Maya
“What? You faked your kidnapping?”
I couldn’t hide the disbelief in my voice as I stared at Shravni, my jaw tightening with frustration. She sat across from me on the edge of the couch, wearing oversized baggy jeans, a blue crop top, and a messy bun that screamed chaos—matching the storm she had just stirred.
There was dirt clinging to her clothes, and yet, there she was—completely unapologetic.
“Ah… yes. I faked it,” she admitted with a half-hearted shrug, her tone laced with embarrassment, but oddly, also defiance.
My lips pressed into a thin, exhausted line as I closed my eyes, trying to rein in my growing irritation. We had been worried sick. “You thought this was what—adventurous?” I asked, voice sharp, controlled, but brimming with disbelief. “Shravni, do you have any idea how stressed we all were? Especially Aditi? You know how emotional she is. She cries over a broken nail—this was a kidnapping.”
Beside me on the bed, Aditi and Ishanvi both nodded grimly, their expressions mirroring my frustration.
Shravni, in contrast, only shrugged again like the weight of our concern was dust on her shoulders. “Oh, come on. Take it easy, guys. I’m fine, see? All limbs intact,” she said, spreading her arms dramatically. “I just thought it’d be fun—a little chaos before the vows. Don’t scold me like you’re my parents.”
I rubbed my temples, the tension in my head pulsing stronger by the second. “This isn't a prank war in high school, Avni. This is Aditi’s wedding. There are guests, security, family—Utsav got involved.”
Shravni rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, speaking of that... whoever that arrogant, stone-faced man was—he left me there tied up the moment he realized it was a prank. Left me! Can you believe that?” she said indignantly, brushing dirt off her arm. “I had to struggle to untie myself. You don’t even want to know how long it took me to get here.”
I couldn’t help the short sigh that escaped me. “Well, you kind of deserved that.”
She scowled at me.
“But you don’t even know who Utsav sent,” I added. “I just asked him for help—he didn’t tell me who he’d send. Probably one of his men.”
Before I could say more, Aditi finally snapped, her soft voice sharpened with anger, “You better not pull something like that again, or I swear we’ll beat you. You idiot!”
All three of us turned to her, stunned. It was rare for Aditi to lose her cool, and even rarer for her to raise her voice. Her cheeks were flushed, and her brows furrowed in irritation, but her worry for Shravni was clear.
Shravni blinked… then laughed. “Yeah, yeah, mata ji, I’ve learned my lesson,” she said teasingly, sticking her tongue out at Aditi, lightening the tension just enough.
A smile tugged at my lips. “Of course, you’d find a way to make a joke out of this.” I shook my head.
But Ishanvi leaned forward, voice soft but serious. “Wait—are you okay, though? I mean, he left you tied up. That’s harsh. How did you even manage to get back here?”
Shravni exhaled deeply and slumped further into the couch like she was reliving the exhaustion all over again. “It’s a long story,” she muttered, waving a hand. “To cut it short, a security guard from the studio found me tied up. He looked at me like I was the psycho. But he untied me, and then I called my driver to pick me up. That’s it. But trust me—I’m exhausted.”
“Good. You should be punished for this chaos,” I teased, arching a brow as I handed her a glass of water.
Aditi and Ishanvi chuckled under their breath, both shaking their heads in disbelief.
Despite the madness, it felt good to have us all here again—even if one of us nearly gave the rest a heart attack. That’s the thing about Shravni. She’s reckless, unpredictable, bold as hell—but she’s ours. And no matter how wild her adventures may be, we’d always be the ones holding her down… even when she’s tied up by her own chaos.
“I swear, if I ever see that man again, I’ll make him pay,” Shravni scoffed, crossing her arms with a fiery glare that didn't quite match the exhaustion on her face. Her irritation simmered just beneath the surface, but the determination in her voice was unmistakable.
My brows shot up. “Don’t even think about it, Avni,” I warned, my voice sharper than I intended. “That man… he works for Utsav. You have no idea how dangerous he could be.”
At my words, the room went still. All eyes turned to me—Aditi, Ishanvi, and Shravni. And the way they were staring… it was as if I’d just confessed to murder.
