His True Face
She wanted to scream, to cry, to push him away but she couldn't. Every teasing kiss, every whisper, every soft touch held her captive, igniting a fire she didn't know how to resist.
Aarav's eyes met hers, dark and commanding. "You see, Meera... this is what I want. Your heart racing, your mind spinning, your jealousy raw. I want it all. And I want you."
Her voice broke. "I... I can't..."
"Yes, you can," he whispered,"And soon... you'll want it too."
Meera realized, with a mixture of fear and longing, that she could never escape him... and she wouldn't want to.
Aarav's eyes met hers, dark and commanding. "You see, Meera... this is what I want. Your heart racing, your mind spinning, your jealousy raw. I want it all. And I want you."
Her voice broke. "I... I can't..."
"Yes, you can . And soon... you'll want it too."he said.
Meera's breath came in quick, shallow bursts as Aarav's lips brushed her neck again.she stiffened. Her hands, which had been trembling against the table, balled into fists.
"Stop," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Let me go, Aarav."
He didn't move. His smirk deepened, lips still grazing her skin. "You're shaking," he murmured. "But not from fear."
Her heart pounded harder. "Stop it!" she said louder this time, pressing both palms against his chest and trying to push him away. "I said let go!"
Aarav's fingers slid up her arms, holding her gently but firmly, his dark eyes never leaving hers.
"Why?Why should I stop when you're trembling like this or say love this ?"he asked softly, almost mockingly.
Her voice broke. "Because I... I don't want this!"
He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Don't want it?" he whispered. "Or don't want to admit it?"
She pushed again, harder,"I'm serious, Aarav. Let me go." Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. the memory of him kissing Naina flashed like a knife in her mind. "You... you kissed her! You... you brought her here!"
His lips curved into a teasing, dangerous smile. "Ahh... there it is," he said softly. "The jealousy I love." He didn't loosen his hold; instead, his thumb lightly traced her jaw. "You can hate me for it, Meera. You can fight me. But it only makes you burn hotter."
Her breath hitched. "I hate you," she whispered, pushing at his chest again, but his grip only tightened slightly-enough to hold her .
He leaned closer, his forehead brushing hers, his voice low and velvety. "Say it louder. Tell me you hate me while you tremble in my arms."
Tears welled in her eyes. "You're cruel," she breathed. "You enjoy this... making me jealous... making me weak."
Aarav lips brushing just below her ear. "No, Meera. I enjoy making you mine."
She twisted her body, trying to pull free, but he shifted, blocking her escape, his arms a cage around her. "Stop struggling," he whispered. "It's useless."
Her voice trembled. "I'll never be like her," she said, anger and heartbreak mixing in her tone. "I'll never be Naina."
Aarav's smile softened but didn't fade. "Good,I don't want another Naina. I want you angry, jealous, stubborn you." he murmured
She gave one more push, but it only brought her closer to him.
"Let me go..." she whispered again, though her voice was weaker now, trembling.
His fingers brushed a stray tear from her cheek. "No," he said simply, voice low and certain. "Not until you stop lying to yourself."
"I... I said stop!" she protested, pushing him with both hands. "Aarav, please..."
He chuckled low, a teasing sound that sent shivers down her spine. "Stop? Why should I stop when you're like this? Shaking, flustered... jealous..."
Her eyes widened, cheeks flushing hot. "I'm not jealous!" she spat, though her body betrayed her words.
"Ah... is that what you call it?" he whispered, leaning closer again, brushing her hair back from her face. "I can feel it. Every quick breath, every pulse racing... it tells me everything."
"You remember her, don't you?" she said, voice breaking, thinking of Naina. "You... you kissed her too!"
Aarav smirked, eyes glinting with mischief. "I did... but that was then. Now? Now it's you I'm focused on. Look at you... your jealousy, your struggle... it's intoxicating."
"I... I hate you!" she whispered, trying to push him again.
"And yet," he murmured, keeping his lips just against her skin, "you're still here. Standing so close, unable to step away. Admit it... you care."
Her body shivering from a mix of anger and something she didn't want to name. "I... I don't... I-"
"Shh..." he whispered, nuzzling slightly, holding her steady. "You do. And that's why I won't let go. Not yet."
Aarav's hand brushed a loose strand of hair from her face. "You can struggle, Meera... fight me all you want," he murmured, voice low and teasing. "But it only makes this-us-more real."
She tried once more to push him back but his hold was steady, unyielding.
Meera's chest heaved as Aarav held her close, his teasing grin still playing on his lips. She tried to push him lightly, but her strength faltered. Her cheeks burned hot, a mixture of anger and something deeper she couldn't hide any longer.
