The lobby of the Sinha Imperial Grand shimmered beneath towering crystal chandeliers.

Guests moved in and out.

Hotel staff welcomed arriving delegates.

Security personnel maintained discreet vigilance around the entrance.

For a brief moment...

Everything seemed perfectly organized.

---

"Ma'am."

The General Manager approached Vedhathvika respectfully.

"Mr. Arush from Team Orion has just informed us that he'll be here in a few minutes."

Vedhathvika nodded.

"I'll wait."

"The Orchid Meeting Lounge?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

He gestured toward the elegant lounge adjoining the lobby.

"I'll personally bring him there."

"Thank you."

Aarvi adjusted Vedhathvika's sheer lace overlay.

"We'll go upstairs first."

Kaveri smiled knowingly.

"And don't worry."

"It's just a meeting."

Vedhathvika nodded.

"I know."

"Call us if you need anything."

"We're only one elevator away."

The three childhood friends exchanged reassuring smiles.

Aarvi and Kaveri entered the private elevator reserved for the penthouse floors.

Vedhathvika remained behind.

For the first time since arriving in Delhi...

She stood alone.

Taking a quiet breath...

She began walking toward the Orchid Meeting Lounge.

---

At that very moment...

The revolving doors spun open again.

Team Orion entered the hotel.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Fans waiting inside the lobby gasped.

"It's Orion!"

"Night!"

"Astra!"

"Cryo!"

"Volt!"

"Guardian!"

Although security quickly formed a protective line...

Several excited fans still hurried toward them.

Kushagra instinctively lowered the brim of his cap.

A black mask concealed the lower half of his face.

Only his deep, jet-black eyes remained visible.

Arush looked around.

"I'll meet Luneria first."

"You guys head upstairs."

Kushagra nodded.

"We'll see you at practice."

The players turned toward the elevators.

---

Then...

Someone recognized Night.

"NIGHT!"

Another voice joined.

"Night! One picture, please!"

Within seconds...

The lobby echoed with excitement.

Security reacted immediately.

"Sir, this way!"

But the growing crowd made the path difficult.

Kushagra glanced toward the nearest elevator.

It was about to close.

Without thinking...

He broke into a light run.

---

At the exact same moment...

Vedhathvika stepped out from behind a marble pillar, turning toward the meeting lounge.

Her attention was on the receptionist pointing out the direction.

She never saw him coming.

Neither did he.

---

Thud.

A firm shoulder collided with another.

The impact spun both of them sideways.

Vedhathvika instinctively lost her balance.

Before she could fall...

A strong hand caught her by the waist.

His other hand instinctively steadied her arm.

For one suspended heartbeat...

The world seemed to stop.

Her oversized sunglasses slipped from her face.

They landed several feet away, skidding across the polished marble floor.

A loose curl escaped from behind her ear.

Her waist-length dark brown hair lifted gently with the sudden movement, flowing around her like silk.

She looked up.

Straight into a pair of deep black eyes.

They were unlike any eyes she had ever seen.

Steady.

Calm.

Powerful.

For reasons she couldn't explain...

She couldn't look away.

Kushagra forgot the noise around him.

Forgot the crowd.

Forgot the elevator.

Forgot everything.

Those eyes...

Warm dark brown, almost melting into black...

Held a quiet sadness he couldn't describe.

They weren't frightened.

They weren't angry.

They simply...

Felt lonely.

Vedhathvika stared back.

"These eyes..."

Something about them felt strangely familiar.

Not familiar because she had seen them before.

Familiar...

As though she'd been waiting to.

The sounds of the hotel faded into the distance.

The cheering.

The cameras.

The hurried footsteps.

Everything blurred.

There were only two strangers...

Standing impossibly close.

Speaking without a single word.

It lasted only seconds.

Yet to both of them...

It felt infinitely longer.

---

"NIGHT!"

The loud shout shattered the silence.

Reality returned all at once.

Security rushed forward.

"Sir!"

"The crowd is coming this way!"

Another guard hurried toward Vedhathvika.

"Ma'am, are you alright?"

Both of them stepped back at exactly the same moment.

Almost reluctantly.

Kushagra opened his mouth.

"I'm-"

Before he could finish...

Vedhathvika reacted on instinct.

Recognizing the growing crowd of fans rushing toward the man in front of her...

She immediately understood.

He's someone famous.

Without wasting another second...

She reached out, lightly caught his wrist, and guided him toward the nearest elevator that had just reopened.

"Quick."

The single word was barely above a whisper.

The elevator doors began closing.

For one final moment...

They looked at each other again.

Neither knew the other's name.

Neither had seen the other's full face.

Masks concealed their identities.

But nothing could hide their eyes.

Jet black...

Meeting deep brown.

A silent conversation that neither of them understood.

The doors slid shut.

The lobby disappeared.

And with it...

The first look that would quietly change both of their lives.

Far outside the elevator...

The crowd continued searching for Night.

Inside...

Kushagra leaned lightly against the mirrored wall, still thinking about one thing.

"Those eyes..."

Meanwhile, standing alone in the lobby, Vedhathvika unconsciously touched the place where his hand had steadied her.

Her heartbeat refused to slow.

She had come to Delhi to meet Team Orion.

She never imagined...

That before learning a single name...

Someone's eyes would leave such an unforgettable impression.

----

The doors of the Orchid Meeting Lounge closed softly behind Vedhathvika.

For the first time since entering the hotel...

Silence embraced her.

She exhaled slowly.

Her fingers reached for the oversized sunglasses resting on her face.

They came off first.

Then...

The white mask.

She gently tucked a loose strand of her long, dark wavy hair behind her ear before sitting on one of the cream-colored sofas.

Her heartbeat had finally begun to settle.

"...What was that?"

She whispered to herself.

For some inexplicable reason...

Those jet-black eyes refused to leave her mind.

She had not seen his face.

Not even for a second.

Yet...

She felt as if those eyes had spoken an entire conversation.

She immediately shook the thought away.

"No..."

"Focus, Vedu."

"You came here for work."

Not for mysterious strangers.

---

A gentle knock interrupted her thoughts.

The General Manager entered with an apologetic expression.

"I sincerely apologize for what happened outside, Ma'am."

Vedhathvika stood up.

Her expression wasn't angry.

It was calm.

Professional.

"The explanation."

The manager lowered his head slightly.

"Because we had deployed additional security personnel for your arrival..."

"Our lobby management team became temporarily understaffed."

"At the same time Team Orion entered through the main entrance."

"The fans unexpectedly rushed inside despite the barricades."

"The two security routes crossed."

"We accept complete responsibility."

Vedhathvika listened quietly.

Then folded her hands in front of her.

"Mr. Sharma..."

"Do you know what concerns me the most?"

He looked up hesitantly.

"It wasn't the collision."

"It was the possibility."

"The possibility that either our guests..."

"Or our employees..."

"Or even those fans..."

"Could have been injured."

Her voice remained gentle.

Yet every word carried authority.

"This hotel isn't known merely because it is luxurious."

"It is known because people trust us."

"And trust is built through safety."

The manager nodded immediately.

"Yes, Ma'am."

Vedhathvika walked toward the large glass window overlooking the entrance.

"I want separate arrival corridors for celebrity guests and tournament participants."

"I also want crowd-control barriers extended another fifteen meters."

"Increase lobby security during Orion's stay."

"No guest should feel chased inside a hotel."

"And no visitor should ever feel unsafe."

She turned toward him.

"Prepare the revised security plan."

"I want it implemented before this evening."

"Immediately, Ma'am."

He noted every instruction.

"And..."

She added thoughtfully.

"Arrange a short appreciation session for the security staff."

The manager looked surprised.

"Ma'am?"

"They reacted quickly."

"Yes, improvements are needed."

"But they still prevented a much bigger incident."

"People perform better when appreciated."

"Not only when criticized."

The manager smiled respectfully.

"Understood."

"I'll personally oversee everything."

"Good."

He bowed once before leaving the room.

---

A few minutes later...

Another knock echoed.

This time...

It was her executive assistant.

"Nakul."

A young man in his late twenties entered carrying a digital tablet.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am."

