Sacred Games Of Twisted Fate {18+}

*CYCLE OF CONFUSION AND DESPAIR

***AUTHOR'S POV***

Rudra had been keeping a watchful eye on Aayara, though he didn’t fully understand what was happening. He noticed how sad she looked, how her once-bright eyes had dimmed. Every time she was around Arjun, she seemed to shrink, as if weighed down by some invisible burden.

One morning, Rudra found Aayara in the kitchen, her hands shaking as she prepared breakfast. “Aayara?” he asked gently, stepping toward her.

She jumped, nearly dropping the plate in her hands. “Rudra… I didn’t see you there.”

He frowned, noticing the dark circles under her eyes. “Are you okay? You’ve seemed… off lately.”

Aayara smiled weakly, shaking her head. “I’m fine. Really.”

But Rudra wasn’t convinced. Something was wrong, and the way Arjun treated her was becoming increasingly troubling. Rudra’s protectiveness toward her was growing, though he kept his feelings to himself for now.

The next social gathering at the Oberoi mansion was a grand affair, with business partners, media, and other influential people in attendance. Aayara, once again, dressed to impress. She wore a stunning black saree that complimented her graceful figure, her hair cascading in soft waves. As she greeted the guests, she noticed the admiring looks from the people around her.

However, Arjun had been keeping his distance, barely acknowledging her presence. She tried to shake off the growing sense of isolation, focusing instead on making a good impression on the guests.

But as the evening wore on, Arjun subtly pushed her into awkward situations. At one point, he introduced her to a group of business partners, then abruptly excused himself, leaving her floundering in the conversation. She felt the weight of the guests' judgmental stares, especially when she stumbled over her words, trying to fill the silence.

Arjun watched from a distance, smirking as she struggled. He knew exactly what he was doing—letting her feel the sting of isolation while making sure she never felt truly secure around him.

By the end of the evening, Aayara felt utterly humiliated. Meera and Dia’s snide comments didn’t help, either. They whispered just loud enough for her to hear, making remarks about her past and questioning her place in Arjun’s life.

“She’s still so clueless,” Dia sneered. “Does she really think she has a chance with him?”

Meera smirked. “Poor thing, she doesn’t realize he’s just toying with her.”

Their words sliced through Aayara, and she found herself on the verge of tears. She wanted to run, to escape the suffocating pressure, but there was nowhere to go.

______________💠

Later that night, as Aayara sat in the darkened room, trying to hold back her tears, Arjun entered. He walked toward her, and for a brief moment, she thought he might comfort her. But instead, he stood in front of her, looking down with cold amusement.

“You embarrassed yourself tonight,” he said, his voice calm but cutting. “And me.”

Aayara’s throat tightened, her eyes welling with tears. “I… I tried… I didn’t mean to—”

“Stop trying, Aayara,” he interrupted, his gaze hardening. “You’ll never be good enough.”

His words broke her, and she realized, in that moment, that no matter how hard she tried, she would always fall short in his eyes. But the worst part was that she still craved his approval, still wanted him to love her.

In her most vulnerable state, Aayara found herself accidentally confiding in Rudra. One evening, after another fight with Arjun, she ran into Rudra in the hallway. Her eyes were red from crying, and she looked exhausted.

“Aayara?” Rudra’s voice was full of concern as he gently took her arm. “What’s going on?”

She hesitated, unsure of how much to tell him. But the weight of her emotions overwhelmed her, and she found herself saying, “I don’t know what to do, Rudra… I just… I feel like I’m losing myself.”

Rudra’s expression softened, his worry growing. “Aayara… you don’t have to do this. You don’t have to keep putting yourself through this.”

But Aayara shook her head, tears falling down her cheeks. “I have no choice… I love him…”

Rudra’s heart twisted at her words, knowing that Arjun didn’t deserve her love. But he didn’t say anything. Instead, he simply pulled her into a comforting embrace, holding her as she cried.

Arjun, noticing how vulnerable Aayara had become, decided to push her further into his control. He began isolating her more, subtly cutting her off from her friends and family, making her dependent on him for every bit of affection and approval.

He would sometimes pretend to be kind, offering her small moments of tenderness, only to take them away later, leaving her confused and desperate for more. Aayara’s delusion that Arjun might still love her grew stronger, even as he tightened his grip on her life.

Every time she thought she was getting closer to him, he’d push her away again, and she’d fall deeper into the cycle of confusion and despair.