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His eyes flickered with an emotion too fleeting to name before he masked it with indifference.

"Bas so jao, Aaravika." His voice was curt, commanding as always, though there was a hint of restraint beneath the sharp edge of his words. (Just sleep, Aaravika.)

She rolled her eyes dramatically, making no effort to hide her annoyance. “Tumhe toh bas hukum chalana aata hai. Kuch aur bhi bol liya karo!” she muttered under her breath, loud enough for him to hear. (You only know how to command. Try saying something else for a change!)

Ignoring her jab, he turned back to his laptop, the faint glow illuminating his sharp features as he worked from the sofa. Aaravika huffed in frustration and plopped herself onto the bed. But sleep? No chance. Her eyes, despite her best efforts, kept wandering toward him. The steady tapping of his fingers on the keyboard, the furrow of his brows when he concentrated—everything about him annoyed her, yet she couldn’t look away.

"Will you stop staring?" he said, without even glancing up from his screen.

"Will you stop being so annoyingly perfect at ignoring me?" she shot back, sitting up slightly.

He exhaled sharply, still refusing to engage further. But she was determined. “Kya kaam hai jo raat bhar chalta hai? Mafia deals ya business meetings?” she asked sarcastically, knowing fully well it was both. (What work keeps you up all night? Mafia deals or business meetings?)

Vayran’s lips quirked into a smirk. “Tumhare sawaal, Aara. Ek din yeh hi mujhe pagal bana denge.” (Your questions, Aara. One day, they’ll drive me insane.)

“Good,” she replied smugly, lying back down and pulling the blanket over her head, though she peeked out to catch his reaction.

He shook his head, letting out a rare chuckle—soft, almost undetectable. She wasn’t entirely sure she’d heard it, but it made her heart skip nonetheless. Aaravika shifted again, the weight of her gaze unmistakable. He could feel it without looking.

“Aara, if you don’t stop staring, I will—”

“You’ll what?” she interrupted, grinning mischievously. “Ignore me harder?”

His patience finally frayed, but instead of scolding her, he reached for the cushion behind him. Without missing a beat, he flung it straight at her, hitting her squarely in the face.

Aaravika let out a surprised yelp, sitting up in outrage. “Vayran! Tumne yeh kiya hi kaise?” she exclaimed, clutching the cushion dramatically. (Vayran! How could you do this?)

He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, utterly unrepentant. “It’s called self-defense. Tumhare stare se bacha nahi ja raha tha.” (I couldn’t survive your stare anymore.)

Her mouth fell open, and she threw the cushion back at him, missing by a mile. “You’re the most insufferable man alive!”

“And you’re the most dramatic woman I’ve ever met,” he quipped, his smirk growing wider.

Aaravika narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms as she flopped back down on the bed. “I hate you.”

“Good,” he said casually, going back to his laptop. But there was a flicker of amusement in his voice that betrayed the stoic mask he tried to wear.

And as Aaravika closed her eyes, she found herself smiling despite her annoyance. Vayran was impossible, but maybe that impossibility was exactly what made him… unforgettable.

The next day morning,

The sun filtered through the curtains, warming the room as Aaravika stirred awake. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light. The first thing she noticed was the emptiness of the sofa. Vayran wasn’t there. She frowned, sitting up. He was supposed to come with her today to meet the dean—something they'd reluctantly agreed upon last night after a heated discussion.

Grabbing her phone, she quickly typed out a message.

Where are you? Weren’t you supposed to come with me today?

Before hitting send, her thumb lingered on the screen, and she scrolled up. A faint smile tugged at her lips as she read their previous conversations. The chats were filled with bickering, sarcastic replies, and the chaos that defined their strange relationship. It was odd how even the smallest of his biting remarks now felt oddly comforting.

Shaking her head, she sent the message and got out of bed. She freshened up and stood in front of her wardrobe, deliberating for a moment before slipping into a soft peach Anarkali kurta paired with white leggings. She accessorized with small silver jhumkas and tied her hair into a loose braid. Simplicity had always been her charm, but today, a strange nervousness hung in the air.

Her phone buzzed, but it wasn’t Vayran—it was Dharam, the family’s trusted driver, letting her know the car was ready. Aaravika slung her bag over her shoulder and headed out, her sandals clicking softly against the floor as she made her way to the car.

