Maya
The sight I had just witnessed was too much to bear—too horrifying, too scarring. The flames roared like a beast let loose from hell, consuming everything in its path. Smoke curled into the air, thick and choking, making it hard to breathe. The heat... God, the heat was unbearable. It clung to my skin like punishment, searing into my memory forever.
My heart pounded so hard it echoed in my ears. My palms were slick with sweat, and panic gripped me like a vice, refusing to let go. My hands trembled uncontrollably as I clutched the cold doorknob of the abandoned building, my knees finally giving out. I crouched down on the ground, trying to hold myself together—failing miserably.
Fire. The most feared thing in my life. No one knew, but I’ve lived with pyrophobia for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, the mere mention of fire would make my skin crawl. And now, seeing it so close—so alive, so deadly—was breaking something deep inside me. I wanted to run. I wanted to escape from this nightmare and vanish into the wind. I wanted to erase this memory, erase this truth, and most of all... I wanted to forget him.
I should’ve never followed him.
But how could I not?
The way Utsav stood there, calm and unflinching, as he raised the gun and pulled the trigger—without a blink—was terrifying. The tank exploded, sending flames into the air, lighting up the night like some apocalyptic movie scene. And he? He didn’t flinch. The coldness in his eyes said more than words ever could. It wasn't just cruelty—it was calculation. Power. Authority. He didn’t just control people... he controlled fear.
And yet, I couldn’t run.
Any sane person would’ve fled. Any normal woman would’ve turned her back and never looked over her shoulder again. But I am not most women.
I am Maya Shekhavat—stubborn, wild-hearted, reckless to the core. I never bow, even when I break. And maybe that’s why... even in this moment of horror, I couldn’t look away. I should’ve feared him. I should’ve hated him. But I didn’t. The very thing that should’ve repulsed me, instead drew me in deeper.
Why?
Because he was Utsav.
Because no matter how much blood stained his hands, no matter how cruel he appeared in that moment—his silence still screamed louder than anyone I’ve ever met. His pain, his rage, his control—it wasn’t just darkness. It was powerful, tragic, alluring. And it scared me that I could still love him even after this.
I always thought he was cold because he didn’t care. But now I know... he hides something far more dangerous behind that stoic calm. A truth even his closest ones might not know. And my curiosity had pulled me too far, tangled me in the very web I should’ve run from.
But I can’t run now.
I’m already trapped.
Trapped in his world.
Trapped in him.
And deep down—I know—I don’t want to be saved.
The moment he began walking toward the exit, I instinctively ducked behind the rusted metal door, pressing myself against the cold wall as if it could shield me from the storm I had just witnessed. I closed my eyes tightly, whispering silent prayers to a God I hadn’t spoken to in years.
Please… not today. Not like this. Don't let him find me.
My entire body trembled—not from the fire, not anymore—but from him. From the terrifying calmness he wore like armor. From the knowledge that if he found me here, he wouldn’t just be angry. He would be merciless.
Every nerve in my body stood on edge. My breath came out in shallow gasps, and I covered my mouth with my hand, terrified that even the sound of air escaping my lungs could betray me. Just one mistake, one sound… and I would be done for.
Through the small gap, I saw him—unbothered, unmoved, as if he hadn’t just burned a man alive minutes ago. He gave instructions to his men, his voice sharp and controlled. "Clean up the mess. No traces," he said with the same tone someone might use to instruct a servant to clear the table. Efficient. Detached.
He couldn’t afford witnesses. If anyone discovered what truly happened in this forgotten place, his empire—his perfectly curated mask—could collapse. And I had seen it all.
I should’ve run the moment I saw the fire.
I should’ve never come here.
I had snuck into his car trunk with reckless curiosity, not realizing the depth of the abyss I was about to fall into. But now? Now I couldn’t make that same mistake. I couldn’t go back in the same car. I needed to wait. To breathe. To calm the chaos that had taken over my senses before I returned to that mansion—to him.
