The psychology lecture ended.

Students started packing their bags, chatting and walking out of the classroom.

But Ayesha barely noticed.

Her notebook was open in front of her... the same page she had been staring at for the last twenty minutes.

Not a single word had registered in her mind.

Because her mind wasn't in the classroom.

It was somewhere else.

On a certain arrogant, irritating, shameless boy.

And a certain witch named Riya.

Ayesha slammed her notebook shut.

"Ugh!"

She walked out of the classroom, her steps quick and annoyed.

The corridor buzzed with students moving between classes.

But Ayesha walked straight ahead, muttering under her breath.

"That witch... seriously..."

"Touching his arm like she owns him..."

"Miss chipkali..."

Her eyes flashed with irritation.

"And that idiot didn't even-"

Suddenly-

A strong hand grabbed her wrist.

Before she could react-

She was pulled sharply.

"Hey-!"

The world spun for a second.

Then the lift doors closed.

Ayesha looked up angrily.

And froze.

Standing in front of her-

Abhinav.

Her eyes widened.

"You-!"

Before she could finish, Abhinav pressed the lift button calmly.

The lift started moving upward.

Ayesha immediately tried to pull her wrist away.

"Leave my hand!"

Abhinav didn't.

Instead he said quietly,

"Stop shouting."

That only made her angrier.

"Don't tell me what to do!"

She yanked her hand free this time.

Her eyes were blazing.

"What is your problem?!"

Abhinav leaned back against the lift wall, arms crossed.

"My problem?"

"Yes, YOUR problem!"

Ayesha's frustration exploded.

"You drag me into lifts, disappear whenever you want, and then let that witch hang on your arm in front of everyone!"

Her voice echoed inside the lift.

Abhinav stared at her.

Completely silent.

That irritated her even more.

"Oh wow!"

"Now you're silent?"

"Great!"

The lift dinged.

Doors opened.

Ayesha stormed out immediately.

She was too angry to even notice where she was going.

She walked fast through the corridor.

Abhinav followed behind her calmly.

"Ayesha-"

"DON'T talk to me!"

She didn't stop walking.

"You heard me!"

"Go find your Riya!"

She turned around angrily-

And stopped.

Suddenly.

Her eyes widened.

The corridor was... empty.

Completely empty.

No students.

No classrooms.

No noise.

Only a quiet hallway with restricted access doors.

Realization hit her.

Slowly.

She looked back.

The lift doors had already closed.

Her heart skipped.

"This... floor..."

Her voice lowered.

"This is restricted."

Behind her-

Abhinav spoke calmly.

"Yes."

Ayesha turned sharply.

"Are you insane?!"

"If someone sees us here we'll be-"

But she stopped.

Because Abhinav wasn't calm anymore.

Not at all.

Something in his expression had changed.

His eyes were darker.

Much darker.

He walked toward her slowly.

Ayesha instinctively stepped back.

"Why did you bring me here?"

Abhinav didn't answer immediately.

He stopped right in front of her.

Close.

Very close.

His voice dropped.

"You were ignoring me."

Ayesha scoffed.

"Oh please."

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Your girlfriend was practically glued to you."

Something in his eyes flickered.

"My girlfriend?"

"Yes!"

Ayesha snapped.

"That chipkali Riya!"

Abhinav suddenly grabbed her wrist again.

This time harder.

"Ayesha."

His voice was low.

Dangerously calm.

"I have said this before."

"And I'll say it again."

"She is nothing to me."

Ayesha tried to pull her hand away.

"Then why does she keep touching you?!"

"Why don't you stop her properly?!"

Abhinav's control finally snapped.

He stepped forward suddenly.

Ayesha's back hit the wall behind her.

Her breath caught.

His hand pressed against the wall beside her.

Trapping her there.

His voice was low and intense.

"I DID stop her."

"Didn't you hear what I said to her?"

Ayesha remembered.

How many times I told you not to touch me...

But her ego refused to surrender.

"You could have pushed her away earlier."

Abhinav laughed softly.

But there was no humor in it.

"You're jealous."

"I am NOT!"

"You are."

"I said I'm NOT!"

Abhinav leaned slightly closer.

His eyes locked with hers.

"Then why were you glaring at me like you wanted to murder me?"

Ayesha opened her mouth.

But no words came out.

Her heart was beating faster.

Abhinav studied her face carefully.

Then suddenly his voice softened.

"Idiot."

Ayesha frowned.

"What?"

"You think I would let anyone take your place?"

Her anger faltered.

Just slightly.

But she still muttered stubbornly,

"I don't care."

