Author's pov;
Shivika tried to focus on her family's conversation, but her mind kept drifting back to him.The coldness in his eyes.
The way he stood there, calm, composed, after shooting a man. The way he looked at her as if she belonged to him.
She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. "Shivi, are you okay?" Rajvardhan’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "Huh?" She blinked, realizing that her brother was watching her closely. "Yeah, I'm fine." Lakshay frowned. "You look pale."
"It's just exhaustion," she forced a smile, ignoring the way her hands felt cold. "Too much shopping." Rajvardhan nodded but didn’t seem convinced. "Let's go. It's getting late." As they walked out of the mall, Shivika felt something a gaze. A heavy, burning stare that made her heartbeat quicken.
She knew it was him. And when she turned slightly, she spotted him.
Rudraksh stood near his car, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone talking with someone . His eyes were on her dark, intense, unreadable. The moment their gazes met, he tilted his head slightly, almost as if amused by her reaction. Shivika quickly looked away and hurried toward her car. She could still feel his eyes on her.
_________________________________________
Time skip to Night of Bachelor & Bachelorette Party of the couple who are soon getting married.
The club was alive with music, neon lights flickering across the floor as the night buzzed with excitement. The city's elite had gathered, but tonight, the spotlight was on Rajvardhan and his bride-to-be. Two grand celebrations were taking place under the same roof one side of the club dedicated to the groom’s bachelor party, the other side reserved for the bride’s bachelorette party. For security reasons and rajvardhan's protectiveness, both events were hosted in the same venue
SHIVIKA'S OUTFIT
Shivika entered the VIP section with her friends and soon to be sister-in-law and her friends,as they entered all the men's as well as some women's start gawking towards them but they ignore their stare
And started walking towards their side
"This party is so predictable," Shruti muttered.
Advaita smirked. "Did you expect something wild? Raj bhai is too responsible for that."
She blushed, shaking her head. Just then, the atmosphere shifted. A silent wave of attention rippled through the room, as if an invisible force had entered. Shivika felt it before she saw him. Rudraksh.
He walked in like he owned the place black shirt unbuttoned at the top, sleeves rolled up, his watch gleaming under the chandelier lights. The crowd subtly parted for him, a mixture of awe and fear in their eyes. Why was he here? As if hearing her thoughts, his eyes found her. Dark. Intense. Unwavering.
her body wrapped in a sleek black dress that clung to her curves like a second skin. The dim lights of the club reflected off the shimmering crystals lining the high slit, teasing glimpses of her smooth skin. Her hair cascaded in soft waves, wild yet mesmerizing, and the way she moved effortless, unaware of the chaos she was causing in his mind. He tried to look away. He really did. But his eyes refused to obey.
Something primal surged within him, an unfamiliar yet possessive urge. He had always seen her as captivating, but tonight tonight she was a vision. His jaw clenched when he noticed other men stealing glances at her. A dark fire ignited in his chest.She was his. Even if she didn’t know it yet.
She gripped her dress tighter, determined not to let him rattle her she Stop at her place all other girls had already gone before he entered. But when he started walking toward her, slow and deliberate, a shiver ran down her spine. "Is the party nice?" His deep voice sent a strange thrill through her.
She straightened, keeping her expression indifferent. "Didn’t know you were invited." He smirked, sitting beside her. "Didn’t needed an invitation but as your brother and my special enemy invited why not to come."
She exhaled sharply. "Well, as you can see, we're all having a great time. No need for you to stay." He leaned in slightly, his cologne and presence wrapping around her. "You want me to leave?"
Yes.
No.
Maybe.
She hated how he made her feel, conflicted, aware, drawn. Instead of answering, she turned away. But Rudraksh wasn't one to be ignored. "You've been avoiding me, Shivika." Her name on his lips sounded too personal. Too intimate. She forced a casual shrug. "I've been busy." His smirk deepened, but his eyes? They darkened. She was playing with fire. But Rudraksh liked her this tigress side
She turn around to go from there but Before she could step away, Rudraksh caught her wrist, not forcefully, but firm enough to make her stop. The bass of the music thumped around them, people danced, laughed, and drank, but for Shivika, the world shrank to just him. His touch burned. Not in pain. But in something far more dangerous.
She turned, her hazel eyes flashing. "Let go of me rana sa or someone will see us." But he doesn't care. Instead, he ran his thumb slowly over her wrist, his touch a deliberate tease. "You still haven’t answered my question." Shivika exhaled sharply. "Which one?"
He tilted his head slightly, eyes gleaming. "Do you really want me to leave?" Her breath hitched. The air between them was charged, heavy with something neither wanted to name. "Yes," she whispered. Liar.
Rudraksh heard the hesitation in her voice, saw the way her pulse fluttered at her throat. He smirked, leaning in just enough to make her aware of the heat between them. "Then why do your eyes tell me otherwise?" Shivika pulled her wrist free, stepping back like she had been burned. "You're impossible."
"And you're irresistible," he countered smoothly, watching as her cheeks darkened with something between frustration and... something else.
