Devil's Bride

Inner Turmoil

Even amidst the vibrant mall, Maya couldn’t shake her unease. She held Ayaan’s arm tightly, her usual cheerful chatter replaced with silence. As they walked past a jewelry store, she stopped abruptly, her gaze distant.

"Maya," Ayaan said softly, turning to face her. "Are you still thinking about the gun?"

She nodded, biting her lip. "I can’t help it, Ayaan. I’ve never been around anything like that. It... it makes me feel like there’s a part of your life I don’t understand."

His heart clenched at her words. There was a part of his life she didn’t understand, a part he had worked hard to shield her from. He couldn’t bear the thought of her fragile world being shattered by his reality.

Ayaan guided her to a nearby café, motioning for them to sit at a private corner table. Once seated, he reached across the table to hold her hands.

"Maya," he began, his voice low and earnest. "I know this world feels foreign to you, and I’m sorry for anything that’s making you uneasy. But trust me when I say that everything I do, I do to protect you. To protect us."

She looked at him, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. "I just don’t want anything to happen to you. What if one day... what if one day, the danger catches up to us?"

Ayaan tightened his grip on her hands, his gaze steady and unyielding. "Maya, nothing will happen to me. Nothing will happen to us. I have built my life around ensuring that the people I love are safe. You are my world now. Do you understand that?"

"But—"

"No buts," he interrupted gently, his tone firm. "You’re scared because you don’t see what I see. What you saw today, that gun—it’s a tool, Maya. Just like a lock protects a house, it protects what I value most in this world: you."

His words were resolute, yet Maya still felt a twinge of fear. She trusted Ayaan with all her heart, but the shadows around him seemed darker now.

After they left the café, Ayaan stayed quieter than usual, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Maya’s fear had struck deeper than he let on. He had always known his dual life could one day cost him everything, but seeing that flicker of doubt in Maya’s eyes for the first time—it felt like a knife to his chest.

Could he really keep her away from the darkness forever?

As they walked past a bangle shop, he noticed Maya pausing to admire the colorful displays. She reached out to touch a delicate gold bangle adorned with tiny ruby accents.

"Do you like it?" he asked, his voice cutting through her hesitation.

She looked up, startled. "It’s beautiful, but—"

Ayaan didn’t wait for her to finish. He signaled the shopkeeper to bring out every bangle in her size.

"Ayaan, no!" Maya protested, laughing despite her lingering tension. "I don’t need all of these."

"You deserve everything, Maya," he said with a smirk, slipping a bangle onto her wrist. "And if bangles make you smile, then I’ll buy you the whole shop."

As Maya laughed, her worries momentarily forgotten, Ayaan made a silent promise to himself. He couldn’t let her live in fear, nor could he let his dark world tarnish her innocence.

She doesn’t need to know everything. Not yet. Not ever, if I can help it.

For now, he would give her the joy and security she deserved. Even if it meant carrying the weight of his secrets alone.

Ayaan sat beside Maya in their bedroom, his eyes filled with concern as he watched her sip water in small, hesitant gulps. She looked pale, her usual vibrant glow replaced by a dull exhaustion. He reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.

"Maya, this has been going on for days. You’re not eating, you can’t keep anything down, and you’ve almost fainted twice," he said, his voice laced with worry. "This isn’t normal. We need to see a doctor."

Maya shook her head weakly, leaning back against the pillows. "It’s nothing, Ayaan. Just a stomach bug. It’ll pass. I’ll be fine in a day or two."

"A stomach bug doesn’t last this long," he argued, his jaw tightening. "You’re not fine, Maya. I can’t just sit here and watch you suffer."

She reached out and placed a trembling hand on his, trying to offer a reassuring smile. "You’re worrying too much. I just need rest. And besides, I hate hospitals. Let’s wait a little longer, okay?"

Ayaan sighed, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. He hated feeling powerless, especially when it came to Maya. Her stubbornness was both endearing and infuriating, but right now, it was testing his patience.

"Maya," he said firmly, "this isn’t up for debate. You can’t keep brushing this off."

She squeezed his hand gently. "Please, Ayaan. Just give me a day or two. If I don’t get better, I promise we’ll go to a doctor. But right now, I just want to rest here. With you."

Though he reluctantly nodded, Ayaan couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. That evening, as Maya drifted off into a restless sleep, he stayed by her side, watching her breathing and brushing his fingers lightly over her hand.

He didn’t leave her for a moment, even as his phone buzzed with calls and messages from the outside world. Business, the empire, everything else could wait. Right now, his only priority was Maya.

As he sat there in the dim light, he whispered softly, "You may think I’m overreacting, but I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you’re okay, Maya. Even if you hate me for it."

Deep inside, Ayaan had already decided—if she didn’t improve by morning, he would take matters into his own hands. Whether she liked it or not.

The next morning, Ayaan’s concern for Maya only deepened. Her condition hadn't improved. She barely touched her breakfast and had spent the last hour pacing between the bathroom and the bedroom, feeling nauseous again. Her face was pale, her body weak from lack of food, and the vibrant energy he was so used to seeing in her was all but gone.

She sat down on the couch, trying to steady herself, but her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the armrests.

“Maya, this is enough,” Ayaan said, his voice low but firm. He had been patient, but now his worry had turned to frustration. He couldn’t stand seeing her like this anymore. “I’m taking you to the doctor today. No more arguments.”

Maya looked up at him, her face filled with the faintest hint of guilt. “Ayaan… I told you, I’m fine. I just need some time.” She tried to smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

Ayaan didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes for a moment, collecting himself. He knew Maya didn’t like being treated like this, but her health came first. It always would.