Avni had barely recovered from her last encounter with Aarav when things took an unexpected turn. She thought his possessiveness was suffocating, but now, it began to feel like something darker lurked behind his charm.
The next morning, as she reached school, she noticed a sleek black car parked at the corner. She didn't have to guess who it belonged to. Aarav never stayed far. She ignored it and walked into her classroom, determined to focus on her day.
But during lunch, her phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number flashed on the screen:
"Did you think ignoring me would work? I'm not the only one watching you."
Her heart froze. She looked around the cafeteria, her palms clammy. Who sent the message? Aarav? Or someone else?
Later that evening, as she walked home, she heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw no one. She quickened her pace, her heart pounding. Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed her wrist.
"Aarav!" she gasped, relief washing over her as she recognized his face.
But his expression wasn't comforting. His jaw was clenched, his eyes sharp. "Why didn't you tell me about the message?" he demanded.
"How did you know—"
"Avni," he interrupted, his voice dark and commanding. "There are things about me you don't know. Things I've kept hidden to protect you. But if someone's threatening you, I need to know now."
"I don't understand," she whispered.
He stepped closer, cupping her face in his hands, his touch uncharacteristically soft. "You don't need to understand. You just need to trust me."
But for the first time, doubt crept into her mind. Was Aarav protecting her—or was he the danger she needed protection from?