• vihaan •

My mind feels messed up.

Every inch of me is bursting in anger, explosive anger. Even after brutally torturing those people.

Why did you stay silent, my doll?

Moving my hair from my face, I insert the key into the hole and unlock the door. Rohit stands in the doorway, bowing his head at my presence.

"Welcome back, sir." He says in a soft voice. "The madam is sleeping."

"Good. Go and rest." I pat his shoulder, locking the door after he leaves. Taking off my shoes, I unbutton my shirt and turn off the lights in hallway.

With light steps, I tread into my room and change into just a pair of trackpants. Placing the fresh clothes on the hanger, I yawn and make my way to my doll's room.

She was sleeping in her room, the air-conditioning running. The curtains in her room were drawn close and the door to the terrace was locked.

Strange.

Mayura hates running the air-conditioning no matter how hot it is. She hates having the windows covered or, the terrace door closed even slightly.

Then, why did she do this?

Rohit.

Ah, no! He's not stupid to step into a sleeping woman's room. Especially that of Mayura's.

Taking a seat on the edge of her bed, I pour myself a cup of water and gulp it down. The cool temperature of the room soothes my sweating body.

Getting under the comforter, I snake my arms around her waist and rest my head on her chest. With each heartbeat of hers, I feel the frustration within me dissipating.

The monster, the explosive rage and the thirst for blood - everything was destroyed the moment I placed myself in her embrace. Every breath of hers brought me happiness and calm.

Despite being asleep, her hands run through my hair, out of habit. Her right hand gently strokes my neck, fingers interlocking in my luscious locks. I chuckle, snuggling deeper into her chest.

My home. My comfort. My world. My Queen.

Just mine.

Forever.

The silence envelopes us, lulling me to sleep in her embrace when I hear a gurgle. I raise a brow, shifting a little away from her chest. The gurgle is louder and disturbing. I sigh, tucking the hair away from her face.

She fell asleep with an empty stomach.

Again.

I should've taken her to Titoo's chaat.

Silly girl, why do you always torment yourself?

✎

• author •

Vihaan poured out a portion of the kheer in a bowl.

Wiping his hands on the apron, he threw it over the chair unable to contain his excitement, and, carried the bowl to the temple placing it in front of the deities.

Bowing his head in reverence, he smiled and lit up incense sticks, their fragrance flowing into every corner of the room.

"Ganpati Bappa morya!" He chanted, his eyes closed. Performing his daily rituals, which included adorning his deities with flower garlands, Vihaan moved the incense sticks around the house, allowing its scent to soak into every corner of the house.

His smile turned into a small frown when he found still asleep. He glanced at the clock, clicking his tongue in disappointment. "It's already eight and she's still sleeping." Shaking his head in disbelief, he place the incense sticks back in the temple.

Putting on his apron, he lit the stove and placed a pan over it. Dropping a small piece of butter on it, he smiled in satisfaction as it sizzled. Taking two slices of bread he dropped them on the pan and lowered the flame, letting the bread turn into a crispy golden brown shade.
Taking his phone from the island, he called Angre.

"Mornin," Angre greeted, wiping the sweat off his face.

"Morning! What's Vansh's plan for today?"

"I will ask him, wait." Hurriedly, he put on a shirt and scurried out of his room and straight into Vansh's room. A few minutes later, he answered, "He says that he will come over for lunch."

"Great! What about you?" Vihaan noted, checking the fridge for ingredients. Angre declined the call, much to his annoyance. "Idiot," he mumbled and placed his phone back on the island.

"What should I make today? Palak paneer seems nice. We have the ingredients also. But, should I make it with rice or roti?" He thought, taking out the spinach leaves. "I'll decide on that later. I should think of the dessert first."

✎

Sunlight filtered through the window, the curtains fluttering from the early morning breeze. The sun rays fell on her face, highlighting her beautiful features and also disturbed her sleep. She placed a hand on her eyes, trying to block out the sunlight and go back to sleep.

The curtains fluttered, their holders clinking against the metal rod, much to her annoyance. Letting out a groan, she sat up on the bed and yawned, stretching her exhausted body.

'All this sleep and I am still tired.' She complained to herself, pulling off the comforter.

Let's go on a lunch date tomorrow, doll.

The memories of Vihaan's words made her smile. Excited, she quickly made her bed and, picking her fresh clothes, freshened up immediately.

Collecting all the dirty clothes, she dumped them into the washing machine, turning it on and walked back to her room to have her morning medicine.

A wave of giddiness overpowered her and she on the bed with a soft thud, unnoticed by Vihaan. Holding her head in her hands, she heard her stomach grumble loudly in hunger.

Shall we go have some chaat at Titoo's? And then we'll have some ice cream. Two scoops.

Mayura sighed. All that buildup, care and promises, only to put her to sleep with an empty stomach. Her heart clenched in pain, her stomach cooling as she gulped her tablets with a glass of water. "It's okay. We're going out on a lunch date today. I'm sure he wouldn't forget that."