I swallowed hard. I knew something they didn’t, something I wasn’t supposed to say out loud. That Utsav Mehrotra wasn’t just a heart surgeon. He was also a mafia king in disguise. Ruthless. Calculated. Merciless when necessary. But how could I tell them that here, now, during Aditi’s wedding?
“Maya,” Ishanvi broke the silence, blinking at me. “Come on. Utsav’s just a reserved guy who avoids people. That doesn’t make him a criminal. He’s a doctor, not some mafia boss out of one of your dark romance novels.”
I froze for a second.
She wasn’t wrong—not in how normal people saw him. But if only they knew what I’d seen… what I’d felt.
I quickly forced a casual smile, hoping it didn’t look as strained as it felt. “Yeah… yeah, I know he’s not dangerous. I just meant… his aura. It’s intense. It makes me feel on edge, that’s all. He doesn’t talk much, and he has this… presence. It gets under my skin.”
They didn’t entirely buy it—I could tell by the way their gazes lingered. The seed of suspicion was already there.
“Well,” Shravni said, brushing it off with a shrug, “who even is Utsav? I saw something in the group chat—someone said you are falling for him, Maya? And now you’re all talking like he’s the center of the universe.”
Aditi, sitting beside me, smirked.
“Utsav is Aditya’s cousin,” she answered, unable to hide her amusement. “And yes, our dear Maya is already head over heels for him. She just won’t admit it out loud.”
Shravni raised her eyebrows, eyes flickering between us. “Really?” Her voice was a mix of surprise and curiosity. “I thought you’d sworn off men after Rudra’s betrayal. That’s… new. No wonder the wedding gods matched you two.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, come on. He’s not that kind of man. He’s… different. Completely. He’s a mystery I can’t stop thinking about. He barely talks, always watching, always calculating. There’s something in his silence that speaks louder than words. And when I found out he doesn’t believe in love—” I exhaled slowly, “—it made him even more unique. You know I’ve always fallen for the rarest types.”
Ishanvi let out a dramatic sigh and leaned into me. “Of course you would. Our Maya is addicted to the idea of taming the storm. And I swear, if anyone can turn Utsav into a lovesick puppy, it’s you. Just wait and watch—he’ll be yours in no time.”
The room erupted in laughter. Even I couldn’t help but smile. But beneath my grin, a different truth sat heavy on my heart.
They didn’t know the full picture. Utsav wasn’t just emotionally unavailable—he was dangerous. A man shaped by fire and loss. And if I wasn’t careful, I could lose more than just my heart.
Shravni wasn’t finished, though. She narrowed her eyes in thought. “So that man you sent to help me… he was Utsav’s guy?”
I nodded slowly. “Most likely. I asked Utsav for help, and he sent one of his men.”
“Now it makes sense,” she muttered. “No wonder he was so cold and arrogant. He didn’t even flinch when he saw me tied up—just left.”
“Well, next time maybe don’t fake your own kidnapping,” Aditi mumbled under her breath, still not over the chaos.
But Shravni wasn’t ready to back down. “I don’t care how stoic or dangerous he is,” she said with unwavering resolve. “He left me there, and for that, I’m going to teach him a lesson.”
The rest of us collectively sighed.
None of us had the heart to argue anymore, but a silent worry danced between our glances.
Shravni had no idea who she was planning to mess with.
And something told me… the lesson might be hers to learn.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Later that evening, around 4 PM – The Bachelorette Party
“Are you really sure about this, Maya?” Aditi asked from behind me, her voice edged with nervous energy.
She looked like a vision in a silver bodycon dress that clung to her curves, shimmering with delicate lace threaded with real diamonds. Her long hair fell in soft waves, glitter mascara making her brown eyes glisten even under the soft light. She was stunning—every inch the bride-to-be. But beneath the makeup and glamour, I could see the crack in her confidence. Her doubt. Her fear of pushing too far.
I turned around and placed my hand on hers, offering a calm smile. “Yes, baby girl. One hundred percent sure.”
She hesitated.
I leaned in. “Aadi needs a reality check, and we’re going to give him just that tonight. If he thinks being the groom gives him the license to control everything, he clearly forgot—you are the bride. This is your moment too. You deserve to have fun. You deserve this.”