Abhinav raised an eyebrow.

"You don't?"

She crossed her arms.

"No."

Silence filled the corridor.

Then Abhinav leaned slightly closer and whispered near her ear-

"Then next time when she touches me..."

"I'll hold her hand instead."

Ayesha's eyes widened instantly.

Her head snapped up.

"What?!"

Abhinav smirked.

"And maybe even take her to lunch."

"You-!"

Her face flushed with anger.

"You dare!"

Abhinav's smirk widened.

"See?"

"You care."

Ayesha glared at him.

But this time-

Her anger had a different emotion mixed inside it.

Her anger hadn't cooled down.

Not even a little.

Her eyes were still blazing.

"Move."

She pushed Abhinav hard on his chest.

For a second he actually stepped back.

"Good."

She turned immediately and started walking toward the corridor.

"I'm done with you."

But she barely took two steps.

Suddenly-

A strong arm wrapped around her waist.

"Aah-!"

Before she could react-

Abhinav pulled her back.

In one swift motion he dragged her into a nearby restricted room and shut the door behind them.

Click.

The lock echoed in the silent room.

Ayesha's eyes widened.

"Abhinav!"

But he didn't stop.

He turned her around and gently but firmly pinned her against the wall.

His hand still around her waist.

Her back against the cold wall.

His tall frame blocking her way out.

"Let me go!"

Ayesha struggled.

But his grip tightened slightly.

"Not until you calm down."

"I am calm!"

"You're about to explode."

"I am NOT!"

She glared at him.

"You dragged me into a restricted floor and now you're locking doors!"

Her eyes flashed with warning.

"Do you know what I can do?"

Abhinav raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"Yes!"

Ayesha pointed toward the ceiling.

"There are CCTV cameras here!"

"If I send the footage to my brothers-"

Her voice became dramatic.

"You will be DEAD."

For a moment there was silence.

Then-

Abhinav started laughing.

Actually laughing.

Ayesha frowned.

"What's so funny?!"

He leaned slightly closer.

Still smiling.

"Ayesha..."

"Yes?!"

"There are cameras here."

She folded her arms proudly.

"Exactly."

Abhinav's smile turned into something more mischievous.

"But those cameras..."

He tilted his head slightly.

"Belong to me."

Ayesha blinked.

"...What?"

Abhinav's hand tightened a little around her waist to stop her from stepping away.

"No one can access them."

He looked straight into her eyes.

"No one can hack them."

A slow realization crossed her face.

"You're lying."

Abhinav shrugged casually.

"Try it."

She glared at him.

"You're impossible."

"And you're dramatic."

"Excuse me?!"

"You threatened to get me killed by your brothers."

"Because you DESERVE IT!"

Abhinav chuckled again.

"You think Armaan will kill me?"

Ayesha smirked.

"Yes."

Abhinav leaned closer and whispered,

"He can try."

That confidence annoyed her again.

"You're unbelievable!"

She tried to push him again.

But Abhinav didn't move.

Instead he looked at her carefully.

"You were really jealous."

"I WAS NOT!"

"You were."

"I said I wasn't!"

"Then why were you glaring at Riya like you wanted to throw her out of the building?"

Ayesha froze.

For half a second.

Then she quickly looked away.

"I just don't like her."

Abhinav smirked.

"Of course."

Silence filled the room again.

Then suddenly-

A voice echoed faintly from outside the corridor.

"Did someone come to this floor?"

Both of them froze instantly.

Ayesha's eyes widened.

"Someone is here!"

Abhinav immediately turned serious.

He lowered his voice.

"Quiet."

The corridor outside was quiet again.

Whoever passed the restricted floor had already left.

Inside the room, silence filled the air.

But the tension between them was still there.

Ayesha finally pushed Abhinav's chest.

This time he didn't stop her.

She stepped away from him.

Her voice was low.

"You think I'm jealous of Riya?"

Abhinav frowned slightly.

"You were glaring at her like you wanted to-"

"I was not jealous."

Her voice cut him off.

Sharp.

Hurt.

Abhinav noticed it immediately.

Something in her tone was different.

Not anger.

Pain.

Ayesha looked away from him.

"You don't understand anything."

Abhinav walked closer slowly.

"Then explain it to me."

She laughed bitterly.

"Explain?"

Her eyes met his.

"For what?"

"So you can flirt again and pretend everything is fine?"

Abhinav's expression hardened.

"Ayesha-"

"No!"

She raised her hand stopping him.

"You know what the problem is?"

Her voice trembled slightly.

"You are behaving like this... like we actually have a future."