Mayura's phone pinged, a smile appearing on her face as she read the message.

×××

??: Good morning, my princess!

I will be waiting for you at the same place.

Come there after having your breakfast.

Drive properly and don't break traffic rules.

I miss you so much, my princess.

Good morning, my dragon! (⁠灬⁠º⁠‿⁠º⁠灬⁠)⁠♡

I miss you the most, my dragon.

I will come there in half an hour. Wait for me, okay.

×××

Pressing the send button, Mayura deleted the message and, leaving her phone on charge, she moved out to have breakfast.

Her happiness knew no bounds as the scent of the breakfast hit her nostrils. It was favourite - vegetable sandwich with a serving of kheer.

'Today is the best day! First, I get to eat my favourite breakfast, then I get to meet him and lastly, I get to go on a date with Vihaan. I love today.'

"Good morning, puppy." She wishes him, hugging him from behind. A beautiful smile appeared on her lips.

"Good morning, Jaan." He greeted in an aloof tone. Mayura found it odd. Infact, even the island was odd. It was cluttered with cutlery and ingredients and spices, a bowl of palak soaking in the water.

"What is all this, Vihaan?" She asked, curious. "I'm making Palak paneer for lunch today." He replied, setting up a plate of sandwiches for her, with a generous serving of kheer. "Your breakfast, my love."

"Why are you making Palak paneer for lunch? We were supposed to --"

"Vansh and Angre are coming over for lunch." He chirped. Mayura forced a smile on her lips, nodding in understanding. Her heart clenched in pain again, a lump forcing itself in her throat and tears pooled in her eyes.

She pushed them all back, pretending that his forgotten promise didn't hurt her.

"Should I make rice or chapati to go with it?" He asked, having his share of kheer.

"Rice." She mumbled. "Rohit and Vyom might also come over for lunch." She remarked sarcastically. Unfortunately for her, Vihaan did not understand her sarcasm and took her words literally.

"Okay. I will call them over as well."

Clenching her fists, she grabbed a lunch box from the cabinet and placed her breakfast in it. Her actions were slow and calm, despite the anger and hurt raging within her.

Taking her water bottle and lunch to her room, she threw on a thin hoodie and sling bag over her shoulders.

"Come back by lunch." He orders, picking out the rice. Mayura, reeling from hurt of two broken promises, forced a smile on her lips and nodded positively.

'I will come home by dinner. Even better, at midnight.' She thought, clenching the strap of her bag. Vihaan moved forward, cupping her face and pecked her lips. "Be safe, my doll."

As Mayura drove away on her bike, Vihaan pulled out his phone and dialled a number. A second later, they answered. "She's out. Follow her and report everything to me."

"Yes, sir."

Cutting the call, Vihaan sat down on the couch and occupied himself with the television for a while.

✎

Mayura parked her bike in the parking lot, locking her helmet with it. A shiver crept down her spine as she felt someone's watchful eyes on her. She rubbed her arms, a realisation hitting her that she was being watched by more than one person.

Her phone beeped again, drawing yet another smile on her lips as she read the message.

×××

Princess, take a left from there and walk straight till you reach the lift.

Next to the lift is a blind area, you can escape from there and meet me 'there'.

I will be waiting, my princess.

×××

Mayura, with her resolve determined, began walking down towards the lift, a nonchalant smile on her lips. "I need to hurry. Can't keep my dragon waiting." She turned off her phone, knowing well that Vansh and Vihaan could track her through its signal.

She resisted the urge to run towards the exit, least she would alert those were always watching her.

The first time she felt their eyes on her was when she had met the twins after a gap of two years, in Bangalore. In a span of five days, they always hung out and whenever she was left alone, she always felt like she was being watched.

But, by whom? And why?

Initially, she dismissed it. Since the feeling would disappear once she was in the company of the twins. "It's okay, Mayura. No one is watching you. You are feeling paranoid because you're always alone." She'd always tell herself.

"You are just being paranoid, Mayura. It is okay." She told herself yet again, hiding in the darkness beside the lift. Strangely, she didn't feel anyone's eyes on her any longer. "I must be getting too anxious now. I should talk to a therapist." She wondered. "No, not a therapist. I should talk to dragon. He will help me."

Sliding down the water pipe, she dusted her hands and raced towards the shack on the other end, hidden in every manner. She knocked twice on the wooden door.

Mayura heard footsteps rushing towards her, objects falling on the ground as the person inside opened the door. He beamed at her presence. Pulling her inside the shack, he shut the door and embraced her tightly.

"Princess!" He chirped, kissing her crown. "Your dragon missed you so much."

"I missed you the most, dragon." She confessed, snuggling into his chest.

"Nuh uh! Your dragon missed you the most." He refuted, cupping her face. Tenderly, he kissed her forehead and then dragged her to the couch, making her sit on it.

Mayura's dragon was a man of six feet and two inches, with chiseled jaws and a muscular body. His hair fell on his face, the tips dangling before his eyes, restricted by the headband he wore on his forehead. On his right arm was the tattoo of a dragon wrapped around a sword.

