The keeper of time

Aryan's Point of View

The Burden of Power

Life as Prime Minister wasn't glamorous—it was an endless series of calculated moves, balancing the weight of a nation on his shoulders. Aryan thrived on control. It was how he had climbed to the top, navigating the treacherous world of politics like a master chess player. Every day, decisions had to be made, alliances built, threats neutralized. He was used to people obeying, used to his word being the last.

But this time-travel mission had thrown him off. It was messy, unpredictable, and the one thing Aryan despised most: out of control. He hated not knowing what came next. And then there was her—the most unpredictable part of all.

Anaya: The Storm He Couldn't Tame

From the first moment Aryan met Anaya, he knew she wasn't like anyone he'd ever dealt with. She had a fire in her that matched his own, but instead of using it to gain power or influence, she just... pushed back. Hard. She didn't care that he was the Prime Minister. She didn't respect his authority the way others did. And he couldn't decide if that infuriated or intrigued him more.

Their first clash had been almost immediate.

"You don't get it, Aryan. This isn't just a political mission," Anaya had argued, her eyes blazing. "This is about something bigger, something we can't even fully understand yet."

He had crossed his arms, his jaw tight. "And you think acting like a rebellious teenager is going to help? I've dealt with crises far bigger than this. You're reckless."

She hadn't backed down. In fact, she had stepped closer, meeting his gaze head-on. "Reckless? I'm the only one here willing to take risks. You're so obsessed with controlling everything that you can't see beyond your own power."

Her words had stung, not because they were true—of course they weren't true—but because of the way she said them. Like she saw through him, through the carefully constructed walls he had spent years building. She challenged him, and he wasn't used to being challenged. Not like this.

Their bickering had only escalated since then. Every conversation felt like a game of mental chess, and she never gave him an inch. That both frustrated and fascinated him. He wasn't sure if he wanted to win her over or just shut her up.

Attraction He Didn't Want to Admit

Despite his annoyance with her, Aryan couldn't deny that Anaya had gotten under his skin. She was different—different from the polished, perfect people he was used to dealing with. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind, wasn't afraid to argue with him. And something about that, about her raw honesty, was refreshing. Dangerous, but refreshing.

There were moments—quiet moments when she wasn't fighting him—when Aryan found himself noticing things he shouldn't. The way her hair fell in wild waves around her shoulders, the intensity in her dark eyes when she spoke, the determination in her posture. She wasn't just strong-willed, she was... something more. Something that made it hard for him to focus on the mission.

One night, after yet another heated exchange, Aryan had caught himself staring at her. She was standing by the fire, lost in thought, her face illuminated by the warm glow. Her features were sharp, but there was a softness in the way she gazed into the flames. For a brief second, he had wondered what it would be like to truly get to know her, beyond the banter and sarcasm.

"You're staring," she had said without turning her head, her voice cutting through the quiet.

He had quickly composed himself, masking his surprise. "Just wondering when you'll stop being so stubborn."

She had smirked, meeting his gaze with a challenge in her eyes. "When you stop being such a control freak."

Her retort had made him chuckle despite himself, and he hated how easily she could get under his skin.

The Push and Pull

Every time they spoke, Aryan found himself caught between irritation and intrigue. He hated that she could rile him up so easily, but he also found himself wanting her to. No one else in his life dared to challenge him the way she did. He flirted with her sometimes, partly because he enjoyed seeing her reaction and partly because it allowed him to hide how much she was really getting to him.

But behind the teasing, Aryan couldn't shake the suspicion that Anaya was hiding something. He had spent his entire life reading people, knowing when someone wasn't telling the full truth. And Anaya... there was something she wasn't saying. Something that made him wary of trusting her completely.

That didn't stop him from being drawn to her, though. And that was the real problem. He knew better than to get involved with someone he didn't fully trust. But no matter how hard he tried to keep things professional, there was an undeniable tension between them.

Arjun: The Complication

Then there was Arjun.

Aryan wasn't blind to the way Arjun looked at Anaya. The kid wore his feelings on his sleeve—every time Anaya walked into a room, Aryan could see it. The way Arjun's eyes lingered on her, the way he stood a little too close, as if he wanted to protect her. It was obvious that Arjun had feelings for her, even if he hadn't admitted it to himself yet.

Aryan couldn't blame him. Anaya was... compelling. But Aryan wasn't the type to let emotions get in the way of the mission. That was the difference between him and Arjun. Arjun was too soft-hearted, too emotional. Aryan had learned long ago to keep his feelings in check.

Still, there was a part of him that couldn't help but feel a twinge of something when he saw the way Arjun looked at her. It wasn't jealousy—at least, that's what he told himself—but it made things more complicated. The last thing they needed was a love triangle in the middle of a mission that could change the course of history.

And yet, Aryan could feel the tension building. Not just between him and Anaya, but between him and Arjun. Arjun clearly didn't trust him, and Aryan didn't blame him. He hadn't exactly gone out of his way to make friends.

But that didn't mean Aryan was going to back down.

Tangled Feelings

As they traveled deeper into their journey, Aryan found it harder to focus solely on the mission. His thoughts kept drifting back to Anaya. To the way she looked when she was lost in thought, to the way her voice sounded when she threw another sarcastic remark his way. He hated how much space she was taking up in his mind, hated that he couldn't figure her out.

And yet, he couldn't stop.

Anaya was a puzzle, one that he wasn't sure he wanted to solve, but he couldn't ignore. She was brave, defiant, and maddeningly attractive in a way that made it hard for him to maintain the control he was so used to having.

But Aryan knew one thing: he wasn't going to let his feelings—or anyone else's—get in the way of their mission. Whatever was happening between him, Anaya, and Arjun... it would have to wait.

At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

The Next Move

For now, Aryan would keep his guard up. He had to. There was too much at stake. But even as he tried to push his feelings aside, he couldn't help but wonder where this journey would lead them.

And more importantly, where it would lead him and Anaya.