Forbidden Mania | 18+

28.

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𝑀𝒾𝓈𝒽𝓀𝒶'𝓈 𝒫𝑜𝓋~

I wiped my damp hands on the kitchen towel, my eyes heavy with exhaustion. The night had settled in, and all I wanted was to curl up in my bed and forget the weight of my thoughts for a few hours.

But just as I was about to climb the stairs, my phone buzzed.

I frowned, pulling it out of my pocket.

"Come outside. I'm waiting."

The sender's name made my breath hitch. Arsh.

A strange mix of anticipation and unease settled in my chest. What was he doing here this late? Had something happened? Did he find out about the call? Or worse… did something happen to him?

Without wasting another second, I rushed to the front door, my heart pounding as I unlocked it. The cool night air greeted me, sending a shiver down my spine.

And there he was.

Arsh stood near his car, hands tucked into his pockets, his sharp features cast in the dim glow of the streetlights. His gaze lifted the moment he saw me, something dark and unreadable flickering in his eyes.

He looked… restless. Impatient.

"Arsh?" I stepped forward hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"

For a moment, he didn't say anything. Just stared at me as if he was searching for something. Then, in a low, rough voice, he said-

"Get in the car, Mishka."

A strange chill ran down my spine at the intensity in his voice. It wasn't a request, it was a command.

For the first time in my life, I felt scared of Arsh.

Not because I thought he'd hurt me, no, never. But because there was something dark in his eyes tonight, something restless, something I'm not able to understand.

My throat dried as I hesitated on the doorstep, my fingers gripping the edge of my dupatta.

"Arsh, what's wrong?"

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Just get in the car, Mishka."

I wanted to question him, demand answers, but deep down, I knew he wouldn't say anything right now. And despite the fear crawling up my spine, I also knew one undeniable truth,

Arsh Malhotra would never hurt me.

So, swallowing my nerves, I stepped forward and slipped into the passenger seat.

The door barely shut when Arsh pulled away from the curb, his jaw clenched, his hands gripping the wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The silence between us was heavy, almost suffocating.

I turned to him cautiously. "Where are we going?"

His gaze remained fixed on the road, his voice low and rough.

"Somewhere I can breathe."

The car rolled to a slow stop outside a temple, its golden spire shimmering under the moonlight. The soft hum of temple bells echoed through the night, the faint scent of incense drifting in the air.

I turned to Arsh, my heart hammering. Why did he bring me here?

He didn't say a word, just stepped out of the car and walked ahead, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his shoulders tense.