8

Yeh mera ishq auron jaisa nahi,

akele rahenge par tere hi rahenge

After few weeks

After Yuvaan's sudden and tragic death, she couldn’t bear the thought of going back to her home so, she and Ahaan decided to stay in yuvaan's house.

The official report said it was a tragic car accident, but Naira didn’t believe it. It just didn’t make sense.

Then there was the strange incident right before the accident. The call. An unknown number had flashed on her phone. When she answered, a calm voice on the other end warned her to stay safe. The voice was deep, serious, almost as if he knew something she didn’t. But the strangest part was the series of messages that followed, all coming from the same unknown number, advising her to be careful. "Someone is watching you. Stay alert." It continued for days after Yuvaan’s death, and the more Naira thought about it, the more unsettling it became. Who was behind those messages? And why did they seem so urgent?

Naira sat on the couch, lost in her thoughts, her mind tangled with questions she couldn’t shake. The sudden sound of the door opening snapped her out of her trance. She looked up to see Dev standing at the entrance, his expression unreadable.

Naira didn’t acknowledge him right away. Instead, she crossed her arms and stared at the wall, pretending like his presence didn’t matter. She didn’t care about him or what he was doing here. She had enough on her plate already.

Dev, however, didn’t seem to notice or maybe he just didn’t care. Without saying a word, he walked over to the couch, effortlessly picking up Ahaan from the floor. The little boy’s face lit up with a smile, and he began babbling in excitement, reaching out to Dev’s face. Dev grinned and cooed at him, talking to him like he was the most important person in the room.

"Hey there, buddy," Dev murmured, bouncing Ahaan gently in his arms. "You’ve been a good boy today, haven’t you?"

Ahaan giggled, his tiny hands tugging at Dev’s shirt.

Naira couldn’t help but glance over, but she quickly turned her attention away, as if she didn’t care.

But then, Dev did something that caught her off guard. Without a word, he walked toward her, his eyes locking with hers. Before Naira could react, he reached down, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her up from the couch.

"What the hell are you doing?" she snapped, trying to pull her arm away, but his grip was firm.

"We’re leaving," Dev said without giving any explanation.

"Where are we going?" Naira asked, her eyes narrowing in confusion.

Dev didn’t answer. He kept walking, his as he held Ahaan in one arm and Naira’s hand in the other. It was as if he had planned every move, and Naira wasn’t given a choice.

She had no idea what was happening, but before she could ask anything else, they stepped outside. And that’s when her jaw dropped.

She looked around in shock. Hundreds of cars were lined up, their polished exteriors gleaming in the sunlight. The air felt heavy with security, as she noticed guards men with guns at every corner, watching them intently.

"Dev, what is all this?" Naira demanded.

Dev glanced at her, a small smirk playing on his lips. "I’m taking you to our home, sweetheart."

Her heart skipped a beat. Our home?

"What are you talking about?" she asked, trying to pull her hand away from him, but he wouldn’t let go.

He led her to one of the black car, and without another word, he opened the door and gestured for her to get inside. Ahaan was already seated in the back, safe in his car seat, looking up at Naira with innocent eyes.

She hesitated for a moment, completely thrown off balance by everything that was happening. But Dev’s firm hand on her arm urged her into the car. He didn’t seem like he was asking her to come, he was telling her.

Naira sat in the car, her mind racing, but there was nothing she could do. As the door slammed shut behind her, the car began to move, and she finally allowed herself to ask the one question that had been plaguing her thoughts.

"Dev... what the hell is going on?"

But he only looked at her with a calm, collected gaze, his lips curling into a knowing smile. "You’ll see soon enough, Naira."

And with that, the car drove off, leaving her to wonder what had just begun.

The car came to a slow halt, and Naira blinked, staring through the tinted windows at the house in front of her.

Before she could fully understand where they were, the car door was opened by a guard, and Dev’s presence loomed over her once again. He effortlessly scooped Aarush out of his car seat, the little boy still sound asleep in his arms.

Naira’s heart raced, a mix of confusion and disbelief flooding her. "Dev, where... where are we?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly, as she stepped out of the car. "What is all this?"

Without responding, Dev pulled her inside the mansion, his grip tight on her wrist, guiding her through the grand marble entryway. The walls were adorned with expensive artwork, and the floor gleamed under the warm light. The place was breathtaking, but it felt cold, too cold for her liking.

When they reached the living room, Naira stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening. "Dev, why are we here? Why did you bring Ahaan and me to this place?"

Dev turned to face her, his gaze intense, and for the first time, there was a visible crack in his calm demeanor. "Because I love you, Naira," he shouted, his voice echoing through the hall. "I love you, and I’m protecting you!"

Naira took a step back, stunned by the force of his words. His eyes burned with a passion she hadn’t expected. She couldn’t process it, why now? Why after all this time?

