16

I stared at the door, perplexed as to why she ran out when I took off my shirt. I had no idea what had happened. What did I do to make her so red, timid, and trembling? I was at a safe distance from her, and she did not have to run from me.

I sat back down in my chair, deep in thought about the time I held her hand outside the building. These emotions. These sensations. My heart races whenever she's around me, making me forget about everything. I had never felt anything like that before. When my rough hand pressed against her soft ones. Her hand was soft and delicate. She tried twice to distract me from becoming angry. Nobody had ever been able to calm me down, but she did. Even though I had hurt her, she was worried about me.

How is she so selfless? She is concerned about someone she does not know and who has harmed her several times. And while she was in pain herself?

I need to keep myself in control. I can't be hurting her every time she sees me. I fucking have to stop.

I heard the door open and someone entered. I did not pay much attention because my mind was already preoccupied with Chandini's thoughts. She had been invading my mind ever since I first saw her.

"Uhh... Rudra?" someone said in my ear, and I leapt from my chair.

I snapped my head back and saw Rahul standing there, but he took a few steps back from me because of my reaction. I looked at the idiot, puzzled, before realising I was thinking about Chandini and smiling widely. I rubbed my face with my hand and thinned my lips.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

I sat down again and ran my hand through my hair, making it even messier. But I groaned, closing my eyes and placing another hand on my back.

"Give me the ice pack!" I said as I extended my hand.

I leaned back and closed my eyes, resting my head on the chair. Rahul handed me the pack.

"What happened to you? Why are you making these noises, and why do you need this ice pack and painkillers?" Rahul bombards me with questions, sounding confused. This is not anything new for him.

I did not say anything and went about putting the pack on my back. I sighed at the cold, which provided some relief, and took a deep, relaxed breath. I blinked and ignored him, taking the tablet with water and closing my eyes once more. Rahul sighed at my stubborn ass, behaviour.

"Just tell me if I need to call the doctor," he asked in concern. I denied him with a shake of my head.

Rahul left, leaving me alone to enjoy the relief of reduced pain. My phone suddenly beeped with a notification. I raised my head and picked up the phone to see that Muktha had sent me a picture. I opened the message and sat up straight.

I cursed myself for moving so quickly and hissed in pain. After seeing the picture, my mind and thoughts were all blurred, and I could not think clearly. It was a picture of Chandini in a wedding lehnga, looking stunning. She had a big smile on her face, and her eyes were bright with joy.

I read the text Muktha sent with the photo.

(Thank me later, and Mom told me to tell you that you have to come home early tonight. We are leaving from here in some time; be at home by the time we reach there.)

I stared at the text a little longer and noticed Muktha told me they would be leaving that place shortly. I got up without thinking twice, hurriedly put on my shirt, and gasped as I felt pain in my back.

I ran out of my cabin, and without any care about the stare my employees were giving, Rahul met me on the way to the parking lot and started running with me.

"What the hell, man! Why are you running? You were in excruciating pain moments ago, and now you are running like you have got a fucking marathon to win!" Rahul exclaimed, panting.

"Rahul, abhi kuch nahi! Mujhe Chandini ko dekhna hain." I told him. I fumbled with the car keys to quickly open the door and get inside. I zoomed past Rahul at speed. (Not right now, Rahul; I need to see Chandini.)

AUTHOR'S POV

Rahul was baffled and was panting with his head low.

"He has gone insane, now I am sure. "I tried to help him, god, but now he is in your hands," he grumbled to himself as he went inside the building to finish his work.

Rudra, on the other hand, was driving quickly in order to get there before they left. After a few minutes, he arrived and went inside, taking off his sunglasses. As he moved deeper into the boutique, he noticed his mother speaking to attendees about packing the dresses.

He met his mom, who was not at all surprised to see him. She knew he would come when Muktha said she would send the picture of Chandini to Rudra. But she had no idea that he would show up this quickly. She raised her eyebrows at him in a questioning manner.

"Uhh... Mom, it's... Actually..." he struggled with words, trying to come up with something to say but failing.

"Han, han, pata hain. Chandini peeche hai Muktha ke sath." His mom said, as she was trying her best not to smile at his behaviour but couldn't stop herself. She was happy to see him, feeling an emotion other than anger.
(Yeah, yeah, I know. Chandini is at the back with Muktha.)

He nodded and went deeper into the boutique to find his sister and soon-to-be wife. He stopped because of his thoughts and liked the sound of calling her his wife.

He began to move in the direction of the sound of laughter. He quickly recognised one as Muktha's, her laugh resembling that of a hyena.

His pulse quickened when he heard the other one, which was falling softly to his ears—melodic and calming.

He spotted them and came to a halt behind them. They did not notice him because they were facing him with their backs to him. He overheard his sister saying something to Chandini. He stood there with his arms folded, watching them burst out laughing.

"Moron! You call him a moron!" Muktha exclaimed between giggles, struggling to breathe properly.

"What is so amusing about this corner?" His voice boomed in the quiet place.

They were already laughing hysterically when they heard his deep, rough voice. They both froze and stared at each other with wide eyes. Muktha was the first one to turn around and face her brother.

On the other hand, Chandini went behind the aisle of lehngas to hide without thinking.

"Bhai, you look as dashing as ever!" Muktha said sweetly as she ran past her brother, leaving Rudra and Chandini alone.

Rudra walked forward, towards the aisle, and pushed some dresses aside to find Chandini with her eyes closed tightly and her head raised.

"What exactly are you doing in there, darling?" he asked, his tone amused.

She opened her eyes and met his gaze. He helped her by pulling her out. She was frozen in front of him, her head down. He took a step forward to get closer to her. He put his thumb and finger around her chin and lifted her head to look her in the eyes.

As she looked into his eyes, she felt a warm sensation run through her body, and she shivered slightly. She couldn't figure out why she was feeling so strongly for him. She would never felt anything like this before—shivering at the slightest touch, her heart rate skyrocketing just from his one look. He looked at her with heated eyes. She stood on her toes as he drew her up closer to him—so close that he could smell her rosy sandalwood scent, which intoxicated him.

"Apki kamar kesi h ab?" She asked him a little breathlessly. Her breath fanned his throat, causing him to shudder.
(How is your back feeling now?)

Concerned about him once more? Why? It was a question to which neither of them knew the answer.

"The pain is gone...now that I have seen you, and I am fine as well." Rudra spoke, his voice rough and husky, moving his face closer to Chandini.

Her cheeks were starting to flush as she blushed furiously. Her heart began to beat faster. She reached behind him with her hands and pressed her fingers into his lower back, causing him to hiss in pain.

"Jhooth bolna acha nahi hain, Rudra." (It's not good to lie, rudra.)

She repeated his words from the gala, which made him chuckle deeply.

His hand reached up and wrapped his fingers around the back of her nape, holding her and drawing her closer to him. Chandini's face flushed a deeper shade of red, and her lips parted as she blinked, gazing through her lashes.

Her breath fanned his lips, and goosebumps erupted on him. With her so close to him, he was losing his mind. Their bodies were in close proximity, and he tightened his grip on her neck.

He moved her face closer to his, their noses almost touching. Chandini clenched her fist around his shirt, his proximity affecting her more than she desired. Their breaths become entwined, and their breathing becomes more erratic with each passing moment. Their heartbeats were racing.

Chandini fluttered her eyes shut as she felt them become heavy. Her hands trembled as she placed them by her side.

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Thoughts on the chapter