𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍

Chapter 20

The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed, stretching my arms lazily as the soft morning sunlight filtered through the curtains.

For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to process where I was.

Oh. Right. Shimla.

I blinked a few times before sitting up, rubbing my eyes. My gaze shifted to the couch, but it was empty. Mr. Khadoos was already gone.

Good. At least I won't have to deal with his annoying smirk first thing in the morning.

Pushing off the blanket, I dragged myself to the bathroom, taking a warm shower to wake myself up properly. The hot water relaxed my muscles, washing away any traces of sleep.

Once I was done, I changed into a cozy sweater, jeans, and my favorite boots before stepping out of the room, humming to myself.

By the time I reached the breakfast hall, my friends were already there, stuffing their faces with food.

"Finally, Sleeping Beauty woke up," one of them teased, making me roll my eyes.

"Ha-ha. Very funny." I sat down, grabbing some aloo paratha from the tray. My precious.

"So, what's the plan?" I asked between bites.

"We're going to the market!" My friend grinned. "There's a famous one just a few streets away from here. We should go check it out."

A shopping trip? Yes, please.

After finishing breakfast, we stepped out into the cold morning air. Shimla looked even more beautiful in daylight—the streets lined with colorful shops, the scent of hot tea and roasted peanuts filling the air, and the distant view of snow-covered mountains making everything feel like a dream.

As we reached the bustling marketplace, I felt like a child in a candy store. There were stalls selling handmade woolen clothes, stunning jewelry, wooden souvenirs, and—most importantly—food.

"Ooooh, look at this!" I squealed, rushing toward a stall selling pretty earrings. My friends followed, giggling at my excitement.

We spent the next hour wandering from one shop to another, bargaining, laughing, and stuffing our faces with hot momos. Everything was going great.

Until...

I turned around after checking out a shop and—my friends were gone.

I froze.

Wait...

Where did they go?

My eyes darted around the crowd, but there was no sign of them. The streets were filled with people—locals, tourists, vendors shouting out offers—but not a single familiar face.

Panic started creeping in.

I grabbed my phone from my pocket, only to see—zero network.

Great.

Just. Great.

I took a deep breath. Calm down, Maya. You'll find them. Just retrace your steps.

But as I turned around, trying to figure out which way I had come from, something else caught my attention.

A group of guys.

Standing a few feet away.

Watching me.

I swallowed, gripping my bag tightly as unease settled in my stomach.

I didn't like the way they were looking at me.

And when I started walking away—they followed.

The moment I stepped into the hotel lobby, I could sense something was wrong. A group of students huddled together near the reception, their faces pale and anxious. My brows furrowed as I approached them.

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice sharp and authoritative.

One of the girls, clearly distressed, turned to me. "Uh...sir, it's Maya...she—she got lost in the market."

I felt my entire body tense. "What?"

"She was with us just a while ago, but we got separated, and now we can't find her," another girl explained, biting her lip nervously.

I took a deep breath, trying to control the rage bubbling inside me. "So, let me get this straight. You brought her to a completely new place, left her alone in a crowded market, and just—what? Forgot about her?"

"It's not like that, sir—"

"Then what is it like?" I snapped, my voice growing colder. "Do you even realize how reckless and irresponsible this is? She's alone. In an unknown place. Do you even know what could happen to her?"

The girls looked down, shame evident in their eyes. But I didn't have time to stand here lecturing them. I needed to find Maya.

Without another word, I turned and strode out of the hotel.

The market was bustling with people. Crowded, noisy, and chaotic. The perfect place for someone to disappear without a trace.

My heart pounded as I scanned every corner, every stall, every street. Where the hell was she? I took out my phone, dialing her number.

No signal.

Damn it.

I clenched my fists. If anything happened to her—

No. I wasn't going to think like that. I had to find her.

Then, I heard something.

A faint sniffle. A quiet sob.

I turned towards the narrow alley between two shops, and my breath caught in my throat.

There she was.

Curled up on the ground, hugging her knees, her body trembling. Her face buried in her arms as soft sobs wracked her frame.

And my blood boiled.

Not at her.

At myself.

For not finding her sooner.

For not being there when she needed me.

Taking a slow step forward, I crouched down in front of her. "Maya."

Her head snapped up, and the moment her tear-filled eyes met mine, something inside me shattered.

"P-professor ...." she whispered, her voice broken. And before I could even react, she threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my torso, burying her face in my chest.

