छलावा (Chhalawa) ~ A Kriyaansh Three-Shot

Book cover by @ExoticDisaster

Thanks a lot for this brilliant book cover

Author's Note: Based on the Prompt by @SarafWasima in Submit Writing Prompt Thread who requested for writing a KriYaansh story (Rey & Kriya) from D3: Dil Dosti Dance the prompt being, Rey faking to love Kriya & has killed her in reality (reason could be anything), then made up a story about her leaving the college & city, and to his friends about their sad breakup. Kriya’s last letter to Swayam was also written by Rey to keep the story convincing. 6 months later, a lookalike of Kriya Ghai also named Kriya joins college (her entry dance being as the in the story). While gang watch the performance, Rey gets flashes of Kriya & feels uneasy till her face is revealed & everyone’s shocked.

Introduction:

The rhythmic beats of the dance studio echo like a heartbeat, setting the stage for a connection that was never meant to exist. When Reyansh Singhania and Kriya Ghai cross paths, their passion for dance ignites an undeniable spark—one that blurs the lines between rivalry and something far more dangerous. With every step, every glance, they are drawn deeper into a world where love and deception entwine like an intricate choreography. But in a game where emotions run high and secrets lurk in the shadows, will the rhythm of their hearts lead them to harmony—or to destruction?

Chapter 1

आगाज़

St. Louis Dance Academy

The Dance of Love and Deception

The rhythmic beats echoed through the studio as Reyansh "Rey" Singhania moved with effortless precision. Every step, every beat was in perfect sync, his body a vessel for the music. The gathered students watched in awe, their claps and cheers reverberating through the space.

Just as he landed his final move, the slow creak of the studio door interrupted the moment. Heads turned as a girl stepped in, her presence commanding attention without a single word. Wild curls cascaded down her back, her eyes burning with fierce intensity. An undeniable energy radiated from her stance, as if she belonged here—like she had always belonged.

Rey’s eyes narrowed. So, this is Kriya Ghai.

The daughter of the man who had destroyed his father. The reason Vikram Singhania had spent years drowning in shame and loss. The girl who was supposed to be his target.

Kriya scanned the room, her gaze sharp, before locking eyes with him. A smirk tugged at her lips as she crossed her arms. “Nice moves. But…” She let the pause linger, her confidence filling the silence. “I think I can do better.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Rey raised an eyebrow, masking his intrigue behind indifference. “Big words for someone who hasn’t even stepped on the dance floor yet.”

Kriya’s smirk deepened. “Then let me show you.”

She strode to the center, the anticipation thick in the air. The music restarted, and within seconds, she was in motion—fluid yet sharp, passionate yet controlled. Every turn, every flip was a statement. A declaration. She wasn’t just dancing. She was proving something.

Rey watched, mesmerized. He had seen many dancers, but none had ever made his heart race like this. He leaned against the mirror, arms crossed, watching Kriya with an intensity he didn’t quite understand.

The moment she moved, the world seemed to fade away. Every step, every spin, every flick of her wrist spoke a language Rey had always understood—dance. But she wasn’t just performing. She was living through it. “You’re staring,” Kriya teased, catching him watching through the mirror, her lips curling into a playful smirk.

Rey scoffed, pushing himself off the wall. “Not really. Just… analyzing. You have decent moves.”

Kriya turned to face him, raising a brow. “Decent? That’s funny because I was thinking the same about you—until I actually saw you dance. Turns out, you’re not half bad either.”

He smirked, stepping closer, the air between them charged. “Not half bad? That’s your way of saying you’re impressed, isn’t it?”

She rolled her eyes, tying her hair into a ponytail. “Keep dreaming, Reyaansh Singhania.”

As she finished with a powerful spin, the room erupted into applause. Kriya turned to him, her gaze challenging. “Still think I talk big?”

Rey smirked, clapping slowly. “Not bad. But let’s see if you can keep up when we dance together.”

Their eyes locked, and in that moment, a silent war of passion and rivalry ignited between them. But beneath Rey’s smirk, something unexpected stirred within him.

And that was dangerous.

He chuckled, but inside, something twisted in his chest. He wasn’t supposed to like her. This wasn’t part of the plan.

His father’s face flashed in his mind—cold, broken, filled with years of pain. Her father destroyed our lives, Rey. And you know what to do.

