"I guard what is mine.Relentlessly."-Rudransh Vardhan

Mumbai's skyline had many towers. But only one didn't just rise-it ruled.

TitanX Headquarters stood like a monolith of glass and steel, an obsidian spear piercing the heavens. By day, it mirrored the restless city, swallowing the chaos beneath it. By night, it gleamed black against the stars-a predator among prey.

At the very top-where the city's roar could not reach-lay the boardroom.
Not a room. A throne hall in corporate skin.

A black marble table stretched long, polished to a mirror's edge, reflecting every face that dared to sit around it. Floor-to-ceiling windows turned Mumbai into a living backdrop-an empire sprawling below, silent from this height.

Light wasn't comfort here. Sleek white strips cut the dark like blades, sharp enough to make every hesitation visible. On the far wall, TitanX's emblem glared down: a silver X across black stone. Not a symbol. A warning.

The air carried weight-not of incense or perfume, but authority. Breathing here felt deliberate. This wasn't a boardroom for equals. It was a stage where one man ruled, and all others measured themselves against him.

The place did not whisper power.
It screamed it.

And at its head sat Rudransh Vardhan.
Tailored black suit. Silver watch. Eyes sharp, unreadable. Posture deceptively relaxed, yet every line radiated command.

To his right, Laksh lounged with wolfish ease, fingers tapping as though marking the seconds before someone slipped. Beside him, Yuvraaj-still learning the empire's weight-sat taut, alert. On Rudransh's left, Suraj wore patience like armor, diplomat's calm over steel.

Across them, the world had gathered.
Jonathan Mercer, America's Wall Street smile stretched thin in the silence.
Elena Volkova, Russia's iron queen of cybersecurity, tapping nails in a rhythm that cut sharper than words.
Kenji Sato, Japan's robotics visionary, still as stone, glasses adjusted though nothing needed adjusting.

Others watched too-Europeans, Middle Easterners-silent, but their eyes measured the man at the head of the table.

This wasn't a meeting.
It was a collision of empires, dressed in silk and steel.

The boardroom breathed with restrained tension.
Contracts shifted in leather folders. Screens glowed faintly. Fingers brushed glass in restless silence. Yet every sound circled back to one man-Rudransh Vardhan.

On paper, everything favored him. TitanX's AI and encryption systems weren't just ahead of the curve-they were the curve.

And yet-shadows moved.

Whispers. A rumor. That Rudransh's fortress had cracks.

Poison, subtle but effective. The kind that could turn billion-dollar signatures into hesitation.

Around the table, chairs shifted. Mercer leaned back, his grin gone. Volkova's nails kept time with the silence. Sato's fingers stilled on glass. Advisors bent heads, tongues different, doubts the same.

Laksh felt it instantly-his jaw tight, hand flexing on the table. Yuvraaj shifted once, uneasy, but kept silent. Suraj's smile stayed, but its edges frayed.

And Rudransh?
He didn't move.

Leaning back, letting the silence stretch until it bent under his control, his gaze slid across the table like a blade.

He didn't chase their trust.
He commanded it.

And so, the question that burned beneath the polished marble was no longer about the merger.

It was this:

Was the rumor true-
or was Rudransh Vardhan untouchable even to whispers?

Jonathan Mercer leaned forward.
"Mr. Vardhan," Mercer said cautiously, "before we finalize this merger... we must address the concern."

Rudransh's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What concern?" he said. His voice was calm, measured, like fire banked but alive.

Mercer hesitated, then pressed on.
"There are rumors," Mercer said. "That TitanX suffered a breach. That your encryption prototype was stolen."

Murmurs broke out. Papers shifted. Every gaze locked on Rudransh.

Rudransh didn't flinch. He leaned back in his chair, the skyline blazing behind him.
"Rumors," Rudransh said slowly. "You came here because TitanX builds fortresses no one can breach. And yet now you let whispers rattle you?"

Elena tilted her head, testing him.
"So you're saying the breach never happened?" she said.

"I'm saying TitanX stands," Rudransh said calmly. "Unmoved. Untouchable. Rumors are the weapon of men too weak to win on merit."

