Twin Inferno

5.unexpected spark

Rudra's POV

I hadn’t planned on getting involved tonight parties were always a mess—people trying too hard, everyone pretending to like each other while scheming in the background. I was just there for appearances, to keep an eye on things. But when I saw Siya at the bar, trembling as she approached me with that ridiculous dare, something inside me shifted.

She didn’t belong there. Not with them.

I watched her closely as she stammered through her words, her face turning bright red. She was terrified, and yet, she was still doing it. I had to admire that, in a way. Most people would have run out of the room, but not Siya.

“Do you…” she took a deep breath, avoiding my eyes. “Do you want to sleep with me?”

The words hung awkwardly in the air between us, and for a second, I just stared at her, stunned by the absurdity of it all. I knew this was Esha’s doing. There was no way Siya came up with that on her own.

I leaned in a little, keeping my voice low. “Is this a dare?”

She nodded, clearly mortified, her hands fidgeting at her sides. I glanced over her shoulder, locking eyes with Esha for a brief second. Of course, she was watching, probably waiting to see how humiliated Siya would get.

Not on my watch.

I turned back to Siya, softening my tone. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

She looked up at me, confused, but didn’t resist when I gently took her arm and led her toward the exit. I could feel Esha’s eyes burning into my back, but I didn’t care. Let her fume. I wasn’t about to let her use Siya as a toy.

We stepped out into the cool night air, and I could feel some of the tension in Siya’s body start to fade. She glanced at me, her eyes wide and still a little unsure.

“You didn’t have to do that, you know,” she murmured.

I raised an eyebrow as we reached my car. “Do what? Save you from that terrible dare?”

She let out a small laugh, and for the first time, I saw her smile—a real, genuine smile that softened her entire face. “Yeah, that.”

I opened the passenger door for her, gesturing for her to get in. “Well, I’m not a fan of watching people get embarrassed for no reason. Especially when it’s Esha pulling the strings.”

She hesitated for a moment before sliding into the seat. I closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side, feeling an odd flutter in my chest as I got in next to her. This was… unexpected.

As I started the car, I glanced over at Siya again. She was staring out the window, her fingers playing nervously with the edge of her dress. There was something about her—this quiet, understated beauty—that was drawing me in, and I couldn’t explain why.

“You okay?” I asked, keeping my tone casual.

She nodded, her voice soft. “Yeah. Thanks… for that. I don’t know why I agreed to go with her in the first place.”

“Esha can be pretty convincing,” I said, smirking slightly. “But you handled yourself well.”

She turned to look at me, her eyes searching mine. “Did I? I felt like a complete idiot.”

I shrugged, a small smile playing at my lips. “Could’ve fooled me.”

She laughed again, this time a little louder, and I felt my chest tighten at the sound. Damn, when was the last time someone made me feel like this? It was strange. But nice.

We drove in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the city lights flashing by as we made our way through the streets. I couldn’t help but steal a few glances at her, noticing the way she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, or the way her lips parted slightly as she watched the city pass by.

I had no idea why I was so drawn to her, but there was something about Siya that was… different.

“So, what’s the deal with you and Esha?” I asked, breaking the silence. “You two don’t exactly seem like the type to hang out.”

Siya sighed, leaning back in her seat. “We’re not. She invited me, and I thought maybe… I don’t know. Maybe I could make some friends.” She gave a small, self-deprecating laugh. “Clearly, that didn’t go as planned.”

“Yeah, I don’t think Esha’s the type you want to be friends with,” I said, shaking my head. “She’s more into power plays than friendship.”

Siya nodded, biting her lip. “I’m starting to realize that.”

We pulled up to her apartment building, and I turned off the engine, watching as she unbuckled her seatbelt. There was a moment of hesitation, like she didn’t quite want to leave yet, and I found myself reluctant to say goodbye too.

“Thanks again, Rudra,” she said softly, her hand resting on the door handle.

“Anytime,” I replied, offering her a smile. “You sure you’re okay?”

She looked at me, and for a split second, I thought I saw something in her eyes—something that made my heart skip a beat. She smiled, but there was a shyness to it that made her even more captivating.

“I’m okay,” she said. “You’re… different from what I expected.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Different how?”

She shrugged, a teasing glint in her eyes. “Less intimidating.”

I chuckled, leaning back in my seat. “Well, don’t spread that around. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

She laughed again, and this time, I couldn’t stop the warm feeling spreading through my chest. What the hell was happening to me?

“Goodnight, Rudra,” she said, finally opening the door.

“Goodnight, Siya,” I replied, watching as she stepped out of the car and walked toward her building.

I sat there for a moment, watching her disappear into the lobby, feeling something I hadn’t felt in a long time—excitement.

There was something about that girl, and I wasn’t done with her yet.

As I drove away, my thoughts kept drifting back to her. The way she smiled, the way she laughed, the way she looked at me like I was someone worth trusting. It was new. And for some reason, I liked it.

But then, just as quickly, the thought of Esha came crashing back into my mind. She wasn’t going to be happy about tonight, that much I knew. And if she thought she could control me the way she controlled everyone else, she was in for a rude awakening.

This game was just getting started. And I had no intention of losing.