Shravni nodded beside us, her lips pursed in irritation. “Damn right he needs a lesson,” she said. “I don’t know about you, Aditi, but if someone talked to me the way he did to you earlier, I would’ve broken his nose already.”
Typical Shravni. Bold. Unapologetic. Dressed in a royal blue mini-dress with dramatic side cuts around her waist and a plunging neckline that proudly showcased her confidence. Her hair was pulled into an aesthetic high bun, and her makeup—subtle yet sharp—completed her boss-lady aura. She was the fighter of our group, the one with fire in her veins and zero patience for disrespect.
“Relax, Avni,” I said, chuckling softly. “We want Aadi to regret his behavior, not land in the emergency room.”
“Exactly,” Ishanvi chimed in, gently placing a hand on Shravni’s shoulder to soothe her. “We want him to apologize. Not escalate the chaos.”
She was grace itself. Dressed in a deep bluish palazzo saree with a stylish twist—modern and traditional all at once. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her smudged eye makeup, paired with that eternal matte lipstick of hers, made her look like she walked straight out of a painting. Ethereal. A living goddess.
And me?
Well, I was playing my role just right—dressed in a bold blue backless bodycon dress, sleeveless, hugging my curves, with just enough cleavage to provoke without begging for attention. My hair was curled and dusted with glitter strands, red lipstick giving me that classic femme fatale look. Light jewelry danced at my ears and wrists. I was every bit the woman Aditya didn’t want to see tonight. And exactly the one he needed to.
Just then, the lights in the hall dimmed without warning. A chorus of surprised gasps echoed around the room, followed by a ripple of murmurs—frustration, confusion, panic.
I could see Aditya in the middle of the crowd, his jaw clenched as he snapped orders to his guards to check the power. Typical.
But I didn’t hear Utsav.
I didn’t need to.
In my mind, I could picture him already—standing at the far end of the room near the bar counter, one hand casually tucked in his pocket, the other holding a crystal whiskey glass. His face would be unreadable, his expression calm and indifferent, like the chaos didn’t faze him at all. That was his nature—stoic, watchful, dangerous in his silence.
Then… the stage lights exploded back to life.
And there we were.
The backstage curtains parted as the crowd turned toward us. Four women—dressed like fire, walking like queens—stood at the center of the stage. The opening beats of “Param Sundari” blared through the speakers, catching everyone off guard.
And then, we danced.
Our hips swayed, steps precise, moves graceful yet powerful. Our smiles were deliberate, our eyes full of defiance. We weren’t just performing—we were reclaiming the night.
Shravni led with fiery elegance, spinning and dropping with deadly sass, her eyes occasionally throwing daggers toward Aditya. Ishanvi followed with graceful poise, a teasing smile playing on her lips. Aditi, despite her initial hesitation, lit up as the music took over—her eyes sparkled, her confidence bloomed. And me? I danced like I owned the damn stage. Every step was for Utsav. For Aditya. For every man who underestimated us.
The guests stared, stunned into silence. And right in front of us, Aditya stood rigid, his face darkening with every beat. His eyes were fixed on Aditi, his fists clenched at his sides. He had explicitly banned women from attending the bachelor party. But of course, with me around, no one could stop what was meant to happen.
His frustration was evident. But beside him, Utsav remained untouched by the chaos. He sipped his whiskey, unmoved, his gaze on the stage—but his expression gave away nothing.
No anger. No surprise. Just... observation.
That unnerved me more than Aditya’s rage.
Because Utsav Mehrotra was not a man who expressed emotions freely. And if he was watching me dance with that look in his eyes—calculating, unreadable—I knew this was only the beginning of whatever storm I was stepping into.
And tonight, the girls had arrived to play.
As the music faded and our dance drew to an end, the room erupted into applause. The men Aditya had invited to the party clapped enthusiastically, whistles and cheers echoing across the hall. All eyes were on us—the fierce bride squad who had just hijacked a bachelor party with unapologetic flair. Aditi smiled, though I could feel her body tense beside me the moment her eyes met Aditya’s.
He was seething.
His face held a strained smile, but his clenched jaw and narrowed eyes gave him away. He didn’t storm off—perhaps because of the crowd, perhaps because of his ego. Several guests came forward, congratulating him on having such a stunning bride and her equally stunning friends. He accepted the compliments with that same forced smile, never looking away from us.