Yes. He knew exactly what to do.

The Revenge That Drove Rey

Rey’s hatred for Kriya wasn’t just personal—it was legacy. A wound that festered in his father’s soul for years.

Vikram Singhania had once been a respected businessman, powerful and admired. Until Raghav Ghai—Kriya’s father—ruined him.

Vikram had trusted Raghav as his closest friend and business partner. Together, they had built a thriving empire in real estate. But greed had destroyed that bond. Raghav had framed Vikram in a massive financial fraud case, shifting all the blame onto him while he walked away with everything—the money, the business, the reputation.

Vikram Singhania was humiliated, arrested, and thrown into jail. When he was finally released, he was nothing but a broken man, drowning in alcohol and bitterness. The Singhania family was left in ruins, struggling to survive.

And all those years, Raghav Ghai thrived.

Rey grew up watching his father’s downfall, hearing his drunken cries at night, witnessing his mother’s silent suffering. Every time Vikram looked at Rey, his bloodshot eyes held only one request—Justice. Revenge.

"He took everything from me, Rey. I want him to suffer. And if you truly love me… you’ll make sure he does."

Rey had promised.

The Perfect Plan

Kriya was Raghav Ghai’s only weakness. His only family. His only love.

Destroying her meant destroying him.

But Rey didn’t want to simply break her—he wanted to ruin her. Slowly. Painfully. The way his father had suffered.

His plan was meticulous:

• He would enroll in the same dance academy as Kriya, knowing that dance was her passion.
• He would get close to her, earn her trust, make her fall in love.
• He would become everything she desired, only to destroy her in the end.

His revenge wouldn’t be physical—it would be emotional. He wanted Kriya to experience betrayal so deep that she would lose the will to fight, just like his father had.

And once she was completely shattered… he would leave.

Or at least, that’s how it was supposed to happen.

But what Rey hadn’t accounted for… was his own heart.

A Love That Shouldn't Have Been

Days turned into weeks, and what had begun as rivalry between Rey and Kriya slowly transformed into something deeper—something neither of them had planned for. Every glance they shared lingered just a little too long, every touch—whether accidental or intentional—sent shivers down their spines. The fire between them burned brighter with every passing moment, but Rey refused to acknowledge it.

His mission was clear. Get close to Kriya. Make her fall. And then, break her.

But the problem was, Kriya wasn’t just falling—so was he.

At first, he convinced himself that it was all part of the act. He flirted, teased, and charmed his way into her world. He was supposed to be pretending. And yet, every time he saw her dance, his heart pounded with something dangerously close to admiration. He wasn’t supposed to admire her. He wasn’t supposed to feel anything for her.

But then, there were moments when the mask slipped.

One evening,

They found themselves alone on the academy rooftop. The city lights flickered below them, a vast sea of golden luminescence stretching endlessly into the horizon. Kriya sat beside him, her legs folded beneath her, lost in thought.

“You know… when I dance, it feels like the only time I’m truly myself,” she murmured, her voice soft yet filled with meaning.

Rey turned to look at her, the words sinking into his chest. “You are yourself, Kriya. And you’re… extraordinary.”

She smiled, tucking a loose curl behind her ear. “You say that like you mean it.”

For a second, Rey hesitated. Did he? Was it still just a game?

He forced a smirk. “Of course I do. I’m not that bad, am I?”

Kriya chuckled and playfully nudged his shoulder. “Hmm… maybe just a little.”

Their laughter faded into silence, but it was a silence filled with something unspoken. Rey knew he was getting too close. He knew he should pull away. But every time she looked at him with those bright, trusting eyes, something inside him cracked.

Another evening, in the dimly lit dance studio, she pulled him into an impromptu routine. “Come on, show me what you got,” she challenged, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Rey smirked. “You sure you can handle me?”

“Try me.”

The music started, and as they moved together, their bodies fit like two pieces of a puzzle. It was effortless, intoxicating. He lifted her, twirling her through the air before setting her down gently. Their faces were inches apart, their breaths mingling.

Kriya’s voice was barely a whisper. “You feel it too, don’t you?”

Rey clenched his jaw. He couldn’t do this. Not with her.

“It’s just dance, Kriya,” he lied.

