𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍

Chapter 15

I stood in the doorway, watching her freeze as the rain poured harder. This was perfect.

Maya turned back slowly, her glare promising murder. "Need a ride home, furball?" I asked, knowing exactly what her answer would be.

Her nostrils flared. "I'd rather walk."

I smirked, stepping forward. "In this storm? Dramatic, even for you."

She lifted her chin, pure stubbornness in her eyes. "I'd rather take my chances."

Unbelievable.

I exhaled, rubbing my temple. "Fine. Go ahead."

Maya turned and marched right into the rain, arms crossed, like she had something to prove.

One minute later.

She was soaked.

Another minute later.

She shivered.

Thirty seconds after that.

She paused.

Ah. There it is. Realization.

I chuckled under my breath before stepping off the curb, taking my time as I approached. She must've heard me because she groaned out loud.

"No." She held up a hand, not even turning around. "Don't. Say. A word."

I grinned. "Cold?"

"No."

"Shivering?"

"No."

"Regretting every life choice?"

She exhaled through her nose.

I waited.

Finally, she turned around, her wet hair sticking to her face, clothes clinging to her like she just survived a flood.

I leaned forward slightly. "What was that? Didn't hear you."

She looked like she wanted to strangle me.

Then, with the most forced smile I'd ever seen, she gritted out "I need a ride."

I crossed my arms. "Say it nicely."

She twitched. "I will throw your car in the ocean."

I laughed. Couldn't help it. "Alright, come on."

Without waiting for permission, I shrugged off my jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She froze completely, her fingers brushing the material as if it would burn her.

I didn't wait for a reaction. Just placed a hand on her back and steered her towards the car.

She stiffened under my touch but didn't protest.

For once.

Maybe she was too cold to fight me.

Good.

She was stuck with me now.

Maya sat in the car, arms crossed, soaked to the bone, radiating pure rage.

And honestly? It was hilarious.

I turned on the heater, casually adjusting the temperature. "Comfortable?"

She huffed. "No."

I smirked. "Strange. You look like you're enjoying yourself."

She snapped her head toward me, eyes burning. "Oh yes, Professor. I just LOVE being drenched, freezing, and stuck in a car with YOU."

I grinned. "Flattered."

She groaned, throwing her head back against the seat. "I should've just drowned in the rain."

I reached into the backseat, grabbed a towel, and without warning, dropped it on her head.

She froze.

"Dry your hair, furball," I said casually, starting the car.

There was a long silence.

Then, slowly, she pulled the towel off her head, staring at me like I had just handed her a bomb.

"...Where did this even come from?"

I shrugged. "I keep things prepared."

She narrowed her eyes. "Why do I feel like you had this ready just to mess with me?"

I smirked. "Guilty conscience?"

She growled, aggressively rubbing the towel over her hair. "You are the most ANNOYING man alive."

"Yet you're in my car."

"By force."

"Mm-hmm."

She grumbled something under her breath, looking out the window.

I watched her from the corner of my eye. "You know, you could just say thank you."

She turned back sharply. "Thank you?! For WHAT?"

I counted on my fingers. "One—for rescuing your stubborn self. Two—for giving you my jacket. Three—for not laughing when you tripped outside."

Her mouth fell open. "I—YOU—WHEN DID I TRIP?!"

I smirked. "So you admit it?"

Her soul left her body.

I chuckled as she threw the towel at my face.

By the time I reached home, I was mentally exhausted.

**Not physically—because SOMEONE didn't let me walk home in peace—**but mentally.

Mr. Khadoos and his smug little comments drained all my patience. And the worst part? I had no comebacks because my brain short-circuited every time he smirked.

I needed peace. Silence. Warmth.

But the moment I stepped inside—

"Ooooh, look who finally arrived!"

I froze.

Oh no.

Raj was standing in the living room, arms crossed, looking way too excited to ruin my day.

I sighed. "Not now, Raj."

"Oh no, no, no, little sister." He walked over, eyeing me up and down. "You're soaked. Hair messy. Wearing a man's jacket. Suspiciously quiet."

He grinned.

"Did you finally get kidnapped or—"

I grabbed a cushion from the sofa and launched it at his face.

"SHUT UP."

Raj dodged it expertly, laughing. "Ohhh, so defensive! Who was he? Tall? Rich? Handsome?"

I groaned. "None of your business."

"That means YES."

"It does NOT!"

He pointed at me, grinning wider. "It totally does. Look at you, all flustered!"

I glared. "I will murder you in your sleep."

"Aw, she's in love."

I grabbed the nearest object—my shoe—and threw it at him.

Raj yelped, dodging again. "MOM! MAYA'S BEING VIOLENT AGAIN!"

"KEEP TEASING HER AND YOU'LL BE INJURED AGAIN!" Mom yelled from the kitchen.

I smirked.

Raj pouted. "Unfair. Where's my protection?"

I grinned. "Go find a sugar mommy."

Raj clutched his heart. "Hurtful. Just for that, I'm checking your phone for mystery men."

I screamed and ran to my room before he could steal my phone.

When I reached home, I was still smirking.

I couldn't stop thinking about her—her flustered face, the way she glared, the little pout when she was mad.

My Little Furball.

But the moment I stepped inside, my smirk vanished.

Veer was standing near the stairs, arms crossed, eyes locked onto something in my hand—

I followed his gaze.

Shit.

The book.

I was still holding the dark romance novel I bought from the bookstore the one my Little Furball reads.

I was done.

"BHAI." Veer's voice dripped with judgment. "PHIRSE?! Chiiii yaar, yeh sab kaun padhta hai?!"

I sighed. "Veer—"

"NO." He dramatically pointed at the book. "Is this another one of those Haunting Adeline type of books? Because last time—"

"Shut up."

"Last time I caught you reading that, I thought you were planning to kidnap someone."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "It's research."

Veer's face twisted. "RESEARCH? On WHAT? Being a psycho?"

"On what she likes." The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Veer froze.

I froze.

Silence.

"...Oh."

Then—

"OHHHHHHHHH."

I mentally prepared myself for hell.

Veer's grin stretched wide. "YOU LIKE SOMEONE."

"No."

"YOU LIKE A DARK ROMANCE-READING, RED FLAG-LOVING, TOXIC HERO-OBSESSED GIRL."

I glared. "Shut. Up."

"I WILL NEVER SHUT UP."

He grabbed my shoulders, shaking me. "BHAI. SHE'S YOUR SOULMATE."

I shoved him off. "She's a headache."

"AND YET YOU'RE READING BOOKS FOR HER."

I gritted my teeth. "I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HER DAMN TASTE."

Veer smirked. "Acha? Toh agla kya? Will you start calling her 'little mouse' and whisper threats in her ear?"

I picked up a cushion and threw it at his face.

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