The Zurich partner exhaled uneasily. Mercer tightened his jaw.
"But if these rumors prove true-" Mercer began.

Rudransh lifted a single hand, palm out, and the entire table fell silent. The gesture wasn't loud. It didn't need to be. Authority radiated from it like heat from a furnace.

"Then they aren't rumors, are they?" Rudransh said, cutting across him like a blade. "Check your feeds. Check your news."

Hands scrambled for tablets. Screens lit. Headlines rolled in:

"Alleged TitanX Leak Disproven."
"Insider Arrested for Fabricating Files."
"CypherNext Silent Amid Sabotage Allegations."

Faces shifted-shock, relief, awe.

Rudransh let the silence stretch, his gaze burning through each of them.
"You see?" he said. "Rumors tried to stain TitanX. But TitanX erased them."

Mercer leaned back, frustrated but not beaten.
"So then," Mercer said sharply, "There was a breach"

Rudransh smiled. Cold. Precise.
"Yes," he said. "There was a breach. One of ours turned."

Gasps echoed down the table.

"But understand this," Rudransh continued, voice a blade wrapped in silk. "A breach at TitanX isn't an open wound. It's a trap. And the moment it appeared, I closed it-around the traitor's throat."

No one spoke. No one dared.

He leaned forward now, eyes burning with quiet fire.
"You call it weakness. I call it proof. Proof that even when the walls shake-TitanX doesn't fall. TitanX hunts."

The Zurich partner swallowed. Elena lowered her gaze. Mercer said nothing.

Rudransh let the silence stretch until it carved itself into their bones. Then, his final words fell-measured, merciless.

"So choose," Rudransh said. "Trust the noise and walk away. Or trust the fire that survives storms-and build the future with me."

He paused, gaze sweeping the table like a king surveying subjects.

"But remember this-storms end, rumors die, rivals vanish. TitanX does not. And neither do I."

Kenji set his pen down, nodding slightly.
"Confidence like this comes only from truth," Kenji said. "I believe him."

One by one, the investors followed. Contracts slid forward. Pens signed. The deal moved.

At the head of the table, Rudransh didn't look relieved.
He looked inevitable.

*****

The tension had dissolved. Papers slid back into leather folders, pens clicked shut, and chairs scraped gently against the polished floor.

One by one, the investors rose.

Jonathan Mercer, clasped Rudransh's hand firmly, a faint smile tugging at his lips."You are exactly as we heard, Mr. Vardhan. Ruthless in rumor, precise in fact. I believe this will be a partnership worth remembering," Jonathan said.

"The pleasure is mine. You won't regret it," Rudransh replied, his nod steady, his tone unshaken.

Elena Volkova's sharp gaze lingered a moment longer before softening just enough as she extended her hand. "Impressive. Very impressive," she said.

"TitanX doesn't impress. It delivers," Rudransh answered, his words clipped and precise.

Kenji Sato gave a curt bow, snapping his briefcase shut before stepping back. Jonathan offered a final nod, the tension gone from his shoulders, and followed the rest out.

And then-like a tide pulling back-the room slowly emptied. Footsteps faded into the glass corridors until only silence remained.

Rudransh crossed the polished floor to the vast window. Below him, Mumbai burned bright, the city a restless empire sprawled at his feet.

Laksh stepped closer, his reflection joining Rudransh's in the glass. His voice carried a hint of amusement, though his eyes were sharp.
"Aarav almost had us," he said.

A faint smirk curved Rudransh's lips, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
"That's all he can ever do," he said quietly. "Almost."

*****

The boardroom doors opened again.

"Rudransh."The voice was aged but commanding. Shamsher Vardhan, the patriarch, was wheeled in by Yuvraaj. His presence filled the room like smoke, heavy and undeniable. Behind him came Veerraj and Suraj, the Vardhan men forming a silent wall of authority.

Rudransh crossed the floor, and lowered himself to one knee beside his grandfather's chair.

Shamsher placed a trembling but firm hand on his grandson's shoulder."I'm proud of you" he said, tapping it twice, pride blazing in his weary eyes.