Abhinav's brows furrowed.

"And we don't?"

Ayesha shook her head slowly.

Her eyes looked tired now.

"You know our families."

Silence.

"You know their rivalry."

Silence.

"You know what will happen if they find out."

Her voice dropped.

"There isn't even a 0.1% chance for us."

The words hit harder than any slap.

For the first time, Abhinav didn't reply immediately.

Ayesha continued quietly.

"So no, I wasn't jealous."

She looked down.

"I was just reminding myself not to dream about something that can never happen."

The room felt heavier.

Abhinav stared at her for a few seconds.

Then suddenly-

He stepped forward.

And gently held her face.

"Ayesha."

She tried to move away.

But he didn't let her.

"Look at me."

She didn't.

"Ayesha."

Finally she looked up.

Her eyes were slightly watery.

Abhinav spoke softly.

"Who told you we don't have a future?"

She scoffed weakly.

"Our families."

"They control the world."

"They control industries."

"They control everything."

"But they don't control me."

Ayesha shook her head.

"You're the heir."

"Yes."

"You have responsibilities."

"Yes."

"You have a crown."

"Yes."

"Then stop pretending like you can choose anything!"

Her voice cracked.

Abhinav went silent.

Then he said something very quietly.

"𝙄𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪..."

Ayesha froze.

He continued.

"...𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣."

Her eyes widened.

"What?"

Abhinav's voice was calm.

"If the price of being their heir is losing you..."

He looked directly into her eyes.

"𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙚."

"𝘼𝙮𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙖, 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚."

"𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪."

For a moment she couldn't speak.

Her heart was beating too fast.

"Abhinav..."

He wiped the tear that had escaped her eye.

"You think I'm flirting with you because I'm careless?"

He shook his head.

"I do it because if I start thinking seriously..."

His voice softened.

"...I'll realize how much you actually mean to me."

Ayesha whispered,

"You're crazy."

Abhinav smiled slightly.

"Maybe."

He leaned closer and rested his forehead against hers.

"But if loving you means going against the world..."

His voice dropped.

"...then let the world come."

---

---

For a few seconds after his words, neither of them moved.

Their foreheads were still touching.

The room felt strangely calm now.

Ayesha took a slow breath.

Then suddenly she stepped back.

Abhinav frowned slightly.

"What happened?"

She cleared her throat and tried to act normal.

"It's... break time."

Abhinav raised an eyebrow.

"So?"

"So we should go to the canteen."

She walked toward the door.

"Separately."

Abhinav crossed his arms, amused.

"Separately?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

She turned and gave him a look.

"Because if anyone sees us coming together from the restricted floor, my brothers will murder you."

Abhinav chuckled softly.

"Fair point."

She reached the door and was about to open it when-

Abhinav spoke again.

"Wait."

She looked back.

"What now?"

He tilted his head slightly.

"My kiss."

Ayesha blinked.

"What?"

"You promised."

"I never promised!"

"You did."

"No I didn't."

"You literally said you'll give me one."

She sighed dramatically.

"You are impossible."

Abhinav smirked.

"And yet you love me."

She rolled her eyes but walked back toward him.

"Fine."

She stood in front of him.

Abhinav leaned down slightly, expecting her to kiss his cheek.

But instead-

She grabbed his collar.

And suddenly bit his neck.

"OW!"

Abhinav hissed in shock.

Ayesha quickly stepped back.

A clear red mark was already forming on his neck.

She grinned mischievously.

"There."

"Your kiss."

Abhinav touched his neck, staring at her in disbelief.

"You bit me!"

Ayesha started backing toward the door.

"You asked for a kiss."

"That was not a kiss!"

She laughed.

"Close enough."

Then she quickly opened the door.

Before he could react-

She ran.

"AYESHA!"

Her laughter echoed in the corridor.

By the time Abhinav reached the door, she was already running toward the lift.

The lift doors closed just as she jumped inside.

She waved at him innocently.

"See you in the canteen!"

The lift went down.

Leaving Abhinav standing there.

He slowly touched the mark on his neck again.

Then he suddenly started smiling.

A ridiculous smile.

"Crazy girl..."

He muttered softly.

Then he looked at the lift doors.

Still smiling like an idiot.

"Mine."

He adjusted his collar slightly to hide the mark and walked toward the stairs.

Still touching the place where she bit him.

𝕯𝖔𝖓'𝖙 𝖌𝖔 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖒𝖞 𝖓𝖔𝖙𝖊📝

______________________________________

🄰🅄🅃🄷🄾🅁 🄽🄾🅃🄴📝

𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳

𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘃 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀....