You Don’t Get to Leave
1140 Words
The drive back was different this time.
Not silent.
Not calm.
But heavy.
Reya sat still, her mind replaying everything that had just happened.
The fight.
The way Aarav moved.
The way he handled everything… like it was normal.
Like violence was just another part of his routine.
She glanced at him again.
His face was calm.
Too calm.
Like nothing had happened.
“How are you not even affected?” she finally asked.
Aarav didn’t look at her.
“Because I don’t have the luxury to be.”
Reya frowned.
“Luxury?”
“Yes.”
That answer irritated her.
“Everything about you is so… controlled.”
Aarav’s grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel.
“That’s how I stay alive.”
Silence fell again.
But this time—
It wasn’t empty.
It was filled with questions.
The car entered the mansion gates.
Security was already on high alert.
Guards rushing.
Doors opening.
Everything moving faster than usual.
As soon as the car stopped—
Aarav stepped out.
Came to her side.
Opened the door.
“Inside,” he said.
Reya didn’t move.
She looked up at him.
“Now you’re giving orders again?”
Aarav leaned slightly closer.
His voice lower.
More intense.
“This isn’t the time to argue.”
Something in his tone—
Made her pause.
For the first time—
She didn’t fight back.
She stepped out.
And walked inside.
The moment they entered—
Her father was already there.
Furious.
“Reya!” his voice echoed in the hall.
“Do you have any idea what just happened?!”
Reya blinked.
“What?”
He walked toward her quickly.
“You were followed. Attacked. And you didn’t even inform me?!”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“How do you—”
“I know everything,” he cut her off sharply.
Reya’s gaze instinctively shifted to Aarav.
Of course.
“You,” her father turned to Aarav,
“my study. Now.”
Aarav nodded once.
Then looked at Reya—
Just for a second.
A silent message.
Stay here.
She didn’t like it.
But she didn’t stop him either.
15 Minutes Later…
Reya was pacing in her room.
Restless.
Annoyed.
Confused.
“What is going on…” she whispered.
Her mind was racing.
The attack.
Aarav’s behavior.
Her father’s reaction.
Something wasn’t adding up.
And she hated not knowing things.
Without thinking—
She stepped out of her room.
Walking straight toward her father’s study.
The door was slightly open.
Voices inside.
“…this wasn’t random,” her father’s voice.
Reya stopped.
Listening.
Aarav’s voice came next.
Calm. Firm.
“I know.”
Her heartbeat quickened.
“You were supposed to keep her safe,” her father said, frustration clear.
“I did.”
“Barely.”
A pause.
Then Aarav spoke again—
Lower this time.
More serious.
“They’re getting closer.”
Reya’s breath hitched.
“They?” her father asked.
Aarav didn’t answer immediately.
Then—
“They’ve found her.”
Reya’s heart dropped.
Found her?
What did that even mean?
She pushed the door slightly.
And stepped inside.
Both men turned.
Silence.
“Continue,” Reya said, crossing her arms.
Her father’s expression darkened.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“And you shouldn’t be hiding things from me.”
Aarav watched her.
Carefully.
“You’re not ready for this,” her father said firmly.
Reya laughed coldly.
“Oh really? Because I just got chased and attacked.”
“That’s exactly why—”
“No,” she cut him off.
“I deserve to know what’s happening.”
Silence.
Tension rising.
Then—
Aarav spoke.
“She’s right.”
Reya looked at him.
Surprised.
Her father frowned.
“This isn’t your decision.”
“It affects her,” Aarav replied.
“She has the right to know.”
Their eyes locked.
A silent challenge.
Then her father sighed.
Frustrated.
“You don’t understand what you’re asking for,” he said to Reya.
“Then make me understand.”
A long pause.
Then finally—
“Years ago…” her father started slowly,
“you were targeted.”
Reya’s brows furrowed.
“What?”
“You were a child,” he continued.
“Someone tried to take you.”
Her breath caught.
“But we stopped them,” he added quickly.
“We made sure it never happened again.”
Reya shook her head slightly.
“Then why now?”
Another pause.
Because the answer…
Wasn’t simple.
Aarav spoke instead.
“Because whoever was behind it…”
His gaze locked with hers.
“…never stopped.”
The room fell silent.
Reya felt something cold settle inside her.
This wasn’t just random.
This wasn’t just today.
This had been going on…
For years.
“And you’re telling me this now?” she whispered.
Her father looked away.
“I wanted to protect you.”
Reya let out a hollow laugh.
“By lying?”
“No. By keeping you alive.”
That hit.
Hard.
Silence stretched between them.
Then suddenly—
Reya turned.
Walking toward the door.
“Where are you going?” her father asked.
She didn’t stop.
“Out.”
“You’re not going anywhere!”
Before she could take another step—
A hand grabbed her wrist.
Firm.
Strong.
Unyielding.
She froze.
Aarav.
Her eyes slowly moved to him.
“Let go,” she said quietly.
“No.”
Her gaze sharpened.
“Don’t start this again.”
Aarav stepped closer.
His grip still firm.
“This isn’t about control,” he said lowly.
“Then what is it?”
His eyes darkened.
“Survival.”
Their faces were close.
Too close.
Reya’s heartbeat picked up.
“You don’t get to walk away from this,” he continued.
Her voice dropped.
“And you don’t get to stop me.”
A pause.
Then—
Aarav leaned even closer.
His voice almost a whisper.
“I do… if it keeps you alive.”
Something inside her…
Shifted.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Something else.
Something dangerous.
She slowly tried to pull her hand back.
But his grip didn’t loosen.
Instead—
It tightened.
Just slightly.
Possessive.
Protective.
Confusing.
“Aarav…” she said softly.
For the first time—
His name didn’t sound like a challenge.
It sounded like something else.
He noticed.
And for a split second—
His control almost slipped.
But then—
He let go.
Stepping back.
Distance restored.
But the tension?
Still there.
Stronger than before.
Reya looked at him.
Breathing slightly uneven.
“This isn’t over,” she said quietly.
Aarav nodded once.
“I know.”
And deep down—
They both knew.
This was just the beginning.
To be continued… 😏🔥
“What really happened in Reya’s past…
and why does Aarav feel more involved than he admits?”
- Writer