Rudransh bowed his head slightly.

Veerraj broke the silence. His voice carried both relief and restrained steel. "We were worried, Rudransh. For a moment... it looked like we were going to lose the deal."

Suraj exhaled, shaking his head.
"The rumor wasn't just noise-it was timed. Executed on the very morning of the merger. Perfectly placed to break the investors' trust."

Yuvraaj leaned forward, still holding the wheelchair handles. "Planned sabotage. Not luck."

Rudransh remained quiet, eyes unreadable.

Then Veerraj asked the question that hung in all their minds. "But tell me... how did you turn the rumor around so quickly?"

Rudransh's lips curved into the faintest shadow of a smile. His voice was low, deliberate.

"Because the rumor wasn't fabricated by him..." He paused, letting the words settle like smoke. "...It was fabricated by me."

The room froze.

Suraj frowned. "You?"

Laksh said, "Yes. The mole was caught. We let him believe he succeeded.

Flashback

The basement of TitanX hummed with the quiet pulse of servers. Green lines of code scrolled across the screens like streams of light, faster than the human eye could track. The faint whir of cooling fans was the only sound-until Laksh's voice broke the silence.

"The servers flagged something," Laksh said, low. "Late-night download from an internal account. It's precise... surgical."

Rudransh didn't flinch. He stood against the wall, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the streaming code. There was no panic in him, only patience-the kind of patience that made every second feel like a trap.

"Let him proceed," Rudransh said, his voice calm, deliberate. "I want him to think he's succeeded."

Laksh's brow furrowed. "Sir... shouldn't we stop him? Cut the transfer?"

"No," Rudransh replied. "I need proof. I want to see the betrayal, the extent of his audacity... before I decide his fate."

Minutes stretched. The mole moved with confidence, unaware that the files he stole were decoys. TitanX's real prototype remained untouched, a ghost hidden beneath layers of encryption and misdirection. Every keystroke, every click, was observed. Every step outside Titan Tower was calculated.

End of Flashback

Veerraj stepped closer, his voice low but edged with worry. "But... you caught him there. Then how did the rumor spread?"

Rudransh chuckled, the sound soft, controlled. "He was too impatient. The mole called his master before we reached him. Told him the data was stolen. And Aarav... well, he just spread the rumor in the middle of the night. Poor him."

Suraj's voice was quiet now, measured, almost cautious.
"Then why send the rat to the police? You could have handled him yourself."

Rudransh's eyes lifted, calm, but steel ran beneath the surface, sharp enough to make the air itself tense.
"For the world, he is in custody," he said.

Rudransh leaned forward slightly, voice low, measured."The punishment... has already been decided by me."

Veerraj frowned. "What do you mean? He's in custody-what more could there be?"

Rudransh's eyes glinted, calm but lethal.
"See the news tomorrow," he said. "To the world, the story ends in custody. But the world never sees the rest.For the world, he was caught."

He pauses, then his words cut sharper

"For himself, I left only one door open."

Laksh's hand flexed on the table. Yuvraaj's grin disappeared. Suraj's calm posture tightened. Even Dadaji's gaze sharpened.

No one moved, but they all felt it: this wasn't just about TitanX, or the headlines. This was Rudransh's justice. Cold. Precise. Final.

And then, almost imperceptibly, the room seemed to darken. Not literally-but memory flickered. Rudransh's calm voice carried the weight of streets, of alleys, of nights where threats were ended before they could breathe.

He didn't need to speak. The family understood: what had already been done was ruthless, controlled, and absolute.

Laksh's phone buzzed. One word escaped his lips before he cut the call.

"Already?"

The room went silent as Laksh turned to the screen. The evening news had already begun.

The anchor's voice carried like a hammer:

"Breaking news-earlier today, an employee at TitanX, arrested this morning for orchestrating breach of company security, has been found dead. Authorities report a note was left at the scene. In it, the employee asks forgiveness from TitanX for betraying the company. He claims his actions were influenced by CypherNext, and states he could not bear the weight of his guilt. 'Jail is no punishment for what I did,' the note reads. 'I broke the trust of my boss and colleagues. I deserve nothing but death.'"

