Burning Confrontation

As Arunika and Akshay waited for the elevator, Akshay looked pale, his expression calmer but clearly unsettled by what had just happened.

The elevator arrived with a soft ding, its doors sliding open to reveal an empty cabin. They stepped inside, and Akshay pressed the button for the ground floor. As the doors closed, the confined space amplified the tension, leaving nowhere to hide.

The moment the elevator began its descent, Arunika rounded on him, her voice sharp and unyielding. "Now. Tell me the truth."

Akshay exhaled heavily, not even sparing her a glance. "Please, I don't want to deal with you right now. And I've already told you everything."

In an instant, a radiant golden sword burst into existence in Arunika's hand, the divine weapon humming with restrained power. Its gleaming edge came to rest against Akshay's throat, the faint glow casting eerie shadows on the elevator walls.

The atmosphere suffused with her fury and the divine energy radiating from the blade. "Don't play games with me," Arunika hissed, her voice low and menacing. "I know you're lying. Tell me what really happened, or I swear I'll cut your head off."

Even with the divine sword at his throat, Akshay didn't flinch. If anything, his expression shifted to one of mild irritation, as though her sword were nothing more than a nuisance. He leaned on his crutch, completely unbothered by the threat. "Fine," he said at last, his tone exasperated.

Arunika's grip on the sword tightened, her anger blazing in her eyes. Akshay raised a hand in a lazy gesture of surrender, his lips curving into a mocking smirk.

"So, the guy Maya had a crush on was actually a Vrikraal. And for the record, I am damn sure, she wasn't his first victim," Akshay's voice was laced with sarcasm. "He was from your school, but I suppose you Devangshes were too arrogant to notice."

Arunika's eyes narrowed, the golden sword pressing harder against his throat. The blade sizzled where it met his skin, a faint wisp of smoke curling into the air, but Akshay didn't flinch. His defiant gaze remained locked on hers, as if daring her to strike.

"How do you even know about the Devangshes?" Arunika demanded, her tone sharp as a blade, each word laced with suspicion and rage.

Akshay's expression didn't waver. He ignored the burning pain at his throat, his voice calm, almost amused, as if her anger only fueled his resolve. "Oh, I know plenty," he said, the words cutting like a dagger. "And speaking of predators... there was a human too. A man, mid-forties maybe. He was first in line—" Akshay's lips twisted into a taunting smirk, "—to 'have his fun' with Maya."

The words hung in the air, heavy and vile, slicing through the silence like a whip.

Arunika's fury erupted. Her sword blazed with a fierce blue flame, illuminating the cramped elevator with its searing light. Her hand trembled with rage, but her grip on the hilt remained steady. "If you so much as think of hurting Maya..." she growled, her voice trembling with barely contained fury, "I will burn you to ashes."

Akshay rolled his eyes, his defiance unbroken. "Really?" he said gazing at her, "But what if I hadn't saved her? What if I'd just stood by, watching as that human would have devoured her dignity? What would you have done then?" His words were a challenge, a direct affront to her authority, even as her sword scorched his skin.

"Maybe, I should have joined..."

"If you even think of hurting Maya—" Arunika's voice cut through his taunt like a blade, her anger flaring hotter. Her sword erupted with fierce blue flames, casting a glow in the confined elevator as she leaned closer. "I will burn you to ashes," she hissed, her voice trembling with fury.

The air in the elevator seemed to vibrate with tension as Arunika's grip on her sword tightened, her fiery gaze piercing through Akshay's composure. He smirked faintly, unflinching despite the divine blade pressed against him.

Suddenly, the elevator slowed, the soft chime announcing its approach to the lower floors.

As the doors began to slide open, Arunika quickly dismissed her sword. The brilliant blue energy dissipated into a faint vapor, leaving no trace of the confrontation.

When the doors fully opened, a young couple stood outside—both well-dressed, holding hands. They stepped in, their curious gazes brushing over Akshay and Arunika but saying nothing.

The elevator resumed its descent, and an air of quiet, romantic tension surrounded the newcomers. The intricate mehendi designs on the woman's hands glimmered faintly under the soft elevator light, revealing her as a newlywed. She clung to the man's arm with an unmistakable tenderness, her posture exuding both comfort and protectiveness. The closeness between them spoke volumes—a love fresh and unyielding, untouched by time's wear.

Akshay's sharp eyes flicked toward the couple for a moment before settling back on Arunika. Noticing the couple's obvious affection, smirked and turned to Arunika. Leaning slightly toward her, he spoke in a low, playful tone.

"Hey, don't be mad. There's nothing between me and Maya. I promise," he said, his words laced with mock innocence, as if he was daring her to reach.

Arunika, still simmering with anger, narrowed her eyes at him. "Stop joking," she growled, her patience hanging just by a thread.

The couple exchanged amused glances, sensing the tension but choosing not to intervene.

Akshay ignored their presence, his voice shifting to a smooth, almost pleading tone. "I don't get it, Arunika. I helped her, yet you're still doubting me? What more do you want from me?"

Then, almost under his breath, he added, "Maybe I should have just joined the others."

The words were barely audible, but Arunika caught them.

That was it, she snapped. "Akshay!" she hissed; her voice sharp and cutting. "Don't you dare get close to her!"

In one swift motion, she grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the elevator wall, her strength surprising even for him. For a moment, the tension was so thick it was almost tangible, the couple gaze in the elevator now fixed on them.

"Whoa! Hey, calm down!" the man from the couple stepped in, raising his hands. At the same time, the woman gently pulled Arunika back, her touch firm but non-threatening.

Akshay, caught off guard, lost his balance on his crutch and stumbled to the floor with a dull thud.

The man hurried to help him up, steadying him as Akshay regained his footing. "Look, I get that you're upset, but this is too much," the man said, his tone firm as he cast a disapproving glance at Arunika.

The woman nodded in agreement, placing a reassuring hand on Arunika's arm. "You two need to trust each other. Fighting like this won't solve anything," she added gently, her voice calm and soothing.

Arunika, momentarily taken aback by their intervention, tried to brush them off. "Please move aside. You're misunderstanding," she said, her tone tense but restrained, clearly struggling to maintain her composure.

The elevator chimed as it reached the ground floor, and the doors slid open. Akshay, seizing the opportunity, slipped out of the elevator with surprising speed. From the safety of the lobby, he turned back, his eyes glinting with mischief as he waved mockingly at Arunika. A crooked grin spread across his face before he rushed toward the entrance.

Arunika's frustration boiled over, her fists clenching at her sides. "Please, let me go," she muttered, pushing past the couple.

"Hey, wait!" the man called after her, but Arunika was already out of the elevator, her sharp eyes scanning the lobby for any sign of Akshay.

But it was too late. He was gone, leaving her standing alone, her anger simmering beneath the surface, unresolved and raw.