Page 1 of Protect my Heart
PROLOGUE
Aarav’s heart pounds against his chest as he sits cramped inside the cupboard. The darkness is suffocating, wrapping around him like a tight, inescapable blanket. He can barely move, his legs tucked uncomfortably beneath him, and every sound from the outside world seems distant and muffled.
Panic surges through him as he remembers his fear of the dark. He starts shouting for help, his voice echoing inside the small space.
“Help!”
“Help, please!” His voice grows hoarse and heavy. His throat is parched from the heavy sobs.
“Somebody, please help! Let me out!” His cries grow more desperate with each passing minute, but no one comes. The muffled sounds of laughter and conversation from the living room only intensify his feeling of isolation. His body shakes with each sob.
Aarav’s cousin has locked him in here as a prank. It’s supposed to be funny, but it’s far from it. Tears stream down his cheeks, and he struggles to keep his breathing steady. He’s on the verge of giving up—convinced he’ll be stuck in this darkness forever.
But a flicker of hope lights in his heart when he hears a faint noise.
The cupboard door creaks open, and a sliver of light pierces through the darkness. Aarav squints, his eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness. Standing before him is a small girl he has never seen before. She has a concerned expression on her face, her eyes wide with empathy.
A deep breath escapes his lips.
“Are you okay?” she asks softly.
Aarav nods, his voice choked with emotion. “Thank you for taking me out of here.”
Her eyes sparkle with unshed tears as she looks at him. “You must be afraid. I am very afraid of darkness.”
Aarav wipes his tear-streaked cheeks with the back of his hand. “I was, but you saved me, so I owe you one. You saved me from the darkness; now I will protect you from it.”
His voice is small, his lips quiver.
The girl smiles, her face lit up with warmth and kindness. Without hesitation, she steps forward and hugs Aarav. He is taken aback at first, but then slowly wraps his arms around her, as he feels a sense of comfort and safety in her embrace.
She pulls away, a huge smile on her face. “By the way, I am Anika.”
Aarav extends his hand, his own smile beginning to form. “I am Aarav.”
Anika shakes his hand firmly. “I am your new neighbor,” she announces with a cheerful glint in her eyes.
Aarav’s heart swells with gratitude.
Little do they know, their destiny has bound them together at that very moment. Aarav has found not just a friend, but a ray of sunshine that he will need in his moments of darkness. And in return, he promises himself that he will always be there to protect her from the shadows.
CHAPTER 1
AARAV
"He wants to play with fire?" I chuckle, humorless and sharp. “Fine,” I murmur, more to myself than to her. “I’ll burn him.”
Ms. Hinal sits across from me, slumped like a broken doll. Her mascara streaks down her cheeks in thick lines. And the soft, wet sound of her sobs fills the silence between us. But I feel nothing. Not even pity. She doesn't even deserve that.
“There’s no point in crying now,” I announce, rising from my chair. My voice is calm—too calm, almost deadly.
I walk around the desk and stop just beside her. The cold air surrounds us. She stiffens under my scrutinizing gaze. I lean in, close enough for her to feel the chill in my voice as I whisper, “You opened your legs to a thief. That makes you one too.”
She jerks back slightly, fear shining in her eyes. She begins to reason out. "Sir, I—" I raise my hand, stopping her from speaking further. There's no point in arguing with me now.
“You’re fired.” My voice cuts through the thick silence—icy and sharp, as I straighten up.
“Sir—no!” she gasps, voice cracking. I ignore her, already turning back toward my seat.