Rudransh's smirk was a quiet storm.

Flashback

Finally, he exited the building, clutching the external drive like treasure. Two black SUVs slid into position. Men emerged, blocking every exit.

Rudransh stepped from the shadows, black jacket over dark clothes, hands relaxed at his sides. The mole froze mid-step.

"Thought you were smart, didn't you?" Rudransh asked.

The man didn't answer. Shock had stolen his voice.

"Cat got your tongue?" Rudransh continued, low, dangerous. "Take him to the basement. Treat him... I'll be there in an hour."

"Yes, sir," one of the men said, hesitant.

Rudransh's eyes didn't leave the mole. "I'll hear your excuses later."

The man stumbled, begging, but no one moved to help him.

---

One hour later

Rudransh's men dragged him forward. They weren't in the server room anymore-they were in TitanX's underworld basement. Dim light hummed off the servers, cold and unforgiving.

He was tied to a chair, bruises already forming across arms and torso. Tears carved tracks down his face. Every word he tried to speak cracked.

Hands raised, Rudransh entered. "Don't hit him in the face," he said quietly. "If he ends up on the news, our employee shouldn't look bad."

The men froze, then lowered their clubs. Rudransh walked past them, calm, a predator moving through prey.

Laksh brought a chair. Rudransh sat deliberately in front of the trembling man, filling the basement with his presence.

"So, are you admitting whose orders you were following, or do we have to beat it out of you?"

"I-I'm sorry, sir," the man whimpered. "I was influenced... Aarav... Richard... they made me do it..."

Rudransh's eyes narrowed. "Why? Years here... why betray us?"

"I-I'm sorry, sir," he stammered. "I... I won't do it again."

"That still doesn't explain it," Rudransh said, voice cold as ice.

"Sir... he threatened me. Said he'd kill my family if I didn't," the man admitted.

Rudransh's lips curved into a faint, cold smile. "Oh. So you got scared?"

"Yes... I was scared for my family, sir. That's why I..."

Rudransh leaned forward, calm, almost casual. "Hmm... scared for your family... right."

"Yes, sir. That's why I..."

"Good acting," Rudransh interrupted. "Should've tried cinema."

The man froze.

Rudransh leaned back, measured, lethal. "Family. Always the easiest excuse. Love. Home. It scares people. Makes them weak. Makes them betray themselves."

The man's chest heaved. Sobs tore through him.

Rudransh's gaze cut deeper. "But here's what I don't get. You were planted. Paid. Gifted money after the breach. And yet... a threat scared you? When the man who sent you... already owned you?"

The sobs grew frantic. "I... I... I didn't..."

"See?" Rudransh's smirk deepened. "You weren't protecting anyone. Not your family. Not honor. Not even yourself. You were chasing coins, hiding behind fear. And now..." He leaned closer, whispering like a blade. "...now your family really is in danger. Because the moment you crossed TitanX, the rules changed. I decide what fear looks like here."

The man's eyes widened.

Rudransh leaned back slightly, letting the silence stretch, letting inevitability sink in. "What do you think? That the man who runs the best cyber company would miss the details? How do you think I would have ruled if I acted like... this idiot?"

"Then... then why... why did you hire me?" the man asked, voice trembling. "I worked here for over five years... why let me work here, knowing everything?"

Rudransh's smirk turned almost playful. "Because I like playing with fire. Watching people who think they can burn me... only to burn themselves in the end."

Rudransh's hand moved, and Laksh silently brought him an iPad. With a swipe and a tap, the video filled the screen.

The man's eyes widened, blood draining from his face. It was his family-his mother and wife seated in the living room, talking quietly, while his two children, a boy and a girl, played on the floor. A red dot hovered ominously over each of them.

Terror rooted him to the chair. Sobs turned frantic. "No... no sir... please..."

"Why not?" Rudransh asked, calm but lethal.

"Sir... please... give me whatever punishment you want, just... not my family. I beg you," he pleaded, desperation cracking his voice.

"Why not?" Rudransh repeated, menace thickening. "You were ready to destroy something precious of mine. Shouldn't I do the same to yours?"

