Kalaba Kadhala | Part 1

Chapter 24

"Anushka, why don't you have a quick chat with Nikhil alone? Just the two of you?"

With a hesitant nod, Anushka found herself being led away from the eager chatter of their families. They stepped away from the bustling living area and into the quiet of the garden. The air was fragrant with the scent of blooming jasmine and the fading sunlight painted the sky with hues of orange and pink—an almost perfect setting that felt entirely wrong.

As she walked alongside Nikhil, her mind raced. What was she doing? This was not the intention behind her little scheme.

Anushka," Nikhil began, breaking the silence, "My parents like you a lot. I think we could work very well together, don't you?"

Before she could respond, a figure loomed at the edge of the garden—Prabhas, his tall frame casting a long shadow that contrasted with the soft brilliance of the sunset. He stood there, arms crossed, his jaw clenched, eyes darkened with a cocktail of emotions: anger, jealousy, and something deeper. Anushka's heart lurched at the sight of him, a stark reminder of the bond they shared, a bond she couldn't quite let go of, despite her momentary charade.

Her throat went dry as they exchanged a look across the distance. She didn't need to hear him shout or threaten Nikhil; the intensity of his gaze spoke volumes. There was no way to hide from the truth: Prabhas had arrived, and he watched with unabashed fury as she spoke with Nikhil.

"Um, I...I think we should..." Anushka stuttered, torn between her growing feelings for Nikhil, who was still smiling at her, and the undeniable pull towards Prabhas, whose presence sent a wave of anxiety cascading through her.

Nikhil noticed her discomfort. "Anushka?" he asked, concern etching his features.

But Anushka's gaze remained locked on Prabhas, a tumult of feelings surging within her. While Nikhil's family pushed for formalities, the man she secretly cared for was standing mere feet away, watching her maybe becoming someone else's.

"Excuse me... I'll be back". Anushka said leaving a clueless Nikhil behind as she walked to Prabhas. He saw her coming towards him, the fury in his eyes unchanged. She grabbed his wrist and pulled him with her to a private corner, so that no one could spot them.

"What are you doing? Trying to scare me?" She asked, hands on hip.

"What are YOU trying to do? Liked the guy already? Kattikka poriya avane?" (Gonna marry him?) He asked nonchalantly, but breathing fire.

"Aama Kattuve... athuku enna ipo?" (Yes, I'll marry. What will you do?"

The sharpness of their exchange cut deeper than either was willing to admit. Anushka could feel her heart pounding against her chest, a mixture of anger and something else, something dangerously thrilling. Prabhas stepped closer, his expression fierce yet vulnerable as he loomed over her.

"Don't you see how insane this is? You don't want this. Not really." His voice dropped an octave, the intensity of his gaze holding her captive.

Anushka felt her breath hitch in her throat. That did something to her, rendering her momentarily speechless. The space between them shrank, charged with unarticulated feelings swirling around them. Finally, she stood, her resolve faltering as she took a step towards him.

"You think you understand me?" she challenged, hoping to mask her wavering composure. "You think you have any say in my life?"

Prabhas's eyes darkened, and in that moment, the mask he wore slipped away, revealing raw vulnerability. "Because I matter to you more than you know."

Before she could answer, he closed the distance between them, his hands grasping her arms gently yet firmly, as if searching for a connection that grounded them both. In a swift motion, he pulled her tight against him, their bodies now pressed together in an intimate embrace. The heat radiating from him was intoxicating, and for a moment, Anushka felt her anger give way to an undeniable chemistry.