The Line You Shouldn’t Cross
716 Words
The night in Malhotra Mansion didn’t feel like night anymore.
It felt heavier.
Like something was waiting… watching… silently.
Reya stood near the window of her room, arms crossed, staring at the dim lights outside.
Aarav’s words kept echoing in her head.
“You’re not safe.”
Her jaw tightened.
“I don’t need protection…” she whispered to herself.
But her voice didn’t sound as strong as she wanted.
A soft knock broke the silence.
Before she could answer—
The door opened.
Again.
Reya turned sharply.
“You don’t even wait for permission, do you?”
Aarav stepped inside, his presence filling the room instantly.
“I knocked,” he replied calmly.
Reya scoffed.
“And I said nothing. Learn to respect that.”
Aarav closed the door behind him, locking it quietly.
That simple click made the air feel… tighter.
Reya noticed.
And she didn’t like it.
“You shouldn’t lock the door,” she said, crossing her arms tighter.
Aarav’s eyes flicked to the lock… then back to her.
“Someone might enter,” he said.
Reya gave a small sarcastic smile.
“Yeah… like you?”
A brief silence.
Then—
Aarav took a step closer.
Reya didn’t move.
But her heartbeat did.
Faster.
“You’re testing my patience,” Aarav said, his voice low.
Reya tilted her head slightly, trying to hide the way her breath was getting uneven.
“And you’re testing my patience too.”
He stopped just a few feet away.
Too close.
Too intense.
Too… much.
“Listen carefully,” Aarav said, his tone firm.
“This isn’t a game. If you step out of this house without informing me—”
Reya cut him off immediately.
“I’m not your responsibility.”
Aarav’s eyes darkened slightly.
“Unfortunately, you are.”
That sentence.
Something in it hit differently.
Reya felt it.
And it annoyed her even more.
“Why? Because your boss told you?” she challenged.
Aarav didn’t reply immediately.
Instead—
He looked at her.
Really looked at her.
Like he was trying to read something she wasn’t saying.
“You don’t understand what’s happening around you,” he finally said.
Reya rolled her eyes.
“Oh please. Stop acting like I’m some fragile doll.”
Aarav stepped even closer.
Now there was barely any space between them.
“If you were just a ‘doll’… I wouldn’t be standing here like this.”
His voice dropped.
Low.
Controlled.
Dangerously controlled.
Reya’s breath hitched slightly.
She hated that.
Hated how her body reacted without permission.
She took a small step back.
“You need to stop controlling everything,” she said.
Aarav didn’t move.
But his gaze didn’t leave her.
“I don’t control,” he said.
A pause.
Then—
“I protect.”
Reya looked away for a second.
Just one second.
But that was enough.
Aarav noticed.
He always did.
A sudden sound came from outside.
A faint noise.
Like footsteps.
Both of them froze.
Aarav’s entire posture changed instantly.
Alert.
Sharp.
Focused.
He moved past her in seconds and opened the door slightly.
Peered outside.
Then stepped out.
Reya followed immediately.
“What is it?”
Aarav didn’t answer.
He walked toward the corridor.
Reya hesitated… then followed.
“Stay behind me,” he ordered.
Reya frowned.
“No.”
Aarav stopped walking.
Slowly turned back.
Their eyes locked.
For a moment… no one spoke.
“Reya.”
Her name sounded different when he said it like that.
Firm.
Final.
Dangerous.
“I said stay behind me.”
Reya crossed her arms.
“And I said no.”
Aarav stared at her for a few seconds longer.
Then—
Without warning—
He grabbed her wrist.
Not rough.
But firm enough to make his point clear.
“Then don’t complain if something happens.”
Before she could react—
A loud crash echoed from downstairs.
Both of them froze.
Aarav immediately let go of her wrist.
“Stay here,” he said.
And without waiting for her reply—
He rushed downstairs.
Reya stood there.
Silent.
Confused.
Heart racing.
“…What the hell just happened?” she whispered.
But something inside her…
Told her this was just the beginning.
And whatever was coming next…
Wasn’t going to be easy.
- Writer