"Sir... no... please! I'm sorry! I... I love them. I won't be able to live without them... please..."

"Who's leaving you alive in the first place?" Rudransh's voice cut like a blade.

The man trembled further, unable to meet Rudransh's gaze. Every word, every movement of Rudransh was a lesson in power, control, and the ruthless consequences of betrayal.

"Then... then kill me... but not them. I'm ready to die... just don't-please... don't touch them."

Rudransh's jaw clenched. He knew exactly where the fear came from. The lies, the deceit, the cowardice-all laid bare in that desperate plea.

"I wasn't aware you cared this much for them," Rudransh said slowly. "The way you lied about them being in danger... just to cover your own ass."

"He told me you forgive when it comes to family. I thought I could save myself," the man said.

Rudransh's jaw clenched; he knew exactly where it was coming from.

"I... I thought... I could save myself... I didn't think you'd-" the man sputtered, realizing his façade had crumbled.

Rudransh leaned closer, shadows bending to his presence. "Forgive me this once, I won't do it again, I swear!" the man begged.

"What can you do to save them?" Rudransh asked, voice soft but deadly.

"Anything," he said, swallowing hard, hope and fear tangled.

"Anything?" Rudransh repeated, letting the word linger like a trap. "Then kill yourself."

The man froze.

"Choose," Rudransh said, colder than ice. "You... or your family."

Silence filled the room. The choice loomed like a guillotine over his soul.

End of Flashback

"You have carried out our name well," Shamsher said, his eyes glinting with pride.

"I always knew you'd be the best heir of the Vardhans," he added softly.

"That Richard needs to be taught a lesson," Veerraj muttered.

"They will. But let's let them face what's been thrown at them," Rudransh replied, calm and measured.

The news was still live, showing various pieces of evidence proving that the breach had indeed been orchestrated by CypherNext.

"We should go home now. Your mother must be waiting impatiently," his father said.

"You go. I'll come," Rudransh said.

"Come for sure. Otherwise, you know her," his father warned.

"Of course," Rudransh replied.

One by one, the family took their leave, leaving Rudransh alone in the room.

His eyes fell back on the screen, where live coverage showed Aarav walking toward his car. A bodyguard shielded him from the media, while Aarav was absorbed in typing something on his phone.

Rudransh smirked.

Aarav sat in the car. Moments later, Rudransh received a notification.

He looked at his phone. It was a message from Aarav: Next time, it won't be almost.

Rudransh read it, smirked briefly, then placed the phone on the table and sank back into the head chair, his head falling against the polished leather.

Another try. How low will you go , Aarav, just to call it a victory? he thought.

Another notification buzzed on his phone.
This time, it wasn't a business update, not a boardroom alert-just a message from his mother:

Come home quickly. I have to take off the evil eye from my brilliant son.

A small smile tugged at his lips. For a second, the weight on his shoulders eased. He exhaled slowly, letting the warmth of the words linger before reality reclaimed him.

A second message followed.
Also, your aunt brought new proposals for you. I saved the pictures-they are just like you.

The smile slipped. His jaw tightened.
Just like me... he thought bitterly. Like then? Like now? The words clawed at the corners of his memory.

His fingers moved over the screen, typing a single line:
Drop the girl topic. Otherwise I'm not coming.

He set the phone down with finality, the glass table catching the faint reflection of his hardened expression.

For a long moment, Rudransh stayed there, staring at the city stretched beneath his penthouse. Towers of glass and steel glittered under the night sky-silent, untouchable, just like him.

But his mother's first words lingered. They chipped away at the wall he carried around his heart.

Finally, he rose, grabbed his keys, and strode toward the door. The echo of his footsteps filled the quiet apartment.

By the time he slid into his car, his expression was unreadable again, a mask carefully placed.

The engine roared to life. Mumbai's skyline blurred in the rearview mirror as Rudransh drove toward the only place capable of softening him-home.

*******

The whole family was seated in the living room, the air warm with chatter and laughter. Rudransh, however, sat stiffly on the sofa while his mother stood in front of him, determined.

