Tavish reminded himself of the mission.
That was what mattered. The only thing that should matter. Getting his powers back. Restoring what was taken from him. And yet—
He had followed her ridiculous errands, driven her around like some mortal chauffeur, and tolerated her constant refusal to explain things. And the worst part? He hadn’t burned down a single thing in retaliation. That, more than anything, was unacceptable.
Today would be different.
Tavish pushed open the doors to Dhriti’s office, only to be met with an unexpected sight—an empty desk.
Aaradhya, the ever-efficient receptionist, barely glanced up as she said, “Dhriti is on leave today.”
Tavish stilled. “She’s what?”
Aaradhya, seemingly unbothered, looked up from her laptop. “She took a personal day.” Then, after a brief hesitation, she added, “Which means, since she’s on leave, you are too.”
His lips pressed into a thin line.
Tavish shouldn’t care. He really shouldn’t.
And yet, as he reached for his phone and dialed her number, he found himself tapping his fingers impatiently against the desk, waiting.
One ring.
Two.
Three.
No answer.
His grip tightened around his phone. Something about it felt… off.
Closing his eyes, he reached out with his energy—the thin, lingering trace of power that still connected him to her. In an instant, his vision blurred, and he saw—
A car.
She was driving.
Tavish didn’t waste another second. With a flick of his fingers, he transported himself directly into the backseat of her car.
Dhriti’s sharp intake of breath was satisfying.
But, as expected, she recovered too quickly.
Her hands stayed steady on the wheel, her eyes focused on the road, though her grip did tighten slightly. “You really need to stop doing that.”
Tavish leaned back, casually stretching his arms. “And you need to start picking up calls. What, are you avoiding me now?”
Dhriti sighed, exasperated. “Tavish.”
He smirked. “You randomly take a holiday, disappear, and ignore my calls. Forgive me for assuming you’re running away because you finally realized how serious I am about getting my powers back.”
She didn’t react immediately, and for a brief moment, he thought she might actually be speechless. But then, she let out a quiet, amused breath. “You really think everything is about you, don’t you?”
“Well, isn’t it?”
She shook her head. “Not this.”
Tavish raised an eyebrow. “Oh, come on, we’re obviously talking about me. What could possibly be more important than me getting back what’s mine?”
Dhriti’s lips quirked up. “You’re impossible.”
Tavish chuckled. “I know. It’s part of my charm.”
“Is it? You’re delusional if you think so.”
He grinned. “I like to think I’m a bit of a mystery. Keeps things interesting.”
“Right.” She rolled her eyes, her tone teasing. “Mysterious and completely annoying. A winning combination.”
He leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “You know you like it.”
Dhriti shot him a glance but didn’t respond, focusing instead on the road ahead. Tavish let her have her silence, but inside, he felt a small shift in himself. He didn’t like to admit it, but the way she teased him, the way she wasn’t easily shaken by his banter, made him a little… intrigued.
Still, he couldn’t let himself care.
“Anyway, what’s this about you disappearing?” Tavish asked, trying to steer the conversation back to his original annoyance. “You’re just going to ignore the fact that I’ve been left in the dark?”
She glanced at him again, and Tavish almost thought he saw a flicker of something softer in her expression—maybe even guilt. But it was gone too quickly to catch. “I didn’t think I needed to explain myself.”
“Well, I’m making you explain.”
She sighed, clearly unwilling to entertain him for much longer. “Fine. I took the day off to get some work done elsewhere. Now, if you’re done interrogating me, you can go back.”
Tavish crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back against the seat. “You think I’m just going to let you run away from me like that?”
Before she could answer, the car slowed, and Tavish was struck by the sudden change in scenery as they pulled into a temple parking lot.
Tavish stared out the window, confused. “Wait, you’re telling me we came all the way here for… this?”
Dhriti was already unbuckling her seatbelt, clearly unfazed. “Yes, I did. You don’t have to get out if you don’t want to.”
Tavish scoffed. “Oh, I’m getting out. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t make sure you weren’t trying to trap me in a divine ritual?”
She smiled, a small, knowing smile that made his chest tighten for reasons he couldn’t quite place.
