Devil's Bride

Dinner with Ayaan

Maya stood in front of the full-length mirror, her reflection staring back at her with a mix of nervousness and excitement. It was her first official dinner with Ayaan, and while she was looking forward to the evening, she couldn’t deny the flutter of anxiety in her stomach. She had no idea what to expect, but one thing was certain: she wanted to look nice, but not too flashy. After all, Ayaan had made it clear that he enjoyed teasing her, and she didn’t want to give him too much material for that.

The door to her room opened, and Keerthi entered with a mischievous smile on her face, holding up a stunning dress. "Maya, this is the one. It's perfect for tonight. You’ll look incredible."

Maya’s eyes widened as she looked at the outfit—a deep red, strapless gown with a slit on the side that would leave little to the imagination. It was beautiful, but too much for Maya’s liking. She shook her head firmly.

“I’m not wearing that,” Maya replied, a little too quickly, feeling her cheeks warm.

Keerthi frowned, looking at Maya with playful disbelief. “Why not? Ayaan will definitely love it! You need to show a little more... flair. It’s a special dinner, Maya. Live a little.”

Maya stepped back, trying to explain herself. “I’m not trying to impress him like that. I just... want to look nice, not—” She stumbled over her words, feeling embarrassed, but Keerthi was already pulling out another dress.

Keerthi raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied, but she didn’t press the matter further. “Alright then, this one.” She held up a more modest dress—mid-length, a soft blush pink, with delicate lace sleeves and a high collar. It had a modern feel with an understated elegance, giving Maya a sense of confidence without compromising her comfort.

Maya's eyes lit up when she saw the dress. It was just the right balance—simple but beautiful. “This one is perfect!” she said with a relieved smile.

Keerthi nodded approvingly. “That’s more like it. You’re still going to look gorgeous, Maya, and you don’t have to show off to do it.” She helped Maya slip into the dress and carefully fixed her hair. The dress was elegant and feminine, hugging her figure just enough to give her confidence, but it wasn’t overly revealing, just the way she wanted it.

Ayaan’s black limousine arrived promptly at the front of Maya’s building. When he saw Maya stepping out, his breath caught in his throat for a moment. She was stunning, but not in the way he expected. The dress was modest yet modern, accentuating her natural beauty with a quiet elegance that felt even more captivating to him. His eyes darkened slightly as he watched her approach.

“You look…” He paused, trying to control the effect she was having on him. “You look beautiful, Maya.”

Maya blushed at his compliment, her fingers nervously tugging at the edge of her dress. “Thank you,” she replied, trying to hide her flustered state. She had never been the type to enjoy attention, and Ayaan’s gaze made her feel a bit self-conscious.

Ayaan offered her his arm with a confident, knowing smile. “Shall we?”

The soft glow of the streetlights illuminated Ayaan's sharp features. He was wearing a crisp white shirt, the fabric pristine and perfectly fitted to his broad frame. Maya’s breath caught in her throat for a second, the sight of him in that white shirt stirring something deep inside her. It reminded her of the day she had carelessly ruined his last one—the day she had ironed it so badly that it had left a burn mark on the front.

She hadn’t forgotten that moment, even though it felt like a lifetime ago. She had been embarrassed, feeling so foolish for messing up something so simple. The memory resurfaced unexpectedly, and she couldn’t help but laugh softly to herself.