I was shook when I found out he was a mafia. My mind went blank for a moment, and I got lost in my thoughts. Oh… that's why his house is all black. Makes sense. Then I slapped myself. What the hell, Maya? He's a mafia, and I'm standing here thinking about the color of his house? I face-palmed, feeling ridiculous.
I glanced back at him again. My body was trembling, and I was struggling to stay conscious. My eyes were fixed on the red pool on the floor, slight blood dripping from Veer's mask. He slowly removed it, revealing his face, and wiped it with his bare hands.
I waited for him to turn completely so that I can see him. An enemy attacked from behind. Veer turned. I was about to look at him, to see his face, but that's when my vision blurred… and everything went black. I fainted.
Veer got to know that I had heard him say he is a mafia. The next second, I fainted. His team told him what had happened.
He was tense, unsure of how to deal with me now. They laid me on the bed, and a doctor came to check on me.
"She needs to eat regularly," the doctor said before leaving.
That's when Veer came in. He was about to say something, but I yelled,
"Shut up. Just shut up. I have no idea what's happening around me… and what are you? A damn mafia?"
Veer swallowed. "I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you earlier, but then this incident happened. And yes… I'm a mafia."
"Right," I said coldly. "Most dangerous. I heard."
Veer stepped closer and tried to touch my hand. I startled and backed away.
He stopped immediately.
"I wanted to come to you after you fainted," he said quietly. "But I couldn't because of my situation and my clothes weren't clean."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Just like your soul," I replied blandly. Veer's jaw tightened. "Souls like mine don't get washed. But… I'll never drag you into my dirt."
"I'm leaving right now, Veer Malhotra! Please… leave me," I cried, my voice trembling slightly.
"Hey, it's okay, sweetheart," he said, reaching up as if to rub my cheeks and wipe my tears.
I snapped, cutting him off. "Don't you fucking do those things with me! And what are those cringe names? 'Sweetheart'? Who are you calling that? Don't you even dare touch me! Don't even come close!"
Veer's eyes darkened. He clenched his jaw. "Just have your dinner," he said sharply, turning to leave.
"I replied harshly, 'I don't want to eat this shit. But I will—only if you reveal your identity.'
Veer stopped. Slowly, he turned back. "Then don't," he said flatly.
The door slammed hard behind him. I flinched.
A few minutes passed.
The door opened again.
He entered without a word, calm this time. He sat beside me, took the plate, and placed it on his lap. Then—without warning—he reached up and removed his mask.
'Here,' he said quietly. 'Happy? As you said, I removed it. Now you have to eat, right?'
He lifted the spoon and fed me himself.
He had a beautiful face—far too calm, far too pretty to be hiding behind a mask.
I didn't know what happened to me in that moment. I was frozen. A damn mafia had just revealed his identity… just because I said I wouldn't eat.
Around us, the workers stared in stunned silence. He never listened to anyone.
But he listened to me."
The next morning, a male maid came in to serve my breakfast. For some reason, I felt like he's a good guy.
Everyone wore a badge on their shirt with their names printed neatly on it.
"Ma'am, please have your breakfast," he said politely.
"No, I won't," I replied.
He hesitated. "Ma'am… our sir told us you should eat—at all costs."
I sighed. "I will, anyway." I leaned closer and lowered my voice. "But tell me… why does your so-called sir like me? I mean, he's mafia, he's rich, and he's kind of…" I paused, then added in a low voice, "…handsome."
The maid chuckled softly.
I felt embarrassed. "Hey—don't tell him all this, please," I said quickly.
"I won't, ma'am," he said quickly. Then he smiled. "And I guess… you're bold, attractive, clever, and simple—unlike other girls."
I flipped my hair lightly. "Can't help it if I'm that perfect for your mafia boss."
We both laughed.
Then I leaned in. "Can I ask you something? Since when has he been stalking me?"
He stiffened immediately. "Sorry, ma'am. I'm not allowed to tell you all that."
"Oh?" I said casually, taking a bite of my breakfast. "Then I'll just tell Veer."
He panicked. "Tell him what, ma'am?"
"That Sham told you why you liked me."
He instantly covered his badge with his hand.
I smiled. "I'll spare you only if you tell me—since when?"
He hesitated, then lowered his voice. "All I know is… he's been watching you since the early phase of your college. I'm not completely sure, ma'am."
"Oh," I said softly. "Okay. "Then I added, "And stop calling me ma'am. I'm Maya. You can call me Maya."
He shook his head nervously. "No, ma'am. We're prohibited."
On the first day you have arrived, Veer's manager had called you just "Maya"—no ma'am. Remember mam he said "Look who's here. Finally, we found you—Maya". So he got fired cause sir didn't like him calling u just by you're name. I was completely mind-blown and didn't knew how to react
"So I don't want to be in his situation. I hope you understand, ma'am," he said. "Yeah, I understand," I said.
"Sham, can I ask you another question?" I asked hesitantly, biting my lip.
He smiled, a gentle warmth in his eyes. "You're just like my daughter, ma'am. You have too many questions. Go on—I'll see if I can answer."
I smiled back. "What's that basement room? Why didn't he let me go in there?"
His expression darkened slightly. "I'm pretty sure I won't have another conversation with you if I told you that, ma'am."
I frowned, leaning closer. "But… you can't just leave me hanging like that!"
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Some doors are meant to be stay closed, for now."
I stopped narrating the story, and Vedh and Tara were just staring at the wall, mouths wide open, like they were living every moment with me. I reached over and gently closed their mouths.
Suddenly, Tara yelled, "What the hell, Maya?! You met a mafia! A fucking real one?!"
Vedh gasped, still in shock, "He listened to you… and removed his mask?!"
I nodded, still a bit stunned myself.
Tara shouted again, "No way! That's insane!". "I know, right? I can't believe it either… but yeah, it happened," said Maya.
Tara slammed her hands on the table. "I cannot believe this! That Veer—he's a fucking mafia and you actually stayed calm? Maya, you're insane!"
Vedh chuckled, leaning back. "Insane? Please. She's brave, I'll give her that. I would've fainted ten times already if it were me."
Tara glared at him. "Brave?! She's reckless! Who calmly lets a mafia feed her breakfast and remove his mask?"
Maya rolled her eyes. "Guys, can you not? I survived—barely."
Vedh smirked. "See? She survived. That's bravery. You're still whining."
Tara groaned dramatically. "I'm not whining! I'm screaming internally!.
I facepalmed and pulled my blanket over me, letting out a long sigh as I tried to sleep.
Tara yelled again, "Hey! Complete the story!"
"I'm sleepy," I mumbled. "I'll continue later."
Tara, the overthinker, kept lost in her thoughts, going back and forth, replaying everything I'd just told.