Sitting on the plush sofa, I felt the weight of the evening settle over me, pressing against my chest like a tangible force. Vedant had led me here, introduced me to some of AVS's female partners, and then drifted away to join a group of men. I watched him from the corner of my eye, his hand wrapped around a wine glass, laughing and conversing as if he belonged to this world of opulence and power. A world where I still felt like an intruder.