Today, after a long day at work, I finally returned to my flat. The exhaustion from my shift clung to me, but the quiet solitude of this place brought a strange comfort. It's been my sanctuary for the last three months-a place where I can try to rebuild myself piece by piece.
Just as I sat down on the couch with a cup of tea, my phone buzzed. Megha's name flashed on the screen. Smiling faintly, I picked it up.
"Hey, Megha! What's up?"
"Niru, I have something important to tell you," she said, her voice a little too serious for my comfort.
"What happened? Is everything okay?" My grip on the phone tightened.
"Everything's fine," she reassured me quickly. "But it's not something I can explain over the phone. Can we meet in person?"
"Megha, you're scaring me now. Are you sure everything's okay?"
"Yes, it's fine," she insisted. "But you'll understand better if we talk face to face."
I sighed, trying to shake off the unease building in my chest. "Alright. When do you want to meet?"
"Actually...my mom wants to talk to you, too," Megha added, her voice softening. "She's been asking about you for days."
"Your mom?" I asked, a little surprised.
"Yeah. Wait, let me give her the phone. She's been dying to hear your voice," Megha said with a laugh, and before I could respond, I heard the sound of the phone being passed over.
"Niranya beta?" Aunty's familiar, warm voice came through, bringing a smile to my face.
"Aunty! How are you?" I asked, genuinely happy to hear from her.
"I'm good, beta. But tell me, how are you? Are you eating properly? Taking care of yourself?"
I chuckled softly. "Yes, aunty. I'm managing everything just fine. And Megha calls me every other day to check on me, so don't worry."
"You're just like my daughter, Niranya," she said warmly. "I still don't know how you manage everything alone. You work so hard."
Her words made my heart ache a little. I've been alone for so long that I've forgotten what it feels like to be cared for like this. Megha's family has always treated me like one of their own, something I never expected as an orphan.
"Aunty, I'm fine, really," I said, trying to sound more cheerful than I felt.
"That's good to hear, beta. But I have a small request," she said, her tone soft and a little hesitant.
"Of course, aunty. Anything."
"Can you come to Delhi for a few days? There's something important I want to discuss with you."
The request caught me off guard. Return to Delhi? After everything that happened? I've been trying to put that city behind me, to erase the memories it holds. But how could I say no to aunty? She and uncle have been so kind to me, always treating me like family.
"Of course, aunty," I found myself saying. "I can come in two days."
"Thank you, beta. It means so much to us," she said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.
After a few more minutes of light conversation, we ended the call. I leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling.
Two days. In two days, I would be back in the city I've been running from. Back to where it all began.
I have already tightened the security cameras around every place she visits. Every step she takes, every moment of her life, is now under my watch. My Angel must not come to harm. Even the thought of her in danger makes my blood boil, and I would raze the world to ashes if it meant keeping her safe.
But I know this isn't enough. Watching her isn't enough. I've begun hunting down my rivals, eliminating them one by one. If any of them had even considered targeting her, I'll ensure they never get the chance to act. Yet, even as their blood stains my hands, the rage within me doesn't subside. The fear doesn't ease.
Vedant, my closest ally, calls me every night from Delhi, his voice filled with concern and frustration. "Ashtram, you're losing your mind. This obsession... it's consuming you."
"Let it," I reply coldly, my tone leaving no room for argument.
He sighs but doesn't press further. Vedant knows me better than anyone. He knows arguing with me is futile. I've already ordered him to keep a close eye on every one of my rivals, especially those who might be in Bangalore. He's doing his part, but it's not enough for me to sit back and wait.
I can't take any chances-not when it comes to her.
My Angel doesn't even realize the danger that surrounds her. She goes about her life, unaware of the wolves lurking in the shadows, unaware of the way her innocence shines like a beacon in this dark, twisted world. She's the only light I have, the only thing that makes this cursed existence bearable.
Vedant says I've gone mad. Maybe he's right. I am mad-for her. For my Jaan. Why shouldn't I be? She's the only thing in this world worth fighting for, worth dying for.
The mere thought of a minor scratch on her skin is enough to make my chest burn, as if someone has carved the wound into me instead. I can't bear the idea of her pain, not when I know I'm the reason she's suffered so much already.
