Devil's Bride

Knight in Shining Armour

The following days felt different for both Ayaan and Maya. The kiss, the confession, and the quiet promise they had exchanged in the car lingered in their minds. Neither spoke of it directly, but it was there, woven into every look, every word, every silence between them.

Maya found herself smiling more often, her thoughts wandering to Ayaan at the most random moments. Even in her classes, she would catch herself doodling his name in the margins of her notes, only to blush furiously and scribble it out before anyone noticed.

Keerthi, of course, wasn’t oblivious. “You’re glowing, Maya,” she teased one afternoon, lounging on their bed with a sly grin.

“What? No, I’m not!” Maya protested, turning away to hide her flushed face.

“You totally are,” Keerthi insisted, sitting up. “And don’t think I haven’t noticed the way your phone practically buzzes non-stop these days. Late-night chats, secret smiles... Care to explain?”

Maya tried to deflect. “It’s nothing like that. Just... casual conversations.”

“Casual?” Keerthi raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Casual doesn’t make you look like you’re floating on air, girl. Spill!”

Maya hesitated, her heart racing. She wanted to share her feelings, but how could she put into words the whirlwind Ayaan had stirred in her life?

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed on the table. Keerthi pounced, grabbing it before Maya could stop her. “Oh, look who it is!” she sang, waving the screen. “Your knight in shining armor!”

“Keerthi, give it back!” Maya lunged for the phone, but Keerthi was quicker.

“No way. Not until you admit that you’re totally smitten with him,” she teased, laughing as she dodged Maya’s attempts to snatch the phone.

“Fine!” Maya blurted out, her cheeks burning. “I like him, okay? Happy now?”

Keerthi froze, her grin softening into something more genuine. “Maya,” she said gently, handing the phone back. “I’m really happy for you. But just... be careful, okay? He seems like an intense guy.”

Maya nodded, clutching the phone to her chest. “I will. Thanks, Keerthi.”

That evening, Ayaan called, his voice warm and familiar. “What took you so long to pick up?” he teased.

“I was... busy,” Maya said, her voice softer than usual.

“Busy avoiding me?” he asked, his tone mock-serious.

“No!” she said quickly, then hesitated. “I just... I didn’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” Ayaan replied, his voice dipping into that husky tone that always made her stomach flutter. “Just hearing your voice is enough.”
His words leaving her a blushing mess.

Keerthi’s suitcase sat by the door of their appartment, packed and ready for her trip. She adjusted her dupatta and glanced at Maya, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, nervously fiddling with her phone.

“Maya, I don’t feel good leaving you like this,” Keerthi said, frowning.

Maya forced a smile. “I’ll be fine, Keerthi. You’re overthinking it. I’ve locked all my apps, muted the weird number, and the warden said she’d keep an eye on me.”

“That stalker’s messages are not normal,” Keerthi replied sharply. “You need to stop downplaying this.”

“I’m handling it!” Maya shot back, though her voice wavered.

Keerthi sighed and crossed her arms. “You don’t even believe that yourself, Maya. If you won’t take it seriously, I will.”

Before Maya could protest, Keerthi grabbed her phone and scrolled to the name she wanted: Ayaan.

An hour later, Ayaan’s black luxury car screeched to a halt outside the flat . His tall, commanding frame emerged, exuding an air of authority.

Keerthi was standing by the gate, waiting for him. She ran a hand through her hair nervously as Ayaan approached her, his expression a storm of anger and concern.

“Why didn’t she tell me?” he demanded without preamble.

“She’s stubborn,” Keerthi admitted, shaking her head. “But I couldn’t leave without making sure she’d be safe.”

Ayaan’s jaw clenched as he nodded, his eyes dark with determination. “Thank you for telling me. I’ll take it from here.”

Keerthi glanced back toward the hostel. “Good luck. She’s not going to make it easy for you.”

Maya jumped when the door to her room burst open. Ayaan strode in, his expression thunderous.

“Ayaan!” she gasped, standing up in shock. “What are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here?” he repeated, his voice dangerously low. “What are you doing keeping this from me?”

Maya’s face flushed. “I didn’t want to bother you. It’s nothing serious—”

“Nothing serious?” Ayaan snapped, his voice rising. “Maya, someone is stalking you. They’re sending you threatening messages. How is that ‘nothing’?”

She shrank under his glare, but her pride wouldn’t let her back down. “I can handle it!”

“No, you can’t,” he said firmly, stepping closer. “And I’m not going to sit back and watch while you put yourself in danger.”

Maya opened her mouth to argue, but Ayaan cut her off. “Pack your things. You’re coming with me.”

Fifteen minutes later, Keerthi peeked into the room as Maya reluctantly packed her bag.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Keerthi said, raising her hands defensively. “You’re the one who refused to take this seriously. I had no choice.”

“I can’t believe you called him,” Maya grumbled, stuffing her clothes into her suitcase.

“You’ll thank me later,” Keerthi said with a wink. “Besides, I trust Ayaan to keep you safe.”

Maya’s shoulders slumped. She knew Keerthi was right, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept.

Keerthi gave her a quick hug. “I’ll call you as soon as I get to the wedding. Try not to stress too much, okay? You’re in good hands.”

With that, Keerthi left, leaving Maya to face Ayaan’s wrath alone.

The ride to Ayaan’s apartment was silent, tension hanging thick in the air. Maya sat stiffly in the passenger seat, sneaking glances at Ayaan, who was focused on the road, his jaw set in a hard line.

When they arrived, Ayaan helped her out of the car and led her to the elevator.

“You’re staying here until this stalker is dealt with,” he said as the elevator doors closed.

Maya looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry for not telling you.”

Ayaan turned to her, his gaze softening slightly. “Maya, you don’t have to face things alone. Let me help you.”

His words brought tears to her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. “Thank you,” she whispered.

As they stepped into the penthouse, Maya couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions—fear, gratitude, and something deeper that she couldn’t quite name.