She held a small thali (plate) with a few things placed neatly-red chilies, some mustard seeds, a pinch of salt, and a piece of cloth.

"Bas bhi karo ab," Rudransh muttered, shifting uncomfortably as she began circling the thali around his face.

(Enough of this now.)

"Chup raho," his mother snapped softly, her bangles jingling as she moved the plate around him three times clockwise, three times anti-clockwise.

(Be quiet.)

"Hmm... chup raho taki jaldi yeh karikaram khatam ho aur hume khana mile," his cousin teased, stretching lazily on the sofa.

(Yes, stay quiet so this ritual gets over quickly and we can eat.)

The room broke into laughter. Even Rudransh rolled his eyes, but a faint smirk betrayed him.

His mother then picked a red chili, waved it in front of him, and tossed it into the fire in the brass bowl nearby. The flame hissed, releasing a sharp smell. She did the same with mustard seeds and salt.

"Ho gaya?" Rudransh asked dryly, watching the smoke curl upward.

(Is it done?)

"Ho gaya," she said with a satisfied smile, placing her palm gently on his shoulder.

(It's done.)

Then, softer, she added, "Mujhe pata tha tum sab kuch sambhal loge."

(I knew you would handle everything.)

For a brief moment, the room's laughter faded for him. Surrounded by family, the sharp edges of his world softened.

The living room settled into an easy rhythm after the ritual, but Rudransh's eyes rested on his mother.

"Aap hi tension le rahi thi," he said quietly, his tone half-teasing, half-serious.

(You were the one taking all the tension.)

His cousin chimed in, grinning, "Badi Maa ne toh vrat bhi rakh rakha tha."

(Big Aunt even kept a fast for you.)

Rudransh's gaze sharpened. "Why, Mom? Aapko kaha tha na yeh sab na kiya kare."

(Why, Mom? I told you not to do all this.)

"Woh toh bas..." she began, fumbling for words.

(That was just...)

"Apko yakeen nahi tha?" he pressed.

(You didn't have faith?)

"Pura yakeen tha," she said softly, eyes glistening. "Bas aise hi darr lag raha tha."

(I had complete faith, but I was just scared.)

Rudransh's lips curved into a small smile. "Don't ever be scared. Mujhe sambhalna aur sambhalana dono aa gaya hai."

(Don't ever be scared. I've learned both how to take care ... and how to protect )

His mother looked at him-truly looked-reading the meaning beneath his words. And the rest of the family, too, fell into silence, sensing the depth hidden behind his smile.

Rudransh clapped his hands once, breaking the heaviness. "Chalo, bahut hua. Ab tu vrat todegi na?

(Alright, enough now. You'll break your fast, won't you, Mom?)

She smiled faintly, nodding. "Hmm... tere haathon se hi."

(Yes... but only with your hands.)

He exhaled softly, then stood. "Theek hai. Main change karke aata hoon."

(Alright. I'll go change and come back.)

She nodded, watching as he excused himself and walked upstairs. The faint smile faded from his face as he climbed the steps-his expression hardening again, the mask slipping back into place.

His cousin leaned back with a sigh. "Yeh Aarav bhi na... ek bhi chance nahi chhodta bitch ban'ne ka."

(This Aarav never leaves a single chance to be a bitch.)

His mother's eyes followed Rudransh until he disappeared into his room. Her voice broke softly. "Woh kabhi ek bhi chance nahi chhodta... mere bete ka dil todne ka."

(He never leaves a single chance to break my son's heart.)

The room fell quiet.

********

The dining table gleamed under the chandelier, plates and silver laid neatly. The family gathered, voices filling the air with warmth, yet Rudransh sat stiffly, feeding his mother only once before setting the spoon down. She didn't complain-she never did. But once upon a time, he wouldn't stop until she finished everything. Back then, he had laughed, teased, coaxed. Now... even sitting here as her son in front of his family felt like hesitation, like distance.

"Badi Maa," Yuvraaj began, breaking the silence, "aap kuch proposals ki baat kar rahi thi."

(Badi Maa, you were talking about some proposals.)