Once inside, she glanced at Dharam, who was focused on the road. “Dharam Bhaiya, Vayran kaha hai?” she asked casually, hoping he had some insight. (Dharam Bhaiya, where’s Vayran?)

“He’s in a meeting, Madam,” Dharam replied.

Aaravika hummed in acknowledgment, trying not to let the irritation show on her face. Of course, he was busy. He always was. Still, a part of her had hoped he’d prioritize this—for her. She looked out of the window, watching the familiar streets pass by until they reached her college.

As she stepped out and made her way through the corridors, whispers and stares followed her. Aaravika ignored them, used to the drama that had unfolded over the past few days. Her fist tightened at the thought of Ahana and the incident that had gotten her into this mess. She had lost her temper when Ahana, the dean’s granddaughter, had humiliated her in front of others. Aaravika’s punch had not only shut her up but also knocked out one of her teeth.

And now, thanks to that, the dean had demanded her parents or guardian come in to discuss the matter. She’d reluctantly told Vayran about it last night, and despite his annoyance, he had agreed to accompany her. But now… he was nowhere to be seen. Typical.

As Aaravika turned a corner, she froze. Standing in front of her was Raaghav—Ahana’s boyfriend. His towering frame and smug expression made her instantly suspicious.

“What do you want?” Aaravika asked coldly, narrowing her eyes.

Raaghav didn’t say a word. Instead, he gestured, and within moments, his group of friends surrounded her. Before she could react, they grabbed her arms and dragged her away despite her struggling.

“Leave me! What the hell are you doing?” she shouted, kicking and thrashing, but they were stronger, and the corridor was deserted.

Raaghav smirked, leaning in close as they pulled her toward an empty, dark room. “You think you can humiliate Ahana and walk away? Let’s see how fearless you are now.”

Panic shot through Aaravika as they shoved her inside and locked the door behind her. The darkness swallowed her, the faint light from the hallway spilling through the cracks of the door. Her breathing was heavy, her heart pounding in her chest.

Clenching her fists, she forced herself to calm down. She wasn’t the type to break easily. If they thought she would cower, they were wrong. Pulling out her phone, she dialed the only person who came to mind—the one who was supposed to be here in the first place.

As the phone rang, she whispered to herself, “Pick up, Vayran. Just this once… pick up.”

Aaravika's breathing grew heavier as the darkness around her pressed closer. The room was suffocatingly silent, but the storm inside her mind was deafening. Flashes from her past began surfacing—the haunting memories she'd buried deep. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to suppress the panic threatening to overtake her.

“No, not now. Not here,” she whispered to herself, trying to steady her breaths. She couldn’t afford to lose control—not in front of them. But the shadows of her past clawed at her, their grip tightening as she sat huddled in the corner of the locked room.

Her fingers trembled as she pulled out her phone, her only anchor to reality at that moment. She dialed Vayran’s number, her heart pounding louder with every passing second.

The phone barely rang once before his deep voice cut through the suffocating silence.

“Kya hua, Aaravika?” His tone was sharp, concerned. (What happened, Aaravika?)

The sound of his voice brought her back to the present, grounding her just enough to respond. “Vayran…” she whispered, her voice shaky but trying to hold strong. “They—Raaghav and his friends—they locked me in a room… I…”

He went quiet for a second, but she could feel the tension in his silence. And then, his voice returned, colder and sharper than ever. “Kahan ho tum?” (Where are you?)

“In the old block,” she managed to say, tears stinging her eyes. “Please… hurry…”

“I’m on my way,” he said, his voice low but laced with fury. “Stay put, Aaravika. Don’t move. Aur darna mat.” (And don’t be afraid.)

The call ended, but his words echoed in her mind. She gripped the phone tightly, forcing herself to breathe, to stay strong. Vayran would come. He always did, no matter how much they argued or how strained their relationship was.

But as she sat in the oppressive darkness, her mind betrayed her again, dragging her back into the painful fragments of her past. She shut her eyes tightly, murmuring to herself, “He’s coming… He’s coming…”

For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to trust someone completely—to trust Vayran.

The next few minutes felt like hours to Aaravika as she sat in the suffocating darkness. Her mind was a chaotic mess of fear and flashes from her past, but a single thought kept her grounded: Vayran is coming.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps outside snapped her attention toward the door. Her breath hitched as the lock clicked, and the door swung open with force. There he was—Vayran Singh Chandravansh, his face a mask of pure fury, his sharp eyes scanning the room until they landed on her huddled form. Beside him stood a visibly shaken watchman, who must have guided him here.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and before she could stop them, they spilled down her cheeks. Relief washed over her, but it didn’t last long.