Looking at him busy looking into her eyes ,Shivika took that as her escape. Without looking at Rudraksh, she strode away, heart hammering. But she felt his gaze. Heavy. Dark. Unrelenting. He wasn’t done with her. Not even close.
Shivika took a deep breath, shaking off the lingering effect of Rudraksh’s intense gaze. She forced a smile and walked toward her friends, determined to enjoy the night.
Advaita grabbed her hand, spinning her onto the dance floor. "Finally! Where were you we were about to come to find you."
Shivika laughed. "Oh, please! I’m not a child!"
The music pulsed through the club, loud and exhilarating. Shruti handed her mocktail knowing she will not drink alcohol, and they clinked their glasses together before taking a sip. The group swayed to the rhythm, their laughter blending with the beats.
Shivika tossed her hair over her shoulder and lifted her chin, swaying her hips deliberately as she danced.
The girls cheered as the DJ switched to a peppy Bollywood track, and soon, they were all singing along, spinning and twirling under the flashing neon lights. Shivika felt lighter, free, like she could forget everything for a while.
Rudraksh was about to step inside when suddenly, out of nowhere, someone crashed into him, wrapping their arms around him in a tight hug. His body tensed instantly, and he was about to snap at the person when he caught the familiar scent of irritated cologne. Kiaan.
Rolling his eyes, Rudraksh roughly detached the man from his body. "Kiaan, what the hell?" he muttered in irritation. Kiaan grinned cheekily. "Bro! You look so serious! Did you miss me?"
Rudraksh shot him a glare. "What are you doing here? You should be in Udaipur." Kiaan smirked, running a hand through his perfectly styled hair. "Did you forget? Rajvardhan is your enemy, but his parents and your parents are old friends. They came for the wedding, and well…" He spread his arms dramatically. "I tagged along!"
Rudraksh exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "Just stay out of my way." Kiaan chuckled. "Come on, man! It’s a party. You should enjoy a little." Rudraksh didn’t bother replying and instead looked to his side. His sharp gaze immediately landed on Veeranshu Singhania, the King of Chittorgarh and his best friend.
The moment their eyes met, a smirk tugged at Rudraksh’s lips, and Veeranshu mirrored the expression before stepping forward. Without hesitation, the two men embraced each other in a firm hug, one filled with unspoken understanding and respect.
Seeing this, Kiaan huffed dramatically. "Oh, so you didn’t hug me back, but you hugged him? That’s not fair, bro!"
Both Rudraksh and Veeranshu shook their heads at Kiaan’s antics, choosing to ignore him. Veeranshu then turned to Rudraksh, his expression more serious. "Thanks for handling the village case for me." Rudraksh raised an eyebrow before scoffing. "You bastard, since when did you start thanking me, huh?"
Veeranshu chuckled. "Since I realized how much of a pain in the ass legal matters can be." Rudraksh smirked, shaking his head. "You owe me one."
Veeranshu smirked back. "yes ofcourse ."
Rudraksh simply nodded and walked inside and took their seat , Just then, Rajvardhan walked toward them and took his seat beside him with his one friend, his voice laced with mockery. "Oh wow, the great reunion of friends! How touching." Rudraksh turned his head, his sharp eyes locking onto Rajvardhan's with an amused smirk. "Jealous, Rajvardhan? Want to join our little club?"
Rajvardhan scoffed, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I'd rather join a pack of wolves than stand in a room full of criminals." Veeranshu chuckled. "Wolves and criminals aren’t that different, Rajvardhan. The only difference is, we don't pretend to be saints." Kiaan, sensing the tension, leaned against the bar with a grin. "Damn, I can feel the testosterone in the air. Can we all just chill and have some drinks?"
Rudraksh ignored Kiaan and took a step closer to Rajvardhan, lowering his voice. "Careful with your words, Raj. You wouldn’t want your own wedding to turn into a funeral, would you?" Rajvardhan clenched his jaw but didn't react further. He knew Rudraksh well enough, if he wanted to send a warning, he never did it without meaning it.
But Rajvardhan wasn’t the type to back down either, ordering a drink while eyeing Rudraksh with suspicion. His presence alone was enough to irritate him, but tonight was his bachelor’s party, and he wasn’t in the mood for unnecessary fights.Kiaan, ever the peacemaker, clapped his hands seeing them glaring at eachother. "Come on, guys! It's a celebration. Let's not start another war here."
Veeranshu chuckled, sipping his whiskey. "Let them be, Kiaan. These two thrive on their rivalry." Rudraksh's smirk didn't fade.
Rudraksh was trying to find someone in the crowd and it's doesn't go unnoticed by Veeranshu, He caught the subtle shift in Rudraksh’s demeanor. The way his fingers tightened slightly around his glass. The way his smirk had faded into something darker, something more intense.
Veeranshu knew Rudraksh better than most. By the time rajvardhan also left after his some friends came their to take him on the dance floor.
He had never seen that expression before, silent, calculating, dangerously fixated. It wasn't just idle curiosity. Rudraksh was looking for someone, and whoever it was had captured more than just his attention.
Just then he notice his eyes got focused on something and then his eyes gets soften, Veeranshu followed his gaze through the dimly lit club, scanning the crowd until he spotted her. Shivika.
