𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬: अनुरागी

❀ 2

The damp, suffocating air of the basement clung to the walls like an unspoken truth. In the center of the room, a man was tied to a wooden chair, his body shaking with terror. His face was contorted in fear, beads of sweat mixing with the blood from the gash across his forehead. He knew this was the end.

Across from him, DD stood, her black boots clicking against the concrete floor. She held a knife, the blade glinting under the dim light. Her expression was calm, disturbingly calm. She wasn't in a hurry. She never was.

"Please..." the man begged, his voice weak, broken. "I'll tell you everything... Just don’t—"

"Ssshhh..." DD crouched down, her face inches from his. "Zyada mat bol. Sunne ka mann nahi hai." (Don’t talk too much. I don’t feel like listening.)

The man whimpered as DD tilted her head, observing him like he was a piece of art to be evaluated. 

"You trafficked girls," she said, her voice cold and unwavering. "You sold them like they were objects, ruining their lives for money. Ab teri baari hai." (Now it's your turn.)

Before he could protest, DD pressed the blade to his skin, peeling it off in long, agonizing strips. His screams filled the room, echoing off the concrete walls. But she didn’t stop. She didn’t flinch. 

"Painful, isn’t it?" she murmured, pulling another strip of skin from his arm. The man thrashed in his chair, his eyes wide with terror, but the restraints held him tight.

When she was done, when his body was raw and bleeding, she dragged him toward the large pot of boiling charcoal. 

"I wish I could say this is going to be quick," she said, pushing him closer to the bubbling heat, "but that would be a lie."

His screams reached a fever pitch as she plunged him into the boiling pit, his skin searing as the charcoal burned into his flesh. It was a brutal end, but for DD, it was justice.

Once the job was done, she wiped her hands clean, her face has no emotion. The stench of burning flesh still lingered in the air, but DD didn't care. She walked out of the basement, her mind already shifting to her next destination.

---

The college annual function was in full swing by the time DD arrived. The auditorium was packed with students and faculty, the atmosphere alive with excitement. DD stepped out of her car, dressed in a sleek black gown that clung to her figure in all the right ways. Her hair flowed down her back, and her makeup was flawless—an icy beauty that drew eyes wherever she went.

As she walked toward the entrance, people whispered and stared. Some admired her beauty, others her power. She was known for her sharp mind and cold heart, and men were drawn to her like moths to a flame. But she never let anyone close. 

DD didn’t care for attention. She didn’t care for anyone. Or so she thought.

Just as she was about to step onto the stage, her heel caught on the edge of the carpet, and she stumbled forward. Her heart leaped, expecting the hard impact of the ground, but instead, strong arms caught her.

She looked up and found herself face-to-face with Reyansh. His grip on her waist was firm, his expression calm. He was tall, his broad shoulders and sharp jawline impossible to miss. His eyes were dark, deep, and for a second, DD couldn’t breathe.

"Careful," he said softly, his voice low and smooth.

DD quickly composed herself, stepping back, but something inside her stirred—something she hadn’t felt before. Her heart raced, her chest tight. She was DD, the woman who had no weaknesses. She didn’t fall for anyone. But Reyansh…

"Th-thanks," she muttered, her voice uncharacteristically shaky. Shattered? DD? It was the first time she has shattered because of man.

Reyansh nodded, giving her a small, polite smile before walking away, leaving DD standing there, stunned. For the first time in her life, someone had made her heart skip a beat.

As she took her place on the stage, she found herself searching the crowd for him. Her eyes kept drifting toward where he stood at the back, talking to some students. Her pulse quickened again, and she hated it.

"What is wrong with me?" she whispered to herself.

Throughout the function, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. His calm demeanor, the way he spoke, the confidence in his posture—it all fascinated her. She was used to being in control, always knowing what to do next, but now she felt out of control, consumed by thoughts of him.

When the event finally ended, DD didn’t waste any time. She followed him outside, her steps purposeful. Reyansh was alone, heading toward the parking lot, and she caught up to him, her heels clicking against the pavement.

"PROFESSOR ," she called out.

He turned, surprised to see her. " Ms. DD? Is everything okay?"

Without hesitation, she stepped closer, her voice was ordering. "Be my boyfriend."

Reyansh blinked, clearly taken aback. "What?"

"I don’t repeat myself," she said, her eyes boring into his. "Be. My. Boyfriend."

There was a moment of stunned silence before Reyansh let out a nervous chuckle. "Ms. DD, I… I don’t think that’s—"

She cut him off, her voice unwavering. "You’re going to say no?" Her expression didn’t change, but her eyes held an intensity that was hard to ignore.

"Yes," Reyansh said, still confused by the suddenness of it all. "I don’t even know you. This is… strange."

DD tilted her head, her lips curling into a smirk. "Strange, huh?"

Reyansh gave a polite nod, clearly trying to be as respectful as possible. "I’m flattered, but no."

For a moment, she just stared at him, the smirk never leaving her face. Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Reyansh standing there in a mix of confusion and disbelief.

---

But for DD, this wasn’t the end—it was just the beginning.

She found out everything about him within days. He lived with his younger sister, who was ten years old. He had no other family. He was a man of routine, of principles. She found all of it fascinating. And that’s when the game began.

She started watching him, studying him. From a distance at first, but always close enough to see him. Reyansh didn’t know it yet, but he had become the center of her world.

"Tum mere ho, Reyansh," (You’re mine, Reyansh) she whispered to herself one night, watching him through her car window as he entered his home. " I will make sure of it.”

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