I am sitting on my bed, writing the next chapter of my book. Well, being a writer takes a lot. Honestly, it's tough. I already wear glasses, and at this rate, I'm pretty sure the power of my specs is going to increase soon.

But still... writing is my passion.

Oh shit-
I completely forgot to introduce myself.

Well, meet me - Myra Singhania.

The youngest child of the Singhania family.

I live far away from my own family. They think it's the best way to protect me from the world.

But little do they know... the most dangerous demons always stay hidden under our own bed.

And honestly, who is going to protect me from them?

Well, let's put that aside for now.

Right now, I think I should start worrying about my result because today is the result day of my final semester in Business and Marketing.

Honestly, I'm not even interested in my result because I want to become a writer.

Writing is my passion, but they don't give a shit about it.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. It was charging on the table opposite my bed.

I already knew who was calling me - my grandfather, Mr. Adhirath Singhania.

Seriously, couldn't he have called later? Now I actually have to get up and answer the call. Otherwise, he'll probably announce a curfew in my entire city.

Huhh... let's see what this old man wants from me now.

I stood up, walked towards the table, and picked up the call.

"Shhh... old man, what do you want now?"

"MYRA SINGHANIA! You booked a ticket to your homeland without my permission?"

"Are you asking me or informing me? Well, for both statements, my answer is yes." I sighed, already knowing what was coming next.

"How dare you talk back to me?" his thunderous voice echoed through the phone.

I pulled the mobile slightly away from my ear and rolled my eyes dramatically.

"See? This is exactly why I live far away from you people. My ears deserve peace too."

"MYRA!"

"Alright, alright... calm down, old man. Your blood pressure is not my responsibility."

"You are not coming here anytime."

"And unfortunately for you, my ticket says otherwise."

For a few seconds, silence took over the call.

Dangerous silence.

The kind of silence that usually meant someone in the Singhania family was either planning a murder... or a family meeting.

"And what exactly made you think you could return without my permission?" he asked, his tone suddenly calm.

Which was worse.

Way worse.

I leaned against the table and stared at my half-finished manuscript lying on the bed.

"Because it's my homeland too."

Another silence.

This time, a heavier one.

"You have no idea what is waiting for you here, Myra," he muttered.

A strange feeling settled in my chest at his words.

Fear.

Curiosity.

Maybe both.

But instead of showing it, I smirked lightly.

"Well then... I guess it's time I find out."

"Dadu... I miss all of you."

My voice came out softer this time, almost breaking.

"I have been living here in Amsterdam alone for years," I whispered, my eyes turning moist. "I can't do this anymore. And I can't keep pretending like none of it matters."

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to control the heaviness in my chest.

"Please let me come back. I'll follow all your orders this time. Pinky promise, Dadu... please."

Silence.

Complete silence.

For the first time since the call started, he didn't yell at me.

And somehow, that hurt even more.

A long sigh escaped from the other side of the call.

"Myra..."

That was it.

Just my name.

But the way he said it made my chest tighten painfully.

I slowly sat down on the edge of the bed while clutching the phone tightly in my hand.

"You think keeping you away from us was easy for me?" Dadu spoke quietly. "Every single day, this house feels incomplete without you."

My lips trembled.

Then why did you send me away?

I wanted to ask.

But I already knew the answer.

Protection.

It was always about protection.

"You are safer there," he continued.

I laughed bitterly while wiping the tears that slipped down my cheeks.

"Safe?" I whispered. "Dadu, do you even know how lonely it gets?"

Silence again.

"I celebrated birthdays alone."

My voice cracked.

"I ate alone... cried alone... lived alone."

My breathing became uneven, but years of bottled emotions refused to stop now.

"You all decided what was best for me without even asking me what I wanted."

On the other side of the call, I could hear his heavy breathing.

For the first time in my life... Adhirath Singhania sounded helpless.

"You think I don't regret it?" he muttered. "Every single day, I regret sending you away."

I froze.

Because the great Adhirath Singhania never admitted his mistakes.

Never.

"But some enemies are still alive, Myra," he continued in a dangerously calm voice. "And if they find out you are returning-"

"Then let them."

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

A dangerous silence followed.

"I am tired of hiding, Dadu."

My grip around the phone tightened.

"I spent years living like a criminal for mistakes I never made."

"You don't understand what you are saying."

"No, Dadu..." I whispered softly. "You don't understand what this loneliness has done to me."

My eyes landed on the half-written pages scattered across my bed.

Maybe that was why I wrote stories.

Because fictional worlds hurt less than reality.

"Please..." I whispered again. "Just let me come home."

This time, the silence lasted longer.

So long that I thought he had cut the call.

Then finally-

"When is your flight?"

My breath hitched.

A small smile slowly appeared on my tear-stained face.

"Tomorrow evening."

Another sigh came from his side.

"Fine."

My heart stopped.

"But the moment you land here, you will follow every security rule I give you. No arguments. No drama. No running around alone."

A laugh escaped my lips through the tears.

"That sounds illegal."

"MYRA."

"Okay, okay! I agree."

For the first time in years... my heart felt lighter.

I was finally going home.

"Alright, I need to pack my bags. I'll talk to you later."

Without waiting for his reply, I cut the call and tossed the phone beside me.

A tired sigh escaped my lips.

My eyes slowly shifted towards the wall beside my bed where a framed photograph was hanging.

And instantly... my expression softened.

"I'm coming back, jaan," I whispered while staring at the picture.

The most handsome man in my life.

The business tycoon and the most eligible bachelor of our country - Agastya Singh Raizada.

A small smile appeared on my lips as my fingers lightly touched the frame.

Years.

It had been years since I last saw him.

Yet not a single day passed when I didn't think about him.

His smile.

His voice.

His possessiveness.

His madness.

Everything about that man was dangerous.

And maybe that was exactly why my heart still belonged to him.

I still remembered the way he used to glare at every man who talked to me for more than thirty seconds.

Psycho.

Completely psycho.

But my psycho.

My cheeks turned slightly pink at the memories.

"God... he is probably even more arrogant now," I mumbled while shaking my head.

Knowing Agastya Singh Raizada, the man must have turned the entire country upside down within these few years.

Suddenly, my eyes landed on the old bracelet wrapped around the corner of the frame.

My smile slowly faded.

Because along with love... Agastya was also the biggest reason why my family sent me away from this country.

And deep down... I knew.

My return was going to change everything.