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Aaravika
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The room seemed smaller with Vayran there, his presence filling every corner, pressing in on you. You tried to look unaffected, but the way he studied you, eyes dark and intense, you knew he could see through the bravado.

I gathered the courage and said, “Yeh kya na jaane pehchaane se ghuss rahe ho? Na jaan, na pehchaan—” (Why are you barging in here like some stranger? No familiarity, no connection—)

He continued the line with a smirk, “Par main tera mehmaan.” (But I’m your guest…)

“So,” he said, his voice like ice, “you think you can just walk into this contract without any consequences?” He took a slow, deliberate step toward you, his gaze never leaving yours. “I know you’re afraid.”

You forced a smile, hoping he couldn’t see how your hands were slightly trembling at your sides. “Afraid? Please.” You rolled your eyes, the laugh that escaped sounding weaker than you’d intended. “You’re the one who went through all this trouble for a marriage contract. Seems like you’re the one taking this a bit too seriously.”

He chuckled, the sound low and dark, his eyes narrowing. “You can pretend all you want, but I can see the fear in your eyes. Think I’m not aware?” He stepped even closer, his face inches from yours now, and you felt your heart pounding like a drum.

“Fear? Me?” You let out another shaky laugh, tilting your chin up defiantly. “I’m only afraid of missing my favorite TV show, Vayran, not of a guy who thinks he can scare me into silence.” You hoped the sarcasm covered up the nerves rattling inside you.

But his gaze didn’t soften, not even for a second. Instead, he reached up, a finger tracing your jawline, his touch both gentle and unnerving. “The fear is in your eyes,” he murmured, his tone so soft and dangerously calm that it sent a chill down your spine. “You’re brave enough to pretend, but don’t forget—I can see through all of it. But careful, Little Birdy, don’t fly too high. I might just clip those wings.”

You swallowed, trying to keep your cool as his hand dropped away, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. “And you’re just dying to remind me of that, aren’t you?” You shot back, trying to regain some control, some sense of confidence. “Let me guess, this is how you get your thrills?”

He smirked, his eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and something darker. “I don’t need to remind you,” he said, leaning down, his face close enough that you could feel his breath. “Your fear reminds you on its own. But keep pretending, shauq se—it makes this game much more… interesting.”

Your breath hitched, but you managed to hold your ground, refusing to let him see you waver. “You think this is some game for you to win?” You countered, trying to keep your voice steady. “Newsflash, Vayran, I’m not the kind of person who’s easy to break.”

His smirk faded, replaced with a cold, calculating stare. “Then, sweetheart, let’s see how long you can keep up this act. Ten months might feel a lot longer than you think.”

"But don’t think for a second that you can fly free there. You might think you can flutter around, all defiant and unafraid, but eventually, every little bird gets caught in the cage."

He paused as if savoring the words before letting them sink in. "And when that happens, sweetheart, the only thing left will be your wings, clipped and useless."

He turned and walked out, leaving you alone with the realization that he saw right through every wall you’d tried to build and that your ten-month contract had just turned into a battle of wills.

────୨ৎ────
Byeᥫ᭡

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