Dressed in an elegant yet playful outfit, she was laughing with her friends, completely unaware of the piercing gaze locked onto her. The neon lights cast a glow on her hazel eyes, making them shine even brighter.
Veeranshu took a sip of his drink, hiding the smirk tugging at his lips. So, this was it. He leaned slightly towards Rudraksh and muttered, "Didn't know you had a habit of staring that to on some who is my sister's friend whom I consider as my sister."
Rudraksh's jaw clenched and he was shocked listening him for a moment but he quickly as a light hide his shocked face, but his expression remained impassive. He lifted his glass to his lips and said, "Not staring. Just keeping an eye on what’s mine." Veeranshu chuckled, shaking his head. "Yours, huh? Does she know that?"
Rudraksh didn't answer. He simply tilted his head, watching as Shivika tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, completely oblivious to the storm brewing in the shadows. Veeranshu raised a brow."I don’t like where this is going."
Rudraksh chuckled, swirling the liquid in his glass. "Relax, Veer. I'm not going to hurt your sister's friend." His tone was mocking, but Veeranshu wasn't fooled.
"You and I both know how heartless you are, Rudra." Veeranshu’s voice was quieter now, laced with warning. Rudraksh's smirk widened, but his eyes darkened. “Who said anything about being heartless that to be with her?" His gaze flickered back to Shivika, who was still laughing, still oblivious.
Veeranshu exhaled sharply. "did you forgot your rivalry with rajvardhan, do you think he would let you easily make her yours?."
Rudraksh finally turned to him, amusement dancing in his expression. "Let me?" He scoffed. "You don’t know, for her I can cross any limits to make her my and you are talking about that rajvardhan, Veeranshu. And if you think your words will change my mind about her, you really don't know me as well as you think."
Veeranshu studied him for a moment before shaking his head. "You're dangerous for her." Rudraksh's gaze darkened, and for the first time that night, his smirk vanished completely. "I know."
Veeranshu exhaled sharply, gripping his glass tighter. He had known Rudraksh from when they were small and knows the way his mind worked, the way he never backed down from something he wanted. And right now, it was clear as day, Rudraksh wouldn't rest until Shivika was his.
Accepting this truth didn't sit well with him. Shivika was like a sister to him equal as his sister, and the idea of Rudraksh, someone as dangerous and ruthless as him, claiming her sent a wave of unease through his chest.
"You won't stop, will you?" Veeranshu muttered, his voice edged with frustration. Rudraksh smirked, twirling the drink in his hand lazily. "You know me better than that, Veeranshu. I always get what I want." His dark eyes flickered to where Shivika was laughing with her friends. "And she..." his voice dropped to something almost possessive, "is already mine. She just doesn’t know it yet."
Veeranshu clenched his jaw. "She's not some business deal you can claim, Rudraksh." Rudraksh chuckled, shaking his head. "Who said anything about business?" His voice was dangerously soft. "This is personal." Veeranshu ran a hand through his hair, frustration boiling inside him. He knew Rudraksh. If he had set his sights on Shivika, he wouldn't stop.
Veeranshu sighed, his sharp gaze shifting back to Rudraksh. He wanted to argue, to tell him to back off, but then, he saw it. That look in Rudraksh's eyes.
For the first time he saw something like that in his eyes, It wasn't just obsession. It wasn't just possession. It was something deeper. A silent vow. A promise etched in his very being.
Even if he didn't say it out loud, Veeranshu understood, Rudraksh would protect her at any cost. Even if it meant putting his own life on the line. For the first time, Veeranshu felt conflicted. He hated the idea of Rudraksh forcing his way into Shivika's life, but at the same time, he knew no one else could protect her the way Rudraksh could.
"You'll protect her, won't you?" Veeranshu finally said, his voice quieter this time. Rudraksh's jaw tightened, his smirk fading. His dark eyes softened, just for a fleeting second, before the mask of indifference returned.
"Even if it costs me my life." And Veeranshu knew, in that moment, Rudraksh meant every word.
Veeranshu exhaled sharply, swirling the drink in his glass. He knew there was no point in arguing. Rudraksh wasn't the kind of man to back down .His gaze flickered to where Shivika stood, laughing with her friends, completely unaware of the silent battle being fought over her. Veeranshu turned back to Rudraksh. "She doesn’t belong in your world."
Rudraksh chuckled darkly. "She's already mine, Veer. She just doesn't know it yet." Veeranshu's jaw clenched. "You better not hurt her, Rudraksh and your self also in the process of making her yours." His voice was deadly calm. "Because if you do, I swear......"
Rudraksh cut him off, his smirk vanishing and a small smile took place. "I would never." His voice was firm, resolute. "She's the only thing keeping me from becoming a complete monster." Veeranshu studied him for a long moment before sighing. He wasn't sure if this was a disaster waiting to happen or fate playing its twisted game.
Thank you for reading till here this is just a half part other half part would be on next Sunday but if I can I will give other half on Wednesday if possible, next part will be something interesting to stay connected.
Did you like veeranshu's and Rudraksh friendship how much they understand eachother.
Thank you
your pyari author
Pia