“I’ll be fine. It’s not as dramatic as you think.”
She led him inside, her figure moving effortlessly through the temple, and Tavish found himself noticing how different she seemed in this setting. Gone were the tailored suits and powerful presence that always made her seem untouchable. In their place was a soft, graceful version of Dhriti—her pale yellow kurti set shimmered faintly in the sunlight, the delicate embroidery catching the light in ways that made her seem almost ethereal. The dupatta she wore fluttered with every movement, and for a fleeting moment, Tavish felt a strange, almost admiring tug in his chest.
She was beautiful, in a way he hadn’t quite realized before.
It was a side of her that he hadn’t known existed, and it made him uncomfortable in the best way.
Dhriti didn’t wait for him to finish his internal observations and walked towards the temple without another word. Tavish followed.
He was about to speak when Dhriti glanced at him and said dryly, "You’re staying outside."
"Why?" Tavish asked, confused. "I’m not allowed in?"
"Because you’re a demon," she said, matter-of-factly, like it was the simplest thing in the world.
Tavish huffed, clearly unimpressed. "Yes, I’m a demon. But gods don’t scare me. We’re balanced, aren’t we? Yin and yang, light and dark. Gods won’t mind me."
She turned her head to look at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You think that matters?"
"It does," Tavish said with an unshakeable certainty. "Gods and demons are part of the same cycle. You may bow your head in worship, but they and I—we strive to maintain balance in the world."
For a moment, Dhriti didn’t say anything, just studying him with a look he couldn’t quite read. Then, she simply said, "Fine. Suit yourself"
Tavish followed her quietly as she made her offerings, her focus entirely on the temple and the ceremony. She moved with reverence, her usual sharp energy now calm, almost meditative. For a second, Tavish thought about leaving. But instead, he stayed, lingering by the entrance and watching her with an intensity he couldn’t shake.
He wasn’t sure why it bothered him so much, but something in him shifted again.
When the prayer ended, Dhriti turned to him. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Tavish gave her a sharp, almost defensive smile. “I was just wondering how many more surprises you have in store for me.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You’re a bit dramatic, don’t you think?”
“No more than usual,” Tavish replied, his lips curling into a teasing smile.
She rolled her eyes and started walking toward the car again. “Come on. There’s something else I need to do.”
Tavish followed her, curiosity gnawing at him. “And what’s that?”
She didn’t answer, just continued walking ahead. Tavish’s mind raced as he wondered what else she was hiding from him, but before he could say anything more, they arrived at a small orphanage.
It was here, in the middle of the bustling city, that Dhriti’s energy changed again.
She greeted the children with a warmth Tavish had never seen, her face lighting up as the children swarmed around her.
She handed out parcels—clothes, books, toys. The children squealed with joy, and Tavish couldn’t help but notice how she seemed to glow in their presence.
Something inside him shifted. He had seen Dhriti as a leader, as a strategist, and even as someone who could command with an iron fist. But here, with these children, she was something different.
A person who cared deeply.
Tavish watched her, the realization sinking in slowly but surely. Dhriti wasn’t just a woman of power and authority. She was someone who genuinely wanted to make a difference.
And that was… unexpected.
Dhriti turned to him, catching him off guard. “You’re not as bad as you think you are.”
Tavish scoffed, though it lacked its usual bite. “I literally set things on fire for fun.”
She gave him a knowing smile. “And yet, you stayed.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but the words didn’t come. Instead, he just looked at her. And for the first time, something softened in him, something he didn’t quite understand.
Okay, here’s the deal—Tavish is on a mission to get his powers back, but instead of burning everything like a demon should, he’s playing chauffeur for Dhriti. And hell, I’ve written this mess! 😅
But wait—plot twist! Dhriti’s not just a powerhouse, she’s over here giving out toys at an orphanage, all warm and fuzzy. Tavish? Shook. And me? I’m dying watching him try to ignore the fact that maybe, just maybe, he’s got some feels.
So, I gotta ask—Team Dhriti or Team Tavish? 🤔🔥
Let me know in the comments! 👇💬
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