I peeked again. He opened the car door casually and slid into the driver’s seat, his expression blank—no remorse, no guilt, not even a flicker of hesitation. As if burning a man alive was nothing but routine. As if it didn’t matter.
What happened to you, Utsav?
What turned you into this man?
Behind that iron gaze and godlike control, there was a story. A tragedy, perhaps. A wound so deep it bled cruelty instead of pain. No one is born this cold. No one becomes a killer without reason. Utsav Mehrotra—so poised, so mysterious—was a puzzle wrapped in shadows, and I was the fool still trying to solve him. Every time I thought I had figured out a piece, he slipped further away, becoming more dangerous, more captivating.
His car roared to life and disappeared,leaving behind only the scent of gasoline and destruction.
I exhaled the breath I didn’t know I was holding, my body finally slumping against the wall. My legs were weak—trembling from the weight of what I had just witnessed. I tried to push myself up, but it felt like gravity had turned cruel, anchoring me to the floor.
I wasn’t safe yet.
His men were still here—silently working, covering every trace of the crime like they had done it a hundred times before. And if even one of them spotted me?
I shuddered.
There would be no place deep enough to bury me. He wouldn’t leave a trace. He would bury me alive.
C’mon, Maya, I whispered to myself, trying to summon the last ounce of courage. You’ve come this far. Hold yourself together. Not now. Not like this.
The hunter had left the building.
But the hunt?
It had only just begun.
My eyes flew wide open the moment my phone screen lit up—Aditi calling.
Shit.
I nearly dropped it in panic.
That fool. Aaj toh pakka marwaayegi mujhe. I cursed under my breath and quickly switched it off, shoving it deep into my pocket. Did she not understand the situation? I knew she and Ishanvi were worried, probably going out of their minds trying to figure out where I was. But if Aditi had told Aditya what I’d done—that I had followed his cousin Utsav…
Shit. Shit. Shit.
If Aditya knew, then Utsav would find out. And if he found out?
I wouldn’t even get a chance to explain myself before he made sure I regretted ever stepping out of that mansion.
I needed to get back. Now. Somehow, some way, I had to return before anyone figured out what I had done. Before Utsav noticed my absence. Before he began connecting dots. I needed an excuse—a believable one. Something that didn’t involve hidden trunks and murder scenes.
But time wasn’t on my side.
The morning had melted into a sweltering afternoon. The sun had shifted, casting longer shadows across the warehouse, and yet—his men were still here. Silent. Focused. Efficiently wiping away any trace of what had happened, like it was just another Tuesday for them.
And I was still hiding. Trapped in the corner of this godforsaken death pit, crouched behind a door, clinging to my knees as if that could protect me from the truth I had seen.
God, why me?
Why couldn’t I have just stayed in the safety of my room like a normal person? Why did my curiosity have to drag me to hell’s front gate?
I peeked through the gap in the door. They were still moving about, speaking in low, clipped tones, handling equipment like pros. Like they weren’t even in a rush to leave. Like they had all the time in the world to erase murder.
Seriously?
I was stuck in a real-life crime scene, in the presence of men who could bury a body so deep the Earth would forget it existed—and they were casually lingering as if they were enjoying a picnic. Amazing.
My heart lurched when one of them turned and started walking straight toward me.
No. No. No. Not now.
My breath caught in my throat. Panic surged through me like wildfire. My chest rose and fell rapidly as I searched frantically for something—anything—to defend myself. My eyes darted to a broken stone lying nearby.
A stone? Really, Maya?
Like that could stop someone who probably strangles people for sport. But the idea alone gave me momentary courage. My hands trembled as I reached toward it… just in case.
The man kept coming. I pressed my back to the wall, clutching my knees tighter, praying he wouldn’t notice me. My heart was slamming so hard against my ribs, I was afraid its sound would give me away.
But just a few meters away, he paused. Crouched.
He picked up something—maybe a cigarette lighter or a tool—and shoved it in his pocket before turning back the way he came, disappearing into the warehouse shadows once more.