"I... I can't stand it," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Seeing you with her... it... it makes me jealous!"
Aarav's eyes darkened with a mix of amusement and something softer. "Jealous, huh?And what does that make you feel... about me?"he murmured
Meera swallowed hard, her hands pressing against his chest, "I... I don't want anyone else... I want you... only you!"
Aarav's smirk softened into something almost tender. "Only me?" he teased gently, letting her struggle lightly against him without letting go. "You realize how dangerous that sounds, don't you?"
"I don't care!" she shot back, voice fierce now, eyes blazing. "I can't... I won't... I don't want you with anyone else ever!"
He leaned closer, brushing his forehead against hers, his warm breath making her shiver. "Is that so?" he whispered, voice low, teasing. "You've been holding that inside all this time... and now you finally admit it. I like that... a lot."
Her fists clenched at his chest. "I... I can't help it .Every time I see you with her, it... it hurts. I... I want to be the only one who matters to you!"she said, voice breaking.
Aarav's eyes softened, though the playful glint never left them. "You think you're just a maid... that you don't deserve it. But look at you... jealous, stubborn, so alive with feeling. You want me... and I want you too, Meera."
Her breath caught. "You... you do?"
He didn't answer with words. Instead, he let his fingers lightly brush her hair back, holding her close.
"I... I want only you," she whispered again, clutching his shirt slightly, letting her guard fall .
Aarav's smirk returned, playful and possessive. "Good," he murmured, voice low and teasing.
Aarav's dark eyes lingered on her for a heartbeat... and then, without warning, he stepped back, letting her stumble slightly.
"You... you what?" he asked, voice sharp, though his lips curved in that infuriating, teasing smirk. "You really think this... all of this... means what you said?"
"What... what do you mean?" she stammered, confusion and hurt flooding her.
He crossed his arms, leaning casually against the edge of the desk. "All of this... the jealousy, the struggle, the confessions... it was all an act. For me... entertainment. I wanted to see how far you'd go."
Meera froze, her chest tightening painfully. "You... you were just playing with me?" she whispered, voice breaking, hurt cutting deep.tear in her eyes.
Aarav chuckled low, eyes scanning her face as if savoring her reaction. "Oh yes. Every flustered glance, every trembling word... priceless."
Her hands dropped from his shirt. "You... you're a Monster... Monster!" she shouted at him and breathed, taking a small step back, tears threatening. "I- I told you my feelings... and you... you just..."
"Relax .I didn't mean to... hurt you. Not really. I just... wanted to see you... honest. Raw. Jealous. Afraid. Alive. And you... you gave me exactly that."he interrupted smoothly
Meera's jaw tightened. "I... I can't believe you. How could you...?"
He leaned slightly forward again, smirk softening, voice low but teasing: "Because, Meera... you're nothing . You always have been that to me . And if I have to tease you, push you, make you admit it... then so be it. You belong with me, whether you want to admit it or not."
Her chest heaved. Anger, jealousy, longing... all twisted inside her. She wanted to scream, cry, push him away-but part of her heart ached with something darker, deeper, uncontrollable.
Aarav tilted his head, voice soft now, "But don't worry... I'll make sure you never forget who holds the upper hand here."
"Get out," he said suddenly, his voice cold and cutting through the air like glass.
She blinked, unable to move. "W-what?"
"I said get out, Meera." His tone left no room for argument. "You've wasted enough of my time."
Her throat tightened. "But... I-"
"Don't," he shouted and eyes narrowing. "Don't say a word. Just leave."
The weight of his voice pressed against her chest. She took a shaky step back. Her heart still raced from everything that had happened .
She turned toward the door, her eyes stinging, when his voice came again low, dangerous.
"And Meera..."
She stopped, back turned, afraid to face him. "Yes...?" she whispered.
"Don't ever call me by my name again."
Her lips parted slightly, trembling. "huh?"
He let out a short, cold laugh. " You don't have that right . You'll call me sir. Always. Understand?"
Meera turned her head slowly, eyes filled with disbelief and pain. "You're..." she feel like crying..
Aarav's gaze was steady, unreadable. "Completely. And if I hear you say my name again..." he stepped closer, lowering his voice until it was almost a whisper, "...I'll make sure you regret it."
The words stung more than any insult. Her heart ached, but she managed a faint nod, whispering, "Yes... sir."
For a moment, silence hung heavy between them. Then she bowed her head and left the room, her footsteps soft but uneven - every step echoing with the sound of her breaking heart.