By Naaz
In the bustling city of Mumbai, Aarav Kapoor was a figure wrapped in mystery and power, the CEO of a thriving empire. Beneath his composed exterior lay a secret obsession with Maya Joshi, a bright cardiology student and daughter of a prominent hotelier. For years, Aarav had watched her from afar, his fascination growing into an all-consuming fixation.
Maya, blissfully unaware of Aarav's shadowy presence, led a life devoted to her studies and dreams of becoming a renowned cardiologist. Her world, however, was thrown into disarray when she learned of her arranged engagement to Arjun, a kind-hearted software engineer. The news pushed Aarav to act, propelling him from the shadows into Maya's life through a strategic business deal with her father's hotel chain.
At Maya's mehendi ceremony, a traditional pre-wedding celebration, Aarav arrived uninvited. His eyes fixated on the intricate henna patterns on Maya's hands, where the letter "A" caught his attention. With a smirk, he asked, "You wrote 'A' because..." Maya, unaware of his feelings, completed the sentence, "...of my groom, Arjun."
Aarav's pulse twitched, and he walked away with a glass of champagne, watching Maya and Arjun enjoy the festivities from a distance. As his anger peaked, he crushed the empty glass in his hand, the shards cutting into his skin. Blood flowed from his fist to the ground, and he noticed Maya watching him. He smiled a twisted expression of pain and longing.
Later that night, when everyone was asleep, Aarav slipped into Maya's room. She was lying on the bed, not yet asleep. Seeing a figure approach, she was about to scream, but Aarav covered her mouth, whispering, "Shh... Ms. Joshi, i want to make one thing pretty clear to you. It doesn't matter whose name is on your mehendi, because deep down in your heart, there's only one name: Aarav Kapoor." Maya's eyes widened, her breathing quickened, and her heartbeat raced as he continued, "My name is written in your veins, your blood, your breath, and you can't erase it. Understand, little doctor?" She signaled with her eyes for him to remove his hand, then noticed the bandage on his hand and asked, "What happened to your hand?" Aarav shrugged, "Nothing serious. See you tomorrow. Good night." He left as swiftly as he had come, leaving Maya sitting up in bed, confused and smiling, wondering if he had just confessed his feelings.
The next morning, Maya made the difficult decision to call off the wedding with Arjun. With a heavy heart, she apologized to him, explaining that it wasn't fair to go through with the marriage when her heart was elsewhere. Arjun, though hurt, nodded in understanding, wishing her well.
When Maya returned home, she faced the wrath of her family. Her father, red-faced with anger, shouted, "Arjun is a well-educated, respectable man! How can you just call off the wedding? Do you think marriage is a game?"
Maya stood silently, absorbing the barrage of accusations and disappointment. Her mother looked on with a mixture of concern and confusion, while her siblings exchanged worried glances. Finally, Maya spoke, her voice calm but firm, "Father, I never asked you to find someone for me. When you did, I didn't protest because I wanted to respect your wishes and make you happy. But will you truly be happy if I'm not happy in this marriage?"
Her father's expression softened, his anger giving way to concern. He sighed, the weight of the situation settling in. "I only want your happiness, dear," he said, his voice gentler now. "If this isn't what you want, then so be it. No one will say anything to you about this."
Maya's eyes filled with tears of relief as she embraced her father, thanking him for understanding. The tension in the room eased as her family members began to accept her decision, their love for her outweighing their initial disappointment.
After dealing with the emotional turmoil at home, Maya felt a sense of clarity. She picked up her phone and called Aarav. Her voice trembled slightly, but she spoke with conviction, "Aarav, I love you. You can say it just like that. Listen, I'll be waiting in your office. Come meet me."
As she waited in his office, she idly looked around, her mind racing with thoughts of the future. In her nervousness, she accidentally knocked over a box, causing a bundle of files to spill onto the floor. As she hurriedly began to pick them up, a file with her name caught her eye. Curiosity piqued, she opened it and found detailed information about her life, meticulously recorded over the years.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized the extent of Aarav's obsession, feeling a mix of fear, betrayal, and a strange, inexplicable connection. Just as she was about to close the file, Aarav entered the room, apologizing for keeping her waiting. He saw her sitting on the floor with the open file in her hands and the tears in her eyes, and his expression turned serious.
Maya stood up, holding the file tightly, her voice trembling with emotion. "Why, Aarav?" she asked, her eyes searching his face for answers. Aarav stepped closer, his eyes softening as he spoke, "Because I liked you from the moment I saw you helping a poor person outside a coffee shop. There was something about you that pulled me in."
Maya shook her head, her voice breaking. "Stop it. You hid everything from me. You knew every detail of my life, and I knew nothing about yours. How could I have been so foolish?" As Aarav took another step towards her, she raised her hand, stopping him. "Stay away, liar... stalker," she said, her voice filled with pain and confusion, before leaving the office, her heart heavy with uncertainty. She walked out, leaving Aarav standing in his office, the weight of his actions crashing down on him.
Determined to start anew, Maya decided to leave India for an internship at Toronto General Hospital in Canada. Aarav, devastated by her departure, took a month to track her down. Upon finding out her location, he flew to Toronto and confronted her at the hospital entrance. Maya, startled, pleaded, "Please, Aarav, don't follow me. Don't be the stalker again." Aarav, with a mix of desperation and resolve, replied, "Say whatever you want, but I can't live without you."
For the next six months, Aarav maintained a respectful distance, silently accompanying Maya to and from the hospital each day. He never spoke, but his presence became a comforting constant in Maya's life. One evening, as Maya left the hospital, her colleague Nancy remarked, "You should forgive him, Maya. He's a good man, loyal and determined. He never hurt you, did he?" Maya shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes, "No, never. In fact, he's always protected me and made me feel safe."
Nancy encouraged Maya to reconsider. "Go to him, Maya. He has suffered enough. Our internship will end soon, and if you don't act now, you might regret it for the rest of your life." Maya, her heart heavy with emotion, nodded. She walked towards Aarav, who instinctively took a few steps back. With tears in her eyes, Maya stopped and looked at him, saying, "Aarav, it's enough now. Stop all this following."
Aarav, his voice breaking, replied, "Okay, Maya. If it hurts you, just say the word, and I'll disappear from your life. I never want to hurt you." Maya, her voice trembling, asked, "If you really don't want to hurt me, just answer one question: Would you ever keep secrets from me again?" Aarav, desperate and sincere, responded, "Never, never, never... Wait, what do you mean by 'again'? Does that mean you've forgiv…"
Before he could finish, Maya ran into his arms, hugging him tightly. Aarav, overwhelmed, held her close, tears streaming down his face. "I'm so sorry, Maya. I'm so, so sorry. I love you," he whispered. Maya pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes, and said, "So do I," before kissing him passionately. They paused, smiling at each other, and Aarav, grinning, murmured against her lips, "You're mine. Only mine." They kissed again, sealing their renewed commitment to each other with a love that had weathered storms of obsession, betrayal, and redemption.
By Naaz
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