🪄🕊️Happy reading~

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⊹₊⚘✧ISHANI MEHTA⚘✧ ⊹₊

(📍St. Regis Academy)

(4 hrs ago the basement scene)

Mayank was leaning against the college canteen wall, scrolling through his phone, when I shouted his name.

He barely had time to react before I barreled toward him, grabbing his hands and twirling him in circles...

"Whoa, Ishu! Stop!" He laughed, trying to balance himself. "What's gotten into you now?"

"Happy, happy birthday, Mayannkkk!" I cheered, but like every year, his smile dropped. And I knew why.

His mother died giving birth to him.

I get it. I know what it’s like to lose a mother—I’ve been close to it twice when mine had a heart attack.

But is it wrong to celebrate? Absolutely not. It wasn’t his fault, right? He was just born.

"Ishani, I’ve told you a thousand times to stop saying that!" he snapped.

I crossed my arms. "Mayank? then why don’t you keep your mouth shut? If I want to celebrate, what’s your problem?"

He sighed,"Aapka hukum sar aankhon par, madamji," he said, pressing a finger to his lips.

"Good boy." I laughed

He is cute.

He has been my best friend for 1.5 years now. We met in a very... uh, awkward situation.

Actually, I was going to the library when I saw him and Benny.. making out.

In the library.

To say I was shocked would be an understatement. I almost fainted.

Since then, he started following me everywhere, asking me to keep what I saw as a secret and somehow, we became BFFs.

He's also a bit too protective of the people he cares about.

He lives with his uncle and aunt.

And yeah his uncle is a politician--- which means a powerful man. And Mayank? He has full privilege and he makes sure to make full use of it.

"I even made a cake for you! Let's go to the café first, then we'll cut it. But yeah... I forgot to bring a knife. Hopefully, we'll get one there!"

He made a face, "I don't even like cake."

I gasped dramatically. "Oh god! Who doesn’t like cake?"

He shrugged, " me "

I let out a dry laugh, "Very funny"

then i  narrowed my eyes at him. "But you will eat this cake." I warned him.

He held up his hands in surrender, smirking. "Fine, fine. No need to get violent

"Now let's go I have so much to tell you" I said, grabbing his hand as we made our way to cafe.

On our way I told him the entire story of how I scared away the man my mom chose for me. She thinks she can marry me off but I m not going anywhere leaving her.

Mayank chuckled, "It's good he left by his own."

"I'm pretty sure by the time they left, they were chanting prayers to protect their son from me." I laughed

"How long will you delay the marriage, Ishu?" Mayank asked with a sad smile.

"Maybe as long as I'm alive," I replied confidently.

I've seen what marriage can do.

Forget marriage---I've seen how love can destroy everything. And as long as I'm breathing,I'm not letting that happen to mee

For some, like Mayank, love is beautiful.

For me, it's just the first step toward destruction and pain.

So no, I don’t believe in love like Mayank does.

But he respects my feelings, just like I respect his.

There was silence as we reached our usual spot in the café.

"So, Mayank, how's Benny? Everything good between you two?" I asked.

The smile on Mayank's face faded instantly.

"Yeah, it's fine," he said quietly as he sat down.

I frowned,"Mayank, did something happen? Did you guys fight?"

"Drop it, Ishu," he muttered. "Let's just cut the cake. I'll get a knife."

Not wanting to push, I let it go and watched him walk away.

While waiting for him to return, a group of junior boys approached my table. I didn't recognize them. But their crooked smiles made me sick.

"Hey, beautiful. Alone?" One of them smirked, grabbing a chair and sitting down. I noticed he was holding a bunch of roses.

I sighed. "Listen, little boys, get out of here before i -"

But the guy with the roses didn't take the hint. Instead, he leaned forward and placed his hand on mine.

I froze. My skin crawled.

Not because I was scared. Not because I couldn’t break his wrist in two seconds.

But because for a split second, the weight of a man's hand on mine sent me somewhere else.

Somewhhere disgusting.

"Stop struggling, —"

I yanked my hand back like it burned.

Yes, it did.

I hate male touch—especially when it’s from someone I don’t allow.

"Don't touch me," I snapped, pulling my hand back.

Before I could react further, a loud bang made everyone jump.

Mayank.

He saw it.

He stormed toward them, his face dark with rage.

I had seen him angry before, but this... this was different.

Scarier.

"Mayank, it's fine-" I started.

But he wasn't listening. Grabbing the boy by his collar, he slammed him into the wall, hard enough to make everyone in the canteen turn.

"Think of even looking at her again, and I will break every bone in your body," he snarled.

"Mayank, let him go!" I pleaded, but he didn't care.

His fist crashed into the boy's face. Once. Twice. Again.

Blood dripped onto the floor.

Blood.

No no

The color of it.

Dark red, staining the floor.

It's .. familiar.

I wasn't here anymore

I was there

Noo!

"You think you can kill me, my angel ? Hah—"

"Ishani, don’t look away."

"Pull the trigger."

My throat closed.

No. No, not again.

"Who gave you the right to even look at her?" he growled.

"Please! I'm sorry!" The boy gasped, barely able to speak.

But before he could finish, Mayank's fist connected with his face again.

" May-ank —I " i couldn't speak.  I couldn't move my body.

He pull out a gun, screamed erupted as he pointed it at the boy's head

"pleas-e..!!" I begged my voice barely above whisper

Maybe, my voice reached him.

Breathing hard, Mayank lowered the gun but didn't turn. he was still looking at that boy.. "If I ever see you here again, you won't live to regret it." He shoved the boy down.

The boy ran for his life.

His friends had already disappeared, leaving him alone to die.

the moment Mayank turned to me, I flinched.

I don’t know why. Maybe it was the blood on his hands. Maybe it was the gun.

Whatever it was, it made Mayank freeze.

Because he knows

He puts his gun back and then, without warning—

He pulled me into his arms.

My body went rigid.

His arms were to be comforting me but I was shaking.

"Shh, Ishu," he murmured, pressing his chin to my head. " You’re safe."

I sucked in a sharp breath. "Mayank, you—"

"I know," he whispered. His hand rubbed soothing circles on my back. "I’m so sorry, Ishu. I lost control. I scared you."

I clenched my jaw. "I wasn’t scared."

He sighed. "Hmm."

My throat tightened.

I wasn’t scared of him.

I was scared of what I saw in him.

I buried my face in his shoulder. "You can’t do that, Mayank."

His grip tightened. "I know."

"You can’t—You can’t become me." I whispered

His entire body tensed.

But when he spoke, his voice was barely a whisper. "You’re not a monster, Ishani."

He is wrong!

I squeezed my eyes shut. "Then why do I feel like one?"

He pulled back slightly, cupping my face,"Because you’ve never forgiven yourself."

His words hit me harder than any slap.

I sucked in a breath, blinking rapidly. "Mayank, I—"

He wiped a

way a tear I didn’t even realize had fallen.

"One day," he murmured, "you will."

I let out a shaky exhale, pressing my head into his chest.

✧༺⚚༻✧

My book may feel boring at least until Chapter 7, bear with me, please. Also, this is my first book... be gentle..