"Everything ready?"

"Yes."

He smiled politely.

"And..."

"Mr. Arush from Team Orion has arrived."

Vedhathvika nodded.

"Please send him in."

Nakul opened the door wider.

"Mr. Arush."

A tall man wearing Orion's official management jacket stepped inside.

The moment his eyes landed on Vedhathvika...

He froze.

For just a heartbeat.

His mind refused to process what he was seeing.

Standing before him...

Was not only Luneria.

She was also...

Vedhathvika Sinha.

The child prodigy he had watched growing up on television.

The little girl who had stunned the country with her extraordinary intelligence.

The teenage sensation whose voice as Veya had become the soundtrack of an entire generation.

The young woman whose decision to disappear from the stage had saddened millions...

Including him.

"So... it's really her..."

For years...

He had admired her from afar.

Not as a celebrity.

But as someone whose dedication inspired him.

He still remembered listening to Veya's songs during Orion's early days.

Remembered watching interviews where a teenage Vedhathvika spoke with astonishing maturity.

Without realizing it...

He had always thought of her like a younger sister the country wanted to protect.

And now...

The mysterious player called Luneria...

Was standing right in front of him.

For a second...

The fan inside him wanted to say-

"I'm a huge admirer of your music..."

"Your songs helped us through difficult days..."

"It's an honour to finally meet you..."

But another voice immediately interrupted.

You're here as Orion's manager.

Not as a fan.

More importantly...

Sarthak's words echoed in his mind.

"Don't make her uncomfortable."

Arush composed himself.

His excitement settled behind a warm, professional smile.

He stepped forward and offered a respectful greeting.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you..."

"...Luneria."

Vedhathvika noticed the brief flicker of surprise in his eyes.

But she also noticed something else.

He hadn't called her Veya.

He hadn't asked for a photograph.

He hadn't mentioned her past.

Instead...

He had chosen the name she herself had introduced to Orion.

That small gesture immediately put her at ease.

She returned the greeting with a gentle smile.

"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Arush."

Arush sat across from her, placing a neatly organized folder on the table.

He smiled politely.

"Shall we begin?"

The formal meeting between Orion and Luneria had finally begun.

----

Arush had barely settled into his seat when Vedhathvika stood up with a gentle smile.

She extended her hand.

"Mr. Arush..."

"Welcome."

He rose immediately and shook her hand respectfully.

"Thank you."

She smiled politely.

"Not only as Luneria..."

"...I'd also like to welcome you as one of the owners of this hotel."

Arush blinked for a brief second before smiling.

"I appreciate the hospitality."

Vedhathvika continued,

"And before we begin..."

"I would like to apologize for the inconvenience downstairs."

"The collision should never have happened inside one of our properties."

"The security arrangements have already been revised."

"It won't happen again."

Arush shook his head gently.

"Please don't apologize."

"It wasn't anyone's fault."

"Nothing serious happened."

She nodded gratefully.

"There is one more thing."

"You had booked two executive suites for me and my friend."

"Since this hotel belongs to my family..."

"I've instructed the accounts department to cancel those charges."

"The amount has already been refunded to Orion."

Arush looked genuinely surprised.

"Ma'am... that wasn't necessary."

Vedhathvika smiled.

"It is."

"You are our guests."

"And I don't charge my guests when they are staying under my roof."

Arush could only nod with a smile.

"Thank you."

---

Both of them took their seats again.

Vedhathvika folded her hands neatly on the table.

"I'd like to know about Orion first."

"The team."

"The organization."

"The people."

"Only then can I decide whether I belong there."

Arush smiled.

"I was hoping you'd ask."

He opened the presentation folder.

"The Orion Esports Division was founded six years ago."

"It operates under the Singh Media Group as one of its competitive gaming ventures."

"Our owner is..."

He smiled knowingly.

"...also our captain."

"Kushagra Singh."

"Stage Name: Night."

"Captain."

"Role: Roamer."

"The face of Indian esports."

"Multiple-time national champion."

"Recognized internationally for his leadership and game sense."

He turned the page.

"Sarthak Malhotra."

"Stage Name: Astra."

