Devil's Bride

The Reckoning

Ayaan stepped out of his car, his demeanor as sharp as the tailored suit he wore. The sprawling mansion before him, cold and grand, bore the memories of a childhood that he had buried deep. This was not a visit he was eager to make, but it was necessary.

The butler opened the door, bowing slightly. "Master Ayaan, they are waiting for you in the lounge."

Ayaan nodded curtly and strode in, his presence commanding attention as he entered the lavish room. Seated in various corners were the members of his family. His tyrant father, Vishal Raichand, sat at the head of the room, his eyes sharp and judgmental. Ayaan's bedridden mother, Meera, was wheeled into the corner by a nurse. His elder brother, Rohan, lounged on the sofa with his wife, Priya, and their four-year-old son, Aarav, playing with toy cars on the rug.

The tension in the room was palpable.

"Ayaan," Vishal began, his voice cold and authoritative. "It's been years since you've stepped foot here, and now you show up unannounced. What brings you back?"

Ayaan met his father's gaze head-on. " I intend to marry a girl whom I found, she hails from Chennai , from grandfathers place and I want the family's acknowledgment. That's all."

Vishal raised an eyebrow. "Marriage? To a village girl? Have you lost your mind? Do you even realize what this will do to our family's reputation?"

Ayaan clenched his jaw. "This is not about reputation. It's about me, my life, and my happiness. That girl is my choice, and no one's opinion will change that."

"You dare speak to me like this?" Vishal snapped, his voice rising. "Do you even know what it means to be a Raichand? We don't marry nobodies!"

"She's not a nobody," Ayaan retorted, his voice calm but laced with steel. "She's everything that this family is not. She's kind, genuine, and selfless. And she will be my wife, whether you support it or not."

Ayaan strolled out of the louge.

Rohan, who had been silent until now, walked towards Ayaan, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "So, the mighty Ayaan has finally found someone to soften his icy heart. And you think bringing her into this family is a good idea? She won't last a day."

Ayaan turned to his brother, his gaze unwavering. "This isn't about the family, Rohan. It's about me and her. But don't worry, I'm not asking for permission. Just a namesake acknowledgment, so she doesn't feel isolated when she enters this world."

Priya, Rohan's wife, hesitated before speaking. "Ayaan, if you love her that much, then don't bring her here. Protect her from this toxicity. You know what this house does to people."

Ayaan's lips curved into a bitter smile. "That's exactly why I'll never let her be part of this house. But she deserves to know I tried, for her sake."

As Ayaan stepped out of the room, Aarav ran up to him, tugging at his hand. "Uncle Ayaan, are you leaving already?"

Ayaan crouched down, ruffling the boy's hair. "Yes, little man. But I'll see you again soon."

Aarav pouted. "Will you bring your princess next time?"

Ayaan smiled, his heart warming at the innocence. "Maybe, buddy. Maybe."

As he walked out of the mansion, he felt a strange sense of closure. He had faced his family, and though their support was nonexistent, he knew he had something far more valuable waiting for him-Maya.

Ayaan walked out of the mansion with a purposeful stride, but inside, he was seething. The confrontation with his family had been just as bitter as he had anticipated. Yet, as much as his father's words grated on him, they were inconsequential in the face of his decision to marry Maya.

Vishal Raichand sat motionless in his chair, his fingers drumming against the polished armrest. His piercing eyes followed his youngest son's retreating figure through the window.

Rohan broke the silence. "Are you really going to oppose him in marrying that girl? You know very well that without Ayaan, the business won't survive."

Vishal's gaze shifted to Priya, and a cold realization dawned on him. Ayaan wasn't just his son; he was the backbone of the Raichand empire. The empire's vast network, both in legitimate businesses and the shadowy underworld operations, relied heavily on Ayaan's brilliance, leadership, and ruthlessness.

If Vishal openly opposed the marriage, Ayaan had the power to walk away, taking the entire empire down with him. The thought sent a shiver through Vishal's spine. For years, Ayaan had been the one to expand their reach, silence enemies, and ensure the family's dominance. His absence would leave the family vulnerable to rivals waiting to strike.

Vishal finally leaned back in his chair, his features hardening with reluctant acceptance. "If he wants to marry her, let him. But..." He paused, his tone laced with menace. "She must never interfere in our affairs. She will remain his concern and his alone."

Rohan asked. "So you're just going to let him have his way?"

Vishal's eyes sharpened. "Do you think I have a choice? Without him, everything we've built will crumble. This is not approval, Rohan; it's strategy. He can marry his village girl, but she will not step into our world."

Unaware of the silent war raging behind him, Ayaan made his way back to his car. His mind was already on Maya-her laughter, her innocence, and the way she made the world feel lighter. As his car sped down the winding roads, he felt a surge of determination.

He would marry Maya, and he would protect her at all costs. If it meant walking away from his family entirely, he was prepared to do so. Yet, the fact that Vishal hadn't outright forbidden the marriage gave Ayaan a sense of unexpected relief.

Maya was sitting in the garden of Ayaan's grandfather's house, her hands resting on her lap as she stared at the twilight sky. Her heart was heavy with the recent events, and the uncertainty of her future loomed large.

When Ayaan's car pulled up in the driveway, her eyes lit up with a mixture of relief and joy. She rose to her feet as he stepped out, his face a mixture of exhaustion and triumph.

He approached her, taking her hands in his. "It's done. Nothing and no one will stand between us now."

Maya's eyes filled with tears. "Are you sure? Your family..."

Ayaan shook his head, cupping her face gently. "The only thing I'm sure of is you. And that's all that matters."

Meanwhile, Ayaan's grandfather, who had been watching the scene unfold from the porch, smiled faintly. He had always known Ayaan was a force of nature, but seeing him fight for Maya with such conviction filled him with a quiet pride.

Still, a lingering worry gnawed at him. He knew the Raichand family's dark world all too well. If Maya wasn't careful, she could easily be drawn into the shadows.

For now, however, he chose to let hope win.