Chapter 2: The First Encounter Priya was drowning her sorrows in whiskey when a deep voice pulled her back to reality. "Drinking alone isn't always a good idea," Rohit said, sliding into the seat across from her.

She looked up, her eyes locking with his. There was something hauntingly beautiful about him - the kind of man mothers warned their daughters about. Yet, Priya wasn't like other girls. She wasn't reckless. She wasn't easy. She knew her worth and didn't give in so easily to a charming smile and piercing gaze.

"And talking to strangers isn't always safe," she shot back.

A smirk played on Rohit's lips. "Then it's a good thing I'm not just any stranger."

Priya rolled her eyes and turned away. "I don't do casual, and I don't entertain bad boys looking for a quick thrill."

Rohit chuckled, intrigued. "Who said I was looking for something casual? Maybe I like a challenge."

Priya gave him a hard stare. "I'm not a challenge. I'm a woman who knows what she wants. And right now, that's some peace and quiet."

Most men would have walked away. But not Rohit.

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Chapter 3: Pursuit and Resistance Rohit wasn't used to rejection, but something about Priya made him want to try harder. She wasn't like the women who fell for his dangerous allure. She had a fire in her, a quiet strength that drew him in.

He started showing up at the caf� where she read books by the beach. He found excuses to run into her at the market. He never pushed, never imposed - but he was always there, watching, waiting, showing her that he wasn't just another man looking for a night of passion.

One evening, as Priya sat on a rock by the shore, Rohit approached with two cups of coffee. "I figured you might like yours black, no sugar. Strong, just like you."

She raised an eyebrow but took the cup. "So, you've been paying attention."

He shrugged. "I pay attention to things that matter."

Priya sipped her coffee, letting the silence settle between them. She had been alone for so long, shielding herself from pain, from disappointment. But Rohit's persistence was chipping away at her walls, brick by brick.

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Chapter 4: Confrontation with the Past

Priya's world shattered when Sachin found her in Goa. He stormed into her peaceful life, spewing venomous words and grabbing her wrist with the same cruel force she remembered. Fear paralyzed her, but before she could react, Rohit was there.

Rohit didn't hesitate. His fist connected with Sachin's jaw, sending him stumbling back. "You don't touch her," Rohit growled, his voice low and dangerous. Sachin sneered, wiping the blood from his lip, but one look at Rohit's fiery gaze made him think twice before retaliating.

"Stay the hell away from her," Rohit warned, his presence towering and menacing. "Because if you don't, you won't be walking away next time."

Sachin, defeated and humiliated, spat on the ground before storming off. Priya stood frozen, her heart pounding. She had never had someone stand up for her like that. The beast in Rohit had awakened - not out of anger, but out of a fierce need to protect her.

And that's when she knew.

Priya fell in love with him

That night, under the moonlit sky, Priya found Rohit by the beach, staring into the endless waves. She walked up to him, her voice soft but certain. "Rohit."

He turned to her, his face unreadable. "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Because of you."

A silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words. Priya took a deep breath, then whispered, "I've spent my whole life fighting battles alone. I thought I didn't need anyone. But you? you make me feel safe. You make me feel seen. And for the first time, I don't want to run anymore."

Rohit's jaw tightened. "Priya? I - "

To be continued