"Ethan, my name is Maya, not Meya."
"Oh—sorry, Meya."
"Ethan!"
"Sorry, sorry—Maya."
It clearly took effort for Ethan to pronounce her name correctly.
They walked side by side toward the classroom. The corridor was crowded, yet Ethan kept close, matching her steps.
After a moment of silence, Ethan spoke again.
"I saw you getting out of Professor Arif's car."
Maya didn't answer.
She quickened her pace, deliberately ignoring him. When she reached the classroom door, she took a deep breath, pressing a hand lightly against her chest.
God knows how many explanations I'll have to give today, she thought.
Straightening her posture, Maya stepped inside.
The class wasn't noisy, but something felt off. Heads turned. Eyes followed her movements. Whispers floated through the room.
She lowered her gaze and walked to her seat.
Just as she placed her bag down, she noticed three girls standing directly in front of her.
Maya looked up.
Her face remained calm—almost innocent.
The girl in the middle wore a mini skirt and a fitted T-shirt. Her hair was platinum blonde, styled perfectly. Her name was Luna.
To Luna's right stood Olivia, dressed in jeans and a shirt, her red hair falling over her shoulders.
On Luna's left was Mia, wearing a skirt and T-shirt, her hair dyed a deep purple.
They were well known.
The bullies of the class.
And Luna was their leader.
Luna crossed her arms and stared at Maya with open hostility.
"What were you doing in Professor Arif's car?" Luna asked sharply.
Olivia laughed mockingly.
"Hey Luna, what else would she be doing? She was probably trying to seduce him."
Mia giggled.
Luna smirked.
"Even if she tried, it wouldn't work. Professor Arif is mine."
The words burned.
Maya felt anger flare inside her, hot and sharp. For a moment, she wanted to snap back, to say something bitter and humiliating.
But she didn't.
Instead, she smiled calmly and said,
"Luna, why don't you ask Professor Arif that question yourself?"
Luna scoffed.
"Girls from third-world countries like you always try to cling to rich men when you see them. We know your kind very well."
That crossed a line.
Maya clenched her fingers, nails digging into her palm. She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to stay composed.
Then she looked straight at Luna and replied, still smiling,
"Luna, the one you're calling yours is also from a third-world country."
Silence.
Luna's face darkened instantly.
No one had ever spoken to her like that before.
Luna was the daughter of the university's chairman. She ruled the campus through power and fear. No one dared talk back to her—let alone a new foreign student.
What stung even more was the attention.
The entire class was watching.
Luna felt humiliated.
Her hand shot forward.
She was about to slap Maya.
But suddenly—
Someone grabbed her wrist.
Luna turned sharply.
It was Ethan.
The only person on campus who could stand equal to her.
Ethan's father was a powerful businessman and a major partner of the university. But unlike Luna, Ethan never abused his influence. He focused on his studies and treated people fairly.
Luna yanked her hand free, furious.
"Why did you stop me?" she snapped.
Ethan opened his mouth to reply—
But Maya snapped her fingers, drawing their attention.
With a cool tone and sharp eyes, Maya said,
"Luna, if you raise your hand again, my slap won't miss your cheek."
Gasps echoed through the classroom.
That was the third humiliation.
Luna completely lost control.
She lunged again—but Olivia and Mia grabbed her arms and dragged her back just as the teacher entered the room.
Luna struggled violently, screaming in rage. She couldn't accept this level of public disgrace.
No one had ever threatened her openly before.
Later
Maya had been summoned.
She now stood outside Professor Arif Khan's office.
She raised her hand and knocked.
"May I come in, sir?"
"Yes. Come in."
Maya entered slowly.
She forgot to close the door behind her.
Arif's voice cut through the room.
"Did you leave the door open for decoration?"
Maya immediately turned back and closed it, blinking rapidly before smiling awkwardly.
"Sorry… mistakenly mistake happened."
Arif ignored the comment.
"Sit down," he said. "Don't stand there like a pole."
Maya sat.
Arif studied her for a moment before speaking in a serious tone.
"You left class seven times in the last three hours. Explain."
Maya froze.
Her eyes widened.
"How do you know that?" she asked. "Did you put someone to follow me?"
Arif leaned back slightly.
"I've had people watching you for the last ten years."
"What?" Maya whispered.
Fear and shock filled her voice.
"You've been watching me for ten years?" she asked again. "Tell me the truth."
Arif twirled a pen between his fingers and replied calmly,
"You think I could forget the family I lived with for seventeen years? I know everything about the Khan household. My people keep an eye on them constantly."
He paused, eyes locking onto hers.
"And you? You were special."
Maya's breath hitched.
"You're my only wife," Arif continued. "Of course I kept a closer watch. I needed to know whether you stayed loyal—or moved on while I was gone."
Maya felt her throat go dry.
"You received proposals in school and college. You rejected all of them. Why?"
Arif leaned forward slightly.
"You could've divorced me anytime. But you didn't. Why?"
Maya couldn't answer.
Her thoughts tangled. Words refused to come.
When she became nervous, she always stuttered—and now she couldn't speak at all.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
The name on the screen made her blood run cold.
Atik Khan.
Arif's father.
Her hands started shaking. The phone nearly slipped from her grasp.
Arif noticed immediately.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "Who's calling?"
Maya looked at him with terrified eyes.
"Big uncle," she whispered.
"Stop shaking and answer," Arif said. "Or give it to me."
Maya quickly pulled the phone back.
"No. If you answer, it'll be worse. I'll answer."
"Put it on speaker."
She swallowed and accepted the call.
"Hello… Assalamu Alaikum, Big Uncle."
Atik Khan's deep voice came through.
"Maya. Where are you?"
"I'm at the university," she replied softly. "It's break time."
"I called your hostel," Atik said coldly. "They said you didn't return last night. And that you left the hostel entirely."
Maya forced a nervous smile.
"Oh… I forgot to tell you. The girls I came with—we rented a place together."
Before she could finish—
"You've grown too bold," Atik roared. "You left without my permission? Just because I allowed you to study abroad doesn't mean you own yourself now."
Maya trembled.
"I only sent you for your grandmother. Your education means nothing to me. If you disobey again, I'll bring you back."
Before Maya could respond—
Arif grabbed the phone.
"Assalamu Alaikum, Mr. Atik Khan."
"Maya?" Atik asked.
"I'm not Maya," Arif said coldly. "I'm your disowned son—Arif Khan. My wife is with me now. You don't get to control her anymore."
Silence.
Then Atik said,
"Give the phone to Maya."
Arif handed it back.
"Your uncle wants to talk."
Maya answered shakily.
"Yes, Big Uncle…"
"You heard your husband," Atik said icily. "From today, you're no longer part of the Khan family. Don't contact us again."
The call ended.
Maya stared at the phone.
Then at Arif.
Her eyes burned with anger and fear.
"What did you do?" she demanded. "I was already fighting them to stay here—and now you made it worse!"
Arif met her gaze steadily.
"You're my other half," he said. "You share everything with me—including my enemies."
Maya's voice broke.
"Do you remember our wedding?"
Arif's jaw tightened.
"How could I forget?" he replied. "That night destroyed my life. It forced me to leave my country. I was disowned because of it."
His eyes darkened.
"And all of it happened because of your big uncle."
The room fell silent.
The past was awakening.
And it wasn't done with them yet.
To be continued…