"Because the most dangerous stories are written... when desire collides with hatred."
---
Shimla's chilly breeze wrapped around the evening like a soft veil — hiding secrets beneath flickering lights and echoing laughter.
The farewell party was in full swing, filling the entire college ground with music, glitter, and the bittersweet scent of goodbyes.
Amaira Malhotra walked through the crowd in her long blood red satin dress — the silky fabric hugging her curves perfectly, making heads turn without even trying.
Her hazel eyes sparkled under the dim lights, but her mind?
It was somewhere else.
More like... on someone else.
That arrogant, honey-eyed devil who had crashed into her life few days ago like a storm — leaving behind only chaos and unanswered questions.
Reyansh Singhania.
Even his name sounded like trouble.
Not that she even knew his name yet.
All she knew was... his eyes had haunted her sleep for the last four nights.
Not that she cared.
Not. At. All.
Or that's what she kept repeating to herself.
"Are you done drooling over random guys in your imagination?"
Amaira snapped out of her trance as Riya appeared beside her, holding two glasses of mocktails.
"I'm not drooling over anyone!" Amaira hissed, snatching the glass.
Riya smirked knowingly.
"Right. That's why you've been staring into thin air like a Disney princess waiting for her beast."
Amaira glared at her.
"If I'm the princess... then where the hell is my beast?"
You already met him... sunshine.
Her own mind betrayed her — whispering his deep voice inside her head.
Amaira shook off the stupid thought, sipping her drink.
No.
There was no way she would ever meet that arrogant, hot-headed jerk again.
Some people crossed your path once... and disappeared forever.
Right?
Wrong.
Destiny always had a twisted sense of humor.
---
Somewhere in the Shadows...
Reyansh Singhania stood at the farthest corner of the ground — hidden behind the crowd, his sharp honey-brown eyes scanning the entire party like a predator silently stalking its prey.
He was here for business.
Nothing else.
The college land was on his list — a part of a bigger plan to snatch everything from his father's hands... piece by piece.
But his sharp eyes kept wandering... searching.
Not for deals.
Not for enemies.
But for her.
He hadn't seen her in four days.
Four fucking days.
And he hated how his mind had memorized every little thing about her — the sharpness of her tongue, the fire in her hazel eyes... the way she smelled like vanilla and trouble.
He should have forgotten her by now.
But she was still there.
Dancing inside his head... annoying the hell out of him without even being there.
****
Amaira was lost, searching for Riya in the crowd, when she felt it — that same prickling sensation at the back of her neck.
Like someone was watching her.
Her steps slowed.
The air around her suddenly felt heavier... thicker.
She turned — eyes flicking through the crowd.
Nothing.
I'm just imagining things.
Shaking her head, she took another step forward—
And collided head-first into something...
No.
Someone.
A hard, unmovable wall of muscle.
A strong hand shot out — wrapping around her waist just in time to stop her from falling.
The familiar scent filled her senses.
Her heart stopped.
No.
It couldn't be.
Her head snapped up...
And there they were.
Those same honey-brown eyes... staring down at her like she was the world's most annoying little distraction.
Amaira's breath caught in her throat.
"You again?"
His lips curled — that infuriating half-smirk playing on his face.
"Seems like the universe has a twisted sense of humor... sunshine."
Her heart slammed against her ribs — not because of the nickname, definitely not.
But because his voice?
It felt like a slow, dark caress against her skin.
Amaira tried to wriggle out of his grip.
"Let go, you... weirdo monster!"
Reyansh's smirk froze.
Weirdo monster?!
His jaw clenched — that tiny tick appearing again.
"No one's ever called me that before."
Amaira blinked.
"Well, congratulations. You're officially the first walking-talking red flag I've ever met."
Reyansh's eyes darkened dangerously.
He leaned in — his breath brushing against her cheek, making her entire body stiffen.
"You should be careful... sunshine."
His voice dropped lower — like liquid poison dripping from his lips.
"Calling monsters by their name... makes them follow you home."
Amaira's breath hitched.
God.
Why the hell did he smell so... expensive and illegal at the same time?
But she was Amaira Malhotra — the queen of running her mouth at the wrong time.
So she tilted her head, her lips curling in a fake sweet smile.
"Oh really? Then should I call you Casanova Dracula... or Satan's Rich Cousin?"
Reyansh's smirk returned — slower this time... darker.
This little brat...
She was testing him.
And the worst part?
He liked it.
Too fucking much.
Burning Chemistry... with a Side of Chaos
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them blinked.
The whole world around them faded — like the universe itself was holding its breath.
His fingers still gripped her waist — warm and firm against the silk of her dress.
Amaira's heart was doing some weird Olympic gymnastics inside her chest, but she masked it with another sarcastic smile.
"You know... for someone who smells like a Gucci showroom, you're surprisingly clingy."
Reyansh's honey-brown eyes glinted.
"Do you always talk this much?"
Amaira grinned wider.
"Only when I'm trying to annoy weirdo monsters."
He leaned closer — so dangerously close that his breath fanned against her lips.
"And what makes you think... you're annoying me?"
Amaira's smile faltered.
Damn.
Okay, maybe he was winning this round.
But the thing about Amaira Malhotra?
She never backed down.
"Because if I wasn't... you'd have let me go by now."
Silence.
One second.
Two.
Three.
And then...
He let her go.
Just like that.
Amaira stumbled back, completely thrown off balance.
Her heart was still racing — her breath stuck in her throat — but she masked it with a victorious smirk.
"That's what I thought... Weirdo monster."
Reyansh's eyes flicked down to her lips... then back to her eyes.
"You talk too much, sunshine."
"And you breathe too much, Dracula."
The corner of his mouth twitched — fighting a smirk.
Oh...
He was
going to enjoy breaking this little brat.
But what neither of them knew...
The game had already begun.
And in this twisted game of fire and ice...
One would burn.
The other would melt.
They just didn't know...
Who would fall first.
......
To be continued...
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