ᴀ ᴛᴡɪꜱᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʀᴀᴘ

Revansh Malhotra was not used to losing any games.

Yet, as he watched Aarini walk away, something unsettling curled in his chest, something unfamiliar, something unknown to him.

And he....he didn’t like it.

For years, people had been predictable. Girls clung to him, desperate for his attention. His so-called friends followed him, eager to be in his good books. Even his father’s business associates respected or feared him enough to never question his presence.

But Aarini Joshi?

She wasn’t afraid of him. She didn’t crave his attention. And worst of all? She ignored him all the time.

That alone made her dangerous.

And irresistible.

Like a walking temptation.

She was untamabale and now he wanted to tame her and mold her into someone she couldn't even dream of in her wildness dreams.

***

Aarini thought leaving him behind would bring her peace but it didn’t.

As she stood in a quiet corner of the garden, away from the flashing lights and deafening music, she exhaled slowly, trying to compose herself.

She could still feel his gaze on her, even when he wasn’t around.

Why was he doing this?

Why her?

It wasn’t like she was special, at least, not in the way Revansh Malhotra’s type usually was. She wasn’t rich, wasn’t part of the elite crowd, didn’t fawn over him like the rest.

Maybe that was it...

Maybe he was just amused by the chase...

Aarini sighed, brushing her fingers over her bare arms, feeling a sudden chill.

She should go home.

Just as she turned to leave, a deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Running away again?"

Her breath hitched and she knew who this was.

Of course....

Of course, he had found her.

Revansh stood by the garden entrance, hands in his pockets, watching her with that infuriatingly smug look.

Aarini rolled her eyes. "Following me now, Malhotra? Are you a part time stalker?"

He smirked, stepping closer. "Wouldn’t have to if you stopped running. And i won't mind being a stalker for you.. "

She crossed her arms. "I’m not running. I just don’t see the point in wasting my time here. Now please stop talking this nonsense."

Revansh tilted his head, studying her. "Tjen why did you come?"

Aarini hesitated for a second...

She came...because she was playing a stupid game with him?

She came...because she had wanted to see what the fuss was all about?

Because, deep down, she had known he would be here, in this party, annoying her again?

She shook off the thought. "Because I felt like it."

"Hmm," Revansh mused, taking another step toward her. "And yet, you’ve spent most of the night avoiding me."

She scoffed. "You think too highly of yourself."

"Do I?" His voice was lower now, his presence dangerously close. "Then why do I make you nervous?"

"I’m not..."

"Your breath hitched when you heard my voice," he murmured. "You’re standing stiff, like you’re bracing for something."

Aarini’s heart pounded, but she refused to step back.

"You’re imagining things," she said, forcing herself to sound unaffected.

Revansh chuckled, his eyes darkening. "Maybe. Or maybe..." He lifted a hand, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face, his fingers barely grazing her skin. "...you’re just scared to admit I’m right."

Aarini sucked in a sharp breath.

This was dangerous. He was dangerous for her. And yet, for some reason, she couldn’t move.

Revansh held her gaze, waiting. Daring her to react to him but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

With a steady exhale, she stepped away, breaking the tension between them.

"You’re wrong," she said firmly.

Revansh’s smirk returned, but there was something else beneath it, something deeper, something unreadable.

"We’ll see," he murmured.

Aarini turned and walked away, her heart hammering in her chest.

But she knew the truth.

She wasn’t running from him.

She was running from herself.

***

Aarini barely slept that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, she could still feel the warmth of Revansh’s touch, the way his fingers had barely skimmed her skin, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.

She hated it. She hated it so much.

She hated the way he got under her skin so effortlessly.

More than that, she hated the fact that some part of her wanted him to.

No. She couldn't allow that.

Revansh Malhotra was a storm. He was unpredictable, dangerous, and bound to leave destruction in his wake.

And she would not be his next casualty. Not at all.

The next morning at school, Aarini tried to act as if nothing had happened.