Vayran stepped inside, his presence dominating the dim room as he crouched down in front of her. His voice was low but seething with restrained anger. “Kya kiya unhone, Aara?” he asked, his hands gently cupping her trembling face. (What did they do, Aara?)

She shook her head, trying to speak, but her words faltered. “They… they locked me in here… I was scared… Raaghav and his friends…”

The moment Raaghav’s name left her lips, something inside Vayran snapped. His hands fell away from her face, curling into tight fists. He stood up abruptly, his towering frame radiating fury. “Yeh saala Raaghav aur uske dost… main unka woh haal karunga ke woh zindagi bhar yaad rakhenge,” he spat, his voice thunderous. (That bastard Raaghav and his friends… I’ll make sure they remember this for the rest of their lives.)

He stormed out of the room, his strides long and purposeful. Aaravika, still shaken, followed him hesitantly. She didn’t want to be left alone again, but she also didn’t know if she had the strength to stop him.

It didn’t take long for Vayran to find Raaghav and his group, loitering smugly near the sports area. Raaghav’s laughter died instantly when he saw Vayran approaching, his jaw clenched, his movements predatory.

“Raaghav!” Vayran’s voice boomed, and it was enough to make everyone freeze.

Raaghav barely had time to react before Vayran grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the nearest wall. “Teri himmat kaise hui?” Vayran growled, his voice laced with venom. “Aaravika par haath daalne ki sochi bhi kaise?” (How dare you? How dare you even think of laying a hand on Aaravika?)

“I-I didn’t—” Raaghav stammered, but Vayran didn’t let him finish. His fist collided with Raaghav’s jaw with a sickening thud, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Vayran didn’t stop there. His anger was a force of nature as he dragged Raaghav up by his shirt and landed punch after punch. The other boys tried to intervene, but the watchman stepped in, holding them back while Vayran unleashed his fury.

“You thought you could scare her?” Vayran hissed, his voice low but terrifying. He grabbed a nearby cricket bat, and the sound of the wood cracking against Raaghav’s side echoed in the air.

Raaghav screamed in pain, begging for mercy, but Vayran didn’t stop. “This is for locking her in that room,” Vayran snarled, slamming the bat down again. “For making her cry.”

With one final swing, the bat splintered in his hands, breaking under the force of his rage. He tossed the broken pieces aside, his chest heaving as he glared down at Raaghav, who was now barely conscious.

“If you even look at her again,” Vayran said, his voice deadly calm, “you won’t survive to regret it.”

He turned back to Aaravika, who stood frozen a few feet away, tears streaming down her face. His expression softened, and without a word, he closed the distance between them, pulling her into his arms.

“You’re safe now,” he murmured, his voice gentler than she’d ever heard it. “No one will ever hurt you again, Aaravika. I won’t let them.”

For the first time in a long while, Aaravika let herself believe him.

As Vayran pulled her closer, his cold fury began to simmer down, replaced by a sly, almost unsettling smirk. He tilted his head slightly, his sharp eyes glinting with mischief. “Ab toh hum dono barabar ho gaye, Aara,” he said, his voice dripping with mocking amusement. “Tumne us bitch ko maara, aur maine uske boyfriend ko.” (Now we’re even, Aara. You hit that bitch, and I hit her boyfriend.)

Aaravika blinked, momentarily stunned by his words. The way he said it, so casual yet so deliberate, made her stomach twist. She stepped back slightly, her brows furrowing in confusion. “Wait… what? How do you know about that? About Ahana?”

Vayran raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening as he crossed his arms. “Tumhari yeh sochne ki aadat mujhe pasand hai, lekin tum itni chhoti baatein mere se chhupa nahi sakti, Aaravika.” His tone was playful yet cold and carried an edge that sent shivers down her spine. (I like how you always overthink, but you can’t hide such small things from me, Aaravika.)

She stared at him, her confusion growing. “But how? You weren’t even there that day. And I didn’t tell you everything…”

Vayran let out a low chuckle, stepping closer to her, his presence overwhelming as usual. “Tumhein kya lagta hai, Aaravika?” he asked softly, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Main bas tumhare saath hoon aur tumhe dekh nahi raha? Tumhare aaspaas har ek cheez meri nazar ke neeche hoti hai. Tumhare bare mein sab kuch pata hai mujhe.” (What do you think, Aaravika? That I’m just with you and not watching you? Everything around you is under my watch. I know everything about you.)

