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Aira glanced over her shoulder as she walked down the dimly lit street, the silence felt eerie, like a breath held too long. She tried to focus on the sound of her shoes clicking against the pavement, but the feeling of being watched, of eyes tracking her every move, gnawed at the edges of her mind.

She made sure not to stay out in dark but today was a missed clock time and extra work her boss ended up giving her the responsibility of.

She had moved on, at least, she thought she had. But no matter how many steps she took forward, it felt as though someone was always there to drag her back, refusing to let go.

As Aira rounded the corner, she saw her car parked under a flickering streetlight. She quickened her pace, clutching her small bag tighter. There was a pepper spray in it.

She looked around, her eyes darting between the shadows, when she noticed a figure lurking at the edge of the alleyway near her car. But something felt off, her stalker is always in the shadows, he doesn't come out.

Except for in her bedroom or the one visit he had paid her to make himself crystal clear.

She would recognize that familiar, haunting presence anywhere.

The man seemed tall and broad-shouldered, his face apmsot visible becasue of the streetlight above them. He stepped forward, his posture predatory, and Aira's breath hitched.

It wasn't her stalker and that terrified her. More for him than herself.

"Hey there," the man said, his voice low and rough. "Where do you think you are going?"

Aira's pulse quickened, panic rising as she realized he had been following her. His intentions were clear in the way he blocked her path, a creepy smirk playing on his lips. She took a step back, her hand instinctively reaching for her phone, but he was faster. He lunged, grabbing her wrist and twisting it painfully.

"Let go of me!" she cried, struggling against his iron grip.

"No one is around to help you, sweetheart," he sneered, pulling her closer.

That wasn't true. She knew he was always there, in the shadows but he was there. He had been following her, watching her, and she knew there was no escape.

Another murder in cold blood because of her.

Before she could scream, a shadow moved behind the man - swift, silent, and deadly. Aira barely had time to register the presence before a loud gunshot rang in the air.

The man gasped, his grip loosening as his eyes widened in shock. He staggered, blood spilling from his mouth, before collapsing to the ground in a lifeless heap. Aira stumbled back, her heart hammering in her chest as she watched in horror.

Standing over the fallen man was another figure, tall and imposing, his face obscured by the darkness. But Aira didn't need to see him to know who it was. The air around him was suffocating, the aura of control and danger unmistakable.

She stared at the Man in front if her, taking a deep breath, trembling with a mix of panic and fear.

He stepped forward with the gun in his hand, his gaze fixed on her. His presence was overwhelming, like a storm bearing down on her. He tilted his head slightly, as if amused by her reaction.

But he didn't step in the light, Aira did. Took a step forward wanted to flash her phone on his face but she knew better than doing that.

"Go home." His voice was smooth, almost gentle, but the coldness in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine.

Aira couldn't move, couldn't breathe. The man who had haunted her nightmares was here, he was always there lurking in the dark.

Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the shadows like always but not before leaving something in her car.

The sound of her own heartbeat thundered in her ears as she stared at the body on the ground, the reality of what had just happened slowly sinking in.

She looked up knowing very well he was still somewhere around her. She somehow managed to take control of her emotions and stepped towards her car noticing a small, folded piece of paper tucked under her windshield wiper. Her heart sank. It was another note.

She hesitated, her breath catching in her throat. Slowly, she reached out and grabbed the note, her hands trembling as she unfolded it.

You belong to me and no one touches what's mine

Aira's blood ran cold. The handwriting was familiar - elegant, precise, and terrifyingly controlled.

Tears welled in her eyes as the weight of his words crushed her. She wanted to run, to escape, but there was nowhere to go. The grip of fear was too strong, paralyzing her in place.

She glanced around, but the street was empty, she felt him near but he wasn't seen. Aira fumbled with her keys, finally unlocking the car door and slipping inside. She locked the doors and gripped the steering wheel, trying to steady her racing heart.

Her phone buzzed, and she jumped, nearly dropping it. She glanced at the screen, half-expecting to see another message from him. But it was a call from Neil. A brief wave of relief washed over her, but it was quickly replaced by dread.

Her stalker didn't like him near her.

"Hello?" Her voice was shaky, betraying the fear she was trying to hide.

"Aira? Are you okay?" Neil's voice was warm, concerned. "You sound... off."

"I am fine," she lied, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Just... tired."

"Are you sure? You don't sound fine. Where are you?"

"I am just heading home. I will be there soon."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, as if Neil was debating whether to press her for more details. Finally, he sighed. "Alright. Just... be careful, okay? I will see you soon."