As we descended the stage, the tension crackled between us like static. Aditi clung to my arm like a lifeline, her grip tightening when we neared him.
“C’mon, jiju,” I said nonchalantly, flashing him a teasing smile. “It’s your wedding. Take a chill pill.”
His eyes flicked to me, and his lips curved into something resembling a smirk, though his body remained stiff, as if he was barely containing himself.
“Of course, Maya, my lovely saali,” he replied with biting sarcasm. “You always have a way of... surprising me. I’m sure this entire performance was your plan.”
I chuckled, leaning in slightly. “You know me so well, jiju. I love getting under your skin.”
My tone was sweet, but my words held a subtle threat. His eyes darkened, but he didn’t retaliate—just yet. Instead, he turned to Aditi.
“Come,” he said, gritting his teeth, “let’s introduce you to my guests.”
Aditi nodded hesitantly, casting one last glance at us before disappearing into the crowd with Aditya. We all knew he loved her—deeply—but his possessiveness sometimes disguised itself as fury. And tonight, he was burning.
Ishanvi’s attention shifted then. Her eyes narrowed as they landed on someone familiar—Aarav. The same man who had stepped on her pallu during the mehndi function, tearing her saree with a careless smirk. She didn’t say a word, just stalked toward him like a panther eyeing her prey.
That left Shravni and me near the side when we noticed him.
A man in a black suit had just entered. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself like a soldier. His presence was commanding—every step precise, calculated, like he’d walked through battlefields. His dark eyes scanned the room with quiet vigilance until they landed on Utsav.
“Maya,” Shravni whispered beside me, her tone ice-cold, “that’s him. That’s the man who tied me up and left me stranded.”
I followed her gaze, studying the man. He stood beside Utsav now, alert and dangerous, like a panther guarding his alpha. His aura was intense—like Utsav’s. Men like them didn’t wear their emotions. They wore their scars, their discipline, their control. Pain was buried deep beneath that armor, and no one ever saw it unless they let you.
Maybe that’s why I didn’t blame him for what he did to Shravni. Not completely.
“I see,” I said quietly. “Let’s go confront him.”
Shravni stared at me, stunned. “You serious?”
I nodded. “Completely.”
We approached them. As always, Utsav stood like a statue—one hand in his pocket, the other lazily holding a whiskey glass. His expression was unreadable, a mask of chilling calm. The man beside him was rigid, alert, ready to pounce if needed. I could practically hear his mental scans of every person in the room.
“Thank you, Mr. Mehrotra,” I began, my tone steady even though my heart was thundering in my chest. “For helping during Shravni’s kidnapping incident.”
He didn’t respond.
“And,” I continued with a soft sigh, “apologies for her... childish behavior. She faked it, and I take full responsibility.”
Utsav finally looked at me.
That gaze.
It sliced right through me—calm, cold, but aware. Deeply aware.
“No problem, Miss Shekhawat,” he replied after a pause. “But next time, perhaps verify your pranks before running to me. I’d assume a group of women so inspired by you would know better.”
Did he just... mock me?
My jaw dropped slightly in disbelief. Utsav Mehrotra, who rarely spoke more than a word or two at a time, had just mocked me—with sarcasm and subtle shade. He didn’t even wait for my reply. With the stoic man beside him, he turned and walked away as if I hadn’t even existed.
Typical. Cold. Calculated.
A goddamn mystery wrapped in shadows.
But oh, he had no idea who he was dealing with.
Because I, Maya Shekhawat, don’t chase men. I tame them.
And Utsav Mehrotra? He may be unreadable, dangerous, even powerful—but he had just made the mistake of pushing my buttons.
He doesn't know it yet.
But he’s already mine.
And I will make him admit it—one way or another.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Do let me know your thoughts about this chapter in the comments!
Please don't forget to vote and leave a comment-your single vote can truly make my day. Your feedback is what motivates me to keep writing and improving.
I've noticed many of you read silently, and that's totally okay. But even a small comment or vote from you can go a long way in giving me the courage to write more chapters with the same passion.
So don't hold back-engage, support, and be part of this journey with me! 🦋🎀
Write a comment ...