Before she could say anything more, Dev softened his expression, glancing down at the still-sleeping Ahaan in his arms. "And I’ll protect him too," he muttered, his tone gentler now. "You two are mine."

Without waiting for her reply, he moved swiftly towards a nearby door, leading her into a hallway that seemed endless. He carried Ahaan like a fragile treasure, his small form nestled peacefully against Dev's broad chest. He opened a door at the end of the hall, revealing a room designed exclusively for the boy.

The room was nothing short of extraordinary. It was spacious, with soft, pastel-colored walls, a bed, and every toy and comfort a child could ask for. The walls were decorated with playful designs of animals, and the floor was covered with a soft, vibrant carpet. It was a perfect little world for Ahaan and as Dev gently laid him down in the crib, Naira couldn’t help but feel the weight of his actions. He was taking control in a way that left her no room for protest.

Dev stood by the crib for a moment, his expression softening as he watched Aarush sleep. "He’s safe here, Naira," he said quietly. "You both are."

Naira stood frozen at the door, her thoughts racing. She still didn’t understand what Dev was trying to do, but one thing was certain he was determined to keep them here, in his world, under his protection. His love, his control, it was all consuming.

"Why, Dev?" she finally asked, her voice breaking the silence. "Why now? Why after everything that’s happened?"

Dev turned to her, his eyes intense, filled with something almost desperate. "Because I can’t lose you, Naira. Not now. Not ever."

And with that, he closed the door behind him, leaving Naira standing alone in the hallway, surrounded by the overwhelming luxury of the mansion. Aarush was safe for now, but the questions in Naira’s mind only grew louder. What had Dev truly brought them into? And what did it mean for her, for Aarush, and for their future?

■

Naira stood before Dev, her body tense with a mix of emotions. She had to tell him something, something that had been weighing on her heart for far too long. She looked into his eyes, searching for some sign of understanding, some hint that he might be the person she could confide in. But before she could speak, Dev spoke first.

"Go ahead, Naira," he said softly, as if sensing her inner turmoil. "What is it you need to tell me?"

Naira took a deep breath, slowly, almost as if in a trance, she removed her dress, letting the fabric fall to the floor. She stood there, exposed, yet her mind was set. She needed to show him, needed him to understand what she had been through.

At first, Dev didn’t react. His eyes seemed to remain distant, not lingering on her, as if respecting some unspoken boundary. But then, his eyes dropped to her skin. The marks, deep bruises, faded scars, and painful burns, on her body, each one telling a story of its own.

Naira watched as Dev’s face shifted from calm to a mixture of shock and confusion. His voice was low and steady, but the concern was evident in his words.

"Naira... what are all these?" he asked softly, his hands shaking slightly as he reached out toward her.

Naira, her chest tightening, swallowed hard. She had never told anyone the full truth, not even herself. But with Dev standing in front of her, something inside her snapped. She couldn’t hold it in anymore. She spoke, her voice trembling with a quiet rage.

"This..." she gestured toward her skin, her voice raw with emotion, "This is what your friend did to me."

Dev’s eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth slightly agape as the weight of her words sank in.

"What do you mean?" His voice cracked, but Naira could see the realization beginning to form behind his eyes.

Naira took a step back, her gaze hardening as she recounted the horrors. "Yuvaan never loved me, Dev. Not really. He hated me. He used me. He made me think it was love, that he cared about me, but in reality, it was control. Manipulation. Abuse."

She paused, her breath shaky as the memories rushed back. "He would always act like it was nothing, like I was the problem. He'd hurt me... in every way. Physically, mentally. Sometimes he'd get so angry, so frustrated with me... that he'd" Naira’s voice broke for a moment, and she had to steady herself before continuing, "he’d hurt me. And I’d tell myself it was my fault. But it never was. He was just sick."

Dev stood frozen, his expression a mixture of anger, sorrow, and disbelief. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he took in her words. "How could he...?"

"I was trapped," Naira continued, her voice growing more powerful with each word. "I couldn’t escape. He made sure of that. He made me feel like I was nothing without him. And when I tried to leave... when I tried to fight back... the pain just got worse."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke, but she didn't let them fall. She wouldn’t cry in front of him. Not now. She had already suffered too much, and she wouldn’t let herself be broken again.

"That’s why I couldn’t leave, Dev. I was afraid. Afraid of what he would do to me. To ahaan."

Naira stood still, her heart racing in her chest as she watched Dev move toward the small table beside the bed. He grabbed a tube of ointment, his fingers trembling slightly as he uncapped it. Naira didn’t move. She didn’t know what to feel, what to think. She was still reeling from everything she had just revealed to him, the raw truth of her past and the pain she had suffered.

