The Haunted Fortress of Bhangarh: Book 1

26. Commonalities

When Rudra ventured out of the house in the morning and hopped on the bike to head towards college, his gaze fell on the girl across the street. Ishita seemed to be struggling with starting the engine of her scooty. She was trying to press the ignition button repeatedly but to no avail. The frown between her brows and the pout on her lips conveyed well that she had been at it for some time now, but she was met with failure so far.

He slid off the bike and crossed the street, noticing how she hunkered and punched the tires, muttering curses under her breath and glowering at the muck and dirt coating the material. "Wouldn't start?"

She craned her neck and shook her head. "No. The fuel tank is full, and I got it serviced two months ago. Don't understand why it wouldn't start." She huffed. "And I have an early class today."

He patted the seat of the scooter. "I can drop you if you want."

She passed a grateful smile at him and stood up. "Yes, please."

Grinning, he came back to his bike and hopped over it again, igniting the engine and allowing her to crawl behind him after placing her hands on his shoulders for support. "I bet this is a dream come true for you, isn't it?"

She narrowed her eyes at his back and twisted her lips when he guffawed. "Not at all. Don't be in delusion. And don't be conceited. I prefer car rides to bikes."

He snorted and propelled the vehicle ahead. "Sure, I believe you."

"As you should." She smacked his back. "Insolent Rudra Sharma!"

Chuckling, he pressed on the accelerator as they moved towards the main road. "Wanna know a secret?"

She frowned and looked away, still piqued by his remark. "No, I don't want to talk to you."

"I am adopted."

Her neck snapped towards the back of his head, and her lips parted in surprise. She checked his reflection in the bike's mirror. Although he had the helmet on, she could tell he was faking the smile. Her shaking hands went to his shoulders again. "I didn't know that."

He bobbed his head. "I didn't either. Until I came across the legal papers yesterday. I was adopted when I was three months old. Mom and Dad are not my birth parents, and they don't know who my biological family is."

She gulped, blinking furiously as she tried to process the information. She recalled how affectionate Shweta had always been towards Rudra and how Avinash's mother treated the boy like some kind of a royal prince they had the fortune of having in their lives. She could've never imagined Rudra was not their son, given the kind of bond all of them shared with each other. She had known the Sharmas her entire life, and the knowledge impressed her too because not everyone treats the adopted child the way this family did. "Are you okay, Rudra?"

He shrugged. "Kinda. Not exactly. But I will be. I love them. That's what matters, right?"

"Precisely."

He hummed. "It changes nothing except for the fact that we don't share DNA. If I am ever in need of blood, they might not be able to donate it to me."

She rolled her eyes when he sniggered. "Completely deranged."

He laughed. "I am trying to learn to live with the truth, and I emote better when I am happy."