I exhaled shakily, my whole body collapsing into the wall behind me like I had just survived a war.
That was too close.
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe. I just needed a little more time. Just a few more minutes. Then I could run. Flee this place like it was nothing more than a nightmare.
Hold yourself together, Maya.
You’ve come this far. Don’t fall apart now.
By the time the clock ticked past four in the evening, the last of Utsav’s men finally exited the warehouse. I watched from the narrow crack in the door, holding my breath as one of them dialed a number on his phone—Utsav’s, no doubt.
“All clear, sir,” the man said. “Everything’s been taken care of.”
And just like that, they were gone.
The sound of the car engines fading into the distance was the sweetest thing I’d heard all day.
Still, I waited. Just in case. I scanned the area once more through the tiny opening, double-checking that not a single soul remained. Silence. Nothing but the whisper of wind swirling through the burnt air.
Finally, I peeled myself away from the door, forcing my legs to move, to carry me out of that suffocating corner where I had hidden like prey.
The moment I stepped out, the world spun. My lungs screamed as they pulled in smoke-laced air, and I staggered a little, one hand against the wall to steady myself.
God… what is this place?
I had never seen this area before. Nothing was familiar. No signs, no buildings I could recognize. Just a lonely, abandoned warehouse in the middle of nowhere, reeking of ash, gasoline, and secrets.
I pulled out my phone with trembling fingers and opened the maps app.
30 kilometers from the mansion.
Great.
I bit the inside of my cheek, debating my options. Going back in Utsav’s car wasn’t an option, obviously. So, I did the only thing I could—I called the one person I could trust.
Raghav.
The phone rang just once before he picked up.
“Hello? Yes, ma’am?”
“I’m sending you my location,” I said breathlessly. “Come and get me. And Raghav… no questions.”
A brief pause. “Of course, ma’am. I’m on my way.”
I nodded in relief, even though he couldn’t see me, and ended the call. My heart was still hammering in my chest, like a drum that refused to settle.
Every minute that ticked by was agonizing. The stillness of the place, the way the sun started dipping in the sky, casting long eerie shadows—it made everything worse. I kept glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting someone to appear out of nowhere. Someone dangerous. Someone sent by him.
I was trapped in the middle of nowhere, haunted by a scene I couldn't unsee.
Forty-five minutes felt like a lifetime.
And then… headlights.
A black SUV pulled up slowly, kicking up dust as it came to a stop in front of me.
The door opened and there he was—Raghav. My loyal, sweet, awkward assistant of three years. Dressed as always in crisp black pants and a neatly tucked black shirt. A watch glinted on his wrist, his wavy hair slicked back perfectly, formal and proper like he had just walked out of an office meeting.
There was something effortlessly charming about him. Handsome in an understated way. But he wasn’t him—not my cruel, cold Utsav. No one could match that dangerous magnetism.
Raghav’s brows furrowed slightly when he saw me, his usual timid eyes clouded with concern. He rushed to open the passenger seat door for me.
“Please, ma’am,” he said gently, “come in.”
I nodded and slid into the seat without a word. My legs still felt like jelly.
“Let’s go,” I muttered, the words sharp and urgent, my tone laced with panic I couldn’t hide.
Raghav hesitated for a moment, clearly confused by my state. But he didn’t ask anything. He simply did what he always did—followed my orders.
And just like that, we drove away from the place where I had watched a man burn.
The nightmare was behind me… for now.
But the shadows of it were already crawling into my soul.
“Ma’am, you really shouldn’t drink this much.”
The voice cut through the low hum of music, soft yet laced with concern. I turned around to see Raghav standing behind me, confusion and worry etched across his usually calm face.
I offered him a tired smile as I swirled the amber liquid in my glass. “Relax, Raghav. It’s just beer. Nothing I can’t handle.”
He looked unconvinced. I couldn’t blame him.