"I will. See you."

She ended the call and just then her phone rang once more, a message from him - Start driving or do you want me to drop you home?

She gulped the fear taking her in as she tossed the phone onto the passenger seat, her mind racing.

Aira started her car, driving home. She had to find a way to end this - to free herself from him and what could be better than his official marriage to get rid of one that no one in the world knew of other than them.

Aira:

He is getting married tomorrow and no, in case you are wondering, unlike him I am not keeping tabs on him.

I thought he'd leave me alone but bitch refuses to step back, refusing to take the claim he thinks he has over me.

It is everywhere in the news because Arsh Oberoi and Varya Rai Singhania are the epitome of perfect couple.

#Biggest marriage of London

Does Varya know that he is already married? I doubt because Varya Rai singhania seems so much better than that.

I don't know much but the media claims them to be childhood sweethearts and that's what amazed me the most. He literally betrayed his lover? What a motherfucker truly!

I wonder how he got time to pay me visit despite his wedding preparations tomorrow. I really am hoping for the best, once he has a wife, he will have no fucking claim over me.

Life has never been a bed of roses for me and just when I believed it was all falling in place, Mr. Oberoi like a fucking tsunami happened.

To this day, I don't know why it all happened. Frankly, I never cared enough to find out. My mom was deeply shaken by whatever transpired two years ago. Dad managed to take care of everything, and we moved back to London, vowing never to return to India. But even here, I wasn't left alone.

My brother refused to let it go, but Dad and I convinced him otherwise. It's not like we could have done anything anyway.

The Oberois are practically royalty, and the Agnihotris barely compare. And then there is my family. Mom and Dad had already refused to be a part of them and after whatever happened two years ago, Grandfather himself cut all his ties with us refusing to let it drag down their reputation if the marriage thing ever came out.

According to him, what happened to me would ruin his standing - as if I alone took the vows around the holy fire. Mr. Oberoi was just as involved. If he ever decided to make that night public, his reputation would be equally at risk.

You might consider me morally wrong, but no, I never intended to wait for that man. I won't put my life on hold for him.

He wanted revenge, and he got it. That night means nothing more to me than a nightmare. He has moved on with his life, and so have I - only he won't let me.

Neil, yeah - the man I was getting married to. His family was warm enough to accept me again with open arms. Even though they knew that I was already married Neil and his parents unlike my grandfather and the rest of the extended family didn't remind me of that nightmare again and again.

After everything he has been through because of me, because of my family - Neil was shot, yet he still wants to move on with me. What did I do to deserve this man?

"It wasn't a marriage," Neil once said, and while I agreed, I couldn't shake the feeling.

Especially after what happened a year ago. It's a secret and I plan to keep it that way.

Mom, Dad, my brother, and Neil's family all want a small, intimate wedding, but I told them I needed time. More like I had been threatened to not go ahead with something like that if I wanted him to just stay in the shadows.

Dude is a different level of psychopath refusing to leave me alone. We are still legally married, and he made sure there is no way out, registering our marriage in Vetican city where divorce is illegal. I know because he send me a package.

I have the nuptial chain along with a few notes hidden away in my closet - I don't wear it, but I couldn't throw it away either. The very first note from him reads the same as he told me on the call two years ago - the day we got married, "I won't come for you, only untill you give yourself away to someone else."

He has vowed to ruin my life, and of course, that scared me, so I used a bit of common sense. Instead of doing something that would have no positive results, I decided to wait for him to get bored of me, to have his revenge and to marry first. That way, if the psychopath gets any more psychotic, I can play the uno reverse card if he tries to bring our marriage to light.

Besides Varya Rai Singhania seems like the person who would tolerate anything but sharing her man.

"Aira bachha, look who is waiting for you." I heard my mumma call me from the kitchen as soon as I entered my house. I told her I would be there in a few minutes knowing it was Neil.

I ran to my room and changed in my night suit.

I haven't told anyone about the stalking as well. If I tell Mom and Dad, they will want to move again. We already changed our neighborhood once, I don't want to be more of a burden, so I keep it a secret.

I know where the cameras are palced in this house but it doesn't matter. I have removed before but they are anonymously placed again. We went goign back and forth with the removing and placing the hidden cameras until he got bored and sent me a note stating I should stop doing it if I am not looking forward to an unwanted visit.

I have gotten habitual of it, now it's more uncomfortable when I don't feel his eyes on me.

I shook away the unsettling thoughts and joined my family in the dining room. My mom had made my favorite dinner, and the familiar warmth filled the room, easing some of the anxiety in my chest.

