Chapter 2: Trending Trouble

Early the next morning, my manager woke me up before I’d even opened my eyes, dragging me off to record another reality show.

He banged on my door like a municipal worker collecting water bills, yelling, “Utho, Arjun! We’ll get stuck in Western Express traffic!” I groaned, wishing I could just sleep for another hour. The city was barely awake, but my work never stopped.

Not long after Ananya hung up last night, she shamelessly called again.

It was past midnight, and I was barely awake. My phone vibrated, and it was her again, like she couldn’t stay angry for more than five minutes.

Her reason? Chhotu Shaitan missed his dad.

She put the phone near his snout, and I heard him whimper. “See, he’s crying for you, Arjun!” she said. My heart melted, and I tried not to let it show in my voice.

Slumped tiredly in my chair, I checked the trending searches out of habit.

Scrolling through my phone with one eye open, I saw the notifications flooding in. Social media was already buzzing.

Didn’t expect the top three trending topics were all about Ananya.

#LittlePrincess Kabir Malhotra Late Night Soft Launch#

#LittlePrincess Late Night Dog Heist#

#Kabir Malhotra Responds and Admits Relationship#

#LittlePrincess Kabir Malhotra Good News Coming Soon#

#Kabir Singh Regrets Bullying the Imperial Son-in-Law#

When I saw the last topic, I burst out laughing.

I nearly spat out my toothpaste. “Imperial Son-in-Law”? Is this a Mughal-E-Azam sequel? People on the internet, I tell you.

Who came up with that title? Isn’t it awkward?

Like, seriously, what is this—family drama or a Game of Thrones episode set in Bandra?

Imperial son-in-law? Then what am I, the retired Raja?

I rolled my eyes so hard, I thought they’d get stuck. Maybe next time they’ll call me Maharaj Arjun Singh, First of His Name.

Ever since Kabir Malhotra debuted, every time he trends, I get dragged in for comparison, as if I’m always snatching his projects and getting a bad rap.

No matter what I do, my name is always paired with his. The comments always pit us against each other—two ‘self-made’ boys, as if we’re rivals in some 90s film.

I followed the comments and opened Kabir Malhotra’s Instagram.

His latest post was a selfie from last night, abs on full display.

[Wuwu, my dog was taken away by his mum, I’m so lonely.]

Posted half an hour after Ananya’s post.

He even tagged her.

A shameless move, if you ask me. Clout-chasing at its finest.

That night, trending searches exploded, with tons of big accounts reposting.

Some netizens even edited together clips of the two that had nothing to do with each other.

[OMG, my two favourites are really together!]

[Three months ago, some paparazzi said they went to Manali for skiing. Little Princess denied going with Kabir, but now—slap in the face, haha.]

[Kabir, are you going public because there’s good news coming?]

[Little Princess is so humble in front of Kabir, reduced to midnight dog heists, haha.]

[Little Princess spoils Kabir so much, I’m jealous.]

Me: “……”

Last night, Ananya even stole Kabir’s dog?

But didn’t he say in an interview that he’s scared of dogs and would never own one?

I remembered that video where Kabir refused to even touch a street puppy. Now suddenly he’s a dog dad? Wah, what a transformation.