Twin Inferno

12.the counter attack

Rudra's POV

I stood outside the courthouse, staring at the door Siya had just walked through with Ehaan. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could still feel the weight of her gaze—the silent plea for help behind her words of refusal. She didn’t want to stay with him, I knew that. But whatever he had on her, whatever secret he was holding over her, it was enough to keep her trapped.

I wasn’t going to let this end here. I couldn’t. Siya needed me, even if she wouldn’t admit it. Ehaan had trapped her, but there was still a way to turn the tables. And I knew exactly how to do it.

Ehaan was clever, but I knew something he didn’t think I could use against him: Esha. Ehaan cared for her deeply, more than he ever showed in public. She was his weak spot, and if I had her, I knew he wouldn’t dare hurt Siya. He’d protect her just to keep Esha safe.

The only way to keep Siya safe was to go a step further. And for that, I needed to do the unthinkable.

---

I found Esha alone at her usual café, sipping her coffee with that calm, collected smile she always wore. I approached her quietly, my mind racing through every possible outcome. This wasn’t something I wanted to do, but I was left with no other choice. Siya’s safety was my priority, and Ehaan had pushed me to this point.

“Rudra,” Esha greeted me sweetly, flashing that charming smile, “What brings you here?”

Without another word, I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her outside to my car. She let out a surprised gasp but didn’t resist, curiosity evident in her eyes.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice a mixture of shock and amusement as I drove off, my grip on the steering wheel tight.

I didn’t respond immediately, my mind focused on the plan. When we finally reached the abandoned temple on the outskirts of the city, I parked the car and turned to her, my voice low and determined. “I need you to marry me.”

Esha’s eyes widened, her surprise quickly turning into confusion, then into a sly smile. “Oh, Rudra… I know you know how I feel about you. But marrying me? Is this some sudden realization, or is this part of your grand plan to save Siya?”

Her words hit like a knife. She was smarter than I gave her credit for. “I know you love me,” I admitted, my voice colder than I intended. “But this isn’t about love. It’s about keeping Siya safe. If I marry you, Ehaan will stop. He won’t hurt her because he cares too much about you.”

Esha chuckled softly, shaking her head. “So you want me to marry you… just so you can keep Siya safe from my brother? You think that’s going to work?”

“It will work,” I insisted, stepping closer to her. “He won’t risk hurting Siya if you’re with me. I’ll keep you safe. I’ll keep everyone safe.”

Esha’s smile faded, and for a moment, I saw something flicker in her eyes—disappointment, maybe even hurt. “Rudra… you really don’t get it, do you? I may love you, but I don’t want a marriage built on revenge and desperation. I’m not going to be a pawn in your game just because you think it’ll fix things.”

I clenched my fists, frustration boiling inside me. “This isn’t about you. This is about Siya. I need to protect her.”

Esha crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. “And you think forcing me into a marriage is going to solve all your problems? You’re just like others—you’re using people for your own agenda.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Esha, who had always been obsessed with me, was refusing to help. “You love me, Esha. This is what you want. Don’t act like this is some sort of betrayal. You’ve been waiting for this.”

“Not like this,” she said, her voice firm. “I might love you, but I’m not going to marry you just to be your shield against my brother. I deserve better than that. *We* deserve better than that.”

I was losing control, and I knew it. Desperation clawed at me, and before I could stop myself, I grabbed the mangalsutra from the car and thrust it toward her. “You will marry me, Esha. Whether you like it or not. This is the only way to stop him.”

Her eyes darkened, and she slapped the mangalsutra out of my hand, her voice cold as ice. “If you think this makes me your wife, Rudra, then jokes on you. I’m not going to let you control me, just like I won’t let my brother. You’re not the hero you think you are.”

"I don't care being villain in your life and sign the papers"i said pointing gun in her head.

---

The wedding was a blur. I forced her to go through the rituals, her face a mask of cold fury. As we reached the Mehrotra mansion, where Ehaan and Esha had lived, the tension in the air was suffocating. Ehaan wasn’t home yet, but I knew he would be soon. The house was empty, with only the echoes of our footsteps and the weight of our broken silence filling the space.

As soon as we walked in, Esha threw the mangalsutra at me, her voice dripping with disdain. “You think this piece of jewelry can make me your wife? You’re delusional, Rudra. I’ll never be yours. Not like this.”

I felt my chest tighten, anger simmering beneath the surface. “You’ll thank me for this one day, Esha. You’ll see that this was the only way.”

She didn’t respond, just stormed off to her room, slamming the door behind her. The sound echoed through the house, and for the first time, doubt crept into my mind. Had I made the right choice? Had I gone too far?

---

Moments later, Ehaan barged into the house, his eyes filled with rage. He stormed toward me, fists clenched. “You forced my sister into marriage, you bastard!”

Before I could react, his fist connected with my jaw, sending me stumbling back. Pain shot through me, but I didn’t fight back. I had expected this. I had prepared for it.

“This is your revenge, right?” Ehaan spat, his voice venomous. “You think you can take my sister and I’ll let Siya go? You’re a fool, Rudra.”

I wiped the blood from my lip, meeting his furious gaze. “I’m not doing this for revenge, Ehaan. I’m doing this to protect Siya. You’re the one who’s playing with people’s lives.”

Ehaan smirked, his voice dripping with malice. “You really think this will stop me? You’ve only made things worse. I’ll break Siya’s heart before you can even think of saving her.”

I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to hit him back. “I won’t let you. I’ll protect her from you, no matter what it takes.”

Ehaan laughed darkly, stepping closer. “You’re too late, Rudra. Siya is already mine.”

I could feel the weight of his words, the finality of it all, but I refused to give up. I would find a way to save Siya, even if it meant destroying everything in the process.