"Oh yes," his mother straightened, "I almost forgot completely-"

"Rudransh-" she was about to continue, but he cut her off without lifting his gaze.

"It's no from my side," Rudransh said flatly, eyes fixed on his plate.

The clatter of cutlery softened. A silence fell as everyone exchanged quick glances. Rudransh simply went on eating, his face unreadable.

His mother sighed and, with a subtle gesture, signed toward his grandfather at the head of the table.

"Rudransh," his grandfather's deep voice filled the room, calm yet carrying weight, "what's wrong? Why do you always end the topic of marriage before it even begins?"

"Because I don't want to get married," he replied, steady, without hesitation.

Yuvraaj chuckled nervously, trying to lighten the mood. "Bhai , Aap shaadi nahi karenge toh mere aur Tara ki baari kab aayegi?"

(Brother, if you won't get marry , then when will it be me and Tara's turn?)

For the first time, Rudransh looked up. His lips twitched into the faintest ghost of a smile.

"To tu kar le. Kaun rok raha hai? Maa, woh pictures ise dikhado."

(Then you marry. Who's stopping you? Maa, show him the pictures instead.)

A ripple of laughter moved around the table. Even his mother joined in. "Use bhi dikha donge, tu toh dekh le."

(I will show him too, you see first )

But Rudransh's face hardened again. "I said I'm not interested."

"Why not, Rudransh?" his grandfather pressed gently. "Tumhari umar ho gayi hai. Mere khayal se tumhe ab sach mein shaadi kar leni chahiye."

(You're of age now. I think it's time you really should get married.)

Slowly, Rudransh set his spoon down. His gaze lifted-not to his grandfather, but straight across the table.

"I don't want to," he said firmly.

"Why?" his mother asked softly.

Their eyes met. A son and a mother.

"One betrayal was enough. I don't want more," Rudransh said, his voice calm but carrying a weight that hushed the room.

"Beta," his mother whispered, "just because one person turned out like that, doesn't mean everyone will."

His jaw clenched. "When your best friend turns out like that-anyone can." His voice cracked faintly, but he swallowed it down. Rising, he muttered, "I'm sorry."

He had almost left when his grandfather's voice stopped him.

"Tumhari maa sahi keh rahi hai," his grandfather said gravely.
(Your mother is right.)

Rudransh paused, his back still to them. For a heartbeat, the silence pressed against his shoulders.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, softer this time, before walking away.

The family sat in heavy quiet as his figure disappeared up the stairs. His mother's gaze lingered after him, searching for the boy who used to smile, laugh, tease. The boy who once fed her until the plate was empty.

But all she saw was the man who carried scars deep enough to harden even in front of his own family.

******

Rudransh had barely stepped out of the shower when his room door opened. His mother entered quietly.

"Mom, I already said no," he muttered, frustration lacing his tone, already guessing why she was here.

"Come," she said firmly, taking hold of his arm.

"Maa-"

"Just come," she interrupted, pulling him toward the sofa. They both sat down.

"Rudransh, don't do this to yourself," she said softly.

"What am I doing?" he asked, though deep down he already knew.

"This-shutting yourself off." Her hand rested gently over his. "We know how heartbreaking it was for you. Even for us, it was unbearable. But for you..." her voice faltered, "...we can only imagine."

"Death," he said, then let out a bitter chuckle.

His mother's eyes clouded, but she stayed calm.

"Life can't stop because of one person, Rudransh. Why do you keep seeing only him in everyone? you also have friend-like Abhimanyu, isn't it?" she said.

"He's an exception," Rudransh replied.

"That's what I'm saying. Just like him, there are others too. Not everyone is the same. You deserve more people like him in your life... and closest of all, your partner."

"I'm scared, Mom," his voice cracked slightly. "What if she turns out to be just another Aarav?"

"Then I'll take full responsibility," she said firmly. "I will find the best partner for you. Just don't shut yourself away. You deserve someone who will stay close, someone you can share your feelings with."

"I already have all of you," he tried.

"Partner is partner, Rudransh." Her words were steady.

He sighed. "I don't know."

"I'm arranging your dates," she suddenly announced.

He looked at her in disbelief. "Seriously?"

