Devil's Bride

Ayaan's Promise

Maya’s world had grown quieter in the past few weeks, the bustling energy of their home replaced by a heavy silence that seemed to follow her everywhere. Ayaan rarely came home anymore, and when he did, it was usually in the middle of the night, stumbling in drunk, his eyes distant, as though the weight of his own world was too much for him to bear. His once warm and affectionate gaze had turned cold and empty, and Maya could no longer bear the sight of him in this state.

She started sleeping in Priya’s son’s room, seeking refuge away from the man she still loved, but could no longer reach. The room, though small and cozy, felt like a cold reminder of everything that had changed between them. Maya, now five months pregnant, barely slept at night. Her body was exhausted from the strain of carrying their child, yet sleep was a luxury she could no longer afford. She tossed and turned, the emptiness of the house and the distance between her and Ayaan making it harder to rest.

She also couldn’t bring herself to eat. Food had lost its taste, and the constant nausea from both pregnancy and emotional stress made it even harder to keep anything down. Her energy was running low, and she could feel herself growing weaker each day. The weight of the pregnancy, coupled with the emotional toll of Ayaan’s behavior, was taking a toll on her.

One evening, Priya noticed Maya sitting by the window, staring out at the night with a faraway look in her eyes. She could tell something was wrong. Maya’s face was pale, her eyes dull and distant, and she hadn’t touched the meal Priya had prepared for her.

"Maya, you haven’t eaten all day," Priya said gently, sitting next to her. "You need to take care of yourself, for the baby’s sake."

Maya gave her a weak smile but didn’t respond. She didn’t have the strength to explain how much everything had changed. How the man she loved was slipping further away from her every day, and how helpless she felt.

Priya’s concern grew, and she knew she had to speak to Ayaan about Maya’s condition. She could no longer stand by and watch Maya suffer in silence.

The next day, Priya confronted Ayaan when he came home. He was again drunk, but this time, Priya wasn’t going to let him slip away.

“Ayaan,” she said firmly, her voice calm but filled with urgency. “We need to talk.”

Ayaan didn’t meet her gaze, instead taking another swig from his bottle. “Not now, Priya,” he muttered, clearly irritated by the conversation.

But Priya wasn’t having it. She stepped closer to him, her voice rising with concern. “You’re not listening, Ayaan. Maya is not okay. She hasn’t been eating properly. She’s not sleeping. She’s barely getting out of bed. And do you know why? It’s because of you. You’re making her life a living hell with your behavior.”

Ayaan stiffened, but Priya wasn’t done.

“She’s pregnant, Ayaan! She’s carrying your child, and you can’t even be there for her. Instead, you’re drowning yourself in alcohol and pushing her away. You’re acting like this doesn’t matter to you, but it does. And it’s killing her.”

Ayaan’s anger flared, but Priya held her ground, not letting him push her aside.

“Don’t you dare think I won’t call you out on this,” Priya continued. “She’s just 19 years old, Ayaan. She’s carrying your child, and you’re letting her suffer in silence. How long do you think she can take this? How long do you think she can keep pretending like she’s okay when you keep treating her this way?”

Ayaan’s face was a mask of anger and guilt, but the guilt was buried deep under layers of frustration. He didn’t know how to fix it. He didn’t know how to make things right with Maya.