Sacred Games Of Twisted Fate {18+}

THE JEALOUSY OF THE PLAYBOY

***author's pov ***

Payal's smile faltered as she watched Daksh’s blatant display of affection toward the girl beside him. The way he held her close, and the smirk on his face, was a clear message that he enjoyed provoking her. It was obvious to her that Daksh knew exactly how much his behavior affected her, and he seemed to take pleasure in it.

The sight stung, and Payal struggled to maintain her composure. She took a deep breath, trying to hide her hurt behind a mask of indifference.

“You certainly know how to flaunt your victories,” Payal said, her voice steady but tinged with underlying pain. “Enjoying the limelight, I see.”

Daksh’s smirk didn’t waver. He gave the girl beside him a reassuring squeeze before turning his full attention back to Payal. “Oh, it’s all in good fun, Payal. You should come and join us sometime. There’s always room for more.”

His words were laced with a hint of mockery, clearly enjoying the discomfort he was causing. He leaned in slightly, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of mischief and challenge. “But if you’re not interested, I’m sure I’ll have plenty of other admirers around.”

The taunt was deliberate, meant to remind Payal of her place in his world—something he enjoyed asserting regularly. Despite his casual demeanor, there was a hint of satisfaction in his eyes, knowing he had the power to affect her so deeply.

Daksh raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening as he noticed Rayash’s arrival. His eyes flickered with annoyance; it seemed like Rayash always showed up whenever he tried to get close to Payal.

“Rayash,” Daksh said with a casual tone, “You really know how to make an entrance. What’s up?”

Rayash shot Daksh a wary glance, clearly unimpressed by his demeanor. “Just keeping an eye out. Seems like you’re having quite a show.”

Daksh chuckled, wrapping his arm around the girl next to him and giving Rayash a dismissive wave. “Yeah, well, some of us know how to have fun. Maybe you should try it sometime.”

Payal’s discomfort was palpable, and she shifted uncomfortably, torn between her feelings and wanting to avoid further confrontation.

Rayash chuckled, nodding in agreement with Daksh's taunt. He then casually placed an arm around Payal’s shoulder, trying to offer her some comfort and subtly assert his presence.

“Yeah, maybe we should show Daksh how it’s done,” Rayash said with a light-hearted tone. “We’ve got better things to do than deal with arrogant show-offs.”

Payal looked at Rayash with a mixture of gratitude and unease, clearly relieved by his presence but still visibly upset by the situation with Daksh. Daksh, however, didn’t seem fazed, his smirk still in place as he watched the exchange with a mix of amusement and irritation.

Daksh's eyes flickered with a hint of annoyance as he noticed Rayash's hand resting on Payal’s shoulder. The casual familiarity of the gesture irritated him, causing his smirk to falter slightly. His eyes darkened with a mix of jealousy and frustration as he observed the scene.

“Looks like Rayash is getting pretty comfortable,” Daksh remarked, his voice laced with a touch of disdain. “You might want to keep a closer eye on him, Payal. Wouldn’t want any misunderstandings.”

Payal, sensing the tension in Daksh’s tone, shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. Rayash, noticing the change in Daksh’s demeanor, tightened his grip on Payal’s shoulder slightly, offering a reassuring squeeze.

Payal, choosing to ignore Daksh’s taunts, shifted her attention to Rayash. "Thanks for coming over," she said, trying to regain her composure. "I really needed a break from all this."

Rayash nodded understandingly. “Anytime, Payal. Let’s not let Daksh ruin our day,” he said, casting a sidelong glance at Daksh, who still looked visibly irritated.

Daksh, feeling snubbed, clenched his jaw but decided not to push further. He shot one last smirk in their direction before turning on his heel and walking away, his mood darkened by the encounter.

Daksh stormed away from the campus, his anger simmering as he thought about Payal’s indifference and Rayash’s presence. In his fury, he shoved the girl who had been walking too close to him, not caring about her surprised gasp.

He stormed through the college grounds, his mind racing. How dare Payal let someone like Rayash touch her? The thought of her with someone else, especially someone he considered an idiot, ignited a fiery rage within him. He couldn’t understand why she seemed so unaffected by his provocations and instead turned to Rayash for comfort.

His mood remained foul as he continued his walk, his anger making him even more determined to prove his superiority and regain control of the situation.

Payal sat quietly with a book in her hand, trying to find solace in its pages. Despite her efforts to focus, her mind kept drifting back to Daksh and the way he had acted earlier. Her heart ached with a mix of frustration and sadness.

Rayash, seated beside her, noticed her distracted demeanor. He knew Payal had feelings for Daksh, but he couldn’t help but feel that Daksh didn’t deserve her—especially given his playboy reputation and the way he had treated her. Rayash valued Payal’s kindness and deserved better than someone who used his charm to manipulate and hurt.

He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, trying to offer her some support without saying a word. His presence was a silent reminder that not everyone was like Daksh, and he genuinely cared about her well-being.

Rayash winced slightly as the ball hit his shoulder. He looked up and saw Daksh and his friends watching from a distance. Daksh's eyes were cold and filled with a mix of amusement and disdain. It was clear that Daksh had intentionally thrown the ball to get his attention.

Payal glanced at Rayash with concern, sensing the tension between them. Rayash, trying to stay composed, gave a reassuring nod to her before turning his gaze back to Daksh.

Daksh sauntered over with a smirk, his friends trailing behind him. “Hey Rayash,” he said with a mockingly friendly tone. “Looks like you’re having a good time with Payal.” His eyes flickered with a hint of challenge.

Rayash didn’t respond immediately, choosing to focus on Payal instead. He could feel the weight of Daksh’s presence but refused to let it ruin the moment. He tightened his grip on Payal’s shoulder, offering silent support.

Daksh’s smirk widened, clearly enjoying the discomfort he was causing. “So, how’s it going?” he asked Rayash, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “I see you’ve got quite the protective streak.”

Rayash took a deep breath, trying to keep his cool. “Just trying to be a good friend,” he replied calmly, though his eyes betrayed a hint of irritation.

Daksh’s jaw tightened as he noticed Rayash’s hand on Payal’s shoulder. His gaze narrowed, and his demeanor hardened. He took a step closer, his voice dripping with contempt.

“Looks like you’re really close with Payal,” Daksh said, his tone cold and challenging. “It’s funny how things work out, isn’t it?”

Rayash met Daksh’s stare with a steady gaze. “Payal is my friend. I’m just here to support her.”

Daksh’s eyes flickered with a mix of irritation and possessiveness. “Well, I wouldn’t want to overstep boundaries,” he said with a forced smile. “But maybe you should remember who you’re dealing with.”

Payal, sensing the rising tension, shifted uncomfortably but kept her gaze fixed on Rayash. She tried to intervene, “Daksh, can we not do this here?”

Daksh’s smirk faded slightly as he turned his attention to Payal. “Fine, if you say so,” he said, still carrying an air of condescension. He then turned on his heel, his friends following him as he walked away, leaving behind a palpable sense of unease.