She may hate me, but that doesn't matter. Her hatred can't stop me from protecting her, from loving her in the only way I know how. I'll kill anyone who dares to look at her the wrong way. I'll tear apart entire empires if it means ensuring her safety.
Every night, as I watch her on the monitors, my heart aches with longing. She looks so strong, so determined to carry on with her life. But I know the truth-I see the moments when her facade cracks, when the pain she hides seeps through her eyes.
One day, she will understand. One day, she will see the depth of what she means to me-that my entire existence revolves around her. Until then, I will remain in the shadows, ensuring her safety, even if it means staining my soul further.
For her, I will destroy kingdoms, burn empires, and slaughter anyone who dares to threaten her peace. She is my redemption and my ruin, the one thing I can never let go of. Not in this life, and not in any other.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and here I am, packing my bag to return to Delhi. Only because of aunty's request. She asked me so sweetly, so genuinely, that I couldn't refuse her. But the thought of stepping back into that city, the city where everything fell apart, fills me with dread.
Delhi. The city where he exists. The man I've been running from. The man who turned my life upside down and left me with nothing but chaos and heartache. Ashtram Raghuvanshi.
My hands pause over the bag as his name crosses my mind. No matter how much I try, his memories always find their way back to me. Every fiber of my being seems to betray me, pulling me back to him, even when I know I shouldn't.
Why? Why does my body crave his touch? Why does my heart yearn for the man who embodies everything I hate?
He is a devil, and yet... yet he made me feel alive. His mere presence could ignite something in me that no one else ever could. A fire that consumed me, a passion that I've never known before. Even now, after all these months, my soul still aches for him, calling out to him in ways I can't explain.
But I can't give in to these feelings. I won't.
I shake my head, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. I can't afford to dwell on him, not now. I need to be strong, to remind myself why I left Delhi in the first place.
"Don't think about him," I mutter under my breath, as if saying it aloud will make it easier to ignore the storm raging inside me.
I fold the last of my clothes and zip up the bag. My ticket is already booked, and there's no turning back now. I'll go to Delhi, meet aunty, and then come back to Bangalore as quickly as possible.
The hope that I don't run into him-that I don't see those piercing eyes, feel the weight of his presence-clings to me desperately. But deep down, I know better. Fate has a cruel way of throwing him in my path, no matter how far I run.
I take a deep breath and lift my bag, trying to push away the lingering thoughts of him. This is just a short trip, I tell myself. A visit for aunty, nothing more.
Ignoring the ache in my chest, I turn off the lights and step out of my flat.
Sitting in my study, the glow of the CCTV screens illuminates the dark room. My eyes are fixed on her-the woman who owns my soul. She's in her flat, moving around, carefully packing her bag. My Jaan. My Angel. But why is she packing?
Zooming in on the footage, I notice something in her hand-a flight ticket. My heart skips a beat as I strain my eyes to read the details. Delhi. She's going back to Delhi.
Delhi? But why? My Angel wouldn't willingly return to the city she fled. Something must have happened.
A growl escapes my lips at the thought. My hands curl into fists, my knuckles turning white. Whatever the reason, whoever the reason, it doesn't matter. I will follow you, Jaan. Wherever you go, I will always be there.
I lean back in my chair, my gaze still glued to the screen. Her movements are so graceful, even in something as mundane as packing. She pauses now and then, her delicate fingers brushing over her belongings as if she's lost in thought. I know what's on her mind-it's me.
Yes, Angel, I know. You're thinking about me, aren't you? My presence haunts you, just as yours consumes me. You may run, you may try to escape, but the strings of fate bind us together. Don't worry, Baccha. Very soon, I'll be in front of you.
The thought of seeing her again sends a surge of anticipation through me. I can already imagine the look on her face-the confusion, the anger, and beneath it all, the longing she tries so hard to hide.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I grab my phone and call my head of security. My voice is calm but carries the weight of authority that no one dares to question. "Arrange the private jet. I need to leave for Delhi immediately."
"Yes, sir," comes the immediate reply.
I hang up and rise from my chair, staring at the screen one last time. She's finished packing now, her bag resting by the door.
My Angel thinks she can leave without me, but she's wrong. She doesn't understand that no matter where she goes, she carries my soul with her. And now, I will follow her to Delhi.
The Devil always follows his Angel, after all.
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