She focused on her studies, laughed at her friends dramatic retellings of their day and avoided any mention of him.

But, of course, the universe wasn’t on her side.

Because the moment she stepped out of the cafeteria, she saw him.

Leaning against the lockers, arms crossed, a lazy smirk playing on his lips.

Waiting for her.

Aarini’s steps faltered for only a second before she forced herself to keep walking.

She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of reacting.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Revansh greeted smoothly as she passed.

She ignored him.

He let out a dramatic sigh. "Ignoring me now? I must admit, I’m offended."

Aarini stopped, turned, and gave him a flat look. "Then maybe you’ll finally leave me alone."

Revansh grinned. "Now, why would I do that when you make it so fun?"

She scowled. "I am not here for your amusement, Malhotra."

He stepped closer, the air shifting between them. "Oh, I know," he murmured. "And that’s exactly why you’re so fascinating."

Aarini gritted her teeth. "Well, I don’t care about your fascination."

Revansh’s gaze dropped slightly, flickering over her face before returning to her eyes.

"Such a liar."

Her breath caught up. Before she could say anything, the bell rang, breaking the moment.

Revansh smirked. "See you in class, Joshi."

Aarini turned on her heel and walked away, without looking back this time.

But as she sat in her next lecture, she knew one thing for certain...

This game they were playing was only just beginning of a ruin.

***

Aarini spent the rest of the morning trying to ignore the lingering heat of Revansh’s gaze, but it wasn’t easy when he made it his mission to disrupt her peace. The guy was glaring at her all the time.

Everywhere she went, he was there.

When she walked into the library, he was already lounging at one of the tables, flipping lazily through a book, one he clearly had no interest in reading.

When she stepped into the hallway, he casually leaned against a locker, smirking at her as if this was all a game.

And worst of all, when she entered the classroom, she realized with dread...His usual seat was empty.

Instead, he was sitting in the one right next to hers.

Aarini froze mid-step, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag.

He did not usually sit there everyday.

Revansh glanced up just in time to catch her reaction, his smirk widening as he gestured to the empty seat beside him.

"Looking for someone, sweetheart?" He spoke shamelessly.

Aarini clenched her jaw and sat down without a word.

But her silence didn’t deter him at all. If anything, it only encouraged him.

As soon as the teacher started explaining the topic, Revansh leaned closer, his voice a low whisper.

"You’re mad at me."

Aarini didn’t look at him. "I’m ignoring you."

"Same thing," he murmured, sounding entirely too amused.

She exhaled sharply, flipping open her notebook.

"Why are you sitting here?" she whispered, not bothering to hide her annoyance.

He propped his chin on his palm, eyes glinting with mischief. "Why not?"

Aarini glared at him in rage.

Revansh chuckled. "Relax, Joshi. It’s just a seat."

Aarini turned back to her book. "A seat I would like you to vacate immediately."

"Not happening."

Her hand twitched. "You are annoying."

"And yet, here we are," he mused, casually reaching over to steal her pen.

Aarini snatched it back instantly.

"Childish," she muttered.

Revansh grinned. "You love it."

Aarini did not dignify that with a response.

The rest of the class passed in silent warfare. Revansh finding every excuse to distract her, and Aarini pretending he didn’t exist.

By the time the bell rang, she was ready to escape him but as she shoved her books into her bag, Revansh’s voice stopped her cold.

"You’re thinking about me."

Aarini’s hands froze hearing him.

She turned slowly, meeting his knowing gaze.

His smirk was lazy, but his eyes were sharp, watching her, reading her with his dark blue eyes.

And she hated that he was right.

Aarini scoffed, shouldering her bag.

"You really think too highly of yourself, Malhotra."

And with that, she walked away, not waiting for his response.

But as she stepped into the hallway, she could still feel his gaze burning into her back.

And she knew, without a doubt that...

This was far from over.

It was a twisted trap and she was falling in it...more harder than expected.

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