Devil's Bride

The Dream

As they stepped out of the private screening room, the air between Maya and Ayaan was thick with unspoken emotions. Maya, still slightly embarrassed about scratching Ayaan during the movie, kept glancing at his hand, where faint red marks lingered.

“I really am sorry…” she whispered again, her voice shy.

Ayaan smirked, casually slipping his hands into his pockets. “You’ve apologized enough, Maya,” he said smoothly. “If anything, you’ve given me proof of your… unique way of holding on to people.”

Maya’s cheeks flushed, and she was about to retort when a familiar voice broke through the moment.

“There you are, Maya!”

Both Maya and Ayaan turned to see Keerthi approaching, her shopping bags swinging in both hands and an amused smile on her face. “I’ve been looking all over for you!” she exclaimed, completely oblivious to the charged atmosphere between them.

Maya stepped back slightly, as if trying to distance herself from Ayaan. “Keerthi! I—I was just...”

“Watching a movie?” Keerthi finished for her, glancing at Ayaan with an arched brow. Her tone was light, but there was curiosity in her gaze. “And with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Mysterious here, huh?”

Maya stammered, but Ayaan cut in smoothly. “I was just keeping her company,” he said, his tone cool but tinged with amusement. “She seemed a little out of her depth.”

Keerthi chuckled. “That sounds like Maya.” Turning to her friend, she added, “We should head back. It’s getting late.”

Maya nodded, a little reluctantly. She turned to Ayaan, her lips parting as if to say something, but the words didn’t come. Instead, she offered a soft smile. “Thank you... for everything.”

Ayaan’s eyes softened, though his expression remained composed. “Anytime,” he said, his voice low.

As Keerthi grabbed Maya’s arm, ready to lead her away, Ayaan spoke again. “Wait.”

Both girls turned to look at him.

“You’re not traveling back alone,” he said firmly, his commanding tone leaving no room for argument. He took out his phone and made a quick call, speaking a few curt words before hanging up.

“A car will be waiting for you outside,” he informed them. “It’ll take you both to your hostel safely.”

Keerthi raised an eyebrow, impressed but a little wary. “That’s... thoughtful of you.”

Ayaan didn’t respond to her, his focus entirely on Maya. “Make sure you rest,” he said softly, his voice dropping to an almost intimate tone. “And don’t overthink. The scratches will heal.”

Maya’s cheeks reddened again as Keerthi tugged her away. “Come on, Maya,” she teased. “Before I melt from the heat between you two.”

Maya shot her friend a mortified look, but she couldn’t resist one last glance at Ayaan. He stood there, tall and unwavering, his gaze following her as she walked away.

As the girls exited the mall and got into the waiting car, Maya couldn’t help but feel the lingering warmth of his presence. Keerthi was chattering away about her shopping spree, but Maya’s thoughts were far from the mundane.

She couldn’t stop thinking about the way Ayaan had looked at her, the way his voice had softened just for her. And she couldn’t help but wonder if this was what it felt like to truly fall for someone.

The soft glow of the moon seeped through the curtains of Maya’s hostel room, casting gentle patterns on the walls. The city outside was alive with distant honks and faint murmurs, but inside, Maya was lost in her dreams.