"Yes. Since you're not ready on your own, I'll have to push you," she said matter-of-factly.

"I'm not going on any dates," he protested.

"You're wasting your charm, Rudransh Vardhan," she teased.

"I'm keeping it safe under the bachelor tag," he said with a crooked smile.

She squeezed his hand a little tighter. "Just meet someone. You really need a person to talk to-heart to heart."

"I talk to you," he said with a half-smile.

"You again?" she laughed, shaking her head.

He smiled faintly.

"I showed you so many pictures before too. Wasn't there anyone you liked?" she asked.

"It's not about that, Mom."

"I know. But unless you give someone a chance, you'll never know," she reasoned gently.

He looked at her quietly.

"I want to see you settle down with a partner... just like you've built your empire in business," she said.

"Then business is my partner," he chuckled.

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

"Don't tell me you've never liked anyone," she pressed.

He looked at her silently.

"Like in those TV dramas," she added. "When you see someone and your heart just stops."

"You've started watching dramas like Abhimanyu's mom now?" he teased.

"I'm serious, Rudransh."

"There's no such thing."

"There is. It happened to me the first time I saw your father," she said softly.

He smiled faintly at that.

"Tell me honestly," she urged. "Have you ever felt like that?"

"Like what?" he asked cautiously.

At that moment, Yuvraaj entered, grinning. "Like when the air turns cool, sweeter than before. When you can't take your eyes off someone, can't move... your heartbeat races. Ever felt that, Bhai?"

Yes-with her, Rudransh admitted silently in his mind.

"Hua hai na?" Yuvraaj nudged him, snapping him out of his trance.

(Happend?)

"No. Never." Rudransh got up quickly, grabbing a glass of water.

"Hua hai," Yuvraaj smirked. "I can tell. Badi Maa, I'm telling you-Bhai has felt it."

( it did happened)

"Even I feel so," his mother agreed, watching him carefully.

"Maa, you too?" Rudransh sighed.

As he drank, his thoughts spiraled. Why did I think of her after so long?

"Acha, now both of you go. Let me rest," he said, trying to end it.

"Arre, at least tell us," his mother said, standing up.

"There's no one," he said, gently pushing them toward the door.

"There is someone," Yuvraaj grinned. "Badi Maa, your daughter-in-law is already booked. You were worried for nothing."

"There's no one!" Rudransh said firmly, shutting the door and locking it behind them.

He turned and leaned against the door, exhaling deeply. What was that?

Walking to his bed, he sat down heavily. Why did I think of her... when Yuvraaj described it?

Yuvraaj's words kept echoing in his mind. When the air turns cool... when you can't take your eyes off someone... when your heartbeat races.

And then it came back-clearer than he wanted.

That first meeting.

They had collided, almost crashing into each other in the middle of the hallway. She had been wearing a pastel green lehnga, soft fabric brushing against his arm as if it carried its own fragrance. Her hands, delicate yet trembling, had been holding a bucket of fresh flowers. In that sudden impact, the bucket slipped-petals and stems scattering, raining down on them both.

Her uneven breath hitched, warm against his skin, when his hand instinctively closed over hers to steady her. For a moment, everything else had blurred-the room, the voices, even time itself.

Her eyes had met his-wide, startled, and impossibly deep. They weren't perfect, not the kind you see in paintings. They were uneven in their calm, one carrying panic, the other something unspoken-but together they pulled him in, held him there.

The soft press of her palm in his still lingered. The air had smelled of flowers, sweeter than anything he'd known.

Rudransh exhaled sharply, snapping himself back. "It was nothing," he muttered. Just flowers. Just air conditioning. Nothing more.

But his heart knew otherwise.

He turned on his side, forcing his eyes shut. I'm not interested in anyone... not even you, pastel girl, he told himself again.

And yet-her touch still burned against his palm, refusing to fade.

He drew in a sharp breath and pushed it away. Or at least, he tried.

Because deep down, Rudransh Vardhan already knew-no matter how tightly he locked the doors of his heart, fate had already found the key.

And soon, destiny would knock again.

******

Now tell me how was it ?