Neil sat beside me, close enough that our hands brushed, and that made me uncomfortable. So much terrified that I actually worried if someone will come out from behind the wall and shoot him in the head just for touching me.

What happened tonight and a few times before was engraved carefully in my mind.

There was a guy who kept following me for a few days, I had denied his proposal but he couldn't take no for an answers.

My psychotic stalker wasn't okay with that. The guy anonymously dissappeared with no traces, I was somewhat thankful because his intentions seemed off, but going as far as killing the man and sending me a blood-written threat to keep my distance from all men terrified me.

I kept that a secret, too. Hell, I am getting too good at keeping secrets because I am sure he was in my room last night too. I woke up but couldn't bring myself to open my eyes and ask him why he visited. I was afraid he might suffocate me with a pillow, so I pretended to be asleep until he jumped off the balcony of our 11th-floor flat. I have no idea how someone can survive that.

Neil was engaged in light conversation with my dad, discussing some recent developments in the new business they were doing together.

It was all supposed to be normal but with me involved they never were, the knot in my stomach refused to untangle. Just like the night two years ago when I got married.

"So, Aira," Armaan piped up, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Any thoughts on the wedding?"

I forced a smile, trying to focus on the present. "Yeah, I just need a little more time."

Neil reached for my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Take all the time you need. There is no rush."

I nodded, grateful for his understanding, though guilt gnawed at me. I knew he wanted to move forward, to start our life together, but someone holding me back.

I am allowed to live but I am not allowed to get rid of his claim over me.

There was the fear - an irrational, persistent feeling and I knew he is always out there, watching, waiting.

Waiting for me to smile just so he could snatch it away like he had threatened me to.

I didn't want Neil to be harmed again. That was his intention, he married me but he won't accept me and he wouldn't as well except me starting new with someone else even when he is doing the same.

I get what he wants to prove to me, the term he or even the world - if they get to know about this marriage will use for me but do I care?

Not even a bit.

As if reading my thoughts, my mom looked at me with concern. "Aira, are you sure everything is okay? You seem a little distracted today."

Clearly because I am afraid nothing will change in my life even if he gets married. I will still be living with a fear of him coming back and taking me back like he has some sort of claim or some fucking authority over me and no one will be able to stop him.

"I am fine, Mom," I lied, hoping to convince myself as much as her. "Just a lot on my mind."

My brother leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "If you need to talk about anything, we are here for you. You know that, right?"

I smiled at him, feeling a surge of affection for my family. They had stood by me through so much, never once letting me feel alone in the aftermath of everything that had happened.

"I am just a bit overwhelmed," I admitted, choosing my words carefully. "There is a lot to think about with the wedding and everything."

Neil's thumb traced soothing circles on the back of my hand. "No pressure."

We continued to chat, the conversation flowing easily around me as I tried to immerse myself in the moment. My dad brought up a funny memory from when I was a teenager, and we all laughed, the sound filling the room with warmth.

But even when everything seemes to go so smoothly, I could never shake away the fear because I know the truth. It was like an itch at the back of my mind, a constant reminder that no matter how far I ran, I couldn't escape him unless he lets go of me.

And that's where the stupid hope comes up with that once he gets married, I will be left alone.

Neil's phone buzzed on the table, snapping me out of my thoughts. He glanced at the screen, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Work?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light.

He nodded, his expression softening as he looked at me. "Just an email. I will get to it later."

"So you want to go out for a walk?" He softly asked keeping his glass down as I gulped. I moved my eyes around me spotting no one but ended up shaking my head in a No, knowing very well I was still being watched.

Every single decision that I take has to be approved by him. It's like he is the one working on my key and I am dancing to his tunes.

Neil gave me a soft and patient look and replied, "Whenever you are ready."

I smiled, despite knowing I wasn't sure when that moment will come.

As soon as he left, I escaped to my room making an excuse to Mom and Dad that I had to work on a dress and submit it by tomorrow.

There are cameras in my room too but I figured out their positions and an untraceable corner where he can't spot me - and that irks him, alot.

I know because I am threatened to sleep in the bed instead of snuggling in that particular corner but I don't listen.

I take content in that, if I ever get the chance I wouldn't back out from stabbing a knife deep in his chest.

There is one more secret - he sometimes drops by, in my room watching me from the balcony. He never comes inside but he spents all night standing there and watching me while I pretend to sleep because I am too scared to face him.

I am so sorry but if you all won't comment and vote, then I won't be post Ishq hua here.