Masked Stage

Brinda's P.O.V 

I kept rolling on the bed while my legs tangled in the sheets as I twisted again, heart pounding. Every minute that passed felt like a countdown to regret.

I stretched my hand to the side table to grab my phone while looking for the music that suits my mood “The haunting melody filled the room, and I felt my chest slowly rise and fall, syncing with each gentle beat. My eyes fluttered closed — finally, peace. 

As I kept on singing to the lyrics, I noticed a loud bang on my door and was wondering who would want to disrupt my quiet time. 

Removing my EarPods, I heard Jason constantly banging on my door demanding I should open it immediately. Jason pounded the door like a toddler denied candy. His voice rose, petulant and sharp, making me yank out my EarPods with a groan. 

I increased to the highest volume allowing him to rest upon my silence while enjoying my moment before the fake moments came. 

I sang so much that I didn't even know that time had passed. I quickly went to check if Jason was standing outside, but I was glad to see he was gone. 

Mascara in one hand, towel barely clinging to my body, I darted to the wardrobe. Dresses flew past my hands — too short, too bright, too dull — until my fingers landed on the black maxi gown.

I headed straight to my wardrobe to pick up my black maxi gown my best friend gave me for my birthday. 

“I held the gown to my chest, I heard her laugh again in my head — loud, goofy, full of life. “Wear this and steal hearts, babe,” she had said. My throat tightened “ I can't wait to see you and tell you about my roller coaster life,” while I kept applying light touches to my face. 

Tying my hair into a bun, I paused — just for a second. It was the same style Mom used to wear. A lump rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down, and for a second, I didn't see myself — I saw her. Her calm smile. Her strength. The room felt less lonely.

I stood up, ready to shake off the mood, while apply my matte red lipstick to brighten up my face. 

As I walked down the stairs, I heard Jason talking to someone, which kept me wondering who that was. 

His gaze locked onto mine, and the sound of clinking cutlery faded. My heel stuttered on the tile, breath hitching in my throat. 

“Finally you are done,” he said sarcastically, which spoiled the mood instantly before noticing a middle-aged woman in our midst. 

“Brinda, this is Mrs Agatha, the housekeeper, and she can attend to you with any issue when I'm not around,” he said. Mrs. Agatha nodded politely, but I caught the twitch in her jaw. She smiled through gritted teeth, the way one does with spoiled royalty. 

As I was about to speak, Jason cut me off” Mrs Agatha, meet Brinda, our special guest who needs close observation, and you can attend to her minor needs,” while he kept sipping his cup of tea. 

I looked at him with so much anger written all over my face, but I still had to compose myself. 

“Good evening, Mrs Agatha, and I'm so happy that I finally have company in this house apart from you know who,” I said playfully, which left a small smile on her face. 

“You also look so stunning, Ma,” she said, which left my cheeks turning red before she wandered off to her chores. 

She came back into the dining room to inform us that the driver had arrived, and I knew the major show has just begun. 

— — — — —

We finally arrived at the event, and the hall was filled with so many prestigious people showing off wealth. Champagne glasses clinked, laughter echoed, and I clutched my clutch like it was armor. My smile was tight, my back stiff. Just a role. Just a mask.

“I wish I was in bed watching a romantic movie, but I'm here fake smiling my way into riches,” before Jason's words brought me out of my thoughts. 

“Brinda, I need you to put up an act of us being a lovely couple, and I would handle all the talking. I hope you understand?” he said with a quick tone, but I just kept glaring at him like he was nuts, which I knew fueled his anger. 

“Don't leave this spot,” he said before running off to meet with some wealthy colleagues, who could feel my palms sweaty.

“Who does he think he is? Trying to control my movement when he goes out having fun… Well, I don't play that game,” I said in a quick, annoyed tone before heading to the wine section. 

“Good evening, Ma’am, and welcome to the LA VA event centre, What would you like to drink?” The barman said, but my eyes were just lost in his body. 

“Um madam," he said again before I remembered where I was, which left me feeling embarrassed. 

“I would have two glasses of merlot wine with a cherry pop on top,” which he hesitated, brows lifting in amusement before he turned to fill the order. His smirk said it all. 

I was halfway through my second glass when I noticed the sudden shift — the murmurs, the frozen expressions, the gasps. Then, the speaker cracked… and hell broke loose.

The chatters died. Forks froze mid-air. I blinked twice, the speaker’s static buzz still ringing in my ear. No, this was real. Too real. 

“How could he stoop so low, even in such a prestigious event? “HOW?!”

I stormed through the crowd, bottling up the words I would say to him, when I spotted him running off the stage. 

I immediately followed him, hoping to give him a piece of my mind, “I know we are not a couple, but for dragging me down his horrific lane. He's going to get what's coming to him,” when I spotted him in a corner making a strange call. 

I hid in a spot to get a better angle of what the call was about when I heard him say, “I need you to end a particular lady for me without traces.”

My spine turned to ice — I couldn't believe what I was hearing” Who the hell are you, Mr. Jason?”