She tilted her head, her fingers lightly brushing against his chest. “Then why does it feel like something more?”

He had no answer. Because, for the first time, he wasn’t sure if this was all an act anymore.

--------

To be continued.

Chapter 2

प्यार या धोखा?

A Night That Changed Everything

That night changed everything.

What had started as a simple dance retreat turned into something neither of them had foreseen. A sudden downpour forced them to seek shelter deep in the jungle, where an abandoned hut stood, barely holding against the raging wind. The rhythmic patter of rain against the leaves filled the silence between them, but the fire burning in their eyes had nothing to do with the cold.

Kriya sat near the flickering flames, rubbing her arms as the chill seeped through the gaps in the wooden walls. "You think they’ll find us by morning?"

Rey leaned against a pillar, watching her. The firelight cast golden hues on her face, making her look almost unreal. "Maybe. You scared?"

She turned to him, her lips curling into a faint smile. "Not when I’m with you."

Something inside him snapped.

The space between them disappeared in an instant. One moment, they were simply looking at each other; the next, Rey was pulling her into his arms, his lips crashing against hers.

She gasped but didn’t pull away. Instead, she melted into him, her fingers threading through his hair, her touch igniting a fire he had fought so hard to control.

"Kriya…"

He should stop. He had to stop. But the way she whispered his name, the way her hands trembled against his skin—it was too much. He was losing himself in her.

"Don’t stop," she murmured, her breath warm against his jawline.

His control shattered.

The world outside ceased to exist. The rain, the thunder, the cold—all of it faded into insignificance as their bodies intertwined. Clothes were lost, breathless gasps filled the air, and for the first time, it wasn’t about deception. It wasn’t about revenge.

It was about them.

For one night, Rey allowed himself to believe the lie—that this was real. That the plan didn’t exist. That the girl in his arms wasn’t the daughter of the man who had destroyed his father. That he wasn’t supposed to break her.

That he wasn’t supposed to be falling in love with her.

Under the vast canopy of stars, they became one.

The End Before It Began

Rey woke up to an eerie silence. The warmth beside him was gone.

His brows furrowed as he reached out, expecting to find Kriya still wrapped in the remnants of their shared night. Instead, his fingers touched emptiness.

"Kriya?" His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

No response.

A strange unease settled in his chest. He turned, his heart pounding faster than it should. And then—his world came crashing down.

Kriya lay still. Too still.

Her skin, once flushed with warmth, was now pale, lifeless. Her lips, which had whispered his name just hours ago, were parted slightly—as if frozen mid-breath.

Rey’s breath hitched. His hands trembled as he reached for her wrist, pressing his fingers against the delicate skin, searching. Hoping.

Nothing.

The silence was deafening.

"Kriya," he whispered again, this time more desperate, shaking her gently. "Hey… wake up."

Still nothing.

Rey’s chest tightened, panic seizing him. He shook her harder. "Kriya, stop messing around. Wake up!"

His voice cracked, breaking under the weight of fear clawing at his throat. But she remained motionless.

A choked sob escaped him as his hands cupped her face—cold. Too cold. The warmth of the night before had vanished, leaving behind an unbearable emptiness.

No. No, this couldn't be happening.

His mind raced, searching for answers, for an explanation—anything but this unbearable truth staring him in the face. But there was nothing. No warning. No struggle.

Just Kriya.

Gone.

A scream built in his throat, but all that escaped was a strangled gasp.

She was dead.

And the worst part?

He had no idea how.

---------

To be continued.

Chapter 3

मोहब्बत या साज़िश?

Rey knelt beside Kriya’s lifeless body, his hands trembling as he caressed her cold, pale face. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. He had vowed to break her, to make her feel the same pain his father endured. But not like this. Not like this.

His chest tightened as realization sank in. Revenge had never been the real reason he stayed close to her. Somewhere along the way, amidst the fiery arguments, stolen glances, and undeniable chemistry, he had fallen for her. And now, the very person he had once seen as his enemy was lying still before him.

A strangled sob escaped his throat. He had wanted to see her suffer, not… disappear.

But no one could know.

If the world found out Kriya was dead, there would be questions—questions he wouldn’t have answers to. He couldn’t let suspicion fall on him. He had to think fast.

