4

When I heard the most captivating voice. It sent goosebumps with a calming sensation through me with just her few words. I turned around to look at the person. She was the most beautiful woman I would ever see, with the most delicate features. Her skin was flawless and smooth, with just a hint of colour in her cheeks. Her eyes were bright and alluring. She had long midnight black hair and plump pink lips. She exuded a cheerful aura.

Her beauty was breathtaking.

She then asked Athwa if he was okay, and the boy was staring at her. She ignored him and took him into the cafe, where she wrapped a bandage around his bleeding right knee, which was caused by me.

I hurt him again, and he was bleeding because of me. I am the reason for his pain right now. That angered me, and without thinking, I grabbed his hand and began dragging him to the exit, but the long-haired beauty stopped me. I was enraged, so I yelled at her, telling her not to touch me with her dirty hand and that we did not need her help.

In response, she said I was being harsh and unnecessary I was stunned because no one had ever spoken back to me like this. In my enraged state, I grabbed her arm tightly. "Do not tell me what is harsh and what isn't, and I do not need your help."

She jerked my hand away, releasing herself from my tight grip. I felt a warm sensation on my left cheek. I realized she had SLAPPED me.

A nobody slapped me. She slapped Rudra Kapoor.

"Do not touch me, stupid. I didn't help you, nor did I want to. "I helped Athwa," she said, her eyes narrowing.

I was staring at her with a murderous gaze, but she ignored me. How could she not be affected by my gaze? She turned to face Athwa, who was sobbing. She was more concerned about him than she was about herself.

She told him not to cry and that his wounds would heal quickly. I and Athwa left right away because if I had stayed any longer, I would have done something regrettable.

When we arrived home and entered the living room, everyone was there, and when they saw Athwa was injured, they rushed over to him and forced him to sit on the couch.

while I remained at the living room's entrance. Muktha and Papa questioned him about what happened and how it happened, while Mom went into the kitchen to get him something to eat.

Athwa explained that it was nothing serious and that he had simply slipped. I could not accept that he was attempting to save me from Muktha and Papa's wrath.

"You do not need to lie for my sake, and I do not want you to deny that I was the cause of your current pain; I do not want that!" I said as I walked up to him.

Hearing this, Athwa flinched at my harsh and rough voice. He started crying quietly.

"What do you mean, my baby is hurt because of you? I know you, you're not that insensitive to hurt our Athwa." Muktha said.

"Rudra beta, please explain what happened. How did he get hurt?" Papa asked.

Then I told them about how we were crossing the street and noticed a speeding car, so I pulled him, and he slipped as a result of my sudden pull, resulting in a scratch on his right knee.

"How did you dress his wound? On the road? That is so unsanitary," Muktha said, disgusted. I looked at her blankly, and she shrugged her shoulders again.

"No, bhaiya did not wrap my knee. When I fell to the ground, an angel approached me and asked if I was okay. She was the one who wrapped the bandage around my knee." Athwa said.

Angel. He referred to her as an angel who slapped me. But she is no angel, and I can not stop thinking about what I would have done.

"An angel?" Asked papa.

"Yes, papa, an angel; she was very pretty and sweet. She had very long dark hair and slapped bhaiya!" Athwa stated, and at that moment, Mom returned from the kitchen with snacks. Everyone was staring at me in disbelief, and Papa raised his brows at me.

"She slapped you?" Papa Mom and Muktha both asked at the same time.

I looked at Athwa, who was looking down because of my stony gaze.

"Do not look at him that way! You already know he is afraid of you, and you keep adding to his fear. Stop, Rudra." When I did not listen to her the first time, she said it again.

"Bhaiya, please tell us who this woman is and how she is still breathing. I want to know everything about her. After all, she slapped you." Muktha exclaimed excitedly.

which I did not understand because my sister and father were overjoyed because their son had been SLAPPED, for God's sake. My parents were amused, seeing how uncomfortable I was talking about it, and my sister was delighted.

I told them everything that had happened since the beginning, including why she had slapped me.

"You deserved it," my parents said, and my sister burst out laughing.

I am confused. Why is my family so happy that I was slapped?

"MUKTHA, STOP IT! I FUCKING DON'T FIND ANYTHING FUNNY IN THIS!" I yelled, and everyone fell silent.

Mom took Athwa to his room to rest.

"I gave you some work to do. "How are things going with the gala preparations?" I asked Muktha.

"Everything is going well, and with Papa's help, I invited everyone from the office from every department," Muktha said right away, realizing I was not joking. When it comes to business, I do not mess around, and I expect the same from those who work with me.

Knowing this, Muktha responded seriously to everything. We talked about some gala-related topics before going to dinner.

I was done with my dinner when Papa stopped me, to talk about something. Others went to their rooms. The mere thought of my father wanting to talk to me made me happy.

"Yes, papa, what do you want to talk about?" I asked my father, who was staring at me.

"Rudra, you know what I want to say to you. Your mom and I have been asking you to get married. You are 30, and I want to see my son happy in life." Papa said.

"I do not want happiness in my life; I do not deserve it. I am fine just the way I am, and I do not need anyone to make me happy. But, do not worry, papa, I will think about it." Saying that I left the dining room.

I am not going to give the idea a second thought. I just said that, out of respect for my father, I can not deny him anything. I was never shown the love and care that a child receives from their father. My mother, on the other hand, was there with me. She did her best to fulfil both roles for me. She came to every school meeting and every competition I had. While my father was attending business meetings.

I showered and everything, then lay in my bed thinking about everything. I have hurt Athwa a lot today and made him cry. When I thought about her again, anger boiled inside of me, but the softness of her hands mixed with the harshness of her slap— brought a strange feeling to me.

I picked up the phone and called my best friends Rahul and Sumit, telling them everything, from how I found her voice very mesmerising and calming to how she slapped me.

My best friends, like my sister, laughed at me, and I still do not think it is funny. Then I told Rahul to find out more about her. I want to know everything about her, every single detail. She has left me fascinated, with her courage.

We hung up after a few more minutes of talking, and I fell asleep. 

Thank you for reading!