Ryaan Junaid Khan sat on the edge of the wide marble balcony, legs dangling over the side as he stared down at the house next door. His hands toyed with the half-lit cigarette between his fingers — not because he smoked, but because he liked the way it felt. Like rebellion. Like control.

The girl had arrived an hour ago.

He had seen her step out of Syed Raza’s car — small frame, wild hair, and baggy clothes that looked three sizes too big. She carried a single suitcase in one hand, the other stuffed in her hoodie pocket like she owned the world.

Weird.

But interesting.

Ryaan narrowed his eyes.

He wasn’t the kind of boy who paid attention to anyone for long. At 16, he had already learned that people were predictable. Too easy to figure out. And once he did, they bored him.

He was the Ryaan Junaid Khan.

The only son of Junaid Khan, one of the richest and most powerful men in the country.

Intelligent. Sarcastic. Arrogant.

And everyone’s favorite.

But this new girl…

Something about her made him pause.

And he hated that.

---

The Khan Family

Inside the massive living room, the Khan family gathered for lunch.

Ryaan’s mother, Aaliyah Khan, was all elegance and warmth. A woman with a soft heart and a sharp tongue when needed. She ruled the house with kindness and rarely raised her voice.

His father, Junaid Khan, was the opposite — cold, ruthless, and the kind of man whose name alone could silence a room. A businessman who never took no for an answer. But at home, he was different. Quiet. Reserved. Not exactly loving, but protective in his own way.

Their house was the kind that people whispered about.

And their family… well, they were untouchable.

---

“I Heard We Have a New Neighbor.”

Aaliyah set down her cup of tea, her eyes sparkling with interest.

"I spoke to Syed Sahab earlier. His granddaughter has come to live with him."

"Granddaughter?" Junaid looked up from his newspaper.

"Zara Qureshi."

"I want to meet her." Aaliyah smiled.

"She must be feeling lonely. Poor thing just lost her mother."

Ryaan raised an eyebrow from his corner of the room.

"Why? So you can adopt her?"

Aaliyah shot him a look.

"Be nice."

Ryaan shrugged. "I’m always nice."

Junaid snorted softly behind his paper.

Aaliyah rolled her eyes.

"We’ll visit tonight."

---

Meeting Zara Qureshi

The Khan family arrived at Syed Raza’s estate just after sunset.

The house smelled of freshly brewed chai and old books — warm and comforting, like a hug.

Zara sat cross-legged on the floor in the living room, a sketchbook in her lap.

She wasn’t wearing anything fancy. Just another oversized hoodie and a pair of loose jeans.

Paint smudged her fingers. Her hair was tied up messily.

When she looked up, her big, dough-like eyes blinked curiously.

Aaliyah’s heart melted immediately.

"Oh my God… you’re adorable."

Zara blinked.

"Uh… thanks?"

Aaliyah knelt down in front of her.

"Sweetheart, I’m Aaliyah Khan. We live next door. And this is my husband, Junaid Khan… and my son, Ryaan."

Junaid nodded politely.

Ryaan just stood there with his hands stuffed in his pockets, his expression bored.

Zara tilted her head slightly.

"You didn’t bring food."

Aaliyah burst out laughing.

"You expected food?"

"Visitors usually bring sweets," Zara said with a straight face.

Syed Raza chuckled from the corner. "She’s not wrong."

Junaid smiled quietly — a rare, soft smile that made everyone blink.

"We’ll bring food next time," he said. "What do you like?"

Zara shrugged. "Anything spicy."

Ryaan raised an eyebrow.

"Spicy? You’re 11. Do you even know what spicy is?"

Zara looked at him calmly.

"Do you know what manners are?"

The room went silent for a second.

Syed Raza coughed to hide his laughter.

Aaliyah grinned.

Junaid’s lips twitched slightly.

Ryaan blinked.

Did she just…?

---

Curiosity, Meet Obsession

For the rest of the evening, Zara sat quietly, answering questions politely but briefly.

She wasn’t shy — just uninterested.

Aaliyah adored her.

Junaid, who barely liked anyone, kept glancing at her with a softness in his eyes that shocked even his wife.

They laughed at her blunt comments. They smiled when she spoke.

Ryaan sat back, watching.

Something about it rubbed him the wrong way.

He wasn’t used to being ignored.

And right now… he was invisible.

As they left that night, Ryaan finally spoke.

"She’s… weird."

Aaliyah rolled her eyes.

"You’re impossible."

"I’m right," he said.

"She wears baggy clothes and acts like she doesn’t care about anything. She’s weird."

Junaid chuckled softly.

"Maybe you’re just used to people caring too much."

Ryaan frowned.

But he didn’t say anything.

---

The Second Encounter

The next day, Ryaan found Zara sitting under the old oak tree between their houses, painting.

He walked over lazily, hands stuffed in his pockets.

"You always dress like that?"

He nodded toward her oversized hoodie.

"You look like a lost boy from Neverland."

Zara didn’t look up.

"And you look like someone who cares too much about what I wear."

He snorted.

"Touché."

There was a pause.

He waited for her to ask questions — everyone always did.

What are you painting?

Do you want to be friends?

Why are you so quiet?

But she didn’t.

"Do you talk to anyone?" he finally asked.

"Do you?" she shot back.

He chuckled.

"You’re a brat."

"And you’re annoying."

Ryaan blinked.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

He was the one who made the sarcastic comments. He was the one who walked away, bored.

But now…

He didn’t want to walk away.

---

The Beginning of an Obsession

For the first time, someone wasn’t impressed by him.

For the first time, someone talked back.

For the first time, someone didn’t care.

And Ryaan Junaid Khan…

He hated it.

But he also couldn’t stop thinking about it.

That night, as he stood on his balcony again, staring at the house next door…

He realized something.

There was a new favorite in town.

And her name was Zara Qureshi.

But this was his world.

And soon… she’d know it.