than India's alarm clock.".... "One day, the ISRO guys will hear your cough and launch a rocket.")

She bit her lower lip, still chewing on her food and tiptoed faster.

She placed one careful foot on the stairs, holding her breath as if even the air might complain. Each step groaned like it had taken an oath to expose her.

Her heart was thumping loudly, but nothing could stop her today... She was on a mission.

She was challenged— and no one can underestimate, Vani.

Halfway down, she spotted a bodyguard leaning against a pillar. He suddenly sneezed loudly.

Vani's heart jumped straight into her mouth. She threw herself behind another pillar like she was in some Bollywood action scene. Hands on her knees, she mouthed, "Poore desh ko murge ne nahi, inhone uthana hai!"

She peeked out slowly. The guard rubbed his chest, yawned, and looked away.

Safe.

I guess..?

But just as she moved ahead, her shawl snagged on a rose bush.

"What's wrong with everyone? Don't they want me to get successful in my plan? Roz main tumhe paani deti hoon, aur tum hi hume giraane par tul gaye ho?" she hissed, glaring at the rose bush, jerking it free. The thorns scratched the fabric like they were clapping for her struggle.

("Every day I give you water, and you're the one trying to knock me down?")

She sprinted across the courtyard, shawl flying behind her like a cape. At the side gate, one guard yawned so loud that Vani almost yawned back.

"Ye mujhe bhaagne bhi nahi denge chain se," she muttered in frustration, tiptoeing past.

("They won't even let me run away in peace.")

"Chalo Vani, jaldi karo, isse pehle ki koi uth jaye aur humari astiya ganga ji mein visarjit kar de," she whispered to herself.

("Come on, Vani, hurry up before someone wakes up and immerses my existence in the Ganga.")

And then— she climbed the wall like a pro– like it was nothing new, she sneaks out of her haveli daily... or maybe she does.

Vani jumped out, heart racing, grin spreading.

When her feet touched the road, a wide smile formed on her face. She has finally escaped.

Finally, she sighed in relief.

Freedom.

Escaping like a full-on chorni in the middle of the night from her own house.

Crazy right? Not for Vani. She has done a lot crazier stuff.

And Lucknow? Lucknow had absolutely no idea what chaos had just been unleashed.

Because the Chaos has just stepped out...

Just to meet her two-days-old situationship.

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So, are you ready for the new journey?

Desi Enemies to Lovers in the town!!!!!!

Now give our new couple a name...

Please show you love and engage it... I don't want to get demotivated in the start itself

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