"Mid Laner."

"Our veteran strategist."

"The player you've been gaming with."

A small smile unknowingly appeared on Vedhathvika's face.

Arush noticed...

But wisely continued.

"Kunal Mehra."

"Stage Name: Inferno."

"Jungler."

"The team's morale booster."

"The loudest person in every room."

Vedhathvika laughed softly.

"I had already guessed."

Arush laughed as well.

"The files don't mention that."

"But yes..."

"You're absolutely right."

He continued.

"Harish Kapoor."

"Stage Name: Echo."

"Support."

"The calmest member of Orion."

"If the team is a family..."

"He's usually the one solving everyone's arguments."

"And finally..."

"Vedant Rao."

"Stage Name: Storm."

"Our Gold Laner."

"The youngest among the active players."

"Known for extraordinary reflexes."

He closed the player profiles.

"Together..."

"They've won four National Championships."

"Two Asian Invitational titles."

"And consistently remained India's highest-ranked professional squad."

Vedhathvika listened without interrupting.

Every answer was carefully stored away.

---

Arush slid another folder across the table.

"This is our standard player agreement."

She opened it.

He continued explaining.

"The annual fixed compensation is ₹25 lakh."

"There are additional tournament winnings distributed according to team performance."

"For exceptional performances..."

"The organization awards a bonus of ₹1 lakh."

"There are also brand endorsements, streaming opportunities, and sponsorship incentives."

She nodded quietly.

"And disciplinary clauses?"

Arush appreciated the question.

He turned to another page.

"Repeated breaches of professional conduct, intentional absence from training, violation of confidentiality, or behavior damaging the organization may attract financial penalties."

"The maximum contractual penalty under these clauses is ₹5 lakh, depending on the severity."

She continued reading.

The room fell silent.

For several minutes...

Only the sound of turning pages could be heard.

Arush didn't interrupt.

He wanted her to read everything.

---

Eventually...

She closed the file.

There was silence again.

Arush waited patiently.

"So..."

He asked gently.

"What do you think?"

Vedhathvika didn't answer immediately.

Instead...

Her fingers rested lightly on the contract.

Her gaze lowered.

The silence itself became an answer.

Arush understood.

She wasn't rejecting Orion.

She was hesitating.

And considering everything he had learned about her...

He couldn't blame her.

He smiled reassuringly.

"Please don't feel pressured."

"You don't have to answer today."

"You can take as much time as you need."

"We'd rather wait for a genuine yes..."

"...than receive a reluctant one."

Vedhathvika looked up.

There was gratitude in her eyes.

"Thank you."

Another moment passed.

Then...

She spoke again.

"Mr. Arush..."

He looked at her attentively.

"I haven't said no."

He smiled.

"I know."

She gently placed the contract back on the table.

"But..."

"There are a few clauses I would need added."

He straightened in his chair.

"If those clauses cannot be included..."

"I'm afraid this conversation cannot move forward."

There was no arrogance in her voice.

Only calm certainty.

Arush didn't appear offended.

Instead...

His curiosity grew.

He closed his notebook.

"Then I'd like to hear them."

Outside...

The National Spring Season Finals were only days away.

Inside the quiet meeting room...

The future of Orion was about to be shaped...

Not by salary...

Not by fame...

But by the conditions of a woman who valued her freedom more than anything else.

-----

The room remained quiet.

Arush uncapped his pen.

"I'm listening."

Vedhathvika folded her hands on the table.

"I don't negotiate for money."

"I negotiate for my ability to perform."

Arush nodded.

"Fair enough."

She opened a blank page in the contract and began listing her conditions one by one.

---

Condition One - Personal Space

"I would require a completely separate personal room within the team's training residence."

She continued calmly,

"It should include a private bedroom, a personal refrigerator, and a separate washroom with an attached dressing area."

Arush looked up.

She explained before he could ask.

"I have food allergies."

"Anything fermented is prohibited for me."

"I am also allergic to certain fruits, including kiwi."

"I cannot risk cross-contamination."

She paused.

"And..."

"I am the only female player."

"A private washroom and changing area are necessities, not luxuries."