I stiffened for a second. Then, instinctively, my arms came around her, pulling her close.

She was shaking. Violently.

I rested my chin on top of her head, tightening my hold. "You're okay, Furball. You're safe now."

She clutched the fabric of my coat as if I was the only thing keeping her grounded. "I—I was so scared," she mumbled against my chest, her voice barely above a whisper. "T-Those guys—t-they were following me. I—I didn't know what to do—I tried calling, but there was no network—"

My entire body went rigid. My hold on her tightened. "Did they touch you?"

She shook her head. "N-No...but they kept following me, and I didn't know where to go—"

I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly, trying to control the fury building inside me. If those bastards were still anywhere near—

No. Right now, the only thing that mattered was her.

I gently pulled back, just enough to cup her face, my thumbs wiping away her tears. "Look at me, Maya."

Her big, tear-filled eyes met mine. Vulnerable. Afraid.

"I'm here now. Nothing will happen to you. I promise."

Her lips trembled, and before I knew it, she hugged me again.

I held her, rubbing soothing circles on her back, waiting for her to calm down.

It took a few minutes, but she finally stopped shaking. Pulling away slightly, I reached into my pocket, taking out my handkerchief. "Here."

She took it hesitantly, dabbing her eyes. "I must look terrible."

I smirked. "Not more than usual."

Her head snapped up, and she glared at me. "Seriously, mr.khadoos? You pick now to make fun of me?"

I chuckled. "Welcome back, Furball."

She huffed, crossing her arms. "I hate you."

"I'm aware."

She sighed, shaking her head. "How did you even find me?"

"Unlike some people, I don't abandon those I'm responsible for."

She winced. "Okay, ouch. That was unnecessary."

I arched a brow. "Was it?"

She muttered something under her breath before looking at me again. "Wait—how did my friends react when they realized I was missing?"

"Oh, don't worry. I made sure they understood exactly how idiotic they were."

Her eyes widened. "Oh no. You didn't."

"Oh, I did." I smirked. "You should've seen their faces."

Maya groaned. "Great. Now they'll think I'm some helpless kid."

"Maybe if you stopped wandering around like a lost puppy, you wouldn't be."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "You really don't know when to shut up, do you?"

"I do. I just choose not to."

She sighed dramatically, standing up. "Let's just go back."

I nodded, standing as well. "Come on, Furball. Let's get you back before you decide to wander off again."

She shot me a glare but didn't argue.

As we walked back, I made a silent promise.

No matter what, I wasn't letting her out of my sight again.

Not now. Not ever.

She was mine to protect. Whether she liked it or not.

And God help anyone who tried to harm her.

As we walked back through the market, I kept Maya close to me, my arm subtly brushing against hers, just to reassure myself that she was safe. Every now and then, I shot a glare at anyone who even dared to glance in her direction, daring them to try anything.

She remained quiet for most of the walk, her usual sass subdued, and that's what bothered me the most. Maya was never silent. She was a storm wrapped in a small body, full of chaos and reckless energy. But right now, she looked small—defenseless, and I hated it.

The moment we reached the hotel, her so-called friends ran toward her, their faces filled with guilt and concern.

"Maya! Oh my god, are you okay?" one of them asked, her hands reaching out as if to touch her, but I stepped forward slightly, blocking her path.

"She's fine," I said coldly, my tone leaving no room for argument. "Though I can't say the same about your responsibility as friends."

They flinched at my words, but I didn't care. They had one job—look out for each other. And they failed miserably.

Maya sighed and waved them off. "I'm fine, guys. Just... I need to rest."

Without waiting for a response, I guided her inside the hotel. As we reached the elevator, she turned to look at me, her big eyes searching mine. "You really tore into them, didn't you?"

I smirked. "They deserved it."

She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. The elevator ride was silent, but it wasn't uncomfortable. I could still feel the lingering tension from earlier, her fear still fresh, even if she tried to mask it.

When we reached her room, she hesitated at the door. "Mr.khadoos "

I waited, watching her.

She bit her lip. "Thank you. For coming to find me."

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "I will always find you, Maya."

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought she was going to say something, but instead, she nodded and quickly stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair.

This girl was going to be the death of me.

But she was mine to protect. And I wasn't going anywhere.

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(Hey sweeties! Do you like This Chapter? If yes then please drop a Vote and comment your opinion on it And you can call me by my Name it's Easy ,Mansi)