"Princess, did you have your breakfast?" He asked softly, taking a seat beside her.

"I wanted to eat with you," she answered, pulling out her box. "You?"

"I wanted to eat with my princess as well." He smiled. "I will go and get my breakfast. Wait here, okay."

Kissing her forehead, once again, he went to one of the rooms to fetch his breakfast on a plate. "Have some kheer, dragon. I know you love it."

She passed him the container of kheer, munching on her soggy sandwiches in silence. He put it back down after having one bite. "I like the kheer you make, princess. And this is made by Vihaan."

The mention of Vihaan was enough to dampen her spirits. Her energy and joy disappeared, turning into sadness. Putting his plate to a side, he cupped her face, worry marking his rugged features. "What's wrong, princess? Did Vihaan do something to make you sad?"

Mayura nodded, intertwining her index fingers together. She hated the fact that she couldn't lie to him at all, and yet liked it as well. Atleast there was someone she could be completely honest and vulnerable around. He knew her very well, about her secrets and bruises, including the very life she had lived up till now. Even the past, she shied from talking about to others, was well known to him.

She buried her face in his shoulders, his arms wrapping around her shoulders. "Dragon," she whispered, her voice cracking. He ran his fingers through her hair, comforting her. Slowly, she narrated the incidents starting from Vansh's party and up till the morning's suprise.

"He promised me, dragon. He said we'll go on a lunch date. He said he'll take me to Titoo's chaat and let me eat two scoops of ice cream at night." She sobbed. "But he broke his promises. He forgot about them like they never existed."

He stroked her hair, listening to her vent and cry, patiently. This quality of his always made it easier to talk her heart out to him. She couldn't have the same in front of the twins since they would've flared up in anger instantly. And once angry, she knew they would neither listen to her nor comfort her, so she closed her weaknesses to them.

"What do you plan to do until midnight, princess?" He asked, cupping her face and wiping her tears away with his thumb pads. Her nose was red, lips curved together into a pout, making him chuckle. "Do you want to go out with me? I heard some new shops opened here recently along with a library."

"What if Vansh or someone sees us, dragon?"

"Don't worry, princess." He kissed her forehead. "I will make sure that no one sees us."

"Pakka na?" She asked in a childish voice. He nodded. "I want you to see the library, princess."

"Did you make it?" She inquired, eyes gleaming. He nodded, a smile appearing on his lips. "Just for you, princess."

"Yes, let's go--" she paused, remembering something. She shifted closer to him, putting her head on his shoulder. "Let's stay here, dragon."

"Why, princess?" He pout, caressing her hair. "Dragon, woh na," she contemplated. "I feel like someone is following me." She blurted. She shut her eyes, expecting answers like -

It is all in your head.

You are just being paranoid.

- but instead, he asked. "Since when princess? Do you feel the same right now?"

She gulped, tears brimming in her eyes at his concern. "No, dragon. I don't feel it right now. I've been feeling their eyes for over four years."

Their? There's more than one? He frowned. "Why didn't you tell me, princess?" He voiced his concern.

"I thought, it was all in my head. Maybe I was getting too anxious being by myself." She sniffled. He cupped her face. "Shssh! Don't cry, princess. You know how much it hurts me, right?" He wiped away her tears.

"It is not always in your head, princess. Someone could actually be following you. Don't worry! I will look into it and find them out for you." He assured, making her smile.

"You know dragon, when I'm with the twins, Angre, Rohit or Vyom, I don't feel like that. Why do I only feel like that when I'm alone?" She asked innocently.

'If this is the case, then the twins must've put someone behind her to keep an eye on her.' He realised, patting her head. 'Those over-possessive freaks! How dare they do this to my princess?'

"Don't worry na, princess. I will take care of everything." He reassured. Mayura nodded, walking around the house as he cleared the table.

✎

"Shall we talk about work?" She inquired in a professional tone, standing in front of the bookshelf.

"Yes, boss." He answered in a monotone. She pulled out two books which opened a panel in front of her. First, it scanned her iris and then asked for her fingerprint.

Putting it, she watched as the bookshelf parted and a large metal door behind it opened slowly to reveal a large corridor. Tucking the books back in place, he followed her in, ensuring that the secret passage closed properly.

"May I apprise you of the progress, boss?"

"Yes,"

The duo walked down the long corridor lit by the lights and well ventilated. The metal walls were cool to touch, but the corridor was never ending. Mayura wheezed, feeling exhausted, yet continued to walk in silence.

"Boss," he called, stopping near the wall. He flicked open a panel, hidden carefully, and pressed a button. It opened to reveal a golf-cart car.

"We extended the length of the corridor recently, to stop intruders. Don't tire yourself too much." He expressed his concern, ushering her into the vehicle. Taking the driver's seat, he pressed the start button and apprised her of the situation while driving.

Mayura leaned back on the seat, feeling relieved. She shut her eyes, tapping her index finger on her knee as she listened to him.

It was going to be a long day.

[3002]