With a heavy heart, he made a decision.

Kriya Ghai wouldn’t be dead. She would simply… vanish.

The Disappearance of Kriya Ghai

Rey carefully crafted a story—one that would leave no room for doubt. He told everyone that Kriya had left college and the city, choosing to walk away from everything. Her dreams, her friendships, even… him.

To make it believable, he forged a goodbye letter in her name, addressed to Swayam.

"Swayam,
By the time you read this, I’ll be gone. I can’t stay anymore. I’ve realized I don’t belong here, not in this city, not in this life. I’m sorry for leaving without saying goodbye, but I need to find myself. Please don’t look for me. Take care of the gang… and Rey."

The final touch was the hardest. He spread the word about their "breakup," feigning heartbreak whenever his friends consoled him. He had spent sleepless nights perfecting the illusion, making it seem as if Kriya had walked away by choice.

But the truth?

The truth haunted him every single day.

Six Months Later

Life at the academy had returned to normal—at least, on the surface. The gang had moved on, though an unspoken void lingered in their hearts.

And then, it happened.

The music blared in the studio, and the doors swung open as a girl entered, dancing with effortless grace. Her movements were fluid, each step filled with confidence. The gang watched, mesmerized.

Rey, however, felt his breath hitch.

Déjà vu.

The way she moved, the passion in her dance—it was exactly like… her.

A strange uneasiness settled in his chest. His heart pounded as his gaze remained fixed on the girl, every movement pulling him deeper into memories he had buried. He clenched his fists as flashes of Kriya stormed his mind—the way she had danced that very first day, the way she had looked at him with that fiery determination.

And then—she turned.

The gang gasped in unison.

Rey froze.

The girl, standing before them, was Kriya.

No. It couldn’t be.

It wasn’t possible.

But there she was.

Alive.

The Truth Unfolds

Rey stormed out of the studio, his mind spinning. It was impossible. Kriya was… gone. He had seen her lifeless body with his own eyes.

Then how?

"Rey."

That voice.

He turned sharply, his breath caught in his throat as he saw her standing there, watching him with the same unreadable expression she always had.

"How?" His voice barely came out. "You were dead, Kriya. I— I saw you."

A small smirk played on her lips. "That’s what I wanted you to believe."

His blood ran cold. "What?"

"I knew, Rey. I knew about your revenge plan. I found out everything." Her voice was steady, but her eyes held a glint of something softer—something he wasn’t ready to face. "I had to leave before you could destroy me. So I made sure you wouldn’t follow."

Rey felt the ground shift beneath him. "You… you faked your death?"

She nodded. "It was the only way."

His heart pounded with a mix of anger, relief, and something else—something deeper. She had outplayed him, just as he had planned to do to her. But instead of hating her, all he felt was an overwhelming need to hold her.

"You don’t get to do that," he whispered, stepping closer. "You don’t get to disappear and come back like nothing happened."

Kriya’s gaze softened. "And you don’t get to play with my life just because of your father’s past."

Silence.

Then, she took a step forward, and for the first time, Rey saw it—not just the fiery, determined Kriya, but the girl who had loved him despite everything.

"I didn’t just come back, Rey," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I came back for you."

The walls he had built around himself shattered. Without thinking, he pulled her into his arms, holding her as if she would disappear again.

She didn’t.

This time, she was here to stay.

The Final Dance

As the days passed, the wounds of the past began to heal. Rey and Kriya found their way back to each other, not as enemies, but as something more. Something real.

The rivalry was gone.

The deception was over.

And under the same stars that had once witnessed their heartbreak, they danced together once again.

Not as a game.

Not as a plan.

But as love.

---------

The End.

Holy sh*t—

I am at the loss of words…

Never would I have imagined the prompt to be shaped like this

I’m blown

Thank you so much!

I’ve enjoyed this thoroughly!

Every time I felt there’s some loophole, you’d surprise me by answering my questions in the next moment!

Love it to the core, thanks once again! 🫶🏻🩷

Kriya is his target for revenge. But why her? Why not punish the person responsible instead of the daughter?

The plan was good until it started to unravel. His own heart is betraying him.

part 2

What happened to her? Did she have a medical condition?

part 3

What a twist! She knew and played her own game. How did she fake it though? It was very convincing.