Chapter 15: 15 . who are you ? Mayura!

As I entered the dimly lit room, the tension was palpable. Rajveer was tied to a chair, his hands bound behind his back, his face contorted in a blend of fear and defiance. Blood smeared his body, and his skin bore the marks of my brutal punishment.

Mayura followed me in, her footsteps measured and deliberate. I glanced at her, half-expecting her to recoil in horror, but she did the opposite. She walked straight toward Rajveer, her eyes locked onto his face with a chilling calmness. Her expression was resolute, her eyes reflecting a deep, simmering anger that seemed almost out of place in the face of such cruelty.

She stopped directly in front of him, her gaze unwavering. Her voice, when she spoke, was cold and detached, devoid of any sign of the fear I might have anticipated. "Rajveer, you have caused me a lot of pain. You messed with the wrong girl. And now, it’s time for you to pay the price."

Rajveer's eyes widened, his terror growing as he struggled against his restraints. He groaned and pleaded, but Mayura remained unmoved, a picture of control and focus. It was clear she had no intention of showing any sympathy.

I watched her closely, my gaze flickering between her and Rajveer. As I proceeded with the interrogation, using various tools to inflict controlled pain, I kept an eye on Mayura. I expected to see some reaction—fear, disgust, perhaps—but she was inscrutable. Her face remained impassive, her eyes following the scene with a detached, almost clinical interest. A faint smile played at her lips, one that seemed to indicate a sense of satisfaction rather than repulsion.

Even my men were taken aback. They were accustomed to brutality, but seeing Mayura’s reaction—the way she observed with such cold detachment—added a new layer of intensity to the situation. They exchanged glances of shock and disbelief, murmuring among themselves.

As I administered the final touches of punishment, making sure Rajveer understood the depth of his suffering, Mayura’s gaze never wavered. She watched him writhe and scream with an eerie calmness, her expression one of grim satisfaction. It was a powerful, almost surreal moment, reflecting a side of her I had only glimpsed in fragments.

With the interrogation complete, I led Mayura out of the room, my mind racing with questions about her true nature. The evening air was cool against my skin . I glanced at her, curiosity piqued. "Who are you, Mayura?" I asked, my voice low and inquisitive.

Mayura turned to me with a small, enigmatic smile. "There’s a side of me that no one knows about, Abhimaan," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of hidden depths.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

Her eyes gleamed in the fading light. "I mean that I’m not just the innocent, shy girl you thought I was " she explained, her voice dripping with quiet confidence. "I have a darker side. Every girl had theirs ."

I was fascinated, my gaze fixed on her. "Go on," I urged, eager to understand more.

Mayura’s smile widened, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You’ll get to know my ruthless side too, Abhimaan I meant what do you expect froma readers who loves dark romance books ?," she said, her voice husky with satisfaction. "And today, I finally got the satisfaction I’ve been craving."

I looked at her, feeling a mixture of surprise and admiration. "You enjoyed watching him suffer, didn’t you?" I asked .

Mayura nodded almost imperceptibly. Her acknowledgment was subtle but spoke volumes. "You’re a complex woman, Mayura," I said, my voice filled with wonder. "Full of secrets and surprises."

Mayura laughed softly, a throaty sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "You have no idea ," she said, her voice rich with mystery.

As we walked back to the car, my phone rang. I answered, and Papa's voice came through, .

"Abhimaan, where’s Mayura?" he asked.

"She’s with me, Dad," I replied, my gaze never leaving Mayura’s face.

"Good, put her on the phone," he said .

I handed the phone to Mayura, who took it with curiosity.

"Hello, Papa," she said, her voices steady and confident.

"Mayura, beta, how are you?" my father’s voice softened.

"I’m fine, thank you, Papa," Mayura replied.

"Listen, beta , I know what happened with Rajveer... I want you to know that you’re safe now. I knew Abhimaan would have punished him thoroughly. I have good news for you. Your admission formalities are complete. You can go to college, complete your studies , and I’ll arrange everything. Whenever you’re ready, beta."

Mayura’s eyes widened in surprise. She looked at me, and I nodded encouragingly.

"Thank you, Dad... that’s very generous of you," Mayura said, her voice filled with gratitude.

"I just want to see you happy and fulfilled, Mayura. You deserve it. And Abhimaan will support you every step of the way, won’t you?" my father’s voice was warm and reassuring.

Mayura smiled, a hopeful expression on her face. "Thank you, Papa. I won’t let you down ."

As Mayura handed the phone back to me, she seemed more hopeful than I had ever seen her.

Mayura stared out the window, lost in thought. I wanted to talk, but didn’t want to disturb her reverie. I fiddled with the radio, sneaking glances at her profile.

Finally, I couldn’t resist. "Mayura?" I said softly.

She turned to me, her eyes focusing on mine. "Hmm?"

I smiled, my curiosity getting the better of me. "What are you thinking about?"

"Just thinking about my future," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Her gaze turned sharp as she looked at me. "What are we, actually, Abhimaan?" she asked, her tone laced with confusion.

I remained silent, my eyes fixed on her.

She continued, her voice gentle but insistent. "You told me this marriage was just a business deal, but then last night, you made me wear your traditional anklets and punished Rajveer because of me. What do you really want from me?"

I listened, my silence heavy with the weight of her questions.

Mayura’s voice dropped to a whisper. "I don’t know what to make of you, Abhimaan. You’re confusing me. But tell me honestly, or I’ll start overthinking."

As we pulled up to the house, Mayura reached for the door handle, but I quickly locked the doors. She turned to me, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Abhimaan, what are you doing?" she asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.

I locked eyes with her, my gaze intense. "What do you want me to be, Mayura?" I asked, my voice low and filled with emotion.

Her eyes widened at my sudden question. "What do you mean?"

I leaned closer, my breath mingling with hers. "Do you want me to be your husband or a stranger?" I asked, my words  heavy with meaning.

Mayura’s gaze searched mine, struggling to decipher my intentions. "I... I don’t know, Abhimaan," she stammered.

I held her gaze, my voice firm. "You need to decide, Mayura. Because I can’t stay in this limbo, not knowing what you want from me."

The car was thick with tension, the silence between us almost suffocating. Mayura’s heart raced, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She knew she couldn’t ignore the spark between us.

In a barely audible whisper, she said, "What if I give this marriage a chance, Abhimaan? What will you do?"

A warm light filled my eyes as my face softened. "I’ll make it real, Mayura," I promised, my voice husky. "I’ll make this marriage about us, about our future together."

Her eyes fluttered closed as my hand traced the curve of her jaw. "And what about our past? What about the deal we made?"

I brushed my thumb against her lips, sending shivers down her spine. "I’ll make you forget all about it, Mayura. I’ll make you forget everything except how I make you feel."

Her eyes snapped open, meeting mine with a mix of surprise and resolve. "Okay, Abhimaan," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I’ll give us a chance. But let's be friends and get to know each other first . "

A radiant smile spread across my face, my eyes shining with joy. "Okay mam . As you wish . I’ll make it worth your while, Mayura," I vowed, my voice filled with emotion. "I’ll make our marriage a story to remember."

As the car engine hummed softly in the background, I leaned in and pressed my lips to Mayura’s forehead  in a  gentle kiss, sealing our new beginning. In that moment, the world outside melted away, leaving only the two of us, wrapped in our own bubble of love ?!