Devil's Bride

His Absence

The early morning mist clung to the ground, softening the world in a haze of melancholy. The air was still, as if even nature mourned the departure of the man who stood at the edge of the village, his silhouette sharp against the dim light of dawn. Ayaan stood next to his sleek car, the only reminder of the world he belonged to—a world far removed from this serene place.

His grandfather, standing a few paces away, watched him closely, the lines of worry etched deep into his face. “You’re doing the right thing,” the old man said, his voice softer than usual. “But leaving her behind doesn’t mean you’ve let her go, Ayaan. I see it in your eyes. You’re not ready to forget her.”

Ayaan’s jaw tightened. He looked away, his gaze falling on the distant hills that cradled the village, their beauty marred by the ache in his chest.

“I’m not asking for your understanding, grandfather,” Ayaan said, his tone firm yet laced with pain. “But listen to me carefully. Keep her away from me. Make sure she stays in this village, with her people, in this light that she belongs to. If she ever steps into my world, there won’t be a second chance. I’ll claim her, and no force on this earth will stop me.”

His grandfather’s face went hard,
and didn’t respond. He couldn’t. The truth of those words was too heavy, and it wasn’t a burden he could carry right now.

Ayaan opened the car door, he paused, his hand resting on the frame. Without looking back, he said, “She’s your light, your life. Keep her that way. I’m leaving now, but this is your last chance to keep her safe"

The finality of his words hung in the air as he slipped into the driver’s seat, closing the door with a resolute thud. The engine roared to life, a sharp contrast to the quiet of the village.

As the car sped down the dirt road, leaving behind the simple houses, the fields, and the life he had briefly glimpsed, Ayaan felt an ache that was sharper than anything he had known. He clenched the steering wheel, his knuckles white, as he fought against the urge to turn back.

Every memory of Maya played in his mind—the way she laughed, her innocent questions, the warmth of her presence. She had been a light in his world of shadows, a beacon he had never expected to find. And now, he was leaving her behind.

The empire waited for him in Mumbai, but it felt like an empty throne. Power, wealth, influence—none of it seemed enough anymore. He had everything, yet he felt hollow. Because what he wanted most, he couldn’t have. Not without destroying her.

Back in the house, Ayaan’s grandfather stood at the window, watching the dust settle on the road where Ayaan’s car had disappeared. His heart was heavy, torn between relief and sorrow. He had seen the change in his grandson, the way Maya had softened him, had brought a piece of humanity back into a man who had been hardened by the world. But he also knew that Ayaan’s world wasn’t one Maya could survive in.

He glanced toward the small courtyard, where Maya had begun her morning chores, blissfully unaware of the storm that had just passed. She hummed a soft tune, her face glowing with the innocence and happiness that only someone like her could possess.

The old man sighed deeply, his heart heavy with the responsibility Ayaan had left him with. He had to protect her—not just from the world, but from the man who had just driven away.

I hope you know what you’re doing, Ayaan, he thought silently. Because if she ever finds out... I don’t know if either of you will survive the consequences.

The morning unfolded like any other in the quiet village, with birds chirping in the trees and the faint aroma of wet earth from the previous night’s dew. But for Maya, something felt off, like a missing piece of a puzzle she couldn’t quite place.