Dev slowly walked toward her, his eyes filled with a mixture of tenderness and something darker, something unsettling. He gently applied the ointment to the bruises on her arm, his touch surprisingly soft despite the intense anger that burned in his eyes.

With each stroke of the ointment, Naira felt the gentle pressure on her skin, and a shiver ran through her, a strange contrast to the anger and confusion that had been swirling inside her. But then, Dev did something that made her freeze. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her bruised skin right where the marks had been. His lips lingered there for a moment, and for a split second, Naira felt sense of warmth. But that feeling was quickly replaced by shock when he spoke.

"I know all this, Naira," Dev said, his voice low and steady. "I know how he treated you from the very beginning."

Naira’s breath caught in her throat. She blinked at him in disbelief, not understanding what he meant. "What? What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling with confusion.

Dev’s gaze darkened, and he continued applying the ointment to her bruises. "I know he planned that night, Naira. I know it was all part of his plan. He never cared about you he hated you. He hated Ahaan too."

Her mind raced, but she couldn't make sense of it. How could Dev know all this? How could he possibly know the things that she had kept hidden, buried deep inside for so long?

"How did you know?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "How did you know all of this?"

Dev's expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he looked her in the eyes. "I stalked you, Naira," he said bluntly, his voice cold and matter-of-fact. "I watched everything. I knew everything about what he was doing to you, what he was planning. I couldn’t just stand by and let it happen."

Naira’s heart dropped into her stomach. Stalked her? Had been following her every move?

"Dev," she began, her voice shaky, trying to comprehend what was happening. "What... what did you do?"

Dev stepped closer to her, his gaze unwavering. "I killed Yuvaan, Naira," he said simply, his voice flat, as though he was confessing a minor inconvenience. "I couldn’t let him hurt you anymore. I couldn’t let him destroy everything you had left. Because yuvaan knew I was stalking you. He told me to stop stalking or else he will hurt you, so I had no option but to kill him to keep you and ahaan safe."

Naira’s world tilted. The words felt like they were crashing into her, one after another. She staggered back, her head spinning with disbelief. "You... you killed him?"

Dev nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yes. I had to stop him. I couldn’t let him take away everything you deserved. I couldn’t let him hurt you, Naira... not anymore."

She felt her knees weaken, and for a moment, she thought she might collapse. Her mind struggled to process what he was saying. She wanted to scream, to shout, to tell him how wrong this was, how she couldn’t believe what he had done.

Dev stepped closer, his hands gently resting on her shoulders as he looked into her eyes. "Because I love you, Naira," he said, his voice low but full of conviction. "I couldn’t let anyone hurt you again. I would do anything to protect you. And I will never let anyone take you from me."

■

Dev’s pov

I can’t believe Naira passed out after hearing what I said. She had every right to know the truth. The truth about everything about how I’ve been watching her, how I’ve had eyes on her every move. I’ve been following her for so long, and I even have a whole network of people behind me. No one knows the full extent of how dangerous I am, how I've become the most feared stalker in the country. Yuvaan never knew any of this because I never told him. I couldn’t let him know.

I saw the way he treated her, the way he hurt her. I honestly thought Yuvaan loved her, but now I see the truth. He didn’t love her; he was a monster. And he let my Naira suffer for so long. I couldn’t stand by any longer. So, I ended it. I killed him. I’ve spent so many years calling him my best friend, and now I realize how foolish I was. I was blind to everything he did, and now he’s gone because of what he did to her.

I feel sorry for myself too, for not realizing the kind of person Yuvaan really was until it was too late. As I stroked Naira's hair, watching her still sleeping, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of protectiveness. I looked at Ahaan in his crib, his little face so peaceful, and I wondered how Yuvaan could have hated this innocent child. Ahaan is so cute, so full of life, and yet Yuvaan never once showed any care for him.

It hurts me to think about it, but I’m here now. I’m here to protect Naira and Ahaan. I won’t let anyone hurt them ever again.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I didn’t want to wake Naira just yet. She needed rest, especially after everything she had been through. But I couldn’t stop thinking about how this would change everything. I had killed Yuvaan, but it wasn’t enough. It wouldn’t bring back the years of pain he had caused her. It wouldn’t erase the scars he left on her heart and her body. But at least now, I had control. Now, she was safe.

As Naira stirred in her sleep, I gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. She looked so peaceful now, but I knew what was coming. She would wake up soon, and I wasn’t sure how she would react. Would she be angry? Confused? Would she see me as the man who saved her, or the man who took everything from her?

Ahaan woke up with a soft whimper, still lost in his dreams. His little face scrunched in a way that tugged at my heart. Without thinking, I gently picked him up, cradling him in my arms, careful not to disturb Naira. I knew she needed rest, and I didn’t want to wake her just yet. Ahaan's tiny hands gripped onto my shirt as he shifted in my arms, his sleepy eyes still half-closed.