Her breath hitched, and she took a small step back, her mind reeling. “Everything?”

“Sab kuch,” he repeated, his gaze darkening as he leaned in slightly. “Tumhari har chhoti baat. Tumhari saari pareshaaniyaan.” (Everything. Every little detail. All your troubles.)

Aaravika’s hands tightened into fists at her sides. The idea of him knowing so much about her without her realizing it made her feel exposed, and vulnerable. “Why?” she demanded, her voice shaking but firm. “Why do you need to know everything that is happening with me?”

Vayran tilted his head, his expression unreadable now. “Kyunki, Aara,” he said softly, his voice carrying an intensity that made her heart race. “Jo mera hai, uske baare mein sab kuch jaan lena mera haq hai.” (Because Aara. And it’s my right to know everything about what’s mine.)

Her breath caught in her throat as his words hung heavily in the air. For a moment, all she could do was stare at him, her mind racing, her emotions a whirlwind. And in his dark, penetrating gaze, she saw the truth: Vayran Singh Chandravansh was a man who never left anything to chance. And now, he had her completely in his grasp.

After the chaos had finally settled, Vayran and Aaravika walked through the college corridors side by side. Her steps were hesitant, her mind still spinning from everything that had just happened. Vayran, on the other hand, strode with a calm but commanding aura, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, and his presence alone made anyone in their path step aside without question.

As they approached the dean’s cabin, Aaravika couldn’t shake the nervous flutter in her stomach. She hadn’t expected him to actually come with her today, especially after the morning’s fiasco. But here he was—Vayran Singh Chandravansh, unpredictable and impossible to ignore.

Vayran, noticing her unease, glanced at her and smirked. “Dar rahi ho?” he asked, his tone casual but teasing. (Are you scared?)

She shot him a glare, her lips pursing. “Main dar nahi rahi… bas tumhare saath chalne ka soch kar ajeeb lag raha hai.” (I’m not scared… it just feels weird walking with you like this.)

“Achha?” He chuckled darkly, his voice low. “Toh yaad rakhna, Aara. Aaj ke baad jab bhi tumhare against koi bolega, unka yehi haal hoga.” (Oh, really? Then remember this, Aara. After today, whoever speaks against you will face the same fate.)

Before she could respond, they reached the dean’s cabin. Vayran pushed the door open without knocking, his confidence as unshakable as ever. Aaravika followed reluctantly, her heart pounding as her eyes fell on the people inside.

The dean was seated behind his desk, his glasses perched on the tip of his nose. Standing beside him was none other than Ahana, her face pale and her posture stiff. Aaravika could feel the tension in the room the moment Vayran stepped in.

The dean’s brows furrowed in confusion and shock as he took in the sight of Vayran standing beside Aaravika. “Vayran Singh Chandravansh?” the dean stammered, his tone a mixture of disbelief and wariness. “What… what are you doing here?”

Ahana, too, froze in place, her eyes widening in horror. She looked like she wanted to disappear on the spot.

Vayran didn’t spare either of them a glance at first. Instead, he walked over to one of the chairs in front of the dean’s desk, pulled it out with a loud screech, and sat down with a calm arrogance that only he could pull off. Aaravika stayed standing, unsure of what to do, her gaze flickering between the dean and Vayran.

He finally looked up at the dean, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “I’m here because of Aaravika,” he said smoothly, his voice carrying a quiet authority. “She told me you wanted to meet her guardian. So here I am.”

The dean blinked, clearly thrown off. “I… I wasn’t expecting…”

“You weren’t expecting me?” Vayran interrupted, his tone turning cold. He leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the desk. “Dean Sahab, I don’t think it matters who you were expecting. What matters is that I’m here now. So let’s talk.”

The dean swallowed nervously, his hands fumbling with the papers on his desk. Ahana, meanwhile, looked like she wanted to crawl under the nearest table. Aaravika bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smirking. For once, someone had managed to make Ahana feel as small as she deserved.

“W-Well,” the dean began, clearing his throat. “This is about the incident two days ago, involving Aaravika and my granddaughter, Ahana.”

Vayran’s eyes flicked toward Ahana for the first time, his gaze sharp and