Devil's Bride

Karan Departs

The morning sun cast a warm golden glow over the village, and Maya was sitting on the porch of the outhouse, reading through her notes for the upcoming NEET exam. She had become accustomed to the quiet rhythm of life here, where the world seemed far slower and simpler than the bustling city of Mumbai.

Karan had spent the last few days getting to know the village and spending time with Maya, but today was different. The SUV was packed, and Ayaan’s grandfather had just finished giving Karan his goodbyes, his eyes filled with a mixture of affection and concern.

Maya had come to like Karan in the short time they had known each other. He was easy-going, funny, and seemed to genuinely care about her. There was a lightness in his presence that made her feel at ease, and in some ways, he had become the brother she never had.

But now, as she stood at the gate, watching him prepare to leave, something tugged at her heart. She had never been close to anyone other than her father, and even though their friendship had been short-lived, she had grown fond of Karan.

“Hey, Maya,” Karan called, his voice light and teasing as he approached her. “Take care of yourself. Study hard, and don’t let Ayaan boss you around too much.”

Maya laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with warmth. “I’ll try not to. You take care too. And don’t get into too much trouble back in Mumbai, okay?”

Karan grinned widely. “Me? Trouble? Never.” He winked. “But seriously, I’m going to miss our little chats. You’re like a little sister to me, Maya. I won’t be around, but if you ever need anything, you know where to find me.”

Maya smiled, touched by his words. “You’ll always be welcome here, Karan. Don’t be a stranger.”

Karan reached out, pulling her into a brief hug. “I’ll visit soon. Promise.”

As he got into the SUV and it started to pull away, Maya waved, watching him disappear down the dusty road. She felt a mix of sadness and gratitude, but before she could linger on it, she heard footsteps approaching from behind.

Ayaan, dressed in his usual black attire, stood at the edge of the porch, his gaze following Karan’s departure.

“Your friend’s gone,” Ayaan said, his voice carrying an odd, flat tone.

Maya nodded, giving him a small smile. “Yes, he had to go back to the city. He was really kind, Ayaan. I’ll miss him.”

Ayaan didn’t respond immediately, his eyes still fixed on the road. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought, his mind elsewhere.

Maya, sensing the shift in his demeanor, hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “Are you okay?”

Ayaan turned to look at her, his usual cold mask slipping back into place. “I’m fine.” He paused before adding, “I just don’t like goodbyes. They always feel... unnecessary.”

Maya raised an eyebrow, sensing the underlying emotion in his words. “I get it. It’s hard when people leave.”

Ayaan didn’t reply, but instead, his gaze softened as he looked around the quiet village. The earlier tension between them seemed to dissipate, replaced by an unusual quietness.

---

After a long pause, Ayaan cleared his throat, his tone shifting slightly. “Maya,” he said, his voice steady but softer than before, “I’ve been here for a few days now, but I haven’t really seen the village. I’m sure there’s more to it than just these houses and fields. Would you... show me around?”

Maya blinked in surprise. This was the first time Ayaan had asked her for something so... personal. She couldn’t hide her surprise, but she also couldn’t deny the strange flutter in her chest at the idea of spending time alone with him.

“Sure,” she said, smiling faintly. “I’d be happy to. There are a few places you might like. The village temple is beautiful in the morning light, and there’s a small pond by the edge of the woods. We could also visit the local market if you want to see how everything works around here.”

Ayaan gave a single nod, his expression still distant, though there was a subtle change in his eyes—something softer, more interested. “I’ll take your word for it. Let’s go.”

The day stretched out before them, and as Maya led Ayaan through the village, she couldn’t help but notice the way he moved—carefully, almost as if he were treading unfamiliar ground. Despite his imposing presence, the sharp edges of his usual arrogance seemed to soften when he was around her. He listened intently to her descriptions of the village, his posture relaxing as they moved deeper into the heart of the countryside.

Maya showed him the old temple first, the worn stones and intricate carvings speaking of the history and traditions of the place. The air was thick with incense, and the sound of a lone bell ringing in the distance echoed across the grounds.

Ayaan lingered at the temple entrance for a moment, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets. “It’s peaceful here,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “I didn’t expect that.”

Maya smiled. “Most people don’t expect much from small places like this. But there’s beauty in simplicity.”

Ayaan glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “I’m starting to see that.”

They walked in companionable silence for a while before heading toward the pond, the cool air of the evening settling in around them. Maya pointed out a family of ducks swimming along the shore, their soft quacking adding to the serenity of the scene.

“I used to come here when I was younger,” Maya said softly, her eyes following the ducks. “It was always my favorite place to think.”

Ayaan looked at her, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. “What did you think about?”

Maya hesitated for a moment before replying. “Everything... My future. My mother. Life. I’d come here to escape the noise in my head.” She gave a small, wistful smile. “Sometimes, I still come here when I need to think.”

Ayaan didn’t speak for a moment, the weight of her words settling in the space between them. He had never really been someone who thought about such things—his life had always been filled with noise, with the weight of responsibility and the chaos of the city. But here, in the stillness of the village, with Maya by his side, he found himself wondering what it might be like to think like her.

“So,” Maya continued, trying to break the silence with a light tone, “what do you think of village life now? Is it as dull as you thought?”

Ayaan looked at her, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “I never said it was dull,” he replied, his voice low. “It’s... different. But different doesn’t mean bad.”

Maya grinned, feeling a sense of accomplishment. “I’m glad you think so. You’ve spent so much time in the city that you didn’t even know places like this existed.”

He didn’t respond immediately, but his eyes softened as he looked at her. She’s different, too. Innocent... pure, in a way I don’t understand. But I don’t mind it.

For the rest of the afternoon, they continued their walk around the village, visiting the market where Maya explained the different spices and vegetables sold by the locals. Ayaan listened, not really caring about the market itself, but finding something oddly soothing about the way Maya spoke—her enthusiasm, her carefree nature.

As they headed back to the outhouse, the sun sinking lower in the sky, Maya glanced at Ayaan out of the corner of her eye. There was a subtle change in him, a slight shift in his demeanor. He was more relaxed than she’d ever seen him before, his cold walls a little less firm.

Maybe, just maybe, their time together was starting to have an effect on him.