I held Ahaan in my arms, his little body warm against my chest. He stirred a little, and as I looked down at him, he gave me a sleepy, confused look, before his mouth started moving in a blur of sounds.

"Hey," I murmured softly, my voice low as I rocked him gently on my lap. "You know, you’re something special, don’t you?"

Ahaan's eyes widened, and he gave me an excited smile, his tiny hands reaching up to touch my face, his babbling growing more enthusiastic. "Dada! Da-da!" he chirped.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. "Yeah, I know, I’m not really your ‘dada,’ but I’ll always be here for you for sure" I stroked his cheek, feeling a strange sense of fulfillment as his giggles echoed softly in the room. It was a sound I could listen to forever.

"Look at you, all full of energy," I said, my heart swelling as he kicked his little legs and continued his excited blabbering. "Are you trying to tell me something? Is it a secret?"

Ahaan leaned forward in my lap, his hands fluttering around, pointing at everything around him, but none of it made any sense to me. He went on, his words a jumble, but the excitement in his voice was unmistakable. "Bah... bah... ooo... Da-da!"

I nodded, playing along. "Yeah, that’s right, big guy. You’re probably telling me something important. Maybe about your favorite toy? Or about how much you love your milk?" I gently tapped his little nose, watching him giggle even more, his eyes bright with joy.

I could feel his little hands grab onto my shirt, tugging at it, wanting my attention. "Okay, okay, I get it," I teased, tickling him gently. "You want to play, huh?"

As Ahaan settled into my lap, his little head resting against my chest, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion. I looked down at him, his tiny hands reaching out, his bright eyes still full of wonder, and I couldn’t stop myself from talking, as if he could understand every word.

"You know, Ahaan," I began softly, my voice thick with memories, "I used to love your mamma so much. She was everything to me. I never thought anything would come between us. But then, Yuvaan... Yuvaan came into the picture. He was my best friend, and I thought he cared about her, too."

A small whimper escaped Ahaan as he squirmed a little, his small hands gripping my shirt tighter. He looked up at me, his eyes full of curiosity, but his tiny voice interrupted me before I could continue.

"Love," Ahaan mumbled, almost like he was trying to say it, his baby lips forming the word awkwardly.

My heart skipped a beat as I stared at him. His innocent attempt to say the word, the word that held so much meaning to me, hit me harder than I expected. "Yeah, buddy," I whispered, brushing a strand of his hair back, "Love. That’s what I felt for your mamma. And even though everything changed, even though things went wrong, I never stopped loving her. Not for a second."

Ahaan’s little face seemed to light up, his eyes widening, his tiny hands moving excitedly as if he was trying to tell me something more. He babbled, his words still jumbled, but I could hear the joy in his voice.

"Love," he said again, this time with a little more certainty, his gaze locked on me like he understood more than I thought.

I smiled down at him, my heart heavy with everything that had happened, but also full of a sense of purpose. "Yes, Ahaan," I said, my voice soft, almost a promise. "Love is what I have for your mamma, and it's something I’ll never give up on. Not now, not ever."

He grinned up at me, as if he was agreeing, and I felt a warmth spread through me. It didn’t matter how many mistakes I had made, how much pain I had caused. I was going to make sure Naira and Ahaan knew they were my world now. And no one, no one was going to take that away from us.

As Ahaan snuggled deeper into my lap, I spoke softly, my voice tinged with uncertainty. "I know your mamm likes me too, Ahaan," I said, my hand gently rubbing his back. "But I don't know if she'll ever forgive me for all the things I've done. I hurt her so much, and I... I don't know if she can ever trust me again."

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, a soft voice interrupted me. It was Naira's voice, tender and calm, but strong. "I forgive you, Dev."

I froze, my eyes widening as I looked over at the door. There, standing in the doorway, was Naira. She was leaning against the frame, her expression soft but filled with something more, something that felt like relief, like she had finally made peace with the pain.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My heart raced as I looked down at Ahaan, then back to Naira, still trying to process the words that had just left her lips. Had she really said it? Had she really forgiven me?

Naira walked slowly into the room, her eyes meeting mine, and I saw a softness in them that I hadn’t seen in so long. "I know I can’t change the past, Dev," she said, her voice steady, but there was a vulnerability to it that made my chest tighten. "But I’ve had time to think, and I’m ready to move forward... if you are."

A sense of relief flooded through me, and before I even realized it, I was standing up. My hands trembled slightly as I reached for Naira, my voice thick with emotion. "You have no idea what this means to me, Naira. I... I’ll spend every day proving to you that I’m worthy for you and aahan and specially your love."

Naira smiled softly, her eyes shining, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I saw hope in her gaze. "I know Dev."

To be continued

And boom, Dev dixit the stalker