I was seated at the corner of a dimly lit club, a half-empty bottle of beer on the table before me. My nerves were still frayed, heart still a prisoner of today’s chaos. Beer helped. At least a little. It dulled the edges of my fear, blurred the flames that still flickered behind my eyes. Two, maybe three glasses—I could manage that. I never touched whiskey, though. That was too much. Too real.
“I’ll be ready to leave in a minute,” I added, more gently this time. “Then you can drop me back to the Mehrotra mansion.”
Raghav didn’t press further. He never did. Just gave a small nod and stepped away, pulling out his phone and walking toward the quieter end of the club to take a call.
I remained seated, staring at the dance floor without really seeing it. Laughter and music floated around me, but none of it reached me. I wasn’t here to enjoy. No, this place was just a cover—a perfectly crafted excuse to hide the truth of where I had really been. If I had gone straight back to the mansion, Utsav would have suspected something. And I couldn’t risk that.
So here I was. With Raghav. In a club. Pretending I’d spent the day blowing off steam, sipping drinks and dancing away the hours like a carefree woman.
Carefree. The irony.
I let out a dry chuckle, the sound bitter as it left my lips. If only they knew where I really was…
If only they knew what I had seen.
I took another sip, my thoughts spiraling back to that warehouse. To the fire. The screams. The smell of burning flesh. The cold, calculating face of the man I loved—Utsav Mehrotra.
A mafia leader.
The words echoed inside my head like a siren, impossible to silence.
A part of me still couldn’t believe it. But the other part—the darker, bolder part—felt something else entirely.
Fascination.
God, what’s wrong with me?
Any sane woman would have run miles away after today. Any woman with a sense of self-preservation would have cut ties, vanished from his world before it consumed her too.
But not me.
Because I’m not just any woman.
I’m Maya.
And if I say Utsav is mine… then no one—no one—can take him from me.
I should be afraid of him. But I’m not. I should feel disgusted. But instead, I feel an odd pull—like gravity itself was bending around him, dragging me closer, deeper, further into the abyss.
And even as I drown, I don’t want to escape.
Raghav returned a few minutes later, a slight urgency in his tone.
“Ma’am, we should go. Everyone’s worried about you—especially Aditi and Ishanvi ma’am. Aditya sir even asked me to track your location.”
I tilted my head, studying him. “Did you tell them what I asked you to?”
“Yes, ma’am. I told them you were with me all day,” he replied, shoulders straightening with obedience.
“Good.” I gave a small nod, a flicker of pride in my eyes. He was loyal. And smart.
After a moment’s pause, I rose from the chair and finished the last sip of my drink. “Let’s go.”
I followed him out of the club, the night air hitting my skin like a slap of reality. I could already feel the weight of what awaited me at the mansion. The tension. The eyes. The unspoken questions.
And him.
Utsav.
What was I walking into? I didn’t know. Maybe a war. Maybe a punishment. Maybe something darker than either.
But I didn’t flinch.
Because Maya doesn’t run.
Maya chases.
She hunts.
And when Maya wants something, she doesn’t wait for the universe to deliver it wrapped in signs and stars. No. I don’t believe in manifestations. I believe in effort. In persistence. In claiming what’s mine through fire and storm.
I don’t attract. I pursue.
And this time…
This time, Utsav is what I want.
A storm of a man. Sharp as a blade. Merciless. Beautiful. Dangerous.
And mine.
Whether fate agrees or not, whether destiny aligns or not—he’s mine.
Not because I wished for him.
But because I will fight for him.
Even if I have to walk into the fire again.
And again.
And again.
Until he looks at me not as a threat…
But as the only woman who dared to love his darkness.
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"Do let me know your thoughts about this chapter in the comments section. If you liked it, please don't forget to vote. Your single vote is enough to give me the courage to keep writing more.
And please, don't judge the characters solely based on the starting chapters. There's so much yet to unfold. Especially Utsav - I know his personality might seem negative at times, but trust me, he's about to go through a powerful journey of transformation.
Let the story breathe a little before forming opinions. Big twists are coming."
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