Arush immediately wrote it down.

"No objections."

"That is completely reasonable."

---

Condition Two - Defined Training Hours

"My second condition concerns training."

"I currently serve as an Executive Director within my family's business."

"I cannot abandon those responsibilities."

She spoke with complete confidence.

"My regular training schedule should not exceed ten hours a day."

"Within those ten hours, I would require a two-hour break, allowing sufficient recovery and time to attend urgent business matters."

She continued,

"Training may begin earlier or end later depending on the team's schedule."

"I'm flexible."

"But the total planned daily training duration should remain defined."

Arush nodded thoughtfully.

She added one final point.

"I also suffer from PCOD."

"There may occasionally be days when severe symptoms make training difficult."

"I request the provision of up to two medical leave days per month, supported by medical documentation if required."

She raised one finger immediately afterwards.

"However..."

"This does not apply during tournaments."

"If a tournament is underway..."

"I'll play."

"Whether it's day or night."

"My condition applies only to scheduled practice days."

Arush smiled.

"Professional."

"I appreciate the distinction."

---

Condition Three - Personal Boundaries

"I understand that professional players attend sponsor events."

"Press conferences."

"Celebrations."

"Dinners."

She nodded.

"I'll fulfill reasonable media obligations."

"But..."

"I should never be forced to attend social events that make me uncomfortable."

She looked directly at Arush.

"I don't drink."

"I never have."

"And because of my medical restrictions..."

"I cannot consume fermented beverages."

"I won't pretend otherwise for publicity."

Arush smiled reassuringly.

"That's already close to Orion's culture."

"No one here is forced to drink."

"We'll include it."

---

Condition Four - Health Management

"My medical care..."

"My nutrition..."

"My fitness specialists..."

"My doctors..."

"I would prefer to manage personally."

She smiled politely.

"I already have an established medical team."

"They understand my allergies and health requirements."

"The organization won't need to bear those expenses."

Arush made another note.

"That actually reduces organizational costs."

She nodded.

"So it's beneficial for both sides."

---

Condition Five - Hospitality Partnership

A small smile appeared on Vedhathvika's face.

"This one concerns business."

Arush smiled back.

"I suspected it would."

"Our hotel chain already serves as Orion's hospitality partner."

"If I become part of the organization..."

"I'll authorize an additional 4% reduction on hospitality charges across every Sinha Group property used by Orion."

Arush's eyebrows rose.

"That's generous."

She continued.

"In return..."

"My accommodation at those properties should always remain on the private executive floors reserved for ownership."

"Not because I require luxury."

"But because those floors already provide the privacy and security I need."

"Especially during tournaments."

Arush nodded.

"Understood."

---

Condition Six - Streaming

She hesitated only slightly before speaking again.

"I've read Orion's streaming requirements."

"The contract expects players to livestream up to 48 hours per month."

"That won't be possible."

"My business responsibilities won't allow it."

She looked at him steadily.

"I request that my mandatory livestream requirement be reduced to 28 hours per month."

She added,

"If the organization wishes..."

"I'll compensate by participating in additional strategy reviews, educational content, or community workshops."

"Something that contributes without compromising my other responsibilities."

Arush wrote quickly.

"Reasonable."

---

She paused.

Then smiled.

"There are just a few more."

Arush laughed softly.

"I expected that."

---

Condition Seven - Confidentiality

"My personal identity outside esports..."

"My family's private matters..."

"And my previous entertainment career..."

"Should never be used by the organization for marketing without my written consent."

"I want Orion to recruit Luneria..."

"Not a headline."

Arush didn't hesitate.

"Agreed."

---

Condition Eight - Performance-Based Evaluation

"I don't want special treatment."

"If my performance drops..."

"Bench me."

"If another player performs better..."

"Play them."

"I want my place in Orion to be earned."

"Every single time."

For the first time during the meeting...

Arush smiled with genuine admiration.

"I don't think Night would accept it any other way."

---

Condition Nine - Academic & Professional Commitments

"I occasionally have board meetings, legal reviews, and executive responsibilities that cannot be delegated."

"When those dates are communicated well in advance..."

"I'd appreciate reasonable flexibility in scheduling non-essential practice."

"But never during tournaments or mandatory boot camps."

Arush nodded.

"Planning ahead makes that manageable."

---

Condition Ten - Mutual Respect

Finally, she closed the folder.

"My last condition isn't legal."

"It's cultural."

She met Arush's eyes.

"I don't want Orion to become just five players sharing a practice room."

"I want it to remain a family."

"If disagreements happen..."

"We solve them by talking."

"If someone struggles..."

"We help them."

"I've had enough of environments where people compete against each other while wearing the same jersey."

"I'll only join a team where trust matters more than ego."

The room fell silent.

Arush slowly placed his pen down.

He had expected demands.

Instead...

He had heard requests built around health, professionalism, privacy, discipline, and teamwork.

Not one condition asked for a higher salary.

Not one demanded celebrity treatment.

Most of them would actually strengthen Orion's working environment for everyone.

He looked at the list once more before smiling.

"I'll be honest."

"I can't approve these myself."

"This has to go through our captain and our legal team."

He carefully closed the contract.

"But..."

He stood up.

"If Night hears these conditions..."

"I have a feeling he won't see them as obstacles."

"He'll see them as the foundation of a stronger team."

Vedhathvika rose as well.

A faint smile touched her lips.

"Then I'll wait for Orion's answer."

Their meeting ended not with a signature...

But with mutual respect.

Sometimes, the strongest partnerships didn't begin with a handshake.

They began with the courage to set honest expectations.

----

Arush had almost closed the contract folder when Vedhathvika raised her hand slightly.

"Mr. Arush..."

He looked up.

"Yes?"

She hesitated for the first time since the meeting had begun.

There was a faint, almost embarrassed smile on her face.

"...I have one last request."

Arush smiled.

"I was wondering when we'd reach number eleven."

A soft laugh escaped her.

"This one..."

"...isn't exactly professional."

"Go ahead."

She looked away for a second before speaking.

"It's a little childish."

"I hope you won't laugh."

Arush's smile softened.

"I promise."

"No laughing."

She took a quiet breath.

"Until..."

"I officially sign Orion's contract..."

"I don't want anyone to know who I really am."

Arush blinked.

She continued,

"I don't mean Luneria."

"I mean..."

"...Vedhathvika."

"...Or Veya."

"I'd like to keep that between us."

She looked almost shy as she admitted,

"I want to surprise the team."

"The day I meet them properly..."

"I want to see their expressions."

For a brief second...

Arush imagined Kunal discovering that Luneria and the legendary singer Veya were the same person.

He could already picture complete chaos.

He almost laughed.

Almost.

But he had promised.

So instead, he coughed lightly to hide his smile.

"I'll make sure no one finds out."

She narrowed her eyes playfully.

"You almost laughed."

"I absolutely did not."

"You almost did."

"I professionally almost did."

Both of them laughed.

The formal atmosphere inside the meeting room became noticeably lighter.

---

Vedhathvika smiled before continuing.

"There are... two more tiny questions."

Arush folded his arms dramatically.

"I had a feeling."

She laughed.

"I have a pet."

"What kind?"

"A cat named Toffee."

Her expression immediately softened.

"She's family."

"I've never stayed away from her for long."

"I'd like to bring her to the training residence if I join Orion."

Arush nodded without hesitation.

"As long as the residence permits pets and the others don't have medical allergies..."

"I don't see a problem."

He added jokingly,

"I'll probably have to ask Night first."

"I have no idea whether our captain is secretly afraid of cats."

Vedhathvika giggled.

"For some reason..."

"I can't imagine that."

---

She leaned back comfortably.

"My next question is about visitors."

"I understand that the training quarters are also a workplace."

"So..."

"If someone wants to meet me..."

"How does that usually work?"

Arush answered immediately.

"We have a visitor policy."

"Family members and approved guests are allowed."

"But for security reasons..."

"They're registered in advance."

"No unannounced visitors."

She nodded thoughtfully.

"That sounds reasonable."

"Then I'd like to register three people."

Arush opened his notebook again.

"I'm listening."

"The first is Nakul."

She glanced toward her assistant standing quietly near the door.

"He's my executive assistant."

"If I'm balancing business with esports..."

"He'll occasionally need to bring documents or attend meetings."

Nakul gave an awkward smile.

"I'll try not to disturb practice."

Arush smiled.

"I appreciate that."

Vedhathvika continued.

"The second..."

"...is Kaveri Malhotra."

"My childhood best friend. You may already know her. She is the Esports host and commentator. "

"She'll probably visit just to annoy me."

Nakul laughed.

"That's accurate."

Vedhathvika smiled.

"And the third..."

"...is Aarvi Sharma."

"My other childhood best friend."

"She's also my twin brother's girlfriend."

"She is a lawyer-in-training, and knows me better than almost anyone."

"There will be days when they simply come over..."

"To have dinner."

"Watch a movie."

"Drag me outside for coffee."

"I'd like that to be allowed."

Arush listened carefully before replying.

"I don't see any issue."

"As long as they follow residence security procedures..."

"They'll always be welcome."

He smiled warmly.

"To be honest..."

"A healthy life outside practice is important and as the base had been only boys so I guess you will be bored. "

"If your friends help you stay happy..."

"That's good for you."

"And good for Orion."

Vedhathvika's expression relaxed even further.

"Thank you."

---

Arush closed the notebook once again.

"I believe..."

"We've finally reached the end."

Vedhathvika thought for a moment.

Then looked at him innocently.

"...I think so."

Arush laughed.

"I'll wait twenty seconds just in case another condition appears."

She covered her smile with her hand.

"I promise."

"No more."

The room filled with easy laughter.

For the first time since the meeting began...

Neither of them felt like a manager and a prospective player.

It simply felt like two professionals building trust.

As Arush stood to leave, he looked at the contract one last time.

When he had entered the room...

He thought he was here to recruit India's most mysterious gamer.

Now, as he walked toward the door...

He realized Orion might have found something even rarer.

Not just an extraordinary player.

But someone who already understood what it truly meant...

To become part of a team.

---------

Orion's private practice suite buzzed with its usual energy.

Kunal had somehow convinced Vedant to race him on the training simulator.

Harish was reviewing support rotations on one monitor while absent-mindedly eating chips.

Sarthak leaned back in his chair, waiting.

Only one person wasn't distracted.

Kushagra.

He was quietly studying replay footage from Luneria's ranked games.

The practice room door opened.

Arush walked in carrying the contract folder.

Every head turned simultaneously.

Kunal stood first.

"Well?"

"How did it go?"

"Did she reject us?"

"Did she agree?"

"Is she coming?"

Vedant laughed.

"At least let him breathe."

Arush placed the folder on the conference table before sitting down.

"It went..."

"...far better than I expected."

Sarthak smiled.

"So she came."

"She did."

"And?"

Arush looked around the room.

"She hasn't signed yet."

A brief silence followed.

"But..."

He continued.

"She also didn't refuse."

Kushagra finally looked up.

"What does she want?"

Arush opened the folder.

"The conditions."

For nearly twenty minutes...

He explained every clause one after another.

The private training room.

The medical requirements.

Defined practice hours.

Professional boundaries.

Business responsibilities.

Streaming adjustments.

Confidentiality.

Performance-based evaluation.

Visitor regulations.

Everything.

Nobody interrupted.

When he finally finished...

Silence filled the room once again.

Harish was the first to speak.

"Honestly..."

"Most of these are reasonable."

Vedant nodded.

"I expected celebrity demands."

"Instead she basically asked for professionalism."

Sarthak smiled proudly.

"I told you."

"She thinks differently."

Kunal leaned back.

"And she even offered us a four percent hospitality discount."

Harish adjusted his glasses.

"Our finance department is probably celebrating already."

The room laughed.

---

Kushagra remained thoughtful.

He picked up the contract.

Slowly turning each page.

Finally, he closed it.

"I don't see any condition that hurts Orion."

He looked at Arush.

"Her health requirements are non-negotiable."

"We accommodate them."

"The private room?"

"Approved."

"Separate changing area?"

"Approved."

"Business responsibilities?"

"We can schedule around them."

He looked toward everyone else.

"We've always believed that players perform better when they're respected."

"This changes nothing."

"It simply means we'll respect one more teammate."

Nobody disagreed.

---

Sarthak smiled.

"So..."

"Does that mean..."

Kushagra nodded once.

"If she's willing to sign..."

"I'll approve every condition."

A grin immediately spread across Sarthak's face.

"I knew it."

---

Arush cleared his throat.

"There are two more requests."

Everyone looked up again.

"First..."

"She wants her identity kept secret."

Kunal frowned.

"What identity?"

Arush smiled.

"Exactly."

"She doesn't want any of you knowing who she is before signing."

"She wants to surprise the team herself."

Vedant laughed.

"That sounds fun."

Harish nodded.

"I like that."

Kushagra smiled faintly.

"If that's what makes her comfortable..."

"Then no one asks questions."

Arush continued.

"Second..."

"She has a pet cat."

Silence.

Then Kunal burst into laughter.

"So Orion is recruiting..."

"...a cat too?"

Sarthak chuckled.

"I don't mind."

Harish shrugged.

"As long as it doesn't sit on my keyboard."

"Or mine."

Vedant added dramatically.

"My mouse is expensive."

The room erupted into laughter.

Even Kushagra smiled.

"I think we can survive one cat."

---

"There was also something else."

Arush continued.

"She asked about visitor permissions."

"Her executive assistant..."

"Nakul."

"Her childhood best friend..."

"Kaveri."

"And another childhood best friend..."

"Aarvi."

"They'll occasionally visit."

Kushagra nodded.

"No issue."

"Family and trusted friends should always be welcome."

He looked around the room.

"We're building a team."

"Not a prison."

---

For a while...

The conversation drifted toward logistics.

Practice schedules.

Room assignments.

Boot camp planning.

Until finally...

Harish asked the question everyone had secretly been waiting for.

"So..."

He folded his arms.

"What does she actually look like?"

The room instantly became silent.

Even Kunal stopped joking.

Arush looked at all of them.

Then slowly smiled.

"I knew this question was coming."

Sarthak leaned forward.

"Come on."

"Give us something."

Arush laughed softly.

"Fine."

He rested against the chair.

"She's..."

He searched for the right words.

"...beautiful."

Kunal immediately groaned.

"That tells us absolutely nothing."

Arush nodded.

"I know."

He tried again.

"She has waist-length dark brown hair."

"Natural waves with soft curls."

"Dark brown eyes..."

He paused.

"No."

He shook his head.

"Dark brown isn't the right description."

"They're the kind of eyes that quietly hold your attention."

"The sort you remember long after you've looked away."

The room listened in complete silence.

"Wheatish complexion."

"About five foot four."

"Elegant."

"Graceful."

"Even while sitting quietly..."

"She somehow carries herself like someone people instinctively make space for."

Harish smiled.

"You sound like you're describing a painting."

Arush laughed.

"That's because the description doesn't do her justice."

"Not even close."

He continued.

"And personality..."

He smiled with genuine admiration.

"Professional."

"Extremely intelligent."

"Soft-spoken."

"Confident without arrogance."

"She thinks before speaking."

"And every condition she gave us..."

"Wasn't for privilege."

"It was to ensure she could give her best."

He looked toward Kushagra.

"She never once negotiated her salary."

"Not even for a minute."

"Instead..."

"She negotiated how she could become a better teammate."

The room fell silent again.

Kushagra slowly leaned back in his chair.

His thoughts drifted to the mysterious woman he'd accidentally collided with in the hotel lobby.

Then...

To Luneria.

"Could they be anything alike?"

He dismissed the thought almost instantly.

It was a coincidence.

Nothing more.

Yet for some reason...

Those warm brown eyes from the lobby...

And the player named Luneria...

Both lingered quietly in the back of his mind.

Neither he...

Nor the rest of Orion...

Had the slightest idea that the person they had spent the evening discussing...

Had already crossed paths with their captain.

And neither side knew...

That destiny had already introduced them...

Long before names ever would.