LOVE SOAKED

CHAPTER 25- Nice to meet you, I guess.

ASHER

The world suddenly  tilted on its axis.  One monstrous threat was replaced by another, seemingly out of nowhere.  The goon spasmed, a strangled cry escaping his lips as the knife twisted further.  The newcomer, this man in black who moved with lethal grace, delivered a brutal, efficient series of blows.  He didn't kill the goon quickly; it was a calculated dance of violence, each punch and kick meant to inflict maximum pain.

Blood splattered on the pristine white carpet, turning it into a grotesque canvas.  The metallic tang filled the air, a sickly counterpoint to the strangled wheezing of the dying goon.  My vision blurred, a mix of fury, nausea, and a strange, detached fascination with the unfolding brutality.  This man, this stranger drenched in the goon's blood, spoke in a voice that sent shivers down my spine.  It was devoid of emotion, flat and chilling.

"Pathetic," he drawled, his words echoing the goon's earlier taunt.  "You call this a fight? You haven't seen anything yet."

The goon gurgled, a desperate plea for mercy.  But the newcomer remained unmoved.  With a final, sickening twist of the knife, he silenced him for good.  The lifeless body slumped to the floor, a crimson stain blossoming around it.

The air hung heavy with the aftermath of violence.  My parents huddled together on the couch, their faces pale with horror.  Trisha, tears streaming down her cheeks, looked at me with a mixture of terror and something else.

The man in black, his face an emotionless mask, finally turned towards me.  He tucked his gun away, the casual ease of the movement sending a tremor through me.  He straightened his suit, the picture of composure despite the carnage he'd just unleashed.

"Apologies for the, shall we say, dramatic entrance," he spoke, his voice a smooth baritone.  "But it seems you were in need of some… assistance."
"This mess will be taken care off." With that he made a call to a someone and asked them to clean up the "mess" by which he means the blood and the deadbody.

He took a slow step forward, his gaze meeting mine.  A jolt went through me as I realized his eyes were the exact same shade as mine.  A chilling echo, a mirror image.  Then, the most outrageous, the most impossible of thoughts struck me.

"Who… who are you?" I stammered, my voice hoarse.  His lips curled into a smirk, a hint of amusement flickering in his cold blue eyes.

"Dad used to say we looked alike, Siddharth?"
" tad disappointed you couldn't recognize your brother." He paused, letting the bomb drop before continuing.  "Call me Rudr."

All of us gasped in unison, but for some reason that made Rudr amused as he got up," need a hand, Sid?"
I simply dismissed him before I carefully got and and tugged Trisha next to me and my parents soon came and sat closer to us.
Rudr got sat on the opposite end of the couch in a way only a leader would sit, his head held high, his face relaxed and unreadable, like he knew he was unbeatable.

My parents whispered in a meak voice," are you finally here to take my son away?"

Without a flicker of a single emotion, " No.
I'm not here to do any such thing, I kept tabs on his family for years and I dint act until it got serious, he's been safe and tucked away for years and I would like it to remain that way." He continued without a care in the world.

" I'm headed back home tomorrow, since you and I did meet Sid, I'd like us to reconnect, you were a baby when we gave you away, well.... I don't know how to do this. We could chat, you could visit. We could do brother stuff."

Before I could reply, a little smirk playing at his lips he said, " I could teach you how to fight,  you clearly need lessons."

He was my blood, I did want a connection with him, I wasn't sure how it would turn out but I wanted to give it a shot. I had a lot to say but all I managed to say was, " I'd like that, Rudr."

"It's bhai for you and for your lovely to be bride, atleast that's why I'm hoping." With a wink he gave Trisha and i two tickets.

" Take a vacation, it's fully booked, travel around Spain, get your mind off of this and we will talk once you land back in bangalore. For now I'm a very busy man so you'll have to excuse me." With that he walked out the door.